Page 121 of Maddy's Justice

“No. It’s a United Flight. I’ll check for you,” Labelle said.

A minute later he said, “Flight 3573, United.”

“Got it.”

“I’ll text him and let him know to call you.”

Labelle stuck his head in Roger’s office and signaled for him to come out. The two men went into the hallway and began to walk away from the offices.

“They’re gone,” Roger said.

“What? Who’s gone?”

“Not who, Jim, what. The bugs, the cameras. They’re gone. When I had them check for the bugs, the guys told me where they were. Yesterday afternoon, I dropped my pen on the floor. When I bent down to get it, I took a peek under my credenza. I should’ve seen it, the camera. I checked your office. Same thing. So, I had our guys come last night and do another search. They’re gone.”

They stopped walking and James said, “You think they know we found them?”

“Probably. And we found the room down on forty they used to plant the bugs and wire us.”

“How do you know?”

“We went down there, picked the lock and found the evidence. It must be the place. Small, empty and holes for the wires they had to run.”

“What worries me is, how did they find out we knew?” James asked.

“Don’t know. I wondered that myself. Don’t know what to do about it either,” Roger replied.

“Did you have them sweep for bugs again?”

“Yes, they didn’t find anything.”

“You’re sure?”

“I had them do it twice. You want me to get them back and do it again?”

Labelle thought about the question for a moment before saying, “Yes, yeah, let’s get it done every day, every morning for at least a week. We need to be sure. Have them sweep our cars and homes, too.

“I’ll get it done today.”

Labelle and Quentin Forrest appeared to be two men strolling along the sidewalk. To look at them they would seem to be two amiable people out for a stroll on a warm summer day. In fact, their conversation was quite intense.

“I already heard from the man,” Labelle said interrupting Quentin’s monologue chastising him for his carelessness. “It’s taken care of and I don’t need you to tell me about it. I just got back from there. We’ll find them. What the hell does he want?”

“I’m just following orders, Mr. Labelle. The man up North told me to make sure you understood, very clearly, the situation you’re in.”

“Is that a threat?” Labelle almost arrogantly asked, “I’m a pretty big fish in this pond myself.”

“Sir, I’m simply conveying the message,” Quentin answered.

The two men stopped walking and Labelle looked at Quentin and swallowed hard. He got the message. Especially from the impassive expression on Quentin’s face. Yes, that’s a threat.

“I told you,” Labelle said as they continued to walk, “I got it under control. I’m having everything swept every day. I called up North and told them that.”

“He also wanted me to tell you the lawyers in Minneapolis have also gotten a little careless. The woman, Melanie Stewart, was told about the room on the 38th floor by the lawyer, Kadella.”

“Are you serious? She knows?”

“No. She knows nothing, for sure, but she is snooping around. She was filmed with Kadella, pounding on the door.”

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