"I was just going to take a look myself," she said.
Henry pulled a copy of the last edition of the newspaper off of a pile and sat at one of the desks away from the editor's desk. Charlene sat back down and Rosalyne continued describing her old duties at the Marina Press. Mayor Gayle drew only a quick glance when she left five minutes later. Charlene and Rosalyne were in excited conversation for another thirty minutes.
On the drive back to their house, Rosalyne called Jenny. "It's done. Henry won't admit it, but I think he enjoyed the covert operation."
"Thanks, we'll take it from here," Jenny said. "So how was your talk with Charlene?"
"I like her. She has some great ideas for the newspaper and was excited that I wanted to stay on and be a part of it."
"So you're taking the position, that's great news Rosie! More responsibility and pay I hope?"
"Yes to both. It got real exciting when Mayor Gayle walked in shortly after we arrived. Henry was in the back room and I didn't know if he was done or not. She said she was there to meet Charlene, but she was just curious about the Jensen Press that's been in the news."
"Did Charlene give you any indication when the paper would be up and running again?"
"She is hoping in a week. We don't need a large staff, but she's placing ads and contacting the University for people. She offered me the Lead Reporter position, do I need to say that again or did you hear Lead Reporter?" she said and laughed. "Anyway, she wants me to find a part time assistant to help me."
"That's great. Remember, besides your great news of course, the covert part is hush-hush."
"Our lips are sealed. Thanks for getting me down there today, Jenny."
"Our pleasure, thank James Bond for us, goodbye." Jenny set the desk phone down and looked at Charlie. "Mayor Gayle showed up at Marina Press this afternoon. Do you think she's still on someone's payroll for information gathering?"
Charlie set the Spyware manual aside, "I'm sorry, what was that about Mayor Gayle?"
"I just get a nagging feeling about her. She was at Marina PD when we arrived from Monterey and she shows up at Marina Press this afternoon. I think she's still involved."
"She's the Mayor that’s her job to be involved. She took a real risk coming forward to rescue Sandra."
"It's not a risk if you're in the back row of the chess board. She's married isn't she?"
"Martin, I think his name is. Did Henry get the device placed? "
"Yes," she said and turned back to her computer.
"We need to go in thirty minutes. I'm going for coffee, want some?" he asked from the office door. He stood there and watched Jenny completely engrossed in her search. He brought back two cups and sat down in the chair beside her desk. "You've got the tail of something there?"
The printer started and she turned to him. "Martin Gayle is a Superior Court Judge in Monterey and drives a Mercedes 450SL. Mayor Gayle drives a new Lexus. I'm printing the models as she keeps showing up and thought we needed to keep an eye out for them."
He sipped his coffee and set the mug down on her desk. "It occurred to me at Marina PD she was really pushing the idea that the investigation was wrapped up, but again being Mayor she would want to get beyond this black mark on her town."
"I wish we could ask the Chief if she's putting pressure on him to close it," Jenny said.
"Knowing Chief Walker, that would be her worst mistake if she's still involved."
Jenny pulled the copies out of the printer and walked over to Madison's play pen. Shadow stood up from his position as guard with an excited tail wagging. "I'll take Maddy to Lisa if you take Shadow for relief and upstairs."
"Works for me."
Chapter 30
It was 2:30 when Charlie and Jenny drove past the alley behind the Marina Press building. The alley was completely clear; the transport truck had not arrived. They drove to the Safeway shopping center and parked. Charlie opened the aluminum briefcase sitting on the console between the front seats and hit the power button. The screen illuminated and a small red dot off center was blinking.
"You've had your nose buried in that manual; do you have it figured out?" Jenny asked.
"I don't know if you realized it when you bought this, but it's quite amazing, Jenny. The center of the screen is us and the red blinking light is the device on the Jensen Press. We need to stay within two miles for tracking."
"What good is that? I'm sure they'll take it out of town."
"That's only two miles for active tracking. When we follow them to the destination, we put the device in monitor mode and leave that black case, that's currently in the back seat, somewhere within the two mile range. Here is the really amazing part. In monitor mode, the device is listening and relaying to the black case which records activity, voices and noises. Let's say there is a constant hum from machine next to it, it learns that sound and won't fill up the recorder with it."
"We need to go and check the black case to see what's on it?"
"Yes, but from anywhere. In fact, it will tell us its picking up a deviation from the normal noise it has learned and call your cell phone."
"You're kidding. I sure feel that 'I told you so coming on'," she said. "I went with the best model, but didn't realize it had all those features."
"That's just part of it. We can program it using your phone also. Set on and off times; teach it to ignore certain repetitive noise events we don't care about, like I said, it's amazing. You have taken Watson Investigation high-tech, Jenny."
"So, I was thinking Leer for the company jet?"
"Down, girl. It'll take a year to pay this guy off. Oh, one more thing while I'm singing your praises, the manual recommends placing the device inside the target vehicle if possible because you can track and listen to the conversation at the same time."
"So sum it up, mister. I did good!"
"You usually do."
After an hour had passed Jenny commented, "I should have brought a book to read."
Charlie handed her the manual. "This is informative."
"Julia was talking about a new mystery series she's been reading, a new author, she said."
