"That's my cousin, Sergeant Tara Graves."
Farid's grin grew wider. "No shit?"
"So, you can probably guess what I'm doing here," I continued. "What about you?"
"I don't think I can guess," said Farid, "but I've heard you can always be found in situations like this."
"We got a call about a bank robbery and decided to come along and see for ourselves," said Maddox.
"Really?" asked Solomon in complete disbelief.
"I wanted to say that scathingly!" I said to my husband as I popped his arm. To the agents, I said, "Reaaaally?" in as sarcastic a voice as I could manage.
"Yes, really. Not many bank robberies pop up on our radar. It seemed rather intriguing. Is that the manager? Excuse us," Maddox nudged Farid and after two polite nods, they both headed for Jord and the manager.
"Do you believe that?" I asked as we watched them.
"Please," snorted Solomon. "They expect us to believe they just stopped by to take a look? The presence of the FBI just made the whole event even more interesting."
I gazed at Jord as he and the bank manager spoke. The bank manager rubbed his neck with one hand and began shaking his head as the agents approached. "I can't wait to find out what the bank manager has to say," I said. "I wonder what was in the vault. Garrett said no to gold ingots."
"We're not interviewing him."
"Why not?"
"Because we're not getting involved," said Solomon as we continued to survey the commotion, our backs to the wall. "This is exclusively a police matter, and possibly an FBI case."
"What do you think was stolen from the vault? They went directly there."
"Could be anything. People keep all kinds of stuff in vaults besides gold ingots. Plus, I don't think this is a gold ingot kind of bank."
"Do you have a box in this vault?"
"Actually, I do, yes," said Solomon.
I glanced up. "Then why aren't you worried?"
"It's currently empty. And no, I wasn't hiding it from you. You're listed as the second account holder and I'll show you where I keep the key at home."
"What did you keep in there?" I pressed.
"Documents mostly."
Hmmm. That was a line of questioning to be pursued another day. I once found Solomon a quiet, mysterious man but after he got shot and languished in a coma, I dug through his life and discovered a lot more about him. I learned why he didn't particularly want to talk about his past, which was okay by me, so long as he didn't have a problem discussing the future.
"The documents were my secret identities. Fake passports and driving licenses. Cash in several different currencies and also an untraceable nine millimeter," said Solomon gently against my ear.
My eyes widened. "Say what?"
Solomon's face lit up in a smile. "Kidding. Just wanted to see your response."
I thumped his upper arm softly and he pretended that it made an impact. As he rubbed his arm, my cellphone rang. "My mom," I told him, still wondering if he really were kidding.
"News travels fast," said Solomon.
"I better answer or she'll fill up my voice service. Hi, Mom!" I gasped in fake cheer.
"Alexandra Graves-Solomon! Tell me you are not inside that bank!"
"I am not inside the bank."
"I knew it!" she wailed. "Mrs. Goldberg's son got her one of those fancy smartphones and she sent me a photo of you splattered with blood. You took on the bank robbers, didn't you?! Lexi, how could you manage to get stabbed again? Or were you shot? How could you?!"
"Who's Mrs Goldberg?" I asked, frowning.
"You two haven't met yet. Someone sent it to her friend, who got it from their cousin, whose daughter was in the bank with you. And she sent it to me!"
"Oh."
"That's all you have to say!" yelled Mom. "What possessed you to take on bank robbers?!"
"I didn't. I lay quietly on the floor."
"Oh, thank heavens!" Mom paused before the wailing started again. "And they attacked you anyway? My poor baby!"
My dad came on the line. "Your mother is a little anxious," he said. "Did you really rob a bank? I could have loaned you some cash if you were hard up. Have things taken a downturn at the agency? Does Solomon need a loan?"
"No, Dad, I didn't rob the bank. I just happened to be there while it was being robbed. And I haven't been shot or stabbed so you can both stop worrying. I'm absolutely fine. Solomon is here. He doesn't need a loan. Garrett, Daniel, and Jord are here too. Also, cousin Tara was one of the responding officers, and I think I see two uncles."
"Such a nice girl," said Dad. "I feel like I'm missing out. It's practically a family reunion."
"Do not bring Mom down here," I warned him.
Dad chuckled. "I won't. Although she did just mention baking muffins to take over to the police station. Invite Tara to dinner next week. We haven't seen her in a while."
"Will do." I disconnected and shook my head. The whole time I was on the phone, I watched Maddox and Farid pulling the bank manager to one side and slowly questioning him as he nervously scratched his head and looked at his feet. I knew Maddox well enough that he wouldn't just turn up at a crime scene because he was slightly interested. Something else had to be going on. And then it became clear. They knew what was stored in the bank vaults and they wanted to know if it was stolen. What was so important to them that they would arrive on scene this fast? And how were they already so far ahead in a case that appeared to have only just begun?
I nudged Solomon. "Something weird is going on here," I said.
"Yep," agreed Solomon. "Let's get out of here."
Chapter Five
Our evening was far less eventful once Garrett allowed us to leave the bank. On our way home, we picked up an extra large pizza from Monty's and after I showered and put on clean clothes, I threw together a Greek salad, my feeble attempt at a healthy accompaniment. Solomon wasn't horrified by my efforts to follow the recipe, and after we ate everything, we retired for an early night. By the time I awoke, my phone was brimming with text messages eager to hear about the bank robbery and Solomon was already in the shower. I chose the better sight and ignored my phone as I waited for him to return.
When he came back into the bedroom, after far too long, wearing a towel tucked around his waist, I had given up waiting and was reading The Montgomery Gazette online. "Just like I thought," I told him. "Not a single penny was taken."
“What the hell are you wearing?” asked Solomon.
I looked down. “These are my favorite comedy crocodile PJs.”
Solomon shook his head. "Any mention of the FBI’s presence?" he asked.
"None."
"Anything stand out to you in the article?"
"Not a thing. It's all as I expected. A few lines on how the masked gunmen executed the robbery. Some hyperbole on Officer Andersen's heroics along with a photo of him in uniform. A couple of quotes, one from an unnamed source at the bank, insisting the security measures were so tight that the robbery was absolutely unforeseen; and another quote from an unnamed hostage regarding how frightening it was." I closed the browser and set down my phone, sitting up a little straighter and resting against the pillows. "Before you ask, not a single word was mentioned about the vault or the explosion. Isn't that odd?"