Murder One (47 page)

Each day, before trial, the presiding judge took the bench, the lawyers took their seats at the counsel tables, and the defendant entered escorted by sheriff’s deputies and wearing handcuffs. The courtroom had very much the feel of the greenroom backstage of a theater production, where the actors and directors discuss their performances and upcoming scenes. Upon completing this daily routine the bailiff would seat the jury and the curtain would rise on another day. Unfortunately, what I was watching was not theater, but the aftermath of a horrific crime. I spent much of the day focusing my attention on King County Senior Prosecutor Scott O’Toole and his innate ability to interact with the jurors through his opening statement and the dozens of witnesses he would call on behalf of the state. While Scott would not talk to me about the case, he would answer general questions about criminal proceedings. I learned a tremendous amount, including that if I ever were to commit a crime, and I don’t intend
to, I would not want Scott prosecuting me. Excellence does not quite describe how good he is. The trial would last months, but he entered each day looking fresh and energized, and his direct and cross-examinations rarely strayed from perfect.

While I did not talk to the attorneys representing the defendant I did have three months to observe them and their demeanor. In addition, I asked questions of attorneys Russell H. Dawson and John Kannin, both of whom have spent years navigating the criminal justice system on behalf of their clients and who have developed well-deserved reputations as proactive advocates. I am grateful for their assistance.

I am also grateful to Kelly Heafy Rosa, investigator, Criminal Division, King County Prosecutor’s Office, and good friend. Kelly helped to put me in touch with many of the specialists who generously gave their time so that I could try to get the police procedure accurate and include cool things like man-tracking, dog-scenting, and forensic ballistics. Thanks for coming through, Kell.

The first person Kelly put me in touch with was King County sheriff detective Scott Tompkins, Major Crimes Unit/Cold Case Homicides. Despite his busy schedule, Scott spent the better part of half a day discussing the idea for this novel, how he would investigate the crime as I presented it to him, and gave me ideas on how I could make it even more intriguing.

Scott, in turn, put me in touch with Detective Jennifer South-worth of the Seattle Police Department Crime Scene Investigations Unit. That’s CSI for you TV folks. Detective Southworth not only provided me with a tour of the King County Evidence Center, but also spent her time discussing how a CSI unit would respond to the crime scene I proposed. In addition, she spent time discussing with me what it is like being a female detective in what remains a predominantly male profession.

Detective Southworth put me in touch with Detective Dana Duffy, Seattle Police Department Homicide/Assault Unit. Detective Duffy is Seattle’s only female homicide detective. Again, I was grateful for her willingness to answer questions, her suggestions such as the polygraph test, and her insight on being the only woman on the homicide team. Both detectives helped me to create what I hope to
be a realistic portrait of a female homicide detective. I’m grateful for their time and honesty.

I am also grateful to Kathy Decker, King County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue coordinator and instructor/sign cutter, otherwise known as a “man-tracker.” Detective Decker helped me to understand how a tracker can follow signs that most of us would never see to track where a human being has been, or where they might currently be. It is a fascinating science and I hope my brief explanation in the book does it justice. It was Kathy who suggested I get in touch with and speak to King County sheriff’s deputies Randy Houser and Zbig Kasprzyk, K-9 Unit. They explained the science behind training a dog to scent a human being. As good as Kathy and her compatriots are at their jobs, man’s best friend was blessed with a sense of smell we can’t come close to, and it allows them to do remarkable things in the hands of their trainers. I’m grateful to both men for meeting me and answering all my questions.

Along my research journey I was also placed in touch with Washington State Patrol supervising forensic scientist, Firearm/Toolmark Section, Rick Wyant. Rick, I was told, is the “boy wonder” of forensic science, and he did not let me down. His motto is “Why speculate when you can simulate,” and he gets to do for a living things that make most men salivate—shooting and blowing up things to help him determine the trajectory of bullets and how a crime unfolded at the crime scene. I hope I did his profession justice and thank him for his time.

As Rick and I sat talking I was introduced to Seattle police officer Tom Burns, Southwest Precinct. Officer Burns agreed to take me through the steps of a police officer responding to a report of “shots fired” and the presence of a “prowler.” Officer Burns’s insight, from more than twenty years on the job, was a great help to me.

Special thanks also to Bernie Dennehy, corrections program administrator, King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, for explaining to me the procedures when a defendant is arrested and when a defense attorney seeks to speak to his client. As one might imagine, incarcerating human beings is a difficult challenge on a number of different levels and I’m grateful to Bernie for sharing his valuable time with me.

