The detectives had their strongest suspects, but they still had to see where Marco stood on their list. Or were all their suspects somehow in this together?
Detectives Mangino and Chanello pulled into the attendance office at Calside Community College. It is the school where both Marco and Melanie had attended.
“Are we asking about Marco or Richie,” asked Mangino?
“Both. We are going to find out who this turkey really is.”
It was a small but beautiful college. Located on a cliff, you could see and hear the ocean from the parking lot of the attendance office. As they walked into the office, Chanello noticed two women talking.
The one, more professionally dressed, turned and asked, “Can I help you?”
“I’m detective Chanello, and this is my partner detective Mangino. We’d like to ask you some questions about someone who attended this school.” As he said this, he took out his badge and flashed it, while Mangino did not.
“Alright. Why don’t you follow me to my office.” She led them down a well lit hallway with pictures of previous presidents of the college on the wall.
After they walked into her office, she told them to have a seat. She sat down at her desk and typed her password onto the keyboard. “Now, who is this person and when did he or she attend?”
“One name is Marco Hernandez,” said Chanello.
“We believe he attended 2-5 years ago,” said Maningo.
The counselor did some typing and was staring intensely at the screen. “We had nine students named Marco Hernandez here at that time. Can you give me more information?”
Chanello spoke up. “I don’t know if your system can cross check, but we are also looking for a Richie he might be associated with.”
“What is his last name?”
“Rashbaum.”
“Alright. Richie Rashbaum.” She was studying one screen and would click a key to go to a different one. She repeated this several times. “Okay, this is interesting. We had a Marco Hernandez who had the same address as a Richie Rashbaum. Could this be the coincidence you are looking for?”
“This very well could be the connection we are looking for,” Chanello replied. “How about the address. Can you give it to us?”
“I can,” she said doubtfully, “but I don’t think they will still live there. Most students change houses yearly and leave the city once they graduate.”
“We’ll take it and check it out. I know it’s a long shot but it’s all we’ve got to go on at this time.”
The counselor wrote the address on a piece of paper. “Can I ask what this is about?”
“It’s about a murder investigation in Los Angeles.”
“What,” the counselor asked in a shocked tone? “Did one of them commit the murder,” she asked in horror?
“We hope not, but we gotta check everything out,” said Chanello.
Mangino stood up and said, “Thank you,” and they left.