by L C Lang
CHAPTER 21
The next day, I knew things are beginning to happen. I have a feeling it is only a matter of time until the two jewelers find me. That is if either Peters or Hanover got my license plate number and can trace it. The momentary looks I saw on their faces that knew that the story I had told them was not right. They knew those rough gemstones because they have seen them before. Even with what I had shown the two men, there was a lot of value of gemstones that they did not get. If they only knew the amount of rough gemstones I actually found.
The value of the amount of pink diamonds I have comes to several hundred thousand dollars worth. The value alone makes me nervous, so I am glad they are in a safe place. Of course, my safe deposit box is now stuffed full of jewelry bags. Hopefully, I don’t find any more because I will not be able to put them in the safe deposit box.
I know I have to contact the F.B.I. and see if they are aware of what is going on. If they don’t, then I will have to tell them what I have found. I have everything packed in my messenger bag to show them. The envelopes with the tickets, the flash drive, the printouts of Michael Peters and Nick Hanover, one bag of rough gemstones and one rough pink diamond. I also have the notes I made, so I can make sure I tell them everything.
I am as ready as I can be to tell them my story, if they will even talk to me. If they will not talk to me, then I will have to see who else I can tell. Although I have no idea who that would be. The F.B.I. is the only one that has that jurisdiction.
But, first, I am going out for an early lunch. I need to see if there is any more gossip. I just hope Hannah Williams is not at the diner with her friends or I will have to go somewhere else for lunch. The last thing I want is another run-in with her.
I parked near the restaurant and got out. I flipped the strap of my messenger bag around my neck, keeping a tight hold on it. I don’t want to appear too anxious of what is inside my bag, but I am still nervous about the gemstones inside. Their value is still a few thousand dollars. I really do not want anyone to know about them, so I willed myself to relax. Still, I held onto my messenger bag. Right now, I need food. And I need to hear the gossip.
I walked inside the restaurant and found very few people inside. It is still too early for the lunch hour. Fortunately, neither Hannah nor her friends are here. I have my choice of empty booths, so I picked one and sat down facing the window and the door, placing my messenger bag on the seat next to me. I want to watch who comes into the restaurant. The last thing I wanted is to run into Hannah Williams or her friends. Or Detective Donovan. A few moments later, Cindy came over with a menu. She laid the menu down in front of me.
“Haven’t seen you in a few days,” Cindy said.
I nodded. “Yes, I know. Had a few things to do. Is Roxie here today?”
Cindy nodded. “Yes, she is. Actually, she is always here. Right now, she is helping in the kitchen getting ready for the lunch crowd. I will tell her you are here. She will come out when she can. You want your usual drink?”
I nodded. “Yes, I do. I know what I would like to order, so I can go ahead and give you my order now. I would like a double cheeseburger and medium order of French fries.”
Cindy wrote down the order, thanked me and then walked away. I looked out the window. People are walking on the sidewalk. It is still another half an hour before the lunch rush begins to come in. I want to get out of here before it gets too busy in here.
The booth I chose is near the front window and the door, so if Hannah and her friends come in, I can make a quick getaway before Hannah confronts me again. And I am sure she still thinks I broke into her house.
Then I had a thought. I shook my head. What would Hannah say if she knew what her husband has really been up to? Wonder if I can tell her sometime. That would be fun. Still, the last I want today is to have another confrontation with her.
Cindy brought my drink to me. Then a few minutes later, she came out with my meal. An older couple came in and sat down in a booth on the other side of the diner. I thanked Cindy and she headed for the older couple. I began eating. I had wanted to see if Roxie had heard any more gossip about Benton Williams, but I may have to wait until later to ask her if she is too busy to come out.
I was almost finished eating when Roxie came out from the kitchen, saw me and then headed to my booth. She sat down across from me.
“Sorry I couldn’t come out sooner,” Roxie said. “We are down an assistant cook today and I had to help take up the slack.”
“I am sorry to hear that. Hope he comes back tomorrow.”
Roxie shook her head. “Me too, but I doubt it. His mother is sick, so I understand he wants to be with her. We called in another cook who works part-time, so he should be here soon.” She laid her arms on the table. “Did you hear about Hannah Williams?”
“Which part? About the time she and my neighbor broke into my house and stole my laptop. Or are you talking about Hannah’s house being broken into.”
Roxie narrowed her eyes at me. “She broke into your house?”
I nodded, lowering my voice. “Yes, she did. Caught her red-handed on my surveillance cameras. She was in my house for twenty-five minutes, going through my house and she took my laptop. She is bound and determined to find out that I was in a relationship with her husband.”
Roxie laughed. “What happened then?”
“I called Detective Donovan. He came with another cop who went to my neighbor’s house. I showed him the video on my phone. The other officer escorted Hannah and my neighbor to my house. Hannah adamantly denied she had been in my house. So, I showed her the video clip when she went in and when she came out with my laptop. She could not deny it. The neighbor got my laptop and returned it to me. They didn’t find anything on my computer because I have it password locked. So, after what they did I had them arrested and charged, which Detective Donovan agreed with. My neighbor’s husband bailed them out the next day, but I heard the judge yelled at them after he saw the video clip of what I’d sent to Detective Donovan.”
