CHAPTER TWELVE

Chase, Milo, and Torro took the two banks that had been robbed earlier that they believed were connected to the current robberies. Georgia was close enough for a quick plane ride, and hopefully, they could gather information.

“May I help you, gentlemen?” asked the bank manager.

“We’re helping the FBI to investigate the bank robbery that happened almost two years ago. Were you here then?” asked Torro.

“I was an assistant manager at the time,” said the man. “The manager has since retired.”

“Were you here when the bank was robbed?” asked Chase.

“I was. The manager was off that day. We’re all trained on how to handle bank robberies. We don’t fight. We don’t argue. We give them what they want, and the bank handles the rest.”

“Is that what happened?” asked Milo.

“Definitely. They had these strange Superhero masks on and rubber gloves. You couldn’t see any of their skin. They simply slid a note to the teller asking for all the money in the drawers. They didn’t seem to care about the safe at all.”

“Is that odd?” asked Chase.

“Not odd, just different, I guess. The safe has way more money in it, but obviously, that’s harder to carry. These people were different. They weren’t waving guns around, although they did have weapons. They just held them at their sides. There was a pregnant customer who was crying, and they allowed her to get off the floor and sit in a chair.”

“Compassionate bank robbers,” frowned Torro.

“We closed the bank for a week during the investigation, and then everyone had to go to counseling. Honestly, it sounds crazy, but if I were ever robbed again, I’d hope it was the same people. They were just so nice.”

Chase stared at his friends, nodding. Nice. They didn’t want to hurt anyone. They didn’t take the money from the safe, most likely because they couldn’t carry it. And they didn’t frighten anyone.

“Did you notice anything at all about their physical features, their bearing?” asked Milo.

“I’m afraid not. The FBI agents asked me the same thing. They were smaller, and I could tell that at least one of them was a woman. But as I said, they never spoke to anyone. I know this is going to sound crazy, but they were almost comforting or maybe comfortable to be around. I’m not sure.”

“You’ve been very helpful, thank you,” said Chase as they turned and left the bank. The three men seemed confused.

“All they wanted was the money,” said Torro. “They didn’t have any intentions of hurting someone, which makes me wonder what would have happened had someone put up a fight.”

“I’m glad we won’t know the answer to that,” said Chase. “Come on, let’s follow their route after they left the bank.”

Chief and Hex took the bank in Florida, planning to fly back up to Georgia to pick up Chase, Milo, and Torro. The bank was in a quiet area of northern Florida in a small neighborhood. This wasn’t the big city bank that would have millions in deposits. This was small.

“Hey,” said Hex, nodding his head across the street. “A retirement community.”

“Imagine that,” frowned Chief. He pulled on the big glass door, the brass handles somewhat tarnished. Except the big door was locked. He tapped on the glass, and a guard opened the door for them.

“Are you customers?” asked the guard.

“No. We’re here to speak to the manager about the robbery you had. We’re working with the FBI.”

“Yes, sir. Come in. Sorry about that, but since the robbery, we screen all of our customers before just opening the door. It really spooked the manager.”

“Were you here then?” asked Chief.

“No, sir. I was living right across the street when it happened. I’d been looking for a job and walked over the next week and asked if they needed a security guard. I’m a retired police officer. Not in a big city, but my little community in Nebraska was safe.”

“I’m glad you found something you enjoy,” said Hex.

“Let me get the manager for you.” He scurried toward the back of the building, leaving Hex and Chief seated in a comfortable waiting area.

“Doesn’t that sound convenient that he found a job the week after the bank robbery?” asked Hex. Chief nodded at him, then looked around at the tellers and other bank personnel. Most were older, not young college kids at their first job.

“Awful mature workforce, isn’t it?” frowned Chief.

“Yep.” He tapped his comms and spoke to the others. “Take note of the age of the employees in the banks you’re checking.”

“Roger that.” The chorus of voices replied as they watched the manager walking toward them. She was an older woman, probably in her late fifties or early sixties.

“Gentleman, how can I help you?”

“We’d just like to ask a few questions about the robbery you had. Did you notice any identifying marks on the robbers?” asked Chief.

“No, nothing. I told the FBI agents that same thing. They were polite, even wrote a polite note,” she laughed. “They just wanted the money in the drawers and left.”

“Did you press the alarm button?” asked Hex.

