CH38
It is now one day later: (January 12, 2001)
Rick and Kate had been met at the airport and were being driven to the FBI Miami field office at 2030 SW 145th Avenue, Miramar, Fl. It looked impressive, more so than the office in New York. It consisted of four separate buildings with two of them being interconnected. They were all glass or so it seemed from the outside.
"I wonder if we can get a transfer," Rick whispered to Kate who shook her head.
"Agent Michael D'Alonzo will be right with you Agents," the man at the reception desk told them.
"Agents Castle and Beckett?" A white male in a suit approached them. "It's good to have you here. Your last case has already made the rounds even down here. That was great work, we owe you. If you'll follow me." From here they all go through security before going up the elevator.
"We are meeting in the conference room which is this way. Have you two been in Miami before?" D'Alonzo asked as they walk. "No sir." Rick and Kate answer at the same time.
"The bugs aren't here yet and it will be warmer here than in New York, as a result our dress code is a lot more lax than you are used to. You are free to follow the example of our agents or wear suits, your choice." D'Alonzo instructed them.
Entering the conference room they found the place filled with people. "This is Agent Kelley Darden, she is in charge of this case. Kelley, these are Agents Richard Castle and Katherine Beckett who are on loan from us from the New York office. Try not to abuse them too much. I'll leave you in Kelley's capable hands." D'Alaonzo left the room.
"Please have a seat everyone and we can get started. There are a number of telemarketers out there that are only too happy to con people out of their hard earned and possibly only money they have. Politics have made Miami and San Diego the premier hot beds for this type of activity." Kelley killed the lights, turned on the projector, and brought up the first image.
"There are 5 primary methods that are being used."
"First is called the 'Charity Room.' It consists of telemarketers asking for money for a charity. Should their mark actually look before giving them money, they will find that the charity in question is real; it's just that less than 10% is actually sent to the charity indicated."
"Second is called 'Prize Room.' It consists of callers being told that they've won a prize, however they need to send a fee or purchase another product in order to collect their winnings. In some cases the person actually does receive a product but it is worth less than the postage it took to send it."
"Third is called 'Product Room.' It consists of a product that is purchased during a pitch from a telemarketer that is actually worth far less than the item claimed. It would have an added cost when delivered or was never delivered at all."
"Fourth is called 'Recovery Room.' It consists of previous victims that are told they could recover their money by paying an upfront fee. Most of these are actually the people that are also working the 'Product Room.'"
"Fifth is called 'Rip and Tear.' The scammers take the money and run, collecting as much through fraud as possible, leaving town before they can be identified."
"In some of these operations, scammers and telemarketers are very small enterprises, while others have large numbers of people manning the phones using what we are calling Ro-Bo calls. Essentially a computer initiates the call and when no one answers the computer leaves a message depending on what the scam is. If someone answers one of these calls, boiler room people respond and work off of a preset list of things to say based on the answers they get from the caller," Kelley informed everyone.
"Yes, Agent Beckett." Kate had her hand up. "Can't we interrogate these boiler room people that man the phones?" Kate questioned.
"That's part of the problem. Most of these telemarketing companies actually exist and they pay their employees the required minimum pay for a person who does not work a 40 hour work week. They all go to great lengths to make sure none of their employees work 40 hours," Kelley explained.
"Making sure that they don't have to provide their employees and medical coverage, lowering their costs," Kate mentioned, hating these people already if she didn't before she even came here.
"Correct. Some of them also pay below what is required the minimum required by federal law. We've been in court with some of them for years now over this. They just keep coming up with more and different ways to drag out and delay the actual case," Kelly answered Kate's question, sounding tired.
"You have a large team assembled here," Rick commented.
"Yes, I would introduce all of them to you, however even I don't know all their names. These people are either FBI employees who have retired or are members of the AARP who have volunteered and have undergone training on what to do and say during these phone calls."
"We have another team just like this in San Diego that is also meeting today with the same type of people. These people are going to be our senior citizens who are either called or are calling back after being left a call back number."
"It is believed that a lot of these telemarketers share phone numbers of people that they have contacted and have either provided money or weren't interested in the scam that this telemarketer was playing. Perhaps this telemarketer will succeed. Naturally they don't just give away these phone numbers."
"Our senior citizens here are all volunteers. We are providing them with recording equipment so that they can record what each telemarketer says to try and get our seniors to hand over all of their money. We will then use this in court to show a consistent and planned intent at deception that will result in the arrest of the people in charge of these companies, large or small," Kelley expounded
"These telemarketers succeed because people want to believe that it is their lucky day. That they got a great deal or that it will solve their problems. It is illegal for telemarketers to ask for a fee upfront if they promise or claim it's likely they'll get you a credit card or loan to 'repair' your credit. It's also illegal for any company to ask you to pay or buy something to win a prize or to claim that paying will increase your chance of winning, and it's illegal to buy and sell tickets to foreign lotteries by phone or mail."
"The more of these we record the bigger our case gets on these telemarketers and allow us to shut them down. If we are really lucky we may get back a fraction of the money. Most of the money leaves this country daily so getting back any of it is slim." Kelley explained.
