We filed into the conference room and took our seats. Spelling stood at the head of the table and began with the latest update.
“I’ve just gotten word from Captain Groves of the Whitefish Bay PD that his officers did see a few seconds of activity at the back of the condo complex from the office building’s security tape. Apparently, one man in green coveralls stood at the back door for a minute before it opened outward and he disappeared into the building.”
I added my two cents. “And according to what you said earlier, that door only opens from the inside. The man was waiting for his partner to let him in just like we thought.”
“True enough, but they didn’t see the second man on the tape. He stayed within the doorway and was hidden by the shadows. They’re sending a copy of the video to us and one to Joe. It should be landing in my in-box any minute. The good thing is, the captain said his officers saw the man look straight back, only for a second, but that may be enough for Joe to get a hit with the facial recognition software.” Spelling jerked his head toward Val. “Would you mind grabbing my laptop off my desk?”
“Not at all, sir. I’ll be right back.”
We waited only a minute and Val returned with the laptop cradled in the crook of her arm. She set it on the table, and Spelling logged in. We gathered behind him and looked over his shoulder.
“Okay, here’s the footage.” He hit the play button, and we watched as a man rounded the west side of the building and stood at the back door. In a minute’s time, the door pushed outward, and he crossed over the threshold. Within that minute, he scanned the horizon from left to right. The camera caught his entire face when he looked straight back.
“There! Gotcha!” I pointed, and Spelling paused the footage. “If Joe can’t get enough markers to hit on that guy’s face, nobody can.”
“Give him a call, Jade, and see if he got the file yet. We need a rush on that man’s identity and the plate number for that Mercedes.”
I pushed back my chair and stood. “Got it, boss.” I walked out into the hallway and made the call.
“Joe, it’s Jade. What’s the word on the plate number?”
“Yeah, no luck there. That license plate is registered to a 2005 Nissan Sentra—a far cry from a late model Mercedes sedan.”
“Crap. So it’s stolen and we have no idea who really owns that Mercedes, which is most likely stolen too.”
“I’d have to agree with you on that. It looks like a video file just came in, though. You want to walk me through that one?”
“Yep, that’s why I’m calling. The tape is from an office building’s rooftop camera, and it catches the back of the condo complex. One of the two guys who posed as the landscape crew shows up on the footage and waits at the back door. We’re assuming the other man sneaked in through the overhead when somebody pulled out since the back door can only be opened from the inside.” I paced the hallway as I talked. “There’s a split second where the guy at the back looks directly at the camera, even though he certainly didn’t realize it. We need you to do your magic with the facial recognition software and see if you come up with a hit. Even though there’s only one person we can see, it’s a start. If that guy has a record, then maybe the other one will show up as one of his known associates.”
“Sounds good, and I’ll get started right away. I’ll call as soon as I have a yes or no for you.”
“Thanks, Joe. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.” I clicked off and rejoined everyone in the conference room. I spoke as I took my seat. “I gave Joe a brief rundown of the footage and told him he’d see the guy looking straight back toward the camera about a minute and a half into the video. Joe also said the plates on the Mercedes are stolen. They don’t belong to that car.”
An audible groan filled the room.
“I knew this wasn’t going to be easy,” Cam said.
“All right, until we hear back from Joe, let’s continue searching the tapes for more sightings of those two men. It’s the only thing we have to work with for now. I want to see them and that car in the same frame. One of them drove it there, or there’s a third mystery person involved.” Spelling closed the laptop and took it back to his office.
I was restless as I sat at my computer and searched the footage. I didn’t find anything more from that morning. I glanced at the time—7:18. My phone hadn’t rung yet, and my optimism was fading.
“I got one of them!” Val’s voice rang out into the hallway.
I leapt out of my chair and rounded the doorway to the next office. The rest of the group was on their way in.
“Here”—she pointed—“it’s Monday morning, and he just stepped into the frame.”
“Check it out,” I said. “He’s wearing a suit this time and an expensive looking one, I might add.”
Cam knelt to Val’s right and maximized her computer screen with the mouse. “Funny how these guys always stare at the ground or look to the side. It’s like they’re mindful of possible cameras in the area, plus the sunglasses help hide their identities.”
“Well, they didn’t wear sunglasses this morning. I wonder if—” The ringing phone on my desk interrupted me. I bolted out the door to answer it. The caller ID showed it was Joe. I said a quick prayer in hopes that he had something useful.
“I have news, Jade. I have a hit on the man at the back door.”
“Hang on, I need to get everyone into the conference room. Call back on my cell so I can put you on speakerphone.” I hung up and gathered everyone into the conference room for the second time that evening. Each of us had paper and a pen handy. My cell rang just as Spelling entered and walked to the head of the table. He gave me a nod as he took his seat. “Hello. Yep, I’m putting you on speakerphone, Joe. Okay, we’re all here. Go ahead.”
Joe began by telling us he got a positive facial recognition hit on the man at the back door of the complex. His name was Antonio Pirelli, and he had an extensive rap sheet.
Spelling nodded. “Italian, just like I thought.”
“That’s correct, sir,” Joe said. “Apparently, the Pirellis are a well-known Chicago-based crime family that works for hire. They’ll do anything, really, depending on how much money they’re offered. Antonio was recently released from Stateville Prison after doing a nickel term for aggravated assault.”
“What do we have on his known associates and family members?”
“He has three sisters and two brothers. The one I find interesting is Anthony, his elder brother by two years. Based on the video of the two men in green coveralls standing on the front lawn, I’d venture to say the other could very well be Anthony. He has a similar rap sheet and is built very much like Antonio—large, stocky, and capable of brute force.”
“Good work, Joe. What age are we talking about? Could the old man or uncles be involved?”
“Possibly, sir, but I doubt if it’s on the grunt work end of things. The old man, Giancarlo, and his brothers, Leo and Mauricio, are all in their late sixties. Anthony is forty, and Antonio, thirty-eight.”
“Okay. Tell Forensics to put a rush on those prints. From the way it sounds, if they belong to anyone in the Pirelli family, they’ll be on file.” Spelling dug his fists into his eyes. “Now all we need to know is why they were hired to go after J.T. and by whom.”
We ended the call, and Joe forwarded Anthony and Antonio’s rap sheets to each of our computers.
“Jade, get on the horn with the Chicago PD and find out everything you can on that family. Tell them to get to the Pirelli compound and start hauling in family members. Somebody better start talking and fast.”