"Did you get someone there?"
"They just confirmed. There is an unmarked car watching the alley side and her Lexus. There's another unit across the street watching the front. Now," he said pulling out of the parking lot, "what's going on here."
"I'm really sorry, Chief," Jenny said. "We needed to keep this tight until we had something. We have a recording of Mayor Gayle talking to her husband Martin. Charlie, call the briefcase."
"Can we plug the phone into your car speakers?" Charlie asked.
Edwards took the phone and plugged a cable into the headphone jack on the phone. He handed it back to Charlie. "We've not heard the whole conversation yet, but enough to know we needed to get there before the delivery arrives." He dialed the transmitter.
"I 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. You think I'd leave them sitting outside ………
"Charlie can you pause that?" he hit the pound key and the recording stopped. "Edwards, call Chief Patterson, we won't blow this. We need a search warrant before we set foot inside there. Aromas P.D. can detain her, some story for her safety she needs to stay inside until we get it. We'll need the signed delivery receipt also." Edwards called and made the request. "Ok Charlie. Let her tighten the noose."
Charlie hit the pound key again. "… why? Because that psychopath drove around town while his partner bled to death with an easy come, easy go attitude. I don't give a damn about his partner, but that borders on monster ……….. I'll give you Ashland was done right, but Mitchell got away. I won't be in the same room with him. He even scares the shit out of me. Tell him thanks, give him a bonus and tell him we're done for a while. 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 headed 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."
"That's all we have so far," Charlie said.
"Where was that recorded? Where we're headed?" Walker asked.
"Yes. I'll go into more detail later," Jenny said. "I found some information on Steve Hansen and his wife Debbie. They are not the masterminds behind Sentinel. Steve's sister, Charlene Dale, told us the bank was repossessing the Jensen Press. We figured follow the Jensen, so we put a tracking device on it before it was picked up and then we followed it there five days ago. The device has monitoring capability and when we heard this call today we called you right away."
"We also have video of Martin Gayle there five days ago locking up after the delivery," Charlie added.
"And I thought I was a tech geek," Edwards said looking back over his seat.
"How'd Gayle get on your radar?" Walker asked.
"It was only a suspicion," Jenny said. "We didn't know when or who would show up. My fear was if we told you we thought looking at Mayor Gayle would make sense, she might pick up the vibe and we'd lose her. Really Chief, we wanted to bring you more than a hunch."
"Well, you certainly did that," Walker said. He reached for the mic on the dash.
"Jacque, are you there?"
"Yes Chief. What do you need?"
"Send Marks to keep an eye on Martin Gayle; he might be a flight risk. We'll bring him in when we get back."
"You got it, anything else?"
"Thanks, that’s all for now." He put the mic back in place. Walker was on the off ramp of Interstate 101. "Edwards can you get us an update? Channel 28 I think he said."
He reached over and dialed the radio then picked up the mic. "This is Detective Edwards. Can I get an update from Aromas PD assist?"
"Edwards, Jim Butler here. Fed Ex just arrived at location. Unit ready following the transfer."
"We cannot enter the building without the warrant, do you copy?" Edwards said
"Copy that, our instruction was to detain suspect until your arrival."
"We're in town approaching you. ETA on warrant?" Edwards asked.
"Signed and en route, ten minutes maybe."
"It's just ahead on the left, Chief," Charlie said and Walker pulled to the curb.
Edwards spoke into the mic again, "Let the delivery go without interfering, our patrolman will chase for receipt. Ideal if she is kept inside."
"Copy that. Package is moving through the front door. Unit two, take position in alley, bumper to the door if possible." Butler said.
"Roger, unit two moving."
"Stevens, follow Fed Ex for a copy of the signed receipt." Edwards instructed.
"Roger Edwards, en route," Officer Stevens responded. They watched Stevens pull out and when the Fed-Ex truck drove to the end of the Industrial Park, he blocked its exit.
