Disclaimers in Prologue
Team One - Part Three
Quinn went to the kitchen table where she had put her lap top and sat down. SG1 followed. She opened the lap top, punched a few keys, and a few seconds later everyone heard Jonathan's voice.
"How's it going Jonathan?"
"It's going well Quinn. Except Reverend Mother threw her stop watch at a lamp in her room."
Quinn chuckled. "Break the lamp?"
"Into a million pieces. She's trying to glue it back together now."
"What brought that on?"
"She said the stop watch wasn't working. I think she's worried about you."
"I know, but I'll be fine. So will Colonel O'Neill and his people."
"I tried to tell her."
"Don't worry about it now. How are you going on the background checks?"
"Almost done. So far only one red flag."
"And that would be?"
"A Major Samuels. He's listed on Senator Kinsey's staff."
Jack slapped the table. "I knew it!" he yelled.
The lap top had made a jump and Quinn grabbed for it. "Careful Colonel. We don't know why Jonathan flagged it yet."
"But ..."
"Jonathan, what's the flag for?"
"There was a $9,999.00 cash deposit made into his checking account one month ago."
"That's an odd amount," said Daniel.
Quinn looked towards Daniel. "Not really. Not if it's for ill gotten gains. Banks have to report any deposit activity of $10,000 or more to the IRS. It's standard procedure. I think we may be onto something concrete here. If we are, Samuels is an idiot. Bank records are the first thing anyone investigating corruption would look at and the amount being one dollar less than the reporting amount makes it look doubly suspicious."
"So what now?" asked Jack.
"Now we wait for Jonathan to finish his checks on everyone. Jonathan, did you find anything out about Armin Zelig?"
"He was a free lance writer for several newspapers. The last one that published one of his articles was the Washington Post. He was well respected as an investigative reporter. His stories were always highly regarded even though they were pretty speculative and generally not common place. If he were writing an article on the Stargate, it might have been taken seriously by a lot of people.
"The police have no leads so far on the hit and run. There wasn't much to go on just a description of the car and the driver. There were two people in the car according to one witness. No one got a license plate number. The only thing the witnesses remember is that it was a Maryland tag.
"He's survived by his mother and one brother. His will left everything to the mother. The police had the apartment sealed for a week after the accident, but have opened it now. There isn't any indication that his mother or his brother have closed it down. No truck rentals to either of them in the last two weeks and neither one own a truck to move his things out of it. And the apartment hasn't been listed. It's safe to say that the heavier items are still there. As for personal effects, I don't know. Lights and water are still on.
"The IRS is finished looking into his finances and have cleared the way for his mother to collect any money in his estate. Probate doesn't seem to be a problem."
"How much money are we looking at Jonathan?"
"Not much really. Four thousand in a savings account and another couple thousand in his checking account. Some Savings Bonds and an investment that total $32,000. It all tallys with his tax returns and what he was paid for his articles. There is one thing though."
"Go on."
"I pulled up his mother and his brother's financial records. A month ago each one rented a safe deposit box at the same time. Of course, I don't know what's in them, but it just seemed odd."
"Anyone else rent a box at the same time?"
"There were three box rentals within a five minute period that day. The third is to someone named Harvy Brahms. I can't find any records whatsoever on him. He doesn't exist."
Quinn was rubbing her hands together. "Well Jonathan, I think you earned your cookies and milk for today."
"Thank you Quinn."
Daniel looked puzzled. "How does he do all that?"
"He just hacks in."
"Hacking, isn't that ..."
"...illegal." Quinn finished. "Yes it is and so is what I'm going to do tonight."
"Which is?" Jack asked.
"You and I, Colonel are going to break into Zelig's apartment."
"We are?"
"Yes, we are."
***
The rest of the day was spent organizing the apartment. Teal'c and Daniel shared one room as well as Carter and Quinn. Jack would get one all to his self. After Quinn had unpacked, she announced she was going to lay down and take a nap. After flying half way across the country and with what she planned on doing tonight, she wanted to be well rested. This left SG1 on their own.
