The Runners: Chapter 3
Chan approached the landlord’s apartment and knocked on the door by gently pulling and letting go of the brass door knocker. “Twentieth century notification system…,” he said to himself, surprised at how little has changed in this part of the town.
“Hello, Mr. Rick Haney! This is investigator David Chan and Chief Det. Victor Woodson. We would like to interview you regarding the murder in the apartment 210.”
Moments later, a man in early 50’s opened the door. He had gray hair, with boney facial structures that made his eyes look as if they were buried deep in caves. He was thinly built and reached about 5.11 feet. He was wearing loosely fit clothing and there were travel luggage lying on the floor of the apartment. He appeared distressed from his earlier discovery of the dead body.
“Please, come in…” Nervously, Haney invited in the two officers.
As Chan and Woodson entered the room, they saw a woman, who looked much younger and attractive, perhaps in her late 20’s, to be Mrs. Haney, busying about in the kitchen. They didn’t appear to be a likely couple who would be together at least from the physical endowments category.
“Ma’am,” said Chan, tipping off his head as they were escorted to the sofa by Haney. After taking a sit on the edge of the sofa, Chan took out his tablet and briefly scanned Haney’s bio metrics. Few seconds later, the device responded with a single ‘beep’, indicating that the subject’s bio-metrics have been normalized and locked. This was a usual procedure in any interviews conducted with potential suspects, witnesses, or any pertinent individuals who may provide information to a crime. Surprisingly, Det. Woodson sat back in the sofa, allowing the rookie Chan to take charge of the questioning.
“What is your name, please?” Chan began the interview.
“Rick Haney.”
“Date of birth?”
“August, 17, 2135.”
“Could you state the place of your birth, please?”
“Oak Brook, IL.”
“What is the address that you live at, sir?”
“3750 N. Cumberland, Chicago”
“This address is where we are conducting this interview right now, is this correct?”
“Yes, it is.”
“And, how long have you lived at this address?”
“Well, I’ve lived here for quite a while now. I moved back to Chicago area from Detroit in 2180 and I worked at the loading docks…. until 2183.” His eyes cringed as Haney murmured to himself, attempting to remember the correct years before continuing, “I took this job as the custodian… in January of 2184 and since today is March 1…, I would say about 5.5 years.”
“Thank you! Just to make a minor correction. Today is March 2, 2190, 2:30PM. That makes it 5.1 years”
“That’s what I said!” a little annoyed with this young kid investigator correcting him, Haney shot back with displeasure.
“Sir, I understand that you found the deceased in the apartment 210 in the next building. What time did you discover the body?” David followed somewhat surprised that Haney was offended by the obvious and necessary correction in his statement.
“Me and my gal, Charlene just came back from VTT vacation. You know the one in Lake Geneva? A great game they got going up there with all the fancy trips they create for you, you know…” Woodson gave a quick sharp look at Haney’s direction at this time, which Chan didn’t see. Haney continued after a brief pause. “Anyway, we left a week ago and we checked out of the travel agency at 10AM this morning. On the way back home, we stopped for a quick burger at Jefferson’s. You know, we were hungry after a great trip. On the way back home from the burger joint, I checked for my messages. With all the tenants, there always seem to be complaints about broken faucets, broken door knobs, you know things like that. Anyway, one of the messages was from Tony Lahey, the guy in the apartment 210. He said that he had his rent money for the past two months and that I can stop by to collect it at my convenience. So, I left Charlene to tend to the luggage and went directly to Tony’s apartment—,”
He was interrupted for a second at that moment by Charlene who brought out three cups of water into the living room.
“I want to freshen up if you don’t need me for anything,” and she went in to the bedroom without hesitation.
“No. Ma’am, we’ll be in touch if we need to speak to you, separately.” David said behind Charlene.
