"Chasing the Evidence Race" by Susan Pearl ( Friday, mystery blog #8)

 (After leaving the Automotive Restorations business place Garrett decides to stop at a local diner for lunch.  The diner is only one block from Automotive Restorations.  Garrett's original thought when he had gone into the restoration business was to talk with the owner.  Garrett knows there is no problem for him to find out the owner's name but chances are he may be able to pick up some information at the local diner. He parks his car and goes into the diner. Garrett decides to sit in a booth instead of sitting at the counter for lunch.  He wants to look around the entire place and see all the activity and interactions. The decision for a booth was made easy for him because there was only one empty booth.  Garrett takes a seat in the booth and a waitress nods and says)

Waitress: I'll be right with you.

Garrett: No hurry. (The waitress finishes with checking out a costumer. She gets a glass of ice water and some silverware wrapped in a cloth napkin. She grabs a menu and gives Garrett a big smile as she comes to his booth.  

Waitress;  Hey there, I'm Tam. (She hands Garrett a menu and places the silverware and water on the table in front of Garrett.)

Garrett:  Your name is Tam?

Waitress: Yes, by the time I got to second grade I thought "Tammy" was too long to write. So, I would leave off the ---m--and--y---and changed my name to Tam. (Garrett smiles and looks at the menu as the waitress asks) Do you need some time to look at the menu?

Garrett: No, I'm ready to order now.  I'll take a corn beef on rye with a touch of mayo and coffee. I take my coffee plain. 

Waitress: I'll bring your coffee.  I just made a fresh pot and you'll get the first cup.

Garrett: That makes me feel special.  (They both laugh.  Garrett can't help but think how good it feels to laugh.  It seemed like such a long time since he's laughed.  The waitress brings his cup and then gets the fresh brewed pot of coffee.  She brings the coffee to his table and pours him a cup.)

Waitress: You can have as many refills as you want. (Garrett nods and smiles then sips some of the fresh brewed coffee.)  Looks like your order is already in the window. (She gets his order and places it in front of him saying,) Enjoy.

Garrett: Thank you. I will. (He takes a bite of his sandwich and holds his napkin over his mouth before saying) This is delicious.

Waitress:  Good. I'll freshen your coffee.  Looks like you get the first and second cup of the fresh brew.

Garrett:  This coffee is as good as it gets.  Thank you, Tam.  (The waitress smiles and pauses as they look into each others eyes for a quick moment, then Garrett says) Stay safe.

Waitress: Oh, I do with all that's been happening lately. Sylvia, the one who was murdered, was a regular here.  She would come during her lunchbreak and then run some nearby errands. I was shocked. She and her guy, a real "muscle man", came in at least a couple of times a week together.  I haven't seen him since her death.

Garrett:  Is his name Max?

Waitress:  Why, yes it is.  Do you know him?

Garrett:  No, but I am getting acquainted with restored classic cars and I've heard of him.

Waitress:  I think they met at where she worked at the Automotive Restorations place a little ways from here. So sad. I better keep moving. Thanks for coming in. Come back and visit us again.( the waitress smiles and then she leaves to help other customers as the noon rush is on. Garrett finishes his lunch and he leaves a generous tip. Another person checks him out. After leaving the diner he notices he is right next door to a bank. Garrett decides to go into the bank and ask a few questions about the Guaranteed Transfer Rule.  Little did Garrett know that a major lead was awaiting him at the bank.)

to be continued: Monday, November 1,2021, 

"Chasing the Evidence Race" by Susan Pearl (Thursday, mystery blog #7)

(After Nate leaves Maze goes into the back bedroom and reaches into a box holding thirty to forty disposable phones. He takes out two phones. Maze puts on his motorcycle leather attire, helmet and large sunglasses. He's convinced no one would recognize him. He went to a storage unit, opened it and walks out his heavy motorcycle.  He then pulled down the storage unit door and gets on his motorcycle, revs it up and rides away.  He wants to get to a private place before making his crucial call. But yet, he thinks that if he made his call from a busy place it wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb on any ping towers.  He chooses to go to a busy city park to make his call. After arriving at the park he finds a quieter area and makes his call.  He gets a quick answer. Immediately, an answering machine states to a caller "please leave a message".

Maze: Wrong number.

Called phone:(Clicks and there is only a dial tone. Maze knew he would have to wait awhile for the other person to respond to his signal. That person would have to get ready and have a disposable phone, change locations and look up the number of Maze's phone.  "Wrong Number" was a code for phone number 18.  After about fifty minutes his phone rings.