"Sir, General Hammond knows what we're doing doesn't he?" asked Carter.
"General Hammond is the one who gave me Admiral Burns name and phone number, but ... you don't know that. None of you."
"Do you think we should call him and let him know what we've found out so far?"
"No. I want to leave him out of it as much as we can. Besides, the Commander's right. We don't have that much to go on yet."
"Jack one thing kind of bothers me."
"What is it Daniel?"
"Well when we do find out what's going on and who is responsible for all of this. Are we going to want the guilty parties brought to trial?"
"What do you mean Daniel," asked Carter. "Of course we do?"
"No Captain. Daniel's right in asking. Think about it. Any try at prosecution is going to run the risk that all of this is going to end up becoming public knowledge. We're talking about a very powerful Senator here. Leaving the Stargate project out of it isn't going to make bringing him down easy. I mean, that's what we're looking for. A leak from his office about the Stargate to the press. And if Zelig was murdered and that murder was to keep him quiet. We're opening up a whole can of worms here and I haven't decided what we're going to do once we find out the truth."
Carter's face showed her understanding, but it was Teal'c who brought up the next obvious question.
"What about Commander Masters?"
"Good question Teal'c. She has an axe to grind with Kinsey. If he's guilty, she's going to want him to pay for it. But I think she realizes how important it is to keep the Stargate secret. At least I hope she does."
Jack got up and walked to the large picture window in the living room. It overlooked the swimming pool. A number of people were down there sunning themselves and playing in the water.
"Maybe you should talk to her Colonel?" suggested Carter who had joined him at the window.
"Yeah. I will. Not right now though." Jack turned his back to the view. "Hey I'm hungry. What kind of food did those guys leave us anyway?"
Jack strode into the little kitchen and pulled the refrigerator door open. "Sweet. Nuts and berries. Didn't those guys bring us any real food?"
***
Quinn awoke to the smell of steaks cooking. Shuddering and making a face she got herself up and into the bathroom where she splashed water on her face. Daniel was setting the table with Teal'c's help and she could hear Carter and O'Neill in the kitchen.
"Looks like I woke up just in time for dinner," she announced when she came out of the bathroom.
"Yeah," Daniel answered. "We had to go find a store though. All that was in the fridge was vegies, fruit, and cheese and lot's of juice and milk."
Quinn chuckled and walked into the kitchen. It was small and barely big enough for two people to maneuver in. Jack was bending over the gas stove checking on the steaks in the broiler and Carter was at the sink washing vegetables and cutting them up. Mushrooms and onions were on a pan on the stove bubbling in butter.
"Ummm. Smells ..." Quinn shook slightly, "wonderful."
Jack raised up quickly when he heard Quinn's voice and his head hit the handle of the pan the mushrooms and onions were sauteing in. Quinn reached out and grabbed the handle before it could overturn. Setting the pan back on the burner she said, "Watch it Colonel. Third degree burns aren't fun."
"Yeah, I know." He rubbed the back of his head where he had hit the pan handle. "Sleep well?" he asked.
"Like a babe."
"I hope you're not cooking one of those things for me?" Quinn pointed down to the steaks in the broiler and shuddered again.
"No Commander. Carter is making a salad and cutting up some fruit and vegetables for you."
Quinn peered around Jack to look at her. "Thank you Carter."
She looked up and smiled. "My pleasure Commander."
"You guys don't go in for first names much do you?"
"I think it's the Air Force in us ma'am," Carter answered.
Quinn made a face. "Oh god. Ma'am. That's even worse than Commander. Look, if you guys can't say Quinn how about Masters and I'll call you Carter and you, big guy, O'Neill?"
Carter and Jack exchanged glances. "Humph," was all Jack said.
"Seriously folks. I really think we should leave the rank out of this. We're here outside of the military domain doing something that isn't officially sanctioned. Get my drift?"
"You got a point ... Masters."
