Chapter 3 Signed, Sealed, and Delivered
While the ladies were taking a break from the office their team mates were diligently making phone calls. After a few discrete questions here and there, their contacts provided enough information that made it possible to put several pieces of the puzzle together. The investigators were about to compile the information they gathered when the ladies re-entered their office.
"Hildy, Kami, we were just about to flesh out the skeleton of information that we gathered". Terry informed his partners as they all walked into the conference room.
As they settled in their seats Terry continued "My friend at the CIA is a guy I have known for over ten years, he is trustworthy and a straight arrow. When I began asking about Kami's program he cut to the chase, and asked me what I knew? So, I told him about the tweaked version of the program and our suspicions that officers are involved in some form of illegal activities. He then told me that he has a team investigating one of their CIA operatives who is suspected of being involved with a human trafficking ring with ties to one of the Caribbean countries. Thus far my CIA contact and his team have not been able to pin anything on the crocked agent. I gave him Luis Boyle's name and the names of the officers caught on camera to help with his investigation".
"Hildy, I got in touch with your police officer friend Barbara Marshall and enlisted her help with compiling Intel on the crocked officers" Edgar shared with the team. "Barbara said the sergeant we saw with Boyle at the flower shop has been a person of interest to her because his name kept popping up with questionable activities. She will call us back as soon as she finds out some more information", he added before turning back to his computer monitor.
Just then Kami's attention was drawn to the images on her PC screen. As she checked on the program she left running before going for a walk in the park with her lover, the route the furniture truck took was displayed and the destination was pinpointed.
"Hey guys, the computer program located where the furniture was offloaded". The team all stopped what they were doing and focused on what Kami was saying. "Based on what I see here the furniture was offloaded, the trucked parked in the building, and the officers left. It does not appear as if they came back to retrieve the stolen goods".
Jim had a doubtful expression on his face as he asked, "Do you think after two weeks that the furniture and tools are still there?"
"If the things were stolen for resale then it will be long gone. But if Mr. Samuel's place was targeted as just a diversion, then it is quite possible everything is sitting in the building still", David stated.
Kami looked at Hildy with an excited expression in her eyes and softly said to her "There is one way to find out".
Hildy though about Kami's words for a moment or two and then turned to her team and said "Guys, let's check it out. Maybe this case can be wrapped up today. Edgar call Barbara back and give her the location of the building where the furniture was taken. Terry call back your CIA friend, thank God, his office is here in Manhattan and ask him to meet us at the building. Even if the furniture is not there at least we know it was taken there and maybe some clue might have been left behind".
The guys immediately began making the calls as they grabbed their jackets to head for the door.
"I always miss out on all the excitement", Abbi pouted as she folded her arms across her chest while sitting at her reception desk. She knew her job was to stay at the office and answer the phone among other duties but it did not make her like it when her co workers all went out on a case that seemed like an adventure to her. David their ever-loving comedian went to her and said with a smile on his face; "Your superhero outfit is at the dry cleaners Abbs, next time make sure to have it with you at the office and then we can take you with us". The guys all laughed at David's joke but the ladies gave Abbi a sympathetic look as they filed out of their office.
"We have to find a way to include her on some of our field work Hildy", Kami whispered as they all walked to the elevator.
To the team's surprise Mr. Samuel was standing in the elevator as the doors opened.
"I was just coming to see you all to get an update on the case because you asked me to give you a couple days. I know I am a bit early but I was nearby at Columbus Circle running an errand and decided to drop in on you".
Terry decided immediately to be upfront with their client. He briefly explained what they found out thus far about the robbery and the storage of his furniture. At this point Mr. Samuel insisted on accompanying them to the building where the furniture was last seen being off loaded.
It took about thirty minutes to get the firm's vehicles and arrive at their destination. As they stood looking at the metal garage door that was firmly locked, they were thankful that Inspector Barbara Marshal was meeting them there. Within two to three minutes of the investigators arrival, an unmarked police car arrived with Barbara and another officer. Without a search warrant the police did not have the right to just enter and search. However, Hildy and the guys were all police officers in the past and accustomed to finding creative ways to get around the rules at times. After putting a few ideas to Barbara, they were all entering the building.
Mr. Samuel face was priceless as he saw the truck, the furniture, the tools and a stack of lumber off to the side. Before he could rush forward to pick up the nearest tool, Jim stopped him by saying, "Mr. Samuel, everything here has to be dusted for finger prints and taken into evidence".
Barbara began to explain to Mr. Samuel that they needed an airtight case against the crocked police officers who were involved in the theft of his things. Just then Terry's CIA friend Wendell Ryan arrived at the building. Barbara briefed him with their plans to call in the Crime Scene Investigators team to gather evidence. After listening intently, he suggested they hit the hornets' nest and step back to see where the hornets will fly.
Kami looked at her lady as she was not sure that the police lingo meant. Hildy pulled her and Mr. Samuel aside and explained what was going to happen next. "Between Barbara and Wendell, they will assemble a small team of CSI to gather the evidence and log it. Then we will load everything into an unmarked truck and take it back to your store and put everything back as it was. We will get a story out in the afternoon edition of one of the daily papers. The story will say that a good Samaritan returned your stolen furniture etc and you publicly thank him or her. This will have the crocked cops wondering who found the truck and the furniture, they will begin to scamper to cover their tracks in fear that someone knows something. Then Barbara's and Wendell's teams will be watching the bad officers like hawks and at the appropriate time the good guys will come in and arrest the bad guys".