After taking a big gulp from his cup, Haney continued. “In this part of the town, you never know how these low lives will spend their cash when they have it. When it is due me, I make sure I collect it the first chance I get. So, I went over and knocked on the door. There was no answer. So, using the master keycard, I took the liberty as the custodian to check on the place and entered the apartment. That’s when I found him, dead half way sitting on the sofa. It was terrible! I lived here for many years and seen a lot of things, but never a dead body! I was so terrified that I ran right out and called UE911!” Haney seemed clearly disturbed as he described how he had discovered the body.
Keeping his eyes fixated on the tablet in his hands, David examined the fluctuations of Haney’s active bio readings. Satisfied with what he saw, he continued.
“So, you found the body at around 12:15PM. Would this be about the correct time?”
“Yes, that would be about the correct time.”
“Were you not worried about managing this place while you were on vacation?”
“Sure, I was!”
“How is it then that you were able to go away for one week and not be concerned about checking your messages all the while?”
“I left the apartment in care of the contractor by the name of Jeb Sikorski. I’ve used him in the past and he has been very dependable. He would fix things around the place. So, I assumed that all emergency calls would be handled by him. Besides, I guess you don’t know about VTT… No communication devices of any kind are permitted beyond their security check points. That’s the rule. So, even if I wanted to, it was not possible for me to check my messages.”
“I am not following you?” Chan asked briefly looking up in Haney’s direction.
“Well, that’s how it works. I don’t know, but, they do not let you carry communications devices once you check in.”
‘VTT… No Comm…’ Chan made a couple of entries in his tablet.
“Have you taken this vacation with VTT in the past?” Chan returned to questioning.
“Well, about 4 times, why?”
“How much does a trip like this set you back? Just curious…”
“I guess it all depends.”
“Well, how much did your most recent trip cost you?”
“It cost, Charlene and I, UN$ 25,500.”
Chan raised his head, looked at Haney and repeated the amount with absurdity, “UN$ 25,500!”
“Well, I don’t think I will be taking one of their two for one packages anytime soon. That’s fairly expensive. If you don’t mind me asking, how much do you get paid, sir?”
“Well, I get paid UN$7,500 per month.”
“Is that a typical custodian pay rate in this neighborhood?” Chan asked this time taking his eyes off the tablet and looking at Haney with obvious disgust and shock at the fact that this custodian was making two and a half times his salary. David had graduated from Stanford and the UN Academy of Crime Investigations prior to joining the UN Bureau of Investigations. He had taken the elite path of the elites in law enforcement, yet here he was, out earned, out traveled, and out dated by a custodian, who had a bombshell for a love interest.
“I am not sure and I don’t care how much others make!” Haney shot back with resentment, anger, and aggression, all mixed in at such line of questioning. His earlier annoyance at the kid has slowly built up and he has lost his temper.
Retreating back in his tone of voice now, Chan asked, “OK, I apologize. I didn’t mean to imply that you’re overpaid for your work. Let me ask in a different way. What would you say the fair going rate would be for your line of work?” Chan asked as he returned his attention back to his tablet and playing to the witness’s ego.
“That’s better,” but still feeling annoyed, Haney continued, “I really don’t know because I was never a custodian before. Not my expert line of work. Was a solar vehicle assembly man in St. Louis and Detroit until I was let go, twice. I moved to Chicago in search for a job and I was offered this gig and that was the amount offered to me. Later, I looked around and chatted with others in similar jobs and I found out that I was indeed, very well compensated for.”
“Roughly, would it be fair to say that you’re being paid two to three times the going rate?”
“Well, if you must know. I would say roughly three and a half times.”
“I want to ask you other questions regarding the victim. How long has…, Mr. Lahey, been living in this complex?” Chan paused for a second, still hiding his absurdity, scrolling up his tablet to find the victim’s name as he switched his attention to the deceased.
“He has been in this building for about two years if my memory serves me correct. Don’t know where he lived prior. He was very quiet, kept to himself, no troubles with the neighbors and didn’t seem to have much social life if you know what I mean.”
“What did he do for living?”
“He said that he worked as a dock loader at Northern Meat Packing, International. He really didn’t say much about his profession.”
“I see. Was his rent paid on time or had his rent ever gotten behind?”