"Thank you. Oh, by the way I think you'd better check on your steaks. It's starting to smell like charcoal in here."
Jack bent down quickly and pulled the pan out of the broiler narrowly avoiding the pan of mushrooms and onions.
***
Jack's steaks weren't burnt and the meal went well. Daniel had done most of the talking describing to Teal'c in vivid detail the Mall and the different monuments and building surrounding it. Teal'c said he would like to see it if they got a chance and it was agreed that when this was over they would spend a couple of days showing Teal'c around.
Once the dishes were in the dishwasher and everything was cleaned up and put away everyone sat down at the table again with coffee and juice.
"Okay, here's what's going to happen tonight. O'Neill, you and I are going to Zelig's apartment. We're going to look around and see if we can get inside without being spotted. If we can, you'll help me search."
"What about us?" Carter asked indicating herself, Daniel, and Teal'c.
"Well there isn't much that you can do tonight. But use my lap top and dig into Kinsey's voting record. I also need voting records of the others on his committee and their backgrounds. I need to know what projects Kinsey has subsidized or shut down over the past year and what government contracts, if any, are meted out to his state ... no matter how small. Jonathan can help you.
"Tomorrow, depending on what we find in Zelig's apartment and what you and Jonathan have dug up, we'll begin in earnest. Okay?"
"Sounds good to me," said Jack. "When do we go?"
"We're going to leave here at 0200 hours. It's the best time. Most people are home by then and asleep. Doormen and others who might be watching are usually so bored stiff by then fatigue sets in and they miss things."
***
Quinn drove down Georgia Avenue towards Silver Spring. Turning right on Plyer's Mill she drove slowly past the first intersection and turned left down McMahon. A sign lit up on the right corner said "Walter Reed Army Medical Center - Forest Glen Annex".
"Walter Reed?"
"It's housing for the guys stationed at the hospital. See these town houses coming up on the left? Zelig's is in there."
There was enough light from the street lights that Jack could see two rows of town houses, then the view was blocked by trees. "There's no way in."
"The entrance is down that first intersection we passed. I just wanted to see the back first. This road circles back around to the other side."
"Well I guess we won't have to worry about doormen?"
Quinn glanced at Jack out of the corner of her eye. "Nope."
The road they were on twisted and turned, but finally they came to another intersection and Quinn turned left. Then left again at the next one. She drove slowly down the road and turned into the driveway between the two rows of town houses. Going all the way down the end of the driveway she parked the car in a corner spot under a large oak.
"Either your official investigation is over and they don't think they're going to get anything by watching his apartment or they're sloppy. Either way, it's in our favor. There's no one watching."
Jack twisted in his seat. "How can you be sure?"
"Instinct, a little research, and observation."
"Explain."
"Must I?"
"Please."
Quinn took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Okay. I had Jonathan pull up a listing of all the tenants here. Then he went into vehicle registration and got a listing of all the cars registered to the people who live here. He also checked to see if any of the tenants were new in the past couple of weeks. None are. There are exactly the number and make and model of cars here that should be ... including Zelig's which is that Buick Regal over there. There is no where to park across the street and see down in here and there isn't anywhere to unobtrusively park on MacMahon and see in here. Now as for instinct. I just don't feel like we're being watched. Satisfied?"
"Peachy."
"Here, put these on." Quinn handed Jack a pair of rubber surgeon's gloves. Once he had them on she said, "Okay, we'll go up to the apartment now. Be quiet. There's a window open on the second floor of the townhouse next to Zeligs. And don't let the car door make any noise when you close it."
Quinn and Jack made their way soundlessly down to the front door of Armin Zeligs. Quinn retrieved a small zippered pouch from her pants pocket, opened it, and took out two small picks. Inserting one into the lock of the dead bolt and holding it in place, she inserted the second pick and turned. Jack could hear the lock click back. Quinn put one pick back in the pouch and used the other one on the keyhole of the door knob and turned it. Then she turned the knob and slowly opened the door. Holding it open for Jack, she took one more look around and then followed him into the townhouse. She closed the door quietly behind her and put her back to it.
