Harold looked toward the evidence container holding Walter's envelope.
"Then I saw the alert today."
He explained that he had been waiting for his train when he noticed the emergency response.
At first, he thought it was an ordinary police incident.
Then he heard the dispatcher mention Row 94.
He recognized the reference immediately.
He remembered the number from his missing pension documents.
He approached the station security office and asked whether the incident involved a pension envelope.
When the employee confirmed it, Harold requested assistance.
He had realized that the same officer who had taken his money months earlier was involved in another incident.
And this time, the entire event had been recorded.
Reynolds looked toward Reeves.
"Contact the pension authority immediately. We need to compare both payment records."
Reeves nodded.
"Understood."
He opened the verification system.
The two reference numbers appeared side by side.
Walter Harrison.
Harold Bennett.
Both were registered pension beneficiaries.
Both had reported that Vance took their envelopes.
And both incidents had occurred inside transit stations.
Reeves examined the payment history.
Then he noticed a third reference.
He stopped scrolling.
"Captain..."
Reynolds turned.
"What?"
"There's another matching report."
"Another pension recipient?"
"Yes."
Reeves opened the file.
A woman named Eleanor Brooks.
Age sixty-nine.
Former municipal hospital administrator.
She had reported that a uniformed officer stopped her outside a transit station and demanded to inspect her retirement payment.
The incident had occurred approximately seven months earlier.
The report contained a partial description of the officer.
Dark navy uniform.
Broad shoulders.
Short brown hair.
A distinctive tactical vest.
Reynolds looked toward Vance.
The description matched.
Vance immediately shook his head.
"I don't know that woman."
Reeves continued.
"Her complaint was never formally connected to the previous cases."
Reynolds looked at the documents.
"Why?"
"Because the original report did not include an officer identification number."
"Can we contact her?"
"Yes. Her information is available."
Reynolds nodded.
"Do it."
Vance looked increasingly distressed.
"THIS IS RIDICULOUS. YOU'RE COMBINING DIFFERENT INCIDENTS BECAUSE THEY INVOLVE CASH."
Reynolds looked at him.
"No. We're examining whether there is a pattern supported by evidence."
Vance turned toward Harold.
"You can't prove I took your money."
Harold looked at him.
"I have the receipt."
Vance laughed nervously.
"That only proves you had money."
Harold slowly shook his head.
"And the camera shows you taking it."
Vance stopped speaking.
For several seconds, the only sound was the clicking of Reeves' keyboard.
Then his telephone rang.
He answered.
"Reeves."
A voice on the other end spoke for nearly thirty seconds.
Reeves listened carefully.
Then he looked toward Reynolds.
"We've reached Eleanor Brooks."
"What did she say?"
"She recognizes the officer."
Reynolds turned toward Vance.
"Ask her whether she is willing to provide a formal statement."
Reeves continued speaking.
A few moments later, he ended the call.
"She is willing to come forward."
Reynolds nodded.
"Arrange the interview."
Vance lowered his head.
The situation was no longer about one pension envelope.
It was becoming an examination of several incidents involving elderly residents who had trusted the police and later discovered that their retirement money had disappeared.
And every new piece of information made the original confrontation more serious.
THE SECOND ENVELOPE
At approximately 5:40 p.m., Walter Harrison arrived at the hospital's observation unit.
The doctors had completed their initial examination.
They found bruising along his lower back and a minor head injury that required monitoring.
Fortunately, there was no indication of a serious spinal injury.
However, the physician recommended that he remain under observation for several hours.
Rebecca arrived shortly after receiving the hospital's address.
She entered the room carrying her handbag and a jacket.
The moment she saw her father, she hurried toward the bed.
"Dad!"
Walter smiled weakly.
"Hello, sweetheart."
"What happened to you?"
Walter looked at the floor.
"I fell."
Rebecca frowned.
"That's not what I asked."
Walter took a breath.
"A police officer took my pension envelope."
Rebecca stared at him.
"What?"
"He said he needed to inspect it."
"And then?"
"He put it inside his vest."
Rebecca's face turned red.
"HE STOLE YOUR MONEY?"
Walter looked toward the nurse.
"That's what I told him."
Rebecca sat beside the bed.
"Why didn't you call me?"
"It happened quickly."
"You should have called me immediately."
Walter smiled faintly.
"I didn't want you worrying."
Rebecca shook her head.
"Dad, you're my father. I'm going to worry."
She gently touched his arm.
"Did they recover the money?"
"Yes. They found the envelope."
Rebecca exhaled.
"Thank goodness."
Walter looked at her.