"All right."
"They also said your pension money is being processed for return."
Walter smiled faintly.
"That's good."
Rebecca sat beside him.
"Do you think they'll find out what happened to the other money?"
Walter looked at the family photograph on the shelf.
"I hope so."
He paused.
"I don't want another old man sitting in a station wondering where his pension went."
Rebecca took his hand.
"Then we'll help them."
Walter nodded.
He was tired.
But he was no longer afraid to speak.
THE FIRST BREAK IN THE CASE
The following morning, Martin Cole agreed to an interview.
He arrived at the investigation office accompanied by his legal representative.
He looked exhausted.
His clothing was disorganized.
And he appeared considerably less confident than he had during his previous interactions with pension office employees.
Laura began by explaining the purpose of the interview.
"Mr. Cole, we are investigating irregular access to pension beneficiary information."
Cole nodded.
"I understand."
"Did you access Walter Harrison's beneficiary record on the morning of his payment?"
Cole hesitated.
"I may have."
"Why?"
"There was a discrepancy."
"What discrepancy?"
"I don't remember the exact details."
Laura placed a document on the table.
"The access record shows that you opened the beneficiary file at 8:14 a.m."
Cole looked down.
"Yes."
"Was that authorized?"
"I believed so."
"Who instructed you?"
Cole did not answer.
Laura waited.
Then she asked another question.
"Did you communicate with Officer Daniel Vance before Walter Harrison collected his pension?"
Cole shifted in his chair.
His legal representative looked toward him.
Laura continued.
"We have a telephone record showing communication between your account and his registered number."
Cole finally spoke.
"I knew Officer Vance."
"How?"
"He worked in the transit district."
"Did you discuss pension beneficiaries with him?"
Cole looked down.
"Sometimes."
Laura remained silent.
"Sometimes?" she repeated.
Cole nodded.
"People complained about suspicious activity around the stations. We occasionally exchanged information."
"What kind of information?"
"General information."
"Did you provide him with the names of pension beneficiaries?"
Cole hesitated.
"No."
Laura placed another document on the table.
It contained the access records.
"Then why did you access these specific accounts before the incidents?"
Cole stared at the document.
His legal representative requested a short break.
The interview was paused.
When it resumed, Cole appeared more nervous.
Laura asked him whether he had ever provided Vance with payment schedules.
Cole shook his head.
Then, after a long silence, he changed his answer.
"I may have mentioned collection dates."
Laura looked directly at him.
"Why?"
Cole swallowed.
"He said he was trying to prevent thefts around the station."
"Did he ask for the names of specific individuals?"
"Sometimes."
"Did you give them to him?"
Cole hesitated.
"I gave him information about some payment days."
Laura made a note.
"Did you know what he intended to do with that information?"
"No."
"Did you receive money from him?"
Cole did not answer immediately.
His representative leaned closer.
Then Cole finally spoke.
"I received a few payments."
Laura looked up.
"What kind of payments?"
"Cash."
"How much?"
"I don't remember."
"How often?"
Cole rubbed his forehead.
"A few times."
Laura paused.
"Why?"
Cole stared at the table.
"He said it was compensation for helping him identify suspicious activity."
"Did you believe that?"
Cole looked up.
"I wanted to believe it."
Laura continued.
"Did you know that pension envelopes were being taken from elderly beneficiaries?"
Cole closed his eyes.
For several seconds, he did not speak.
Then he nodded.
"I suspected something."
The admission changed the atmosphere in the room.
Laura placed her pen down.
"Mr. Cole, I need you to be very clear."
Cole swallowed.
"I knew some people were losing money."
"Did you know Officer Vance was involved?"
Cole looked toward his representative.
Then he answered.
"Yes."
The room became silent.
Laura leaned forward.
"How long have you known?"
Cole lowered his head.
"Since the first complaint."
"And what did you do?"
"Nothing."
"Why?"
Cole's voice became barely audible.
"Because I was involved."
Laura remained still.
"Explain."
Cole began describing the arrangement.
He claimed that Vance had approached him several months earlier.
The officer had asked whether the pension office could provide information about large cash distributions at transit locations.
Cole initially believed the request was related to theft prevention.
But after the first pension complaint, he began to understand that the information might be used for another purpose.
He said Vance had offered him money in exchange for selected beneficiary details.
Cole admitted providing information about several payment dates.