Statuary

Statuary

A week and a half later, in Gudmund's car, he and Astrid are heading for the pINPOINt headquarters. "So, ready to learn more about my job?" Gudmund asks.

"Yep, first you, and tomorrow I will be going to mom's job," she says.

"How is the family tree going? Did you get as much information you needed for your report?"

"It's great. Now, all I need is to go with you to your job and then tomorrow with mom to work. I already made the tree," she says.

Soon, they arrive at the building and head to the floor where Gudmund's team works. They enter the floor, and Astrid sees two of her friends, Juliana and Cameron Blanchard. She greets the two of them. "About time you made it," Cameron says. Cameron is Elena's son and only child.

"Sorry, so when did you get here?" Astrid asks.

"I got here about twenty minutes ago, and Cameron arrived forty minutes ago," Juliana answers.

"How are we going to do our project today?" Cameron asks.

"Well, Mr. Poirier said that we must follow and learn everything about our parent's careers," Astrid answers. "Since our parents work together, we can do this one together as well, but my dad is the leader of the whole Southern California pINPOINt, so I'll have to do things a bit different from you guys. Juliana's dad is Cameron's mom's partner. You both can work on that part to learn how they work as detectives in pINPOINt. Then, we'll meet up and interview other members of the team together. It's morning now, so we'll split now and meet up at lunch." The two agree with Astrid, and the three split up.

Later in Gudmund's office, Astrid sits in front of her dad's desk. "So, you have questions that you need to ask?" Gudmund asks her.

"Yep. Here they are," Astrid starts. "How long have you been a member of pINPOINt?"

"Four years, I started after your Uncle Sigmund and Aunt Trine passed away."

Astrid writes that down, then continues, "In your job, you are in charge of a team and the whole pINPOINt for Southern California. How do you manage to do all of that at once?"

"I manage by looking at the top cases that the California pINPOINt Director sends for me. I also look at the cases for the other teams in Southern California. They are listed for each different team. Some would be much higher needing that come to me. In fact, my team has been working on a case with the head of the Northern California pINPOINt and the head team of California pINPOINt. It has been going on for about a year and a half now."

Astrid writes all of that down. "Ok, I do have more questions, but I need to follow you around while you work. I need to see you do them."

Gudmund smiles, "Well, I have a meeting today. You may watch in that meeting." Astrid nods, and Gudmund starts to tell her more about his job.

Meanwhile, Derek and Elena are showing Juliana and Cameron their desks. "These are our desks," Derek says as they sit. "How do you kids want to start?"

"How about how the pINPOINt detectives work here?" Cameron asks.

"Yeah, like are you guys connected to any police departments or something?" Juliana asks.

"Well, all of the detectives do start at a police department," Elena answers. "Then, after a couple of years, we would apply for the detective rank in pINPOINt. Then we go through some more training, which takes three months."

"Do you work with just the team that you are assigned to?" Cameron asks.

"No. Sometimes we get our own cases, or we help out with other detectives or teams, but we do mainly work with our assigned team," Derek answers. "We track down criminals and follow the trails that they leave behind. We mostly speak to suspects and try to find who committed the crime."

Juliana and Cameron write down what they learn so far. "How many open cases do you guys work on? Do you work on one at a time?"

"All pINPOINt detectives work on a maximum of seven open cases," Elena answers. "Once we have closed one, a new case might arrive. We work on trying to find answers to each case and send them to our team leader. Since our team leader is Gudmund, who is in charge of the whole Southern California pINPOINt, each team member is the leader of each division. Derek and I are the head detectives in the building." Both Cameron and Juliana continue writing answers down and asking questions.

In a conference room, Gudmund sits at the head of the table. The people he meets with are Sheriff Kenrick Fischer of LASD, Chief Reece Fischer of LAPD, Deputy Chief Lucas Kelly of LBPD, and a few other officials. On the wall is a monitor showing some sculptures. "Once we manage to track down who's making these, we can figure out who is putting the THC in them," Gudmund says. "I already talked to other pINPOINt leaders and directors as well. What my detectives and crime scene investigators have figured out so far is that the THC is placed into little sculptures that would look peaceful, like angels or children."

"So we should track down every angel or child sculptures and destroy them?" asks Chief Fischer.

"No, we won't need to do that at all. We found out that they were only placed in certain kinds of sculptures," Gudmund uses his remote to change the photo on the monitor. "They are placed where there is only ten percent cement, and they each have this marking." On the monitor, it shows an image of cannabis in a circle.

"So, we just need to look at all of the sculptures that have that symbol on them?" asks the Los Angeles FBI Director, and Gudmund looks at him.

