Next morning, I'm glowing, my insides fluttering with excitement, the weekend was 'SENSATIONAL'. Good company, good BBQ's, great sex, and the opportunity for not only a winter cruise, but a house.
I, with Mel, go directly to ask Cap for 3 weeks off.
He peers at me, then Mel... back to me, he gets a devilish grin; I am wondering what is running through his mind. "Are you going on a honeymoon with them?"
I smile, "Kinda, we've both been invited on an all expenses covered yacht cruise."
He returns a kind smile, nods, "Maybe over Christmas and New Years. I'll do some scheduling and get you an answer as soon as I can."
Mel and I are going over the details of the high-end robbery cases, that has all the detectives scurrying, under pressure from the mayor. Cap calls us into his office. "We interviewed all the babysitters; they have alibis. Do you have any leads? Suspects? As lead detective what course of action do you plan to take now?" He asks.
I smile at Cap. "Discredit or confirm their alibis. We both think the babysitters are lying, we'll read their statements, compare their alibis, and follow up. Mel and I both strongly believe their covering for on another."
Rereading their alibis, Mel says, "I find it suspicious, all the girls use the same theatre, for 3 of the 4 alibis." I drop my file folder. "Who saves their old admission stubs? Think about this... buy an extra ticket, then say you all attended together." I nod my head. "We need surveillance footage from the theaters, and bring them back for proper interviews, sneaky... separately. Ask questions like, who chose the movie, who took a taxi, uber or the bus or who drove, who's vehicle, who was picked up first, the route they took to the theater, find out where they parked, who bought what confections... after the movie, did you go anywhere? Who asked to go for drinks, what was discussed? What order were they were dropped off. We'll test how strong their alibis are and find out if their stories jive."
Later that day after interviews, I go to Cap, "they weren't expecting to answer specifics like that, their stories are all over the place; no consistency."
Cap responds. "Good, pressure them, they're young; one of them will crack when faced with jail time. Who's the weak one. Go get 'em tiger. Wrap it up today, good work."
Within the hour we get a confession as we are leaving for the night, Cap catches us. "Great work today; how about Dec. 20th to January 12th for our 2 best, and favorite, detectives to go on a well-deserved holiday?" He shakes our hands. "I'll submit it, I'll recommend it; but I don't make the final decision."
That evening, Grant and I excitedly meet with Marda... Marcel and Darlene.
"Today we did the necessary paperwork, contacted the mortgage company, papers are all ready, house will be yours when you're both available to sign at the bank, it's a 200 thousand mortgage, payments of $1055 a month. Move-in anytime; give us 2 days to get our personal belongings out. How's that sound?"
"Oh my God, that's terrific, absolutely amazing." Tess begins crying. Darlene steps forward and hugs her, Marcel and I shake hands briskly. He tugs me toward the kitchen; pours me a Margarita. "So, Grant what exactly do you do?"
"Cyber security, I protect people and businesses from computer hacking, identity theft, fraud, that kind of stuff."
"Is that something I might need?" He gestures a toast, before he sips.
I lift my glass in response, "Is your cell phone connected to your business computer and your banking information?"
"Yah," He cocks his head, a quizzical gaze.
"Pass me your phone." I tap buttons; in about a minute, I pass it back, 37 people currently have access to transfer your money. In the short time I held your phone, I could have already drained all your accounts, business and personal, well over a million dollars."
"What...?" He looks at his cell, "how?" Back at me, bewildered, concerned.
"Your business computer and bank account are linked to your phone, making it convenient for you to transfer funds from wherever you are, however, if a hacker has access to any of your devices, he has access to everything."
Panic in his voice "My God, you just made me extremely paranoid," he sets down his glass, "what should I do?"
Calmly, I reply, "first, can you remotely turn off your business computer?"
"Yes." He nods.
"Do it." I assure him, "With it off, is your company's bank account accessible anywhere else?"
"No, uh well, maybe my phone, I'm not sure?" He still has a distraught stare; he passes me his phone after turning off his company computer.
"Ok, your company account is much more secure, for now," I take a gulp of my cocktail.
He asks, "How much do you charge to make, or do whatever it is you do to secure my electronics?"
"Marcel, I need to see your system, run tests, find out who has access, what programs exist. Why don't I meet you at the office, NO COST, I'll do a preliminary investigation and give you a report, that's a $500 value to new businesses."
"Tomorrow?" He queries, nodding his head, topping up our Margaritas.
"Ok, 9am?"
"Please. Let's go see what kind of sexual activities the women are up to." He picks up the pitcher, I grab 2 empty glasses.
They're on the sofa, sharing a joint; both have bare bosoms, hard nipples glistening with what most likely is saliva and as we arrive, slightly guilty expressions.
Darlene grins, "I was just inquiring as to what renovations they have planned; a dungeon is first, followed by an office."
"Really, that's not at all what it looks like." Marcel suggests.
"What this," Tess bounces Darlene's boob with her fingers under the large mound. "Gaawsh, talking about the dungeon, and it's use, got us hot... we're just cooling off." Tess smiles at me.
"Ya, you're making it much hotter for me too." I respond with a chuckle.
Marcel quizzed. "What about a nursery, I thought that was a priority."
"It is, but why go 9 months without a dungeon... and an office will help our budget, for that extra room we need." I add.