Walker moved quickly to block the front door but a planter wouldn't allow him close enough. Edwards jumped out and took position at the door.
Mayor Gayle pushed the rear door open, but it came to an abrupt stop when it hit the police car's bumper. "Hey! Who's blocking my door?"
"Aromas PD … We're investigating a burglary in this industrial park, we need you to stay inside for now."
"I need to leave, officer!"
"Sorry, he may be armed. It's for you own safety," the officer said.
Jenny's phone rang with the announcement of the activity. Charlie hit a few buttons and they were listening to the live feed.
"I don't think you know who you're talking to officer. I'm… the sound of the door being pulled shut was heard … Shit, calm down Gayle, you almost blew it ….
"Chief, I need to go to the fabrication shop for our transmitter briefcase," Charlie said handing him the phone to continue monitoring.
"Go, I don't know if she's armed, but the doors are blocked." Charlie went two doors down and retrieved their briefcase. Dan had his rear rollup door pulled down to the disappointment of his crew wanting to watch the action from the alley. Charlie slid the briefcase into the back of Chief Walker's SUV and was sliding into the back seat when an Aromas Police car pulled alongside. The officer jumped out and handed the search warrent to Chief Walker.
"It's show time," Walker said, handing the phone back to Charlie. "When you hear me reading her rights, you'll know it's safe to join us." He checked the front door and found it locked then told Edwards to secure the exit. He walked around the building and when the officer at the back door saw him coming around the corner, he backed his car away from the door. Walker knocked on the door.
"It's about damn time …," Gayle was saying until she saw him.
"Hello Mrs. Gayle. I have a search warrant for these premises," he said handing her the warrant.
"What the hell are you doing here? It's Mayor Gayle to you! Have you forgotten I'm your boss!"
Walker moved into the building and the Aromas officer took position inside, watching her closely. "That large press looks like the one used to duplicate some fraudulent Union Electric stocks. Mayor… no, Laurie Gayle you are under arrest for fraud and conspiracy to commit murder. You have the right to remain silent…" When he finished, Detective Edwards, Charlie and Jenny came through the back door. Edwards cuffed Laurie Gayle.
"I brought your car around, Chief and Stevens is outside, ready to escort Mrs. Gayle back to Marina."
"That's good, Edwards, thanks. Could you call for a tow truck to take Mrs. Gayle's Lexus back to Marina?"
"My pleasure Chief."
Walker moved over to the side of the Jensen Press, looking it over. "Maybe we can add theft of this Jensen Press to those charges."
"You're really enjoying this charade, Chief. I'll have your ass before this is over! That press belongs to me! Shit, you bastard!"
"I suggest you use your right to shut up, Mrs. Gayle. Call Stevens in to take her out of here," Walker said and pulled a pocket knife from his pocket to
cut open the delivered package. The heavy walled cardboard box was eighteen inches square. He cut through the tape on top and pulled some plastic gloves from his belt. Below the top flap was a sheet of thick plywood he lifted out. The shiny metal printing plate was under a thin foam pad. "I don't read backwards very well, but I think we saved Microsoft some real headaches." He moved out of the way as Edwards was taking photos of the box and contents; then he replaced the foam and plywood in the box.
Charlie had been looking all over the Jensen press for the device without success. "Jenny will you please call Rosalyne and find out where Henry hid the tracking device?"
"Hello?" Rosalyne answered.
"I need to talk to the lead reporter of the Marina Press."
"Hi Jenny, you said the … lead reporter, right?"
"We have, no scratch that. Chief Walker and Detective Edwards have one hell of a story for you, but right now we need to know where James Bond hid our device."
"Hello Jenny, so it worked?" Henry asked.
"Perfectly, Mr. Bond, but we can't find it."
"There's a louvered access door on the side with slide out electronic drawers, it's under the bottom one."
"Thanks Henry, it worked like a charm."
"So I already lost my Bond status?"