"Don't move. Let you eyes adjust to the light before you do. And don't touch anything," whispered Quinn.
"But you said you wanted me to help you search. What am I doing here then?"
"You're here to keep me honest," Quinn answered.
"Honest?" Jack paused. "Where exactly did you learn to do that? Pick locks, I mean," Jack whispered.
"My father taught me."
"Your father?"
"Yeah, didn't I tell you? He was a thief."
Quinn pushed herself away from the door leaving an open mouthed Jack standing there in the dark.
Jack recovered quickly and followed. "How do you know we didn't just set off a security alarm?"
"Because everyone who owns one has to have them registered with the police. Zelig's not registered."
"Oh."
"You start in here. Go through everything. Look under everything. It looks like the mother hasn't taken anything out yet. But whatever you do, do it neatly and make sure everything is back the way you found it."
"What am I looking for?"
"Anything out of place. Anything. Papers, notes, computer disks, photos. Feather the pages of all the magazines and books. Check the bindings on the books. Look for cuts in the furniture where something might be hidden inside. I'm going to start with the computer."
"How do you know he has one?"
Quinn shook her head and pointed to the living room and then she went up the stairs to the second floor. Finding Zelig's office in the second bedroom, she immediately went to the computer. An hour later she came downstairs and Jack was just finishing up the kitchen.
"Find anything?"
"Just this. It was in one of the books." Jack handed a Maryland driver's license to Quinn with the name of Harvy Brahms on it. It had Zelig's picture on it.
"Good work O'Neill. Excellent."
"Thanks. Did you find anything?"
"Think so, but I won't know for sure until we get back to the apartment. Are you ready to go?"
"I'm done."
"Well then, let's boogie."
"You know you're going to have to explain that 'my father's was a thief' remark."
Quinn grinned through the darkness. "Someday O'Neill. Someday."
***
To be continued ...
Team One - Part Three
Quinn went to the kitchen table where she had put her lap top and sat down. SG1 followed. She opened the lap top, punched a few keys, and a few seconds later everyone heard Jonathan's voice.
"How's it going Jonathan?"
"It's going well Quinn. Except Reverend Mother threw her stop watch at a lamp in her room."
Quinn chuckled. "Break the lamp?"
"Into a million pieces. She's trying to glue it back together now."
"What brought that on?"
"She said the stop watch wasn't working. I think she's worried about you."
"I know, but I'll be fine. So will Colonel O'Neill and his people."
"I tried to tell her."
"Don't worry about it now. How are you going on the background checks?"
"Almost done. So far only one red flag."
"And that would be?"
"A Major Samuels. He's listed on Senator Kinsey's staff."
Jack slapped the table. "I knew it!" he yelled.
The lap top had made a jump and Quinn grabbed for it. "Careful Colonel. We don't know why Jonathan flagged it yet."
"But ..."
"Jonathan, what's the flag for?"
"There was a $9,999.00 cash deposit made into his checking account one month ago."
"That's an odd amount," said Daniel.
Quinn looked towards Daniel. "Not really. Not if it's for ill gotten gains. Banks have to report any deposit activity of $10,000 or more to the IRS. It's standard procedure. I think we may be onto something concrete here. If we are, Samuels is an idiot. Bank records are the first thing anyone investigating corruption would look at and the amount being one dollar less than the reporting amount makes it look doubly suspicious."
"So what now?" asked Jack.
"Now we wait for Jonathan to finish his checks on everyone. Jonathan, did you find anything out about Armin Zelig?"
"He was a free lance writer for several newspapers. The last one that published one of his articles was the Washington Post. He was well respected as an investigative reporter. His stories were always highly regarded even though they were pretty speculative and generally not common place. If he were writing an article on the Stargate, it might have been taken seriously by a lot of people.
