Read Online Garage Sale Stalker (Garage Sale Mysteries) by Suzi Weinert - Free Book Online
Authors: Suzi Weinert
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pointed as she described. “See, I typically cut out the newspaper ads describing each sale and tape them down the left side of the page. Because the print is too small to read while driving, I print the prime info just to the right of the ad in larger letters: the address, the hours of the sale surrounded by a circle and the book map coordinates surrounded by a rectangle.”
“What’s this list on the opposite page?”
“What I bought that day at those sales and how much it cost.”
“Is this some sort of code after each purchase?”
She laughed, “I can see why you’d think that. If the item is for a particular person, I write the name after it. If it’s for a room at home I put LR for living room, K for kitchen and so on.”
“What are EB, SS and UTPG?”
“Easter Baskets, Stocking Stuffers and Under-the-Pillow-Gifts,” Jennifer explained.
“Under-the-pillow-gifts?”
“If any of my ten grandchildren spend the night at my house, they get an under-the-pillow-gift.”
“Must be nice to be your grandchild.” The detective turned back to the notebook. “Now which sales match the burglaries?”
She showed him and he verified their connection. Surprised at this new possibility for cases so far going nowhere, he felt genuine interest. “I think we should check this out.”
“There’s more! These sales attract a few Regulars—I call them that because they regularly visit this area’s weekend sales—and any one of them potentially might be the thief.”
“But you’re a Regular so you could be the thief yourself.”
She snorted with disdain at the very idea before realizing he had a valid point. “Of course, you’re right! I’m not suggesting that every Regular is guilty… perhaps none or perhaps just one… but if so, which one? If not them, who would fit such coincidences?”
“I don’t believe much in coincidence,” the detective said.
“Then how should we proceed?” she asked.
He leaned forward at his desk. “These sales are on weekends, right?” She nodded. “Then why don’t I come to your house in my own car? I follow you on your rounds that morning. You point out these Regulars. I see the cars they return to and run those license plates. That tells me who they are and if they have a rap sheet. Could I copy your notebook pages for the last few months? I’ll compare the sale addresses against our crime reports for more possible matches.”
“Please do! If you follow the newspaper trail, you should know their ads for these kinds of sales aren’t necessarily under one heading in the classifieds.”
“What does that mean exactly?” the detective asked.
“Some are listed under ‘Estate Sales,’ some under ‘Moving Sales,’ or ‘Household Goods’ or ‘Garage Sales.’ The rob... that is,” she corrected, “burglary connection could surface under any of those headings. You might want to check the Washington Time s as well as the Pos t .” Then frowning, she remembered, “I almost forgot, this Saturday my daughters are holding a garage sale at my own house. But wait, they won’t need me for that, so we can still follow your plan.”
“Here, please write down your address and phone number and what time should I arrive on Saturday?”
She did. “I get an early start so please be there by 8 a.m. or I’ll already be under way!”
“Not a problem, Ma’am. And thank you for coming in with your information.”
“You’re welcome. Nice to meet you, Detective Iverson,” she smiled and shook his hand before leaving the office. “See you Saturday,” she called over her shoulder.
The detective knew police don’t routinely release to newspapers the addresses of victims of burglaries, but in this situation increased protection from the Neighborhood Watch’s high alert justified the temporary decision to do so. If Mrs. Shannon’s tip resulted from that choice, it was a good one.
After she left, he ran her name through his computer. With the only blemish a
“What’s this list on the opposite page?”
“What I bought that day at those sales and how much it cost.”
“Is this some sort of code after each purchase?”
She laughed, “I can see why you’d think that. If the item is for a particular person, I write the name after it. If it’s for a room at home I put LR for living room, K for kitchen and so on.”
“What are EB, SS and UTPG?”
“Easter Baskets, Stocking Stuffers and Under-the-Pillow-Gifts,” Jennifer explained.
“Under-the-pillow-gifts?”
“If any of my ten grandchildren spend the night at my house, they get an under-the-pillow-gift.”
“Must be nice to be your grandchild.” The detective turned back to the notebook. “Now which sales match the burglaries?”
She showed him and he verified their connection. Surprised at this new possibility for cases so far going nowhere, he felt genuine interest. “I think we should check this out.”
“There’s more! These sales attract a few Regulars—I call them that because they regularly visit this area’s weekend sales—and any one of them potentially might be the thief.”
“But you’re a Regular so you could be the thief yourself.”
She snorted with disdain at the very idea before realizing he had a valid point. “Of course, you’re right! I’m not suggesting that every Regular is guilty… perhaps none or perhaps just one… but if so, which one? If not them, who would fit such coincidences?”
“I don’t believe much in coincidence,” the detective said.
“Then how should we proceed?” she asked.
He leaned forward at his desk. “These sales are on weekends, right?” She nodded. “Then why don’t I come to your house in my own car? I follow you on your rounds that morning. You point out these Regulars. I see the cars they return to and run those license plates. That tells me who they are and if they have a rap sheet. Could I copy your notebook pages for the last few months? I’ll compare the sale addresses against our crime reports for more possible matches.”
“Please do! If you follow the newspaper trail, you should know their ads for these kinds of sales aren’t necessarily under one heading in the classifieds.”
“What does that mean exactly?” the detective asked.
“Some are listed under ‘Estate Sales,’ some under ‘Moving Sales,’ or ‘Household Goods’ or ‘Garage Sales.’ The rob... that is,” she corrected, “burglary connection could surface under any of those headings. You might want to check the Washington Time s as well as the Pos t .” Then frowning, she remembered, “I almost forgot, this Saturday my daughters are holding a garage sale at my own house. But wait, they won’t need me for that, so we can still follow your plan.”
“Here, please write down your address and phone number and what time should I arrive on Saturday?”
She did. “I get an early start so please be there by 8 a.m. or I’ll already be under way!”
“Not a problem, Ma’am. And thank you for coming in with your information.”
“You’re welcome. Nice to meet you, Detective Iverson,” she smiled and shook his hand before leaving the office. “See you Saturday,” she called over her shoulder.
The detective knew police don’t routinely release to newspapers the addresses of victims of burglaries, but in this situation increased protection from the Neighborhood Watch’s high alert justified the temporary decision to do so. If Mrs. Shannon’s tip resulted from that choice, it was a good one.
After she left, he ran her name through his computer. With the only blemish a
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