Avery hopped back into the truck and moved it several yards and placed the orange cone and the sign behind it. This time he raised the bucket above the tree line and could make out a camera on the nearest corner. It was going to be a bit tricky, but he had been through worse. He simply needed to find out where the equipment that recorded the camera shots was kept.
Once he got back to his motel, he would check the electrical schematics again. It was possible he could jam the frequency. At least for a short time.
* * *
Eileen signaled to Avery that she was able to return to the London Live-Life-Long office. She was astonished that the lock on the rear door was incredibly easy to pick. But as Avery had discovered in Aspen, there was little information in the files. But there was a large vault in the closet of the corner office that begged to be opened. That exercise would have to wait until she got the all clear. Often, the sisters preferred to do the reveal themselves. It could get dicey. She did as Avery told her and planted a microcamera in the room that housed the vault. As she was planting a bug and camera in the rear office, she couldn’t help but notice what appeared to be white residue on the leather-topped desk. She snapped a photo and made her way out of the building.
Next would be Dr. Marcus’s flat. That should be easy enough. The Plimsoll Building had a rooftop conservatory where an event was held several times a week. She would dress appropriately for what would most likely be a fund-raiser. Her challenge would be finding an outfit that would work double duty. Chic enough for cocktails yet flexible enough for snooping. This was London. Almost anything would be fine. Probably the funkier the better. She thought of Emma Peel, the superspy from The Avengers. Maybe not quite a catsuit, but something definitely leather.
* * *
Avery returned the utility truck to the same parking lot he had left it in before, walked to the rental, and headed back to his motel. He had a lot of work ahead of him. First was to listen to the recordings from the office. Who came and who went and what was said. Second, he had to figure out how to disarm the cameras that faced the mysterious garage.
He flipped open one of his laptops and opened the audio files from the office. He had been able to plant a camera the size of a pinhead on the inside door of the closet that housed the vault. The hope was to be able to see what was inside the vault when it was opened.
Avery listened. “Good morning, Mrs. Kaplan.” The receptionist’s voice came across the recording loud and clear. “How are we feeling today?” Why do medical people always use the word we? Shouldn’t they know how they’re feeling? Avery had little patience with people these days.
“I’m feeling a bit sluggish, to be honest,” Mrs. Kaplan confessed.
“Well, Dr. Steinwood will have you fixed up in a jiffy. He’ll be right with you. Please take a seat,” the woman instructed. Avery could hear clicking. Probably her typing something into a computer.
A few minutes later, “The doctor will see you now.” A soft buzz could be heard, presumably opening the glass doors that led to the patient examination rooms.
Avery switched to the hallway microphone. “Good morning, Elizabeth. Feeling a bit peaked? Let’s see how we can make that better. Please, step inside.”
A quick switch to the microphone planted in the patient suite. Dr. Steinwood continued, “Tell me. How long have you felt this way?”
Mrs. Kaplan’s voice was just as clear as his. “A couple of days. I seem to have good days and bad ones. One day I’m fit as a fiddle, and the next, I’m just a wet noodle.”
“As I explained, it takes our bodies time to adjust to the synapses and integration of the protocol.” Steinwood was using some doctor babble on her. “Let’s check your blood pressure.” Steinwood buzzed for the nurse. “Sylvia, could you please come in here and check Mrs. Kaplan’s blood pressure?”
“Certainly, Doctor,” was the response.
“I’ll get your supplements while Sylvia takes your pressure.” Steinwood could be heard leaving the room as the nurse entered.
Avery followed the sound of Steinwood moving down the hallway and into the rear office. He heard the clicking sound of a door and switched to the camera, hoping Steinwood would open the vault, and he could get a look inside. Genius! Now, if Steinwood would only move just a few inches to the right, he would have a clear shot into the vault. Bingo! Hundreds of color-coded boxes filled the vault. Steinwood pulled a small portable table next to him and placed nine different boxes on it. As Steinwood opened each box, Avery could see eight green bottles with a numbered code. They looked like medications. The ninth box contained vials. Steinwood pulled one out. Next to the vault were shelves with beautifully decorated boxes. Steinwood placed the eight bottles in one of these boxes and then placed the box in a beautiful matching shopping bag. He put the vial in his pocket and reached for a syringe that was kept in a basket. After carefully locking the vault, he turned quickly. Avery was taken aback at how close Steinwood’s face came to the camera. Then the screen went dark as Steinwood turned off the light.
Avery went back to the audio files. Steinwood reentered the room in which Mrs. Kaplan waited. “Here you go, my dear.” Avery could hear the rustling of paper. Must be the shopping bag. “Now let’s roll up our sleeve for our booster shot.” Again, with the first-person plural? Avery shook his head. What a con job.
“Oh, Dr. Steinwood. I do appreciate what you are trying to do for me. I hope I start to see some results soon. At least get off this roller-coaster ride.” Mrs. Kaplan almost sounded apologetic that she wasn’t responding to the treatment faster.
“Now, now. Don’t you fret. It takes time. We’ll see you next week?” he asked kindly.
“Of course!” Mrs. Kaplan brightened. “Thank you so much. Have a lovely day.” More paper rustling, and Avery switched to the reception-area audio file.
In a matter-of-fact voice, the receptionist said, “That will be eight thousand dollars, Mrs. Kaplan.”
Avery almost fell off his chair. Those must be very special pills.
He fast-forwarded the recordings to see if there was anything else he could summarize for Charles. According to the timer on the recording devices, it was just around noon when Steinwood entered the reception area.
“Ladies, that will be all for today. Not to worry. You’ll get your full pay. I’m going to a car show in Las Vegas this afternoon. I’ll be back in two days.”
Avery sent a report to Charles, along with the video footage.
Vault holds what looks like different meds in green bottles. Also vials. All unknown substances. Color coded and numbered. Saw one patient today. Leaving for a car show in Vegas for the next two days. O&O (over and out).
Avery was pleased with what he had discovered. Looked like a pill mill, but where were they coming from? That would probably be a riddle for Charles and the sisters to unravel. Meanwhile, he would scope out the house and the garage. Car show. Now it was starting to come together. Just how many and how expensive? would be the next questions.
Chapter 25
Pinewood
Returning to the war room, all the women saluted Lady Justice, Charlotte included.
Charles checked to see if any additional information had come in. “Splendid. More intel.” Charles beamed. “Avery got a look inside the vault. Hundreds of boxes, all of which contained green bottles.” He turned the monitor so everyone could see.