Hi fellow readers and writers. I would like to thank everyone who has been reading each chapter and all who have been leaving a review. I always enjoy reading a review whether it is positive or negative. I promise that everything will tie in as we progress through the "mystery".
"Don't draw attention to yourself. Hide in plan site." The phrases exploded like fireworks in her brain.
"How often do you and Cassie go to the play park?" Kensi asked.
"I don't know. Um, usually two or three afternoons a week."
"Yesterday, when you were there did you notice anything unusual?"
"No, I don't really understand what you mean."
"Did you notice anyone watching Cassie or the other children? Did someone come along and engage you in a conversation that you did not know?"
"No. I don't think so. I talked to a couple of other moms that I know from Cassie's day care. I didn't notice anyone out of place. There were some families that I did not know, but that always happens. There were just the usual workmen."
"Wait, what do you mean by the usual workmen?"
"You know the usual ones. The usual hot dog vendor, the usual ice cream cart guy, and the usual city garbage collector. The usual people."
Jessica Coverman looked at Kensi confused for a brief moment. Just as quickly she became aware of what Kensi's questions were suggesting.
"No… no… no…you don't this is all because I took Cassie to the park?"
Tears began streaming down Mrs. Coverman's face. Kensi went over and kneelled down in front of Jessica. She reached over and grasped Jessica's hand with both of hers.
"Don't do this to yourself. You did what millions of parents do everyday of the year. You took your child to the play park. It may be nothing. It is though, something worth looking closer at. Okay. We are not going to take anything for granted. I garantee we will do everything we can to find Cassie and bring her home."
Marty and Kensi listened to the rest of the interview and then walked through the Coverman's home. The house was very neat, clean and tidy. Cassie had a typical little girl's room with light pink walls, a white bedroom set, and lots of dolls, ponies and butterflies. LAPD had determined that the assailant or assailants had managed to disable the security system at 3:34 a.m. and had gained entrance, to the home, through the back door. There did not seem to be any fingerprints other than those of the family and the weekly cleaning lady.
"How was the security system disabled?" Deeks asked the LAPD officer in charge of searching the house.
"According to the company, it appears it was disabled by someone punching in the access code."
"Then someone knew the code." Kensi replied.
"At this point that is what it appears to be. I've asked Mrs. Coverman for a list of who were privy to the system's code. She swears only her husband and herself know. Not even the cleaning lady has a clue."
"Is it an easy combination? Did they use their daughter's birth date or one of their middle names?" Deeks asked.
"The system requires the use of a series of letters and numbers. Surprisingly, they did not fall into the "trap" of using something obvious. They went with something completely off the wall. The access code is "penguins170". By the way, the system is wireless and has a back up battery. Cutting the power, phone or cable lines would have no effect. The access code would still be needed."
Deeks called Eric to have him check out the cleaning lady. More importantly, though, he wanted the security company searched. He had a hunch. He was interested in knowing if there had been any other incidents where the company's security system had been disabled in the LA area.
"I really don't believe Mrs. Coverman is involved in her daughter's disappearance. Everything I observed tells me she isn't. I think we should go over to the park and look around. Maybe talk to a few of the people in the play area and show them Cassie's picture. See if anyone remembers something." Kensi replied.
"Me neither. I'd be surprised if it turns out Jessica Coverman is involved. The LAPD tech guys and Eric and Nell are all monitoring the phones owned by the family. If the perpetrators contact the family, by phone, the guys are ready to try and trace it. Eric and Nell uncover anything concerning the family or the security firm they can contact us easy enough. Callen, Sam and the LAPD have the search of the area under control. The park sounds like the best place for us to start." Deeks agreed.
Kensi called Callen to let him know her and Deeks were done at the family's home, for now, and were heading to the play park to check out the area.
Callen and Sam were two blocks away from the Coverman's home and were slowly walking through the various lanes, avenues and roads surrounding the home. The two agents had a detailed map, of the immediate area, and were hand marking various observations, they were making, onto the map. What interested them were where street lights were located, what homes had sensor lights above their garages or front doors, which homes had security systems and/ or security cameras, where were stop signs located and which streets lead out to the main thoroughfare.
"That was Kensi, on the phone. She and Deeks are heading to the play park, Mrs. Coverman and her daughter visited yesterday. They're planning to try and talk to some of the regular patrons, show Cassie's photo around and see if someone can remember something." Callen told Sam as he put his phone back into his back right pocket.
"It's not a bad idea. The perpetrators may have been watching them for a few days. They could have been trying to establish the mom and daughter's regular daily routine. If someone was at the park yesterday, watching the two of them, a regular park attendee may have noticed them. Showing the girls photo around may help jog someone's memory."
"I agree. Let's finish this up and then try and analyze what we have discovered. God, I hate cases involving kids. There is just something very wrong when a child is the victim." Sam said seriously.
"I know." Callen sighed.
"We have two more blocks in this direction and then we turn left for six more. That will take us back to our starting point." Callen stated deep in thought.
The two agents slowly started walking along the sidewalk.
In the missions OPS center Eric and Nell busily tapped away at their computers.
Nell leaned back in her computer seat and rubbed her eyes in frustration.
"What's wrong?" Eric asked.
"I just completed a thorough search of the Coverman's cleaning lady. There is nothing. She is of Hispanic decent, but she is a fourth generation American. Her family has no ties to any criminal organizations. She stills lives at home. Her family owns and operates a cleaning business in LA. The family are tax paying, law abiding, well respected business owners. She is a part-time accounting student. Looks like she cleans homes to pay for her schooling. It seems like everything we investigate turns up nothing. It's frustrating."
"You're usually more calm and relaxed. I know you have some borderline personality disorders, but I don't think I have ever seen you really frazzled."
"It's Cassie. Eric…she is three years old. Why would someone take her out of her bed in the middle of the night? What do they want with her? She is only three."
"I don't know." He sighed.
"Listen, I have just started trying to investigate the security company. Why don't you come over here and help me. It will help keep your mind busy and I could use the help."
Nell looked over at Eric expressionless. Slowly she stood up and moved her computer chair over so she could sit beside him.
Eric smiled at her, took her hand in his and squeezed it.
"You okay?"
"Yea, I think so." Nell sighed.
"Just frustrated."
"Want to see what I have found out so far?"
"Yea, sure." Nell replied while staring blankly at the computer screen.
Kensi and Deeks arrived at the park within five minutes of leaving the Coverman's home. It was a typical city park, with a play area, strolling paths and picnic areas.
"We should concentrate on the area where the play park is located. Jessica Coverman said it was the only area. of the park. Cassie and she visited over the last couple of weeks." Deeks said.
"Yea, that makes sense. How do you want to do this? Should we split up or go around talking to people together?"
Deeks scanned the play park quickly. It was mostly moms, baby sitters, and children in attendance.
"It is not a large area to cover. Let's stay together."
"Okay, I guess we should get started." Kensi replied.
The two walked over to two women sitting on the park bench nearest to them to begin their inquiries.