Aya Walksfar's Blog, page 21

MEET DETECTIVE FREDERICK ALBERT, SPECIAL CRIMES TEAM

MEET DETECTIVE FREDERICK ALBERT, SPECIAL CRIMES TEAM

(Interviewer) It is my pleasure today to #interview Detective Frederick Albert of the #Special #Crimes #Team. Detective Albert, thank you for coming.

Detective Albert: You’re quite welcome. (sits straight, hands resting on the chair arms, spring-green eyes meet interviewer’s in a friendly gaze.)

Interviewer: We have been getting to know some of the members of your elite #law #enforcement team. My audience and I would love to get to know you. (Interviewer waits to see if Detective Albert will respond, but he sits quietly) What can you share with us about yourself?

Detective Albert: (elbows propped on chair arms, fingertips steepled lightly together, a slow smile touches his well-shaped lips) There are many things, Ms. #Walksfar, that I could share with you, however, since our time is limited I will attempt to stick to the most salient facts.

I spent a number of years in the Marine Corp and when I left the Service I entered the police academy. Fresh out of the Academy, I hired onto the Spokane #Police Department where I worked my way up to #detective. When the opportunity arose to join the Special Crimes Team, I accepted. Lieutenant Williams has an exemplary reputation as a fair superior with excellent investigative skills. (falls silent and lifts a brow as if to say: next question)

Interviewer: Is the reality of the Special Crimes Team what you expected?

Detective Albert: (tilts head slightly as he watches interviewer for a moment) Is anything in life exactly as we expect? (His slow smile is warm) As for the Special Crimes Team: the team is staffed by dedicated, capable investigators. According to the guidelines set out by Governor Marleton when she formed the team, we are mandated to deal with the worst cases of man’s inhumanity to man. Before I joined the team, I was made aware of our mission.

Interviewer: (He fell silent and went into waiting mode again) Do you live in #Seattle, Detective Albert?

Detective Albert: (takes a sip of his coffee that has been setting on the table next to him) Yes, ma’am, I do. #Seattle is a fascinating city.  It boasts a wide variety of ethnic foods and cultures; there are theatrical and musical performances one might attend; and the waterfront is awash—pun intended–with interesting activities. How can one not appreciate such diversity?

Interviewer: Do you have any special places, or activities, that you would like to share with us?

Detective Albert: (gaze turns thoughtful) I believe two of my favorite places are the #Seattle #Art #Museum and the University of Washington’s Botanic Gardens, also known as the Arboretum.  Art is uplifting and trees are peaceful.

Interviewer: (glances at clock) Darn it! We are out of time, Detective Albert. It has been such a pleasure speaking with you.

Detective Albert: I assure you, Ms. Walksfar, that the pleasure was mine.

SKETCH OF A MURDER, THE SPECIAL CRIMES TEAM’S FIRST CASE!  TO BE RELEASED SOON!!!!!!

STAY TUNED TO THIS BLOG ( http://www.ayawalksfar.com  )FOR UPDATES ON THE RELEASE! OR VISIT AYA AT:  http://www.facebook.com/ayawalksfar

To learn more about the University of Washington’s Botanic Gardens go to:   http://www.depts.washington.edu/uwbg/gardens/wpa.shtml

To learn more about the Seattle Art Museum go to:   http://www.seattleartmuseum.org

 

 

 

MEET DETECTIVE MAIZIE O’HARA #SPECIAL #CRIMES #TEAM

Interviewer:  This week I am privileged to #interview Special #Crimes Team member, Detective Maizie O’Hara.  Detective O’Hara, thank you for taking time for this #interview.

Detective O’Hara: (smiles) Lieutenant Williams said it would be good for us to talk to you, so here I am.

Interviewer:  Are you a native of #Seattle?

#Detective O’Hara: No, ma’am. I grew up in Ellensburg, but I moved to Spokane.

Interviewer:  Were you a #detective in Spokane?

Detective O’Hara: Yes, ma’am.

Interviewer:  What brought you over the mountains to work with the #Special #Crimes #Team?

Detective O’Hara: (a cloud passes over her face) I…felt like it was in my best interest for my career.

Interviewer:  (lifts brow) Would you care to elaborate on that?