Maze: Are we chilled?

Caller: The weather is fine for all systems to go.

Maze: I want to say there are some more complications with Nate.  He lied to an investigator about not knowing me even though he has a tattoo that I not only gave him, but, I also signed it.  It's right on his arm and he is saying he doesn't know me. I know he was put on the spot and had to think of something on the spur of the moment but what he came up with is now digging us into a hole.  Before long they will know me and the whole organization.

Caller:  That wouldn't be good.

Maze:  He lied about not knowing me but when it came to him telling about finding Gus he described Max to a "T".  I know Nate hasn't met Max but Max is a key player and now his description of being a "muscular, body builder type" is out there.  Plus, not only is his description out there but, also, the description of his '55 Ford Fairlane.  Can you believe it? How long do you think that would take to put together and find?  I think it wouldn't take very long. Do you know what I mean when I tell you how complicated he is making things? 

Caller:  Yes, I do.

Maze: I better go and throw away this phone.  I'll call again.

Caller: Wait. We shouldn't have to cleanup his messes. That's part of our code. He is not following what is the best thing to do. He should know better.

Maze;  That's just what he did with Lana. He didn't follow a loyalty code to our friendship. He didn't follow the best thing to do. He didn't do the right thing for our friendship and she lost her life for it.

Caller: Maybe it is time for Nate to really formally meet Max, if you know what I mean.

Maze. For Lana's memory I'd like to be there and see him get what he deserves.

Caller: It's going to happen.

Maze: The sooner the better.

Caller: It's going to happen.  Call me in one week for the plan and details.

Maze: You've got it. (Maze disposes the phone in a nearby trash can. He drives his motorcycle back to the modular home and parks, turns off his motorcycle in front of the storage unit. He opens the garage door, walks his motorcycle into the storage unit and starts to close the garage door.  When he is  reaching up to pull down the door he notices a piece of tape.  He immediately knows Nate has put the tape there to see if he has used his motorcycle.  Maze carefully pulls down the overhead door and lines up the tape to reapply it to the door. Maze is thinking, "Nate can't even do this right". Maze shakes his head in disgust and then redirects his thoughts to being so glad Nate's days are definitely numbered and he can be there to watch it all happen.)

to be continued; Tomorrow

"Chasing The Evidence Race" by Susan Pearl (Wednesday, mystery blog #6)

(After Maze comes out of the hidden closet Nate says,)

Nate: I hope you had time to calm down after our disagreement this morning.  I don't want Lana's death to be a subject that keeps coming up with you being so angry at me.

Maze: I will always be angry that you didn't call me to tell me she had another ride to her apartment that night.  Or, that she wanted to meet someone else and that person would take back to her apartment after they had some time together.  What kind of friend are you anyway.  Wouldn't you want me to know if she was wanting to see someone else?  Don't you think a loyal friend would inform a true friend of something like this when it is going on.  If you had called me she wouldn't have been killed by Hanna.  She was no match for Hanna.  You played into Hanna hand by not being a true and loyal friend to me and I will always hold it against you.  I don't really ever want you to be on my team.  I can't trust you to do the right thing.

Nate:  But, we are supposed to work together on this north region that The Dover brothers had been assigned. That should be our focus now.  We don't have to be friends even if we have to work together. 

Maze: We are definitely not friends. I'm not so sure we ever were. Friends have each others back.  You didn't have my back when you didn't tell me Lana was meeting someone else.  Who was that jerk that was just here? What a real nuisance?  I could near at a distance he was asking you a lot of questions.  What do you think of all his questions?

Nate: That's Garrett. He's a private investigator who came out of nowhere. I think he is a loose cannon that could blow things up.  He knows I am lying about not knowing you. (Nate and Maze visit about every question and every answer Nate gave to Garrett.  In addition Nate tells Maze how Garrett's sister had been Hanna's attorney and she and Garrett had worked hard in Hanna's behalf.                Meanwhile, on a whim, Garrett pulls into the Automotive Restorations parking lot.  Garrett goes into the business to talk to the owner.  Garrett is interested in finding out something about a muscular built man who drives a 1955 blue and white Ford Fairlane. Garrett steps up to a counter and is quickly approached by young man in a work uniform.)

Man in work uniform: Can I help you?

