Clive Cussler by Isaac Bell 01 - The Chase

Author:Isaac Bell 01 - The Chase
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-03-13T06:00:00+00:00

The floor plan was the same as a thousand other banks’. The bank manager’s office sat behind the teller’s cage, which was enclosed in glass except for the area in front of the cash drawers. This section of the counter was open through narrow bars. The vault was more like a large safe and stood in an alcove off to the side of the lobby. Bell learned that it was closed during business hours and opened only to withdraw currency or when all cash and coins were returned after closing.

“You don’t have a vault?” Bell said to Oxnard.

“Don’t need one. Payroll money usually goes up to the mines under heavy guard the second day after the shipment comes in.”

“Why the second day?”

“We need the time to make a count to verify the amount shipped from the bank in Denver.”

“So the bandit has a limited window of opportunity.”

Oxnard nodded. “If he’s going to make his play, it will have to be tomorrow.”

“Have you seen or had contact with any new depositors or people who simply walked into the bank and then walked out again?”

“A new superintendent for the Liberty Bell mine opened a checking account.” He paused to gaze up at the ceiling in thought. “Then there was a very attractive woman who opened an account. A very small account. Very sad.”

“Sad?”

“Her husband left her back in Iowa to strike it rich in Colorado. She never heard from him again, and the last thing she learned was from a friend, a conductor on the railroad. He told her that her husband left word he was going to Telluride to work in the mines. She came here in an attempt to find him. Poor soul. Chances are, he was one of the many men who died in the mines.”

“I’d like the name of the mine superintendent,” said Bell, “so I can check him out.”

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