Beguiled, p.2
Beguiled, page 2
Chapter 2
The ringing phone on the side table stirred Jack from what had been a good night’s sleep. He groaned his displeasure, knowing full well that any call in the middle of the night meant he was about to be ripped out of a perfectly comfortable bed to address something he didn’t want to deal with.
He rolled over, squinted at the green digital readout on the clock—1:47 a.m.— and reached for his phone. The dry croak of his hello revealed that he’d been sound asleep, most likely with his mouth open.
Bob Kennedy, one of the two night shift dispatch and 911 operators, was calling. His voice sounded urgent as he apologized for the late-night interruption. “Jack, I’m so sorry for the time. I’m sure you were sound—”
“Bob, it’s in my job description to be dragged out of bed whenever my phone rings late at night. Just tell me what’s going on.”
“A 911 call came in ten minutes ago from Philip Bradley, as in the Bradleys from Cedar Crest Manor. You know who I’m talking about, right?”
“Yeah, the Bradleys who are richer than God.”
“Yep, them. They just got home from a theater production and late-night cocktails with friends in Milwaukee.”
“Uh-huh. And?”
“And the main gate was open, the security system disabled, and the most expensive art they have is missing. They’ve been robbed big-time, and it sounds like by pros.”
“Shit. Okay, who was dispatched to the mansion?”
“Schmitz and Drury are en route, and Horbeck is leaving now.”
“Good enough. Text me the address. I’m on my way.” Jack hung up and reluctantly climbed out of bed as the address came in to his text messages. From his condo, it would be a twenty-minute drive. He raked his hair as he stumbled to the bathroom—a three-minute wake-up shower would have to do.
With black coffee in a travel mug and his notepad in his pocket, Jack backed out of his garage at two fifteen and headed west.
The exclusive homes, tucked away and unseen from the road, were all on large, sprawling properties that hugged the shoreline of Big Cedar Lake. Homes like that were passed down through generations, and only old money could afford such opulence. Jack couldn’t imagine how anyone could break into the Bradley estate, and he shook his head in confusion as he drove.
You’d think with the valuables in that home, it would be as secure as Fort Knox, but I guess it wasn’t. I’m sure when word gets out about the robbery, the neighbors will be upgrading their own security systems in no time.
Jack drove through the open iron gates and continued on until he reached the large circular parking area in front of the mansion. He killed the engine and stepped out of his car, then he walked over to the person panning the driveway with a flashlight. He called out to the man behind the light. “Horbeck?”
“Hey, Boss. Yeah, it’s me.”
“How can you see anything? It’s as dark as it can get out here.”
“Sorry, I was just killing time until you arrived. Schmitz and Drury already took a generic statement from the couple.”
“Well, they’re about to give me a detailed one with a full description and the value of the items taken. I need to know all about their security system too.”
Horbeck smirked. “Or should we say, lack of one.”
Jack turned and took in the layout in front of him. Two squad cars and Horbeck’s cruiser were parked in the driveway, and off to the right under the portico sat a silver Mercedes sedan. Jack tipped his head toward the car. “Is that the vehicle the couple drove tonight?”
“They said it was. Apparently, there’s a six-car garage around back.”
“Must be nice.” Jack stared at the ornate front doors as he walked toward them. “Looks like three-inch solid oak.”
“Yeah, but the robbers made entry through the side door next to the Benz.”
“Interesting and smart. Let’s take a look.” Jack jingled his change as they walked to the portico. “Damn quiet out here this time of night.”
“Yep, and there’s a good quarter mile between homes. Doubt if the neighbors could have heard anything, anyway. Those mansion walls are at least a foot thick. They should have had guard dogs.”
Jack chuckled. “Or a better security system.”
They met up with Deputy Schmitz at the door. He tipped his head at Jack. “Boss.”
“Schmitz. I’d like to meet Mr. and Mrs. Bradley.”
“Sure thing. Right this way.”