Garrett: I would like to speak to the owner.

Man in work uniform:  He's taken the day off.

Garrett: What is the owners name?

Man in work uniform:  I've been given strict orders not to answer any questions that could help investigate the murder of our receptionist..  The owner was interrogated for three days and he says that is more than enough.  He has done all he can do.

Garrett:  I can understand that. Thank you.  (Garrett starts to turn around but immediately turns back towards the young man. Let's change the subject. I am interest in a 1955 Ford Fairlane.  I heard the restored car was a real show stopper at a car show.  The owner of the '55 Ford Fairlane is a very muscular man. He looks like a body builder. 

Man in work uniform: Oh, that sounds like Max Wellbrock.

Garrett: Do you know anything about him?

Man in work uniform: Not really.

Garrett:  Can you look up his address on a customer file list?

Man in uniform: I can try. (He pulls up a data base customer file of names and addresses on the computer) Here it is. (Garrett gets his notepad out of his shirt pocket and has a pen in hand and nods that he is really)  Max Wellbrock, PO Box 482 (Then he reads Garrett the zip code) I guess that's it. That's all we have. 

Garrett: That helps me. Thanks again.

Man in work uniform. You're welcome. (Garrett leaves.  Now, things are starting to feel like he is making some progress.                                                                                                                Meanwhile, at the modular house, that serves as an office for renting the storage units, tensions between Maze and Nate are on the rise.) 

Maze: I can't think straight right now. 

Nate: Let's try real hard to have a regular conversation without mentioning Lana and then we will build on that.  I know we have an opportunity that could have astronomical rewards. Maze, tell me what you think we should do right now.  Take a deep breath and tell me.

Maze: I know we have to remember we have this whole north region to cover and account for since the Dover brothers were killed.  We've got quotas to meet. We've got to prove ourselves. When we reach the top tier status we'll have rank in the organization. Our goal is to continue the Dover brothers development of a customer base and add people to sign up for Guaranteed Confidentially Rule wired deposits to bank accounts in our region.  If we can meet our quotas the organization would reward us big time.. For now, we'll lay low and work as hard as we can for the organization for getting the clients who will sign the contract for money wire deposits into their accounts. Dover's were getting more clients all of the time and was getting more orders from the organization to find more places for deposits.  The organization is expanding into several countries. They need more and more places all of the time to put their money and will pay for having a place for their money to be held for them. 

Nate:  Let's do this. I'm going today with some contacts for prospective customers to sign. I'll be seeing them each month with their "cash" payments for honoring the contract. No surveillance equipment to record any of my comings and goings. That's a must.  That's the first thing they have to do before I talk to them.  I'll get the updated print out at the usual place.  I'm going to put in a full day.  After I put the Chevy away I'll get out my old sedan and begin to make the rounds. 

Maze: I'll stay here for now until things cool down for me.  You can tell by Garrett's questions that things have not calmed down. If he keeps making a nuisance of himself he may not like what's going to happen.

Nate .What do you mean?

Maze:  Everybody has an Achille's heel.

Nate: What do you think his Achille's heel is?

Maze:  I think his Achille's heel is his sister. I'm already beginning to think about it. She was Hanna's attorney and trying to help her, and knowing what really happened to Lana, that is not setting well with me right now. So I would have absolutely no problem dealing with Garrett's sister. In fact, I would welcome it.(Nate gets thirty contacts out of a hidden compartment in the hallway and says,)

Nate; This is my goal for today.  Thirty signed contracts. (Nate leaves.)

Maze: (says to himself) Yes, he is gone, finally. 

to be continued: Tomorrow

"Chasing the Evidence Race" by Susan Pearl (Tuesday, mystery blog #5)

 (Nate hurries to unlock the front door.  Garrett is waiting on the small wooden porch.)

Garrett: When I grabbed up my file I forgot the picture I had handed you to look at.

Nate:  I'll get it. (Nate goes to the desk and retrieves the picture and takes it to Garrett saying,) There you go.

Garett: That should do it.  I don't want to wear out my welcome.

Nate: (Looking at Garrett with an arched eyebrow he firmly says,) No, you don't.

Garrett. I see you rolled up your shirt sleeves.  You must have gotten busy doing something.  Still I'm surprised you had locked the door so soon after I left especially with that sign in your office telling people to just wait. 

