My Dark Places by James Ellroy Read Free Book Online

still lighthearted. He was still bored and reserved. They ate, paid up and drove off.
    Hallinen and Lawton displayed the victim’s coat—covered with forensic tags now. Lavonne Chambers ID’d the lining immediately. She ID’d a photo of the victim just as fast. She agreed to submit a formal statement tomorrow—but only at her house. She couldn’t leave her children alone.
    Hallinen and Lawton set up a 3:30 appointment. Lavonne went on and on about the redhead—she was so pretty and seemed so nice.
    Mike Whittaker’s formal statement was a mess.
    He kept pleading drunkenness. He pegged the 43-year-old redheaded victim as a brunette in her 20s. He called the pony-tailed blonde a Mexican girl.
    His story was vague and filled with memory gaps. He kept contradicting his Sunday-night statement. His one chronological frame of reference was the moment he fell off his chair.
    The interview concluded at 9:35 p.m.
    Mike Whittaker walked out. Margie Trawick walked in.
    STATEMENT OF MARGIE TRAWICK. TAKEN AT THE EL MONTE POLICE DEPARTMENT, 505 EAST VALLEY BOULEVARD, EL MONTE. PRESENT: SERGEANT W. E. HALLINEN, SERGEANT J. G. LAWTON. 9:41 P.M., JUNE 24, 1958. FOR FILE #Z-483-362. REPORTED BY: DORA A. BRITTON, STENOGRAPHIC REPORTER.
    BY SGT. HALLINEN:
    Q    What is your full name?
    A    Margie Trawick.
    Q    Do you have a middle name?
    A    Yes, the middle name is Lucille.
    Q    Are you sometimes known by another last name?
    A    My maiden name was Phillips.
    Q    Where do you live?
    A    413 Court Adair Street, El Monte.
    Q    Do you have a telephone?
    A    Gilbert 8-1136.
    Q    May I ask your age?
    A    I was thirty-six a week ago last Saturday the 14th of June.
    Q    Who do you live at that address with?
    A    My parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Phillips.
    Q    Are you working at the present time?
    A    Right now, no. I do have an employer. I’m off on sick leave at present.
    Q    Who is your employer?
    A    Tubesales, 2211 Tubeway Avenue, Los Angeles 22.
    Q    Did you have previous employment as a waitress?
    A    Yes. Waitress. Mostly hostess at the Desert Inn, 11721 East Valley Boulevard, El Monte, right.
    Q    How long were you employed there?
    A    Approximately nine years. Not steady at any time, whenever they needed me. When business was real good.
    Q    When was your last date of employment?
    A    Let’s see, I went to the hospital May 6th and it was the Saturday night before that Tuesday.
    Q    Referring to Saturday night, June 21st in the evening, do you recall this date?
    A    Yes, I do.
    Q    Would you tell us your movements starting with approximately 10:00 p.m. of that date?
    A    I left my home at about, between five and ten minutes after 10:00, went directly to the Desert Inn.
    Q    Pardon me, what type of place is the Desert Inn?
    A    It’s a night club, strictly. Dancing and dinner house.
    Q    What time did you arrive at the Desert Inn?
    A    I would say about 10:15, to 10:20. Just what time it would take me to drive from here straight there.
    Q    Where did you sit?
    A    The table directly in front of the bar next to the service station.
    Q    By service station you mean there where the girls obtain their drinks for service to the customers?
    A    That’s right.
    Q    While sitting at that table did you view the room and it’s customers?
    A    Yes, as it’s habit with me.
    Q    Could you tell us about the condition as to movement of customers and anyone in particular that you noticed?
    A    There were six people at two tables pulled together directly on the front row next to the dance floor.
    Q    Did you recognize any of these people?
    A    As regular customers of the Desert Inn, yes.
    Q    Can you name them?
    A    I can not.
    Q    Did you notice anyone at the bar?
    A    Yes, there was the colored singer sitting on the stool next