Unaware that their cover had been exposed, the three old men continued to "work" according to the established procedure.
As if they had practiced it countless times, they appeared relaxed, yet in reality, their movements were stiff.
"Don't move! Don't touch the alarm!"
"Unless you want to get shot in the head!"
"Get down! Get down!"
The three of them had a fairly clear division of labor: one kept watch and counted the time, while the other two went to the counter to collect the money.
Bella cast invisibility on herself and Natasha, crouching to the side to avoid appearing conspicuous.
What were they waiting for? After the robbers left, they could continue their business! Didn't you see how cooperative the salesperson and the customer were? After all, the stolen money belonged to the bank, and when it came time to pay it back, it was the management and board of directors who had to worry about it. These losses had nothing to do with any individual.
A bunch of workers worrying about the boss? Don't be ridiculous! Just stay put.
Bella simply sighed, "Look at this evil side of capitalism!" Eighty-year-old men were still working at three in the afternoon, at the height of the day, wearing rubber masks—the kind children wear, completely breathable. Just looking at them, Bella could tell they were sweltering.
Watching the three elderly men, breathlessly filling their bags with money on their brittle legs, she felt a surge of emotion. She didn't know if it was a distortion of human nature, but it was definitely a moral decline!
Even during the robbery, the elderly men radiated humanity. They robbed banks without hesitation, a far cry from those who, without even scavenging, took the customers' belongings.
No customers or staff suffered any personal damage; the entire operation was a textbook example of a robbery.
In two minutes, the robbers had made off with three bags of money and fled the bank.
Bella canceled her invisibility spell, and the two of them peeped out.
Natasha's perception was incredibly high. She glanced around in confusion. The moment the spell lifted, she still felt a glimpse of something, though she couldn't figure out what it was.
The two of them were largely unfazed by the robbers. After settling the education fund, Bella even opened a bank account at the Bank of the West. She'd been here for two months and didn't even have one, which would have been embarrassing.
The two continued their shopping spree, joking with each other, embodying the very essence of "shopping."
Bella was broke, not only did she have no income, but she also spent a fortune on cosmetics! Natasha's parents' divorce had drastically reduced her personal funds. While both appeared youthful and beautiful, they actually wore no designer clothes, a stark contrast to the poverty of the land.
After wandering around for a while without buying anything, they agreed to meet again and then went their separate ways.
The Bank of the West's influence was significant, and the criminals weren't Death, Magneto, or some other superpowered criminal. Under the bank's urging, the FBI acted swiftly, apprehending the three suspects by evening.
Bella, fresh out of the shower, was lying in bed watching TV when the camera caught sight of the three elderly robbers.
"Old!" That was her first impression!
The subtitles below the TV screen revealed their ages: 85, 82, and 81!
Of all the people Bella knew, the only ones older than them were the vampires.
A quick examination by the FBI doctor revealed three people with high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, gout, and skin diseases. The 85-year-old man also suffered from severe kidney failure.
They showed no signs of panic in front of the media cameras, each one as steady as an old dog. For them, this was a one-on-one deal: win the club's young models, lose, and you don't have to work in the adult entertainment industry.
Even if they were caught and thrown in jail, it wouldn't matter. After all, the prison provided food and shelter, and there were doctors to check their health. Maybe they could live two years longer there than outside!
"Wexler Steel's US production facility has decided to relocate due to technological upgrades and labor costs. The company that acquired Wexler Steel has concerns about the massive pension fund left behind by this eighty-year-old factory."
"The pensions of many elderly individuals have been frozen indefinitely under the guise of 're-examination and verification,' driving three elderly individuals into a life of crime."
"Bank of the West sold wealth management products to three elderly individuals, and they lost all their principal. Now even their homes have been mortgaged, and the bank is demanding payment."
The entire case was not at all complicated. Relying solely on a few tips from the FBI and their own sources, the reporters were able to deduce 80% to 90% of the case.
Eager to see the excitement, the reporters didn't care about the bank or not. They meticulously analyzed the case from social, legal, and moral perspectives.
At 11 a.m. the next day, the FBI acquitted the three elderly individuals.
Despite their numerous flaws, the three elderly men remained remarkably composed! We're so old, what else can you do to us?
Arizona abolished the death penalty on November 15, 1992. Even if the three men were convicted, the worst they'd face would be prison.
Their alibi wasn't particularly sophisticated; a simple investigation would reveal flaws.
But! There were only suspicions, not direct evidence!
The three elderly men and women were the only ones they interacted with on a regular basis. They weren't deliberately trying to cover up for them, but they couldn't get any specific information from them.
The FBI director asked, "Mr. William, what was your coworker, Mr. Joe, doing between 2:15 and 4:15 PM?"
Old William, already suffering from Alzheimer's, stared blankly at the FBI director with his mouth open, his eyes filled with confusion. He drooled, staring blankly at the director. "No, I don't want to. I'm full."
This was a genuine illness! It wasn't a feigned illness to shield a criminal. The FBI director crossed out Old William's name. There was no need to ask further questions! A god might be able to shed some light on the situation, but he certainly couldn't.
The next witness walked in quickly, and the FBI director repeated the question like a tape recorder: "Ms. Linda, what was your co-worker, Mr. Joe, doing between 2:15 and 4:15 in the afternoon?"
The old lady seemed to be quite intelligent. She listened to the question with a serious expression, and then seemed to think for a few seconds: "I remember coughing, coughing, coughing!——!"
The violent coughing lasted for more than a minute, and the lungs were almost coughed out. The FBI director was terrified. If this person died in front of him, he would not be able to explain it!
Don't ask anymore, call a doctor! Take some medicine and go back to rest!
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(End of this chapter)