Learning to Drive... Him Crazy (26 page)

Brad added, "They were looking out for only
themselves. That one paper spells out evidence that proves every
single one of them guilty of at least one thing."

Lieutenant Berry said, "It even tells how
they found the two thieves. Being in law enforcement, they knew
which ones were best, and those are the ones they went after,
enlisting them as soon as they were released from prison. Then they
had Detective Moss get Jason Wilson out early so they'd have a way
to bring the stolen stones and jewelry into town without risking
anyone being caught with them. I had no idea they were pulling off
thefts all across the country, though. I thought it was just thefts
here locally. I never connected them to thefts two or three
thousand miles away. That explained their need for bringing them in
through the shoes. Stolen jewels traveling by shoebox is much safer
than having them travel with someone in a car. What if the car was
involved in an accident? By plane or train would be out of the
question the way they x-ray luggage these days. Having the guy on
the payroll at the shoe warehouse two thousand miles from here gave
them another area to concentrate the thefts on."

John added, "And the cases here that Moss
worked on and said he found a connection out west, that was all a
hoax. It was just a way for him to get away from here and go out
there to investigate some possible targets."

"They were pretty smart about it. He
probably convinced the police department he needed to check out a
lead that never existed, and the police department would then pay
for his trip out there," Brad said.

"It was probably pretty easy to get the trip
approved since Chief Nelson was in on it, too," John deducted.

They were all deep in thought for a little
while, until John said, "But I still can't believe their plan for
getting the other one out of jail if either of them got caught. Did
they really think it would work?"

"Like you said, John, they got away with all
this so far, so they probably started feeling a false sense of
security, like they could get away with anything," Lieutenant Berry
said.

"Like any plan they came up with would
work," Brad added.

"I guess," John said, "but this just sounds
so far fetched. Maybe I'm misunderstanding it. Tell me where I'm
missing something here. The way I read it they have evidence that
prove two men broke into two different schools and stole computers
and lab equipment, but they didn't do anything with the evidence.
The same two guys got caught stealing from a third school and went
to prison for a couple years. When they got out they quit doing
that. Decker and Kline have the evidence, each man has some of it,
that will prove who did it. They plan on giving the two thieves the
perfect opportunity to break into another school and do it again.
They've found a school out in the country, hidden away off the main
road, and they plan on having these two men 'overhear' a
conversation that talks about how this isolated school just got a
big grant for equipment and bought a bunch of new computers and new
science lab equipment."

"That's the way I read it, too," Brad said.
"They figured they're thieves, they wouldn't be able to pass up a
perfect opportunity like that. Then when they take the bait,
whichever of the two was still free, in this case it would be
Kline, would go to the judge and say he recognized the theft as
similar to these old ones, and he talked to Decker, who worked on
the old cases. He would claim he was sure he could solve the case
if they let him out of jail early so they could work the case
together. They felt sure the judge would agree, and Decker would be
out, free again."

"That was their plan," the lieutenant
said.

"It wouldn't have worked," John stated.
"There are too many what-ifs. What if the two thieves didn't take
the bait? What if the judge said no to letting him out early, which
I think is likely. Judges don't generally tend to go easy on cops
gone bad, and with good reason. They're out there to protect the
public. They should be, and usually are, held to a higher standard.
A judge isn't going to let him out early just to try to help solve
a theft in a school."

Lieutenant Berry said, "I think it's like
you said, John. They were cocky, thinking they could get away with
anything. If we hadn't made the connection with Kline and picked
him up, too, I think they would have honestly been surprised when
Kline wasn't able to get Decker out pretty quickly."

The other two nodded. John said, "They
thought they could get away with anything, even murder."

No one said anything, and John added, "If
they were planning on getting Decker out early, they obviously were
planning on killing me and the other three, and not getting
caught."

"Obviously," Brad said.

They were all deep in thought, until John
asked, "Does Decker know you have Kline?"

"Not that I know of, yet," the lieutenant
answered.

"Can I be there when he finds out?" John
asked. "He was planning on killing me, after all. I'd love to see
the look on his face."

"I think I can arrange that," the lieutenant
said. "I think, according to these documents, you guys are safe
now. Is there any particular way you want to tell Decker?"

"How about telling Decker we've got a new
roommate for him. Then take Kline in and let Decker see him, but
then take him on past his cell. We definitely don't want them in
the same cell, or even close enough to talk. But I would love to
see the look on Joe's face when he sees Kline in cuffs."

"I'll arrange that," the lieutenant
promised. "I'll have them hold Kline at our offices until you get
to the jail. Then once we transport him to the county jail, I'll
let you take him from there. You deserve that much satisfaction
from both of them, at least."

"Thank you, I appreciate that," John
said.

"No problem. Now, while I take this evidence
back and formally charge my agent, are you ready to tell the others
you're all free to get on with your lives? Oh, and we did like you
asked. After we got everything we needed, and plenty of pictures of
Alana's apartment, I sent someone in and put it all back in some
order. I'm sure there's some things not where she kept them, but it
looks like an apartment now, not like a cyclone went through."

"Thank you. I really didn't want her to see
it like that."

"I understand. I can tell you two are close.
Good luck."

"Thanks! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have
some wonderful news to deliver! Thanks for bringing all that over
to let me see it."

"You're welcome. Thank you for your help in
this case!"

Five minutes later, John had assembled Cal
and Kelli and Alana and said, "I wanted to fill you all in on the
latest news. Lieutenant Berry said we should seriously think
about—" He paused, looking at each of them and the dread on their
faces, and smiled big as he finished, "going home and getting on
with our lives! They've got them all now and we're free to go
home!" Seeing the stunned look on his friends' faces, he said,
"Unless you'd all rather stay here another few days?"

