"If what we're looking at here is what he redeemed, it wasn't a launch, but a real blast off! Thanks Chief, we'll see you shortly," he said disconnecting the call. "So what are we looking at, Jenny? I'm thinking these stock certificates are as fake as those driver's licenses, all with the same photo."
"Maybe, but it's not like printing counterfeit money where nobody pays attention to the serial numbers."
"All you'd need, besides the equipment to pull this off, is the owners name, number of shares held and the serial number… If these had been redeemed," he said tapping the stocks she had reassembled, "our Mr. Tuttle's launch would have crashed and burned," he said.
"With that information, there would be no physical thief required. Those stocks sitting securely in a bank's safety deposit box would instantly lose their value. The real owner robbed without a clue," Jenny offered.
"I can't imagine that information is available to the public. It could be someone with access inside Union Electric that is our man or has passed the information to him." Charlie picked up the license for Mary Hart from Phoenix Arizona, and handed it to Jenny. "With no certificates for Mary, were they just getting started or successful in redeeming the fake stocks in her name?"
"I can piece together the last two certificates, maybe in an hour. We need to get these and your licenses to the chief right away to follow up."
They wound up with six total stock certificates. It turned out Franklyn Tuttle was over the moon with four certificates at twenty thousand shares each. Charlie had found the license for Richard Davenport and the last certificate, also Union Electric was for ten thousand shares held by Mary Hart. Jenny slipped the taped certificates into letter sized plastic sleeves and the nine recovered licenses into a zip lock storage bag. Charlie was returning all the discarded paper and trash back into the original black plastic trash bags.
"I'll take these to the car if you want to take our dozing princess to Lisa," Charlie offered.
"Deal. Let Shadow follow you out before we put him up." Shadow became instantly alert when hearing his name and Jenny pulled Madison from her office play pen.
On the ride over to Marina PD Jenny was deep in thought. Charlie kept glancing over and finally had to ask. "I think we have something here that will blow this case wide open for them."
"You're right. I don't feel bad… like we are letting our friends down by pulling out. I see Mary Hart comfortable in her future ahead with a nest egg that may have hatched and flown away."
"We don't how many shares she had only that these ten thousand shares were not redeemed."
"We have six licenses without stock certificates, lives that may be wiped out. I wish it were counterfeit money we'd found instead."
"There's also the possibility the matching certificates for those licenses were not printed yet."
When they arrived at Marina PD Jenny grabbed the briefcase she had put the documents in and Charlie grabbed the two trash bags and they went inside.
*****
Eden Downey was behind her desk editing some of the copy for the morning edition of the Salinas Tribune. She glanced at the antique wooden wall clock her father had given her, passed down to the first born in each new generation of their family. She smiled with the thought it would pass to her daughter Emily when she married or turned the magical age of 25. The clock told her it was 2:30.
She tapped the file folder to her far right labeled "Steve Hansen Marina Press". Emily was having dinner at her best friend Lauren's house that night, following a young writers club meeting. It thrilled Eden her daughter took an interest in writing and it took everything she had to be supportive from a distance when what she wanted was to be right beside Emily as each word hit the page. With a scheduled pick up of 7:30 for Emily, maybe it was time to get some answers on why the small Marina Press Newspaper had a world class Jensen Press. She put the last of the edited copy in her out basket and pulled the file over. She was reaching for the phone when Lacy Peters rushed through the office door.
"The police found a body at a construction site," Lacy started excitedly then paused a minute to catch her breath. "Seems the contractor on the job typically takes his dog to work and it started barking like crazy, holding up the concrete pour."
"Go, check it out, but if …" Eden started to say.
"I know, you dropped the story on Assemblyman Mitchell because of the tie to Sentinel," Lacy finished for her.
"I'm sorry Lacy. It was a good story, you're an aspiring and talented reporter, but until this is over this newspaper will not advertise any investigation related to Sentinel. I told you they found the president of Sentinel murdered and I'll not risk your safety to sell a few papers."
