Ch 25
Back at the precinct Jake was looking over the files he was emailed Jake was starting to see a pattern. One of the employees, someone named Isaac Mathews would check in the lab at 9 AM and take several breaks. But the glaring anomaly was his breaks were way too long sometimes 30 mins. "How is no one suspicious at all?" Jake mused. Reviewing the security camera footage, he found Mathews reason for his long breaks; he was checking out the security station on that floor. Rolling back form his desk he pinged the station's A.I interface. "Computer, give me everything we got data wise on an Isaac Mathews." "Right away detective…match found pulling records now." Jake sifted through some of the man's files. "Well he certainly fits the bill of a thief, I mean he's been booked 3 times all for robbery." He put a reminder in his notes to visit Mathews tomorrow.
The next day…
"Isaac Mathews?" "Yes" came a reply. "Detective Ross HCPD, I'd like to ask you a few questions regarding the theft of one of the microchips a few days ago." "Well sure I guess." Jake flipped through his notepad. "Mr. Mathews where were you around 9 PM on Tues?" "I was here at the lab." "Hmm well you're right you were in the lab, after hours while no one was supposed to be here." The mans face darkened, "You can't prove that!" "Got footage to prove it, that and your prior arrest paperwork." Mathews paled. "I'm going to have to ask you to come with me please." Jake reached for the cuffs at his waist when Mathews shoved him, sprinting out of the lab. "Crap." Jake ran after him. Now normally the halls of Bailek Industries were relatively clear, but today of all days must have been field trip day. The hall was flooded with kids and adults alike. "Move! Out of the way!" Jake tried shoving past some people. He saw Mathews turn down a hallway. Chasing after him he rounded the corner, only to hear the door to the stairwell close. Bursting through he began his race downstairs. Getting to the ground floor he ran past the elevators. "Stop that man!" he yelled. Luckily some security guards tried to stop Mathews, but they didn't. it did however, give Jake enough time to tackle the man through the entryway to the building. "Mr. Mathews you are under arrest."
"He spill anything yet?" Jake asked. Roland nodded, "Yup, told us where the chip is somewhere south of 43rd street." "On it." Came the reply. "Wait, here." Said the chief. Jake took the paper, "Right almost forgot, can't go kicking down doors without a warrant." Arriving at the address Jake nocked on the door. "HCPD anybody home?" no answer. Using one of the station's muti- purpose tools the door slid open. Searching the room Jake didn't find much. He was about to leave when something caught his eye. "Hmm that picture looks…off." Walking over he removed the picture from the wall, revealing a square outlined with plaster. Somethings back there. Searching the room (including the basement) the only tool he found was a sledgehammer. "Well this is going to be loud." Slamming the wall a few times revealed a door. "Now let's see what's behind you." Kicking it open gun drawn he scanned the room for hostiles. Finding none he approached a lone desk cluttered with papers. "There's a lot of info here, purchases, a manufacturing plant? Why would Mathews have that?" he looked up and his eyes widened. There on the wall was a map of Hub, all of it. There were buildings marked with taks around the whole city. Pulling out his phone he called the precinct, "Chief yea you might want to come down and see this, we may have something big here."