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* * *
Damian and Alex took the information and are out getting the shop owners to give up the information we need to move forward. I took the lead on calling Robert Sharpe, the owner of Mechno Inc., and had him come into the station.
Zeke has narrowed down the list of ex-cons with the cases I’ve been involved in and three names stick out. Two men with aggravated assault charges and the other charged with trafficking stolen goods.
“Mr. Sharpe, thank you for coming in.” I direct him into an interrogation room for privacy, where Zeke and I can discuss our findings.
“Anything I can do, Detective Thorne, to assist the police, I’m glad for. If it weren’t for my own wake-up call, I’d be dead in a ditch by now,” Robert says. “How can I help?”
“It’s more of how we can help one another. We’ve been made aware that parts are being taken from your warehouse and sold to local shops without your knowledge. To add to that, the paint in your shop was used to destroy property and threaten a woman.” As Zeke is speaking, he lays out the documentation we’ve gathered as proof of theft along with the photos of Gwen’s damaged car.
“This leads to a much bigger threat. A woman was killed the other night, and we have a partial print we’re running through the database. We think these two separate incidents are part of a bigger plan by one or several men working in your company.”
Robert looks up at me with huge eyes, and I can see that he’s devastated by the news. “I can’t believe this. I run a legitimate business. I started the program to give these men hope. I’ve spoken to their parole officers, checked their backgrounds. Hell, I’ve even had them go for counseling to help them assimilate back into the outside world. It’s hell behind bars. I know it. I’ve been there,” Robert says. He’s feeling the ultimate betrayal. He stares blankly for a minute, then looks to me. “A woman’s dead?”
“Yes, sir. Her name was Karen Samuels. Do you know her?”
He shakes his head. “There was a woman who would come around and pick up Andy, but she hasn’t been by lately. I couldn’t tell you her name.”
“Would you recognize her in a photo?” Zeke asks.
“Yeah, I think so.”
Zeke pulls up Karen’s driver’s license picture and turns his computer around. “This her?”
“It does look like her. Yes, it’s her.” He swings his head in my direction. “She’s dead?”
“I’m afraid so,” I reply.
“You think Andy killed her?”
“We don’t know, but it’s suspicious that there’s a theft ring going on at the same place where Karen shows up to pick up one of your employees. We need to investigate every lead.” I tell him.
“What do you need? What do you want me to do?” Robert asks.
“We’re going to have you do a full inventory of when this all started and pull records. We’re also having the three men we suspect are involved be picked up, and we can use your help. They’re not staying at the last place we have on file. Can you get us their addresses?”
“I’ll call the manager and get it,” he says, taking out his phone.
“No,” Zeke says. “We don’t know who else is involved. If you can get me into your system, I can pull it myself.”
“Something tells me you could do it without my help.” Robert gives him a grin.
Zeke says nothing, but doesn’t deny it either. “I’ll leave you two to it. Zeke, make sure we get these guys in here as soon as possible.”
* * *
The evidence keeps piling up, and so far, Damian and Alex have had the shop owners identify all three of the men accused of having visited their places of business to drop off parts and collect payment. Zeke, with the help of Robert, has obtained the addresses of these men. Damian is collecting Andy Zimmerman, Alex already has Bo Ferren in custody, and Officer Connor and I have Bill Donnet in the back seat of our police vehicle.
Bill went down easy. He didn’t even make a run for the rear exit. Not that it would have helped him any, since I had a man waiting for him. Bo Ferren attempted to elude the cops at his door, but Alex ran him down within minutes.
All three guys live fairly close to one another. It bothers me that I haven’t heard from Damian yet. It could be that Andy wasn’t home and they’re waiting him out, but still, Damian would have called. It’s right then that the radio goes off, requesting backup.
“All units, requesting backup at 444 Stateland Road. Officer down, ambulance en route, second officer in pursuit of the suspect,” the operator announces.
“We’re close. Make a sharp right here,” I tell Officer Connor. The wheels squeal loudly, and on the turn, I notice a man jumping over a fence into a backyard. “Stop!” Connor hits the brakes, and I leap out of the vehicle and give chase.
I nearly run into Damian when he leaps out in front of me as I’m running after Andy. We hear a scream and race in that direction. We get there just in time to see a woman hustling her son into the house and slamming the door.
