(Garrett spent the evening calling every x-ray technician he knew. Finally he got the third technician to commit to the endeavor. He had gotten information on where to rent the equipment needed and reserved three portable radiography minimum density x-ray machines. He ordered some extra supplies because didn't want to be short on anything.. He made arrangements for everything and told the rental company he would pick everything up at 1:00PM. The rental company expressed appreciation to have all morning to get everything ready because it was an adequate amount of time to have everything in order and operational. Garrett rested well that night knowing that this was one detail that needed to be followed up on and it would soon be done. The next morning Officer Miles called.)
Garrett: Hi, how are things going Officer Miles. I have caller ID.
Miles: These are the rules we have to follow. The attorney has to, also, be present and nothing can be touched or moved.
Garrett: I think we can live with that. Tell the attorney that is exactly how it will be done.
Miles: I will. I'll see you and the crew at 2:00PM. The wife does want to have her husband completely vindicated in every way but says she is sure this is a wild goose chase.
Garrett: Well, it wouldn't be my first one but it has to be done to know for sure. Thank you for your call.
( Later Miles and Garrett pull up in front of the house and after getting out of their cars they decide to wait inside the house)
Miles; What ever made you think of such an idea to x-ray the statures?
Garrett: Radiography is becoming more popular because there have been some old statues that x-rays have shown a hidden message or another figurine inside the statue. Now some artists are putting a hidden statue inside the statue and then when selling the statue the artist displays the statue along with an x-ray picture of the hidden feature. It really can be fascinating. But the down side for this project is instead of doing one statue at a time the technicians will have to be more at a distance and take large group pictures of the statues. There is absolutely no risk of radiation up to a certain point and they will remain way below that recommendation. The technicians will wear special x-ray lab clothing. They think that with three technicians they should be done within one hour.
Miles: I guess I didn't realize what all was going to be involved. Hope the attorney agrees to it. He will probably need to sign off on a form of some sort to show they have permission to x-ray the statues.
Garrett: Well, we'll find out soon. The attorney is pulling up in the driveway and beside him is another car. Looks like all three technicians came together.
Miles: Before they come in I want to talk to all of them together in the driveway and make sure the attorney is agreeable to proceed. He knows we were going to x-ray the statues. He told the wife we were going to x-ray the statues. This shouldn't come as any surprise to see that some safety precautions need to be taken.
Garrett: I'll go with you. (Garrett and Miles meet everyone in the driveway. They all are in agreement to get started. Everyone came in the house and looked around and examined the equipment that Garrett had rented.)
Technician: Looks like you got everything we need.. (The technicians are led through the house by the attorney. The technicians divide up the rooms and specify which technician will take pictures in which room.)
Technician 2: Sounds good. Let's get started. This should take ten minutes a room. We each have five rooms including the basement. (The technicians put on their protective lab clothes) We ask that the others wait for us on the front porch.
Miles: Did you bring an extra set of lab clothing. I gave my word I would be present and I intend to keep my word. ( A lab technician hands Miles the protective clothing and Miles puts it on. Garrett and the attorney go to the front porch. Garrett is felling nervous. The next hour passes slowly. He and the attorney were silent like waiting for a verdict while the jury is out. After one hour all three technicians and Miles come out onto the front porch.)
Technician 3: Here are all the x-ray photos and everything checks out fine. There are not any masses or densities in any of these statues. They were easy to do because this is very fine artwork. Any type of thickness or mass of any kind would have easily shown up. We are confident that there is not anything hidden in any of the statues.
Garrett: Thank you for coming.
Technician 1: Can we help you load the equipment?
Garrett: I would appreciate that. ( The technicians remove their outer protectives clothes. As they are coming out of the house with the equipment to load into Garrett's car Garrett notices a van pulling into the neighbor's driveway. On the side of the van is an advertisement reading that the services provided were for "Plumbing and Heating". Garret stops and the others are unsure why he isn't loading the equipment he had carried to his car.)
