Sting

Who Killed Marnie Thomas? - Chapter 6

Giuseppe's Pizza Restaurant, Yorkville.

Baldaire was waiting at the host stand, scanning the restaurant, and making note of the CCTV cameras, when a scruffy waiter approached her.

"Eatin' in or takin' away?" He said with a thick Italian Brooklyn accent.

"No, thank you." She flashed her badge, letting it catch the harsh lights. "I'm here on a murder inquiry. I'd like to ask to take a look at your security footage."

"Lady, this is New York, them cameras don't work."

"Of course they don't." She sighed. "What about the one outside?"

"That one? That thing's older than my grandfather but knock yourself out."

. . .

Baldaire sat in her SUV opposite the restaurant, her laptop resting on her knees as she watched the footage on fast forward. The image was grainy and in monochrome, but she could get by.

People walked up the street, across the road, in and out of the restaurant. Finally, Michael came into frame and stopped in front of the restaurant. Looking behind him, he made a beckoning gesture.

"Hello, Michael."

Baldaire is taken aback when a familiar face rushes into frame after him.

"Marnie?"

She paused the footage and zoomed in on her face - she looked uncomfortable. She made a note of the time stamp, '15 : 48 : 12 THU', and played the footage, watching them both enter the restaurant. 'So, he didn't kill her... he was with Marnie.'

She continued fast-forwarding, and then hit play again when she saw the two emerge from the restaurant, engaged in a verbal spat, silently shouting over the screen as people shoved past them, deaf to the world. Eventually, Michael threw his hands in the air and re-entered the restaurant. Marnie paced outside for a few moments, grasping at her long blonde hair, before hailing a cab. Just like that, she disappeared. No trace of her anywhere. This was the last image of Marnie Thomas.

"Where did you go?"

She rewinded slightly and paused on the cab, zooming in on the medallion number. It was too grainy to make out, so she noted down the time stamp, '15 : 51 : 57 THU', and screenshotted the zoomed in image.

Mailto: m a l i n a n i e t z s c h e @ n y p d w a s p . o r g . u s

Subject: URGENT!

Phil, 

I need you to enhance this medallion number ASAP. Do not tell the captain!

Eli.

MESSAGE SENT.

. . .

Brewster stood in the hall of the morgue, tapping his foot on the cold floor, trying not to inhale the clinical smell too deeply, and was surprised when Baldaire appeared from round the corner, berating someone over the phone.

"No, the Yorkville address, I just need you find out who the driver was and find out where he drove her." She finally reached Brewster from down the long hallway. "I don't need to get a warrant, do I?" Another pause. "Good. Thank you."

Brewster immediately began questioning her as soon as she hung up the phone.

"I though the captain sent your ass home."

"Yeah, well, I won't tell if you won't."

"We searched Michael's car. That SOB had the kid's bag in the passenger side, and his gun's missin' from his glove box. He must've shot one and stashed the other."