VANDERHOFF: What's going on? Excuse me-
WAKEFIELD: This is Detective Kevin Wakefield. I am conducting interview number five in case number 2000-08-002. The homicide investigation of Raychel Vanderhoff. The date is August 20th. The time is 6:00 P.M. and the person in question is David Vanderhoff. You're Raychel's brother, am I correct?
VANDERHOFF: I'm not going to answer that question until you answer mine.
WAKEFIELD: I thought I just had. Now, you are Raychel's-
VANDERHOFF: No, not that question. I asked you about Detective Knox.
WAKEFIELD: What about him?
VANDERHOFF: I was told to ask for Detective Knox.
WAKEFIELD: By who?
VANDERHOFF: Laura Douglass. She told me he was in charge of the investigation.
WAKEFIELD: She was wrong. He was just a part of the investigation team.
VANDERHOFF: Where is he now?
WAKEFIELD: He is working on another case now.
VANDERHOFF: Is there a reason he is no longer on the case?
WAKEFIELD: No. Just a re-assignment. It happens all the time. There are too many cases to allow two detectives on the same one.
VANDERHOFF: I see.
WAKEFIELD: May we proceed, then? Thank you. I had asked you to confirm that you are Raychel's brother.
VANDERHOFF: I am.
WAKEFIELD: And you are her only surviving relative?
VANDERHOFF: I have a family.
WAKEFIELD: But other than that, there are no others? You have no surviving siblings or parents?
VANDERHOFF: No. It was just Raychel and myself. Our mother died about nine years ago and our father died two months ago.
WAKEFIELD: You're from New York, correct?
VANDERHOFF: I live in New York. I work with Hinshaw and Grunthal.
WAKEFIELD: What is that?
VANDERHOFF: A legal firm. I'm a contract attorney.
WAKEFIELD: Just so we're clear, you have not requested counsel.
VANDERHOFF: So long as you're not arresting me. No, I came here because I was asked to come and answer questions about Raychel. I was under the impression that I was to speak with Detective Knox; however, I am now talking to you since you are the lead investigator of my sister's case. As I am free to answer or not answer any question you pose without prejudice, I see no reason to confer with counsel at this time. Is that good enough for you?
WAKEFIELD: I didn't ask for a demonstration, but thank you. Now, when was the last time that you saw your sister?
VANDERHOFF: Last month. July 17th specifically.
WAKEFIELD: You were in Los Angeles on the night of your sister's murder, am I correct?
VANDERHOFF: You are. I was in L.A. on business.
WAKEFIELD: Still, you traveled across the country and didn't plan on seeing your one living relative?
VANDERHOFF: Actually, I did intend to see her, but it didn't work out. I tried to call her to set up a meeting, but I was never able to get in touch with her.
WAKEFIELD: When did you learn that Raychel had been murdered?
VANDERHOFF: When I arrived back in New York the next evening, I had a message from Laura Douglass asking that I contact her as soon as possible. That's when . . . Sorry. It's been a long day.
WAKEFIELD: So you stayed in L.A. until the afternoon after the murder?
VANDERHOFF: Yes.
WAKEFIELD: And you never attempted to call your sister during that time?
VANDERHOFF: I couldn't set up a meeting so I didn't call. I had a meeting all day and we left straight for LAX after that.
WAKEFIELD: We? You were traveling with someone?
VANDERHOFF: My boss. Larry Hinshaw.
WAKEFIELD: And he can verify your whereabouts the entire time?
VANDERHOFF: What? Yes. Well, he can verify that I went to our meetings. We also met in the hotel bar for drinks-
WAKEFIELD: When was that?
VANDERHOFF: I was getting to that, please. That was about 7:15 to 8:15. It was about an hour.
WAKEFIELD: Where did you stay?
VANDERHOFF: The W.
WAKEFIELD: Nice place. Do you happen to have a copy of your bill with you?
VANDERHOFF: No. Why?
WAKEFIELD: I was just wondering if you could use it to verify your whereabouts any further?
VANDERHOFF: Why not ask me, detective?
WAKEFIELD: Were you alone after 8:15?
VANDERHOFF: Yes.
WAKEFIELD: What did you do?
VANDERHOFF: I went back to my room, ordered room service, called my wife to let her know that I was stuck in L.A. overnight, ate my food, and worked on my project.
WAKEFIELD: I would like to receive a copy of your room bill when you have an opportunity.
VANDERHOFF: I'll fax it to you.
WAKEFIELD: Thanks. If I've read the file correctly, you've only recently gotten back together with your sister. There was a long time where you two didn't speak to one another, is that correct?
VANDERHOFF: It is.
WAKEFIELD: Who didn't want to talk to who?
VANDERHOFF: I didn't know how to reach her, detective. Otherwise I would have.
WAKEFIELD: So it was her. How well did you know your sister?
VANDERHOFF: We were very close.
WAKEFIELD: I mean how much did you know about your long lost sister now?
VANDERHOFF: We didn't talk too much about her current situation.
WAKEFIELD: Did she tell you anything about Laura Douglass?
VANDERHOFF: She told me she was staying with her for a while.
WAKEFIELD: Did she mention that it was because Kyle McAllister beat her half to death?
VANDERHOFF: No, but Laura told me about it when she told me about Raychel's murder.
WAKEFIELD: Did Raychel ever mention Lance Wagner?
VANDERHOFF: No. I saw him briefly today. I couldn't really tell you anything about him.
WAKEFIELD: Did you know Raychel was a drug addict?
VANDERHOFF: What?
WAKEFIELD: Did you know your sister was a prostitute before she became a singer?
VANDERHOFF: What?
WAKEFIELD: I've got two busts for solicitation on file. You know what I think? I think any time a person comes all the way across the country it's because she's running from something.
VANDERHOFF: That's why they call them runaways, detective. They run away.
WAKEFIELD: You know I never even found a missing person's report on her from then?
VANDERHOFF: My parents never filed one.
WAKEFIELD: Exactly my point, Mr. Vanderhoff. What kind of parents aren't interested in at least finding out where their only daughter is? What kind of Hell does a person have to go through to get as twisted up as your sister got? I don't think she left your family because she didn't like having an early curfew. She was really running from something. Or someone. What do you think, Mr. Vanderhoff?
VANDERHOFF: I think I've had enough of you.
WAKEFIELD: What are you hiding?
VANDERHOFF: My disgust for you. I'm leaving.
WAKEFIELD: You know, it's customary that I inform you to let me know if you intend on leaving the jurisdiction in case I need to talk to you.
VANDERHOFF: Unless you plan on charging me, Detective Wakefield, I'll be returning with my family to New York tomorrow night. If you do feel the need to contact me, please call this number.
WAKEFIELD: Your office?
VANDERHOFF: My attorney, detective. I came here in good faith to answer questions that I believed might be helpful in your investigation. Instead, you have wasted my time with pointless accusations. I will not subject myself to your questioning again without either a damn good reason or counsel.
WAKEFIELD: I didn't mean to upset you, Mr. Vanderhoff.
VANDERHOFF: (EXPLETIVE DELETED)! You don't know (EXPLETIVE DELETED)! I came straight here after my sister's wake. Tomorrow I'm going to bury my baby sister. The last member of the family I grew up with. It wasn't perfect, but it was all I (EXPLETIVE DELETED) had! And you know what really (EXPLETIVE DELETED)? I have to depend on you to solve her murder! Good luck! Good-bye! (EXPLETIVE DELETED)!
(END)
