“Great cover if you ask me.”
“Okay. Go on.”
“So the rumor has to do with an infamous duo of bank robbers, a couple who supposedly robbed the bank.”
“Infamous like Bonnie and Clyde?”
He nodded. “That’s the rumor. Folks say they robbed this very bank and got away with a couple thousand dollars.”
“I never heard about a Bonnie and Clyde bank robbery in this area. They only robbed some places in western Arkansas, right?”
“Supposedly this robbery didn’t ever make it into the papers.” His smile said there was more to the story.
“Why?” she asked, playing along.
“The rumor was that the bank owner himself let them inside that day. He was also the one who opened the safe. So after this infamous bank robber couple left, he covered the whole thing up and never even called the police.”
“Really.” This was a great story.
“The bank manager and the two tellers working there that day were threatened not to reveal the truth. He apparently forced them to sign some early form of non-disclosure agreement to frighten them into keeping quiet.”
“So who ended up telling the secret?”
Diesel grinned. “The bank owner confessed on his deathbed at the ripe old age of ninety-four.”
“Hmm. Thatisinteresting.”
“There are those who believe they saw Bonnie and Clyde in the basement speakeasy a couple of nights in a row before allegedly robbing the bank.”
“Oh?”
“You know, casing the joint for their big robbery.”
“Any way to prove that?”
“Well, I can prove they were in the speakeasy, but I can’t prove they robbed the bank.”
“What’s the proof?”
“A picture taken of them at the bar without their knowledge.”
“Is that so?”
“It is.”
“Where is the picture?”
“In the courthouse.”
“So that means I’ll have to come back on Monday to see the proof, right?”
“That’s one option.” He started his truck and drove away from the former bank and speakeasy. “Let me run by and check my folks’ house and then I’ll take you back to my place for dinner. We can discuss any and all plans, okay?”
“Perfect.”
He drove to a large, beautiful brick home with front wrap-around porch and a long driveway leading to a huge backyard and a detached four-car garage. He pulled around to the back of the house and opened his door. “I won’t be long.”
“Can I come with you?”