"I understand. With your connections we can print one hell of a wrap up on it," Lacy said as she turned and headed to the parking lot.
Eden sat tapping the file again as her thoughts drifted to 'her connections' as Lacy used the phrase. Having been close to Charlie again and rediscovering the wonderful man he still is, it became more important to her that Emily get to know her father. How could that be possible, she wondered, without damaging his relationship with Jenny and their daughter? She imagined that Madison would be thrilled, as Emily would be to have a new half-sister. They were so happy playing together on the beach. Kids, she thought, are so blessed that way. She had loved him from a distance all these years and from a distance she vowed to hold that love, even when she was physically close enough to reach out and touch his face.
"I need a distraction," she said aloud to pull herself back and reached for the phone.
"Hello," Rosalyne cheerfully greeted.
"Hi Rosalyne, this is Eden. I met you with Jenny…"
"Oh, hi Eden. Of course I remember you and it's Rosie. How are you?"
"I'm doing well. The question is how are you managing?"
"I'm so looking forward to the walking cast next week. This wheelchair is very confining and the world beyond our front porch is beyond my grasp. My boss, Steve, is so sweet. He called and has given me some much needed work. It's just ad calls and classified stuff but it makes the day pass with a feeling of accomplishing something anyway. Sorry, here I go again, rambling on."
"Hey Rosie, I'm just pleased your spirits are high. I was hoping you can help me with something."
"Sure, what do you need? As long as it doesn't require me to drive you somewhere," Rosalyne said with a chuckle.
"No, no taxi service. I can't get the Jensen Press at your newspaper out of my mind. Are you certain Steve Hansen doesn't print high quality company brochures or sales documents?"
"I've never seen anything like that in the front office or on his desk. Just the newspaper. I can ask him if you want me too."
"No, let's keep this between us, Rosie."
"Ok, I can do that, but now you have me worried, Eden."
"I'm sorry, that's not my intention. It’s a thorn under my saddle and I'm sure it is nothing for you to be concerned about."
"Now that you bring it up and why it never crossed my mind before as odd, I'll never know. I've worked there about two years and have not been in the production room since my initial walk through when I was hired. Come to think of it, whenever I had a question for Steve his wife Debbie always went back there to get him… That's strange. What do you think is going on back there, Eden?" Rosalyne asked with worry evident in her tone.
"Now I feel badly. The high spirits I was so pleased to hear, I've taken them away. Please Rosie, it's probably nothing and it's just me looking for a distraction from what brought us together in the first place."
"And the nightmare's left behind. I'm fine and still glad you called," she said with the return of a little cheer. "I understand from Jenny you have a daughter. I look forward to meeting her sometime. Henry and I are so looking forward to having a child."
"It is wonderful. Her name is Emily, and she is the brightest star in my world. I'll bring her by in a couple of weeks, when you're walking again and take you to lunch."
"There's a happy note I can hold on to. Better run now, don't be a stranger, Eden."
"It’s a promise, Rosie. And the other, between us, I'll put your worry to rest in a few days. Goodbye for now." Eden set the receiver down slowly realizing the thorn under her saddle was becoming intolerable. She closed the file on Marina Press and grabbed her purse and phone.
"Susan, I'll be back in a couple hours. Tell Lacy I'll proof her copy on the construction site when I get back," Eden told the receptionist as she walked through the front door and out to her car.
"Got you covered." Eden heard as the door closed.
Chapter 22
Detective Edwards was all set up in the back of the open squad room when Charlie and Jenny arrived at the Marina Police Department. Half of the huge case board was displaying what evidence had already accumulated.
"Good morning Watson Investigations," Jacque greeted them. "Edwards is waiting for you."
"Morning, come on back," Edwards called to them as they approached his desk.
"It's almost afternoon," Jenny replied. "We tried to get this together sooner."