"Yes and no. We need to look at the places they were shipped from, which we managed to do because some stores accidentally got some sculptures they didn't order," Gudmund says. "We figured we might as well tell every store that sells them to be on the lookout for these symbols. They'll check the sculptures as they get them in and see if the marking is on them. Then, they'll contact the local police department. Once the police departments gather them, they'll need to learn where they were shipped from. Then, we'll send some detectives to check out the warehouse the sculptures came from."

"We've been trying to figure out who's been dealing THC for a year," says Sheriff Fischer. "Whenever we get a step closer, they manage to hide."

"Right, which is why we are going to now start at each factory where the sculptures are being made," Gudmund says. "We already found some at some garden centers in the south side of Los Angeles County. So far, we have been finding more of them in Orange County, but that is just down here; there are lots of them up in Northern California and a few of them in New York City, Chicago, Orlando, and Dallas. I heard a sculpture about ten feet tall and way over ten thousand pounds that got broken. Once it has broken, many officers found lots of THC in it, which was in Hawaii last month. A friend of mine who is a Lieutenant Commander of a task force there called me. He knew I was working on a case that involved drug smuggling involving sculptures."

"What is the plan, then?" Deputy Chief Kelly asks. "And how will we find the one in charge of the smuggling?"

"We can't do anything until we find the factory that is shipping them, but I do have a plan on how to find them. We are going to search each garden center that has the sculptures that we are looking for. Once we do, we just find out where they are shipped from."

Everyone in the room talks to one another, like the idea. The meeting continues for a while longer, and the meeting ends. Gudmund walks over to Astrid, and Astrid looks from her note to her dad. "So, I learned that you lead to top-ranking officers in figuring out game plans."

"Right, I work with them to come up with a game plan for the case. One of the big cases we are working on is THC that is being smuggled different places from inside sculptures."

"THC: Tetrahydrocannabinol or commonly known as marijuana," Astrid says, and Gudmund raises his eyebrow.

"Nice that you know that already," he says, and Astrid smiles. Gudmund's cell rings. He answers it and listens to the person a bit. "Ok, I'm on my way up." He hangs up and looks at his daughter. "Well, you are going to see me in more action now." The two leave the room and head for the third floor.

The team meets up in front of the monitor as Maisie displays photos. "These photos were just taken by some field officers. Two garden stores just reported they found something in the sculptures. One store is in Santa Monica, and one is in Burbank."

"Ashton and I will take the one in Santa Monica," Gudmund says. "Derek and Elena will take the one in Burbank. Nozomi, call the local police departments to meet us there." Everyone nods and goes to work.

Later, Gudmund, Ashton, and Astrid arrive at the garden center in Santa Monica. As they got out of the car, Gudmund's cell rings. "I'll catch up; you two go on," he says as he looks at the caller ID. He answers the phone, "Major Thoresen." The person on the other line speaks Norwegian, and he replies in Norwegian, "La meg vite hva du finner ut fra blod og organer. Jeg kan ikke la mine foreldre vet hva som skjedde." Gudmund hangs up, walks onto the lot, and sees that Astrid is looking at the plants. He goes up to Ashton. "See the manager around?"

"A worker is going to get him right now," Ashton answers. "I was thinking about something on the sculptures. What if they are being made somewhere else, instead of a factory?"

"I'll keep that in mind," Gudmund says and notices the manager walking up to them.

"Hello, I am the store manager, Edward Sawicki."

"I am Major Gudmund Thoresen, and this is Lieutenant Ashton Watson. Someone called your tip line about a sculpture that was broken, and drugs found something inside."

"Right, the officers moved them to the back of my office," he says.

Gudmund calls Astrid, "Astrid, we are going inside." He looks back to Edward and explains, "That is my twelve-year-old daughter; she is doing a project for school, so she is following me at work today."

Soon, they enter the office and see a police officer standing by the broken sculptures. "We moved the sculptures; I was told we shouldn't touch it with our hands. I checked to see if any of my employees touched it without wearing gloves. They were all wearing gloves," Edward says.

"Good. We'll get the sculptures sent to the lab and run for fingerprints," Ashton says, and he looks closer at the broken angel sculptures. He notices something and grabs his rubber glove to pick it up. "Gudmund, you might want to look at this."

Gudmund looks at the broken piece with a brand on it. "I have seen this before. It's a marking on those custom-made sculptures. Isaac Hamutal made them, but he passed away five years ago and left the business to his kids."

Ashton looks around the broken piece and looks at Gudmund. "I guess we'll have to visit his kids then."

Gudmund nods.

