Chapter 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

H arry was more than happy to come in and talk about the case.

He settled into a chair in the squad room, a wistful smile on his weathered face. “That bank robbery case, it was something else. Nothing like that ever happened in our sleepy little town before.”

Sam leaned forward, his eyes intent. “What about Hartman? Do you think he was just incompetent, or was he purposely botching the investigation?”

Harry scratched his chin. “Hard to say for sure. But there was definitely some evidence that went missing. Poof, like it never existed.”

“Interesting.” Sam tapped his pen against the desk. “You think Hartman had something to do with that?”

“I couldn’t prove anything, but it always seemed fishy to me.” Harry’s eyes narrowed. “You reopening the case, Chief?”

Sam hesitated. “We’re exploring all angles. This money showing up in Alex Sheridan’s apartment, it could be connected.”

Harry’s face lit up. “Well, I’ll be. Never thought I’d see the day. If there’s anything I can do to help, just say the word.”

“Actually, I was thinking we could take a trip to the evidence room in the next town over. See if we can dig up anything on the old case.”

“Count me in.” Harry pushed himself to his feet. “I’ve been waiting fifty years for another crack at this one.”

Sam grabbed his jacket and whistled for Lucy. The German shepherd trotted over, her tail wagging. “Looks like it’s going to be a long day, girl.”

As they headed out, Sam glanced at Harry. “What do you say we make a pit stop at Brewed Awakening? I have a feeling we’re going to need the caffeine.”

Harry chuckled. “You read my mind, Chief. A good cup of joe and a fresh set of eyes, that’s what this case needs.”

Lucy hopped into the back of the cruiser, her nose pressed against the window. Sam slid behind the wheel, the weight of the past and the promise of the future hanging in the air. The engine rumbled to life, and they set off, ready to unravel the secrets that had lain buried for half a century.

Ray Child, a cop in his fifties, greeted Sam and Harry as they entered the evidence room. “Well, well, if it isn’t Chief Mason and old Harry Woolsten.” He grinned, shaking their hands.

“Good to see you, Ray,” Sam said. “How’s the family doing?”

“Oh, you know, same old same old. Kids are growing up too fast.” Ray chuckled. “How about you, Harry? Enjoying retirement?”

Harry nodded. “Can’t complain. Keeps me out of trouble, mostly.”

Ray’s eyes twinkled. “Speaking of retirement, mine’s coming up in a couple years. Any advice, Harry?”

Harry laughed. “Just one thing: keep the wife happy. That’s the secret to a long and peaceful retirement.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Ray paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “You know, it’s funny you should mention retirement. Another retired guy was here today, looking at some old evidence.”

Sam’s ears perked up. “Oh yeah? Who was that?”

“Dom Hartman,” Ray replied.

Harry and Sam exchanged a glance. Interesting coincidence.

“Does he come here often?” Sam asked

Ray gave a half shrug. “Not really, but sometimes, guys like to come in and go over their cases that never got solved. Retirement hobby, I guess. Of course, once on the force, you’re always welcome in here.”

Sam and Harry carefully sifted through the evidence boxes, their eyes scanning the faded photographs and yellowed documents. The images showed the aftermath of the heist—the vault blown open, its door hanging off its hinges, and scattered bills littering the water-soaked floor.

“Why didn’t they take it all?” Sam asked, holding up a picture of the remnants of cash left behind.

Harry shook his head. “They didn’t have enough time. The explosion triggered the alarm, and the cops showed up pretty quick. They had to make a run for it.”

He pointed to a photograph showing a gaping hole in the floor. “They escaped through there, into the sewer system. Had to get to the helicopter before the cops figured out their exit strategy.”

Sam’s brow furrowed. “The sewer system? That explains how Frank was involved. They needed his knowledge to navigate the tunnels and ensure they could get out to wherever the helicopter was waiting.”

Harry nodded. “Makes sense. And whoever owned that helicopter, they had to have some serious cash. Helicopters don’t come cheap.”

“Why would someone with a lot of money rob the bank?” Sam’s mind raced, piecing together the puzzle. “Which means there was probably another motive behind the heist. It wasn’t just about the money.”

A bank pamphlet touting high CD interest rates caught Sam’s eye, but it wasn’t the interest rate but the design that drew his attention. “Look at that. Looks like the tree design on that pin we found in the woods.”

Harry squinted at the photo. “Sure does. Yep. I remember now that was the logo for the bank.”

Sam glanced at Harry. “So the pin was from the bank?” The bank had gone out of business decades ago, so it was no wonder no one had recognized the tree design. Looked like this little trip to the evidence room was paying off.

“Looks like it. Ten years of service. Whoever had this pin worked at the bank for ten years.”

“And then robbed it?”

Harry nodded, his eyes distant as he dredged up old memories. “Must have been someone high up. They probably weren’t directly involved in the robbery itself, but they had the power and influence to orchestrate it.”

“And rode in the getaway helicopter. Then dropped the pin when the bag fell out?”

Harry shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe we will never know what happened in that helicopter.”

“If that person was a person in power, then they also might have had the power to bribe Hartman to throw the investigation,” Sam added, his jaw tightening.

Harry frowned, his forehead creasing. “You know, I don’t recall Hartman ever coming into a lot of money after the case. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t get paid off somehow.”

“Frank never flashed his cash around either,” Sam mused. “Whoever was pulling the strings knew how to keep things quiet.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their realization settling over them. Finally, Sam spoke, his voice low and determined. “So we’ve got a mastermind who’s still out there, someone who found out Alex knew about the robbery and wanted to silence him.”

Harry nodded. “Or maybe Alex got greedy, tried to blackmail them, and they took him out.”

“Whoever it is would have to be around your age.” Sam’s eyes widened as a sudden thought struck him. “Hartman was here today, looking at the evidence. You don’t think he took something, do you? Something that could be critical to the case?”

Harry’s face darkened. “It’s possible. He’s always been a slippery one.”

Sam scanned through the box again. What could possibly have been in here that would tie into the investigation into Alex’s death?

Finally, Sam put the cover on the box and shoved it back onto the shelf. “It seems likely these cases are linked, but I don’t know if the answer is here in the old evidence. I think the answer lies in Alex’s last hours, and there’s one person who might be able to clue us in to who he was with at the Drunken Moose right before he died.”