After they'd left the hospital, whilst Dave went to Eric Watson's work address first before going on to his home address, accompanied by Detective Woods and some uniforms, Spencer went to the grocery store where the disposable cell phones had been bought. She was accompanied by Detective Spike and some uniforms.
Alex, accompanied by Detectives Towers and Thomas and some uniforms, went to Gary Watson's last known home address and J.J, accompanied by Detectives Anderson and Thompson and some uniforms went to first the workplace, then the home address of Thomas Baker.
"Hi I'm Agent Rossi, FBI. This is Detective Woods. Do you know this man?" Dave showed the girl on the front desk Eric Watson's photo on his cell phone.
"Looks like one of our security guards, Eric Watson."
"Does he have a shift tonight?"
"I don't know. I'd have to check the schedule. Why? Is he in some kind of trouble?"
"He might be. Is there someone in charge we can speak to?"
"Hang on, let me call my manager okay?"
"Sure, thank you."
"Mr Edwards, there's FBI and police here to talk to someone about one of the security guards, Eric Watson…yes sir, I'll show them right there. If you guys would like to follow me, I'll show to the manager's office…."
"Thanks."
Dave and Detective Woods followed her to an office at the back of the warehouse.
"Mr Edwards? This is FBI Agent Rossi and this is Detective Woods."
"Thanks Lisa! How can I help the FBI and police? Please take a seat guys."
"Thanks. We're here about one of your employees. A night security guard. Do you recognise this man?" Dave showed him the photo on his cell.
"Yeah that looks like Watson. Eric Watson, night security guard. He's been that since about last year. Is he in some kind of trouble?"
"He might be involved in the abduction, kidnapping and possible torture of 3 FBI agents and a MDPD Detective. And he might be involved in the case of several murders committed by the same guy. What can you tell us about him?"
"Decent enough worker, works nights so I don't see him that much. Reports say he turns up on time for shifts, does his work then leaves."
"Has he been issued a weapon for the job?"
"Yeah but protocol states it has to be left here on site. We have safe lockboxes for each security guards weapons. They can't take them off site. They have to be witnessed putting them in the lockboxes before they leave at the end of their shift. Security manager on duty and another security guard both have to witness and sign off each time. They witness the lockbox being securely locked before signing off. They also have to witness and sign off when the security guard takes out and readies his weapon at the start of his shift. I get given the log book every week to check it's been signed off on…" He flicked through some papers and handed Dave the open book.
"As you can see at the end of his last shift 2 days ago, Eric Watson securely left his weapon in the lockbox. I can take you guys to prove it's there. I'm the only one who knows all the lock box codes as I'm overall responsible for the weapons on site."
"When is he next due to work a shift?"
"Tomorrow night. Starts at 8pm, finishes at 8am, then working each night for the rest of the week. We do a week by week rota so I can't tell you about next week's rota yet. Would you like to see his employee file?"
"Please."
The guy went to a filing cabinet behind him and pulled out a file folder and handed it to Dave.
"Looks like a model employee. Says here he's got a brother named Gary listed as next of kin. Mind if we get a copy of this Mr Edwards?"
"Course….." He picked up the phone "Lisa, I need you to come and make a copy of Eric Watson's file for the FBI and police….." Lisa appeared at the door and took the file from Dave to make a copy.
"He's involved in abducting and kidnapping 3 FBI agents and a detective? And several murders?"
"Yeah, do you know anything about any of his friends?"
"Actually last week, the security manager did complain Eric was on his cell a lot talking to someone named Tony. When the manager asked him if it was work related he said no, that it was a mate. Then on his last shift the other day, the manager again complained Eric was on his phone a lot to another mate named Thomas. Came to me both times and I was gonna talk to Eric when he reported for his shift tomorrow before I left for the evening about both the guys he was calling and why he was calling them a lot when he was supposed to be working and on duty and why he couldn't wait for his breaks to call them or couldn't call them outside of work."
"Did the manager happen to get a last name of either guy?"
"Sorry but no, only the 2 first names."
"Is the security manager working now?"
"No he's the night security manager. The day one whose working now doesn't work with Eric. But he's working tonight but I can give you his name and home address and even a contact number if that helps. But his shift here starts at 8pm. Let me just get his file and I'll write stuff down."