Detective O’Hara:  No, ma’am. (Her lips press tightly together)

Interviewer:  Okay. Let’s talk about something else. What do you think about having a woman as the second in command of your unit?

Detective O’Hara:  (Beams a big smile) I think it’s awesome! Don’t get me wrong, though. Lieutenant Williams is really great, too.

Interviewer:  Why did you become a police officer, Detective O’Hara?

Detective O’Hara:  (All signs of levity disappears) To help #women. I want to help men, too, but I became a cop to help #women.

Interviewer:  Do you think you’ve been able to do that, so far?

Detective O’Hara:  (A furrow appears between her eyes and her lips turn down at the corners) Yes, I believe I have.

Interviewer:   Then why the down look on your face?

Detective O’Hara:   (Bites her bottom lip) Well…I guess I idolized law enforcement before I became a cop, and for a while after. (takes in a deep breath and lets it out slow) But sometimes, being a #cop isn’t enough. As a #cop, I have to stay objective, but sometimes, I need to get involved to make sure that justice happens. It kind of…(she shrugs) It kind of wore the shine off the brass, I guess, when I figured that out.

Interviewer:  (after she is silent for a long moment, interviewer speaks) Can you tell me anything more specific about your epiphany?

Detective O’Hara:   No, ma’am.

Interviewer:  You’re a police officer and you serve all of us that way. Are there things that you do to specifically try to help #women?

Detective O’Hara:   Well, I volunteer at a #domestic #abuse women’s shelter. I read to the kids so the women can have their support meeting. You know, so the little kids don’t interrupt and…well, women don’t always like to talk about stuff around little kids. And, I’m going on a walk in November with some women friends to show support for domestic abuse survivors. And, I have a friend with a facebook page and sometimes I post links on it that are important.

Interviewer:  Sounds like you’re pretty serious when you say you want to help women. Why don’t you have a facebook page?

Detective O’Hara:  (ducks head) I’m not very good with techie stuff. (raises her head and gives interviewer a shy smile) I have a girlfriend who’s going to teach me about doing a facebook page. We just haven’t had the time yet.

Interviewer:  I’m not great with techie stuff either. (gives a smile to Detective O’Hara) What kind of links do you post?

Detective O’Hara:  Stuff about #domestic #violence, and sometimes links to pages where women are doing something important to help the world and each other.

Interviewer:  If there was only one link you could recommend that people go check out, which link would that be?

Detective O’Hara:  (catches lip with teeth and worries at it)  Well…there’s a blog called #upworthy.com and they posted this link to a site where these women in Amsterdam do this really powerful dance performance. They’re in the Red Light District over there and they’re dancing in the windows of this building, like an apartment building and there’s all these men gathering on the street to watch them dance because….(a flush reddens her cheeks), because it’s really very sensual. You know?

Interviewer nods

Detective O’Hara;  Anyway, after the dance is over a big sign up on the top of the building flashes and says: “every year thousands of women are promised a dance career in Western Europe. Sadly, they end up here.”  Then it flashes “Stop the traffick. People shouldn’t be bought and sold.” Actually, according to upworthy millions of people are affected by human trafficking every year; not just women in Europe. Their whole dance was about making people, men especially, understand how terrible #human #trafficking is.

Interviewer:  Whoa, sounds like a powerful video. I will definitely post that link here. We’re almost out of time, but is there another link you would like to share with the women of our audience?

Detective O’Hara: Oh, shoot, there’s lots of them, but one I love to go and check out is a blog by a woman named #Danielle #LaPorte called #WhiteHotTruth. She writes down-to-earth stuff and she does it in this conversational tone.

The tab on her blog that I find the most interesting is called Read.Watch.Listen. This tab goes to some links of stuff she’s written in the past about all kinds of subjects like what it means to forgive, and stuff about relationships, and why you shouldn’t compare yourself to others, and just all kinds of subjects. The posts aren’t real long but they’re really worth reading. (gives interviewer a shy grin) I guess,  I’m not doing a great job explaining her site, but it is so cool. You just have to visit it and see it.

Interviewer:  Well then, we’ll share the link to that site as well. Again, Detective O’Hara, thank you for coming in and sharing with us.

