Calling All Cars, Tag: Shelby

[Leigha Mitchell]

Leigha had the cell phone she'd received in the mail tucked safely into her pocket book. Her pocket book was huge, full of miscellaneous feminine items. A hair brush, make up, tiny mirror, her address and date book and the cell, resting at the bottom. She approached Officer Merrick's office with trepidation. No one save for herself knew of the phone she'd received. Leigha had listened to the messages and was left more confused than ever over Ezra's death. There were unfamiliar voices and dates, times and meeting places, none of which she'd known about.

Why was Ezra meeting with these people, for what purpose. Who were they? Leigha had many questions and no answers but she'd get them, somehow or another. One thing Leigha didn't do was give up easily and this would be no different. Ezra didn't kill himself, she knew that to be a fact but had no proof whatsoever to back her claim, she just went on pure gut instinct.

Surely this cell showing up could help in the investigation into his death. She'd told no one of the cell yet. She'd tell only two people, Shelby and Trevin. Trevin because she trusted him and Shelby because of her position on the Criminal Behavioral Team. Leigha would not give up the phone for fear that it would fall into the wrong hands and mysteriously vanish. She couldn't allow that to happen. With a deep sigh she raised her hand and knocked on Officer Merrick's door, shifting her weight from one foot to the other while she waited for the door to be opened.

[Shelby Merrick]

Shelby was busy thinking what Scott had said to her just the other day. Shelby pulled out her locked drawer that only she had the key too and opened it up looking inside there were some files and a lone cell phone. Shelby had reached down to touch it and then Shelby had gotten startled by a knock on her door. Shelby immediately shut her drawer and locked it back up.

Shelby sat straighter in her seat and gathered herself before saying, " Come on in." She stood up as she noticed a young woman enter she did not know this woman, but maybe it was concerning a new case or she could be apart of another department...Shelby smiled and held out her hand to the woman. "Officer Merrick how can I help you?" Shelby motioned for her to sit down and took a seat herself. "Can I offer you a refreshment I have water, soda, or coffee?" Shelby looked at the mysterious woman still. but being polite as she usually was with guests.

[Leigha Mitchell]

Leigha was very nervous, standing there waiting patiently for the door to be answered, she sighed wearily and ran a hand over the back of her hair. She held what she considered precious cargo in her purse. She'd held onto the cell for several days now, debating just what to do with it. After hemming and hawing for days she'd come to the conclusion that she had to tell someone that could look into it. Someone that didn't know her or her ties to Ezra.

That had lead her here to Officer Merrick's office. A female voice called out and snapped her back to attention and she slowly turned the door knob peeking her head inside. The woman was standing and Leigha entered her office leisurely. The greeting she was offered was a polite one and Leigha smiled back at her, reaching out to give a firm handshake. "Leigha Mitchell, pleased to meet you Officer." She'd been asked how she could be helped and drew a complete blank. She couldn't just blurt it out. For all she knew this woman wasn't on Ezra's case. She'd have to take a chance. "I'm here about the death of Ezra Freidkin." Leigha took a seat in the chair indicated and croseed one leg over the other at her knee. "I'm fine, thank you," she replied in answer to Officer Merrick's offer of refreshments.

[Shelby Merrick]

Shelby smiled at the young woman before her being very formal, but in the setting they were in it was not unexpected. Shelby held the smile whlie she spoke, "Please just call me Shelby." Shelby sat down in her chair behind her desk after the woman had taken a seat as well. Shelby scooted up to the desk and her head snapped up at what the woman stated she was here for. Shelby pressed her lips together wondering what this was about...especially not knowing who the woman was, but yet she was here about Ezra?

Shelby's throat had went dry for a moment and she had to reach for her coffee mug and take a sip of it to wet her throat. She was really worried about speaking and having nothing but a creak in her voice and Shelby didn't want to come off as being nervous. Shelby looked at the woman in the eyes and questioned, "Okay, do y ou have questions or..." Shelby left her voice trail off she couldn't really say 'do you have information on his death?' Now could she...well she could but being an officer herself she knew that the law had decided to rule it a suicide and to everyone else beside her own judgement she had to agree with that for purpose and professional sense.

[Leigha Mitchell]

"Thank you Shelby," she said as she glanced around the office she stood in. Leigha smoothed her hands over the folds of her skirt and after a few moments of taking in the nicknacks in Shelby's office she returned her gaze to the woman herself. She cleared her throat when her head snapped up. So that had surprised her, that was interesting. Leigha feared that Shelby would be unable to help her, she'd been wrong and the blond's reaction was proof of it, at least in her mind. Leigha wasn't sure who could be trust and with what information and it left her feeling extremely helpless and very paranoid.

Leigha kept a watchful eye on Shelby, trying to gauge her reactions but it wasn't easy. The only thing she was able to decipher was that she'd shocked one Shelby Merrick with her mentioning Ezra's name. Leigha steeled her shoulders, her hands laying still on her lap now. "I actually have a lot of questions and I was hoping you could answer some of them." That was a good start surely. Asking some questions, she might not have to mention the cell she'd received afterall. On the other hand her having it and no one knowing could be dangerous for her.