Kami looked at her lover in amazement. "You knew all of that just from the words hit the hornets' nest?" Hildy reached over and gave her a shoulder hug as she replied with a chuckle "yes".
Just as Hildy said it would happen, it happened. In a matter of four hours Mr. Samuel's store was back to normal like he was never burglarized. The interview for the evening papers was completed and the police and CIA were in place to make the arrests as soon as the hornets buzzed.
Later that afternoon Kami installed some additional software on Mr. Samuel's office computer that would assist him with the security cameras. That evening as the team prepared to leave the furniture shop both Mr. and Mrs. Samuel expressed their heartfelt thanks for a job well done by the team of investigators. The business couple promised to supply the team with new teakwood work stations for their computers. This was a gift of gratitude and free of charge. Hildy and Terry kept insisting that that was not necessary but Mr. Samuel would not take no for an answer and assured them that by the end of the week their office will get a makeover. Eventually the gracious offer was accepted and the work family headed back to their own office to finish the paperwork associated with the case.
"Well I must say, that this case worked out better that I thought it would. Everything is signed, sealed, delivered, and our client is happy once more". Jim shared with his work mates as they all munched on deli sandwiches they picked up on the way back to the office.
"I hope the CIA and police are able to break the weakest link in the corrupt chain and find out how wide the human trafficking ring these dirty cops are involved with goes".
Edgar stated in a serious tone.
"Kami, is there anything else you can do? Any more computer magic you can pull out of your hat to help Wendell and Barbara with their case" David asked.
"Kami, maybe you can see where their money trail goes", Hildy suggested.
"That's a good idea. We know at least one person in that crooked gang has a gambling problem. They were making a lot of money but also spending a lot. Maybe you can find out where the spending is going? But there must be at least one of them who was saving more than he was spending. Maybe if we can follow the twists and turns the ill-gotten money took we can get some more evidence on them, and increase the amount of felonies they can be charged with" Terry added to the discussion.
"I will see what I can do guys" Kami smiled at the hopeful expressions on everyone face as they looked at her.
Kami set to work like a virtual shadow, moving undetected in between the financial records of the police officers presently being investigated. The men were good at hiding their money in plain sight. The financial search was in depth, extensive and a bit tedious. Just as the work family was about to call it a day Kami said 'Bingo!"
When the finances of the suspects were cross referenced and cross-referenced again they all touched a congress man named Hugh Sanders. Along with being a congressman, Mr. Sanders was an investment banker and his company was instrumental in investing large sums of money for the crooked cops. Whether the congressman was aware of where the funds were coming from was up to the police and the CIA to determine. The work family quickly discussed this new bit of information and wondered if Congressman Sanders might be the brain of the operation and the crocked law enforcement officers the brawn.
The financial records information was quickly forwarded to Barbara and Wendell as it could be the key in making the entire human trafficking investigation come together and result in the convictions their law enforcement friends hoped for. Justice for Mr. Samuel and justice for all the persons who were trafficked was what the work family team hoped for.
"Excellent work Kami" the guys said as they left the office one by one.
As the ladies collected their things to leave also, Hildy pulled Kami into her arms,
"I never cease being impressed with your computer skills my love. If it wasn't for you we would not have known who robbed the store. We would not have been able to track the route of the truck. Mr. Samuel would not have gotten his livelihood back. Unsuspecting persons from the Caribbean would still be stolen for trafficking purposes. You are an excellent investigator Kami and I am proud of you". Hildy sincerely said and she leaned in for a gentle kiss.
Kami was an uncomplicated woman when it came to her love relationship with Hildy. She did not need expensive gifts like diamonds, pearls, fancy cars or houses. All she needed was loving attention and kind words, fortunately her lover provided her with an abundance of that. The compliment Hildy bestowed on her made Kami literally beam as her smile lit up not only her face but her entire being.
"Let's head home and unwind in a relaxing bath together. Today has been a long one". Hildy said as she helped her lady into her jacket. As they began turning off the lights before locking up, Kami's computer 'pinged' indicating new incoming information.
"Let me just take a quick look at the notice Hildy, I won't take more than a minute and then we can leave, OK?".
"Ok Kami, but no more than a minute, we have done enough work for one day" Hildy replied in a gentle but no-nonsense voice.
Kami quickly sat back down at her console as she checked the latest information that her financial search program filtered through. Hildy did a quick check around their office as she ensures everything that was supposed to be switched off was switched off. She came back to where Kami was sitting and noticed her lover's face looked pale as if she saw something disturbing on the screen.
Hildy immediately asked "Kami, what is it, what is wrong?" but Kami did not answer. So Hildy stood behind her to see what she was looking at and saw a picture of a very handsome man on the screen. The information on the monitor indicated that the man was a financial analyst for the company the congressman owned.
Hildy, did not recognize the man in the photo but when she looked at Kami again she knew something was wrong. "Kami, who is this man?"
Finally, Kami turned away from the screen and looked at her lover with an expression that reflected confusion, shocked, and concern.
"The man in the photo is Dexter, the man I almost married".
Author's Note: If you go to my Pinterest account you will see the photo of the actor who in my imagination represents Dexter Phillip Matthews, Kami's old fiancée.