"Thank you. That would be helpful."
"Sir, Agent Rossi, Detective Woods, I made 2 copies, one for each of you…here's the original back sir. I'll be out front if you want me." She handed papers to both Dave and Woods and the file back to Mr Edwards.
"Thanks Lisa. The night security manager is a good guy. His name is Mark Carter. Worked here for a few years and is a very good worker. Here's his name, home address and contact number. He might be sleeping now though but I'm sure he'll be willing to help you guys. Here's my card, I want to help as much as I can. If he is involved like you say, I will fire him as I don't employee criminals, especially in positions that involve handling weapons. For those jobs I need clean guys, with clean records and who I think I can trust. I did a full background check on Eric Watson. He's got a clean record and has never been in trouble. He did tell me his brother has been in trouble with the law but that it was minor and that he's not like his brother. I appreciated his honesty at telling me from the start. I'll take you to the lock boxes now if you want. Their in a secure room behind this office. You need a code to gain access to the room and everything is digitally recorded computer wise about entrance, exit and opening and closing lockboxes.
"How many security guards do you employee?"
"4 each shift plus 1 security manager. And the witness to the taking out and putting back the weapons cannot be the same guy for any of the other 3 men. It has to be different guys for each gun and a different witness for each time the lock box is open. I have to do it that way until I can get cameras fixed up for the room. Due to have cameras put into the room in a couple of weeks, but even then I'll have the same signing and witnessing procedures in place for the guns. I know it may be slightly over the top but they are real guns and the guns are fully registered to me and this property and to the security officer assigned to each gun. They are deadly weapons so I'd rather be safe than sorry. All my security guards have to go through a full gun qualification and pass a test each year to requalify. I insist on that. In return I pay for the course and for the exam, but if they fail the first test and have to retake then they pay for any subsequent tests out of their own pockets. I'll pay for one test per year. And they can't work until they requalify and pass the test each year. I know what a gun in the wrong hands can do so I'd much rather be safe than sorry."
"I take it you've had personal experience then?"
"Yeah, about 10 years ago my brother was on his way home from his job at a department store when he was approached by a 15 year old with a gun. The boy shot him for the 50 bucks in his wallet. He never carried much cash, felt safer not doing so. The kid is serving a life sentence now but it'll never bring Dan back. That's why I'd much rather go over the top with making sure the guns on site stay on site and are handled and secured properly and safely and are never in the wrong hands. Even extra bullets for the guns are kept in a separate lock box to which only the manager and myself have access. If, for some reason, a guard needs more bullets, even if he's just been practicing on target ranges out back, the manager has to sign off on the number of bullets, another guard has to sign off on witnessing and the guard has to write a report on why he needed more bullets, even if he was just doing some target practice during a break, which I do allow so that they can keep up their gun handling skills." He entered the room code and showed them into the room.
"We're really sorry about your brother Mr Edwards. It's much better to be a little over the top than to risk anything I think."
Mr Edwards opened Eric Watson's gun lockbox and showed them the guns inside.
"As you can see, his guns are both here and safe."
"Thanks, at least we know the guns are secure. I take it the 2nd is back up?"
"Yeah, like you cops, they wear it on their right ankles. Oh I forgot to mention, if a guard leaves for any reason, not only is his name removed from the registration of his guns, but the code to the lockbox of his guns is changed by myself and until a new guard is assigned the gun only me and the security managers know the new code to the box."
"Oh right, that's good to know."
"Apart from the security manager, are any of the guys working the night shift security duty tonight guys he often works with or is friends with?"
"Yeah, a couple, Lee Brown, and Jason Head. They often work the same shift as Eric Watson but I'm not sure if he's friends with them or not, you'd have to talk to them and to Mark, the night security manager, they'd know more than me as they all work nights and I'm working in the day so I don't see too much of them. I see them at the start of their shift when I'm going home and when they finish and I'm starting work but that's all. I don't know what he's like friends wise at work. Mark has never reported a problem as such in terms of him not getting on with anyone or having any problems with anyone. Lee and Jason will be here to start their shift at 8 if you wanna come and talk to them. I know their working but as you are FBI and police, I don't mind them talking to you and I and all my employees here will do everything we can to co operate and help you guys. I just hope your agents and the detective turn up safe and well and you guys find them soon. But if there's anything at all I or any of my staff can do to help you guys or if you have any questions, please call me or come here. I'm here every day except Sundays, which I take as my day off. But I can always be contacted at home."
