As the Wicked Watch(66)
“No, not yet, because I wanted to ask the mom first to see if there was anything to it. There’s something to it. She called and left him a message.”
“Okay, so what can I do for you?” he asked.
“Tell Bartlett! I know it’s not your case, but you can just tell him someone who knows you personally reached out. I don’t care if you tell them it was me, okay? I just need Chicago PD to get over to that school and see if they can get security video of Masey getting into a car. And they better do it quick, because I’m heading over there now with a camera, and it’s gonna be on the news tonight. I promise you.”
“Why don’t you call him?” Joey asked.
“I plan to! But I thought a detective inside the department could get results faster than a reporter calling in a tip.”
“I’m not sure who’s the detective, you or me,” he said.
I didn’t know whether Joey was being facetious or complimentary. But I don’t care. I’ve confirmed a break in the case and planned to run with it, even if it meant police playing catch-up.
“If the school surveillance video exists of Masey getting in this car, it’ll look better for the CPD if they’ve pulled it by the time I break this story tonight.”
11
BREAKING NEWS
Diana Sorano: A day after area residents gathered in Bronzeville to remember Masey James, the fifteen-year-old homicide victim whose body was found on an abandoned playground, News Channel 8 has learned of an important break in the investigation. What police are calling a person of interest. Our Jordan Manning reports.
Jordan: Diana, I’m on the West Side in front of Carol Crest Academy. The person of interest police is looking for was seen picking up Masey James from here before she went missing. It has been almost a week since she was found dead, and this might be the first big break in the case. It’s unclear who this individual is, but I am told it’s not believed to be a relative or anyone associated with her family. Police are poring over surveillance video from security cameras around the school as they try and get an ID on the car, and the driver.
Diana: Do we know how police learned about this person?
Jordan: It’s unclear at this time, Diana, how this came to the attention of police.
If they find out I called in this tip, I’m screwed. I know I did the right thing. I know I did the right thing.
Diana: Thank you Jordan, and we will continue to follow this breaking news.
*
I decided not to wait for Joey to tell Bartlett about Masey’s mysterious driver. I called Bartlett the minute we hung up.
“Superintendent Bartlett, hello. Listen, I just learned that Masey James was getting a ride from school on a regular basis. Her mother doesn’t know who this person is, and I’m worried he might have something to do with her disappearance.”
“I know; Fawcett just told me. He said the victim’s mother left him a message. I wonder why she hadn’t mentioned this before?”
“Because she didn’t know. I told her,” I said, “this afternoon.”
“You told her? What do you mean, you told her? How would you know this?” Bartlett said, sounding both confused and annoyed.
“One of her classmates,” I said.
“You went to her school?”
“No. I spoke to the student last night at the vigil. She told me that Masey was getting rides from school as recently as a few days before she went missing. And today I was talking to Pamela and I asked her if she knew anything about someone picking Masey up from school, and she clearly didn’t, because she hit the ceiling,” I said.
“Jordan, she was upset, but did she say anything about Masey having a boyfriend? Or any idea who this person could be?” Bartlett asked.
“No. She was completely blindsided.”
Surely police would ask Pamela those very questions.
“Do you think it was appropriate to go to a family member—the child’s mother—and ask her something that may or may not be true? You hadn’t vetted this. You could have come to me. You know my number,” Bartlett said.
I wasn’t accustomed to Bartlett admonishing me about the way I do my job.
“Look, you can criticize my tactics, Superintendent, but tell me this, is there one detective in your department who knew this information? I don’t think they did. So along with your criticism, how about a thank-you? Because you just got your big break. Look, we’re on the same side. I want this person to be caught, I know, as much as you do. But, Superintendent, some of your detectives, they’re not impeccable when it comes to following up on cases involving missing Black and brown kids.”
I don’t know why I expected Bartlett to thank me. Once Fawcett finds out who the tip really came from, we might have a fractured relationship for a long time, and it wasn’t that great to begin with. Was it worth it? Absolutely.
Now the ball is in their court to find out who this person is. Have they checked the surveillance cameras in and around the school? Or at nearby convenience stores? Have they talked to students at her school? Do your damn jobs! What does it say about their detective work when I was able to accomplish more in an hour with Grace Ito, whom I dragged along to canvass the school and gain some real-world reporter experience, than the CPD had managed in three days. With her youthful, trendy appearance in a bebe cardigan, high-rise jeans, and ballet flats, she blended in with the diverse student body of the STEM school, scoping out opportunities to question students, while I talked to the school’s principal, Dr. Evelyn Moss. She refused to go on-camera, because she hadn’t gotten permission from the Chicago Public Schools to do the interview. Turns out she wasn’t even remotely helpful. I texted Grace to meet me back at my car to give me a quick download before I filmed my lead-in.