Jack and Horbeck followed Phil to the kitchen, where the scent of brewing coffee filled the air. Jack muttered his appreciation for the gesture since a cup of coffee was exactly what he needed at that moment. Deputy Steve Drury sat at the table with the couple, and an opened strong box lay on the floor, next to Kent Bradley’s right foot. Photographs of the stolen artwork were scattered across the table along with several insurance policies and certificates of authenticity. Drury introduced Jack as his boss, Lieutenant Jack Steele. Kent stood, shook Jack’s hand, and thanked him for coming to their home at the late hour.
“I just can’t wrap my head around this theft, Lieutenant. I mean, we have—or had—state-of-the-art security equipment throughout our property. My wife and I are literally in disbelief that something of this magnitude could happen.” He held his face in his hands. “That art was worth millions.”
Jack pointed at a chair. “May I?”
“Forgive me, Lieutenant. My manners have gone out the window tonight,” Adeline Bradley said.
“I understand your frustration, and I’d really appreciate a cup of that coffee you have brewing.”
She rose from her chair and crossed the kitchen. “Of course. I’ll put the carafe on the table.”
With coffee in front of everyone and Drury and Schmitz outside scouring the grounds near the light sources, Jack began his own round of questions. “How long ago was the security equipment installed, and has it been maintained and updated regularly by the same company?”
Adeline wrung her hands. “The alarm company schedules the maintenance appointments. My husband is often away on business, and I don’t know anything about the system.”
“Is it always the same employee who comes in?”
She clenched her head. “I wouldn’t have a clue. It isn’t like I pay attention to that sort of thing.”
“Calm down, dear,” Kent said. “Everything was insured.”
“But we don’t have the paintings anymore.”
Jack pulled out his notepad. “Do you have staff who comes in regularly?”
“We have a housekeeper who comes in twice a week and a cook who makes our dinner meals. It’s only the two of us, so we need minimal help.”
“Understood.” Jack wrote that down then glanced at Mrs. Bradley. “I need names and the times they come and go. Also, do either of them have a key to the home?”
Adeline nodded. “They both do. Is there a reason you’d suspect—”
Jack interrupted. “It’s standard procedure, ma’am. We have to rule out everyone, including yourselves.”
Adeline’s face soured. “Us? Why on earth would we pretend to steal our own art?”
“Insurance claims. It happens all the time.”
She huffed in obvious annoyance. “Well, I assure you—”
“Like I said, Mrs. Bradley, it’s standard procedure. Now, back to your staff. Did you vet them before they were hired, and how long have they been employed here?”
She swatted the air. “Of course we did, and they came highly recommended!”
“Actually, it was Leon who conducted the background checks, dear.”
Jack turned to the husband. “Leon?”
“Yes, our attorney.”
Jack picked up his pen. “Full name, phone number, and address, please.”
Kent let out a loud sigh. “Leon Mathers, and you can look up the rest yourself.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the couple. “We’re going to do the best we can to recover your art and bring these thieves to justice, but—”
“Now what?” Adeline blurted out.
“But you aren’t going to be handled with kid gloves just because you’re a one percenter. I don’t deal well with attitudes. Now if you want our help, we’re going to need your full cooperation.” He looked into Kent Bradley’s eyes. “So go ahead and get your attorney’s information for me. I’m sure you have him in your contact list.”
Kent pushed back from the table and retrieved his cell phone from the counter. It took only a second for him to scroll through his contacts and rattle off the number and address.
Jack wrote the information down and thanked him. “Now, can you show me from these photographs what pieces were taken? And before I leave, I’ll need that information about your staff, a copy of the insurance policy, the artwork certificates, and the contact information for the security company.”
“Of course, Lieutenant, and I apologize for my outburst. We’re a bit rattled here.” Kent slid a handful of pictures across the table. “We haven’t given the house a thorough going-over yet, so there may be more missing items, but these are the eight pieces we’re aware of. Six are paintings, one is a Rembrandt etching, and the last piece is a Rodin marble statue.”
