Blood Bath

Chapter 22

Seth was on time, and Colton was ready to go. They put the security cameras in the back of Colton's Jeep and set out for The Point.

"Have you decided where we should put the cameras?" asked Colton.

"Jim Owens installed a security system at a home next to Mrs. Hoffstarter that would work. He has a mailbox and we could install a camera looking down the main road. I looked on Google Maps and it would work. The other is down further west, and perhaps one on the south shore."

"Mrs. Hoffstarter's neighbor is Albert Doyle, the retired police detective I told you about. Let's do his first."

Seth agreed. In a few minutes they were in Doyle's driveway. Colton went to the side door and rang the bell.

Mr. Doyle opened the door. "Colton, how can I help you?"

Colton explained the situation to Doyle and then he yelled for Seth to come meet Mr. Doyle. The technology Seth was using fascinated Doyle, and the two talked for a few minutes about the security camera Seth would install.

"Where did you find software capable of identifying types of vehicles?" he asked.

"I found a free security program with face recognition, and I rewrote the code to include more than just faces. The system notifies me when a vehicle or person I'm looking for comes into view. Then I get images of it sent to my phone. I can have the software call the police, but that could be a problem if my program mistook a homeowner or delivery company as an intruder."

"Yes it would cause problems. Like reporting a false fire alarm. The fire department can make you pay for their trouble. And if the police keep getting called in error, soon they will refuse to respond."

Doyle watched as Seth set two cameras on his mailbox. One looking east for vehicles coming into The Point Subdivision, and the other could see a mile down the road in the opposite direction. Turning to Colton, he said, "When do you think these robbers will strike?"

"If they stay on the same schedule, they will break into another home tomorrow morning. That's why we're setting the cameras up tonight."

Colton studied the two camera views and suggested that they may only need one other camera. "From this location we can cover a two mile area. The third camera should be two miles west. If we see them turning toward the South Shore, we could to track them down.

Seth thought for a moment and agreed. "Well, that will save us a lot of time and energy. Mr. Doyle, you have the perfect location."

Doyle laughed. "That's why I moved here. It was perfect. However, I didn't expect so much excitement. I planned on a nice quiet retirement at my lake cottage. Instead I'm greeted with a dead girl in the hot tub mystery, and now a security trap to catch home burglars. It's just like being back on the force in Detroit. Only here I have a beautiful lake view."

"Welcome to The Point, Mr. Doyle," laughed Seth. "If you spend time around Colton, you'll run into all kinds of tense situations."

Doyle laughed and then turned serious. "Seth and Colton, just make sure the two of you don't apprehend any robbers by yourself. Watch for them, then call the police. When I was on the police force, we always waited for backup before we approached a dangerous situation."

Colton told Doyle that the police would be in the area all morning. "They're part of the trap, and we will be careful."

After setting up a third camera, Colton and Seth drove to Caseville for dinner at Lefty's Drive Inn, a throwback 1950's diner with the best footlongs in the county.

Sitting in a booth, the two talked, only as best friends can do.

"I want to say I'm sorry about the other night in Caro," Colton said, as a look of shame flashed across his face.