My Dark Places by James Ellroy Read Free Book Online Page A

to the service station. There was two other men at the bar.
    Q    Would you know their names?
    A    Only one that I know as Cliff. He’s the man that left with meat 11:30.
    Q    You are referring to when you left the Desert Inn at 11:30 p.m.?
    A    Yes, that’s right.
    Q    Any others you recognized or can name, sitting at any of the tables within your view?
    A    There was a dancer that used to dance at the Pioneer, a stripper, I mean, and I don’t know whether it’s her husband or agent, but he is always with her, sitting directly next to me. There was another regular sitting at the center table under the mirror on the side wall. They were regulars. There were four people at the third table next to the dance floor. I don’t know them, but they have been in there a number of times. There was a young couple directly behind them. The young fellow I’ve seen. The girl I had not.
    Q    As you recall these people within your view at the tables, approximately what time was it?
    A    This was at the time that I went in.
    Q    Did anyone else seat themselves or come into the place that you took particular notice of?
    A    Two girls. One a redhead and one is, I call a dishwater blonde, came in and sat down at the center table, center row.
    Q    Would you describe these two ladies?
    A    The redhead was very attractive. I call it a Titian red. I don’t know what you might call it. Not a dark red, not a light red. Very nicely dressed and a navy blue duster dress. Dress of print, the duster lined with the same material as the dress. The outside of the duster navy blue. At the time that they sat down, the waitress, which is a very dear friend of mine, was talking to a customer at the bar.
    Q    What is the waitress’s name?
    A    Myrtle Mawby.
    Q    With reference to the redheaded girl, can you describe her as to approximate age, height and weight?
    A    I would say she was forty years old. I would judge her to be
5′5″
, her weight I’d say is hard for me to judge. I don’t believe I stated her exact weight, possibly between 125 to 130 pounds.
    Q    Did you notice any jewelry on this girl?
    A    I did not.
    Q    Did you notice anything else that might be distinguishing?
    A    The reason I noticed the girl in particular was when she pulled her coat off to dance with a fellow that walked up to the table.
    Q    Can you describe the other girl sitting at the table?
    A    She was a dishwater blonde, had a short three-quarter length, beige or tan coat on across her shoulders. She had on flat heel shoes and until I saw her dance, that’s as much of a description. Dancing, about her weight, Ijudged her to be heavier than the redhead by five or ten pounds. She was hippy or broad across the hips.
    Q    Her age?
    A    About the same as the other lady, about forty years old.
    Q    Height?
    A    About the same as the redhead. She had on flat heels. The redhead had high heels.
    BYSGT. LAWTON:
    Q    Did you notice the shoes of the redhead?
    A    No, I did not.
    Q    Did the redhead appear to be intoxicated?
    A    Neither one of them appeared that way.
    BYSGT. HALLINEN:
    Q    After the two girls you have just described sat at the table, what happened next?
    A    I called Mrs. Mawby’s attention that she had two customers and she finished her conversation with the gentleman at the bar. In the meantime a tall thin Mexican fellow walked to the back of the chair of the redhead. I did not hear him ask her to dance. She immediately arose from her chair.
    Q    Before you go on, can you describe this person a little more fully?
    A    I would say he was between 5′9″ and 6′ tall, very thin body stature, thin in face. Dark hair, slicked back. Quite slicked down.
    Q    Was there any wave to this hair?
    A    No.
    Q    Was there any part?
    A    No, it was a receding forehead on both sides