Later, they arrive at a building in Hermosa Beach. They walk inside of the building and see many sculptures around. "Wow, all of these look so life-like," Astrid says as she looks at some of the sculptures.

"That's because, young lady, we make them look just like the person we mold them from," says a man in his mid-forties as he enters the area. "May I help you all?"

Gudmund walks up and shows his badge. "I am Major Gudmund Thoresen, this is Lieutenant Ashton Watson, and that is my daughter, Astrid; she is shadowing me at my job for a school report." He pulls out his cell and shows a photo of the mark on the broken sculptures. "Do you recognize this symbol?"

"Yeah, that's my dad's symbol. My brother and sisters use it for our sculptures. Why?"

"Well, one of your sculptures got broken by accident at a garden store in Santa Monica. When it broke, about twenty-five pounds of THC fell out," Ashton answers. "Your Isaac's oldest, right? Joshua Hamutal?"

"Yes. I took full control of my father's business, but I share it with my brother and sisters. And about the THC, I have no idea how it got into one of my sculptures."

"You have workers, right?" Gudmund asks.

"Yes, and I can get you the list of everyone that works here," Joshua says and goes to get the list.

Astrid walks around and noticed something, "Dad? You might want to look at this," she says, and Gudmund walks to her. "Doesn't that look almost like Uncle Sigmund and Auntie Trine?"

Gudmund looks closer at the small sculpture and notices they do look like them. "What do you think of that sculpture?" asks a teenage boy around fourteen years old. "I made this one," he boasts.

"It's very nice," Gudmund says and looks at the teenager.

"I used a photo that my father had so I could practice," he says. "My name is Jason Hamutal."

"Nice to meet you. You don't know these people that you made?"

"No, but my father told me that he was a friend of the man, and I think he was Norwegian. His first and last names were Norwegian," Jason says.

Then, Joshua returns and gives them the list, "I hope you can find out why one of our sculptures had drugs in it."

"Thank you. Do your siblings work here with you?" Ashton asks.

"Sometimes, but they do their own form of sculpting. We do run a business together for all of them," Joshua answers. He grabs a flyer off of the counter nearby and hands it to them. "We will have a gallery for it next week."

"Thanks. We'll be in touch," Gudmund says and hands Joshua his card.

"Oh, Major Thoresen," Joshua calls out, and Gudmund turns to him. "I know your brother is Sigmund Thoresen. He was a friend of mine, and I think about him all the time. Did you ever find his and his wife's killer?"

"No. I do know who, but we can't seem to be able to catch him," Gudmund says and leaves the building.

Later back at headquarters, Maisie is going over the list that she received and checks the employees' backgrounds. After going through them, she finds something and smiles. "Found it." Soon, the rest of the team reaches her, and she has them look at the monitor. "One of the employees goes by the name Harvey Richardson. He is currently twenty-six years old and grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. He was arrested at age fifteen for drug dealing and again at age eighteen. He deals with THC and coke mostly. He was released from prison a year ago and started working at a sculptures-maker. While he was doing time, he learned how to make sculptures. I believe he started to deal again and put them into the sculptures."

Gudmund looks at the monitor, reading Harvey's background. "He isn't the only one that is doing it. He didn't start learning until a year ago, and we've been finding these for three months longer than when he first started to learn." Gudmund looks at Maisie. "Check to see who was teaching the class at the prison and why the prison started that class."

"Yes, boss," Maisie starts to type fast and find the information she needs. "Ok, he was in a class with these people, and the ones that were teaching that class are on here. Twenty people took the class; five officers were there to watch over them and two teachers. The class took place on Wednesdays at three in the afternoon."

"Get the names of those that were in the room at the time of the class, and see if any of those prisoners are out of prison," Gudmund says, and Maisie begins to type again.

"Three are out now, but only one of them still talks to Harvey. One is in the hospital for chemotherapy and really weak. The other one is listed in FBI for witness protection."

"Ok, who is still talking to Harvey?" Ashton asks.

A photo appears on the screen, "Adam McGregor. He was arrested and imprisoned for assault and heroin dealing. He got out about two months before Harvey did. They kept in touch while Harvey was still in prison. I will look for his current location." Maisie starts to types and finds his location. "Here's the number for his parole officer. Who wants to handle Adam?"

"Ashton and Nozomi will go talk to Harvey," Gudmund says. "I will go with Derek to talk to Adam. We'll call Adam's parole officer to find out where Adam works." He turns and faces the kids. "You three will have to stay here this time."

"That's ok, we are going to have lunch," Astrid says. "After lunch, we are going to team up and do an interview with other members of your team. We also want to do a report on pINPOINt for a different class project of ours."

