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Ballard pointed to the interconnected desk modules. “That’s what we call the setup here,” she said. “All the desks joined together like a raft.”
“Floating on a sea of cold cases,” Masser said.
Ballard walked Maddie around to the side of the raft where there were two unused desks.
“Either one of these,” she said. “Your dad used this one when hewas here. You’d be across from Colleen, who is going to teach you the IGG work we do.”
“Okay,” Maddie said.
She looked down at the two chairs and hesitated. Ballard understood what that was about and pointed to the desk that Harry had not used.
“Why don’t you start your own path?” she said.
Maddie nodded, and the decision was made. She stepped into the pod and pulled the chair back so she could sit down.
“The terminal is old but basically the same program you use at Hollywood Station,” Ballard said. “Use the same password. In these first few weeks, coordinate with Colleen on when you’ll both be in so she can start you with the IGG procedures. I think having two people with those skills, especially one with a badge, will be great.”
“Good,” Maddie said. “Um, I also wanted to ask you about something.”
“Sure.”
“Well, I was just in the lockdown room and I noticed that the Elizabeth Short case has its own file cabinet but it’s locked.”
Ballard smiled and nodded. It wasn’t the first time a member of the unit had asked about the Black Dahlia case. The savage 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short was the most famous unsolved murder in the history of Los Angeles.
“Yeah, it’s locked because those cabinets are almost empty,” Ballard said. “Over the years a lot of the files have disappeared. Most of the evidence is gone too. I guess it doesn’t matter. That one will never be solved.”
“The evidence is gone how?” Maddie asked.
“Pilfered by cops who had access to the files. The original letters, witness statements—they’re all gone. No physical evidence except the suitcase in there that was hers—she kept it in a locker at the busstation. But you can find most of the missing information on the internet. More there than what’s in that file cabinet.”
“Oh.”
“If you still want to look, I’ll give you the key. But be prepared for disappointment.”
“I’ll take a look anyway. I’ve always been fascinated by that case. My dad has too.”
“Really? Harry never mentioned it.”
“I think it sort of reminds him of his mother.”
“Got it. I should have thought about that.”
An awkward silence ensued as Maddie realized she had overshared about her father in front of the group. Ballard broke it.
“Well, we’re going to start going over our active cases,” she said. “I thought it might be good for you to see how we do it. Usually we do it on Mondays, but you’re here for the first time and this coming Monday is a holiday, so I thought we’d do it now.”
“Sounds good,” Maddie said.
Ballard took her position in front of the whiteboards and started the review of the cases the team was working on. They brought Maddie up to date on the Pillowcase Rapist case, but after that there was not much new to report, largely because Ballard’s pursuit of her stolen badge had hijacked most of the week. The one high point of the round-robin came from Masser.
“I just heard from John Lewin at the DA’s office, and Maxine Russell’s lawyer has reached out,” Masser said. “She wants to deal.”
“And she’ll give up her ex on the convenience-store shooting?” Ballard asked.
“I assume so,” Masser said. “There’s no deal if she doesn’t. They’re meeting tomorrow morning.”
“Good,” Ballard said. “Let us know.”