"Thanks. We'll be in touch and we'll be back tonight to talk to Lee and Jason. We'll either go see this Mark now or we'll wait til tonight to talk to him."
"Sure, anything any of my employees can do to help they will. And if this Eric Watson does turn out to be involved, will you let me know so I can fire him and get the lockbox code changed?"
"Sure, we'll be in touch. Thank you though. You have been so helpful."
"Anything I can do to help law enforcement I will."
After leaving the warehouse, Dave and Woods went to the home of the security manager, Mark Carter and knocked on the door. A very sleepy guy in pyjamas answered the door.
"Yeah?"
"Mr Carter? I'm Agent Rossi, this is Detective Woods."
"Oh hi, sorry I was asleep. I work nights as a security manager at the warehouse nearby and I got a shift at 8. What can I do to help?"
"May we come in? We need to talk to you about one of the security guards, Eric Watson. Mr Edwards, the warehouse manager, has just been talking to us. He gave us your name and address as he said you'd know more than he did about the guard."
"Yeah Eric, I know him. You guys wanna come inside? I need coffee to wake up."
"Sure, sorry to disturb you Mr Carter."
"That's okay. You guys mind going through there. I'll be right back, you guys don't mind if I just nip to the bathroom do you? Been asleep for about 7 hours solid and need to pee. Make yourselves comfy though. Be right back….." He pointed to his living room.
"No problem Mr Carter."
"And after do you guys want some coffee?"
"We're fine thanks but you can make yourself some if you want."
A few minutes later, Mark Carter was sitting in the living room still in his pyjamas but looking more awake and holding a fresh mug of hot coffee.
"So what did you guys wanna know about Eric? And why is the FBI and police asking about him?"
"He might be involved in the abduction and kidnapping of 3 federal agents and a MDPD detective and he possibly is involved in several murders committed by the same man."
"Not Eric?"
"This Eric Watson?" Dave showed him a photo.
"Yeah that's Eric."
"According to Mr Edwards, he's been working as a night security guard for about a year?"
"Yeah, the guy he replaced left for another job elsewhere. Eric took the gun qualification course and passed first time. He's just re-qualified last month. Again he passed first time. But he reports for his shifts on time, does a full shift and leaves after his shift finishes."
"What's he like work wise?"
"Good at his job, patrols regularly, does everything he's supposed to, writes up reports on time, overall decent security guy I'd say."
"Does he have friends at work?"
"Gets on with the other guards he works with okay but mainly keeps to himself but cos he does a good job and I don't have any real problems with him, there's nothing to ever worry about."
"Mr Edwards told us you'd reported a couple of problems. One last week and the other on Eric's last shift?"
"Yeah, last week whilst on patrols, he was on his cell phone a lot to a guy he called Tony. Whilst on patrol, guards have to have their wits about them and be alert for anything and any noise and not be distracted or use their cell phones. I asked him who this Tony was and he said just a mate. I asked him why he couldn't just call this Tony on one of his breaks or outside work but he said he needed to sort something out with Tony that couldn't wait. I told him not to use his cell again on patrols and he did listen. I told Mr Edwards when he came into work the next morning before I left at the end of my night shift. Then on his last shift the night before last he was on his cell again a lot during patrols, this time to a guy named Thomas. I asked him the same questions. He said Thomas was a mate and that it was important and couldn't wait. I told him again he can't use his cell phone whilst patrolling. He promised it was the last time but I told Mr Edwards before I left at the end of my shift when he came into work. Mr Edwards said he'd talk to Eric before the start of Eric's next shift when Eric reported for the shift."
"Did you happen to catch either Tony or Thomas's last names?"
"Yeah. Tony Powers and Thomas Baker. Eric told me when I asked him who he was speaking to. But he said they were mates. He has promised never to use his cell on patrols again though."
"Tony Powers?"
"Yeah you know him? Cos I don't."