"I'm thinking you'll be in Rosie's article," she said and hit end call.
Chapter 32
Chief Walker invited the Salinas Tribune and Marina Press to the Marina Police Department for an exclusive press conference two days following the arrest of Laurie and Martin Gayle. The Gayle residence was searched and yielded evidence of four other stock certificate frauds prior to the Union Electric stocks. The printing plates for the counterfeit one hundred dollar bills were found in their home office. Contact numbers for Jackson Black in custody and for Hank Travis at large, tied the Gayles to the murder charges of Sandra Jenkins.
Charlene Dale brought a letter from her brother, Steve Hansen, found in his safety deposit box. The letter told the story of his meeting Marsha Tucker at her arraignment hearing while covering a different court case. Frequent visits lead to his belief of her innocence, growing affection and the role he played in her escape. There were photo copies of each of the stock certificates he had been blackmailed to produce and his pledged to find the blackmailer. In the event of his death all he had was the knowledge that Sentinel Corporation was behind the blackmail and fraud.
Assemblyman Mitchell resigned his position and with full disclosure of his involvement and confirmation that Martin Gale was the voice of Sentinel, took a five year felony plea that would disbar him and prohibit use of his law degree to practice law.
*****
The dinner party at Watson Manor a week later was originally to thank all those that were involved in the Sentinel case. When word got out the Watsons were having a celebration it became a reunion of friends which only thrilled Charlie and Jenny. They had invited their close friends Nathan and Avery out from Arkansas two days before the event for a free week at Watson Manor. They brought their two children, Thomas and Amy out and didn't know how they'd ever get them home to Arkansas after a week of surf, sun and the lure of the beautiful California coast. Nathan and Avery made it clear to all that the Charlie and Jenny connection was their doing and that their son Thomas was All State in football last year.
James Wentworth had delayed his daughter Gracie's flight to Paris a day at her request so she could also attend the event. Detective Derrel Miller also came in from San Jose with them. They didn't talk about the apprehension of Nicole Eberhart two years prior, but from that connection they had become friends.
Jenny's sister, Laurie and her husband Bob had stayed at Watson Manor a couple of times before and with regret could only stay overnight this time. They'd made the quick trip because, beyond loving it there, they hadn't seen Nathan and Avery since Charlie and Jenny's wedding.
Jacque brought her husband, Larry, and his partner, Joe. Jacque and Larry had only been married just over two years, but Larry and Joe were responsible for most of the drywall during the construction of Watson Manor. Larry took great pride in pointing that fact out to everyone. Joe, on the other hand, was far more interested in getting close to the new owner of the Marina Press, Charlene Dale. Charlene had brought her two children, a son, Jack, and daughter, Katie, to the party. She had returned to Wisconsin to bring them to their new home in Marina when she decided to give the Marina Press a go. Jack and Timmy were close in age and hit it off immediately. Katie, with a unique warmth about her, took to Madison like a big sister.
Chief Walker was strangely out of uniform and dressed casually. Everyone understood it was because of the woman he was completely engrossed with seated beside him. Stacy, the nurse he met at Santa Cruz General Hospital, was Sandra's nurse. Jacque told Charlie and Jenny that Stacy walked into Marina PD a few days back with the desire to take Chief Walker to dinner. Jacque swore she wasn't evesdropping but happened to hear Stacy tell him that the caring man she saw with a total stranger in the hospital was a man she wanted to know much better. Detective Edwards tells the story that Stacy is a regular now and has truly lit a fire under the Chief. Jenny had not met her until that night and, seeing them together, was delighted with the thought "Rodney & Stacy" had a real beautiful ring to it.
Emily and Lauren, her best friend from Salinas, had spent the whole day at the beach. Emily was busy showing her friend around "Dad's cool place." It warmed Charlie's heart every time he overheard her saying "my Dad this" or "my Dad that."
