“I know who you are talking about. Those of us who work here say she is a customer of habit. She comes in every Wednesday afternoon and orders the same thing, the flounder Parmesan.”
“Who is she?” asked Huck.
“We’re not supposed to give out a customer’s name, so you didn’t hear this from me. Her name is Ms. Mary Harris. She’s somewhat of a rich recluse on the island. Her home is just to the right of the Wrigley estate. We all call it Tara of Catalina.”
“Has she always lived here?”
“No, sir. She came from the mainland about fifteen years ago, I guess.”
“Is she single?” asked Huck with a sheepish smile.
Wyatt smiled back. “I’ve never seen her in the company of anyone other than her driver. Periodically, she will come into the village with one of the maids who work for her.”
“I thought I saw her driving herself today in a yellow Volkswagen convertible.”
“Then that means that her driver has returned to the mainland for a visit. He doesn’t live on the island, but there are times when he comes with his wife for a few days. They stay in the small guesthouse behind the big house. They are really nice people, very friendly.”
“That’s very interesting,” said Huck.
Wyatt said, “Sir, I think your dinner may be ready.” He departed for the kitchen.
The meal was good. After finishing and leaving a substantial tip, Huck said goodbye to Wyatt and returned to his hotel room.
The second day after Cedric had met with the judges who would hear the Rouse case, he received a call from Berger. “Cedric, be in my office tomorrow morning by ten. The judge has made a ruling regarding our trial date postponement appeal. The clerk told me he will call us at that time to render his decision.”
“I’ll be there,” said Cedric. “Let’s pray that the decision will be in our favor.”
At 10:00 a.m. the next day, Cedric and Berger were assembled around Berger’s phone. Both were anxious but also cautiously optimistic when the intercom squawked and the receptionist said, “Herr Berger, the prosecutor’s office in on the phone. I will connect you now.”
“Hello, this is Berger. I have Herr Smart with me and we are on speaker.”
“Herr Berger and Herr Smart, I know that you have been waiting for this call, so I will get right to the point. After hearing Herr Smart’s remarks a couple of days ago, the judges have unanimously agreed that a postponement of the trial date for thirty days is warranted. For clarification, that is thirty days from today’s date. The judges feel that Rouse should be granted every opportunity to prove his case. However, know that there is a lot of public and political pressure for this case to go to trial. Accordingly, regardless of the circumstances, short of something medically happening to Rouse, his case will go to trail as currently scheduled. The prosecutor is prepared to present his case as we speak. Do either of you have any questions?”
Berger and Smart simultaneously said, “No, sir.” Smart added, “Please, on behalf of Rouse and his defense team, express our appreciation to the judges.”
“I will, and I will see you in court.”
Smart said to Berger, “If you will notify Rouse, I will call Huck. I am hopeful that he is closer to seeing some light at the end of his tunnel.”
It was close to 11:00 p.m. Catalina time when Huck’s phone rang. He had just turned off his lights and had settled in for a good night’s sleep. From the caller ID, he saw that it was Cedric.
“Hello, Cedric. Give me some good news.”
“I’ll be glad to do just that. Just a short time ago, Berger and I received a call that the trial has been postponed for thirty days. However, this will be the last postponement. How are you doing?”
“That is good news. I now have somewhat of an understanding of Harris’s daily routine. Probably my most important discovery is that she is physically fit and is receiving routine training in karate. I plan to confront her tomorrow morning.”
“I wish I was there to cover your back. We’re up against one intelligent woman, and we can be certain that she has prepared well should this day come. I suspect that she has rehearsed an escape plan.”
“I agree with you, Cedric. You will be pleased to know that I called the number I was given at our meeting in DC should I need FBI backup. I’ve decided that it would be a good idea to have my meeting with Harris recorded.
“Agent Chambers will be here by nine o’clock tomorrow morning. He will come in a van with all the equipment and technicians he will need to record the meeting, and he will put a wire on me. As soon as the physical trainer leaves the house, I will make my attempt to enter.”
“Have you set up an arrangement whereby if you need help, the FBI can rush in?”
“Yes, should I need help, I will speak the word calamity in any context, and the FBI will immediately come to my assistance.”
“Good. Later this afternoon I will go by the jail to give some encouragement to Rouse and then, unless you tell me differently, I will board a plane directly to LAX.”
“Cedric, I don’t think that will be necessary.”
“Huck, we’re a team, and short of your telling me that this case is closed, I will be coming.”
“Thanks, my friend. I’m looking forward to seeing you. Goodbye for now.”
Chapter 54
The following morning at eight, a small white van rolled off the ferry onto Catalina Island. On the side of the van were the capital letters ESU. Underneath the letters were the words “Energy Support Utilities,” which was in fact the FBI’s way of saying electronic surveillance unit.
It was the van Huck was waiting to see. He walked to the driver’s side of the vehicle and held up his credentials. The driver said, “Go to the back door.” As Huck rounded the van and approached the rear door, he saw that it was open a small crack. Huck opened the door and stepped inside.
