Jake took his painting and pointed to one of the symbols. "I've been trying to get it to look right," he said. "That's what I saw on the bank robber's arm."
"No, honey. All the bank robbers wore long sleeves and pants."
"Not this one. She fell when she was running and that was when I saw it."
"My bad," I said. "And you saw this symbol on her arm?"
"Yeah. Right there," he said, tapping my wrist. "What is forever and ever?"
"The drawing, you can keep drawing it without ever lifting your pencil from the paper. Forever."
"I'm gonna try that."
"Can I take a photo of this with my cellphone?" I asked.
He grinned. "Sure!"
"Why?" asked his mom. "Jake, honey, go get your jacket."
"Okay," he said before scooting away.
"What's going on?" she asked as Alice gave us a puzzled look while she helped Rachel with her jacket.
"My brother is the detective handling the bank robbery case and I know he would want to see this. Your son might have just identified one of the robbers."
"But they have guns!" His mother clapped a hand across her mouth. "Is Jake in any danger? Are we in any danger?"
"No, I don't think so, but I'd like to send this to my brother and I think you should go directly to the police station and let my brother speak to Jake. He saw something that could be crucial to their investigation."
"I had no idea!"
"That's not your fault." I reached into my pocket for the small wallet I carried and pulled out one of Jord's courtesy cards. After writing my name on the back with a brief message, I handed it to her. "Take this and ask for Detective Jord Graves," I instructed her.
"It's that important?"
"Yes."
She studied the card as she took a deep breath. "Okay, we'll go now. And thank you," she added. "We're going to run a small errand," she told Jake as they both headed to the doors.
"What was all that about?" asked Alice as we started to follow them, Ben and Rachel running ahead.
"That kid might be able to help solve a big crime," I said.
"You got all that from speaking to him for thirty seconds?"
"I got that from his artwork."
"I hate to think what you'd get from my kids' art. Please don't tell me they've solved crimes too. I just want to go home, make dinner, and drop into bed." Alice's shoulders fell. "Wait at the gate!" she called out as Ben and Rachel ran ahead.
"All I see are two awesome drawings that are going to hang on my kitchen wall," I said.
"I'm sure Solomon will love that esthetic."
"I'm sure he will too," I said, as we walked through the gate and joined the kids at the car. We all climbed in, buckled, and while Alice drove, I sent a text to Jord along with the photo of Jake's painting and a short explanation. I advised him they were on their way to the police station now, and privately hoped that was the case. As soon as I hit send, my phone rang. Maddox.
"I've been trying to call you for hours," he said. "Where have you been?"
"There was an incident at the hospital and then I got caught up with family stuff."
"Where are you now?"
"In the car with Alice."
"Can you come to my office?"
"It might take me a while, but sure. What's up? Why the urgency?"
"It's about the cash you gave me. It set off all kinds of alarms at the FBI. Can you come in right now? It's serious. Big time serious."
"I got your point when you said 'alarms’."
"Can you bring the rest of the cash?"
"I don't have it with me."
"Can you get it? Actually, just tell me where you are and I'll come pick you up. We need that cash immediately."
"What's going on?"
"I ran a few serial numbers from the bank notes and they matched those of a bank robbery in Milwaukee. It happened almost three years ago but was never solved. My bosses are breathing down my neck, asking how I got hold of some of the missing cash, especially since none of the bills look used or tampered with and they're still in the bank's wrapper."
My heart skipped a beat. "Milwaukee?"
"Yeah. Not exactly next door. Where are you? I'll come now to pick you up."