At the Orpheum (Blogophilia 29.6)

[Montage of the sun rising red over the Mississippi River, giving a slight glow to the bridges and the Pyramid]

A few hours later, Sullens and Brick arrive at the Orpheum Theater to meet with the manager. As they walk through the lobby towards the office, he explains that the decedant, Mr. Kaye, came into the theater for the 8:00PM show.  As he entered, other patrons began to complain about his companion's clothing falling off. What appeared to be a slender blonde woman in an orange Speedo type swimsuit was actually a blow up marital aid.  Since there were minor children attending this showing, Theater Security asked Kaye to leave.  

They follow the manager into the office to review surveillance system.  As it turned out, the cameras covering the sidewalk outside the facility had malfunctioned and there was no recording of the incident.  

Disappointed, the two Detectives began to canvass the sidewalks around the theater to catch anybody who had been in the area overnight.  

Sullens: "Pretty typical situation.  No one really wants to say anything or admit they were in the area.  Hey, Brick! Let's get back to the office before the storm hits."

Back at the office, Lt. Martian waves the two over.  "As you know, I knew Kaye very well and we had worked together a lot over the years.  I talked to the Captain and the Commander, and we all agree it is best for me to step aside for this investigation.  I went ahead and gave them my statement and I am taking off for a couple of weeks.  Good luck and please find the $^&^ that did this."

"We'll do our best."  Det. Brick hugs her boss and he leaves.

"I feel like I'm trapped in a song."  Sullens replies. "You know 'The Way We Were?'  Something about misty colored memories? "

"Oh, shut up Metal Head." 

Then, a call comes in from the Medical Examiners office.  The autopsy has been completed. The Medical Examiner states the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, possibly by the butt of a gun. But there is a surprise.  When the fingerprints came back, the victim was not Commander Danny Kaye. They belonged to a Ronald Duck . Sgt. Farthing looks Duck up in the database. 

Duck was originally from Los Angeles, California.   He has prior convictions of Prostitution and Identity Theft in both California and Tennessee and was released from prison just a few weeks ago. Farthing looks for next of kin, but none of the paperwork lists any contacts.    
  
"So, Mr. Duck.  How did you end up on Beale St not singing the blues. Or anything else?  Hey, Metal.  You think we need to let Command know?"

"Yeah, but we'll let Marvin take his vacation. I'm a little scared of that thing he keeps in his waistband. He was looking like something out of Mars Attacks. Hey, doesn't he look little like Donald Duck?"

"You got that right. I'm going to put in a call out to Disney if they can shed some light.  " Farthing nods. "Did C.S.U. find anything that looked like a blowup doll?"

"Not that I'm aware of."  Sullens replies, rubbing his bald head. "You suppose the perp took it as a trophy?"

"Maybe, but right now we need to find out where Mr. Duck was prior to coming to the Orpheum. I guess nothing happens unless we dream."

"Thanks, Mr. Disney. I'll go out to the last known address and see what I can find."


{To Be Continued}




Part 1   Summertime Blues
Part 2   Three Hours In