A large African American man extended his hand. “Agent Chambers of the Los Angeles office.”
Huck replied, “Glad to meet you. I suppose you’re here to wire me up?”
Chambers answered, “Will, our technician, we’ll take care of that. I’m here to break down the door if you even breathe the word calamity.”
As they spoke, Huck felt the van start to move. After a short distance, the driver said, “We’re parked until I get the word.”
Will thanked the driver. To Huck he said, “Take off your shirt.”
Huck did as instructed, and Will began to tape a wire to Huck’s chest.
Chambers spoke. “I understand that you just might be about to lay a large golden egg for us?”
“I certainly hope that whatever happens today will bring justice to an innocent man sitting in a German jail and charged with a crime he did not commit.”
“I hope so also. The agency sent me a background file that contained information from State, the CIA, customs, and Interpol. Customs wanted you to know that they are now back to the letter O and are finding a similar pattern of prominent individuals dying mysteriously. Of course, every law enforcement agency wants to swarm in to take this operation down. Fortunately for you and for us, you have some big-time influence at State because it’s denying access to anyone but you until you call for help…or don’t call at all.”
“Thanks for throwing in your final comment.”
“Facts are facts, and I don’t think this one will go down easy. Personally, I’m uncomfortable that we don’t have the resources to surround the house and come in like gangbusters.”
“I appreciate your being straight up with me. Rest assured that if the situation gets out of control, you’ll hear the word calamity. Or if there is a period of more than five minutes and you don’t hear any words from me, feel free to break down the door and call in all the backup that you can.”
“I have notified the local authorities that the bureau
is on the island and for them to be prepared to render assistance if required. They were not given any details because there is the possibility that our target may have friends within the department. I suspect that they will assume that some scam is being run from the island. It has happened in the past. Each time their security force gets all excited and hopes for a part of the action. Please don’t misinterpret my comment with regard to the security force, but there really is no crime on the island that requires more than just providing security to its residents and tourists. If there is a crime that requires investigation, Los Angeles is able to send the necessary resources.”
By now, Huck was completely wired and had put his shirt back on. Will said, “Sir, I know you’ve probably heard this before, but I remind you that you do not have to speak into the microphone. With today’s tech advancements, we can almost pick up the sound of a bug walking on the wall across the room from where you will be.”
“Thanks,” said Huck.
The agent sitting in the passenger seat still had not spoken. He was constantly watching the surrounding area. He then said to Huck, “Sir, you might want to trade seats with me so that you can show our driver where he can park the van.”
“Roger that,” said Huck as he moved from the rear of the van to the passenger seat. The agent in the passenger seat exited the vehicle and reentered from the rear.
Huck directed the driver to the entrance of the park across the street from the Harris mansion. Shortly after they were parked, the driver said, “A motorbike has arrived. A man with a gym bag is going inside.”
“It’s the personal trainer. He’ll be there for about two hours,” said Huck.
“OK.” Turning to the agent who was wearing white overalls, Agent Chambers said, “Go.”
The agent, holding a metal toolbox, jumped from the back of the truck and walked toward the entrance gate.
Huck asked, “What’s he up to?”
Chambers replied, “Ground surveillance and planting a few bugs. We’ll be able to hear him as he progresses because he’s also wired.”
Shortly those in the van heard, “I’m now approaching the intercom box.”
Next they heard a woman’s voice from the box. “How may I help you?”
“I’m sorry to bother you, but I’m with Energy Support Utilities. ESU has been hired to locate the cause for an electrical surge in the area. In that regard, I will be walking around your property with a scanning meter to determine the possibility of your property being vulnerable to the surge. If we make such a discovery, we will notify both you and the power company for them to correct the problem.”
“Thank you, but we have not experienced any power surges.”
“That’s good, but our efforts are to identify potential vulnerabilities. I won’t be outside your property very long, but I will be here for a while as I scan the underground wires around your property.”
“OK. Thank you for letting us know.”
The agent returned and entered the back of the van. He gave a thumbs-up. “A bug has been planted by the intercom. Now I’ll take the sound directional finder to see if I can locate the room where the personal trainer is and listen in on any conversation that is going on.” With those words, the agent picked up a device that resembled a metal detector with an antenna attached. Chambers invited Huck to join him to monitor a video screen.
Chambers commented, “The button in the center of the cap he’s wearing is a camera.”
As the agent walked the perimeter, he swept the property with the metal detector, periodically looking at the ground and then through the fence toward the house.
Hearing paper rustling, Huck was surprised to see the driver open a floor plan of the house on a table behind him. The driver was tracking the agent on the ground. When the agent stopped, scratchy-sounding words came over the speaker in the van. The words were difficult to hear but those they understood were, “That’s fifty sit-ups. Now roll over and begin your push-ups.”
The agent hovering over the house blueprint said, “The location of the sound is from the room that adjoins the veranda on the south side of the house.”
