Chapter 86: A New Analysis of the Bank Robbery Case (Subscribe and Vote for Us!)

The Fifth Investigation Unit actually has the authority to handle gang-related cases, but since this time Roan and Mona were acting in private, they needed to avoid drawing too much attention. Therefore, they called Norton from the Organized Crime Investigation Unit.

After Roan explained the situation to Norton in detail, and Norton learned that the "Black River Gang" was nothing more than a small-time loan shark operation, he immediately led the SWAT team to the location. Taking the gang by surprise, they launched a swift raid and easily wiped out the group.

“Thanks for your hard work this time,” Roan said, glancing at the main gang leaders being shoved into cars by SWAT officers. He smiled and extended a hand to Norton. “Who would have thought that after busting a major gang this morning, we’d be taking down a small one this afternoon?”

“It was no trouble at all.” Norton beamed, gesturing toward a group of reporters who had appeared out of nowhere nearby. He said to Roan in a low voice, “Thank you, Roan. You’ve given me another chance to make the news.”

In America, taking down gangs isn’t something law enforcement can do on a whim. Not only do they need hard evidence to convict gang leaders, but also witnesses willing to testify in court. As luck would have it, the Elkin family had been trapped in the bar, providing the crucial testimony needed. The remaining physical evidence would be no problem for the FBI.

From Norton’s perspective, this case was as if Roan had handed him the credit on a silver platter. At that moment, Norton wished he could pull Roan into his own unit right then and there.

“No need to thank me,” Roan replied with a wave of his hand. He had helped Norton with a case that morning, and Norton in turn had shared this lead with him. Now, after Roan had investigated and clarified the situation, he was essentially handing the criminals back to Norton.

On the surface, it might seem that Roan was getting the short end of the stick. But Norton worked in Organized Crime and dealt with gangs constantly; who knew what valuable intel he might be sitting on? One small gang was nothing, but the Organized Crime Unit held information on eighty percent of gangs in the entire New York area. These gangs had tentacles throughout the city, and there were always undercover operations in play.

Even if the lead Norton provided wasn’t useful this time, perhaps the next clue might prove crucial at a key moment. More friends meant more paths forward. Roan already had a good grasp of Norton’s character and background, and valued these long-term investments.

Not wanting to delay Norton from his impending interview with the reporters, Roan turned to look for the Elkin family.

Besides the fact that Mona was over there comforting Elkin’s daughter, Selina, Roan had another reason. He truly couldn’t understand: why would Elkin, an ordinary New Yorker who had worked diligently all his life, suddenly dare to borrow money from gangsters and play the dangerous game of “borrowing from one loan to pay another”?

“Because I was desperate to make money,” Elkin replied when Roan asked. Missing four fingers, Elkin looked at his wife and daughter Selina, who had nearly been sold off by the gangsters, and at his elderly parents, trembling where they sat. Tears of regret filled his eyes. “A while back, I was chatting with a middle-aged man who often came to my laundromat. He told me that not long ago he’d borrowed some money from a gang a few streets over. Later, that gang was taken down, and the money he borrowed stayed in his pocket—no one came after him for repayment.”

At this, Roan raised an eyebrow, as if understanding something.

Sure enough, Elkin continued, “When my daughter received a college acceptance letter, I was proud but also anxious, because I simply couldn’t afford to send her to university. The only option was for her to take on a huge student loan that would burden her for at least twenty years. After much thought, I decided to imitate that middle-aged man who frequented my laundromat and went to the nearby Hyena Gang to borrow money.”

Roan frowned slightly, puzzled. “But the premise for this kind of borrowing is that you’re sure the gang will be taken down soon. The Hyena Gang was still very strong until today. How could you…”

Elkin lowered his voice. “My laundromat has been here for over a decade. I know a lot of people—not just the NYPD, but also the DEA, and even the FBI.”

Roan, hearing this, sighed inwardly. Indeed, in America, secrets are meant to be leaked—how true those words are.

According to Elkin’s account, he had recently heard from certain people that a small local gang would be taken down soon. So he tentatively borrowed a few dozen dollars from them. A few days later, the gang was indeed dismantled, and no one ever came to collect the debt.

After that, Elkin became more attentive to the rise and fall of gangs across New York’s districts, gradually increasing the amounts he borrowed. He did repay some loans along the way, but only to enable himself to borrow even more the next time.

—

Back at the Fifth Investigation Unit, Mona dropped into her chair and stretched with a big yawn.

Roan sat in his seat, studying the case file on the string of bank robberies, stroking his chin in deep thought.

“What’s wrong, Roan?” Mona asked. She was in a good mood, but seeing Roan’s pensive expression, she tilted her head in curiosity. “Isn’t the case solved? It wasn’t a bank heist after all, and the laundromat owner has nothing to do with the robbers.”

“No, Mona,” Roan said, his eyes narrowing as he shook his head slowly. “There’s a connection between them.”

Mona blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”

Roan didn’t answer her directly. Instead, he placed the bank robbery file in front of her and asked quietly, “Mona, do you think these six bank robberies were committed by the same group?”

“Huh?” Mona frowned, scrutinizing the file before looking up. “Weren’t they?”

Previously, Robert had claimed that the sixth robbery was committed by the laundromat owner, but it had now been proven that Elkin was not the bank robber—he’d been borrowing money from the gang at the time of the crime. As for the black garments in the laundromat, Elkin had recalled that they belonged to the restaurant owner next door. When Roan and Mona went to check, they found that to be true.

Given all this, why did Roan still believe the six robberies weren’t committed by the same group?

Roan’s face grew serious as he explained, “It was the word ‘imitation’ that Elkin mentioned—it reminded me of something.”

In fact, Roan never believed that Bronson was incapable of solving the case. Judging by his investigative work, Roan actually admired Bronson—he just failed as a person. Still, the fact that Bronson hadn’t solved the case by now left only two possibilities:

First: The bank robbers were so cunning that even an experienced FBI agent like Bronson hadn’t found a single clue.

Second: Bronson’s line of investigation was wrong.

Between the two, Roan leaned toward the second.

If that were the case, looking closely at the directions Bronson had investigated, the main one was this: All six bank robberies were committed by the same group, who were either veterans or had military experience, which explained the efficiency and precision of the crimes.

Hearing Roan’s analysis, Mona covered her mouth in shock. “So you mean—the six bank robberies weren’t committed by the same group, and none of them necessarily had military backgrounds?”

(End of chapter)