Jack looked from one photograph to the next. “Can I get a rough estimate of the value we’re talking about on those items?”
“Twenty to forty million, give or take, based on the market demand for the type of art we own.”
Jack raised a questioning brow. “And you were comfortable with art that valuable in your home?”
Adeline was beside herself. “What would you suggest, Lieutenant? We have art because we love and appreciate it. We want to enjoy it, otherwise why have it at all?”
“I understand, but personally, I’d be afraid to leave home.”
Kent spoke up. “Like I said before, everything is insured, and I thought our security system was sufficient.”
Jack sighed. “How many people were aware of the value of your art collection?”
Adeline gave Kent a remorseful glance. “The newspaper just had an article in their arts section mentioning that the pieces we had on loan to the museum were returned to us. If someone was curious enough, they could figure out the value of the other art we have in our home based on those pieces alone.”
Jack jotted that in his notepad. “So anyone and everyone is what you’re saying?”
“Unfortunately, I’m afraid I am.”
Chapter 3
After sharing two pots of coffee and getting as much information as he needed, Jack headed to the side door with plenty of copied documents in hand. He’d go over the facts as he knew them with his detectives, and they’d return to Cedar Crest Manor later that morning. His entire team would work the case, and once the press got wind of the robbery, it would be all over the local, state, and national news. Jack pulled a card from his wallet, gave it to Kent Bradley, and shook the distraught man’s hand. He’d return later with Forensics so they could begin their task of fingerprinting the home’s interior and checking the method of entry while Jack and his detectives searched the extensive grounds of the estate.
“Meanwhile, call your insurance agent and then get somebody from the security company out here to reinstall the system with something that alerts the police when any kind of glitch occurs.”
Kent interrupted Jack’s suggestion. “But that’s what we had. The burglar obviously disabled it before any alert could be sent out.”
Jack frowned, concerned. “That has to be quite the burglar and one who’s well informed on how security systems work. I’ll need a list of every service person who has been at your home over the last few months.”
Kent pressed his temples. “But I’m gone a lot.”
“Then get together with your wife and check the calendar, emails, text confirmations, that sort of thing. Somebody surveilled your home far in advance of the robbery, I guarantee you that. And when you consult with the security company, ask about the systems where you can put their app on your cell phone too. You’ll have peace of mind when you aren’t home, and if anything triggers the alarm, you’ll know about it immediately.” Jack tipped his head at Horbeck. “Let’s go. We’ve got a lot of work to do before the rest of the team gets in.”
Jack and Horbeck reached the station at five o’clock. The late-spring sun had just cleared the horizon, and the lack of cloud cover told Jack it might turn into a comfortable day with blue skies. He glanced upward as he and Horbeck crossed the lot. “Good thing rain isn’t in the forecast. It could wash away any evidence that may be outside.”
Horbeck shook his head. A look of astonishment covered his face.
“Something on your mind?” Jack asked as he took the six steps up to the main entrance.
“Yeah. How the hell does it feel to be that rich and have the ability to spend millions of dollars on artwork?”
Jack smirked. “Obviously, you’re asking the wrong guy. I don’t even earn a six-figure salary. I’m sure the Bradleys make that much in interest on their bank accounts alone.”
“Jeez, why wasn’t I born with a silver spoon in my mouth?”
“Because your great-granddad didn’t have the insight to invest in businesses and real estate a hundred years ago. It is what it is, Brian, and some of us schmucks have to work for a living, including me.” Jack held the door open as they passed through. Behind the dispatch counter, he pressed the buttons to release the security door to the bull pen. Inside, Lee sat at his desk and appeared to be catching up with paperwork.
“A quiet night?”
Lee checked the time. “Yep, and only three hours of my shift left. What could go wrong?”
Jack cringed. “Did you really have to ask that?”
Jamison laughed as he crossed the room with his cup in hand and dumped the cold coffee into the sink. “You’re beginning to sound like Kate and Amber.” He tipped his head at the coffee machine. “You guys want me to make a fresh pot?”
