A Killing in China Basin

TWENTY-ONE


La Rosa was quiet as they drove away. Her fingers drummed on the seat and she squinted as they passed through some of the last of the day’s sunlight. She stared at a couple holding hands standing talking on a corner as they waited for the light to change.

‘There are a lot of things one can do with one’s life,’ she said. ‘There are people like Heilbron in the world, but the world isn’t about them. They’re the abnormals. Don’t you ever get sick of just being in the same room as someone like him? Do you ever wonder at your decision to spend your best years chasing the worst of humanity?’

‘It’s about justice and protecting people. It’s about speaking for the dead.’

‘Yeah, sure, all that, but we just came from Heilbron’s house. Do you know what it smelled like to me in there? It smelled like someone took a quart of vomit and heated it slowly on a stove for an hour in a tight space. I can barely stand to be around him, let alone sit in his living room. You wanted to go there and he took you up on your challenge. He pushed the taunting up a notch because we showed weakness by asking for his help. Or ostensibly asking for it, and that makes him feel stronger and it may make him more dangerous.’

‘He witnessed something.’

‘And he’s going to hold it over us forever. He’ll never tell us. He was there in his Stalker-mobile and saw them go in, and later put two and two together. Now he’s got information and he’s in control.’

‘He wants the dialogue. He wants to tell us.’

‘I don’t think so. I think he lives to f*ck with us. I think I could waste my life talking to people like him, but I have another idea also, which is he did kill her and you’re right, he’s feeding us information gradually. He knew a search of his house and van would turn up nothing except for the video and the video would bring us back. But what’s your real feeling? What’s your gut? Are you after what he videotaped or after him?’

‘I think he’s still riding a thrill but with some regrets. If he had it to do over again, he probably wouldn’t come in and confess. He got all lit up the night of the murder and chatted up the responding officers, but it’s probably vicarious. He wishes it were him and has fantasized about killing a woman in that way, and when this live action came along he couldn’t resist claiming it.’

‘That’s what you said before, but now you’re working him for what he saw. Are you hoping he’ll make a mistake? And what about the fact his key worked in the padlock?’

‘Looks like a lot of people can get into the building.’

La Rosa didn’t believe that. Her fingers returned to drumming on the seat.

Early the next morning Raveneau fielded a call from a woman who said she was calling because she’d just seen the sketch of their China Basin victim and recognized her as someone she used to work with at a pottery wholesaler in Hollister. She gave a name, Alex Jurika. Raveneau got the caller’s name, phone number, and place of work. He thanked her and said he’d try to come see her today.

Then he ran Alex Jurika’s name through the Department of Motor Vehicles database. He learned there were twelve Alex Jurika’s with driver’s licenses in the state. Three were local, one was in San Francisco. The SF Jurika had an address in the Hayes Valley.

When the DMV faxed a photo Raveneau caught it as it fed into the tray. He knew the second he saw the photo and walked it over, laid it in front of la Rosa alongside the sketch of their victim. ‘Here she is. DMV shows a Hayes Street address. Want to take a ride?’

The apartment manager’s annoyed look vanished when they told him they were homicide inspectors. Raveneau showed him the DMV photo.

‘Do you know her?’

He did. He went to get a key for her apartment and then explained that he didn’t know anything about her whereabouts. She often went on short business trips. He knew Phoenix was one place she traveled to regularly.

‘What about a boyfriend or relatives?’

‘She had friends but I don’t know any of them. I asked her out once and she turned me down, but I never saw a boyfriend.’

He gave them a look as if to say she was a little odd for not going out with him.

‘What about friends within the apartment complex?’

He shrugged, didn’t know.

‘Let’s go have a look at her apartment,’ Raveneau said.