Nate:  I have another sign I was in the process of getting to put on the door. (Nate leaves momentarily and comes back and hangs a sign reading, "All our storage units are full - there are no storage units currently available for rent." (Nate nods at Garrett and then shuts the door and relocks it.  Garrett starts to leave but suddenly stops before entering the main road, shuts off his car gets out and walks back to the small porch and knocks on the door again.  Nate watches from the window and returns to unlock the door. He answers the door saying)

Nate: Are you kidding me!  What else could there possibly be? Don't you have anything else to do but to keep interrupting me?

Garrett:  I want to ask you if you know Maze Arman?

Nate: No, I don't. Never heard of him. 

Garrett: Did you know Sylvia Quade?

Nate;  Isn't that the name of the murdered victim from last week?

Garrett:  Yes, she was a receptionist at Automotive Restorations near here.  I thought that, maybe, you knew her from your restoring cars. 

Nate:  I've been at Automotive Restorations a few times but I can't remember seeing a receptionist. 

Garrett: Of course not.  I noticed with your sleeves rolled up that you have a cobra snake tattoo signed by Maze on your right forearm.  It puzzles me that you have a tattoo from Maze and yet you say you don't know him. 

Nate: So? Big deal.

Garrett: It is a big deal. So, just to enlighten you about Maze. He is a good artist and a very good tattoo artist.  I've heard that for his very good friends he will give a free tattoo with his name under the tattoo.  Those free tattoos are the only tattoos he will sign. When I noticed you have rolled up your shirt sleeves and you have a cobra tattoo signed by Maze on your right forearm it suddenly made me realize you have to know Maze so I stopped my car and came back. Since you say you don't know Maze I now want to tell you about how special of tattoo you have since it is signed by Maze. (Nate crosses his arms in front of him looks very stern at Garrett but remains totally silent. Garrett continues.)  I just wanted you to know if you have no recollection of Maze you must have been unconscious when he gave you the tattoo.  Of course, that would also explain why you don't know Maze even though you have one of his special signed tattoos.  Can you think of any other reason why you would have a tattoo he gave you but yet you don't know him. You must have been unconscious while he was giving the cobra tattoo right here on your arm. (Garrett points to the word "Maze" under Nate's cobra tattoo.)

Nate:{Impatiently)  Is there anything else? (Garrett nods his head in the affirmative. Nate rolls his eyes sighs and asks) What is it?

Garrett: I can't help but think what a conversation piece your restored car must be.  I bet people approach you and ask questions about the car, or share memories and stories like I did.  I think it would even be easy to give someone a ride in a restored car. People would let down their guard and want to ride in a restored car.  They would consider it a special opportunity and not even think twice about accepting a ride in a restored nostalgic car from a past era even though they would be riding with a total stranger.

Nate:  I wouldn't know anything about that. What is this all about?  What is your problem with me?  I can assure you I don't even let people touch my car yet alone let them get into my car. As for Maze giving me a tattoo, sure, I can play along with your "unconscious theory". Because of my anxious condition some friends of mine got the idea to have my dream tattoo done while I was passed out from drinking too much. They had Maze give me a tattoo so when I woke up I would have the tattoo I had been wanting for a long time but too anxious to get.  They would have gotten the best tattoo artist for such a wonderful surprise gift to me. The fact that he took time to sign it makes it even more special to me. I really don't know him but he does have a great reputation for being one of the best. My friends would have hired him because they wanted me to have the best.  Now, that should answer your "unconscious" theory.

Garrett:  You are good at lying through your teeth, but, did your friends hire him to put his initial "M" on your painted sign on the wall by your desk...but that couldn't be. No, because you said a good friend had painted that sign for you.  The "M" is for Maze.  Even I can tell that is one of his paintings.  

Nate: I think you better go. You are way, way, way over staying your welcome.  Don't come back again. I mean it! (Nate slams the door in Garrett's face.  Garrett leaves and, once again, Nate watches from a window.  When Garrett is out of view Nate goes to the back bedroom and knocks three times on the closed door. The paneling on one wall of the bedroom slides to reveal a large hidden closet. The closet has an air mattress on the floor, a fan, bottled water and one folding chair. Out from the hidden closet walks Maze.

To be continued: Tomorrow

"Chasing the Evidence Race" by Susan Pearl (Monday, mystery blog #4)

"Chasing the Evidence Race" is a fictional writing by Susan Pearl.  Any similarity to any actual event is coincidental)

(Garrett glanced around at the cleanliness of the house and commented)  This is really a nice place.  Someone should live here.

