Chad Gaines parked his car in the car park of the small suburban shopping precinct. He was nervous as hell and wondering how the hell he had managed to get himself into this situation. He was a nice clean cut young man from a good background and he was about to commit his first crime. His mind was in turmoil and it was all he could do not to start the car and get the hell out of there. But he couldn't! He had already spent half the money he was going to earn for doing a burglary.
He was a student at a mid western university and like many students was always struggling financially. His parents had so far battled to help him through his course and he worked hard at any part time jobs he could get. Until last week he had managed but his father had become ill and would not be able to work for a month which meant things would be tight at home and he couldn't take any money from his parents for a while. It couldn't have happened at a worse time as his rent was due and he also needed some additional books for his course and he was flat broke.
Chad had met Dan Hooper three nights ago at the bar where he worked an evening shift. It had been a quiet night and they had chatted for a while and Chad's problem had come up. Dan had been very sympathetic and said he had been through a similar situation when he was younger, although you wouldn't know it now looking at his expensive suit and the 5 series BMW parked outside. Dan was a successful lawyer who specialized in divorce settlements and he had told Chad he occasionally needed someone to assist him with odd jobs that paid very well and Chad had said very quickly that he would do anything to earn money at the moment. He had been a little surprised when Dan had returned the following evening and at closing time suggested they go for coffee as he had a business proposition for Chad.
NO WAY! Had been Chad's reaction to Dan's suggestion he break into a house to retrieve some documents Dan needed for evidence for a case he was working on. However Dan was a very persuasive man and when he had dropped $500 cash on the table saying there would be another $500 on completion, Chad had weakened. A thousand dollars would solve his immediate problems and give him some breathing space.
It was completely safe, Dan had told him. There would be no one home and they owners of the house kept a key hidden near the back door. It was a large property and the back yard was not visible from the neighboring properties. Dan had given him a small package addressed to the owners of the property as a cover should he be questioned by anyone he was simply delivering the package. The package was in a backpack which was also to be used to carry the documents he was to find which were in the centre draw of the main bedroom dressing table. Chad had wondered how Dan new so much about the house but then realized his client was obviously one of the owners of the property. They were probably getting divorced.
Dan had walked the 2 miles from the shopping precinct to the house because he didn't want anyone reporting his car registration plate. He had already driven down the leafy street full of very large houses, obviously belonging to wealthy people, to establish the right house and to plan a getaway route in case he had to run for it. His heart was racing as he approached the house and trying to appear nonchalant turned into the drive. Once in the confines of the property he pulled the package from his backpack, glanced at the address and turned his gaze to the house, studying it intently for evidence of any one being at home. All appeared quiet and not having seen or heard from neighbors Chad walked around to the back of the house, saw the pot plant near the door and lifted it. Sure enough there was the key just as Dan said. He quickly opened the door and let himself in, holding his breath as his ears strained for sounds of movement. In complete terror, he crept towards the main bedroom having memorized the layout from the sketch given to him by Dan. It was at the top of stairs and the second door on the right.