To visit the sites recommended by Detective O’Hara:

“Who Doesn’t Like to Watch Half-Naked Girls Dancing? These Guys After They See Why It’s Happening     (http://www.upworthy.com)   http://t.co/L6HXC6uTeH    Red Light District, Amsterdam.

White Hot Truth (blog) by Danielle LaPorte  http://www.daniellelaporte.com

To learn more about the Special Crimes Team, follow this blog or visit Aya at http://www.facebook.com/ayawalksfar

SOON TO BE RELEASED: SKETCH OF A MURDER  BOOK 1: Special Crimes Team Series

 

 

MEET OFFICER JUAN RODRIGUEZ, #SPECIAL #CRIMES #TEAM

Interviewer: (smiles) I am pleased to welcome Officer Juan Rodriguez of the Special Crimes Team. Thank you so much for agreeing to this #interview, Officer Rodriguez.

Officer Rodriguez:  You can just call me Juan.

Interviewer: Thank you, Juan. You seem quite young to be on such an elite team. How did you happen to become a member of the #Special #Crimes #Team?

Juan: (ducks his head and looks at the floor) Well, ma’am, my captain thought it would be a good opportunity for me.

Interviewer:  Did you have to move, like Sergeant Slowater?

Juan: (gives a little shrug) Didn’t matter.

Interviewer: So, you like Seattle?

Juan: (glances up and away) It’s okay.

Interviewer: (slight narrowing of eyes) Tell me about your #family, Juan.  Do your parents live close-by? Do you have sisters, brothers?

Juan: (takes a deep breath and lifts his chin. Looks steadily at interviewer) I only have a brother, and he’s pulling time for #murder. He killed our mother.

Interviewer: (mouth gapes. Closes mouth and stares for a moment) I am so sorry.  I had no idea.

Juan: (dips his eyes to his hands in his lap. Picks at his thumbnail) ‘Sokay. I coulda just said I didn’t want to talk about it, but it’s not hard to find the story. It was all over the Concrete Herald for weeks.

Interviewer: (sits back in chair and studies the young man in front of her) Juan, tell me something…. What’s your passion? What is it that you could sit and talk all day about? That if you won the lottery and could quit work, this is what you would do with your life.

Juan: (no hesitation as a big smile creases his swarthy face) #Kids. I’d work with kids. (He scoots to the edge of his chair, his dark eyes sparkling) Ya see, I think Ben wouldn’t have done what he did if he hadn’t gotten involved with a gang. It was what he had to do to make his bones. If, somehow, there had been someone who really cared, someone he coulda looked up to, I think he woulda gone that way.

Interviewer: (in a soft voice) Are you sure that’s not just wishful thinking on your part? Look at you, you haven’t killed anyone.

Juan: (shakes his head) Ben’s older than me. Fact is, the gang made him take out our mom because I went to the police academy. Said he had to prove his blood wasn’t gonna make him a snitch, that he loved his gang more than his family. (His face is earnest as he places his arms on his thighs and leans forward) If he hadn’t done it, they would’ve killed all three of us.

Interviewer: (sighs and shakes head with a puzzled frown) I guess, I don’t understand gang mind set, and I certainly don’t understand how a person could harm their own family.

Juan: (brows raised) It happens all the time. Domestic violence, child abuse, murder for less than what made Ben kill my mother. #Murder for greed, for inheriting a house, maybe just because a parent didn’t get the kid the kind of iPod he wanted. And that’s just the physical stuff. Family members hurt each other all the time emotionally. Moms and dads use their kids to punish the other parent; kids bully their siblings.

Interviewer:  You’re right. I suppose, I just don’t like thinking about it. What would you do to help break the cycles of violence that young people wind up in? What can one person do? This is a huge social issue.

Juan: (sits up straight and looks interviewer right in the eye) Care. One person can’t change the world; but that one person can change their little corner of the world. When I see a kid bumming, I go talk to him, or her. I try to steer them to a shelter where they’ll be safe. Hook them up with folks who can help them.

Interviewer: What if they don’t want your help? What if they think being out there on the streets, or wherever, is more exciting than home and they don’t want some shelter social worker telling them what to do?

Juan: (a slow smile spreads across his lips) I just keep right on caring. There’s this one kid I see all the time down on Denny Street. On Saturdays, I show up if I’m not working and take him to coffee. I don’t preach at him, don’t tell him what to do or not do. I just have coffee and breakfast with him and listen to whatever he wants to tell me.