Charlie and Jenny finally met Dave at the party, when Lacy introduced him as the lead that launched it all. It was clear that Dave was more than a member of the "Scoop Club," as he and Lacy shared a single chair at the table where Rosalyne, the other "Scoop Club" member, was showing them the first new edition of the Marina Press. The headlines read "Sentinel the Complete Story" with photos of Laurie and Martin Gayle below it. Rosalyne had underlined her new bi-line including "Lead Reporter" so it wouldn't be overlooked. She had already placed copies on all the tables at Jenny's request.
Julia insisted on being the hostess and kept pushing Charlie and Jenny back into the mingle mode with their guests. Charlie was having fun wearing the Monterey Salvage shirt that Jenny suggested was "party appropriate" for him. Several times, Julia found her husband in the corner reading the "Spyware Inc. Model 2750" manual and reminded him he was Stan tonight, not Detective Edwards on duty researching new equipment.
Eden introduced Justin Powers to Charlie and Jenny when he had arrived later to join her. She explained he was the owner of Powers Auto Body, where her Volvo was being repaired. Jenny mentioned to Charlie when they were alone that it didn't look like a first date for them and hopefully they would see more of Justin down the road. Jenny was very concerned how Charlie would react with a man in Eden's life, his first love and the woman he shares a daughter with, but she felt a tremendous relief at his response.
"Works for me."
Jenny turned and waved at some new guest arriving then went to greet them at the door. Charlie glanced over at Eden and Justin talking to some people in a small group. Eden casually looked his way, locking eyes with him for a brief moment. The message conveyed between them, there was still a long struggle ahead. Time needed for mind and resolve to overpower heart.
Jenny left their new guests to mingle and walked over to give Charlie a quick kiss. "I'm thinking that glance you two shared was more of a 'I'm working on it' rather than your definitive 'works for me'," she said.
The end of Book 3
in the Watson Manor Mystery Series.
Note from the author,
I hope you have enjoyed the continued adventures of Charlie and Jenny Watson. I have included the first chapter of book four in the series, Watson Manor, New Challenges following an excerpt from In His Time, a standalone novella about finding family through tragedy.
Leaving a review on Amazon if you did enjoy this book would mean a great deal to me. I am pleased to receive all of yo
ur comments, suggestions and feedback also on my author's site;
www.roncraigbooks.com
In His Time
Chapter 1
"Can you spare any change, Sir?" she asked.
She was layered in mismatched clothing and her long thick brown hair covered most of her face. I don't know what gave me pause. Homeless people adorn many intersections these days. I'm not often approached on my weekly trip to the supermarket. That could have been part of it, but I'd say it was that she held my eyes and there was something in them, beyond the caution was warmth. I gave her a twenty dollar bill, and said, "I was going to grab a few things here and then get dinner at Mike's Diner, are you hungry?"
"This is plenty, thanks," she said.
"You don't have to give it back and dinner is on me."
She moved away a few steps and her expression told me she was not naive to the lures of predators. I've come to respect and listen to that little inner voice, and I guess believe there is a master plan. I sometimes think about the little voice telling me to turn right instead of continuing on a logical straight course, did I avoid another disaster of being in the wrong place at the wrong time? I was overseas many years ago battling oppression with the fear of taking your last breath a constant companion. I was ready to move my patrol forward, that little voice screamed 'hold for five'. The mortar blast would have taken all six of us to our maker.
So, yeah I've been listening to it ever since. The inner voice was telling me this moment I was in the right place and time. "If you change your mind, I'll be back in fifteen minutes." I went into the store and picked up only those things on my mental shopping list that could set behind the seat for an hour without needing to be refrigerated. Two trips to the supermarket this week wouldn't kill my gas budget.
I avoided scanning the parking lot looking for her as I pushed the cart toward my truck. I put the bags behind the bench seat from the passenger side and had moved back to close the door when she spoke from behind me.
Watson Manor Investigations (Watson Manor Mystery Series Book 3) Page 20