Page 22 of Mission: Possible
"Can't! I don't personally know everyone who owns a box. They only have to show a picture ID to open a box and pay the fee. I'll confess I'm not a curious man by nature. I don't check people out of my own volition."
"Have any of the box owners contacted the bank yet?" I asked. If my valuables were stored there and I heard about a robbery, I would certainly want to know if my possessions were safe.
"No. We're keeping the finer details of the robbery as quiet as possible for now. Since theGazetteran a front-page story, however, I'm sure we'll get some concerned calls. What do you say? Will you investigate this?" Charlie leaned forward, resting his arms on the table, an earnest look on his face. "I know the information I can give you is scarce and I realize it's a difficult job, but Lieutenant Graves gave me the impression you are the best people for solving difficult jobs. The police are looking for the robbers, but I only want the contents of that box returned. My employers would be very happy about it and I can pay you handsomely to find it."
"It's a difficult case," said Solomon, returning the phone to him.
Charlie tucked it into his pocket and withdrew an envelope, which he placed on the table. "Perhaps this will sweeten it up," he said upon standing. We stood too and Charlie shook our hands. "If it doesn’t, I trust you'll return it. I appreciate you seeing me since I turned up without any appointment. Will you let me know of your decision later today?"
"We will," said Solomon. He waved and Delgado returned. "My investigator will see you out."
"What do you make of that?" I asked as we watched Delgado escorting Charlie out the door.
"I think he's a liar," said Solomon.
"Oh?"
He glanced at me. "You didn't?"
I swayed my head from side to side, weighing up Solomon's statement. He was an excellent judge of character but I didn’t automatically assume Charlie was a liar. "I thought he was forthcoming with a lot of information, although it lacked the crucial bits like what he wants us to locate."
"He also won't tell us to whom the item belongs, and I think he knows, or at least, he suspects he does. We should consider the possibility he also knows what the item is but simply doesn't want to tell us."
Solomon reached for the envelope, flicked open the flap and took out a check. He whistled. "This is one hell of an incentive," he said, passing it to me.
"Wow!"
"It's also one hell of an incentive not to take the case. Whatever the mystery item is, it's that valuable and he's clearly desperate to find it or he wouldn't have written such a generous check on what I'm guessing is his expense account. I'll need to give this more thought."
"That sounds sensible," I agreed just as my cellphone began to vibrate in my back pocket. I pulled it out. Alice.Alice!With all the events going on at the bank, I completely forgot about Alice and her patient.
"Alice, I am so sorry," I started. "I meant to call you and Austen but I..."
"Don't apologize," interrupted Alice. "I heard what happened. I'm just glad you're okay and I'm sure Austen will be relieved to hear it too."
"He knows?"
"I don't think he knows you were there, since no one reported that, but the bank robbery is buzzing all through the hospital. It's kind of exciting! Was it just like the movies?"
"Much scarier," I decided, "and less well paid."
"I can't believe you got caught up in it."
"It was a case of right place, wrong time."
"But you're okay? That poor officer was shot. It must have been terrible. He was in the ER. Quite the intrepid story! Some of our nurses are a little in love with him; maybe the doctors too."
"One hundred percent fine and I hope he enjoys his five minutes of fame."
"You don't sound too impressed."
"It would be unkind of me to say anything about the officer's ability to make sound decisions."
"Ah," said Alice. "You think he was a jerk."
"A jerk who took a bullet so he has my sympathy to some extent. If you want to know more, I'm sure it'll be hottest topic at the next family dinner."
"Your mother says that will be tomorrow."