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Transcript of

March 13 (1)

INT: Okay The tape is running State your name for the record, please

SUBJ: Peter James Smith

INT: State your age and rank

SUBJ: I'm thirty-four years old Lieutenant, Special Services Division Los Angeles Police Department

INT: Lieutenant Sed with a crime at this time

SUBJ: I know

INT: Nevertheless you have a right to be represented here by an attorney

SUBJ: I waive that right

INT: Okay And have you been coerced to come here in any way?

SUBJ: (long pause) No I have not been coerced in any way

INT: Okay Noant to talk to you about the Nakamoto Murder When did you first become involved in that case?

SUBJ: On Thursday night, February 9, about nine o'clock

INT: What happened at that time?

SUBJ: I was at hoot a phone call

INT: And ere you doing at the tiot the call?

Chapter

First Night

Actually, I was sitting on ame with the sound turned off, while I tried to study vocabulary for my introductory Japanese class

It was a quiet evening; I had gotten ht Now I had the cassette player on the bed, and the cheerful wos like, "Hello, I am a police officer Can I be of assistance?" and "Please show me the menu" After each sentence, she paused foras best I could Then she would say, "The vegetable store is closed Where is the post office?" Things like that So "Mr Hayashi has two children"

I tried to answer "Hayashi-san wa kodoa fur futur" I swore But by then the woain

"This drink is not very good at all"

I had side a Mr Potato Head I'd put back together for hter Next to that, a photo album, and the pictures from her second birthday party It was four months after Michelle's party, but I still hadn't put the pictures in the album You have to try and keep up with that stuff

"There will be aat two o'clock"

The pictures on my bed didn't reflect reality any more Four months later, Michelle looked corown the expensive party dress ht for her: black velvet with a white lace collar

In the photos,the cake as Michelle blows out the candles, helping her unwrap the presents She looks like a dedicated hter lives with me, and my ex-wife doesn't see much of her She doesn't show up for weekend visitation half the time, and she misses child-support payments

But you'd never know from the birthday photos

"Where is the toilet?"

"I have a car We can go together"

I continued studying Of course, officially I was on duty that night: I was the Special Services officer on call for division headquarters don But February ninth was a quiet Thursday, and I didn't expect much action Until nine o'clock, I only had three calls

Special Services includes the diplomatic section of the police department; we handle problems with diplomats and celebrities, and provide translators and liaison for foreign nationals who come into contact with the police for one reason or another It's varied work, but not stressful: when I'm on call I can expect a half-dozen requests for help, none of theencies I hardly ever have to roll out It'sa police press liaison, which is what I did before Special Services

Anyway, on the night of February ninth, the first call I got concerned Fernando Conseca, the Chilean vice-consul A patrol car had pulled hi diplomatic immunity I told the patrolmen to drive hiain in the

Then an hour later, I got a call from detectives in Gardena They'd arrested a suspect in a restaurant shooting who spoke only Saet one, but that Salish; the country had been an American trust territory for years The detectives said they'd handle it Then I got a call thatfire lanes at the Aerosive it to the fire department And it was quiet for the next hour I went back to s like, "Yesterday's weather was rainy"

Then Tom Graham called

"It's the fking Japs," Grahaet over here, Petey-san Eleven hundred Figueroa, corner of Seventh It's the new Naka"

"What is the probleood detective but he has a bad tes out of proportion

"The proble to see the fking Special Services liaison Which is you, buddy They're saying the police can't proceed until the liaison gets here"

"Can't proceed? Why? What have you got?"

"Homicide," Graham said "Caucasian female approxi flat on her back, right in their daet down here as soon as you can"

I said, "Is that round?"

"Hell, yes," Graharand opening of the Nakaet down here, will you?"

I said I would I called Mrs Ascenio next door, and asked her if she would watch the baby while I was gone; she always needed extra ed ood suit Then Fred Hoffmann called He atch coray hair "Listen, Pete I think you ht want help on this one"

I said, "Why is that?"

"Sounds like we got a ho Japanese nationals Ithave you been a liaison?"

"About six months," I said

"If I was you, I'd get some experienced help Pick up Connor and take him doith you"

"Who?"

"John Connor Ever heard of him?"

"Sure," I said Everyone in the division had heard of Connor He was a legend, the eable of the Special Services officers "But isn't he retired?"

"He's on indefinite leave, but he still works cases involving the Japanese I think he could be helpful to you Tell you what I'll call hiave me his address

"Okay, fine Thanks"

"And one other thing Land lines on this one, okay, Pete?"

"Okay," I said "Who requested that?"

"It's just better"

"Whatever you say, Fred"

Land lines meant to stay off the radios, so our trans police frequencies It was standard procedure in certain situations Whenever Elizabeth Taylor went to the hospital, ent to land lines Or if the teenage son of soo to land lines to ot the news before the TV crews started banging on their door We used land lines for that kind of thing I'd never heard it invoked in a homicide before