The elderly man was still lying on the concrete.
His breathing was heavy.
But his expression had changed.
He was no longer looking at Vance with confusion.
He was watching him carefully.
Vance touched his radio.
"DISPATCH, THIS IS OFFICER VANCE. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?"
There was a short pause.
Then the dispatcher responded.
"OFFICER VANCE, REMAIN IN YOUR CURRENT LOCATION. DO NOT LEAVE THE STATION."
Vance frowned.
"WHY?"
The dispatcher ignored the question.
"WE HAVE AN ACTIVE ALERT ASSOCIATED WITH ROW NINETY-FOUR."
Vance glanced down at the brown envelope inside his vest.
He suddenly appeared uncomfortable.
"DISPATCH, I HAVE AN ELDERLY MALE WHO REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH MY INSTRUCTIONS."
The dispatcher responded immediately.
"OFFICER, WE ARE NOT ASKING ABOUT THE SUBJECT'S COMPLIANCE. WE ARE ASKING YOU TO REMAIN IN PLACE."
Vance's expression hardened.
He looked toward Walter.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?"
Walter slowly turned his head.
"Nothing you haven't already seen."
Vance stepped closer.
"WHAT DID YOU PRESS?"
Walter did not answer.
Instead, he looked toward the ceiling.
A small security camera was mounted above the concrete pillar.
Its lens was pointed directly toward the location where the officer had taken the envelope.
Vance followed his gaze.
For the first time, he appeared to realize that the entire confrontation had been recorded.
He looked toward the camera again.
Then toward the security office.
Then back at Walter.
"YOU THINK THAT CAMERA IS GOING TO HELP YOU?"
Walter slowly moved one hand against the floor.
"I hope it does."
Vance clenched his jaw.
He looked around the station.
The commuters who had witnessed the incident were no longer pretending not to notice.
Several people had their phones raised.
The woman near the ticket machine was recording.
The man with the backpack was standing several feet away, staring directly at Vance.
Vance pointed toward them.
"PUT YOUR PHONES AWAY!"
Nobody moved.
The man with the backpack spoke.
"We saw what you did."
Vance turned.
"YOU NEED TO MIND YOUR BUSINESS."
The man shook his head.
"That old man was asking for his money back."
Vance stepped toward him.
"DO YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS?"
The man raised his phone higher.
"I'm already involved. I watched you take his envelope."
Vance looked furious.
He turned back toward Walter.
"GET UP."
Walter attempted to move.
But the pain in his back made him stop.
"I can't."
Vance grabbed his jacket.
"GET UP!"
Walter grimaced.
"Please... my back."
A voice came through the radio again.
This time, it sounded considerably more urgent.
"OFFICER VANCE, DO NOT TOUCH THE SUBJECT. ADDITIONAL UNITS ARE RESPONDING."
Vance released Walter's jacket.
He stared at the radio.
"DISPATCH, EXPLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING."
The dispatcher responded.
"YOUR BODY CAMERA AND STATION SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM ARE BEING PRESERVED. STAY WHERE YOU ARE."
Vance's eyes widened.
He looked down at his chest.
His body camera was still recording.
A small red indicator light was visible.
He immediately touched the device.
Then he looked at the envelope inside his vest.
The situation was rapidly becoming something he could no longer control.
But the next transmission was even more disturbing.
"OFFICER VANCE, BE ADVISED. THE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PENSION ENVELOPE HAVE BEEN ENTERED INTO THE CENTRAL EVIDENCE ALERT SYSTEM."
Vance stopped moving.
He looked toward Walter.
"What numbers?"
Walter slowly raised his head.
"Check the envelope."
Vance's jaw tightened.
"WHAT?"
"The numbers. Check them."
Vance reached toward the brown envelope inside his vest.
He hesitated.
Then he pulled it out.
The envelope had a small printed label attached to the back.
There were several handwritten reference numbers beneath the bank's official stamp.
Vance stared at them.
His expression changed.
He turned the envelope over.
Then he looked at the money.
A small receipt was still folded inside.
It contained the withdrawal information and a series of identifying numbers connected to the pension payment.
Vance suddenly understood that the money was not simply an ordinary stack of banknotes.
The pension payment had been withdrawn through a special financial verification process.
Each bundle had been documented.
Each envelope had a unique reference.
And the serial numbers associated with the payment had already been recorded before Walter left the bank.
Vance looked at the radio.
"DISPATCH..."
His voice was no longer aggressive.
"WHAT IS THIS?"
The dispatcher answered.
"OFFICER VANCE, WE ARE REPEATING OUR INSTRUCTIONS. REMAIN IN PLACE."
He looked at Walter again.
The elderly man was slowly attempting to sit up.
A commuter moved closer to help him.
Walter accepted the assistance.
His face remained pale.