by Cindy Bell
“If you need my help just let me know.” Eddy met his eyes.
“Okay, sure.” Detective Brunner’s smile appeared staged.
Chapter 2
Eddy left the bank with a headache. He still didn’t have the cash out that he needed for Samantha’s birthday, and now he had the robbery on his mind. He wasn’t sure that he was going to be able to make it to the party that was planned for that evening. He had waited until the last minute as usual. He decided he would just use his credit card, something that he hated to do. He preferred the feel of real money in his hands. Credit cards seemed like an invitation for someone to rob him, both the banks by charging interest, and the hackers that could steal all of his information.
The real problem was that he had no idea what to get Samantha for her birthday. He wanted something to show how much he valued her, but he didn’t want it to be too mushy or give her the wrong idea. Buying a gift for a guy friend was simple, but buying a gift for a female friend seemed impossibly complicated. He decided that he needed some reinforcements. He paused beside his car and pulled out his cell phone. As he dialed Walt’s number he watched the rest of the witnesses being released from the bank. He could see their shaken expressions. It hadn’t been the most pleasant experience for Eddy either, but he was used to a little bit of danger.
“Hi, this is Walt, leave a message.”
Eddy rolled his eyes. He knew exactly what Walt was doing. He was sitting on his back porch having his lunch. Walt was very particular about how he did things, and always stuck to the same daily schedule. Eddy guessed that answering the phone during a meal was not on the schedule. He hung up the phone and climbed into his car. He noticed through the side window that the security guard was walking down the sidewalk. Eddy watched him for a minute. As Eddy watched, the teller that he usually saw at the bank ran after the security guard. She caught up with him at the corner. Eddy continued to observe until the ring of his cell phone grabbed his attention. He looked down at the caller ID to see that it was Walt. When he looked back up the pair that had been standing at the corner were gone.
“Hello?”
“Hi Eddy, it’s Walt. Did you call me?”
“Yes, I did.” Eddy could barely focus on the conversation. He searched the sidewalk and the crosswalk for the teller and the security guard. He didn’t see any sign of them. “Oh yes, I did. I was hoping that you could meet me in town and help me find something for Samantha’s birthday.”
“You still haven’t bought her anything?” Walt’s tone was reproachful. “Eddy, I offered to go with you last week.”
“I know, I know. So, can you help me or not?”
“Sure, I can be there in about twenty minutes. Where do you want to meet?”
“I guess at Forrest, there’s a couple of shops there.”
“I’ll be there.”
After Eddy hung up the phone he swept his gaze over his surroundings once more. He hoped to spot the teller or the security guard. Instead, all he saw were people milling about to get a look at the bank which had been roped off with police tape. Eddy sighed and started the car. He tried to push the bank robbery out of his mind. He needed to get himself to focus on a present for Samantha. He had no idea what to get her. She was too smart to just get her any old gift. He knew that she would think about why he had bought her what he bought her, which meant that he had to think about it, too.
As he drove to Forrest, he noticed that there were quite a few people walking around. He found himself checking each face to see if it was the security guard or the teller. When he reached Forrest he parked his car along the street beside a deli. He could grab a sandwich while he waited for Walt to show up. The deli was one of his favorite places to eat. It was run by an older Hungarian woman whose accent was so thick that Eddy couldn’t understand a word she said. But it didn’t matter because the food was delicious and her smile was always warm. When he stepped inside she wasn’t smiling. She spoke in a fast and emotional tone to the man beside her. Eddy recognized him as her husband who often did deliveries for the deli.
Eddy paused beside the counter. He wished he understood enough of their language to know what had happened to make her so upset.
“Is everything okay?” Eddy met her eye when she finally turned to look at him.
“It’s fine.” She cleared her throat. “Usual?”
Eddy nodded. He looked at her with sympathy. As her husband stepped out from behind the counter, Eddy offered his hand to him in greeting. He was a quiet man who Eddy rarely heard speak. He took Eddy’s hand in a firm shake.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“She’s just upset about the bank robbery.” He spoke in perfect English. Eddy was a little shocked. He had always assumed that the man had the same thick accent as his wife, but once he thought about it he realized that he hadn’t ever heard the man speak in English before.
“Oh, you’ve heard about it?” Eddy frowned.
“Yes, the news spread fast. She is worried that we will be hit next.”
“Tell her not to worry. Bank robbers go for big jobs, not little places. Okay?” Eddy smiled.
“Oh? You know this for sure?” The man narrowed his eyes.
“Well, just from experience. I am a retired police officer.”
“I will tell her, thank you.” He seemed relieved as he stepped behind the counter to tell his wife. Eddy ordered his sandwich, but it was hard for him to enjoy it. As he ate it he was fuming. He thought of all of the other small businesses on the street that would be impacted by the robbery. The ripple effect that crime had on a town always bothered him. When he finished his sandwich he gave a final few words of reassurance to the owners before stepping out of the deli.
“Eddy, there you are.”
Eddy nearly bumped into Walt as he stepped out onto the sidewalk. “Oh, I didn’t think that you’d be here yet.”
“Just arrived. I was going to call your phone, but here you are. Are you all right? You look a little pale.”
