MASKIROVKA--The Russian Science of Deception by Richard Meredith

Author:Richard Meredith [Meredith, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: MASKIROVKA, Richard Meredith, Russian deception, KGB, political blackmail, dead bodies, San Francisco Police Department
Publisher: BluewaterPress LLC
Published: 2022-10-28T01:30:27+00:00

CHAPTER 55

APARTMENT OF STEVE NGUYEN, SAN CARLOS, CALIFORNIA

Sergeant Gina Withers sat at attention alongside her partner, Detective Eric Stratton. She squirmed on the stiff sofa the squad had rented for Nguyen. Just like the mood of the homicide unit, the sofa was black and utilitarian.

Withers did the talking, she always did, and Stratton, the dutiful scribe, sat beside her with a whipped-dog face. She’d learned early in her career that to talk was to lead. She’d ask all the questions and deflect any queries. Her interviews were a one-way street with no exit ramp.

Nguyen sat in a wingback chair; his bandaged arms elevated on a pillow. Seated next to him in a chair from the kitchen was Cliff Grainger, his union representative from the San Francisco Police Officers Association.

Withers tapped her long unpolished nails on a leather valise astride her lap, but she wasn’t nervous. She knew the detective in front of her knew all the tricks to mask anxiety. He’d been trained to talk slow, maintain eye contact, avoid nervous gestures—foot-tapping, lip biting, hair twirling, nail chewing, or teeth grinding. Wither’s only hope was her body language might induce the younger detective to reveal some tell.

She glanced at Stratton and nodded. He depressed RECORD.

“This is Sergeant Gina Withers. I’m assisted by Detective Eric Stratton. We are interviewing Detective Steve Nguyen of the Homicide Division. Also present is his POA rep, Cliff Grainger. The time is 1315, Thursday, November 5, 2020.” She turned to Nguyen. “Detective, do we have your permission to record this interview?”

Nguyen nodded.

“I’m sorry, Detective, I need verbal confirmation.”

“Yes,” Nguyen answered with an air of vexation.

“How long have you been at homicide?”

“Almost a year.”

“And you came right from patrol?”

“Correct.”

“Isn’t that unusual. Don’t most detectives start in robbery, fraud, or vice before promotion to homicide?”

“I don’t set personnel policies. I do my job.”

“Would it surprise you that some of your mates in homicide think you’re not up to the task, not ready for the big show yet?”

“Can’t please everyone.”

“Is it true you were the lead on the Lucas Miller investigation?”

“Yes. It was assigned to me when Bill Bilsky retired.”

“And in the course of your investigation, you interviewed Miller’s supervisor, Ms. Jennifer Krause?”

“Correct.”

“On how many occasions did you meet or communicate with Ms. Krause?”

“Hold on the answer, Detective,” Grainger interrupted. “For the record, my client does not have his files to consult. Any statement he makes will be a guess or approximation. He has the right to revise his answers after he reviews his notes.”

Withers’ eyes left Nguyen’s for the first time since she entered the apartment and shot an imperious glare at Grainger. “So noted.” Her attention returned to Nguyen. “Detective, give us your best estimate.”

“I’m reasonably sure we met on five occasions. I probably called her three or four times. I’m not certain about email.”

“Where’d you meet?”

“Twice in her office, once at a restaurant, once in her apartment, and once in my apartment.”

“Could there have been another time? Didn’t she visit you in the hospital?”

“Yes. Correct. That timeframe is a little hazy.

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