The Blue & The Grey (Cupid & Psycho)

Ryan gives the ME his card, with the new number at which messages can be left for him scribbled on the back.

On their way to his car, he shakes his head.

"Ah do not know what is going on here, pardner, but it smells bad, real bad to this lil' town ex-hick cop turned feeb. Sure, that poor miz was a virtual nobody, but still, just the manner of her death.. That be the kind of stuff your ex-friends at the papers would drool over, right? So just da fear of that should at least make them try to look like they be working the case at the copshop."

Sliding into the driver's seat after having opened the passenger door for Shannon, he shakes his head.

"Ya know what? If ya do not object, I'd like to start next with where she worked at. Of all the places we gotta visit, I think it's the one most likely to have us learn more about who she was. And I wanna learn who she was reaaaal well. I work best at finding scum when I'm real pissed at 'em. Oh, and remind me to punch that moron McNutsy at some point."
 

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Shannan chuckled at the McNutsy comment. "Stand in line and take a number. I want first shot. He's slimy." she sobered. "I was planning on hitting her place of work, then her home anyway. That sergent and the coroner are on the list of suspects you know. Something about them doesn't sit well with me. In any case, tis best to rule them out in the long run." she said as Ryan pulled out and into traffic.

She looked sideways at him and nodded in agreement. "I agree that this is bad partner. Something tells me this guy has killed before and is going to kill again if he hasn't already." she looked ahead. "There was too much... I don't know. Like when a cat plays with a mouse. Once they get the taste for it, tis hard to let go."
 
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The Hideaway Lounge relies on nighttime darkness for its ambience; in the late afternoon California sun it looks as grey as a burned-out TV tube. Only the owner (Jerry Veasey) and two waitresses are present. Veasey informs you that Michelle stopped showing up for work about three weeks ago and hasn't asked for a paycheck since. He thought it odd, since she was fairly responsible.

One of the waitresses (Irene Miller) professes to have been a friend of Michelle's, although they hadn't talked for about ten days. Irene apparently didn't know her "friend" was dead, since she breaks down crying and has to excuse herself for the night, leaving Veasey grumbling about being short. [NOTE - this is after you speak with her; it does not appear as though she is evading questions]

After talking with the second waitress (Phyllis Carroll), both of you feel there is little else to find out here, so you take a quick trip to Dowling's flat. Upon seeing your badges, the landlady is more than happy to let you in.

"Michelle was a good girl, never loud or out late with men. I hope you find whoever hurt her - apart from one detective I don't think the police have come by at all."

Unfortunately, she doesn't recall any recent boyfriends. "I do think she was seeing someone, but I didn't meet him. Naturally, I would never let my girls bring men here without a chaperone! As for friends, I know she worked at a nightclub and was close to several of the other waitresses there - all of them waiting for their big break...."

The landlady leaves you alone as you begin your search. The contents of Dowling's apartment are typical for what you expect a young aspiring actress to have. There are no photos of her with any men, but several with her and an assortment of female friends. In a box in her closet is a Land Camera.

Mac lifts the lid of a rolltop desk and finds a stack of resumes. Oddly, the name on top of each one is Marilyn Monroe. Looking more closely, the acting credits are all movies with Monroe in them: Monkey Business, We're Not Married!, Don't Bother to Knock.... The address is this apartment, however, and a stack of publicity photos beneath the resumes are Dowling's alone.

While Shannan looks for a diary or journal, she discovers a stack of Diner's Club receipts in a cabinet - everything from December of last year is signed "Marilyn Monroe" in what appears to be Dowling's handwriting.
 



"Strange. Looks like this Dowling girl was trying to pass as that actress girl, Marylin Monroe. Wonder why?" Shannan asked outloud.
 

Ryan shrugs.

"Can't say I know much 'bout the movie biz. May be she thought using a name of a somewhat unknown with more credits than her would get her foot in the door, and once she got in.. Get famous.. Doesn't matter if it's found out? 'Course, if it got widespread enough, could be a cause for her murder, too. Mistaken identity, or someone thought he was gonna meet someone else and didn't. Gah. I hate complications."

Ryan runs his hand over his buzzcut hair, and kicks at the couch.

"And those idiots not running with the case for whatever reason, incompetence or cover-up or who knows what. We don't have the manpower to run the whole investigation though. Let me try and find out how far the boss wants us to push the locals."

Hoping Dowling's phone still works (and that she has one in the first place), Ryan will try and call the boss. He wants to find out how far he wants them/are allowed to light a fire under the cops, push some Federal weight around.
 

While Ryan calls the boss-man, Shannan sits down on a couch and begins to write down what they've found so far. Which is precious little

1) McNutsy is a moron, the coroner isn't much better
2) Dowling was murdered. Signs of mutilation as well-> possible serial killer?
3) Might have a boyfriend or significant other -> more digging there
4) Dowling was posing as this Marilyn Monroe girl -> we may have to interview her.
5) Both McNutsy and the Coroner are possible suspects. Dunno why, just something doesn't feel right about em. A background check on both are a must.
 

Mac gets through to Dales and explains what you have found so far. "I don't think the brass has anything to do with the case, except - well, what about Monroe herself? If the studio is aware of indiscretions we don't know about, they could have leaned on the cops to keep things quiet. It wouldn't be the first time in this town, as I understand it."
 

"The movie industry?" Shannan perked her head up at that as Ryan related what the boss said. "Da..Darnit," she said, editing what she was going to say, to preserve the politness level if nothing else. "Those snakes are worse than the New York mob. At least they're halfway civilized,"
 
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