"No but the guy we've been looking for and who appears to be in charge is named Tony. We think it's this Tony that's killed several people. He and the murders are why we FBI are here in town. We think it's this Tony who engineered the kidnapping and abduction of 3 of our FBI team and the detective friend we bought out to help us who is actually the husband of one of the agents on our team. Do you ever see him with anyone else outside of the guards he works with?"
"No he comes on time, goes home after each shift but he doesn't socialise with anyone from work. Seems to keep to himself and any friends he has I've never seen and they never appear at the warehouse. He keeps his work and private life separate but that's fine with me cos he's there to do a job not to socialise."
"We know this Thomas Baker by the way. Do you know Eric's brother, Gary?"
"No, never seen him. Just seen his name written in Eric's employee file as next of kin. Eric did tell me and Mr Edwards that his brother Gary had been involved in petty crime and had been in trouble with the law but that he, Eric, was clean and wasn't like his brother. He had a clean record, he couldn't have been employed as a security guard otherwise. He did promise Gary would never go anywhere near the warehouse or disturb Eric at work. Eric's next due to work a shift tomorrow night. I work every night apart from Sunday night, my night off, but there's someone covering that shift so it's okay."
"Apparently 2 guards working tonight often work the same shift as Eric? A Lee Brown and a Jason Head?"
"Yeah, decent workers, both good guys. Never had any problems with either Lee or Jason. Unlike Eric, they're friends with the other guards on every shift they work. Lee often talks about his girlfriend and Jason is married with a kid. Both are stand up guys. Both are due to work the 8pm to 8am night shift tonight if you wanna talk to them. But Eric tends to keep himself to himself. Lee and Jason may work with him on the same shifts but they aren't exactly friends, just work colleagues. Eric doesn't tend to talk about his private life like Lee and Jason do. Jason loves telling me and the other guards what his kid has been up to. He gets up to some real funny stuff but he's only 6 years old. Jason works the night shift so he can be home when Max, his son, finishes school and he can spend the time between Max coming home and him leaving for work having great father son time. He can make Max his dinner, watch movies, hang out, play, stuff like that. And just before he leaves, he can tuck Max into bed each night at half 7. Something he loves to do. And by the time he leaves, his wife Steph is home for Max. They've been married for 7 years and still love each other so much. They are the perfect family and Max adores his dad. And Jason adores Max. His buddy as he calls him. Lee's been with his girlfriend Kelly for about 4 years and is thinking of proposing. Kelly's recently found out she's pregnant and Lee is so happy and can't wait to be a dad. He wants to get married before the baby is born so he can do things right. But he and Jason are always telling everyone about stuff at home. And since finding out Kelly is pregnant, Lee's been starting to ask Jason for advice on being a dad and Jason has been telling him all sorts of stuff and says he'll help in any way he can. But both Lee and Jason are great guys and they've been working for quite a few years. I think Max was 2 when Jason started working and Lee had been with Kelly for about 6 months. One thing Eric complains about is having to eat mac n cheese all the time but Max adores the stuff so he's always cooking it for Max. But he is starting to get fed up with eating it himself. But I can't blame him. Even I'd get fed up with eating so much mac n cheese. I think Jason would be awake by now cos Max would be home. Not sure about Lee, he might still be asleep as the shift doesn't start til 8."
"That's okay, we'll come talk to them tonight at work if that's okay? Mr Edwards said it would be okay."
"It's fine with me. One of the other guards can cover either guy whilst you talk to either of them. The shift starts at 8pm and finishes at 8am. Jason often leaves as soon as the shift finishes so he can take Max to school but I let him as that's a good reason for wanting to rush off. He really adores his son and Max is a great kid. Met him a couple of times. He really does get up to some funny stuff though."
"Sounds just like Henry and Jack."
"They your kids Agent Rossi?"
"No not my kids. Henry's 6 but he's the son of the MDPD detective whose been kidnapped and his mom is the FBI agent on our team. Jack's dad is our unit chief on our FBI team. Jack's 10 but he's a great kid. Lost his mom to a serial killer when he was 4 and a half and since then Aaron, his dad, has been a single dad to Jack but he and Jack adore each other. When Aaron has to work, his sister in law and Jack's aunt takes care of Jack for Aaron but Jack adores his aunt too and Jack loves life. Both he and Henry adore mac n cheese. Aaron now hates the stuff as he's had to eat so much of it. But Jack adores it. Will, Henry's dad, still likes it to a certain extent but Henry, his son, adores it. But both are great kids and so much fun."
