Read Online Replaceable: An Alan Lamb Thriller by J.W. Bouchard - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: J.W. Bouchard
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caring.
“I’m sorry. Games?”
“Why keep us guessing? You were obviously aware of the discrepancies with both the prints and the DNA samples collected from the scenes.”
Darrow nodded. “We had collected our own specimens from each of the crime scenes. Our own experts performed comparisons on both. We were made aware of certain… inconsistencies , you might call them.”
“You would have saved us time and trouble if you had let us in on that fact to begin with.”
“Think of it as a kind of independent corroboration. A second opinion, if you will. The minute differences sent the red flags flying. Everyone was using the word ‘contamination.’ We needed independent verification, and your man Davis is hailed as one of the best in the business. Now that we know our guys didn’t mess things up, it’s clear that we handed things over to the right people. It’s simply a matter of following protocol. The GCB’s involvement in all cases where the mishandling or modification of DNA is known or suspected to have occurred is mandatory. That’s a quote, directly from the policy manual.”
“I’ve read the policy manual,” Alan said. “What else are you holding back?”
“At this point, you know everything we know.”
Alan didn’t buy it. His gut told him that Darrow was keeping secrets, but he also had the impression that any further information the man had regarding the DNA and fingerprint business wouldn’t be forthcoming.
“I don’t necessarily believe that. Maybe that’s a discussion for another time. So what happened here?”
“Teresa Baier,” Darrow said, glancing over his shoulder and then back to Alan. “She’s what’s known as a ‘banker’ in the casino trade. Bankers have access to the vault.”
“Vault?”
“Just like a bank. Millions. The bankers get money from the vault and provide it to the cages.”
“Anyone see it?” Alan surveyed the room, noted the presence of security cameras everywhere.
“You can’t spit without hitting a camera in this joint,” Darrow said. “It’s all on video. They’ve got eight security guards walking the floor at any given time, along with three guys whose sole function in life is to monitor the security cameras.”
“How’d she manage to slip out the door?”
“She had help. Sean Hammond. Security guard. Kind enough to hold the door open for her. Appears to be a two man operation this time.”
“That’s new.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Where’s Hammond now?”
“In custody. Him and the Baier woman. The footage shows Baier makng her way to the door with two duffle bags. On a normal day, an employee hefting around a duffle bag toward the exit would have been highly suspicious. Security would have stopped her. In this case, Hammond was manning the exit. She gets to the door, he opens it for her and steps out after her.”
“How’d you snag them?”
“By now you should already know the answer to that.”
“Bound and gagged?”
Darrow smiled again. Alan thought he smiled too much. “A few blocks from here. In one of the casino’s complimentary shuttle vans. Same story, too. No recollection of events other than being blitz attacked by unknown assailants.”
“That were spitting images of them,” Alan said.
“You’re on a roll. Maybe you should start playing the slots.”
“They’re all connected somehow. I just can’t figure out how yet.”
“We lifted prints off the duffle bags. DNA evidence in the van.”
“In the van?”
“Soda cans. There were several empties in the back of the van with them.”
“Just like the one they pulled from Sitka’s office.”
“And from Carville’s vehicle,” Darrow said.
“They’re messing with us. Somebody wants us to figure it out, and they’re leaving clues behind to make sure we do. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“It’s a head scratcher to be sure.”
“You’ll send the samples over to us I take it?”
“They’re on the way to your lab as we
“I’m sorry. Games?”
“Why keep us guessing? You were obviously aware of the discrepancies with both the prints and the DNA samples collected from the scenes.”
Darrow nodded. “We had collected our own specimens from each of the crime scenes. Our own experts performed comparisons on both. We were made aware of certain… inconsistencies , you might call them.”
“You would have saved us time and trouble if you had let us in on that fact to begin with.”
“Think of it as a kind of independent corroboration. A second opinion, if you will. The minute differences sent the red flags flying. Everyone was using the word ‘contamination.’ We needed independent verification, and your man Davis is hailed as one of the best in the business. Now that we know our guys didn’t mess things up, it’s clear that we handed things over to the right people. It’s simply a matter of following protocol. The GCB’s involvement in all cases where the mishandling or modification of DNA is known or suspected to have occurred is mandatory. That’s a quote, directly from the policy manual.”
“I’ve read the policy manual,” Alan said. “What else are you holding back?”
“At this point, you know everything we know.”
Alan didn’t buy it. His gut told him that Darrow was keeping secrets, but he also had the impression that any further information the man had regarding the DNA and fingerprint business wouldn’t be forthcoming.
“I don’t necessarily believe that. Maybe that’s a discussion for another time. So what happened here?”
“Teresa Baier,” Darrow said, glancing over his shoulder and then back to Alan. “She’s what’s known as a ‘banker’ in the casino trade. Bankers have access to the vault.”
“Vault?”
“Just like a bank. Millions. The bankers get money from the vault and provide it to the cages.”
“Anyone see it?” Alan surveyed the room, noted the presence of security cameras everywhere.
“You can’t spit without hitting a camera in this joint,” Darrow said. “It’s all on video. They’ve got eight security guards walking the floor at any given time, along with three guys whose sole function in life is to monitor the security cameras.”
“How’d she manage to slip out the door?”
“She had help. Sean Hammond. Security guard. Kind enough to hold the door open for her. Appears to be a two man operation this time.”
“That’s new.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Where’s Hammond now?”
“In custody. Him and the Baier woman. The footage shows Baier makng her way to the door with two duffle bags. On a normal day, an employee hefting around a duffle bag toward the exit would have been highly suspicious. Security would have stopped her. In this case, Hammond was manning the exit. She gets to the door, he opens it for her and steps out after her.”
“How’d you snag them?”
“By now you should already know the answer to that.”
“Bound and gagged?”
Darrow smiled again. Alan thought he smiled too much. “A few blocks from here. In one of the casino’s complimentary shuttle vans. Same story, too. No recollection of events other than being blitz attacked by unknown assailants.”
“That were spitting images of them,” Alan said.
“You’re on a roll. Maybe you should start playing the slots.”
“They’re all connected somehow. I just can’t figure out how yet.”
“We lifted prints off the duffle bags. DNA evidence in the van.”
“In the van?”
“Soda cans. There were several empties in the back of the van with them.”
“Just like the one they pulled from Sitka’s office.”
“And from Carville’s vehicle,” Darrow said.
“They’re messing with us. Somebody wants us to figure it out, and they’re leaving clues behind to make sure we do. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“It’s a head scratcher to be sure.”
“You’ll send the samples over to us I take it?”
“They’re on the way to your lab as we
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