[Shelby Merrick]

Shelby could tell just by this woman's reactions and movements that she was sizing Shelby up as well. Shelby pressed her lips together and thought that could be good whether the woman was deciding whether to trust her or not or bad whether the woman was trying to see if she could pump her for solicited information. Shelby knew that this was going to be a sensitive conversation especially with the topic of Ezra and all that surrounds him.

Shelby sat up straight in her chair and leaned backwards a bit trying to get relaxed, so that the nervous young woman would relax a bit as well. Shelby tilted her head to the side at her question. It was just another question...it didn't give her a definite reason to whether she was here was a good thing or a bad thing, so Shelby would continue to play the cautious side.

Shelby stated, " Well I will do my very best to be able to answer all your questions, so if you want to just start up. I will answer at will." Shelby flashed her a sincere, but comforting smile hoping it would help in relaxing her.

[Leigha Mitchell]

For a brief moment Leigha wondered if coming here had been the smart thing to do, maybe she should have just kept her mouth closed. She couldn't therein lie her problem. This was Ezra, she couldn't keep quiet. She owed it to him to find out the truth and expose it. She just wasn't sure this was the right way to do that. She was here now and she was going to sit here and chat with the Detective and see what happened.

As she watched Detective Merrick get comfortable, she followed suit, shifting in her own seat into a more comfortable position. Her gaze never left the woman seated behind the desk and the urge to blurt out that she had Ezra's cell phone was nearly overwhelming. Leigha held her tongue and simple cleared her throat as she gathered her wits around her.

She nodded and started to speak, if a bit hesitantly. "Do you think that Ezra's death was a suicide? I don't." That was as good as any place to start, wasn't it? If the Detective thought it had been then she might be able to help her. Leigha sent a prayer heavenward that the Detective would speak honestly with her.

[Shelby Merrick]

Shelby was a little caught off guard she hadn't expected a loaded question as such to be right off the bat, but yet why ease yourself into a freezing cold pool might as well cannon ball right in and this is exactly like that terminology. Shelby sat back in the chair and took a deep breath and was sure on her expression it showed her as caught off guard. Shelby bit her bottom lip and then answered, "Well, my department had went through and all the evidence points to being a suicide even as much as some people don't want to admit that."

There it was she gave her standard official answer that she was supposed to do. She saw a let down in the expression of her face and then Shelby leaned forward placing her arms on the desk. " And I would be one of those people that don't want to admit...there is just no one he could have done it...I don't have truth...yet...but I am working on it and I will find the truth and it will be opened for the world to see, so Ezra's memorial will mean something." Shelby could probably get into a lot of trouble for what she just told her, but there was something that Shelby could sense that she could open herself up to this woman.

[Remington Brant]

Remington was at the station, a place he usually tried to avoid. He didn't really like being at the station, and he only came up when he had paperwork to fill out that he absolutely couldn't put off any longer. Hence, the reason for his presence in the building tonight. He had finally completed the last of the forms he had to fill out and was on his way to file everything. The route he had to take to get to the file room took him right past the office of the one and only Shelby Merrick. Remy most definitely had a thing for the little minx behind that door, even though he knew she wanted nothing to do with him. In fact, it was her lack of interest that made him want her more. There were many nights when the only campanion he really had were his thoughts of her and what he'd like to do to her.

Remy grinned at his thoughts about her as he walked by her office. The door was open slightly and as he walked by, Remy overheard one word. Ezra.

It was really the only word he needed to hear. So Shelby was discussing what was officially an open and shut case - and it didn't sound like she believed the reports very much. Of course, she didn't! She was always one to stick her nose in places it didn't belong, and it was usually on a case she didn't have any business being involved in. This particular case was no exception. Shelby Merrick was going to get herself hurt if she didn't watch it.

Remy stopped on the other side of her door, standing against the solid wall. He couldn't see them and they couldn't see him, but he could still hear the conversation going on inside the room. Oh, this was not good. Remy listened as Shelby gave the official department answer, but then his ears perked up a little when she went on to further say that she didn't believe that Ezra had killed himself. He frowned at her words and the papers in his hand were getting crumpled as he gripped them tighter.

Oh no... this was not good at all. Little Miss Merrick would have to understand that she couldn't mess with this case. Other cases were one thing, but this one? No. She couldn't have this one.

[Leigha Mitchell]

Leigha knew that being blunt and to the point might just back fire in her face and as she watched the surprised look cross Shelby's face she had the distinct feeling that she was about to hear something she didn't want to hear. Leigha felt as if she was sitting on pins and needles, she again shifted in her seat and began tapping her fingertip on the top of her knee. Leigha wasn't normally so easy to un-never, but she was now as she sat across from Shelby. Her heart sank the moment she heard Shelby's reply. Her eyes closed for a brief moment.

Her eyes snapped open as Shelby continued to speak. It was then that she felt like she could breathe easy. Her eyes widened, glad to hear that a detective, someone with far more experience on such matters, would feel the same. "I see," she said quietly. Leigha mulled over Shelby's words before speaking again. "I appreciate your honestly, Detective. And knowing that you're willing to continue ... working on it, is a great relief."