“Yeah, thanks.” Jack took a seat in Kate’s empty chair and let out a tired sigh. “This is going to be quite the case and one that’ll hit all the news stations far and wide. I may have to get Jade’s take on it to see if it’s something I need to contact the FBI about.”
Lee filled the carafe with water and put grounds in the filter. He pressed the on button then returned to his desk. “Yeah, fill me in.”
“Long story short is that the robbery was definitely done by pros, and they made off with what Kent Bradley thinks could be twenty million dollars of artwork.”
Lee’s jaw dropped as he stared at Jack. “No shit?”
“No shit. Could be higher depending on the current art market. Mr. Bradley will have to get a new appraisal, anyway, for the insurance claim. My opinion”—Jack rubbed his forehead—“is that it’ll take a good long time before they see a penny of insurance money from that crime.”
Chapter 4
Jordan sat at the end of the long table in what had once served as the dining room. Those days were gone, and now the room was their planning and staging area. Surrounded by the men who’d pulled off the best heist in Washburn County’s history, Jordan spoke up.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with the results from last night’s take. You completed the job, didn’t trigger any alarms, and made off with everything on my list in under an hour’s time. That proves to me without a shadow of a doubt that well-planned robberies with a good crew can be very successful. They may take weeks or even months to execute, but the reward is more than worth it.” Jordan’s eyes narrowed at Pete. “And we certainly don’t want to relive the same situation we encountered several months ago in Sheboygan, do we, Pete?”
Pete felt his anger build when Jordan mentioned the situation in front of the newest team member. He spewed his response. “Of course not, but it wasn’t like I had a choice. It was either the guard or me, so I called the shots, literally, and it saved your ass and ours from a life sentence in prison, didn’t it?”
Jordan swatted the air and took a quick glance at Don, the newest man to come on board. “Okay, okay, we don’t have to rehash the details. We have a new helper who doesn’t need to hear about our past experiences.”
Pete mumbled something about Jordan being the one who’d brought it up.
Don, the newest recruit, had been with the team for only one robbery and was still learning the ropes, but his questions about how stolen masterpieces were fenced—and to whom—had already raised red flags with Jordan. The man was too nosy.
Jordan stared into Don’s eyes. “Here’s the deal, Don. I give the orders, and you carry them out. Let’s just say I have plenty of connections, and that’s all you need to know. Of course, you’ll be paid handsomely, just like the others, but as far as specifics, that’s my business and mine alone.” Jordan opened the folder that lay conspicuously on the table and passed to each man a copy of the next home’s blueprints, the schematics for the security system, and the location of the gold coins and ingots they would steal. “Now, to move on to the most current business, this is the floor plan of the next estate we’re going to rob, and we have to strike while the iron is hot. At the moment, law enforcement’s focus and energy is on the Bradley heist. Pulling off another job a day later doesn’t give the neighbors time to upgrade their systems. Nobody will expect it or see it coming. Take today to go over the paperwork in front of you.” Jordan turned to Pete. “It’s time for you to pay a visit to the Rolmer residence, and according to Vic, they need a six-month checkup on their security system. I’ve already arranged everything with Vic, and he contacted the staff. According to the caretaker, the family left this morning for a vacation in Europe. They’ll be there for a month, so that’s fewer people to deal with. It’s the perfect time to pull off the next heist. Your appointment is at three o’clock this afternoon. Your badge, logo shirt, and ball cap are in the back room, and don’t forget to put the magnetic decal on the van before you go.” Jordan stood as if about to walk out. “The caretaker leaves the Rolmer property every night at nine o’clock on the dot. You’ll reroute the system this afternoon when you’re there and sync it to your cell phone. That’ll make disabling everything later quick and easy.” Jordan checked the wall clock. “Okay, I have people to contact, so I’m going to make myself scarce. Thanks again for another job well-done. We’ll meet back here at five p.m. and go over the details for tonight’s home invasion. As of now, the plan is to move in at eleven o’clock.”