"You two have saved us some very valuable time," Chief Walker commented approaching them from his office.
"Hello Chief," Charlie returned. "We think we've found the source of funding for Sentinel."
"First," Walker began. "I wanted to quickly bring you up to speed on where we are. You are aware that Mayor Gayle has come forward to help and is currently under protection from the DA's office. Assemblyman Mitchell is in custody at Salinas PD. We are building a case against him as an accessory to the abduction and murder of Sandra Jenkins, initially that is. I have not spoken to him since we found Sandra …"
"And that’s probably why he is still in custody and not in the morgue," Edwards added.
"Understood, Edwards," Jenny said.
"He won't walk away from this and Captain Becker is better suited to handle him. OK, what have you found for us?" Walker asked.
Jenny set the brief case on Edward's desk and pulled out the assembled stocks and licenses. Walker picked up one of the stock certificates. "I see it now; these are very high quality, and having spoken to Franklin Tuttle, can surmise they are almost perfect forgeries."
"We were thinking the information to create these would have to come from someone with access inside of Union," Charlie said.
"Probably," Edwards said. "There might be another source. I don't know if the company prints these in house or contracts it to a quality printer," Edwards added.
"It seemed to us, either way, whoever is behind this would want to act quickly redeeming these to reduce the risk of being detected," Jenny offered.
"The timely notice given to Sentinel that Mr. Tuttle's duplicated and fake stocks were no longer useable indicates, inside information from Union Electric also. Edwards, get the phone numbers for the names on those licenses. I don't want to delay notification to the rightful owners of these stocks."
"Right away, Chief," Edwards said turning to his computer. To speed the process up he wrote the phone numbers on post-it notes and attached them to the individual licenses. When he was done he handed them to Walker. "I'll get copies of their actual driver's licenses while you call these numbers." Walker took them into his office.
Edwards returned to his computer and turned back toward Charlie and Jenny when he was done. The printer behind him started and he glanced at the trash bags Charlie had brought in. "These are the original trash bags we found?"
"Yes, we didn't want to throw any of it away… We did pull out all the stocks and licenses we found, though," Jenny told him.
"It is separated somewhat, food containers and occupant ads in one and everything else in the other," Charlie informed him.
"I didn't mean to imply that you dropped the ball. We're both so grateful for you two doing this for us."
"We didn't take offense, Edwards. Just the reason it's here," Charlie said.
"The Chief and I are pleased that you two are out of this now. This asshole shoots first and we don't … can't put your photos on our evidence board."
"Don't sugar-coat it; what are you trying to say?" Jenny replied. "We got the message."
"Actually, Edwards, given that our superhero outfits are at the cleaners, we came to the same conclusion in this case," Charlie said.
"I know the Chief will be pleased to hear that."
Chief Walker hung up his phone and walked back into the open squad area where they were all waiting. "I've contacted all the names from the driver's licenses. We'll know more when they have verified their actual stocks. I hesitate calling Union Electric, because we don't know who there is involved. They are headquartered in San Francisco and I think it would be better to drop in with this information."
"As soon as the first stockholder finds out their certificates are worthless this is going to blow up, Chief," Edwards stated.
"I know and that’s why I'm leaving now for San Francisco," Walker said.
"You mean, we … are leaving now. Right Chief?" Edwards asked.
"We won't get home until late tonight, Edwards. I didn't want to pull you away from your family."
"Ok," Edwards said pulling his gun from the desk drawer and placing it in his shoulder holster. "With that settled, we had better get moving."
"Charlie and I are headed home. We'll have Julia pick up Timmy and all have dinner together there."
"Thanks Jenny, that makes my being away easier," Edwards said.
"We have your back, Edwards," Charlie said grinning."We'll tell her that, against your opposition, the Chief insisted you go along."
Walker laughed. "I have some great friends here."
