Tahoe Dark (An Owen McKenna Mystery Thriller Book 14) by Todd Borg

robbers first stepped out. The system is monitored twenty-four-seven and dialed into the police. Cost us thirty-eight grand to buy and nine hundred a month service fee.”
    “Money well spent?” I said.
    “Maybe. Maybe not. The system rang the bells and sent out the auto-messages, but by the time the cops got there, the robbers were gone with the money.”
    “What happened after your men got out of the truck?”
    “The bangers patted them down, took everything out of their pockets. Cell phones, keys, wallets. Larry, who rides in back, was still in there. Matt explained over the intercom about the explosive under the truck, so Larry unlocked the cargo door and came out without his weapon. The robbers cleaned out Larry’s pockets, then had them all take a hike.”
    “Where to?” I said.
    “They split them up. Probably a psychological thing, right? They showed Matt a piece of paper that said to walk northwest until he got to Edgewood Golf Course, then wait on the corner for one hour. They showed Jim a piece of paper that said to walk southwest on Lake Tahoe Boulevard until he got to the Heavenly Gondola and wait there for one hour. The paper for Larry, the rear guard, said to walk east until he got to Van Sickle Park and wait there for an hour. The last paper said they had drones and accomplices and would be watching them, and that if any of the guards did anything before they’d been at their assigned places for an hour, their families would be killed. At the bottom of the paper, each of the guard’s names was written. Next to Larry’s name was his wife’s name. And under them, his daughter’s name in one of those family-tree drawings. Creepy, if you ask me. They’d obviously been studying our company and had made a careful plan.”
    “How are your men taking it?”
    “Matt and Jim seem to be fine. But then they’re single, and they always put up a macho front. So it’s hard to know what they really think. But Larry isn’t taking it too good. He’s stressing about his wife and two-year-old daughter. I told him he could take a week off when this is settled. From the look on his face when he left and went home, I wouldn’t be surprised if he decides to give notice he’s quitting. I think a job like this seemed reasonable only if the dangers were just, you know, in your mind.”
    “Abstract dangers, not real dangers,” I said.
    “Yeah. Abstract dangers. But now that they’re obviously real dangers, I think Larry would rather sell shirts at Target.”
    “Understandable.”
    “So can you fit us in? I’ve never hired a private cop before, so I don’t really know how it works. Do you charge by the day? Or is it a lump sum contract based on performance?”
    “I charge a per diem plus unusual expenses. You can cancel at any time if you’re dissatisfied.” I explained the details.
    “What do you do first?”
    “I’ll come down and visit your company. I’d like to interview the drivers and look at the truck. Depending on what I find, I may want to talk to your other staff. How soon is good for you?”
    “Well, I was told the Douglas County cops will be done with our truck in another couple of hours. So we should have it back at the garage late this afternoon. Would tomorrow morning work? Say, eight a.m.?”
    “I’ll be there. You and I can talk. Can your drivers be there to talk, say, an hour after that? Nine o’clock?”
    “Will do.”
    “One more question. Have the cops looked at the explosive that was under the truck?”
    “No. It wasn’t there. The robbers must have taken it when they left with the money.”
    “Got it,” I said. “See you in the morning.”
    “Yeah.” Bosworth hung up.
     
    After I got off the phone, I called Diamond.
    I said, “I just talked to Randy Bosworth from Reno Armored, and he told me all about the big stickup. You want to add anything to Bosworth’s version? The inside scoop from an official law enforcement officer?”
    “Ain’t much to tell. Everything