Nate:  I do live here.  You know how most people go out for their morning jog.  I go out each morning for a drive in my vintage car.  It really is enjoyable.  I get a lot of looks.  I have to laugh when I take the limousine out for a morning drive and with the tinted windows and people do a double take because they are wondering who could be the important person in the backseat of the limousine.  So, when you came I was out for my morning drive. When I came back I saw you waiting and thought you were probably here for a storage unit rental.  Tomorrow I'll be driving my 1963 Studebaker Lark sedan.  It's a real head turner.

Garrett: You sure keep this place spotless.

Nate:  I'm a slight to mild germophobic.  I don't like to be close to people because of microorganisms.  I'm a lot better than I used to be.  I keep working on it.

Garrett: I heard you found Gus.

Nate: Another guy was ahead of me. In fact, he held the door open for me when I was going in. He went up to the bar before me and then hurriedly looked behind the bar.  He told me Gus was on the floor and looked dead. He tried to take a pulse but he couldn't find one.  He said he was going to call the police and we should wait outside to not contaminate the area.  Well, that word "contaminate" was enough to give me a full blown panic attack.  I hadn't had one in awhile. I was having trouble breathing so he told me to just go on and that he would take care of things with the police.  After all, he had been the first to find Gus and he had tried to take a pulse.  So I left and came home to calm down and take a shower.  I limit myself to one shower for each panic attack.

Garrett:  Did you know the man?

Nate: No, but I have seen him at some car shows and swap meets.  He is very muscular and looks like he works out a lot.  At the car shows he drives a restored blue and white 1955 Ford Fairlane.  At first I thought that his car and my '55 Chevy looked a little similar but then I noticed more differences because of the chrome work, the grill and the tail lights. They are both great and nostalgic cars to me.

Garrett: Do they have any car shows or swap meets coming up.

Nate: I haven't checked. It seems to wind down this time of year.  People kind of go to their favorite shows and swap meets during the year and once they are over they wait for the same ones the next year. Of course, there are people who probably go to every one they can.

Garrett:  Tell me about the memorial service for Gus.  How about it?

Nate:  How about it?  I went for awhile and left.  That's all.

Garrett:  Did you set things up for the service?

Nate: No.  I just went to pay my respects at a distance.

Garrett: This morning I noticed when I drove off the main road onto your gravel parking lot that you do not have any visible surveillance cameras.

Nate: No, not any more.  I am beginning to think that it has become too problematic to keep replacing surveillance cameras.  That they are more trouble than they are worth because they get broke as fast as I can have them installed.

Garrett: Thanks for your time.  If I have any more questions can I give you a call?

Nate:  I'd rather you stop by.  That would work best for me.

Garrett:  I like your beautifully painted sign on wall the that reads, "Have a seat and I'll be with you as soon as I can" and so I will do just that if ever I want to talk to you again.  That sign is beautiful and looks like a professional artist painted it.

Nate:  It is. An artist friend painted it for me.  He has a way with contrast of colors.  I get a lot of compliments on it.  

Garrett: I am learning that some artists do have a recognizable style, especially if they leave an initial or something identifiable.  Like this painted sign has a "M" in the right hand corner.

(Garrett picks up his file and leaves.  Nate watches from a window as Garrett drives out of view and then Nate locks the front door.  Nate walks down the hallway and notices a small cobweb in the corner of the hallway ceiling. He rolls up his long sleeves, gets a broom and knocks down the cobweb. He then cleans the broom and returns it to the laundry room closet. As he comes out of the laundry room he hears someone knocking on the front door again. Garrett has come back.

to be continued: Tomorrow

"Chasing the Evidence Race" by Susan Pearl ( Friday, mystery blog #3)

 (Garrett couldn't believe his eyes as Nate Stricker pulled up in front of the office in a restored 1955 Chevy Bel Aire.  The car was a beautiful blue and white with whitewall tires. That nostalgic blue color only found in that era of cars carried Garrett thoughts to have some quick memories of his childhood. Nate got out of his car, climbed the three wooden steps to the small wooden landing of a modular home that serves as the unit space rental office. Nate started to unlock the door when Garrett called to him.)

Garrett: '55 Chevy, my grandmother's neighbor had one and I thought that was the neatest car whenever we would visit her.  That blue is incredible.

