by L C Lang
And I have to see what is on Benton’s flash drive.
CHAPTER 19
Once again, I stopped at the bank. To say they were surprised that I wanted to get into my safe deposit box again would be an understatement. I was sure they wondered what I am up to, but no one said anything, which I am grateful for. Once the woman from the bank left the room, I got into my safe deposit box, pulled out the inside container, placing it on the small table.
Then I opened the lid on the container and put the fifteen jewelry bags that were stuffed into my messenger bag inside the container. Thankfully, I’d rented a large enough container, but, still, they barely fit. Sure hope I don’t find any more jewelry bags of rough gemstones because there is no more room in the container.
I put the container back inside the drawer, and then pushed in the drawer, making sure it locked. Then I headed out of the room, thanking the woman again for her help.
Once I got home, I went into my office, sat my messenger bag on my desk. All the way back to town, I have thought about who I need to report this to. But, before I can make that decision, I have a lot of research to do.
Then, I pulled the flash drive and the piece of paper out of my jean’s pocket, laying them on the desk. I went into the kitchen and got a cold can of soft drink. I really need caffeine. I walked back into my office. I sat down, opened the can and took a long drink. Then I sat the can on my desk. It is time to do some research.
I picked up the paper with the two names written on it. The names were Michael Peters and Nick Hanover. When I saw them yesterday, they had seemed like nice men who were very knowledgeable on gemstones. Although, both had a momentary strange look on their faces when they saw the rough gemstones. Maybe they just wondered where I got them. But, if they are the ones who got the deliveries of rough gemstones, then more than likely they recognized them. Now I have to find information on them and figure out of they are the ones who got the shipments of gemstones.
I opened my laptop and turned it on. Once it came up, I entered my password and the main screen came on. Next, I went into my background checking program. First, I put in the name Michael Peters and Indiana as the state. Only two listings came up. One is his residence and the other was a business. I clicked on the business. Same jewelry store I went to yesterday morning. I printed out the both files.
Next, I typed in Nick Hanover’s name. I came up with the same two types of listings. One residence and one business. He owned the other jewelry store I had gone to. I printed these two files also.
I leaned back in my chair. This did not make sense. Why would two men in the same business, who more than likely are competitors, have business with Benton Williams? Are these two really involved in the smuggling? Somehow, I doubted Benton could have set this up and then contacted the two jewelers to see if they wanted to be a part of it. So, how did Benton start getting the rough gemstones inside the imported rugs? I need more information.
Maybe I need to expand my search. So, with both names, I expanded the search area to nationwide. This time, I came up with more hits on both men. I read each of the files. When I finished reading, I knew I had to print all of them out.
Turns out, these two men have been business partners before. And, they have smuggled illegal rough gemstones into the U.S. before too. Several years of smuggling. They also smuggled in diamonds from Africa, along with various other items that are illegal in the U.S.
And, they had a jewelry store in New York City. Together.
How both men began working with gemstones, I have no idea. But I am now onto something. I kept reading. What came as a surprise is that both Michael Peters and Nick Hanover used fictitious names.
The cases I found against them, listed both their real and fictitious names. How many times have they used those fictitious names? First, I printed out what I had found. Then I began a nationwide search for the fictitious names they used in New York City. I blew out my breath when the results came up. They have used those fictitious names for several years. The information that came up was even worse than what they are doing here.
I shook my head. These two men have been doing illegal importing for twenty years. Which Michael Peters told me is how long he told me he had experience with working with gemstones. Now I knew how he came about that knowledge. It is inconceivable how much money those two men made over the years. What made them decide to hide behind two separate businesses and use their real names this time, I have no idea. For five years they have gotten away with smuggling in rough gemstones. Not any more. Now that I know what they have been doing, this will come to an end.
While I printed out the rest of the information I had found, my mind raced. What happened between them and Benton I am not sure but I have a good idea based on what I found in the garage. They are missing a lot of gemstones.
I leaned back in my chair. Now what do I do? Neither Michael Peters nor Nick Hanover asked my name or where I live. Although, it did make sense now why both men had that momentary look on their faces when they saw the rough gemstones I had. They have seen them before. Many times before.
When I left the second store, I was so numb from what Nick Hanover told me about the pink diamonds that it took me until I was in my truck before I realized he was looking out the window at me. Had he gotten my license plate number? Had Michael Peters followed me after I left his store? My mind was racing so much that when I left his store I hadn’t noticed.
Maybe Michael Peters didn’t follow me, but maybe he did call his partner about me coming in with rough gemstones that look just like what they got. That may be the call Hanover was on when I first got to the store. And if Nick Hanover did get my license plate number, would he be able to run my license plate number? If he is involved in something illegal, then maybe he can. Criminals do have their sources.
Both men had to be suspicious when they saw what I’d brought. No one gets gemstones in that form. Not legally anyway. Then I had a dark thought. What if the two men talked to each other, told each other what I’d brought in and then wondered if I knew where the missing shipments of gemstones is.
