Ghost of a Chance

“I don’t care how big Barton’s missing motor is,” Callahan said. “It’s not going to drill anything without power.”

Alex turned to Danny.

“Can I borrow your notebook?” he asked. “I think I can narrow down the search for your boss.”

Callahan ground his teeth loud enough for Alex to hear as Danny passed over the notebook. Alex flipped to the page where Danny had catalogued all the stolen items that were missing from the recovered trucks.

“See here, Lieutenant,” he said, putting the notebook down on Callahan’s desk. “Three one-hundred-foot spools of heavy copper wire were stolen.”

“So?”

“So,” Danny said, picking up on Alex’s train of thought. “All the robbers have to do is patch the wire into the building’s etherium receiver and run it to the motor.”

Callahan looked like he wanted to object but couldn’t find a flaw in that argument.

“And,” Alex jumped in, eager to maintain what little momentum he’d garnered. “The only buildings you need to search are ones adjacent to banks with underground vaults.”

Callahan jumped up out of his chair and got right in Alex’s face.

“It doesn’t matter how many banks have underground vaults,” he growled. “What matters is that if I manage to convince the Captain that there’s something to this and it turns out to be a bust, I’m going to be jackass of the century around here. And that’s if they let me stay on as janitor or something.”

“What happens if it’s not a bust but you don’t look?” Alex pointed out, locking eyes with Callahan. “These guys have spent too much time planning and digging to waste that effort on some little, no-name bank. They’re going to hit the biggest, fattest target they can find, and what happens when they do?” Alex picked up a newspaper from the Lieutenant’s desk with an article about the ghost killer. The headline declared that the city was in panic.

“You think people are panicking now,” he said. “Wait until there’s a run on a major bank because all their money’s gone.”

“He’s right, Lieutenant,” Danny said. “One run is likely to cause others. They’ll be rioting in the streets before it’s done.”

Callahan swore and flopped down in his chair. Alex could tell that the Lieutenant was facing the reality that he really didn’t have any choice. Alex’s evidence was circumstantial, but it fit, and Callahan couldn’t afford to let a major bank get cleaned out. Alex resisted the urge to smile out of sheer relief.

“You told me you became a cop to protect people,” Alex reminded him. “Now’s your chance.”

Callahan chuckled and shook his head.

“If this blows back on me, Lockerby, then you’re done,” he said in a cold, even voice. “You’d better leave the state, because if I catch you, I’ll make sure you get twenty years breaking rocks, you got me?”

Alex nodded.

“That’s fair,” he said. “One more thing, though. When you have your boys search for our tunnel diggers, tell them that one of them is a hostage. A guy named Leroy Cunningham.”

“Hostage?”

“Yeah, they grabbed him because he used to work in a mine and they think he knows how to shore up a tunnel.”

“Does he?” Callahan asked.

Alex shrugged.

“Maybe,” he said. “In any case, tell your men it’s probably best if they stay out of any tunnels they might find.”

“That’s just great,” Callahan sighed. He stood up and put on his suit coat.

“You’re with me, Pak,” he said to Danny. “You,” he said, waving his finger in Alex’s face. “Get lost, and don’t come back till this is over, got me?”

“Loud and clear, Lieutenant.”

20 The Company

“Back again, Mr. Lockerby?” Edmond said from behind the reception desk of the Hall of Records. He looked better today; the dark circles under his eyes seemed faded and his hands weren’t shaking. He’d even slicked back his white hair. He wore a broad smile that showed off a dimple in his left cheek and straight, if yellow, teeth.

“They’ve got you working up here today?” Alex asked.

“No,” Edmond said with a laugh. “I’m just filling in for our receptionist while she’s at lunch. We all have to chip in around here.”

His smile was easy and friendly. Alex was surprised the man remembered him. Most government desk jockeys couldn’t be bothered to remember anyone. It was refreshing.

“I can take you downstairs if you need some more permit records,” Edmond continued. “It’s not very busy during the lunch hour.”

“That’s okay,” Alex said, leaning on the counter. “I’m looking for business records today.”

Edmond looked thoughtful for a moment, then shook his head.

“You need to have record or application numbers if you want to look up business records,” he said. “We don’t store permit records by business name.”

“I’m not looking for permit records,” Alex explained. “I need the paperwork a company has to file in order to do business in the state.”

Edmond’s brows furrowed for a moment. Alex had hoped someone in the office would be able to tell him exactly what he was looking for. He knew companies had to file paperwork so they could open a bank account and pay taxes, but he’d never had to do it himself.

“Is there someone here who can help with that?” he asked.