Nate: It's one of my favorites, too. (pauses, then says)  We don't have any storage unit rentals available to rent right now.  We are full. 

Garrett: I'm not interested in renting a storage unit. I am really here to talk to you.

Nate: What for?

Garrett: Two things. One is being Lana Daltine's chauffeur and the other is about the death of Gus.

Nate:  You don't pull any punches do you?

Garrett:  It's not my style.  I'll tell you what I know and maybe you can fill in some of the blanks.

Nate: Come on in. (Nate unlocks the door.  Garrett is carrying a file and climbs the three wooden steps  following Nate into the office part of the modular home. Nate sits at his desk and Garrett sits across from him.  Everything is absolutely meticulous.)

Garrett: My name is Garrett Cummins.  I am a private investigator.  Garrett opens his file and hands a picture to Nate saying) I have this copy of a picture taken by Lana Daltine at J.J.'s Jewelry and it clearly shows you to be the chauffeur waiting for her by the store's front door.

Nate: And what if I deny this being me what would you do next?.  What is your leverage?  

Garrett: My leverage is to ask for have a search warrant to be issued for the storage unit where the limousine is being stored right now. I would then insist to impound the limousine for DNA evidence. Such evidence would prove that Lana had been in the backseat of the limousine.  I'm just one call away from calling the police and I have been instructed by a top officer at the police station to keep in touch.  They could be here in two or three minutes to guard the storage unit, not enough time for you to remove the limousine. But even if you would drive the limousine to evade a search I would follow you.  This isn't going away. I know which storage unit the limousine is in.  It's your call.  What do you have to say?

Nate: I do have a limousine in one of the storage units and I was hired to be Lana's chauffeur once a month for the last seven months.  It doesn't mean anything because I do have a limousine service for a few regular customers.

Garrett:  Who hired you?

Nate:  I don't know. I got a call and the person did everything by wired transfers and it paid very, very well.  In fact, it paid so well I didn't ask any questions.  I did try to find out where the money wire came from and I was told by the bank that the transfer falls under the title of a Guaranteed Confidentiality Rule which makes it automatically an allowed transfer.  Besides the wired transfer being deposited into my account at the bank, Lana would, in appreciation, give me a three hundred dollar tip in cash for being such a good and attentive chauffeur each month.

Garrett:  I never heard of such a thing.

Nate; Me either...but that doesn't mean something like that doesn't exist....does it?

Garrett:  Why didn't you return Lana to her apartment complex that night?

Nate:  She told me to leave her off at a high brow coffeeshop in the Dover Brothers Properties District. She said she was going to meet a friend there and the friend would bring her back to her apartment.  Of course, that didn't happen. She ended up murdered.  I know nothing about that.

Garrett:  Had she ever asked for you not to return her to her apartment complex before?

Nate: No, that was the first and unfortunately, the only time.

Garrett:  Do you have any idea how she would pay cash for her jewelry?

Nate; Well, that was part of my job..  I was instructed to first go to the cash currency exchange and pick up a box addressed to me.  I did and I had to sign for it.  I was instructed to give the box to Lana and not to open it.  Well, she opened it in front of me and it was full of one hundred dollar bills. She would count out twenty thousand dollars worth of one hundred dollar bills.

Garrett:  Do you know who sent that cash wire exchange.

Nate.  No, I didn't ask and they didn't tell me.  They kept the receipt I signed.

Garrett:  Did it seem strange to you?

Nate: It seemed more than strange.  It reeked, like I was putting my hand in the till for a minute or two and that was more than enough for me.  I knew something wasn't on the up and up but I felt I was outside the realm with any involvement of anything illegal.

Garrett: Did that night seem different?

Nate: Yes, it did, in more ways than one. 

to be continued:  Monday, October 25th, 2021---mystery blog #4

"Chasing the Evidence Race" by Susan Pearl ( Thursday, mystery blog #2)

(Garrett waits at the police station for when Miles would have time to talk with him.  In less than one hour Miles motions Garrett into his office))

Miles:  What's on your mind?

Garrett:  You know that chauffeur, Nate, that was in the picture taken by Lana? (Miles nods) I went to the bar to talk to the bartender.  The bartender is supposedly dead.  Nate supposedly found his body behind the bar.  I say "supposedly"  because I can't find any evidence of a death, no death certificate, no mortuary, no coroner, no nothing. Can I file a missing person alert for someone who has had a memorial service?

Miles: Come again? I don't think I heard you right.