Interviewer:  Do you really think it’s doing any good?

Juan: (folds his hands in his lap and shrugs) Doesn’t matter. (Makes air quotes) “Doing any good” is a judgment call. I’m not there to judge him, or his life. I’m just there to share what he wants to share with me. Do I think it matters? Yes, it matters. (He leans forward, hands dangling between his knees) Everyone needs someone to care; to care if they live or die; to know that someone would miss them if they were gone. And, (he leans back in his chair) I enjoy spending time with him. He gives me a different perspective, a different take on life. To me, life is about caring; caring and sharing what you can with those you meet.

Interviewer: Wow, you really are passionate about your interactions with young people. Why didn’t you become a social worker?

Juan: Social workers have rules to follow in their interactions with kids, and they should have rules. The only rule I have to follow is to be honest, honest with the kid and honest with myself.

Interviewer: Well, Juan, our time is up, but I really appreciate you opening up a part of your life and sharing it with us today. You certainly have given me a lot to think about.

To learn more about Officer Juan Rodriguez stay tuned to this blog for weekly updates on the Special Crimes Team!

Or visit Aya on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ayawalksfar

COMING SOON!!!!!  SKETCH OF A MURDER, BOOK 1 OF THE SPECIAL CRIMES TEAM SERIES.

What does an elderly, homeless woman have to give to anyone? The answer to that question lies within the first case of the Special Crimes Team.

MEET SERGEANT SLOWATER, #SPECIAL #CRIMES #TEAM

Interviewer:  Sergeant Slowater, thank you so much for coming to visit with us today. I am pleased to #interview you, again.

Sergeant Slowater: Look, this #interview wasn’t my idea. It was strongly suggested that I participate in your series about the #Special #Crimes #Team, so here I am. As I told you before: I am not a fan of the media.

Interviewer: Yes, I believe you did make that clear the last time I spoke with you, Sergeant, but I am happy to have the opportunity to see if we might forge a bit more amicable relationship. With that in mind, I have given a great deal of thought to what I’d like to ask you. (Interviewer stops and waits for acknowledgement from Sergeant Slowater)

Sergeant Slowater: (shrugs) Whatever.

Interviewer: I understand that you lived in #Mount #Vernon before moving to Seattle. How do you like #Seattle?

Sergeant Slowater: (Frowns): I am not a fan of big cities. Too much noise. Too many people all crowded together.

Interviewer: (Raises an eyebrow): Why did you transfer here if you feel that way?

Sergeant Slowater: Let’s just say it was strongly advised as a wise career choice.

Interviewer: Okay. Since you don’t like big cities, can you tell me why you like smaller cities?

Sergeant Slowater:  (looks at interviewer and restlessly taps fingers on chair arm) They’re the opposite of big cities. Quieter, not as crowded.  Where I grew up, there was farmland all around us.

Interviewer;  Tell me something else about #Mount #Vernon, Sergeant.

Sergeant Slowater: Like what?

Interviewer (gives a small shrug) Whatever you would like to share. Like what is your favorite time of year up there?

Sergeant Slowater: The spring. (gives a little smile) I love how the trees start leafing out, and I like going up to the tulip fields in bloom. There are rows and rows of colors: red and yellow are the most prominent, but the one I like best is the deep purple; the orange-red ones are my choice for second best.

Interviewer: That sounds lovely. You know, I’ve never gone up during the #Tulip #Festival. I think I might have to, now. (gives a warm smile to Sergeant Slowater) There is one thing I think Mount Vernon cannot ever top Seattle in: the best #pizza. (gives a sad shake of head)

Sergeant Slowater: (slight snort): Seattle has nothing on Mount Vernon in a pizza contest. The absolutely best #pizza I have ever eaten came from a place in Old Town, called #Pacioni’s.

Voted Best Pizza in Skagit County! Best Pizza in Western Washington per Sergeant Slowater!