I looked at the filing cabinet. Right now, the majority of the bags of gemstones are safe. I only have one bag and one pink diamond. Now what do I do?
I picked up my can and finished it off. Then I remembered something else I need to do. The flash drive. I picked it up and then stuck it into the slot on the side of my laptop. Then I accessed one of my accounting programs. I have two, so I hope one of them works. Fortunately, as it turned out, the second one opened the flash drive.
Then I looked at the list of files on the screen. There are three files in the flash drive. Two of the files are large. A code marks what each file is, but the codes are not easily distinguishable. So, I opened the first file.
It took a few moments before I realized this file contains the records from the hardware store. I began going down the listings. There were weekly entries with sales for the week, stock purchased and salary payments. The last entry was a week ago, which fits with what Joe Millhouse told me. Then I went down the list to find when they began using computers to keep tract of their records. The records only went back five years. Benton Williams must have transferred the older records to another flash drive. Or, maybe this is when he first began using a computer and the rest of the business records are in accounting books.
Still, these records should go to whoever is going to own the hardware store. I got out a blank flash drive and transferred the file to the second flash drive. I marked the flash drive as hardware store and put it in my center drawer. Then I deleted the file from the flash drive.
Then, I went to the next file. Once again, it only took a few moments to realize this is the record for the import rug store. Again, the last record was a week ago. I went through the file and found these records also began five years ago. It also included sales, payment for stock coming in and salaries. Same as what Benton did with the hardware store. Someone must have convinced Benton Williams that co
mputer programs are a better way to keep track of business records and the records could be kept on a flash drive he can take with him. What do I do with this file? Guess it depends what happens to the store.
I leaned back against the chair. I now know two things. One, Benton got rough gemstones inside the imported rugs. And, two, he did not deliver the at least the last shipment of gemstones to Michael Peters and Nick Hanover. If not, then he withheld the delivery from them for another reason. Either way, I am sure what is going on is a felony and that is above what I can do.
I looked at the manila files of tickets sitting on the edge of my desk. As a thought raced through my mind, I knew why they put the tickets inside the rugs. The first two years of the rug import company, they did not use tickets. They began using the tickets when they started sending the gemstones inside the rugs. I assume the tickets would be the means of verifying that the correct amount of gemstones was inside the rugs. Payment for the rugs would be required, but what about the gemstones? Surely, they would not be sending expensive gemstones and then want nothing for them. I shook my head. Someone else will have to figure that out.
I looked back at the computer screen. I closed the file for the rug import store. There is one more file to check. I opened the next file. I shook my head. This file is not like the other two. It is not for any business.
As I went through the entries, I realized what I am looking at. Benton Williams kept track of every delivery of the rough gemstones. The date the delivery arrived and the amount of each of the rough gemstones that came in that delivery. He even had a list of the codes he used to describe each raw gemstone he got in.
I got out a few of the tickets from this years manila envelope. The dates in the file were in order, so I went to the date on one of the tickets. I found the code and the number. The ticket showed the amount of rough diamonds that came in that shipment. Five rough diamonds. I had no idea what the rough gemstones were in when the came inside the rugs. The jewelry bags came from a jeweler. Specifically, either Michael Peters or Nick Hanover gave them to him.
From the file, I found that the gemstones that were in the garage are two deliveries not given to Michael Peters and Nick Hanover. Why would Benton leave that amount of valuable rough gemstones in a non-secure garage? Granted, the boxes were marked as tools. Still, he took a big chance leaving them there.
How am I going to explain this?
CHAPTER 20
Just then, I heard a knock at the front door. I stood up. Now what? I just hope it is not Mike Peters or Nick Hanover. Could they have located me this fast? If they are desperate, yes. Hopefully, the looks I’d seen on both men’s faces was actually nothing. Just surprised I would have rough gemstones. Or rather, my grandmother had them. Little did they know. And that made me nervous. Especially after the file I had just read.
I looked out the living room window to see who was at my door. Then, I blew out my breath. Thankfully, it is not Peters or Hanover. It is worse. It is Detective Donovan and he does not look happy. Just as he is about to knock again, I opened the front door and then leaned against the doorframe, keeping the door close next to me.
“What can I do for you, Detective Donovan?” I asked.
“May I come in?” he asked.
“Was there something wrong with the document I signed?”
The detective shook his head. “No. There is another problem.”
This is not good. “Okay. What is the problem?”
“May I come in?” he asked again.
I shrugged. Oh well, why not? “Sure.” I moved away from the doorframe and opened the door wider.
Detective Donovan stepped inside the house and I closed the door behind him. He stepped further into the living room. He looked down and then he looked at me.
“New rug?”
I nodded. “Yes. It is a Persian rug. I got it a couple of days ago.”
It was quite a job getting it out of my truck and into the house too. Then all of the furniture rearranging it took to be able to lay down the rug and put the furniture back where I wanted them.
“Nice.” He looked around the living room. Then he walked into my office and looked around the room.