"The police have no leads so far on the hit and run. There wasn't much to go on just a description of the car and the driver. There were two people in the car according to one witness. No one got a license plate number. The only thing the witnesses remember is that it was a Maryland tag.
"He's survived by his mother and one brother. His will left everything to the mother. The police had the apartment sealed for a week after the accident, but have opened it now. There isn't any indication that his mother or his brother have closed it down. No truck rentals to either of them in the last two weeks and neither one own a truck to move his things out of it. And the apartment hasn't been listed. It's safe to say that the heavier items are still there. As for personal effects, I don't know. Lights and water are still on.
"The IRS is finished looking into his finances and have cleared the way for his mother to collect any money in his estate. Probate doesn't seem to be a problem."
"How much money are we looking at Jonathan?"
"Not much really. Four thousand in a savings account and another couple thousand in his checking account. Some Savings Bonds and an investment that total $32,000. It all tallys with his tax returns and what he was paid for his articles. There is one thing though."
"Go on."
"I pulled up his mother and his brother's financial records. A month ago each one rented a safe deposit box at the same time. Of course, I don't know what's in them, but it just seemed odd."
"Anyone else rent a box at the same time?"
"There were three box rentals within a five minute period that day. The third is to someone named Harvy Brahms. I can't find any records whatsoever on him. He doesn't exist."
Quinn was rubbing her hands together. "Well Jonathan, I think you earned your cookies and milk for today."
"Thank you Quinn."
Daniel looked puzzled. "How does he do all that?"
"He just hacks in."
"Hacking, isn't that ..."
"...illegal." Quinn finished. "Yes it is and so is what I'm going to do tonight."
"Which is?" Jack asked.
"You and I, Colonel are going to break into Zelig's apartment."
"We are?"
"Yes, we are."
***
The rest of the day was spent organizing the apartment. Teal'c and Daniel shared one room as well as Carter and Quinn. Jack would get one all to his self. After Quinn had unpacked, she announced she was going to lay down and take a nap. After flying half way across the country and with what she planned on doing tonight, she wanted to be well rested. This left SG1 on their own.
"Sir, General Hammond knows what we're doing doesn't he?" asked Carter.
"General Hammond is the one who gave me Admiral Burns name and phone number, but ... you don't know that. None of you."
"Do you think we should call him and let him know what we've found out so far?"
"No. I want to leave him out of it as much as we can. Besides, the Commander's right. We don't have that much to go on yet."
"Jack one thing kind of bothers me."
"What is it Daniel?"
"Well when we do find out what's going on and who is responsible for all of this. Are we going to want the guilty parties brought to trial?"
"What do you mean Daniel," asked Carter. "Of course we do?"
"No Captain. Daniel's right in asking. Think about it. Any try at prosecution is going to run the risk that all of this is going to end up becoming public knowledge. We're talking about a very powerful Senator here. Leaving the Stargate project out of it isn't going to make bringing him down easy. I mean, that's what we're looking for. A leak from his office about the Stargate to the press. And if Zelig was murdered and that murder was to keep him quiet. We're opening up a whole can of worms here and I haven't decided what we're going to do once we find out the truth."
Carter's face showed her understanding, but it was Teal'c who brought up the next obvious question.
"What about Commander Masters?"
"Good question Teal'c. She has an axe to grind with Kinsey. If he's guilty, she's going to want him to pay for it. But I think she realizes how important it is to keep the Stargate secret. At least I hope she does."
Jack got up and walked to the large picture window in the living room. It overlooked the swimming pool. A number of people were down there sunning themselves and playing in the water.
"Maybe you should talk to her Colonel?" suggested Carter who had joined him at the window.
"Yeah. I will. Not right now though." Jack turned his back to the view. "Hey I'm hungry. What kind of food did those guys leave us anyway?"
Jack strode into the little kitchen and pulled the refrigerator door open. "Sweet. Nuts and berries. Didn't those guys bring us any real food?"
