Page 79 of Operation: Silent Angel
“Missing?” Mac repeated. “Are you talking about those four men who never made it home after a fishing trip? Was that here?”
“Yeah, sure was, two weeks ago. This whole place was crawl’in with the police, look’in for ‘em,”
“Wow, I didn’t realize it was here,” Mac said. “What do you think happened to them?”
“Dunno, they were nice enough fellers,” Bobby said. “Came and joined us here nearly every night. They were plan'n a trip back next year.”
“So do ya think they just ran off? Maybe they were into something illegal back home and they just ran off?” Robinson posed.
“No, man, they were stand-up dudes,” Bobby said.
One of the other men changed the subject, and they never got back to the four missing men. Neither Mac nor Robinson saw an opening to redirect the conversation. As they finished their beers, they received a text from Cooper telling them to get back to the cabin ASAP.
“Wonder what happened?” Robinson whispered to Mac after they’d both checked their text messages.
They said goodbye to their new friends and raced back across the lake. They found the four other members of the team standing on the dock. Based on their body language, Mac knew something had happened.
“What’s up?” Mac asked after Robinson cut the engine.
“Found a camera and listening device in the cabin,” Flores said.
“What the fuck?” both Robinson and Mac said, almost simultaneously.
“I have a message into Shepherd,” Cooper said. “I want to rip the devices out and drop them right on Williamson’s counter.”
“Damn good thing we found them before we gained access to cabin seven, if they’re in there as well,” Flores added.
“No reason to think they’re not,” Winston said.
Cooper’s phone rang. “It’s Shepherd,” Cooper said before answering. “Did you get any info?” He paused while he listened.
“There was no disclosure of cameras or listening devices in the cabins to the local or state LEOs,” Shepherd said. “This changes things. There could be something on the footage captured during their stay that would help to figure out their disappearance. You are authorized to confront Williamson. Have Flores take the lead with his FBI creds.”
“Thank you, Shep,” Cooper said.
“Touch bases back with me after you confront him to discuss next moves.”
“Will do,” Cooper said. After the call disconnected, he advised the team that Shepherd had given them the go-ahead.
They returned to the cabin, and Cooper did in fact pull the camera and listening device from where they were mounted. The six men piled into their two pickup trucks and drove back to the office/bait shop/general store. When they entered, no customers were within. Only Williamson.
Kenny Gallup locked the front door and turned the sign to‘Closed’as Flores and Cooper walked straight to the counter, the others following. Cooper dropped the camera and mic onto the counter as Flores held up his FBI credentials.
“It is illegal to have recording equipment in hotel rooms or similar spaces without signage posted that discloses the camera's existence,” Flores said.
“I, I don’t watch it unless something is stolen or broken in the cabins,” Williamson said.
“It’s still illegal,” Flores said.
“What about cabin seven and the fact you didn’t disclose the surveillance equipment after the four guests disappeared two weeks ago and the police asked you about them? We know you didn’t share the existence of the camera footage with them. Didyou even go back and watch it to see if it offered any clues?” Cooper demanded.
“No, of course I didn’t tell the police. I would have gotten in trouble for having the camera equipment installed.”
“Did you watch it? Do you still have it?” Flores asked.
“No, no, I didn’t watch it. I didn’t want to know, didn’t want to get involved.”
Cooper slammed his fist against the counter. “Not good enough. Four men are missing and presumed dead!”