Roxie shook her head. “Hannah sure is determined that you were Benton’s girlfriend. So, you heard about the break-in at her house?”
I nodded. “Yes, she claimed it was me to Detective Donovan and bugged him so much about it, he had to leave. So, he came to my house yesterday afternoon after I got home. She saw a black vehicle pull out just before she got home and thought it was me. Of course, it wasn’t.”
“She came in ranting this morning. I finally had to tell her that if she did not lower her voice, I was going to ban her from coming in here anymore. She did, but she wasn’t happy.” Roxie paused a moment and then lowered her voice. “Have you found anything more about Benton Williams?”
I nodded. “Yes, I have. A lot, actually. But right now, I cannot tell you what I have found. I think whoever broke into Hannah’s house was looking for something.”
“And you know what they were looking for?”
I nodded again. “Yes, I think I do. And I think I know who is responsible for his death and why.”
“So, you know who killed Benton?”
I shrugged. “I have an idea about who killed him, but I can’t be for sure.” I shoved the last of my French fries in my mouth. Then I finished off my drink.
“Have the police found his pickup truck?”
I shook my head. “Not the local police, but I am going to check on that today too.”
“What are you doing today?”
I pushed my plate to my right, placed my arms on the table and leaned forward. “Don’t tell anyone, but I am going to the F.B.I. field office in Indianapolis. I need to find out if they are aware of something that is going on.”
Roxie’s eyes opened wide. “Benton was involved in something illegal?”
I nodded again. “Yes, I believe he was and that is what got him killed.”
Roxie leaned back and blew out her breath. Just then, several people came into the restaurant. She looked over at them and then looked back at me. “I ne
ed to get going. The first of the lunch crowd is coming in.” She placed her hand on mine. “Be careful. If Benton was involved in something illegal, then they might catch on to you. Keep me posted.”
I nodded and told her I would. Roxie stood up and walked towards the kitchen. I thought about what she had told me. I knew she is right about both men catching onto me. And I also know it is a matter of time, so I will have to be careful. And I have to be prepared. Which at the moment I am. I have my gun with me. It is all I can do right now, but I hope I don’t run into them today. Finally, I blew out my breath. It is time to go to Indianapolis. Again.
I paid my bill, walked out the door and headed for my Cherokee. Then I began the drive to Indianapolis. Forty minutes later, I pulled into the parking lot near the F.B.I. building and parked. I shoved my gun under my seat. Then I grabbed my messenger bag and got out.
I looked at the building. It is a three-story building. It looks like a normal office building, but it was much more than that. Right now, I am not sure I will even get into the main building. First, I have to get past the guard house. At least I think that it is what they call it. I took a deep breath and then approached the small building. I opened the door and stepped inside.
Behind a counter are two men, both dressed in suits. Both are in their mid to late thirties. Neither man looked happy to be stuck in the building. They both glared at me as I approached the counter, like I am interrupting something important. Yeah right.
“I would like to talk to an agent, please,” I said.
“Why?” one of the gruff-voiced men said.
Great. Off to a great start. I am sure they have heard every excuse in the book to talk to an agent. I know I am going to have to come up with a good reason, so I decided to come right to the point. “Because I have information about an illegal rough gemstone smuggling operation going on in Indianapolis.”
Both men’s eyes got big and their mouths dropped open.
“Are you kidding me?” the other man asked.
I shook my head. “No, sir, I am not. I have proof with me to show the agent.”
The second man blew out his breath. “Okay. Just a moment.” Then he headed for one side of the counter and picked up the receiver of a landline telephone. Then he turned his back to me. The other man stayed near me.
“I am going to have to see some identification,” the man in front of me said, now talking in a normal voice.
I nodded and reached into my messenger bag, pulling out my wallet. For good measure, I also pulled out my ID pack with my PI license and showed it and my driver’s license to him. He took both of them and walked over to the man on the phone, showing my PI license to him. I was sure the agent told the man he was talking to about my PI license. Then the agent copied both of my licenses and brought them back to me. I put them back in my messenger bag.
“Do you have a gun, knife or anything sharp that can be used as a weapon anywhere on you?”
I shook my head. “No, sir, I don’t.”
“What about your bag?”
I opened my messenger bag, tilted it so he could look inside.
“What is in manila folders?” he asked.
“Proof of delivery.”
“What about the bag?”
“Rough gemstones that I found. Want to see them?”
The man nodded. I pulled out the jewelry bag, opened the top and then slowly dumped out the rough gemstones onto the counter.
“They look like rocks,” the man said.
The other man was still on the phone, but he came closer and also looked at the rough gemstones.
“Yes, sir, I know. I thought the same thing, but I found out from two jewelers here in town what they are. Theses are rough gemstones.”
“What gemstones are they?” the same agent asked.
I was sure he was curious. He is an agent after all. I just did not want to have to repeat this story again to the agent I need to talk to. Oh well, guess I could tell him.