"They sound just like Max. I'm not sure how much else I can tell you about Eric though. He's only been working for about a year and he mainly keeps himself to himself and apart from the cell phone problems I told you about, I haven't really had any real problems with him."
"Thank you anyway Mr Carter, you have been a lot of help and someone will be coming to talk to both Lee and Jason tonight."
"That's fine with me Agent Rossi, Detective Woods. If there's anything else I can do to help, just let me know. I hate to kinda hurry you guys up but it is 4.15 and I should have been up a half hour ago as Joe, my 12 year old should be being dropped off by the bus in a minute."
"You're a dad?"
"Yeah, and I love being a dad. Part of the reason I love working the night shift I do. Like Jason, I get to spend the time between my son getting home and me leaving for work with my kid. And like Max, Jack and Henry, Joe loves mac n cheese too. But please come by any time tonight to talk to Jason and Lee, though I'm not sure how much they can tell you about Eric. I can't believe he's involved but anything is possible I suppose."
Just then they heard a school bus pull up outside the house and looked to see a 12 year old boy get off and head towards the house.
"We'll be off Mr Carter but thank you. You have been a great help and we'll see you tonight."
"Sure, anything I can do to help and I hope you find your friends soon Agent Rossi and I hope their okay and you save them."
"Thanks Mr Carter."
"DAD, I'M HOME!"
"IN HERE BUDDY!"
Just as Dave and Woods went to leave the room, the boy they'd seen getting off the bus, who looked a lot like Mr Carter, ran into the room.
"Have a good day at school buddy?"
"Yeah, best part was science. Cool experiment."
"You didn't blow anything up did you?"
"No, not this time dad, promise!"
"That's good buddy."
"We'll be off Mr Carter. But we'll come by the warehouse tonight to speak to Jason and Lee okay? We'll see ourselves out but thanks for all your help. You have been a lot of help."
"Sure anything I can do to help."
They left the house and headed back to the SUV. On the way Dave got on his phone.
"Garcia's lair."
"Hey kitten, it's me Dave."
"Hey Rossi man, what's up?"
"Can you look up the name Tony Powers?"
"Searching…Tony Powers, no match found. Not in Kansas."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, oh by the way checked those names against the other 3. No known connections. Sorry Rossi."
"That's okay Garcia. Any word from any of the others yet?"
"Spencer sent me the video from the store. Trying to get a face now. Alex said there was no one at the address. J.J hasn't called in yet but GPS says she's at the lawyer's office. Must still be talking to Thomas's bosses. Where you at? GPS says your not at the warehouse."
"You keeping tabs on us Garcia?"
"Yeah but cos of what's happened, I'm worried about each of you guys. I need to know you guys are still safe."
"Fair enough. Where are Spencer and Alex now?"
"Here back at the station. Junior G Man is helping me go through the store video footage. Alex is in the conference room. It says here your outside a house?"
"Yeah we were talking to the night security manager who is in charge of Eric on the night shift. He told us a lot. And tonight at the start of the 8pm shift a couple of us are gonna go talk to a couple of his colleagues at work, guards who often work the same shift as Eric. We're gonna head to Eric's place now, then we'll be back at the station okay?"
"Sure Rossi man. Stay safe okay?"
"Always do kitten. Speak to you soon okay?"
"Sure Rossi man."
Dave and Woods, with the uniformed officers, went to Eric Watson's apartment.
"FBI, OPEN UP MR WATSON!" Dave banged on the door but there was no answer and no noise from inside. Detective Woods kicked down the door and they stormed into the apartment to find it empty.
"He's not here!"
"Most of his clothes are gone but there are a few things here. Like he's packed and gone somewhere for a few days."
"Agent Rossi? Detective? Look!" A uniformed officer held up a security guards uniform hanging on a clothes hanger.
"He'll be coming back for that before tomorrow night. He's got a shift tomorrow night and he'll need that uniform!"