"And our job?" Kate inquired.
"You two are going to contact our volunteers here and check in with them and download any conversations they have recorded. Then you will use these recordings and research the phone numbers that make the calls and even do site visits as required. Be creative and do anything you can to make our case that much more viable," Kelley said.
It sounded nothing like the case they just finished and it had Kate wondering why they had been sent to Miami. This office was obviously large and employed several hundred people, not all of them being agents obviously, but surely they could have handled this with local agents?
"I want you two to talk with our volunteers here and get to know each other. They will be staying here through lunch down in the cafeteria where you can all still talk. We want this to work, far too many people are losing far too much money, money they can't afford to lose. The brass wants arrests and we are going to get them." Kelley told them all.
Before Kelley left, she remarked, "Our volunteers get a free lunch; I'm sorry to say that I couldn't swing it for you. What I can tell you is to stay away from the pizza and anything that looks like Chinese food. Trust me. I'll come find you after lunch and show you where you will be working and introduce you to our tech people. You will likely be working with them a lot."
"Welcome to Miami, I trust you brought lighter clothing and your swim suits. I'll issue you a car so you can get to your new home. It should be nice enough; I did my best to get you something decent that was close." Kelley took her leave, leaving Rick and Kate to talk with their volunteers.
The Miami field office actually did have a cafeteria which was located in a different building, forcing them to go outside to get to that building, finding the cafeteria on the first floor. It was actually pretty large.
There were soups, breads, fruits, drinks including 4 different flavors of coffee and 2 different flavors of decaf coffee. There was a Chinese selection that was actually made right on site behind the serving line. Burgers were grilled just as you ordered them. There was pizza and Mexican food. There were also pre-made sandwiches, chips and pre-made salads.
Kate ended up with curry soup, a banana, an apple, coffee and a pre-made strawberry shortcake in a cup. "Where did you find that?" Rick pointed at her strawberry shortcake in a cup.
"Over there buried in some ice," Kate told him and watched Rick give up his place in line to go find his own as Kate chuckled at him.
Rick sat down next to Kate and had a burrito with beans and rice, a banana, an orange, coffee, a soda and strawberry shortcake in a cup.
"How is it?" Rick asked after Kate had a few spoonsfull of her soup. "Its green chicken curry and it's not bad actually. How is yours?" Kate asked.
"It's a little too salty for my taste but it is rather cheesy so I can't complain. I wish it had a little more bite," Rick answered. However, they both ate everything they picked up. Kate even went back for a soda out of a dispenser that she found out was free, instead of the plastic bottle that Rick had selected that he had to pay for. "Free, huh?" Rick liked free.
They found out the fruit and coffee was also free. Everything else you had to pay for.
They sat in a group and talked amongst themselves until Kelley found them with her lunch consisting of pre-made chicken salad with apple flavored dressing, a banana, an apple, an orange and coffee. When she was done Kelley went back and came back with a popsicle. "You have popsicles?"
Turnes out they were in a freezer with glass doors that you slide open. They even had ice cream sandwiches. "We have so got to apply for a transfer," Rick whispered to Kate.
"I don't think the popsicles are made with vodka, Castle," though Kate wished they were.
"Too many negative waves, Kate," Rick moaned.
"Poor baby." Kate kissed Rick's cheek.
Rick and Kate learned a few things about Kelley as the volunteers started breaking up and going home to start their assignment.
"It's probably time I show you your work spaces and get you your packet that you'll need so you know where you live and how to get there. I've also included a few grocery stores near you along with the restaurants that are near here along with your key cards to get in and out of here with," Kelley told them.
Their work stations turned out to be side by side this time out in a really large open space with other agents all around. They, unlike most of the others, had two screens. Kelley walked them through everything and then took them over to the tech department.
From there she showed them the break room in this building on their floor. It was not like their break room back in the New York office; this one did not have a kitchen. Kelley handed over their packets that also included car keys inside Kate's packet.
"What kind of car did we get this time?" Rick was curious.
"2001 Ford Explorer it says." Kate held up the keys. "It also says we have a 2 bed 2-1/2 bath fully furnished apartment in a place called Solano at Miramar. 11700 SW 26th Street, wherever that is." Then Kate pulled out a mini map that Kelley had included. "It looks like it might only be 10 to 15 minutes from here. Our floor plan says it is a Torino, 1,724 square feet. …Oooo, it even comes with a floor plan." Kate pulled hers out as Rick did the same.
Two car garage, half bath, den and patio with front door on the ground floor. One floor up was the living room, the dining room, and kitchen with a balcony over the patio below. Up one more floor were the two bedrooms and 2 full size bathrooms along with laundry.
"Doesn't look so bad. It has a pool, spa, fitness center, breakfast and coffee concierge, BBQ/picnic area. It says the place is gated. Is there a pass included?" Rick asked and dumped his folder on his desk. He watched Kate hold up hers.
"I suppose this means we need to go shopping before we get there if we want to eat tonight." Rick mentioned.
