Casing the Joint
“You ever get the idea we’re being led around by the nose on these cases?”
“Oh, girl, you have no idea.” Hitomi smirked as they left the museum building. “Half the time you might as well put a leash on us.” She held up the address of the warehouse. “I don’t want to go into the place in daylight. Our badges may fool a civilian, but if there’s FBI there we’re made.”
“Right. What do we do then?”
“Let’s case the area, see if we can pick up any witnesses or anything.”
“Right,” Alana paused, “Mona Lisa.”
“I know, I know.”
Alana and Hitomi drove down to the warehouse, which was in a slightly run down area of town. They looked at the building, and it looked like most abandoned warehouses, windows broken and boarded up.
“Nice. Almost stereotypically abandoned. Let’s walk the perimeter. If anyone asks, we’re looking to buy it.” They took their time circling the building, both of them noting potential entry points for later. There seemed to be significant fire damage in one area facing the alley.
By the time they circled the entire building, they were convinced something was definitely off here. When they rounded the last corner, they saw a rickety newsstand piled high with papers and magazines. Alana tapped Hitomi on the arm and gestured. Hitomi nodded and veered across the street.
The proprietor was reading a newspaper, and as they approached looked up in curiosity. “Well, hello. We don’t get much day time business in this part of town. What can I get ya?”
Alana turned on her most winning smile, “Actually, we were wondering about that warehouse across the street. We’re interested in buying it.”
“Really? Wow. That place has been lying empty for a year or so now. Officially anyway.”
“Officially?”
“Well, there’s been some strange stuff going on over there. Aside from the FBI thing last night.”
“FBI thing?” Hitomi feigned innocence quite well, Alana thought.
“Yeah, with the toys. They came here and looked around, then left. Beyond that, there’s been fires. A couple of times, it sounded like small explosions.”
“Has there been work going on inside?”
“Sure sounds like it. And it’s just been recently. I figured someone’s already bought it.”
“Hmm. Thanks so much for the information! We appreciate it.” Alana made to turn away, then on impulse grabbed a couple of the comics that were on the stacks and paid the man.
“Thanks! Good luck with the warehouse!”
Alana smiled winningly at the man again. As they walked away, Hitomi smirked. “What?”
“Comics?”
“Oh please. Like I haven’t seen you read them, too.”
Hitomi laughed.
“Oh, girl, you have no idea.” Hitomi smirked as they left the museum building. “Half the time you might as well put a leash on us.” She held up the address of the warehouse. “I don’t want to go into the place in daylight. Our badges may fool a civilian, but if there’s FBI there we’re made.”
“Right. What do we do then?”
“Let’s case the area, see if we can pick up any witnesses or anything.”
“Right,” Alana paused, “Mona Lisa.”
“I know, I know.”
Alana and Hitomi drove down to the warehouse, which was in a slightly run down area of town. They looked at the building, and it looked like most abandoned warehouses, windows broken and boarded up.
“Nice. Almost stereotypically abandoned. Let’s walk the perimeter. If anyone asks, we’re looking to buy it.” They took their time circling the building, both of them noting potential entry points for later. There seemed to be significant fire damage in one area facing the alley.
By the time they circled the entire building, they were convinced something was definitely off here. When they rounded the last corner, they saw a rickety newsstand piled high with papers and magazines. Alana tapped Hitomi on the arm and gestured. Hitomi nodded and veered across the street.
The proprietor was reading a newspaper, and as they approached looked up in curiosity. “Well, hello. We don’t get much day time business in this part of town. What can I get ya?”
Alana turned on her most winning smile, “Actually, we were wondering about that warehouse across the street. We’re interested in buying it.”
“Really? Wow. That place has been lying empty for a year or so now. Officially anyway.”
“Officially?”
“Well, there’s been some strange stuff going on over there. Aside from the FBI thing last night.”
“FBI thing?” Hitomi feigned innocence quite well, Alana thought.
“Yeah, with the toys. They came here and looked around, then left. Beyond that, there’s been fires. A couple of times, it sounded like small explosions.”
“Has there been work going on inside?”
“Sure sounds like it. And it’s just been recently. I figured someone’s already bought it.”
“Hmm. Thanks so much for the information! We appreciate it.” Alana made to turn away, then on impulse grabbed a couple of the comics that were on the stacks and paid the man.
“Thanks! Good luck with the warehouse!”
Alana smiled winningly at the man again. As they walked away, Hitomi smirked. “What?”
“Comics?”
“Oh please. Like I haven’t seen you read them, too.”
Hitomi laughed.
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