Thankfully, I had closed my laptop, so he could not see Benton’s file that I still have open. I’d hid the manila envelope in my desk drawer. I watched him closely walked around the whole room. What is he doing? What is he looking for? I know something is going on. I am sure that sooner or later he will tell me. But it had better be sooner because he is making me nervous.
“Is that all you wanted to do?” I asked, leaning against the door frame with my arms folded across my chest. “Look around my house?”
Donovan shook his head as he walked up to me, stopping two feet away from me. He glared at me. “No. What I came to ask is where you have been today.”
I was not about to tell him I broke into Holly’s house, found names and a flash drive, or anything about the fifteen bags of rough gemstones I found in the garage. “I had some errands to run. Why?”
He took a deep breath. “I got a report that Hannah Williams’ house was broken into and ransacked. She saw a black vehicle pulling out of her driveway and take off just before she got to her house. Then she went inside and found her house trashed. She told me she is sure it was your truck.”
I closed my eyes a moment and shook my head. What is with that woman? Yes, I have a black truck, but I am not the only one in town who has one. Then I thought of something. I looked at him. “Okay, her house was ransacked. Was anything taken?”
“Did you take anything?”
The man is incorrigible. I don’t even want to say what I think of Hannah Williams and her obsession with me. If Benton wasn’t dead already, I think I would kill him just to get even with Hannah. With my arms still folded across my chest, it is my turn to glare at him. “I did not go into Hannah Williams’ house today. I don’t even know where she lives. I went to Indianapolis to do some shopping. And, no, I will not tell you what I bought.” Or what I found. “That woman has a problem. I just wish it wasn’t with me. I’ll bet she doesn’t even know what kind of vehicle it was. Yes, I have a black Cherokee, but there are a lot of them around.”
Detective Donovan blew out his breath. Then he nodded. “Yes, I know. And yes, I know she wants to pin this on you. She made me promise I would talk to you.”
“When did the break-in happen?”
“About two hours ago. They are still looking for fingerprints, but I don’t think they will find any. She was driving me nuts, so I had to leave.”
“I was in Indianapolis two hours ago. Yes, that woman can drive anyone nuts. And I am sure she is having my neighbor watch to see if you show up.”
“Yes, I am sure she is too.” He paused a moment. “What would you like me to do to her?”
I shook my head and laughed. “You don’t know how much I would like to tell you what to do with her. What I will tell you is to find out who killed her husband. That is the only way she is going to stop hounding me. How are you doing that?”
He shook his head. “No further clues. He did not die here and until we find his truck, we won’t know where he died. Or why someone killed him.”
I nodded. I knew he was at least partially right. I may not know where Benton’s truck is, but I have a good idea why he died. And probably who killed him. I just do not have the evidence. Not yet anyway.
“So, essentially, you have a cold case,” I said.
Donovan nodded. “I am afraid so.”
“Find anything out about his will?”
He shook his head. “No. Why?”
“Well, I was in the hardware store the other day and Joe Millhouse, the manager, got to talking about Benton Williams. He told me the store will be his once they probate Benton’s will. Guess Benton told him at some point that he will get the store if something happens to him.”
Donovan’s eyebrows raised. “Really?”
I nodded. “That is what he told me. You haven�
�t talked to him?”
He shook his head. “No, I haven’t. Guess I should have though. Maybe I should talk to him today before he closes the store. Joe Millhouse actually told you that?”
I nodded again. “Yes, he did. He looked happy that he will be getting the store. He runs it most of the time anyway. Although, I am not sure Hannah knows about that.”
“Maybe I should tell her to talk to her lawyer. If what you say is true, she is not going to be happy. She doesn’t work, so she will have no income, other than the money her parents gave her.”
“Maybe Benton has left her some sort of financial income.”
“Sure hope so. Well, guess I had better go talk to Joe Millhouse and see what he has to say.”
We said goodbye and Detective Donovan walked out of the house. I closed the door behind him. I now know what I have to do. Since Hannah’s house was broken into and ransacked, this meant someone was looking for something. I have no idea what kind of vehicle the two men have, but maybe I should check. They obviously know Benton lives here in town. My guess Hannah’s house was broken into by Michael Peters and Nick Hanover. Does this mean Holly’s house will be broken into as well? Do they even know about Holly Weaver? For her sake, I hope not.
I also know it is possible that they will come after me since Mike Peters knows I have at least one bag of rough gemstones and Nick Hanover knows I have a rough pink diamond. Would they assume I have access to the missing shipments, since I have what I showed them? Maybe. But, how will they find me?
It is time to get proactive. I have found as much as I can find. I have evidence and I doubt there is any more to find. Someone else has to take over from here. At some point, I know I am going to have to tell Detective Donovan what I found, but hopefully not too soon. I am sure he will yell at me and that is not going to be fun. I also know this case will be out of the local police departments hands too, since it took place in Indianapolis. I am already getting nervous about what I have to do tomorrow.