You can buy a pizza from the list of different ones, or you can build your own. You start with a crisp, thin crust, then you pick from a list of sauces, meats, fruits, veggies and cheeses. There’s three different sauces. My favorite is marinara. Then you have eight different meats; I like Pacioni’s Italian sausage and Black Forest Ham. Then you add the fruits and veggies. I love the roasted red peppers, Kalamata olives, Portabella mushrooms, zucchini, and pineapple for a bit of sweetness.  That’s all topped off with a choice of seven cheeses. The ones I like are feta, shredded parmesan and shredded mozzarella.

Interviewer: Now I’m hungry, and challenged. I’ll have to try #Pacioni’s.  I didn’t know Mount Vernon had an Old Town section.

Sergeant Slowater: Some of the buildings there date back to 1906. The #Lincoln #Theatre dates back to 1926.

Lincoln Theatre Mt Vernon Washington

Interviewer: Are old buildings of special interest to you?

Sergeant Slowater: (gives a solid head shake) Not really. I’m not a history buff, and I don’t get all gaga over the way a building is built or who the architect was. I just like how some of the older buildings look, the sense of having been a survivor of unplanned progress and unconsidered development. It makes me think there are people who value the old, not because it’s old but because it’s beautiful, and functional and solid.  Something you can depend on. Some of the buildings built today won’t last fifty, much less a hundred years.

Interviewer: I have to admit. I like old buildings, too. I like the sense that if they could talk they would have fantastic stories to tell. (looks at watch) We don’t have a lot of time left, so tell me, Sergeant Slowater, what are the three best things you remember about growing up in Mount Vernon?

Sergeant Slowater: I didn’t grow up in town, just close to it, and the area was still considered Mount Vernon. What did I like about it? (purses lips and gazes off thinking. Fingers tapping again) Fresh food. There’s farm stands during the summer, plus Farmer’s Markets usually on Saturdays, and the #Skagit #Valley #Food #Co-op year round.

Fresh, organic food!

The Food Co-op has been around for forty years–before I was born–and is still the place to buy organic food,

Vine ripe Tomatoes!

free-range meat including pork, and well, it just smells interesting. I go into most food stores and there isn’t any smell to them. When I walk into the Co-op that is one of the first things that happens: I’m greeted by these spicy, sweet, tangy smells. All of them pleasant, and intriguing.

The second thing I like about Mount Vernon and Skagit County is the farms. Tulip farms, berry farms, alpaca, cattle, and horse farms, flower farms. There is myriad things grown around the Mount Vernon/Skagit County area. It is a place that feels….well, for want of a better word, alive. Alive and hopeful. Do you know what I mean?

Interviewer: Yes, yes, I believe I do.

Sergeant Slowater: (gives a little smile) THE thing I love about that area, though, is a little produce stand called The Snow Goose Produce Market. It’s up close to La Conner. It has homemade ice cream, the longest list of flavors I have ever seen, and waffle cones made right there as you are ordering your ice cream. You can smell the sweet smell of waffles cooking. And the ice cream scoops are GINORMOUS! They even have some specialty ice cream from Lopez Island. I love the Skagit Strawberry and Wild Mountain Blackberry.

Interviewer: Now that is a place I am absolutely going to visit!  It appears that we have run out of time, today. Again, thank you, Sergeant Slowater, for being my guest. You’ve have given me a new perspective on a small city that I really hadn’t given a lot of thought to. Now, I’m going to have to go up there and visit.

For more photos of Mount Vernon, Washington go to: http://www.pinterest.com/ayawalksfar

For more information on the places Sergeant Slowater told us about:

http://www.skagitfoodcoop.com  All about local farming and sustainable food production. Newsletter and more information

http://www.pacionis.com  Voted Best Pizza in Skagit County

http://www.tulipfestival.org

http://www.snowgooseproducemarket.com  A f amily-owned seasonal produce stand known for “immodest ice cream cones”.

Be sure to watch for Sketch of a Murder! Coming soon! The first case for the Special Crimes Team! Learn why Sergeant Slowater is “not a fan of the media”.

Stay tuned for the latest on The Special Crimes Team here at this blog or visit #Aya #Walksfar at:

http://www.facebook.com/ayawalksfar

Writing is about passion

I have had a passionate affair with books since I learned to read at six years old.

The books I write are guided by that same passion to learn, to grow, to share.

With Dead Men and Cats, I hope I have been able to share a peak at a different lifestyle.