"This is the sixth break-in in two weeks – and each scene looks just the same" Jim answered. He focused his sight, but couldn't notice anything. "I can't see any tracks."
"Then concentrate on something else – can you smell something – sweat, an after shave?"
"No, chief, nothing." The Sentinel walked through the rooms. "Wait, here's a scent – a woman's perfume – heavy, flowery – a tropical flower I don't recognize."
Jim turned to the dining room where the owner of the house sat, still in disbelief of what he'd found when he came home from his weekend trip. "Excuse me, sir, what kind of perfume does your wife use?" Jim asked him.
"Why do you ask? I live alone."
"Well, did you have a female visitor lately who could have used a tropical flower perfume?"
"No. Since my wife left me two months ago and took with her my dog and my car, I'm not very interested in female companionship."
Jim turned to Blair. "I think one of our burglars must be a woman."
"Just a week later, and this wouldn't have happened," the owner mourned.
"Why's that?" Blair wanted to know.
"Oh, you see, I just bought the Sentinel. In a week or so it would have been installed and nobody would have been able to enter the house."
"You bought the 'Sentinel'? Blair nearly swallowed the wrong way.
"Yes. You've never heard of Sentinel Security Systems? They inspected the whole house and planned the perfect system for my needs. The old one, which is now installed, isn't up to date. I think I don't need an alarm system at all now that everything of worth is gone."
"I've run an inquiry on Sentinel Security Systems. A Douglas Harper owns the firm. It opened here in Cascade just four weeks ago. The address is 29 Guilford Lane. Seems you are not the only sentinel in town, man." Blair smiled at the older man.
"Then let's take a visit to my competitor. Come on, Chief!" Pushing the anthropologist out of his chair, they left the bullpen.
"I'm always willing to help the police if I can, but I can't imagine how I could be of any use to you." Harper leaned back in his chair.
"We are investigating a break-in last weekend at 31 Tacoma Lane - the house of a Roger Durham. He mentioned that he bought a new security system and it was going to be installed next week by your firm."
"Maybe." Harper pushed the button of the intercom at his desk. "Hannah, do we have a client named Roger Durham on Tacoma Lane?"
"Yes, I made the contract last Monday." The answer came through the speaker.
"Then could you please come in for a moment?"
A short time afterwards the door opened and a very attractive young woman of about twenty-five years with long black hair entered.
"Hannah, this is Detective Ellison from Cascade PD and his partner Mr. Sandburg. They are investigating a break-in at Mr. Durham's house. Detectives, this is my partner, Hannah Barton."
"Hello." Hannah turned a smile first to Jim and then to Blair. "Durham asked for an offer. He wanted to modernize his alarm system and had read our advertisement. Maybe you read it, too, or saw it on TV: 'The Sentinel is protecting you – Sentinel Security Systems is Guarding Your House'. It's actually the best security system on the market at present day. At first glance, I told Durham that his old alarm system was completely insufficient for his needs, so he ordered the full program. It's going to be installed next Thursday."
"I think he won't be needing it any more," murmured Blair.
Jim shot a short look at his partner. "When you visited his rooms, did you notice something that could be of help for our investigation?" He asked, returning his attention to the woman.
"I can't think of anything."
"Thank you for your time. If you remember anything of use, please call me." Jim placed his card on Harper's desk and both men left.
"Oh, man, Jim, that woman..."
"Please, Chief!" Jim concentrated his hearing.
"They've got nothing against us, otherwise they already would have arrested us" Hannah replied.
"The ground's getting too hot. We've got enough for now. Let's pack our things and go." Harper begged.
Again Hannah spoke "Let us do a last job. I went to Lars Mitchener's villa last Friday, Doug - it can't be easier to get in. It's just like going for a walk and fetching some nice pictures and silver hanging around as if waiting for us to grab them. Just one last hit and we come out on top." The girl's voice pleaded, "PLEASE. I've seen this little statue – I must have it."
"OK, tonight. But after this, we are gone."
–
"So, Hannah is one of them. I was just thinking of how to invite her out after we arrested Harper," Blair sighed.
Jim chuckled. "Cool yourself down, partner. With your luck with women, you should have known from the first sight that she wasn't the right one. I smelled her perfume the moment we entered the office – tropical flowers."
"Nearly 2.00." The sentinel seemed awake and full of energy. "We're just waiting for four hours – the night has hardly begun."
"Maybe for you, but I have a class tomorrow morning at half past eight, and I still haven't prepared for it."
"You've got my deepest sympathy and I will think of you tomorrow morning when I'm in bed recovering from this night, buddy." Jim tapped him on his shoulder.
"Quiet!" The sentinel went rigid. He focused his hearing – light steps, the sound of cutting glass, a soft murmur. "They're here, left side, the veranda door," he whispered in his walkie-talkie. "Come on, let's go, chief. Stay behind me." Running with his gun drawn, Jim rushed silently to the left side of the house. Blair followed a little slower.
"Cascade PD. Stand still and keep your hands up so that I can see them."
In a moment, everything was over. Harper and Hannah, both in handcuffs, were taken away and the police cars cleared out.
Jim and Blair walked back to Jim's truck. "Their motto was 'The Sentinel is protecting you – guarding your house'. I think, now that Sentinel Security Systems has closed down, it's your job again." Blair slapped his partner's back, laughing.
"I'll do my best, Chief. I'll do my best."