Huck noted that room was on the other side of the house from where he had seen Harris walking.
The agent remained at the spot until he heard the driver say, “I have the room located. Place a flag and continue around the house.”
The agent on the ground placed a small red flag liked the ones used to mark underground electrical lines. He also placed a bug, with a small antenna, on the fence in line with the flag. He then continued his walk. Now Huck and Chambers were not only able to hear the words from inside the house but also view the agent’s walk around the structure.
On the back side of the house, near the eastside veranda, the sound of items being moved was detected. Huck remarked, “I think we must have located the kitchen because the noise sounds like my wife moving dishes downstairs at our house.”
The driver marked the room on the house blueprint. “You’re correct. According to this blueprint, I think we have identified the gym where Harris is working out and the kitchen where the maid is working.”
Chambers commented, “Other than the trainer, I believe that there are only two in the house.” Looking in Huck’s direction, he said, “I believe that your only issue will be Harris. I don’t think the maid will get involved unless she perceives some danger to Harris. And, if like most, her actions will be to call the police.”
“I agree,” said Huck. “As soon as the trainer leaves, I’ll try to gain access through the front door.”
When the on-the-ground agent returned to the first flag he had planted, he began to scan the ground in that vicinity. Huck and Chambers continued to monitor the verbal instructions from the personal trainer and the exercise routine that Harris was being put through. There was no question in either’s mind that Harris was quite fit. Hopefully, upon the trainer’s departure, she would be sufficiently tired and not try to physically engage Huck.
Chapter 55
For the next hour and a half, Huck and Chambers monitored the instructions given by Harris’s personal trainer and her acknowledgement of those instructions. Periodically, they heard her say, “I’m maxed out.” The trainer would reply, “You can do one more. Put everything you have into it.”
Huck commented to Chambers, “That trainer sounds like my first drill instructor. He didn’t cut anyone any slack.”
Chambers nodded. “He sounds like one tough trainer. I guess social status isn’t grounds for any leniency when it comes to his definition of physical fitness.”
Huck asked, “Why do I have to wear this wire when we’re getting such good reception from the monitor outside the fence?”
“Each is a backup system to the other. Should the system outside the fence go down for some reason, we have the one you’re wearing. Or should she detect that you’re wearing a wire, we have the system outside the fence. Of course, the best system is the one you’re wearing. Sometimes with the directional finder, we have gaps in a sentence or, because of background clutter, whatever is being said may not be clear to all members of the jury should the matter go to trial.”
Huck replied, “That makes sense.”
It was then that both men heard the trainer say, “Ms. Harris, I believe that we have done all we can do for today. You did really well.”
Ms. Harris replied, “Thank God it’s over and that I won’t see you again until next Monday.”
“Remember to watch your diet. I’ll see you at my normal time on Monday morning. Hope you have a great weekend.”
Huck jumped out of the back of the van and said to Chambers, “Stay tuned for coming attractions.” Just as the trainer came out of the front door, Huck made his way across the street toward the trainer’s bike. Huck reached the intercom box at the same time the gate swung open and the trainer walked through to leave.
> Huck said, “Hello. Our timing was great for my morning visit.” The trainer offered no response. He was in a hurry and appeared to be glad he was leaving.
By the time the trainer had replied with a nod of his head, Huck was through the gate and walking toward the door.
Indicative of the monitoring of the trainer’s exit, the front door opened as Huck stepped onto the front porch.
“Excuse me. What can I do for you?” It was the maid.
“Tell Ms. Harris that Huxton Price is here to discuss a mutual acquaintance, Markel Kaplan from Istanbul, Turkey.”
“Just one minute and I will see if she has time for you.” The door closed as quickly as it had opened.
Soon the door reopened and the maid said, “I’m sorry, but she says she does not know anyone named Kaplan and she doesn’t have time for you now. Please leave.”
The maid attempted to close the door again, but this time Huck’s right foot served as a doorstop. He said, “Tell her that if she doesn’t know Kaplan, then maybe our discussion of Lester Storey will refresh her memory. I’m not leaving until she and I talk.”
The maid knew that Ms. Harris had little tolerance for failures, and she had failed in getting rid of the man at the door. What made this situation worse was that the man would not let her close the door. She hastened back to give the message to Ms. Harris.
Huck had entered the house and was quietly closing the door when he heard Harris explode. “Why is it so hard to get good help? All you have to do is control who I see and to keep this place in order. Your satisfaction is not even a fifty percent rating. I guess I’ll have to take care of this myself.”
While the explosion was taking place on the second floor, in the area where the blueprints had shown a gym to be located, Huck surveyed the room he was in and noted its exits. It was sufficient in size to accommodate a large social gathering. The room’s centerpiece was the large staircase that bisected the middle of the room from the second floor. Huck estimated the staircase to be at least fourteen feet wide. It was definitely designed for a grand entrance.
A Price for Balancing the Scales Page 28