6. Adrian
Adrian sat at his computer and ran the video again. The lights were off in the room, even though he was nearly alone in the mansion. If nearly alone counted the cook, the butler, and Adrian's bodyguard.
He was studying the security camera video feed at Ralphie's. And the department store down the street. And the lumberyard. It had taken forever for each store to realize they had been robbed. And sitting in front of his computer, watching these videos, Adrian could only think that whoever had done it was very good.
Despite the fact that these thieves didn't rob anything major, from the small bit of security he could not find anyone to put on the suspect list. Adrian leaned back in his chair, yawning. It was late.
Adrian knew that if he did find this team, they'd be cheap. The fact that they were stealing from the lumberyard supported that. He didn't need cheap, but an expensive team wouldn't let him get away with his loot without them taking some.
He clicked on the play button for the ATM camera at Ralphie's, his chair creaking as he leaned forward. It was all the same, and he fast forwarded the video to five minutes before the cameras froze, and leaned back again.
How he wished he could have his grandmother here. But, then again, she would resist thievery of any kind. And if she was there, he might not need the team of thieves.
On the tape, a tan boy with milk-chocolate hair (chocolate reminded Adrian of how hungry he was) streaked with gold walked up to the ATM. With the security guard.
"I put my card in there, but it didn't give me any options," the boy complained. He looked about Adrian's age, maybe a year younger.
Adrian began to close his eyes. How very late it was! But, in the next second, he fell backwards out of his chair, wide awake at a piece of information he couldn't believe he had missed.
The boy hadn't gone to the ATM first.
He was lying.
Adrian rewound the video to be sure, and grabbed a paper and pen and started jotting down notes.
He had found one of his thieves.