“I’m fine.” Eddy nodded. “I’ll feel better once I have something picked out for Samantha.”
“That’s why I told you to start early. There’s no better feeling than being prepared.”
Eddy grimaced and nodded. He was not in the mood for one of Walt’s lectures, but he knew that his friend only had good intentions.
“I just can’t figure out what she would like.”
“Samantha is a tough one when it comes to gifts. Let’s just take a walk along the shops and see what catches our attention.” Walt gestured to the first store in a long line of small shops. Eddy nodded again. He was not much of a shopper, but he was relieved to have some help. As Eddy and Walt made their way through the shops Eddy did his best not to mention the robbery. He wanted some time to sort it out in his head before he brought anyone else into the situation. His mind kept playing back the scene, which made it difficult to focus on frilly coffee mug cozies and plaques with cute sayings carved on them.
“Eddy, you haven’t pointed out anything,” Walt said. “If you don’t come up with something soon I’m going to think that your heart isn’t really in this.”
“It’s just a gift, Walt.” Eddy sighed. “Maybe I should just get her a gift card.”
“Nope sorry, that’s not going to fly with Samantha.”
Eddy wondered for a moment if he even wanted to go to the birthday party anymore. Then he remembered that it was for Samantha. She had become a very good friend of his, and he didn’t want to hurt her by not being part of her celebration. He caught sight of something shimmering on a display nearby.
“Walt, what do you think?” Eddy pointed to the necklace in the display.
“It’s nice I guess.” Walt grimaced.
“What?” Eddy glanced over at him.
“Well, you know, buying a woman jewelry.”
“Huh?”
“I mean, that’s a big step.” Walt cleared his throat.
“Step?” Eddy squinted at him. “It�
��s just a birthday gift.”
“To you, and to me, it’s just a birthday gift.”
Eddy stared at the necklace.
“Would you like to see it out?” The clerk behind the counter smiled at him.
“No, I better not.” Eddy shook his head. “I just don’t know what to get her. Flowers?”
“Eh.” Walt frowned. “I never understood giving flowers as a gift. They’re going to die, you know? It’s only a matter of time before their bright, perfect petals shrivel and fall.”
“Then what am I supposed to get her?” Eddy sighed with frustration.
“Hey, I just got her a card. You’re the one hung up on getting her a gift. Keep it simple. A card, a signature, and everybody is happy.”
“I know that. But Samantha’s always so caring towards us and I just want to do something to brighten up her day.” Eddy offered an awkward smile. “It’s a little out of the norm for me.”
“I can see that.” Walt chuckled. “All right, let’s figure it out. No jewelry, no flowers, don’t ever buy a woman clothes, trust me. I know!” He snapped his fingers. “A book!”
“A book?” Eddy narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure about that?”
“I’m sure. Samantha’s always looking for something new to read. I think that would be a great gift.”
“All right.” Eddy nodded. “I think that’s a good idea. I’ll check out the bookstore on the way home.”
* * *
Eddy stepped into the bookstore with some hesitation. He still had no idea what to buy for Samantha, but he knew he was running out of time. It didn’t help that the shelves of the bookstore were covered by hundreds of books. All of the different sections began to blur together. He was about to ask for help from the young woman at the counter when one section caught his attention.
“True crime. Perfect.”
As a retired crime journalist he was sure that Samantha would enjoy a good book about an actual crime. However, he had to figure out which one she might not have.
“Are any of these new releases?” He turned towards the woman at the desk.
“First shelf, top row.” She smiled, but it was a forced expression. Eddy sensed that she was a shy person. He began looking over the titles available. Many were gorier than he would choose for Samantha. She was a strong and intelligent woman, but he didn’t want the stories to be too violent. He noticed a book at the very end of the row. It was slimmer than the others.
“Unsolved Bank Heists.” He read the title out loud. When his fingertips touched the book, he felt a faint shiver race along his spine.
“That seems fitting for today.” The woman behind the desk had walked over to him in time to hear his words. “There was just a robbery at the local bank.”
“Hm. Maybe a little too real?” He raised an eyebrow.
“I like the ones that aren’t solved yet.” She smiled again, and this time it was more natural. “True crime is fun to read, but I like books like these that are the real mysteries. It’s kind of exhilarating to think that you might be able to figure something out that the police didn’t.”
Eddy smiled. “It’s perfect.” He knew that Samantha would adore an opportunity to investigate any crime. After he paid for the book he walked back to his car. As he walked he thought about the robbery. What bothered him most about it was that the robber had been so bold. Most wouldn’t be as daring as he had been. They would be worried about whether they were going to be caught. This man didn’t seem the least bit worried. Eddy shook his head and reminded himself that he had a birthday party to attend.
Chapter 3
Eddy adjusted his tie. He never quite understood why men were expected to wear them. They are uncomfortable, they didn’t cover anything, or accentuate anything, they were just an annoying extra piece of material that always managed to get out of place. But he still wore them on special occasions. He thought it was impolite not to. Samantha’s party was a special occasion. He straightened his shoulders and prepared to knock on the door. Despite the fact that Samantha had invited him over several times it felt as if this was his first formal visit. He wondered if he should have brought wine along with his present. He felt as if he was showing up empty handed. He raised his hand to knock just as someone walked up behind him.