I also owe a special thanks to Micheal Hurley (that’s the Irish spelling of Michael, he tells me), supervisory special agent, Drug Enforcement Administration (retired). Mike is a good friend who invited me to his home and explained to me much about the drug trade. In past books Mike has been behind the scenes but graciously agreed to allow me to use his name for a character in this book. I could think of no one better to lead a covert drug enforcement agency. Thanks, Mike.

Special thanks also to Adrian Coombes, who told me to ask for “the Brit” when I visited him at Wade’s Eastside Gun Shop in Bellevue, Washington. Mr. Coombes was a big help with the firearms I chose to use in this novel and how those firearms would react. Finally, I’m grateful to Paula Henry, A.D.E. combat operator, who spent half a day at the Los Angeles firing range demonstrating, then teaching me how to shoot, various weapons. It was a heck of a lot of fun, but also a sobering lesson on the power and force those firearms possess.

As much as all of these individuals assisted me I am most grateful to Kirkland police detective Brad Porter. Detective Porter was the lead detective on the brutal killing mentioned above. He sat at counsel table beside Scott O’Toole throughout the months, working long days and nights, but always met with me and took my calls when I had questions about police procedure. Detective Porter even read the manuscript so that I could make it as realistic as possible. My thanks to you, Brad, for your kindness.

As careful as I tried to be, I’m sure there are mistakes. It is difficult to write a novel and account for legal procedure, which can occur over many years before a defendant ever sees a courtroom. Any mistakes are mine and mine alone. This experience, more than any other I have had writing novels, made a distinct impression on me. Those who choose to give their lives in law enforcement, be it as officers, detectives, investigators, or prosecutors, really do serve the people of the state. They are dedicated servants doing their very best at a very difficult job to keep people like me and my family safe. Too often in the news we read about one of their brethren making a mistake. Too infrequently do we hear of their heroism, each and every day, that they put themselves out in the community doing their jobs
to keep the rest of us alive. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude. I hope this book depicts them as the heroes they are.

Special thanks to Jerry Willins and Virginia Dugaw for their generous support of the La Conner Rotary Scholarship program. I was pleased to use their names as characters in this novel to support that organization and the good it does. The La Conner Rotary has allowed me to share a dinner and a book signing with them since the publication of my first book,
The Cyanide Canary
, back in 2004. I very much look forward to my visits, particularly seeing Lee and Dee Carlson, my hosts. Rotaries do great work worldwide and I’m humbled to do my small part to support their greater good.

Thanks to Meg Ruley of the Jane Rotrosen Agency, my agent. Meg is simply the best. She has an infectious personality that sees the glass half-full. I am indebted to her for so much. Thanks also to the rest of the Rotrosen team who read my drafts and offer suggestions. I do appreciate all of your support. I couldn’t do it without you.

Thanks to Tami Taylor, who runs my website and does a fantastic job. Thanks to the cold readers who labor through my early drafts and help make my manuscripts better. Thanks to Pam Binder and the Pacific Northwest Writers Association for their tremendous support of my work.

Thanks to Touchstone/Simon & Schuster for believing in
Murder One
and in me. To publisher Stacy Creamer, thanks for your support and promotion of
Murder One
and my career. Thanks to Trish Todd, Marcia Burch, David Falk, Meredith Kernan, Jessica Roth, Lauren Spiegel, art director Cherlynne Li, production editor Josh Karpf, production manager George Turianski, and interior designer Renata Di Biase. If I missed anyone, you know you have my thanks.

To Louise Burke, Pocket Books publisher, and Pocket Books associate publisher Anthony Ziccardi as well as editor Abby Zidle for great insight and support. And thanks to all on the Touchstone and Pocket Books sales forces. I wouldn’t be writing this without you.

Thank you also to the loyal readers who e-mail me to tell me how much they enjoy my books and await the next. You are the reason I keep looking for the next David Sloane adventure, and beyond.

I’ve dedicated this book to my brother-in-law, Jim Fick. Jim has overcome so much in his life to become a tremendous man. He cares
for all he loves, his mother, his brothers, and his own family, and he has been kind enough to include me. Jim promotes my books as hard as anyone, especially to the legal community. His law firm, Bullivant Houser Bailey, and in particular Matt Hooper and Chris Bakes, has become a big proponent of my work and source of knowledge for me. That would not have happened but for Jim. He gives so much of himself; I hope someday I can give back half as much.

And always, first in my heart, my wife and my two kids, who are no longer kids. Cristina has raised a wonderful son and daughter and they fortunately inherited many of her wonderful qualities and beauty. You work too hard. I hope to remedy that someday, too. In the interim, thanks for standing by me.

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