Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Twenty-Nine
I got to work just in time with no time to spare. I went to count in my drawer and start to work. The thoughts of the forensics team working on the computer were still looming in the back of my mind. The day went off without a hitch. We were busy and I had little time to think about anything but checking out customers. It stayed busy all day, most likely due to Memorial Day coming and a long weekend prompting people to buy things to cook out.

The shift was almost over when my manager came by to ask if I could stay an hour extra. The guy scheduled for the next shift called in sick and the manager needed time to find someone else to fill in. It wasn’t a big deal and it wasn’t the first time. This guy called in all the time but help was hard to find and we just needed some time to call in another guy.

When my shift was finally over I declared out of my drawer and walked slowly out the door. I hadn’t checked my phone all day since we aren’t allowed phones except to use the calculator when we are declaring out. The missed call from the police station stood out and I immediately called back.

Detective Hagan answered when I called. It was his private number, the one he gave me when we first started working on John McKinley’s case. I was waiting for him to speak and he finally broke the silence.

Detective Hagan spoke, “We found out what Timothy was up to when we got into the second account. Thanks to the information you gave to us. Timothy was shipping illegal items out for the gang, in exchange for them killing his wife.”

I asked, “What kind of things was he shipping?”

Detective Hagan said, “All kinds of things; drugs, weapons, smuggled gold and diamonds. The only thing he didn’t ship was humans. He camouflaged everything inside some of the actual products sold by the company. He was stealing from the company with every shipment and knew it would eventually show up. We think he killed John McKinley to cover up his deal and maybe to get out from under his agreement.”

I asked, “Is there enough evidence there for a conviction?”

Hagan replied, “There must be, when I showed him what we had, he confessed. We won’t even have a trial. I don’t think he wanted his little girl to know the details. With a trial all of the details would come out, this way it will only show he confessed.”

When I hung up I couldn’t wait to call Angela. She answered and then I gave her the news.

I said, “Go get the envelope out and read the note I put in there. I was right, I said he made a deal to ship out things for the gang in exchange for them killing his wife.”

Angela opened the envelope. I could hear her tearing the paper. I could hear her unfold the note and then she spoke.

Angela said, “You were right.”