Kate really wasn't liking this. They had a new home in New York and she wanted to live in it, not live in 2 bedroom apartments. "We forgot to ask how long we are going to be here." Kate said, already home sick. "And I thought Jordan said she would find work for us in New York."
"You'll feel better after you slip into a bikini and have some fun in the pool." Rick told her as Kate glared at him, silently thinking that Castle just wanted to see her in a bikini. She began to smile once she realized that Castle was going to be shirtless and rubbing sunscreen all over her so she doesn't burn.
They had their groceries and were driving to their apartment for the first time. "There is someone approaching the front door back at home. He is a white male, has a bag hanging over his shoulder and he has a clip board," Jack suddenly announced. "He has pressed the door bell and is waiting. …And has pressed it again. …Now he is writing something on his clipboard and is walking away." Jack informed them.
"Wonder what he wanted?" Kate questioned as Rick stopped at the gated entrance, showed his pass, and was waved in.
"I have run facial recognition and performed a search. His job is to deliver packets and have the recipient to sign for it. His office is mostly used to have people served with paperwork ordering them to appear before a judge," Jack explained.
"He was trying to serve us with papers? What have we done?" Kate didn't like the sound of it at all.
"I have scanned the list he has in his bag, since he is trying to see multiple people today. One of their clients is Gina Cowell." Jack would have cringed for what was coming next if he could.
"GINA! What does that bitch want now?" Kate was suddenly very angry.
"Well we aren't likely to be home for weeks yet, so it really doesn't matter. Come on I'm hungry and I want one of your mother's recipes," Rick told Kate and helped her carry in all their groceries.
They had a floor plan but this was the first time they were going to see it with their own eyes.
"It may be three floors, but it feels smaller than the last one." Kate wasn't sure she liked it. "It feels darker too."
"Look at it this way, our car is in a garage for when it rains, and our groceries won't get wet either." Rick tried to see a silver lining, though he was forced to admit, it felt smaller and darker than last time.
It is now 2 weeks later: (January 26, 2001)
Kate had just finished downloading the latest recordings made by their volunteers, while Rick was calling each of them to hear their thoughts. Rick hung up his phone and looked at his notes. "Williams, Marshal and Prescott say we should listen to their recordings first." Rick looked over at Kate and used her computer to pull up their recorded phone calls.
Rick and Kate both see the screen on the monitor show what Jack wants to say but does not show up on the security cameras. "I have scanned the recordings and have researched the firm that made them. They are a standard 'Rip and Tear' company. I have scanned their lease on the office they are using. It is good for 3 years, however they have only been in business for just under one month. Their phone system is leased as are the computers they use along with the office furniture," Jack typed. "I have hacked their system and it shows that they download their money to an overseas bank nightly," Jack added.
"Now activating the video cams that are built into the laptops that they are using. Scanning...Running facial recognition. One of them matches a different company that was in business for only one month with the same 3 year lease." Jack printed out his photo and information, including his residential address.
"It's already the 26th of the month," Rick pointed out.
"They are going to shut down and disappear soon," Kate finished Rick's thought and picked up her phone. "Kelley, we've got a 'Rip and Tear' that matches a previous now closed 'Rip and Tear.'" Kate advised her.
Kelley showed up at their desks in 15 minutes. Kate and Rick walk her through what they have found, including names of some of the people in the office, along with photos and home addresses.
"Write it all up and put it in a single folder so I can present it to a judge and get a warrant. In the meantime I'm going to arrange for a raid. Nice work, I'll be right back." Kelley read and listened to what Kate and Rick had and went back to her desk.
It took Kelley an hour and then she returned for the folder. "The team is assembling and will meet me at the site after I get our warrant. I know you probably want in on this but I need you here organizing for the next raid." Kelley cut Kate and Rick out of raiding the company.
The next day Kelley walked by their desks. "That was good work yesterday. We downloaded all of their hard drives and Tech is going through them now. We got three of their callers to roll on the owner who was arrested. Naturally he asked for his lawyer and posted bail last night. We have a team sitting on his house in case moving trucks show up." Kelley was slowly learning to love these two. "Oh and that bank account number you retrieved is going to allow all those people get most of their money back." Kelley was smiling as she walked away.
"There wasn't any shooting involved anyway, likely really boring," Rick mentioned, trying to play it off as not being exciting enough for them. Kate only glares at him. It was their work and they sit on the sidelines. Kate was leaving out Jack but he didn't notice.
"Richard, Katherine, that man is attempting to deliver his papers again at this moment," Jack typed on each of their screens.
"That's once every three days Castle," Kate pointed out the obvious, wondering what Gina was trying to do.
"Guess we'll find out when we get home, 'til then I'm not worrying about it, we're doing our jobs." Rick countered.
Rick and Kate had finished their day and were home changing into swimsuits. "I will admit that it was nice of Kelley to get us an apartment just around the corner from the pool. Don't have to walk that far." Rick was smiling, since it was even closer than the pool at home.
Rick closed the door just as his cell phone started to ring and missed the caller ID of his lawyer.