Garrett: Wait a minute. I am thinking we may have overlooked something. The statues aren't the only things made of porcelain in this house. I want all of you to go back in and take an x-ray view of every sink and stool tank.
Attorney: What? This is absurd. Stool tanks and sinks? Are you kidding? No way.
{Garrett remembered Marla's words that the tokens and souvenirs would be kept close and the closer the better.) I can understand your frustration and I'm grateful we were allowed to x-ray the statues. Would you agree to have one more picture taken of one sink.
Attorney: You want one more x-ray picture and you want it of a sink?
Garrett: That is what I am asking and that will satisfy me.
Attorney: If one more x-ray picture will satisfy you I'm not going to say "No". I'll allow it. Which sink?
Garrett: I want an x-ray picture of the bar sink that is in Richard's man cave in the basement.
(Miles and one technician return to the house with the one piece of equipment and put on their protective clothing again. Garrett, the attorney and the two other technicians go to the porch to wait. After a half hour Miles comes to the door and asks the other two technicians to come in. The two technicians go into the house and join the other technician and Miles. Tension gets thicker and thicker on the porch as more time passes.)
Garrett: You would think they would know what an x-ray of one sink shows by now. This is taking entirely too long.
Attorney; I think so, too. (At that very moment the technicians and Miles come out of the house and stand in front of Garrett and the attorney.)
Technician 1: Here is the one allowed x-ray picture of the bar sink in the man cave. We all have visited and we all have concurred that there is definitely some sort of fake porcelain base in the basement bar sink. That is the bar sink in the man cave. We are, also, certain that there are several items inside that fake base. The fake base is attached flawlessly to the true base of the sink but this photo does show and entry area right here.(The technician shows a hairline crack on the back side of the fake base to Garrett and the attorney.)
Miles: I'm calling in the the crime investigation unit right now and ordering a search warrant..
Attorney: We have to.
Garrett: We have to know what has been hidden inside the fake base of the basement bar sink. (The technicians leave and within a half hour the crime investigation crime team come with a search warrant and begin investigating the man cave bar sink. Garrett, Miles and the attorney look on)
Crime scene investigator 1: I've got the opening to the fake base removed. I'm putting my hand in and I am feeling several items. Each item seems to be wrapped and tied in velvet. I'll bring them out one by one and lay them on the evidence tray. (The crime investigator removes eight neatly velvet wrapped items and places each one on the evidence tray.)
Garrett: I think that may be them, the eight souvenir tokens.
Miles: The crime unit will take it from here on their own. We will call you when appropriate even if it is late tomorrow. (Garrett and the attorney leave. Miles stays with the crime unit, Garrett drives to his apartment and emotions upon emotions are all racing and running through him and his thoughts. When he thinks of the families being called to identify the piece of jewelry of their loved one, and how hard it would be for them, he couldn't hold back his tears. Then when he thought of the arrogance of the Dover brothers to play their fantasy games with the lives of others he became angry and clinched his fist. His phone rings. It is Gini calling)
Garrett: This is Garrett go ahead Gini. I've got you on speaker phone and I'm the only one here.
Gini: Is it true about finding the jewelry?
Garrett: I'm putting everything on hold until we formally hear the crime investigation team findings. If the jewelry requires accurate identification it could take a day or two. There is a need for great sensitivity right now.
Gini: Guess who sent me a certified letter with a return receipt that I had to sign twice for just about five minutes ago.
Garrett: I have no idea. Who?
Gini: Hanna. She sent me a letter to inform me that I am fired! She does not want to see me again. She says she has different legal council who will start immediately.
Garrett: Why? What more could you have done for her?
Gini: I don't know and I'm not going to waste my time trying to find out. It is over. We are all removed from the case as of five minutes ago. So, knowing that, you may not even get called about the findings of the crime investigation team. That call will go to her new attorney.
Garrett: This is stunning. I don't know what to say.
Gini: I have heard she has put in a formal request to speak to you and Miles tomorrow.
Garrett: What in the world can that be about?
to be continued: Tomorrow
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