"You kids behave, ok," Gudmund says, and the kids nod. He turns back to the others. "Let's get started."

Soon in the building cafeteria, Astrid, Juliana, and Cameron are eating and writing down their reports. "So, I learned that my dad deals with many different things that go on in the building and Southern California. He works with other leaders of law enforcement in Southern California," Astrid says.

"My mom is one of the detectives that work with pINPOINt. She specializes in domestic violence, aggravated assault/battery, and juvenile crimes," Cameron says.

"My dad specializes in homicide, narcotics, and sexual assault. He is working on profiling offenders," Juliana says.

Astrid takes a bit of her sandwich and looks at her friends, "Alright, so far, we have what we need on our parents. After we finish eating, we can do the rest of pINPOINt for our other project."

Meanwhile, Gudmund and Derek arrive at Adam McGregor's job at Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. "According to Adam's parole officer, he works as a tank cleaner," Derek says. "The manager says that Adam should be cleaning the Rocky Reef Tank."

"Is he cleaning inside the tank?" Gudmund asks.

"Nope, he only does that when the place is closed. That is him cleaning the outside of the window." They look and see him cleaning the tank's glass.

They approach him. "Adam McGregor," Gudmund says.

Adam turns to them. "What can I do for you?"

The two show their badges. "We are with pINPOINt, and we need to ask you questions about Harvey Richardson, your prison cellmate," Gudmund says.

"I haven't talked to Harvey since he got out," Adam says.

"Well, we heard that you kept in contact after you got out," Derek says. "And while in prison, you both took a class for making sculptures."

"Yeah, we took the same class, and yeah, I kept in touch, but after he got out, I haven't seen him." They don't believe him.

"Ok, if you hear from him again, call me," Gudmund says and hands him his card.

Adam takes the card. "Is he in trouble?"

"Maybe," Derek says, and the two leave.

Gudmund looks over his shoulder and see Adam making a phone call. "Call Maisie and tell her to get Adam's number, so we can see who he is calling."

Ashton and Nozomi chase after Harvey. Nozomi goes the other way to cut him off. Harvey jumps over some tires and land on the other side. He keeps running until a door opens and hits him in the face. Nozomi comes around the door with her gun drawn, pointing at Harvey. Ashton reaches them and starts to arrest Harvey. "You know what, kid? I hate when you maggots run from us," Ashton says. Then Harvey's cell rings. Nozomi takes at the caller ID.

"Looks like Adam McGregor is calling you," Nozomi says.

"Answer it. Let's see what he wants," Ashton says.

Nozomi presses the speaker button. "Harvey, cops were here at my work asking about you. I think you should try and lay low, ok? Harvey? Are you there?"

"Harvey can't come to the phone right now," Nozomi says into the phone and hangs up. "I'll call Gudmund and let him know that Adam tried to call Harvey."

"Ok. I'll take Harvey here to the car so we can take him in," Ashton says, and Nozomi calls Gudmund.

Gudmund answers Nozomi's call, "Thanks, Nozomi. Be sure to call Maisie to have them check their phone records." Gudmund hangs up and turns to Derek as they both are still at the pier.

"You were right, huh?" Derek says, and Gudmund nods. Derek smirks, "Let's get his guy and take him in."

Gudmund notices something and smiles, "Got your running shoes on?"

Derek looks confused and looks where Gudmund is looking. He notices Adam seeing them. Adam starts to run, "Damn it." Derek says, and the two start to run after Adam.

Adam starts to run onto the beach and runs close to the water. As Derek gets closer to him, Adam bends down, grabs a fistful of sand, and throws it at Derek. It gets into Derek's eyes, and Adam tackles him. Adam tackles Derek into the water and starts to run again. As Adam tries to get away, Gudmund tackles him and starts to handcuff him. "Looks like you are now under arrest, Adam."

After Gudmund stands Adam up, Derek walks up to them all wet, "Damn it," he growls. "You got my phone and my new leather oxford shoes that I got from my wife back in August on our wedding anniversary wet."

"We can replace the phone, Derek," Gudmund says as he takes Adam away, and Derek looks at him.

"What about my shoes? That guy is going to pay for it no matter what," Derek says as he follows them.

At the pINPOINt HQ, Adam and Harvey are placed in different rooms. The kids waltz up to the team, "Can we watch you guys interrogate the two you brought in?" Astrid asks.

"You three can watch from up here. We have cameras in each room," Nozomi says as she brings up the live recording on the monitor.

"Do you guys always interrogate your suspects here at the headquarters?" Cameron asks.

"Not all the time; we sometimes do it at a police station near where we arrest the suspects," Elena answers.

