Not long ago I had an out-of-state client who was concerned her boyfriend would cheat on her while working a construction job in Boise. He was due to be in Idaho for about a week, so she retained my services for three days and nights of surveillance. After the second night I told the client she was wasting her money on surveillance.



The subject worked each day and returned to his hotel each evening without stopping along the way. At dinnertime, he departed his room and went to a neighboring diner where he ate a working man's meal and drank a couple beers before returning to his room. On the second night, when he apparently became restless and decided to cut loose a bit, he went to Walmart and spent an hour in the sporting goods area looking at fishing lures and camping gear; then he returned to his room and stayed in for the night.

I told my client about some of the expected patterns and routines of the unfaithful based on knowledge I've accumulated through professional experience as a private investigator. It was clear these did not fit the subject in this case.

First and foremost, the target in this case was somewhat shy or at least private and not at all forward or flirtatious with the women he encountered. The waitress at the diner was an attractive young lady who, like many waitresses, was very friendly. The subject ordered his food and thanked her when it came; that was it.

The other interesting note was everything the subject told the client on the phone was the truth as to his whereabouts and activities—I was there to see it! Oftentimes on these types of cases the client will tell me what the subject has reported and it's completely different from what I've seen with my own eyes; often have video to prove it.

Finally, the client had been concerned her boyfriend would be influenced by his buddy, who, in her opinion, was a definite threat for this activity. Interestingly, the subject seemed to avoid this individual even though they were housed at the same hotel and rode to and from the job site together.

The client ultimately conceded her insecurities might have been unwarranted and the surveillance was discontinued.

The point to the story is that the client in this case clearly had insecurities, as many of us do. Was her decision to hire a private investigator wrong? I think not. If she hadn't, she would have likely worried the entire week and probably questioned her boyfriend relentlessly when he returned, maybe to the point of harming the relationship.

Not only do I not think she wasted her money, I actually think it was a great investment. If this guy had been the cheating type, he would have been in full swing being out of state and I would have nailed him. At this stage in their relationship there would have been little harm in knowing he was a cheater and moving on. But more importantly, the client was able to set apart the previous relationships which scarred her and understand this one was different; she now had a good guy and she needed to know that.