It’s almost like he could see into the future.
SIX
SUPERINTENDENT JANICETOLE, COMMANDER: Hotel
17 August
“This report concerns the investigation of Supplemental Case number 433 on 17 August at the Foxglove and Nightshade Inn located in St.Gwynn.”Superintendent Tole glanced up in irritation when Constable Harris burst into the small pantry, glancing around wildly for her.
“There you are, ma’am.We have the cameras that you ordered, but unfortunately, their batteries are all dead.”
Superintendent Tole glared at the constable, not only for interrupting her when she was recording a report to be typed up later by one of what she thought of as the “office flunkies,” but mostly because she had told the team three days ago to make sure sufficient equipment was made available.“And now here we are with dead cameras,” she continued her train of thought out loud.
“Yes?”the constable said, clearly unsure of the appropriate response.
Superintendent Tole fought the urge to demand the constable get up to speed, and instead told him, “Take them back to the station and get them charged.Yes, now.Right now.Sooner than now.”
The constable’s face scrunched up in a manner that reminded Superintendent Tole of a prune.“How can I do something sooner than now?”
“Just go!Get them charged!”she said louder than she intended, but managed to get him out the door so she could continue dictating her report.“Virtual and in-person surveillance and observation was conducted by three members of the Cornwall CID, consisting of Superintendent J.Tole, Inspector D.Walnes, and, regrettably, Constable J.J.Harris.”
She was silent for a moment, then added, “Delete the word ‘regrettably.’Continuing.On the date of 17 August, three members of the Spirited Lives group were witnessed arriving at 14:55.They were greeted by the hotel co-owner, Mr.Gerard Abbot, and shown upstairs to the fourth floor, which is made up of a series of four consecutive attic storage rooms.Two rooms were semifurnished in what co-owner Mr.Mace Abbot referred to as ‘emergency hidey-holes to be used in case of a zombie apocalypse.’It is unclear whether or not Mr.Abbot believes society is threatened by fictional beings.”
“Ma’am?”Inspector Walnes popped his head into the pantry, holding out his phone to show the superintendent.“I’m afraid we didn’t get the search warrant, and since the hotel owners refuse to put up the cameras without it ...”
Superintendent Tole tightened her lips against the scream she wanted to release.Why was it that the (in her opinion, ridiculously inept) hotel thieves somehow managed to thwart her every attempt to catch them in the act?
“Ma’am?Shall I tell Constable Harris to leave the cameras and return to duty?”the inspector asked, his eyes guarded.
She turned away, her fingers tight around the phone into which she was recording.It took her a minute to be able to speak without roaring at the injustices of not being able to record the comings and goings at the hotel.“Yes.Just ...keep him out of my way.”
“As you like,” the inspector said before backing out of the pantry and quietly closing the door.
“Per instructions, the CID team has separated, with Superintendent Tole monitoring the basement kitchen and staff areas (Zone 2: Domestic Spaces), Inspector Walnes surveilling activity outside the hotel (Zone 1: Exterior), and Constable Harris monitoring comings and goings of all hotel guests and visitors (Zone 3: Guest and Public Rooms).Cameras would have eliminated the need for so many personnel to be deployed around the hotel on surveillance detail, but given the lack of support in that area, the team will conduct their investigation accordingly.”
She bit off the urge to add, “And a fat lot of good it’ll do when even if we do catch them red-handed, they’ll be out within twenty-four hours.”