***
Quinn awoke to the smell of steaks cooking. Shuddering and making a face she got herself up and into the bathroom where she splashed water on her face. Daniel was setting the table with Teal'c's help and she could hear Carter and O'Neill in the kitchen.
"Looks like I woke up just in time for dinner," she announced when she came out of the bathroom.
"Yeah," Daniel answered. "We had to go find a store though. All that was in the fridge was vegies, fruit, and cheese and lot's of juice and milk."
Quinn chuckled and walked into the kitchen. It was small and barely big enough for two people to maneuver in. Jack was bending over the gas stove checking on the steaks in the broiler and Carter was at the sink washing vegetables and cutting them up. Mushrooms and onions were on a pan on the stove bubbling in butter.
"Ummm. Smells ..." Quinn shook slightly, "wonderful."
Jack raised up quickly when he heard Quinn's voice and his head hit the handle of the pan the mushrooms and onions were sauteing in. Quinn reached out and grabbed the handle before it could overturn. Setting the pan back on the burner she said, "Watch it Colonel. Third degree burns aren't fun."
"Yeah, I know." He rubbed the back of his head where he had hit the pan handle. "Sleep well?" he asked.
"Like a babe."
"I hope you're not cooking one of those things for me?" Quinn pointed down to the steaks in the broiler and shuddered again.
"No Commander. Carter is making a salad and cutting up some fruit and vegetables for you."
Quinn peered around Jack to look at her. "Thank you Carter."
She looked up and smiled. "My pleasure Commander."
"You guys don't go in for first names much do you?"
"I think it's the Air Force in us ma'am," Carter answered.
Quinn made a face. "Oh god. Ma'am. That's even worse than Commander. Look, if you guys can't say Quinn how about Masters and I'll call you Carter and you, big guy, O'Neill?"
Carter and Jack exchanged glances. "Humph," was all Jack said.
"Seriously folks. I really think we should leave the rank out of this. We're here outside of the military domain doing something that isn't officially sanctioned. Get my drift?"
"You got a point ... Masters."
"Thank you. Oh, by the way I think you'd better check on your steaks. It's starting to smell like charcoal in here."
Jack bent down quickly and pulled the pan out of the broiler narrowly avoiding the pan of mushrooms and onions.
***
Jack's steaks weren't burnt and the meal went well. Daniel had done most of the talking describing to Teal'c in vivid detail the Mall and the different monuments and building surrounding it. Teal'c said he would like to see it if they got a chance and it was agreed that when this was over they would spend a couple of days showing Teal'c around.
Once the dishes were in the dishwasher and everything was cleaned up and put away everyone sat down at the table again with coffee and juice.
"Okay, here's what's going to happen tonight. O'Neill, you and I are going to Zelig's apartment. We're going to look around and see if we can get inside without being spotted. If we can, you'll help me search."
"What about us?" Carter asked indicating herself, Daniel, and Teal'c.
"Well there isn't much that you can do tonight. But use my lap top and dig into Kinsey's voting record. I also need voting records of the others on his committee and their backgrounds. I need to know what projects Kinsey has subsidized or shut down over the past year and what government contracts, if any, are meted out to his state ... no matter how small. Jonathan can help you.
"Tomorrow, depending on what we find in Zelig's apartment and what you and Jonathan have dug up, we'll begin in earnest. Okay?"
"Sounds good to me," said Jack. "When do we go?"
"We're going to leave here at 0200 hours. It's the best time. Most people are home by then and asleep. Doormen and others who might be watching are usually so bored stiff by then fatigue sets in and they miss things."
***
Quinn drove down Georgia Avenue towards Silver Spring. Turning right on Plyer's Mill she drove slowly past the first intersection and turned left down McMahon. A sign lit up on the right corner said "Walter Reed Army Medical Center - Forest Glen Annex".
"Walter Reed?"
"It's housing for the guys stationed at the hospital. See these town houses coming up on the left? Zelig's is in there."
There was enough light from the street lights that Jack could see two rows of town houses, then the view was blocked by trees. "There's no way in."