“Of course,” she nodded. “But nothing happened. They discovered later that the cameras and alarms had been disabled. Only temporarily, but it was enough time for them to get what they wanted and leave. Two minutes after they were gone, everything came back online again. We were told these systems were foolproof, but obviously, they weren’t.”

“Was anyone harmed?”

“No,” she laughed. “I know it seems foolish of me, but I don’t think these people wanted to harm anyone. They were quick, kind, and never once yelled at anyone or waved their weapons in our faces. This was not the bank robbery I’d seen in television and movies.”

“That’s good,” said Chief. “Did these people have any limps, maybe one of them using a cane? What about a hearing aid?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I told the agents the same thing. There was nothing visible that anyone saw. They were calm, methodical, walked in casually, walked out casually. That’s it.”

“The senior community across the street looks nice. I’ve been looking for a place for my father. Do you know anything about it?” asked Chief.

“Many of our team members live there,” she smiled. “This is a primarily retired community, so we hire those that need extra income. We’ve got a lot of experience in this room, and they have far more patience with our seniors.”

“I think that’s great,” said Hex.

“It is, but it isn’t. Many of my employees are working because they have to. They don’t make enough money to support themselves or their spouses in retirement. I’ve got at least three who have their children back at home living with them. It’s strange times we’re living in.”

“Yes, ma’am. It sure is.”

Each of the visits to the banks yielded the same information. No visible markings that would tell them who the robbers were. Polite, quiet, and efficient. But nothing else.

“We went to the apartment complex where Helen was living, at least according to her personnel records,” said Sebastian. “Landlord says that she was a good tenant, never caused any issues, paid her rent on time. He knew she was struggling with her utilities and was trying to help her out, but he said that more than a few times, she let her electricity lag.”

“Damn. I hate this,” said Brix. “I hate that we’re chasing down senior citizens that, in all likelihood, are doing this simply to survive. It’s like an aging group of Robin Hoods.” Emelia’s phone rang, and they all turned to look at her.

“Helen’s son,” she whispered, answering the call on speaker. “Mr. Aikens?”

“It’s just Tom, ma’am. You called about my mother. Is she ill?” he asked.

“No. I don’t believe so,” said Emelia. “Tom, my name is Emelia Stanton, and I’m an agent here with the FBI. We have reason to believe that your mother may be involved with a group of individuals, senior citizens, who are robbing banks.” There was a disturbing silence on the other end of the line, and then he spoke.

“I’m not sure what to say, Ms. Stanton. My mother and father were never millionaires, but they had a good retirement.”

“We’ve looked into their finances, Tom. Your mom didn’t have a lot left after burying your father. It seems they lent a great deal of their retirement to you and your sister.”

“Bullshit,” he snapped.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, I mean, that’s bullshit. My parents never gave us a dime. My father believed that we needed to pull our britches up and make it on our own. My sister and I had student debt that nearly killed us, but we made it through. My wife and I moved to Ireland about six years ago, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished here.

“My sister and her husband live in California and run a winery that belonged to his family. They’re doing very well. If my mother needed money, all she had to do was call us.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Aikens. Tom. I didn’t mean to upset you. We’re just trying to figure all of this out. Your mother moved out of her apartment and into a house with several other people.”

“I knew that,” he said. “She told us she enjoyed their company and pooling their resources was helpful for all of them. I think they had someone in their inner circle that died about a year ago, and it hit them all hard.”

“I see. Well, that can be tough for anyone. She left the bureau the other day and hasn’t returned. If she contacts you, please let us know, or please ask her to call me.”

“Is my mother wanted for these bank robberies?” he asked.

“At this point, she’s wanted for suspicion of armed robbery and an accessory to murder, as well as divulging classified information.”

Again, she was met with complete silence on the other end of the call.

“Mr. Aikens?”

“I’m here. Listen, my sister and I didn’t have the best relationship with our mother after our father died. She never told us that he was dying, which resulted in us not being able to say goodbye to him. We’re a little bitter about that, as you can imagine.”

“I can understand that. I would be devastated if that were to happen to me,” she said, staring at her own father. He smiled at her, giving her hand a squeeze.

“I think that’s all I can tell you, Ms. Stanton. My sister and her family are in Italy on holiday right now, so she probably won’t respond to any calls. I’ll try to let her know what’s happening.”

“Thank you, Tom.”

“Ms. Stanton? If you speak to my mother, tell her, well, tell her we’re very disappointed in her.”