CHAPTER 4

After making a run back to the police station to get his truck and then back to the office to pick up the surveillance van, Matt returned to Masterton's office. He made a trip past the parking lot to see if he spotted the lawyer, but didn't so the PI turned in and parked. As he exited his vehicle and went back inside the building, he stood looking at the directory as if lost while several people walked out through the front doors. Once the coast was clear he went on down the hall to the door of the office. He picked the lock again and went in, disarming the alarm once more before beginning to plant some of the surveillance devices that he called critters.

The devices, which were marketed under the name of BugBytes, were a product of his collaboration with Derwin Dunlap. Although tiny, the cameras and microphones gave crystal clear images and incredibly good sound and came with an easy-to-use software package. They were now in use by several local, state, and federal agencies. Matt put a couple of cameras in the outer office, three in the lawyer's private office, and one in the bathroom. He also installed a program on both of the computers in the office which would log each keystroke and monitor all of the activities carried out on them. Carefully, he left the building and got inside the van, stepping into the back and sliding the panel closed that separated the driver's area from the back of the van; that way no one would know he was inside. After turning on all of the monitors and checking to make sure he had a clean feed from the critters, Matt settled back and waited. At 7:00 his phone rang. "Yeah, Michael, what's up?"

"Burgers, fries, and a couple of strawberry shakes. Is the coast clear?"

"Yep, I just unlocked the side door for you." He hung up, glad that the cop had brought dinner. A couple of minutes later the door opened and Hoyt stepped inside handing the food over to the PI as he closed the door.

"Anything happen yet?" He took one of the shakes and unwrapped a straw as he looked at Matt.

"Nada. It's been really quiet." The PI pulled a burger and box of fries out of one of the bags and began munching. "I'm surprised you're here."

"Oh, why is that?"

"After the way you cussed me this morning…" He smiled and shrugged.

"Yeah, well…" Michael swallowed a bite of burger and followed it with milkshake. "I have to make certain allowances." He grinned.

"Is that right?"

"Uh huh…since you're from Texas and all and only a lowly PI, I really can't expect too much from you." The cop gave a chuckle.

Matt nodded and grinned. "You're learning." They continued to watch the feed from the critters and chat. After four more hours, they were about to give up until a car pulled into the parking lot. "Hello, we've got company." The two watched as a man got out of the car and went to the door of the office building, unlocked the lobby door, and went inside, relocking the door behind him. Matt pulled out a pair of night vision binoculars and looked at the license plate. "3AUH816."

Michael pulled out his phone and called the department and got the results on the plate. After thanking the officer, he hung up and sighed. "It's the cleaning guy."

Matt cursed under his breath. Rubbing his eyes, he looked up at Michael. "If we're going to keep eyes on this place and have someone here 24/7, we're going to need help." The cop nodded. Looking back up at the screen, Matt pointed. "Maybe not - he's in Masterton's office." They both watched as the janitor slipped into the lawyer's private office and went to the book case.

"He knows." Hoyt and Matt exchanged a look and headed for the door of the van.

"He's also about to know that we've been in there and took the money." Matt sprinted across the parking lot and went around to the back of the building while Hoyt stood by the front door, waiting in case their target came out that way.

When he had been planting the critters earlier, Matt had rigged the window in the bathroom of the office so that he could get back in without setting off the alarm. As he slid inside, he could hear the man cursing. Quietly, he stepped into the office and watched as the man rifled through the books, at last turning and facing the PI who had his Glock leveled. "Howdy. Have a seat there." He motioned toward a chair and the scared looking man had a seat. Matt pulled out his phone and called Michael, telling him to come in through the window. As he waited, the PI leaned against the desk, still holding the man at gunpoint. Michael came into the room a couple of minutes later. "We need to have a chat."

"Who in the hell are you guys?" The janitor looked like he was ready to have a heart attack as Michael flashed his badge.

"Stand up." The lieutenant frisked the man and pulled his wallet from his back pocket. "Sergio Caldara. What are you doing here tonight?"

"I'm a janitor – what the hell do you think I'm doing?"

"Rifling through books looking for money." Matt spoke up. "Are you working for Masterton?" At the mere mention of the lawyer's name, the janitor went pale. He didn't answer. "Do you realize you're looking at a possible accessory to murder charge – just to start with?"

"Un uh – I didn't kill anybody." He looked between the two men. "He's got my wife and kid – if I don't come back with the money he's gonna kill them."

The two detectives looked at each other and Matt put the Glock back in his waistband. "Where?"

"At my house. He showed up this morning and told me that if I wanted my family to live I had to come here tonight and get some money that he left here. There's supposed to be $150,000 in here but I can't find it anywhere."

"That's because it's already been taken into evidence." Hoyt leaned against the desk next to Matt.

"You gotta help me – he's going to kill them if I don't bring it to him!" The man broke down.

"When are you supposed to give it to him?" The PI started pacing.

"I've got to be there with it by 1:30."

"Michael, we need a plan – and fast." He walked back over. "Where is your house?"

"Hancock Street – Lincoln Heights."

"Alright." Matt turned to the desk and picked up a pad of paper and a pen. "Draw us a sketch of the house." Caldara at first looked at the PI like he was nuts, then Hoyt who nodded and pulled out his phone, calling Lee Jenkins and Carl Trenton, two of the detectives in his office.