“The first six months, he was very good. The rent was always paid on time. Then, he began either missing rents or coming up short. But, he did make it up somehow.”
“Did he ever have enough money to pay you the rent for two full months at once before?”
“Well, no. That’s why I was eager to go pick up the rent. Like I said, you never know where these guys would spend the money that they come across.”
“Do you know from your past interactions with Mr. Lahey as to where the money might have come from?”
“Like I said, he was very quiet and not very sociable. I never asked beyond what I needed to know. As long as he paid the rent, everything was cool with me. I couldn’t careless where he got the money from. It’s his business!”
“If he had never paid you two months worth of rent money in the past, wouldn’t you at the least bit have wondered where and how he could have possibly come into the possession of the money?”
“Again, it is none of my business!” Haney replied with an edged tone.
“Did he have any family members whom he either talked about or visited?”
“I am not sure. I was never made aware of any of his relatives.”
“Then, how did you ever trust to rent the apartment without knowing his background?” Chan asked keeping his eyes glued to the tablet.
“There are a lot of shaky characters in this part of the town. Rent is all cash and pays one month in advance. So, I don’t ask many questions.”
“Understandable. Now, getting back to the voice message that the victim had left, when was the message left on your voice mail?” Chan changed the subject.
“Three days ago, was what the timestamp had indicated.” Then, Haney connected to his voice box at WCT Mobile and turning back to Chan, he said “it says, 10:45 AM, Feb 27, 2190.”
“Thank you for that information. I also noticed that there were video surveillance cameras at the main entrance and in the first floor elevator area. I would like to see the access records of all the people who might have come through the main gate of Mr. Lahey’s apartment building on the day of the murder. Do you have them?”
“I don’t have them here. However, I think that can be arranged. Our security system is built and managed by Chicago Security Technology, or also known as CST. They were contracted for several years now. Let me see, I should have their business card…” Haney went into his office in the apartment. After a couple of minutes and sounds of drawers opening and closing, he reappeared at the door way saying “here is their card! I am sure they will help you with what you are looking for.”
Chan wanted to ask a few more questions when after freshening up, Charlene stepped back in to the living room tossing her long silky blond hair back. She had put on a pair of tight fitting jeans, Apex sneakers, and a tank top, exposing much part of her cleavage. Her slim waist and proportionate body lines were obviously very well toned and sculpted through many workout sessions, complimented by medical wonders. She was a very attractive girl. Again, Chan thought the couple to be of an odd match.
“Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t know they were still here, Hon!” Charlene exclaimed.
“No, ma’am, we were about finished here.” Woodson responded seemingly interested in ending the interview. He stayed very distant from the beginning of the interview and did not interrupt Chan’s questions. But, suddenly, Woodson decided that it was enough. Chan figured he could always come back to Haney and Charlene for clarifications. So, he quickly got up, thanked Haney and Charlene for their cooperation as did Woodson. Then, Haney escorted the two detectives to the door.
Woodson quickly took three steps out of the apartment. Chan took one step and before Haney could shut the door behind them, he turned around and put his left hand on the door, acting as if he had forgotten something. Then, Chan spoke in a louder, exaggerated volume than usual. “Oh, by the way, Mr. Haney, who is your employer?”
“My boss’s name is Ken Johansen. Do you have any other questions?”
“No, that will be all for now. Again, thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Haney!”
As this brief exchange was occurring, Woodson slowed his steps and perked up his ears and held his breath in an attempt to listen in on the conversation. Chan, of course, did not notice that.
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The two detectives headed back to the station in Downtown Chicago in their respective cars. Chan, all the while, determined to revisit and verify what Haney had told him. Woodson, on the other hand, was impressed by the rookie. Chan had handled the interview as if he was a seasoned detective. Woodson saw Chan’s brightness and controlled awkwardness at the same time. Further, Woodson was impressed at Chan’s eagerness to leave no stones unturned. Feeling a bitter sweet taste in his mouth, Woodson bit his lower lip and grinned as if he had just met his new nemesis in the persona of this rookie investigator.