"Guys stay here in case he comes back. Me and Agent Rossi will head back to the station. He's bound to come back here in the next 24 hours. I'll have units posted outside keeping watch."
Dave and Woods headed back to the station where they met up with everyone, including J.J, Alex, Spencer and Garcia.
"What did you find Rossi?"
"We found his guards uniform at his apartment but not him. He's gotta go back for the uniform before his next shift tomorrow night. Uniforms are sticking at his place and Detective Woods has posted units outside the building. J.J, tonight me and you need to go speak to 2 guards who work the same night shifts as Watson. Both guards are working tonight from 8pm to 8am. We got a copy of Eric's employee file. The warehouse manager was so helpful and has promised to help in any way he can and has promised all his employees will do the same. He's said it's okay to go talk to the other 2 guards during their shift tonight. But Eric tends to keep himself to himself at work. He was on his cell a lot during patrols during a shift last week to a guy named Tony Powers, that's what Eric told the night security manager his name was. Garcia can't find a Tony Powers in the system though. Then on his last shift the night before last, he got in trouble with the night security manager again by using his cell phone a lot during patrols on the shift. He was talking to a guy, get this, named Thomas Baker. The warehouse manager, Mr Edwards, was told both times by Mr Carter, the night security manager, about the cell phone usage during patrols. Mr Edwards was going to talk to Eric before he left tomorrow night and when Eric reported for his next shift at 8pm. According to Eric the calls were important to both Tony and Thomas and he was trying to sort something out. But we didn't get into town til yesterday so any calls were about other victims. What did you find out J.J about Thomas Baker?"
"He's worked as an assistant for about a year and a half. Today was his day off, but he's due to work at 9am to 5pm tomorrow. But they say he's a decent worker, keeps to himself, does everything he needs to and has never got into any trouble at work. Comes and leaves on time. Went by his place to find no Thomas and he's packed some clothes to stay somewhere for a few days but he's packed his work suit so he won't need to go by his place for his work clothes but the firm has promised to call after Thomas reports for work and has said they'll keep him there until we get there to arrest him or talk to him. They, like the warehouse Eric works at, want to do everything they can to help. They've given us a copy of his employee file. Got an address and a cell number."
"But the cell is turned off, I tried to track it. Got it tracking in case he turns it back on though."
"Anything from Gary's place Alex?"
"No sign of Gary and doesn't look like he lives there. All his clothes and stuff are gone but he left in a hurry and the apartment manager never got the keys and he's behind on his rent too by 2 months. He was about to kick Gary out and evict him. He wants to help any way he can but he didn't really know Gary as such."
"Anything on the footage from the store Spencer?"
"Still looking. Store clerk said a man came in, bought 2 disposable cell phones and 20 dollars credit each. Paid for everything by cash. She remembers he also bought some milk, coffee and a box of cornflakes with the cell phones and credit. She gave us all the footage from yesterday and says she wishes she could be more helpful but she sees a lot of customers and couldn't remember what this guy looked like, only what he bought but that it was sometime between 2 and 6 as it was after her lunch but before the end of her shift, which does help narrow it down."
"But nowhere near enough!"
"We got enough to build a profile though Rossi."
"Have we? A profile on who. The only thing we know about our unsub is his first name is possibly Tony, we still don't know much more than that! We're struggling to learn anything about these other guys, let alone this Tony!"
"Garcia can you see if you can get a trace on this cell number? It's from Eric. And even if it's not turned on, I've heard your so good, you can get a list of whose called and what texts the phone has got and what calls and what texts the phone has sent. Am I right?" Detective Woods handed Garcia his copy of Eric Watson's employee file.
"Sure I can. We'll find them Rossi. We'll figure out who this Tony is. I'll get info from every cell number you guys have got, including Thomas'. And I'll see if any of the cells called or text each other or if there's a number they've all called."
"Sorry kitten, just a little frustrated I guess. Sure, that's a great idea and put traces on all the numbers you got. Sooner or later one them is bound to show up as someone has got to turn their cell on somewhere."
"Sure thing Rossi man. I'm right on it. Back in 2 tics."
Garcia hurried out of the room to her temporary lair to start searching cell phones.
"So what else we got guys?"