"You could write our story in your spare time." The case between them beeped and drew their attention. The red blinking light moved slightly away from its earlier position. "They must be moving it from the building to the truck."
"This thing is sensitive." Jenny said excited and put her seat belt back on.
"They still need to strap it down, if you need a potty run."
"No, I'm good."
Another twenty minutes passed and the briefcase beeped again. Charlie started the truck and stayed a mile back following the red blinking light out of town. They were heading north on Highway 1. Charlie closed the distance to half a mile to get a visual look at the truck then dropped back again to the mile distance. They saw the truck heading east out of Castroville on Highway 156 through the small town of Prunedale, and then headed northeast toward the city of Aromas on Interstate 101. Jenny was studying the map. "It occurs to me, they could be moving this thing across the country?"
"That's a depressing thought I didn't consider. Even New York is not out of range using the cell phone, but sure puts a hell of a damper on our response time to get back there."
"Like I said, for the company jet I was thinking Leer," Jenny said grinning.
Charlie looked over at her. "You're really enjoying this aren't you?"
She returned a big smile. "Yeah, I am. This high-tech super sleuth stuff is exciting."
"Until we're three days on the road without even a tooth brush packed."
Charlie had maintained a steady speed and noticed he was closing the distance to the red blinking dot. "They're slowing down, Aromas exit I hope. Have you been looking for the Lexus or the Mercedes?"
"Constantly, the Lexus is white, the Mercedes is black. Look, the truck is on the off ramp, Charlie."
Charlie continued the half mile to the off ramp and then slowed and pulled off on the shoul
der. "They're a little over half a mile away. If they stop we'll do a drive by. At a mile and a half, I'll follow again." They sat there with the engine running watching the red dot move slowly through town.
When the blinking red dot moved toward the edge of the screen Jenny looked up. "We better move closer." Charlie put the truck in drive and went down the off ramp and pulled to the curb on Main Street when the distance was again a mile. Ten minutes passed and the dot hadn't moved.
"Jenny, get the camera ready and we'll drive by for a visual look. We're there when the red dot is in the center of the screen. Slightly left of center, it's on my side, slightly right on your side." She pulled the camera from her purse and Charlie merged into traffic.
Aromas Industrial Park came up on the left side, but there was no visual sign of the truck. Jenny was shooting a rapid series of photos as they passed. There was a string of ten units, most of them displaying 'For Lease' signs and only two showed any sign of occupancy. Charlie made a left turn two blocks down and another left on the first street that intersected. "The truck would be behind the building, get ready for another series, Jenny." He pulled to the curb in the first block. Ahead they saw the mirror image of the industrial park facing Main Street.
"There's an access alley between them," Jenny said. "If you turn on this street, I'll have a better look down the alley."
"Ready? I can't risk stopping," he said, pulling away from the curb. Jenny had the camera ready as he made the left turn. As soon as they passed the back row of buildings she took one shot and looked forward immediately. The flatbed trailer was right there at the end of the alley closest to them and the rollup door of the second unit from the end was wide open. Charlie turned right on Main Street and drove off. "Let's get dinner. Give them time to unload and leave and then place the transmitter briefcase."
"I saw the fork lift on the back of the trailer so I know they brought it, but wouldn't someone need to be here to unlock the rollup door? Would they give the movers keys?" she asked.
"Good point. The mover's could pull it closed and lock it without keys, but I wouldn't give them keys to open it."
They pulled into a diner close to the off ramp for Interstate 101. He was looking for a parking spot when Jenny hollered, "Keep going! Get across the street and park behind the building. The black Mercedes was by the front door." Charlie headed directly back on Main Street the way they had just come. Three blocks down Main Street, he turned left to circle back to the building across from the diner out of sight. The building was also a restaurant and they found a booth giving them sight of the Black Mercedes parked across Main Street.
"Are you sure it's the right Black Mercedes?"
"Yes, he made it easy with custom license plates, J-U-S-T-I C-E," she spelled out for him.
"Wow Jenny, I didn't believe it, but you were right. They are not only in the back row of your chess board, they're center back row."
"I hesitate calling them king and queen, but checkmate has a nice ring to it," she said.
"They must have opened the rollup door and left, stayed away and out of sight of the movers. I doubt they'd chance going in tonight, but I'd put my money on them checking the lock before they leave."
"Charlie, I'll bet a hundred bucks would buy me access to a back door of one of the occupied units," Jenny said pulling the baseball cap off of Charlie's dash board and putting it on, stuffing her hair up inside it. "Drop me off and hide the truck. When he sees the mover's drive by he'll make his move."
"You could be dumping the trash in the alley. Ok, let's go," he said, getting up from the table. He dropped her off outside of a metal fabrication shop and she went inside. He parked across Main Street in a strip mall, backing into a parking spot close to a liquor store with a view across both parking lots. Twenty minutes later the movers turned right onto Main Street from the far end of the industrial park, heading toward Interstate 101.
His phone rang. "These guys are great. I'm in a filthy jumpsuit and could probably walk right past you without turning your head in recognition."
"Well that depends on the fit. If it's tight, I'd notice."
