Like I said, the security system was already set up before I started and we just provide the maintenance."
"Who is 'we'?" asked Solomon.
"That would be Gerald who mans the monitors although he doesn't do much more than that. The bank has a team who maintain the cameras and a server in some kind of server farm — I think that's what they're called — that stores our backups. I can find out exactly where if you need that information?"
"I'll let you know if it's necessary based on what we see," said Solomon. "You say the bank has a maintenance team?"
"Yes, they're based in Boston. We only call them in when Gerald notices a camera acting up. Sometimes it's a loose or damaged wire or some other minor malfunction. Occasionally, the camera glass breaks and needs replacing. We had a bird problem in the entryway last year," explained Charlie.
"What kind of security does the camera system require?" asked Lucas.
"I can't answer that but I could call the team on the phone and let them talk you through it. I know there're firewalls and encryption. The only time I've ever needed to review footage is after an altercation and I need to check it for evidence. To do that, I just ask Gerald to play back the footage." Charlie opened a door we passed on the way to his office and we entered a small, windowless room, occupied by one man reclining in a thickly padded chair, a steaming mug of coffee in his hand. "Gerald, these people are helping me investigate the robbery," he told them. "They need to review yesterday's security footage."
"Possibly before yesterday too," said Solomon.
"Show them how to use the system, and then you can take a break," said Charlie. "Shall I leave you to it? I think Gerald will be more helpful to you right now and I'm due for a call with my boss soon. He wants an update on what happened."
"That works for us," said Solomon.
"I'll leave my door open unless I'm on that call," Charlie said as he hastily left, his footsteps tapping dull thuds on the threadbare carpet.
Gerald scooted his chair forward and placed the mug on a blotter. "It's a simple system," he said, waving us forward to take a look at the bank of monitors on the wall. "There's one camera per monitor and all I do is watch 'em all day long from when we open ‘til we close, although they run twenty-four hours a day."
"Walk us through each monitor," said Solomon. "I'd like to know exactly what we're looking at."
"All the top monitors cover the main bank floor. Two are situated behind the teller desks, because the head office wants to make sure the tills always balance, and the other four are outside, covering the customer areas. These two cameras film the front and back doors. This one is for the lobby downstairs. This other one is for the vault lobby."
"No cameras inside the vault itself?"
"No, sir. The customers like their privacy down there."
"Were you in here when the bank was robbed?"
"Yes, I was. At first, I didn't know what to make of it until I realized it was serious so I used the desk phone here to call the police. I wasn't sure if the tellers could press their alarms."
"That was smart thinking," said Solomon.
"The police dispatcher assured me someone was on the way but they took forever to get here," said Gerald. "I thought bank robberies were higher priority."
"Some of the bank robbers went inside the vault," I said. "Did any of them come upstairs?"
"No, ma'am. Not one. I had the door closed but I would have heard if they did. You can't go anywhere up here without passing this room."
Solomon and I exchanged looks. I knew what he was thinking: the robbers didn't care that they were captured on camera. They didn't even try to erase the footage. That was a ballsy move.
"If you show us how to operate the system, I'd like to review the footage from that day and possibly get a copy."
"I can't make copies here but I know the police also asked for a copy so I guess I can send you one too," he said. He adjusted the keyboard and showed Solomon what to press. "It's fairly simple and I don't pretend otherwise. I'm paid to sit and watch but very, very rarely does anything ever happen. I'm not a young man anymore so that kind of a cushy career works