20 plastic bubble looking objects were spread out meticulously on the long mahogany table. Paul was wearing a special pair of glasses with an attached magnifying glass carefully inspecting each electronic device. Carter walked in holding two espressos from Starbucks and looking all bleary eyed from the night before. He had been up all night talking to reporters about Tina's rescue. He was the big hero of the night. Tina had been rushed to a hospital and she was in critical condition but she was going to make it.
Carter placed one of the cups from Starbucks on the table in front of Paul. Paul pushed it aside and continued staring down at the plastic bubble." No thanks. Can't drink coffee, it gives me the shakes."
Carter looked over the plastic bubbles spread out neatly on the table and shook his head." What in the world are those?" He asked.
“They're boosters. Evidently homemade but apparently very effective." Said Paul closely examining the contents of the booster configuration.
Carter scratched his head and sipped his espresso while watching Paul at work." Why did the kidnapper need to use boosters?"
Paul chuckled and looked up at him smiling." The F.C.C only allows the military and of course us to have long range wireless cameras and receivers. What you're looking at is basically a bunch of toys purchased off the internet. The Federal Communications Committee permits these toys because the range on these things is maybe 100 yards. Unfortunately the kidnapper bought about 20 of these toys and figured out how to make boosters so he could be a mile away and still get reception."
Carter picked up one of the plastic bubble boosters and looked at the batteries inside of it. He placed it back down and took a long sip of his espresso." So how exactly are these boosters configured?"
Paul poked one of the wires with a pair of tweezers." Oh, it's quite fairly simple. The perp attached the camera wire belonging to the transmitter right into the output of the receiver thus creating a booster. With the weight of the batteries inside I'm surprised these things actually float. He must've tossed one of these things into the lake every 100 yards as he moved further out to sea."
Carter scratched his curly blond hair once more as flakes of dandruff landed on his shoulders." So he must've spent a lot of money to obtain all this stuff. Whoever we're looking for is probably wealthy."
Paul shook his head." Not necessarily. Like I said earlier, these things are just supposed to be toys. On Ebay these wireless mini cams cost about 15 bucks each. Since the perp may have bought them in bulk he probably got them a lot cheaper provided he purchased them all at once. You're looking at $200 worth of electronics. The batteries used to power them probably costs just as much."
It bothered Carter that Paul seemed to be a real know it all about everything but it also felt reassuring having a partner with a brain. Carter also wasn't very upset about Paul's sexual preference as long as he kept it to himself which he did.
Tina had not woken up yet but as soon as they got word that she was awake they would go visit her at the hospital. Surely she could be of some assistance with helping identify the kidnapper.
Carter walked over to the window and watched a construction worker have a beer with his lunch without the slightest care in the world.” What about finger prints? Surely the kidnapper didn't put all those boosters together without leaving some prints. Did you check the batteries?”
Paul just shook his head before Carter even finished talking.” He's too smart to leave prints. However I did find something rather interesting.”
Carter rushed over to him and almost placed his hand on Paul's shoulder but quickly retreated. There was no need to arouse the suspicion of a queer.” What is it? What do you've got?”
Carter's voice was full of excitement but Paul remained calm. He held the booster up so Carter could see.” Take a look at this wiring. What do you see?”
Carter squinted his eyes and looked perplexed.” Looks like regular wiring to me.” He said feeling loss of hope.
“ No,no. Look closer at the wires and the way they're fashioned together.”
Carter looked again but shook his head.” I still don't get it.” He muttered.
Paul took in a deep breath and slowly let it out.” 5 twists.” He said,” Every single time this guy twists wires together he makes exactly 5 twists in the wires. Not 4, not 3, but exactly 5 twists every time. I searched through the remnants from the booby trap that killed Travis. I found wires with exactly 5 twists. That has to be the kidnapper's signature.”
Carter picked up another booster off the table and closely examined it. Paul was right. Every two wires twisted together had exactly 5 twists.
The door opened and an attractive red headed woman walked in the door. She was wearing a black mini skirt and a navy blue sleeveless blouse that showed her skinny little arms. She handed some papers to Paul.” Ebay was extremely cooperative with us.” Said the red head.
Carter wished he was wearing his Men be three inches taller shoes he had purchased out of the back of a magazine. Instead he put on his cocky smile and rolled his shoulders back as far as he could pushing out his chest while sucking in his gut.
The pretty red head playfully poked his massive chest and took a step back.” I heard you were the big hero last night.” She said pretending to be impressed at his burly frame.
Carter put on his tough guy face and did a quick look over of her as well,” It's just part of my job.” He said still sucking in his stomach. Then he thought about how much more better this scenario would be if Paul wasn't so gay and would actually have feelings of jealousy. But Paul didn't seem to be the least bit jealous. Paul flipped through the documents while Carter and Emily made small talk. He stopped at one of the pages and stuck his index finger over one of the words.” Uh-Oh!” Said Paul leaning over and reading the document more closely.
Carter had Emily's hand in his and was checking out her pricey diamond bracelet when he suddenly let go and walked over to Paul.” What? What is it? What did you find?”
Emily, feeling forlorned, walked over to Carter who was already hunched over Paul and staring at the document. She quickly ran her elegant fingers through Carter's curly hair then left the room leaving her opulent perfume linger through the air.
” I think the Gadget Man might have a few more tricks up his sleeve.” Said Paul feeling himself about to sneeze from Emily's exuberant amount of perfume still wafting in the air.
Carter picked up his espresso that had already become tepid.” Please tell me not another bomb?”
Paul cleared his throat while flipping through more of the pages.” It looks that way. These are the order forms from Ebay where the 20 wireless cameras match the serial numbers we found in the boosters. The buyer also purchased 5 Bravo pagers and that's what I'm worried about.”
Carter finished the last few sips of espresso then lightly crushed the cup in his hand.” So who was the buyer and why are you worried about the pagers?”
Paul leafed through the pages and then handed Carter a black and white picture of an obese elderly man with all kinds of pimples growing on his face.” This is Lawrence Hertz. A disabled veteran stuck in a wheel chair and obviously not the kidnapper. I'm worried about the pagers because you can get them activated without proper identification. Over in Iraq terrorists are using cellphones and pagers to detonate bombs all the time. You can be on the other side of the world and still detonate a bomb. This is one thing the F.C.C can't do anything about.”
Carter gazed at the creepy looking fat man in the picture who wasn't even looking at the camera when the picture was taken.” So I guess we're going to pay this guy a visit?”
Paul stood up and opened a sanitary napkin to cleanse his hands.” That's exactly what we're gonna do.” Paul fished around in his pocket, pulled out his cellphone, and punched in some numbers.
“ Who are you calling?” Asked Carter.
“ We have to run this by Max first. Don't you remember what he told us?”
Carter rolled his eyes.” Yeah, yeah, whatever.” That was that weirdo Paul for you. Always had to play things by the book.