“What I have here is Alexandrite, tanzanite, three kinds of sapphires, rubies and an orange garnet.” I elected this time not to show them the pink diamond. I will leave that surprise for the agent I talk to inside the building.
Then I heard the other man repeat to whoever he was talking to what the gemstones were. That ought to get their attention. I picked up the rough gemstones, put them back in the jewelry bag, and then put it back in my messenger bag. Then the other man got off the phone. He came up to me.
“There are two agents who would like to talk to you. I will escort you to the building. They will meet us at the door.”
I nodded. I didn’t think I would have any problem finding the front door of the building, but the man seemed adamant, so I did not argue. He opened the back door of the building and I walked through, with him following me. It was a quiet walk, but I am curious about the conversation he’d had with the agent he talked to.
“I take it they know about the smuggling?” I finally asked him.
The agent nodded. “Yes, they do. They just do not know who is involved or how the gems are coming in. I take it you have that information?”
I slowly nodded. “Yes, sir, I do. Turns out, I think the two men behind it missed the last two shipments and they are getting desperate.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because the man who is getting in the rough gemstones for them was killed and I believe they broke into his wife’s house yesterday and trashed the place. I am sure they were searching for the missing gemstones.”
“That is not good.”
“No, it is not. Fortunately, she was not home at the time. What is worse, I found out that the two jewelers I went to talk to the other day are the two men who are involved in the smuggling. So, I am afraid they may try to find me because they know I have one of the missing bags.”
At least Peters and Hanover don’t know about the other bags I have, which is really the missing shipment.
CHAPTER 22
By the time we got to the two glass front doors of the main building, two agents were waiting inside, waiting for me. I took a deep breath and walked through the door one of the agents held open for me. Then the agent who escorted me headed back to the guard house.
When I stopped inside the door, I looked at the two men. One was in his late thirties and the other was early forties. Both wore black suits, with one with a dark blue tie and the other a dark red tie.
“I am Agent Steve Danvers,” the agent with the dark red tie said. He is the older one and probably the senior agent of the two of them. “And this is Agent John Mikelson.”
“It is nice to meet both of you,” I said, shaking hands with both of the agents. “My name is Sasha Harman.”
“It is nice to meet you too,” Agent Danvers said. “Why don’t we go to our office and then we can talk. From what I was told, I think you may have some information we need.”
I nodded and I am sure I do have what they need. Hopefully, everything they need. We walked down a hallway to an elevator. I am getting nervous. While I had things to tell them, and questions to ask them, there is one thing I cannot tell them. Where I got some of the information and the bags of gemstones.
We walked inside the open elevator door, Agent Danvers pushed the button and the door closed. We went up one floor and then we got out of the elevator. Then we walked a short distance and into an office. Agent Danvers closed the door behind us.
It is not a large office, but there are two desks facing each other and there is a connecting door to other offices. Agent Danvers got a club chair that was sitting in the corner and placed it facing their desks. I sat down on the chair and placed my messenger bag on the floor next to the chair. Both agents sat down in their chairs behind their desks. They both looked anxiously at me. I took a deep breath.
“Before I tell you what I have found, I have a question.” Both men nodded, so I continued. “Have there been any reports of illegal rough gemstones coming into the area?” I watched the two men’s f
aces. They both reacted, so I knew they had some knowledge. Danvers nodded. “How much are you aware of?”
“We have gotten word that illegal gemstones are coming into the area,” Danvers said. “Actually, this has been going on for a while. We just cannot figure who is getting them. We have gotten to the point where we think a middleman is getting them and are selling them elsewhere in the country.”
I shook my head. “No, that part I can tell you is wrong. Yes, they are getting the rough gemstones here. They polish and cut them, placing them into various types of jewelry. Then they sell them. At one jewelry store I went to, I saw a couple pieces with finished gemstones. They are beautiful, but the gemstones used are rare, at least from what I have found. Because of the colors, they are very desirable. I am sure the agent in booth told you have a bag of rough gemstones, so let me show you what I found.” I reached in my messenger bag and pulled out the jewelry bag, leaving the rough pink diamond gemstone in the small pocket where I put it. At least for the moment.
I opened the bag and slowly dumped the rough gemstones on Agent Danvers desk. Then I sorted them, putting the same gemstones together. Then I began pointing to each group. “What are here are alexandrite, two colors of tanzanite, three kinds of sapphires, Burmese rubies and an orange garnet.”
Agent Mickelson stood up, walked around me and went to Agent Danvers desk. He looked at the rough gemstones and then looked at me. “Who told you what these were?”
“After I found this bag of gemstones, I researched which jewelry stores had a jeweler who actually worked the rough gemstones and came up with two of them. It was the owner of one of the stores I went to who told me what these rough gemstones are.”
“What is his name?” Agent Danvers asked.
“Mike Peters.”
He blew out his breath. “He is one that we have been watching.”
I nodded. “I found a piece of paper on which there were two men’s names listed. One is Michael Peters and the other is Nick Hanover, who happens to own the other jewelry store that I also went to.”
