Villalobos said, “I’ve got a question for you, Doc. Hard to imagine the same bad guy not doing both victims. So why dismember one and not the other? And why use strangulation on one and blunt force on the other?”
Milo said, “Top of that, it’s not a typical dismemberment. No attempt to hide identity, no sexual overtones.”
I said, “All I can do is speculate but it’s possible the victims meant different things to the killer.”
Villalobos said, “Explain.”
“Martha was likely the primary target. She was murdered first, the killer took time with her and got up close and personal. We know how long it takes to strangle someone. At the scene Dr. Lopatinski suggested the arms meant something to him. I agree but no way to know exactly what. Afterward he posed them in a bizarre imitation of normalcy, wrapped her up carefully, and deposited her in the deep-freeze. Then he left her to be discovered. Proud of his work. Lynne, on the other hand, he dispatched quickly and tried to conceal. Her murder feels more like tying up loose ends. Maybe because she could lead you to him.”
He curled his arms and held his hands palms up, as if hefting something. “In terms of the bad guy, he’d have to lift and lock, get the body to the rim, and boom. Not that the poor thing weighed much. In life, I mean. What was left of her came in at ninety-six but medical records from that place she was stashed put her at one thirteen. Still, even dealing with that much deadweight can be tougher than people think and this creep did it twice. Way my back is, I’d be hello chiropractor. So we’re talking some degree of strength.”
Milo said, “Mike Heck works out seriously but I can’t see any way to tie him in to Martha, let alone Lynne. The guy we spoke to at Safe Place isn’t overly buffed but he looks in shape and he was in the service.”
“Which branch?”
“Air force mechanic.”
“Heavy equipment,” said Villalobos. “I was a Navy SEAL, but now? Definitely spinal adjustment time.”
“Impressed, Hector.”
“Don’t be. I was thrilled when they accepted me, went in all gung-ho. Then eighteen months in, we were doing deep-sea training and I developed chronic ear infections.” He shrugged. “Got discharged honorably and decided to pamper myself with a nice cushy job in Homicide.”
My coffee arrived.
Villalobos pulled out his pad and turned to Milo. “What’s Mr. Airforce’s full name?”
“David Le Gallee.”
He spelled it and Villalobos copied.
“He bother you at all?”
“Not so far,” said Milo. “But he knew Lynne’s routine and was aware of Martha.”
“So we can hope. Okay, I’ll check him out. Doctor, what do you think of the place itself?”
I said, “Haven’t been inside.”
“I mean the whole setup. Letting someone like that walk by herself, even in a decent neighborhood. C’mon.”
“It wouldn’t have been my policy.”
Villalobos said, “The bleeding hearts think they’re being kind but they usually end up making a mess. Like the whole homeless thing—sorry, let’s stay on topic.”
Milo said, “Working Skid Row, you’re entitled, Hector.”
Villalobos smiled at me. “Listen to him, getting all therapeutic. Obviously, you’ve been a good influence, Doc. Okay, back to basics. Assuming Martha was the primary, we’re thinking it was about her money?”
Milo said, “Can’t see money not being a factor. We found a huge stash but it took time. So for all we know, there was more that waseasier to snag and he made off with a serious haul. That level of success, there’d be plenty of motive to tie up loose ends.”
Villalobos wrote something.
I said, “Brutally murdering two family members in short succession with one dismembered feels like a whole lot more than just robbery.”
Villalobos said, “The money plus something else? Like what?”
“Some sort of grudge against Martha. She did put away bad people.”
