Personal Justice Read Online Free PDF Page B

sure the goods with the trackers inside are too tempting to resist.”
    “I’m sure it can be arranged.” Chris picked up the phone and paged the manager. In a few minutes, a fifty-something man entered the office. Jake explained the plan and was assured of full backing.
    “He’s under some heat from the owners as well,” Chris said when the manager left. “I fully expected he’d be all for it.” He stood. “I’m ready to get this thing underway as soon as you are.”
    “Let’s do it,” Jake said.
    “I want to take a look around,” Annie said, as she stood. Jake and Chris followed her to the electronics department. A stack of big-screen televisions was on sale. “Those are perfect,” she said. “Put them by the entrance door, not the exit. I want them to be seen when our mark comes in.”
    “I’ll get the tracker,” Jake said, turning to go. “It’s in the car.”
    Chris pushed his cap back far enough to scratch his head. “What happens if we make this so tempting we end up turning an innocent shopper into a booster?”
    Annie frowned at Chris. “So-called innocent shoppers don’t become shoplifters unless it’s in them to start with.”
    “Yeah, you’re probably right, but what if a casual shoplifter takes it? One who’s not associated with the organized ring?”
    “That’s a chance we’ll have to take. If it happens, we’ll bust the shoplifter, get the TV and tracker back, and try again.”
    “Kill two birds with one stone.”
    “Let’s hope we’ll kill more than two.”
    Jake sauntered back in and handed a small metal box to Chris. “Here’s the tracker. All set up and ready to go. Put this in the case with the TV and we’re good. We can track its location on my cell phone at any time.” Jake pulled out his phone and revealed a web-based map. A red dot on the map indicated the tracker’s current location.
    “Excellent,” Chris said. “I’ll get a stock boy to set it up immediately.”
    Within ten minutes, an inventory control clerk wheeled a dolly of cartons to the designated spot. Jake carefully opened one, inserted the tracker deep inside the packaging where it wouldn’t be seen if opened, then seamlessly taped it closed.
    Just inside the front door, below a display model, the stack of televisions was set up, the box with the tracker on top.
    “Perfect,” Jake said. “It’s motion activated, so we’ll know exactly when the box is moved. Now we wait.” He turned to Chris. “Make sure none of the security personnel hang around the front door. We don’t want to scare anyone off.”
    “I’ll get on it right away,” Chris said, as he turned to go. “Ring me as soon as something happens.”
    “Oh, one more thing,” Annie said.
    Chris turned back.
    “Make sure nobody buys the top one. We don’t want the police to break down the door of one of your customers.”
    Chris laughed. “Yeah, that wouldn’t be good for business.” He waved a hand and was gone.
    Jake and Annie went to the Firebird and Jake pulled the vehicle into a spot closer to the front of the building. They had a direct view of the merchandise. He opened the trunk, retrieved two pairs of binoculars from a cardboard box, got back in the car, and handed one pair to Annie.
    Annie adjusted the focus, training her binoculars on the front window. She could see perfectly.
    All they needed to do now was wait.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 8
     
     
     
    Tuesday, 9:54 a.m.
     
    HANK PAID A VISIT to Melinda Windsor before returning to the precinct. Mrs. Windsor confirmed her sister, Maria Shaft, had been babysitting for her the previous evening, from 7:00 until 11:00 pm. Mrs. Windsor and her husband had gone out for the evening for dinner and a movie. They got home not long before 11:00 pm, and Mrs. Shaft drove herself home at that time. That fit with the story Maria Shaft had given him.
    At the time of the shooting of Werner Shaft, Maria Shaft was indeed babysitting.
    The Windsors weren’t suspects, but for