"What a male thing to say," she said laughing. "Keep your eyes open."
It was only ten minutes later when the Black Mercedes paused in traffic right in front of him to make the left turn. The passenger seat was empty. Charlie hit the speed dial button. "He's here alone," he said.
"I'm ready."
He wished he was in the shop with her as he waited. All of the action was out of sight from where he was. To his relief, the Mercedes didn't stay long and he saw it take the same path the moving truck had. He scanned the parking lot and when he determined the only white car there was a Chevy he started the truck and drove back to the fabrication shop. Charlie could see her inside through the glass door talking to someone. He got out of the truck and entered the small front office.
"Dan, this is my husband, Charlie," she said.
"Hello Dan; thanks for your help," he said shaking his hand.
"For a weekend stay at Watson Manor, Dan said we can leave the black briefcase in his front office here."
"That'd be perfect. Then we don't need to worry about it being outside. Thanks, Dan."
"I told Jenny we'd call if we saw anything going on there also," Dan told him.
"You fabrication guys are gold in my book," Charlie told him. He went out to the truck and brought the case in. "You don't need to do anything, it won't make any noise. Just set it out of the way, maybe behind the desk where it won't be noticed."
"The bottom shelf of the bookcase. We can cover it with some old drawings," Dan suggested and cleared a spot for it. Charlie turned the power on and set it in place and then Dan covered it with the drawings.
"This couldn't have worked out better," Jenny said and shook Dan's hand. She pulled a card out of her purse and handed it to him. "Julia, our manager will have your name so when you and your family want to come, let her know."
"Dan, we hope to be coming back for that in a week or so," Charlie said.
Charlie asked Jenny for her phone. He dialed the number and heard "Spyware in tracking mode, battery full" he pressed a few buttons "Spyware in monitoring mode, battery full" and then hit end call. "We're listening now."
"I guess we're live," she said. "Thanks again, Dan, for all your help."
"I'm starved," Charlie said holding the truck door open for her as she hopped into the seat. As he drove back to the diner she was watching the screen of the camera. When he parked she handed him the camera. "Charlie, meet Martin Gayle, former Superior Court Judge." She hit play and the video captured his arrival and entering the unit through the small back door. A moment later he checked both the rollup door padlock and the small door and then drove away.
"You didn't stand out there with this camera?"
"Dan hid it in some pallets out back. Martin Gayle never saw either one of us."
Chapter 31
Jenny's phone had not alerted them of activity for three days. Charlie had dialed in several times and was given and the "Spyware Monitoring" verification. They wondered if they should have shown the photos of Judge Martin Gayle to Chief Walker and explained what they were doing. Jenny kept her phone within constant reach and on the fourth day stopped jumping when it rang. It was 11:30 A.M. on the fifth day when they had just sat down upstairs for lunch. She grabbed her phone.
"Spyware activity alert, recording. Press…"
"Charlie something's going on!" she said and handed him the phone. He listened a moment and pressed several buttons. Jenny moved over close to him so they could both listen.
"… even scares the shit of me. Tell him thanks, give him a bonus and tell him we're done for awhile. Then delete his number, Martin, he's crazy. …………No they aren't here yet, did they give you an exact time for delivery? ........... That's great, sure I'll just sit and wait …………Yeah, I parked out back……….Hell no, when I hire a new man, he'll meet the electrician here…….. I'll call you when I'm hea
ded home. ………. I know it couldn't be helped, you were tied up. We're still operating because I don't put myself into these exposed situations, bye."
Charlie hit end call. "We were in live mode and caught the tail end of their conversation. The whole conversation, well only her side of it, but the whole thing is recorded and we can play that back anytime."
"We have them tied to the Jensen, but the video gave us that already. I just wish it had been more damning. It could be office supplies she's waiting for."
"She wouldn't be there for pens and pencils. We didn't have Mayor Gayle tied in directly before. Let's replay it from the beginning." Charlie hit the speed dial button to connect with the transmitter. It announced that one activity session was available and he entered the code for playback.
The sound of a door closing and footsteps were heard. "I've just arrived. I'm early for the delivery ……… There's no way I'll ever use Hank, that’s why I came out here. Those new plates are worth millions to us ………."
Charlie hit end call. "Which button to get the Chief?" She pressed 3 "Get ready to go, Jenny. I'll meet you down stairs."
"Walker?"
"Chief, we're on our way over. It's critical you get an Aromas Police car to 13453 Main Street in Aromas, unit 109. They need to wait until a delivery is made there then hold Mayor Gayle and the delivery for you."
"13453 Main in Aromas unit 109; wait until delivery."
"Yes, call them right away. We need Gayle receiving the delivery of more stock printing plates. We're on our way to you." Charlie disconnected the call and ran for the door. He found Jenny leaving Madison at Lisa's door and they both hurried to the truck.
When they arrived at Marina PD Chief Walker and Detective Edwards were in his SUV. A Marina Police patrol car was directly behind it ready to follow. Jenny and Charlie jumped out of the truck and slid into the back seat of the Chief SUV.
"This had better be good, Charlie," Walker said.
Watson Manor Investigations (Watson Manor Mystery Series Book 3) Page 19