"Oh, no, I'm good with going home!" Kelli
quickly said.

"I'm more than ready to go home, too," Cal
said.

Alana was in John's arms, crying. "Let's go
home! Can I call and make an appointment to take my driving
test?"

All four of them laughed when they heard
that. Brad, who had come into the room as well, looked from Alana
to John, confused.

John answered, "Yes, honey, you can try
taking your driving test again." With a serious expression on his
face he added, "But you need to drive some with me first, just to
be sure you haven't forgotten everything you've learned. But when
you get your license, no driving to any more shoe sales at
Newjangles!"

Everyone laughed, including Brad.

"If anyone's interested, I can drop you guys
off wherever you want, whenever you're ready."

"Let's go, I'm ready," Kelli said, getting
up from Cal's lap and heading for the door.

"I'm right behind you," Alana said.

The guys laughed, and Cal said, "I do have a
few clothes I brought along for John and myself. Let me grab those
and I'll be ready."

"Everything we used and wore is the FBI's so
we don't have anything to take. I do want to thank you, Brad, or
whoever furnished the toothbrushes and combs and brushes and
things, along with all the clothes and swimsuits we used."

"That's all part of the safe house," Brad
answered. "We try to keep them stocked with everything to keep
anyone comfortable who comes here in a rush, like you guys
did."

"And we appreciate it," John confirmed.
"I'll go help Cal get our things together so we can go."

Alana looked at Kelli, and asked Brad, "Do
you know where our clothes are that we wore to the first safe
house? We need to put them back on so we can return these clothes
we're wearing."

"I have no idea," Brad answered. "They've
probably been put up so they wouldn't get lost, maybe somewhere at
the first house. I'll find them and have them returned to you. In
the meantime, consider the clothes you're wearing a gift to you
from the FBI, for your help in solving this case."

"We can give them back after we wash them,"
Kelli offered.

"Don't worry about it," Brad insisted. "They
can be your souvenirs of your time in the safe houses."

"Thank you," Alana said. "If it's okay with
you, while we wait for the guys, Kelli and I are going outside.
We've wanted fresh air for, for—well, I think forever!" The girls
giggled as they hurried outside.

When John and Cal went outside ten minutes
later they stopped a moment to watch the girls. They were looking
toward the sky with their arms outreached, soaking up the sun. John
went to Alana, saying, "Hey, girls, save some of that sun for us.
We missed it, too, you know."

They all walked around outside for a few
minutes, enjoying the sun and fresh air before getting in the car
to go home. John told Brad, "My car should still be at Cal's, so if
you want to just take us there, we'll get the girls home."

Once they got to Cal's house, they sat
outside talking for a little while, mostly just enjoying the
outside again. Eventually John said, "Well, honey, I better get you
home. I told Lieutenant Berry I'd be at the jail in an hour.

"Okay," Alana said, "but I'm not sure if I'm
staying there tonight. I might stay with Kelli. It depends how bad
my apartment looks."

"Well, let's go see."

"I'm going to take Kelli home now, too,
Alana. If you don't feel comfortable staying there come on over to
her place. We'll be there," Cal said.

"Thank you both. I'll call you, Kelli, and
let you know how bad it is once we get there."

When they got to Alana's apartment, he had
his arm around her waist as she went inside. She looked around,
then looked at John. "I thought they said they ransacked this,
looking for the ruby."

"They did," he confirmed. "But I asked Brad
if they could have it put back in order after they got everything
they needed. How'd they do?"

She looked around a little bit. "They did
good. There are a few things out of place, but not too many. Thank
you, John, for having this done."

John turned her to face him and leaned down
to kiss her. "You're welcome, honey. It's so good to be able to
kiss you in your apartment again." He gave her another, more
passionate kiss that proved the truth in his words. When he was
finally able to pull himself away from her he said, "Honey, I
better get down to the police station, before I get myself into
trouble here."

Alana giggled. "Trouble with who?"

He reached back and smacked her playfully on
her bottom while he held her in his arms. "Trouble with myself. You
deserve my respect, you little brat, and I intend to give it to
you, no matter how hard it is to control myself." When she giggled
again and reached up for another kiss, he gave it to her. "Are you
going to be okay here for a little bit while I go show Agent Kline
to his new temporary home?"

"I'll be fine. Tell me all about it when you
get back. I'm anxious to hear about the look on Joe's face when he
sees his buddy that's supposed to be getting him out of jail."

After one more quick kiss, John left. Alana
called Kelli, then got busy rearranging a few things in her
apartment.

John was nervous on his way to the station.
He wasn't sure what kind of reception he'd get from his fellow
officers. When he got there, though, he was relieved. As soon as he
walked in the front door, two officers that were talking in the
lobby yelled out, "Humphries is here!" They went to him, shook his
hand and congratulated him.

Lieutenant McConnel came out to the lobby,
smiling. "Welcome back, Officer! Good work!"

John heaved a sigh of relief. "I wasn't sure
how I'd be received," he admitted.

Lieutenant McConnel assured him, "I think
you'll be receiving a hero's welcome. At least that's the attitude
I've detected among everyone."

"I have a lot of catching up to do," John
told him. "Are you the chief now?"

"Acting chief. I'm really not sure what the
mayor's going to do eventually. I think he's going to take a little
time to think about it. He's got to replace several officers, and
I'm not sure if he's going to promote men already here to fill some
of the positions and hire new young guys, or if he's going to hire
experienced officers to fill vacant spots, or some of both. Jansen
was a sergeant that had just gotten promoted. The mayor needs to at
least replace him, the chief, another sergeant, and a detective,
along with another patrolman or two."

"I'll be anxious to see what he decides to
do," John said. "In the meantime, it's going to seem a little
strange around here."