"I'll go and talk to Adam while Nozomi and Ashton talk to Harvey," Gudmund says and turns to Derek. "And you can go and see if Chelsea was able to save your cell."

Later, Ashton and Nozomi are interrogating Harvey. "You didn't have to run, you know? But you did, and we had to bring you here," Ashton says. "Now tell me why you ran."

Harvey looks at the two. "I thought I was going to be arrested for the fight I got into last night."

"We only wanted to talk to you about Adam McGregor. We know your job is building sculptures; you learned how back in prison. We want to show you some photos," Ashton places some photos on the table before Harvey. "You took classes with Adam to build sculptures, and you stayed in touch. We found this at a garden center with the same markings as the place you work. Everyone there puts this mark on their sculptures. Good thing that the current boss of Hamutal's Statuary keeps fingerprints of all of their employees. We checked the sculptures we found, and they had twenty-five pounds of THC inside of it. We have your fingerprints on it. We checked the log we got from your job. You built this one."

"I handle lots of them. How are you sure it was me that put all that in the sculptures," Harvey asks, looking smug.

"We got your fingerprints on one of the bags," Nozomi answers. "I bet you forgot to put your gloves on. Also, you should really cover your mouth when you sneeze because it seems like some of your snot got on the bag."

"So, tell us: who is paying you to put THC into the sculptures?" Ashton asks.

"I want to speak to my lawyer," Harvey says.

Ashton sighs and leaves with Nozomi. They enter the hallway, "What should we do?" Nozomi asks.

Ashton starts to think and sees something walking down the hall to them. "May we help you?" Ashton asks, and the man stops before them and hands Ashton a paper.

"I am Harvey Richardson's lawyer, and I am here to have him released," the man says.

"We are questioning him right now; you are welcome to go in there to sit with him, but we can't release him," Nozomi says.

Ashton finishes reading the letter, "You may take him," he says, and Nozomi looks at him, confused.

The lawyer nods and enters the room to get Harvey. Nozomi walks in front of Ashton, "What the heck?" Ashton hands her the paper, and she starts to look over it. Once she finishes, she looks back at Ashton. "We can't allow this."

"We have to…for now that is," Ashton says, and they see Harvey and his lawyer leave. "Let's go and inform Gudmund."

Once Gudmund almost gets Adam talking, the lawyer steps in and stops them. The lawyer hands Gudmund the paperwork and takes Adam with him along with Harvey. Gudmund looks over it and goes to talk to the judge that issued it.

Later at a courthouse in an office, Judge Misaka is looking over the forms. "So, a lawyer showed up and handed this to you?" he asks, and Gudmund nods. "Well, I didn't issue this, and it looks almost like the ones I write."

"Then how did that lawyer manage to get a form that came from your office?" Gudmund asks.

"I'll have to take a look into it; maybe I'll have to do a background check on some of the employees here."

"Thanks. Call me when you find out anything," Gudmund says, and Judge Misaka nods.

Gudmund leaves the office and heads back to headquarters. On his way, his cell rings, and he answers it, "Thoresen."

"When the last time you visited your treehouse?" asks a voice on the other line.

"My treehouse?" Gudmund asks. "Who is this?"

"Visit your old treehouse, and you'll see what I mean. Talk to you later, Major Thoresen," says the voice before it hangs up.

"Hello, hello," Gudmund calls. No answers. "Damn it." He looks at the caller ID, and it's still unknown. Gudmund starts to dial a number on his cell and listens to the other line ringing. Someone answers on the other line. "This is Major Gudmund Thoresen of Southern California pINPOINt. I need to speak to Chief Charles Carter right away." The person on the other line transfers him to Chief Carter.

Close to midnight, Ashton and Derek arrive at a crime scene at Santa Monica State Beach, looking at two bodies. An officer walks up to them. "These two were found by a couple of teenagers that decided to go for a midnight skinny dipping."

"They are Harvey Richardson and Adam McGregor," Ashton says.

Derek bends down by both of them and looks at their heads. "Looks like an execution shot through the forehead," Derek says.

"I guess their boss heard they were being questioned by some cops," Ashton says.

Derek looks up to him, "What should we do now? They were our lead."

Ashton starts to think. "Send the bodies to Butch's ME team; the night shift will go through the body. And Chelsea's night shift team will work on the evidence around here."

Derek gets up and looks around. "Whoever did this really doesn't want to be found and doesn't want their drug smuggling ring to fall apart."

Ashton looks at the crime lab unit. "I want lots of photos of the bodies and the area. There has to be some evidence that will show us who is behind this hit," he says, and the crime scene unit nods.