Chapter 63
Sam approached the apartment complex. Like Stevens before him, he was equipped with a fake uniform and written work order, which got him past the security checkpoint. He entered the complex and made his way to the sixth floor.
The occupants left earlier that day for a weekend in Vegas. Trenchard had plenty of time. Quickly, he picked the lock and searched the ornately furnished apartment for a safe. He figured it had to be on an outside wall. The floors, ceilings, and interior walls all bordered on neighboring units and would not be thick enough. Sure enough, he found it between two large windows facing north.
Sam set up his equipment, hooked up the detonator, and blew open the safe. He was disappointed there was no cash. He took the jewels and electronics and made his usual quick exit.
***
As the police investigated the following morning, the landlord held his own meeting.
“That’s the third robbery in the last two years. If this keeps going word will get around.”
“We have security systems, safes, and a security guard. What else can we do?”
“We could increase the number of guards, security checkpoints, and patrols.”
“No one likes to live in a fortress. Do you think our tenants and their guests want to be stopped at every floor? The wealthy like to have their fun with a minimum of interference.”
“It could be done discreetly. Every floor could have a permanent concierge, which is less threatening than a security guard. Plus, we could advertise additional services.”
“Which makes us seem like a hotel. We might decrease the likelihood of external breaches but raise our risk of employee theft from the inside.”
“So we’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t?”
“Maybe we just get rid of the security station. They aren’t doing us any good.”
“No, we need to have some system of checking visitors. But let’s increase the training level of the guards. Pay them more and give them advanced techniques to detect fake work orders and the usual scams.”
“That’s a good idea. Let’s make the security check process longer for workmen. Not for the tenants or guests—we don’t want to irritate them. But anyone wearing a uniform has to wait while we check them out. Thieves are usually working on a tight timeline and won’t want to wait 10 or 15 minutes to pass the screening. Maybe that will scare most of them away. Implement these heightened screenings at all of our locations.”
***
Trenchard was at home examining the jewelry. Since this was his own job, he didn’t have Simon to make an assessment or pay him his cut. Sam knew some fences who would accept and alter the jewels to avoid detection on resale.
Out of habit, he had grabbed the USB drives from the safe. He now realized he wasn’t sure what to do with them. He had plenty of time on his hands, so curiosity made him pop the drives in his computer and review the contents. What he saw raised his eyebrows. He knew someone who might like to have this information.
***
“I told you to be patient. The organization is busy.”
Simon’s tone was not friendly. Trenchard chose his words carefully.
“I’m not here asking for anything. Instead, I come bearing gifts that could be useful to you and the organization.”
“Such as?”
Sam passed over the USB drive.
“A list of city officials and payment amounts.”
“How do you know they’re city officials?”
“I read the newspapers, ok? The controller is the third name on the list. It popped right out at me when I examined the drive.”
“How do you know we don’t already have this list?”
“Maybe you do. But it occurred to me that it’s a big world, and your organization might not be the only one paying off state and local officials. From that viewpoint, this could be information on your competitors.”
“That's an interesting analysis.”
“I am wondering what this information might be worth to you and your colleagues.”
“It sounds promising, but we will need to review it thoroughly. You did the right thing bringing it in. Sit tight; we will be in touch.”