"The entrance is down that first intersection we passed. I just wanted to see the back first. This road circles back around to the other side."
"Well I guess we won't have to worry about doormen?"
Quinn glanced at Jack out of the corner of her eye. "Nope."
The road they were on twisted and turned, but finally they came to another intersection and Quinn turned left. Then left again at the next one. She drove slowly down the road and turned into the driveway between the two rows of town houses. Going all the way down the end of the driveway she parked the car in a corner spot under a large oak.
"Either your official investigation is over and they don't think they're going to get anything by watching his apartment or they're sloppy. Either way, it's in our favor. There's no one watching."
Jack twisted in his seat. "How can you be sure?"
"Instinct, a little research, and observation."
"Explain."
"Must I?"
"Please."
Quinn took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Okay. I had Jonathan pull up a listing of all the tenants here. Then he went into vehicle registration and got a listing of all the cars registered to the people who live here. He also checked to see if any of the tenants were new in the past couple of weeks. None are. There are exactly the number and make and model of cars here that should be ... including Zelig's which is that Buick Regal over there. There is no where to park across the street and see down in here and there isn't anywhere to unobtrusively park on MacMahon and see in here. Now as for instinct. I just don't feel like we're being watched. Satisfied?"
"Peachy."
"Here, put these on." Quinn handed Jack a pair of rubber surgeon's gloves. Once he had them on she said, "Okay, we'll go up to the apartment now. Be quiet. There's a window open on the second floor of the townhouse next to Zeligs. And don't let the car door make any noise when you close it."
Quinn and Jack made their way soundlessly down to the front door of Armin Zeligs. Quinn retrieved a small zippered pouch from her pants pocket, opened it, and took out two small picks. Inserting one into the lock of the dead bolt and holding it in place, she inserted the second pick and turned. Jack could hear the lock click back. Quinn put one pick back in the pouch and used the other one on the keyhole of the door knob and turned it. Then she turned the knob and slowly opened the door. Holding it open for Jack, she took one more look around and then followed him into the townhouse. She closed the door quietly behind her and put her back to it.
"Don't move. Let you eyes adjust to the light before you do. And don't touch anything," whispered Quinn.
"But you said you wanted me to help you search. What am I doing here then?"
"You're here to keep me honest," Quinn answered.
"Honest?" Jack paused. "Where exactly did you learn to do that? Pick locks, I mean," Jack whispered.
"My father taught me."
"Your father?"
"Yeah, didn't I tell you? He was a thief."
Quinn pushed herself away from the door leaving an open mouthed Jack standing there in the dark.
Jack recovered quickly and followed. "How do you know we didn't just set off a security alarm?"
"Because everyone who owns one has to have them registered with the police. Zelig's not registered."
"Oh."
"You start in here. Go through everything. Look under everything. It looks like the mother hasn't taken anything out yet. But whatever you do, do it neatly and make sure everything is back the way you found it."
"What am I looking for?"
"Anything out of place. Anything. Papers, notes, computer disks, photos. Feather the pages of all the magazines and books. Check the bindings on the books. Look for cuts in the furniture where something might be hidden inside. I'm going to start with the computer."
"How do you know he has one?"
Quinn shook her head and pointed to the living room and then she went up the stairs to the second floor. Finding Zelig's office in the second bedroom, she immediately went to the computer. An hour later she came downstairs and Jack was just finishing up the kitchen.
"Find anything?"
"Just this. It was in one of the books." Jack handed a Maryland driver's license to Quinn with the name of Harvy Brahms on it. It had Zelig's picture on it.
"Good work O'Neill. Excellent."
"Thanks. Did you find anything?"
"Think so, but I won't know for sure until we get back to the apartment. Are you ready to go?"
"I'm done."
"Well then, let's boogie."
"You know you're going to have to explain that 'my father's was a thief' remark."
Quinn grinned through the darkness. "Someday O'Neill. Someday."
***
To be continued ...