As she sat there Leigha glanced down at her purse where she kept the cell phone she'd gotten mysteriously through the mail. She felt that she could trust Shelby and she felt that she must also be honest. "Detective, I received something in the mail. A certain item that belonged to a friend. It could be useful in this case. However, I don't care to part with it. I know it's illegal to withhold evidence and I'd like to know what my options here are." Leigha winced slightly, she was not making this easy on herself but she couldn't lie, not when Shelby was wanting to find out the truth as much as she was.

[Shelby Merrick]

Shelby had held a slight smile on her expression when the woman thanked her and Shelby had did felt like she was doing something right by still investigating...it just seemed like the right thing to do. Yet, it then started to fade a little when she mentioned she had gotten something in the mail. Shelby arched an eyebrow and looked at Leigha. "What do you mean you received something in the mail? What was it?"

She had paid close attention that Leigha didn't want to part with the object "I can't make any promises if I don't know what it is. Anything at this point is very useful and I hope you trust me enough to share with it. Please let me see it." Shelby knew she had it with her that was the reason she came down here she wouldn't have came without it. "If you have something and someone the wrong person catches wind especially if this is something to prove that it wasn't a suicide then that could mean you're in danger and if I don't know the dangers how can I protect you." She hoped that little piece of information would help Leigha to trust her.

[Leigha Mitchell]

Revealing what she'd received in the mail might not have be the best idea but it was one the felt she had little choice on. If it could help find the person or persons responsible for Ezra's death then she'd gladly give it over and be done with it. Maybe Leigha had seen one too many crooked cop shows but she didn't want to trust the police not to lose what she held. She did trust Shelby, even after just meeting the woman but that didn't mean that others who worked with her could be trusted.

Of course she couldn't make a promise, sight unseen and while Leigha knew that to be the honest truth it still didn't sit well with her. "No, I know you can't. I do trust you Det. Merrick, it's others working this case that I don't trust." Leigha sighed wearily as she watched Shelby from across the desk. "Yes I guess it does put me in danger however, having it lost or shoved under the carpet wouldn't help much either. I honestly don't know what to do." Leigha hesitated for a moment then she started speaking again. "I received a cell in the mail, it's got names and messages on it, I have no idea who they are." Leigha would wait to see what Shelby said about that before she'd entertain the thought of giving up the cell.

[Shelby Merrick]

Shelby looked the young woman in the eyes and stated, "Listen, no one else is working on this case it's a close case...well supposed to be and I know something is wrong..stuff doesn't add up. So I am doing my own private investigation and and no one else knows about it. Now I'm telling you to establish a trust factor. " Shelby really needed her trust on this or she could blow her investigation to bits.

When she mentioned a cell phone Shelby's face went white and she felt like her breath was knocked out for a minute. She looked at Leigha and then looked down at her locked drawer. She punched in the password and the drawer popped open. Shelby took out a phone and placed it on the desk, so that Leigha could see it.

"I got this out of the storage locker. It was Ezra's and someone let a message with information that was urgent to whatever he was working on and would leave it on his private cell, but no other cell was found. I think what you have might be it. Did you listen to any of the calls? Is it locked?" Shelby needed to know the information on this phone she had it was vitally important now.

[Leigha Mitchell]

Leigha was taken aback by the words falling from Shelby's mouth and she averted her eyes from the woman's face, focusing her attention to listening to her speak instead of watching her. Leigha heard a ring of truth and she visably released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Her hands rested in her lap and her gaze flickered back over to Shelby and she gave a slight incline of her head in acknowledgement. "I understand, Detective. Thank you for your honesty," she said, her words full of meaning, her eyes making contact with Shelby's.

Seeing the look on the Detective's face she felt a shiver work its way down her back as she sat there. Leigha quirked a brow in curiousity as Shelby popped open her desk drawer. Leigha watched avidly as a cell phone was presented to her and she felt like the air had been knocked out of her. Where did that come from, she thought to herself.

Shelby began giving her details of the case that hadn't been made public knowledge, not as far as Leigha knew. The cell was on the desk between them, not with the rest of the evidence of this case and Leigha found a sort of comfort knowing that Shelby had it in her possession. When a question had been put to her she shook her head in the negative, "No, I'm afraid I haven't messed with it. I didn't want to risk deleting or losing anything that might help in solving this case." Leigha made a decision then and placed the cell she'd been given onto Shelby's desk. "I hope this can help you."

[Shelby Merrick]

Shelby watched as miss Leigha had decided to share the cell with her and she was thankful for that. She just stared at the phone for a few seconds, but it seemed to her that she had been staring at it quite a bit. Shelby took a deep breath and reached out her hand to touch the phone. Shelby tried to turn it on, but it seemed the battery had died.

She looked up at Shelby and asked, "If it is okay with you I would like to keep this just so I can get into it. I know someone I trust that is great with this stuff. I promise though that I will keep you in the loop you'll be with me on this in bringing the light to Ezra's death." She wanted to make sure that she knew she wouldn't this take this from her and that would be the end of that.