“Don’t you look snazzy.”
There was no mistaking that voice, or that attitude. Eddy turned around and smiled.
“Hello Jo. You look lovely this evening.”
He was only attempting to be polite, but the truth was Jo could look lovely in a bed sheet. With her long, thick, black hair and her lithe figure she filled out any dress nicely. The one she wore that evening was much more slinky than usual. It split at the knee of her right leg.
“Thanks. Are you going in?” She looked towards the door. Eddy’s hand still hovered over it. Eddy realized how ridiculous he must look. He gave a solid knock on the door and then took a step back.
“I heard about what happened.” Jo reached out and lightly touched Eddy’s elbow. “You were there, weren’t you?”
Eddy stared at her for a long moment. He had no idea how she could know that. He hadn’t told Walt, or anyone else that he had been at the bank.
“I’m fine. I’d rather not talk about it.” He tilted his head towards the door. “Don’t want to ruin the party.”
“Sure.” Jo nodded. “I’ll keep it to myself.”
Eddy smiled at her as the door swung open. Samantha beamed at both of them.
“Hi! Thanks for coming!”
“Happy birthday!” Jo gave Samantha a quick hug before she stepped inside. Eddy held his gift bag out in front of him as if it were a shield of some kind.
“Happy birthday, Samantha.”
“Oh Eddy, you didn’t have to get me a gift.” She took the bag from him. “Come in, the food has just arrived.”
Eddy moved past her into the villa. He spotted Walt already seated at the table. He appeared to be evaluating the assortment of Chinese food that was spread across the dining room table.
“Smells delicious.” Eddy sat down beside Walt.
“Hmm, as long as it doesn’t have MSG.” Walt continued to study the meals.
“The sign said no MSG,” Samantha said as she and Jo joined them at the table.
“Right, well anyone can make a sign.”
“If you don’t want it, I’ll eat it, Walt.” Eddy grinned. “I’m starving.”
“Well, let’s eat then.” Samantha distributed chopsticks. “There’s forks in the kitchen if you need them.” Eddy plowed right into his honey chicken, one of his favorite dishes.
“So Sam, have you made any birthday resolutions?” Jo skewered a piece of pork with one of her chopsticks.
“Oh boy, am I supposed to do that?” Samantha laughed. “Actually, I have made one. I’m going to go back to work.”
“But I thought you were retired?” Eddy looked across the table at her.
“I am retired, but I miss it. I love writing and I don’t see anything wrong with doing a little moonlighting, even if it’s just for fun.”
“Only you would think crime journalism could be fun,” Walt said with disbelief.
“Well, then I guess my birthday gift will be perfect for you.” Eddy’s voice rose with pride.
“Oh?” Samantha stood up. “I can’t wait any longer, I’m going to have to open it.”
“Well, I didn’t exactly wrap it, it’s just in a bag.” Eddy laughed.
Samantha reached into the bag and pulled out the book. “Oh wow, Eddy, this is great! Now, you all have to leave so I can start reading.” She winked at them.
“Well, those aren’t the only unsolved bank heists,” Jo piped up. She winced when Eddy shot a look in her direction. It was too late. Samantha seized on the topic.
“Did you hear about that awful robbery?” Samantha clucked her tongue. “I can’t believe it happened right in town. Did you hear anything from your police contacts about it, Eddy?”
Eddy smiled a li
ttle. “I might know a thing or two about what happened.”
“Well, then you should fill us in.” Walt leaned forward with a pained look on his face. “How much did they take?” Being a retired accountant Walt’s mind was always focused on the numbers.
“I heard it was about five hundred thousand. Give or take.” Eddy shrugged.
“That’s not a bad haul for a small bank.” All eyes shifted to Jo in reaction to her comment. “I’m just saying it was a lot to rake in.” Jo rolled her eyes. “It’s not like I’m admiring the crime.”
“It was a lot.” Eddy grew thoughtful. It was likely more than the bank would normally have on hand. Maybe the robber knew that there would be a surplus of funds available. It seemed like too much of a coincidence to think that he just got lucky, but maybe he did.
“Do they have a description of the robber?” Samantha asked. She sat back down at the table and put her book down beside her.
“He was white, mid-thirties, stocky and tall. Left-handed, definitely left-handed.” Eddy nodded.
“Wow, that’s a pretty good description. Now facial features?” Samantha pressed.
“He was wearing a cap and big sunglasses. I couldn’t really see his face.”
Everyone grew silent at the table. Eddy didn’t realize his mistake until Jo nudged his foot under the table.
“You were there?” Samantha’s eyes widened with horror. “In the bank when it was robbed?”
“Well, I might have been standing in line.” Eddy shrugged. “I mean, it’s not a big deal.”
“No, you were just a bystander in the middle of a bank robbery. How could you not tell me?” Samantha looked annoyed as she crossed her arms.
“It’s not like you didn’t already know about it.” Eddy frowned. He prepared himself for an interrogation. Samantha was never easily satisfied when it came to a crime.