Jenny scooped up the certificates and licenses and put them back in the briefcase she had brought them in. Handing it to Chief Walker she said, "We are beyond friends, we're family Chief. Call us on your ride home." He took the briefcase and they headed toward the door.
Charlie pulled the copies out of the printer and took them over to Jenny. "Edwards printed the actual driver's licenses."
Jenny paused on the third sheet. "Looks like Mary Hart is just into her sixties. I hope we were in time."
"We've done what we could, when we could. And like you remind me so often my dear, the rest is in God's hands."
She turned and smiled at him. When she had glanced at the remaining print outs she set the stack on Edwards desk. "You're so right mister. We are without a job now, why don't we pick up Timmy ourselves and add Madison and Shadow for a trip to the park before dinner?"
"Works for me."
Charlie spent the afternoon pitching to Timmy and Shadow was right at home fielding the ball. Jenny walked Madison back from the playground to watch them.
"You're getting so good hitting that ball, Shadow can barely keep up," she said.
"I'm thinking slugger here is going to be the number one draft pick for next year's little league team." Charlie added.
"Uncle Charlie, that’s silly."
"I don't know about that. I think he's right, Timmy," she said pointing to Shadow panting hard and lying down beside Madison. "Let's go get cleaned up for dinner while he can still walk."
Timmy laughed and went over to Shadow. "Thanks boy, for your most excellent fielding."
It was 5:30 when they all walked through the front doors of Watson Manor. Timmy ran over to Julia at the front desk to report the fun afternoon they'd had. Following a hug, Julia's phone rang. When she realized who it was, she raised an arm to get Jenny and Charlie's attention. Jenny nodded acknowledgement and took a squirming Madison to the downstairs restroom. Charlie walked over to Julia to wait until she had finished the call. He was surprised when Julia handed him the phone.
"This is Charlie?"
"We're just leaving Union Electric now," Edwards said. "All hell has broken loose here. Seems one of the supervisors in the finance department, a Paula Baker, went out on a family emergency leave two days ago. The CEO, Kathryn Foster, has determined that the information needed to pul
l this off was available to Baker and she is having her IT Manager go through Baker's computer now."
"Where Baker sent that information would be golden," Charlie said.
"Sentinel hasn't left too many trails to follow. We're thinking a list was mailed, not emailed, but we can hope."
"Maybe in her phone records. There would be some urgency to let Sentinel know that Tuttle's stocks had been redeemed?"
"This Kathryn Foster really impressed us. Quite a looker also, but if Chief Walker noticed he didn't let on. Anyway, if Foster finds anything in Paula Baker's files, it will be in our hands when we get back to Marina PD."
"I don't want to hold you up, but did you get any word on Mary Hart?"
"Charlie, the Chief is driving and on this long ride home I have nothing but time. The photocopies of Mary Hart's driver's licenses taken a day apart last week shows that the stock certificate we have, was redeemed by the real Mary Hart and her check is already in the mail to her. Mary Hart's other two certificates for ten thousand shares each, were redeemed the next day using the license we have for Mary Hart with the funds wired to an off shore account."
"That's going to really depress Jenny," Charlie said.
"Again, she's quite the lady. Kathryn Foster indicated as CEO that when the extent of this fraud was determined and stopped, Union Electric Corp. has no intention of letting any of their stockholders assume the loss of even a dollar. So put that smile on Jenny's face for me."
"That's good news to leave this on. Thanks Edwards."
"Enjoy your dinner. One of life's little pleasures for me is your Lisa's cooking. Julia promised me she'd bring me a plate."
"I'll make sure she does. We'll stop by tomorrow," Charlie told him and handed the phone back to Julia. He turned to find Madison in Jenny's arms and an expectant look on her face. "The good news is Mary Hart and the other stock holders won't lose anything. They think that they found the information source inside Union. The bad news is, Paula Baker is gone and there's still no lead to name of the man behind Sentinel."
Watson Manor Investigations (Watson Manor Mystery Series Book 3) Page 13