Chapter 39
RICH CONKLIN AND I were driving back from Oakland when I got a call from Cindy Thomas. I felt a little guilty for not putting the call on speakerphone, but if Rich realized I was talking to his wife, he never let on.
As soon as I answered the phone, Cindy went into hyperdrive, telling me about her latest tip and why the sergeant in San Julio had given it to her.
I had to admit, the sergeant wasn’t wrong. Unless the tip went to the right detective in the right department, someone who was involved in investigating missing persons or crimes against children, it probably wouldn’t be a top priority for follow-up.
“I’ll call the sergeant directly so it’ll be official. Then we’ll check out the lead,” I told Cindy.
“So it’s not a problem if I come along?”
“It’s not a problem for me. It could be for you. Later you might have to explain why you chose me,” I mumbled a bit, hoping Rich hadn’t deciphered any of the conversation, while also hoping Cindy would understand my meaning.
“Is Rich there with you right now?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“And you think he’d be upset if I didn’t invite him to come along with us?”
“You tell me.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I love my husband, but I think it’ll be better if I just have you come with me.”
“Sounds lovely.” We arranged for Cindy to pick me up from the Hall of Justice.
An hour later, I was standing on the sidewalk near a side entrance when Cindy rolled up in her Hyundai sedan, and I hopped in like a celebrity avoiding the paparazzi.
I’d already called Sergeant Davis at the San Julio Police Department. She’d given me all the information I needed, and I assured her that I’d clear it with our Special Victims Unit.
Once I had my seat belt on, I said to Cindy, “You left out the part about your tipster working at a topless bar.”
“Didn’t you tell me that people with good information often hang out in places we’d never think about visiting?”
“You realize The Brass Ring is the same place where Tina Barnes worked? You remember, the woman whose body Claire saw in Golden Gate Park.”
Cindy almost looked excited. “You think this could be related?”
“We’re going to find out pretty soon. If so, it’s the first connection we’ve made between these cases.”
Cindy whipped through the city traffic as she filled me in on what she’d done so far and how she’d figured out the phone number the tipster had provided went to a topless bar.
I said, “Seems a real crapshoot to try and catch this tipster at this time of day. I bet it doesn’t get busy until much later in the evening. I doubt even a third of their staff is working now.”
We found the club on a corner, not far from the Tenderloin.
The outside of the building wasn’t anything special.
No big placards or murals of naked women.
They probably wanted to stay well away from breaking city regulations about obscene material in public.
Overall, the building wasn’t in bad shape.
The adjoining parking lot was newly repaved with two handicap spots by the main entrance at the side of the building.
Someone was making enough money for renovations.
We pulled into the big parking lot but couldn’t find any available spaces. Not bad for the early afternoon on a weekday.
I looked at Cindy and said, “I guess I’ll keep my ideas to myself for a little while.”
“Apparently this is exactly the time of day when everyone comes to a club like this.”
“I guess any time is a good time to see naked women if that’s your priority.”