by Eric Hodges
CHAPTER 18
COVERING
The technician in the van put his headphones down and stopped the recording. He saved the file on a secure backup drive aboard the van and started to compose a short email. He attached the file and sent it off via encrypted satellite link.
The computer on Captain Bronson's computer beeped and showed a blinking red check next to the new message. He was waiting for it but didn't think it would arrive so soon- 6:56 am.
The message read:
Central: Caller is Wix, receiver is Davies. Jess.
Bronson forwarded the email to the technical unit downstairs and replied to Jess.
Jess: Stay in the area for 24 hours. Meet Jack at the diner. Deliver the package. Central.
Bronson called Jack on his cell phone. “It worked. They're rattled.”
“That's remarkable sir.” Jack was so startled he actually used 'sir'. “I'm not ten minutes away from the casino and you guys already know?” Maybe I am too old for this, Jack thought but didn't mention anything to Bronson. “What did they say?”
“Not much. It's what they didn't say. They are meeting each other at the office right now. I don't think that's normal because they were both asleep. Other than that, nothing. Jess is meeting you at the diner in Eaton and he's bringing the papers. You were retired a year and a half ago from San Francisco PD. A few jobs since and all can be checked. They will ring here in the office.”
“Okay Captain, but where do I go? Any Ideas?”
“We found too many links to a place called Century Concessions that just happens to be connected to Davies and Wix by tax and accounting records. It seems the boys do tax planning for a variety of businesses.” Bronson sounded a bit too grandiose. Jack Hudson's old-time detective nose twitched just a bit.
“And why would this be relevant to the current case, Captain?”
“Well Jack, it seems that Century Concessions holds the contracts for all the concessions at the AT&T Park in San Francisco, the Levi's Center in Santa Clara and Raley Field in Sacramento. Any of those ring a bell for you?”
“Sure Captain. Football and baseball, but what's a Raley Field?”
“We wondered that too. That's a small stadium used for lower division games and an occasional college playoff game. Sacramento is the headquarters for Century Concessions and that seems a bit convenient for Davies and Wix. And it will be convenient for you too. Keep me posted.”