Garrett:  Oh, you heard me right.

Miles:  I only give my opinion when it is asked for.  So if you want my opinion on this, you've got to ask me for it.

Garrett:  Alright.  I'm asking. What is your opinion?

Miles:  In my honest opinion, let this doubt about the death of Gus go for now and concentrate all your efforts on finding Nate, the chauffeur.  I think he's the one in the drivers seat, so to speak, for getting some answers. Who contacted him to be the chauffeur and which limousine service provided the limousine?  Why was it important to Lana to show him in the picture she took while buying the necklace? Your initial thought was that Lana purposely showed the chauffeur in the picture was because she may be trying to give a clue to follow.  My opinion is that you should continue pursuing your initial thought and find Nate for some questions to answers.  He may ,also, be able to explain about finding Gus dead and how the arrangements were handled. 

Garrett:  I think you are right.  I will pursue finding the limousine company or figure out where the limousine came from and that should lead me to Nate Striker.

Miles:  I hope it happens.  And I'll ask around if anyone knows anything about Nate Striker.

Garrett.  I think I'll get started at the newspaper office. If they have any of the magnification pictures I would like to see them  Since it has city traffic and the limousine is in front of the store I might be able to pick up some license tag numbers from that night.  Even people driving by the store there could be a person who remembers the limousine and remembers something about it.  I'll check surveillance cameras on the stores and streets and see if I can possibly get not only get the license tag number of the limousine but, also, any other vehicles in the picture.

Miles:  Sounds like a tall order. (Another officer comes to the doorway and tells Officer Miles there is an emergency situation that needs him.  Officer Miles gets up immediately and follows the officer into the next room and closes the door. In a few moments  Miles hurriedly exits the room and briefly stops into his office to tell Garrett) Bad news. It's breaking news and will be on TV shortly.  There's been another murder.  They discovered the body 30 miles from here but the identification and preliminary work already proves the person lives and works in the city.  I've got to go. 

Garrett:  Copycat killing?

Miles:  We'll see. This murder has been committed farther from the city as to what we usually see. Another element of investigation is finding where and when the victim got or was forced into the vehicle.  When the breaking news is released momentarily on TV and radio we will start having tips and information calling in from witnesses. (Miles leaves)             

(Garrett is stunned at the news as he leaves.  He drives directly to the newspaper office.   He explains to the front desk help about wanting to see the magnified pictures if any were available. The help leaves momentarily and returns with stack of twelve pictures.  Each picture focuses more and more of the necklace and less and less of the surroundings.  Garrett hadn't thought of that and realized that he should have had that kind of forethought. He basically had one large magnified picture to work with showing Nate. Garrett asks for a copy of that picture and the front desk helps to accommodates by making a copy and giving it to Garrett.  Garret spends the rest of the day checking surveillance cameras in the area of J.J. Jewelry store.  He then is struck with a new thought of expanding his area of reviewing surveillance cameras and trying to follow the limousine as far as he can.  Garrett wonders if any more information about the case will be put into the active file. Since Hanna's confession the case file will be closing and any information that is currently being worked on would be turned in as part of closing the case file. Garrett embarks on a grueling five days of tracking the limousine by surveillance cameras.  It's been a very frustrating search and a learning experience for Garrett.  The frustrating part was that there was a ten miles stretch without any surveillance cameras.  Also, a twenty minutes driving stretch of an area owned by the Dover brothers property holdings. So, the learning experience was that he was finding out that many businesses were without surveillance equipment. He found out that some businesses owners were actually taking out their own surveillance systems.  As a security expert he could see a definite change and it was puzzling to him why businesses would remove their own surveillance cameras.  The main reason that he had received was that the the equipment was constantly being broken by vandals and it wasn't worth the upkeep.  Some surveillance cameras were in place less than 24 hours before being broken and destroyed.  But several businesses owners told they took their surveillance equipment down before it would get broken and destroyed.  Garrett kept going with following what he could that contained a sightings here and there of the limousine. Then on the evening of the fifth day Garrett finds the limousine to track again by viewing video surveillance. At last, it was a moment of discovery and he knew he had hit pay dirt.  In the video the limousine pulls into a storage rental parking lot and the limousine is parked inside one of the storage units.  It's not going to take long for the following day to prove if all of his efforts has been worth it. Early the next morning Garrett was waiting in his car for the storage rental office to open.) 

to be continued: Tomorrow