Casebook 2: The Ranikston Deceptions - 2.4[index]
Ten minutes later, as I was questioning the disconsolate manager, Ranikston returned to the bank. As we all stared at him open-mouthed, he stood with a wild expression, wearing only a shirt and long underwear. He announced that he had been kidnapped.
No-one knew quite how to react. No-one spoke. No-one moved. The manager fainted. Of course, what he had realised was this: he had just given away ten million pounds of someone else's money, and a quarter of a million besides. Both the previous Ranikstons had been imposters - the same imposter in two different suits. No wonder the cashier couldn't tell them apart.
When I looked at the real Ranikston, I understood her mistake. I might add that it did not help matters that Ranikston might as well have been in disguise. He wore an awful wig, heavy glasses and sported such an enormous moustache that it was all I could do to keep myself from reaching out to tug at it – just to be sure.
Inevitably, the money was never recovered. It had been tranferred from the the Swiss account as quickly as it had been deposited and disappeared into the air. Who paid the price was a matter for the Bank, the insurers and their attourneys. There was nothing I could do. I had missed my opportunity. I returned Ranikston's bank card and then went on my way.