Casebook 2: The Ranikston Deceptions - 2.2[index]

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I telephoned the station and told them I'd received an anonymous tip-off. After all, it was almost true. Then I went straight over to DDC Carpfather. It took me about an hour, and by then the damage had already been done:

P. Jupiter Ranikston was sitting in an armchair, a cold towel on his forehead, alternately sipping from a glass of water and berating the manager who was apologising incessantly with a look of desperation and panic on his face. I quickly gathered that Mr. Ranikston was petitioning to close his account with immediate effect. While Ranikston monopolised the manager, I introduced myself to the cashier and asked her to explain to me what had happened:

When the bank opened at 9am, Ranikston had been waiting outside. He needed to make an urgent withdrawal from his account. The amount: a quarter of a million pounds. Small change to him, I expect.

The withdrawal had been arranged in advance over the telephone. All the necessary checks had been made, and everything seemed in order. The money was handed over and Mr. Ranikston left the bank.

Ten minutes later, Ranikston returned to the bank and asked for his money. The cashier was understandably confused and reminded him that he had made the withdrawal only minutes before.