Homicide Desk IV
The White Shoe Slaying

Homicide Desk IV -- The White Shoe Slaying

-- Special Notes for this Case --
Newspaper #6 -- Inside Stuart Ackerman’s shack in the Hobo Camp.

Before we even start to work through this part in the guide I need to emphasize that for this case, you need to be driving yourself at each stage and not having Rusty drive -- the reason for that is due to several areas where you will miss clues if you are not driving.  So do your own driving for this one.

The case opens with another war flashback only this time we get to see what our men thought of us -- and they we see the victim of the crime -- but not the crime itself.

The first thing that is different is that it is a dark and rainy day -- I am sure that those happen in California, I have just never been there when they did, but if they really are dark like that, well, spooky...

Investigating the scene of the crime

When you arrive at the marker it changes to indicate that you need to go up the dirt road into the park.  When you get up there you get a full briefing from the Detective on the scene, and then you start working.

-- Examine the money

-- Examine the tyre tracks

-- Examine the footprints

-- Examine the body and find the laundry label when you look at the head

That is pretty much all that there is to see here thanks to the rain -- as you step outside of the crime rope a CS kicks in of a police car arriving; the uniform cop has a witness for you, one Catherine Barton.

-- Suspicious Persons: Truth

She fills you in on the disfigured hobo -- you thank her, and she leaves.

Now head over to the Police Call Box -- it has the blue light on it -- and call in to Dispatch to get the address you need...

Since the hobo camp might lead to a suspect and will certainly lead to more clues we will have to follow, it would be a good idea to do the laundry first just to save time.  So hop in the car and head for the laundry now...

-- Superior Laundry Services --

When we arrive we find that the counter person is at the back counter is actually helpful -- he grabs the register and we find the entry -- F1363 -- which belongs to Mrs. T. Taraldsen, 43 Emerald Street, Westlake.

-- The Taraldsen Residence --

The address is not far away -- and when we arrive we find the husband home.  Lars here tells us that his wife has not come home from the previous night out.   You break the news, and then tell him that you are going to take a look around his house.  He takes the kids to the kitchen, and they start bitching.

In the Master Bedroom on the dresser is a matchbook for Baron's Bar that you should examine.  Next to the matchbook is a photo that is turned face-down that you should look at as well.  On the floor by the bed is a pink handbag to look at.

On your way to the kitchen there is a bookshelf with a model boat and some family photos you can examine, and then when you get to the kitchen make your way to the back, where you will discover a laundry room with other evidence in it.

Check the following items in the laundry room:

-- Purse on the counter -- inside is lipstick and her license that you should examine

-- A pair of Muddy Boots: examine closely

-- Wet Plaid Jacket hanging on the doorknob

Use the back door and head around the left side of the house to find a boat.

-- Rope: check the front of the boat to find a rope that matches the marks on the victim

Interviewing Lars Taraldsen

You now have all that you need to have to question Lars, so head back inside and do that!

-- Possible Suspects: Lie / Bow Rope

-- Alibi for Lars Taraldson: Doubt

-- Victim's State of Mind: Doubt

-- Last Contact with Victim: Lie / Muddy Boots

Use the phone here to call for uniforms and then head back to the car and visit the bar next.

-- Baron's Bar --

Inside the bar you find the bartender -- you know bars really do factor in largely with this series of cases, I am just saying -- I wonder if they had a temp bartender?

The bartender is Benny Cluff, and the answers are below of you need them:

-- Last Contact with Victim: Truth

-- Vagrant Male Suspect: Doubt

-- Yellow Cab 3591: Truth

When you finish with the bartender go back and chat with Bates -- but he runs, jumping into a truck forcing you to chase him down.

-- Contact with Victim: Doubt

-- Account of Movements: Doubt

The story sort of makes sense -- so find a phone and call it in to put an APB on the cab -- she gives you a message from the Captain about a sailor -- you need to go see him at the station, but then you get the APB call on the cab and you have to chase it down.  There is a yellow flag on it, but you have to hurry to catch up to it.

When you do catch it you interview the driver, who fills you in on what happened, and then you drive back to the station to interview the sailor.

Interviewing Sailor James Jessop

-- Central Police Station --

The desk cop tells you that the sailor is in Interview Room 2, so head in there and have you a chat. The correct answers are below if you need them:

-- Contact with Victim: Doubt

-- Incident with Bates: Doubt

-- Movement prior to Murder: Doubt

-- Cab Ride with Victim: Doubt

After you wrap up the questioning you learn that the hobo suspect has been sighted == but DO NOT immediately head for him, instead follow up the lead from the sailor first, and find the bus driver to interview him...

Drive to the bus terminal and talk to the dispatcher there to learn what the bus route is for that bus, and then track down the bus and interview the driver -- once you have done that and only after doing that, go ahead and set the hobo camp as your destination, and drive there now.

You tried to drive a bus didn't you?  Don't lie to me, I know you did!

-- Hobo Camp --

-- Newspaper No. 6 is inside the hut on a crate when you walk in so be sure to read that and get the CS first.  Now you see how this story ties into us...

When you go in Rusty brings a shotgun and calls for backup -- it seems hobos and the cops do not get along, and after Rusty shoots a few you beat one of them down.  After he gets hauled in, you search for evidence.

Hobo Camp Clues:

-- Bloodstained Rope Piece: on the bedside table inside the hut

-- Purse: the table across from the bed

-- Crystal Ballroom Ticket: inside of the purse

-- Army Photo: the photo on the table verifies the guy is a vet

That is all of the evidence you can find here, so go ahead and return to the station now, and interview the hobo...

Interviewing Stuart Ackerman

-- Central Police Station--

As you interview him be prepared to be disturbed...  The correct answers are below if you need them:

-- Motive for Murder: Doubt

-- Contact with Victim: Doubt

-- Alibi for Stuart Ackerman: Lie / Purse

The interview wraps up with him admitting that he likes to kill -- you charge him, and that ends the interview. 

The usual CS with the Captain follows, with him telling you that he has spoken to the Chief and Mayor, and he plans to roust out the hobos.  You are his favorite pair for now it seems!

You should have easily 5-Starred this one, with a perfect 17 for both Clues and Questions.