Cathy ripped open the letter from David. The letter said, "Mom don't worry about me. I'm fine, but I’ve done something terrible by accident.” “I’m trying to make it right, on my own. I can't tell you what I did just yet, but I will when the time is right." Cathy slowly read the letter over and over again, trying to understand what David could possibly have done that could be so terrible. She called nervously to Steve to come and read the letter for himself. Cathy watched as a look of concern slowly spread over his face. Steve was now visibly upset and suggested that they immediately go and find David and get to the bottom of this mystery.
***
"They are not home and we have one hour to get this done.” Joe and the gang handed him a duffle bag. David opened the bag and took out the ski mask and gloves. "What? I thought I was providing the key, and I never said I would break in and get it for you.” David's mind was now racing, flashing back to the beginning of what was now turning into a personal nightmare. He remembered what seemed to be an okay decision at the time, but now he desperately wished he had just gone to class. "Why did I skip class that day?” “No, change of plans", "You are going in now". “We decided you owe us more then just the key.” “Lets go!” Joe pointed to the short kid named Ryan and told him, ”You are going to be the lookout!” Joe and David went behind the bush and found a ladder lying against the brick wall. “The window should be open if the housekeeper did what we paid her to.”
***
Richard entered the dorm room and shouted, “David are you in here?” There was no reply. He wondered where David could be. “I hope he is not in any trouble.”
***
As David began climbing the ladder; he began praying “Lord please help me.” “ I don't want to do this, but I don't see any way out of it." Once he got into the apartment, he went over to the dresser and slid it to the right. A small door built into the wall became visible. "Well, I guess it's going to be right where they said it would be," he muttered. He pulled out the key and opened the door. Bending over and looking inside, he stepped forward into the room. There were rows and rows of drawers and David grabbed and opened the duffle bag. He opened all the drawers and started dumping their contents into his duffle bag. He was amazed by the treasure that filled up his bag.
Realizing all of the drawers were empty, he hastily exited the room and shut the door behind him. He then moved the dresser back as quickly as he could and ran to the window and climbed down the ladder. Outside, David met up with the others and they ran as fast as they could to the car. They jumped into the car and sped away.
***
Cathy and Steve drove to the dorm to see if David was there, but as they pulled up, they noticed that the door was wide open. They got out of the car and ran toward the dorm, shouting, “David!“, but when they entered the dorm, David’s roommate Richard was standing in the doorway. “I have been looking for David, too.” He said, “He was supposed to meet me for dinner.”
***
Ryan asked David if he had remembered to move the dresser back into place.
David, still high on the adrenaline, replied, "Yes, of course I did!” “ Do you think I'm stupid?” David then threw the duffle bag full of the loot at Ryan and said, "I hope it was worth the risk of our lives and future, you jerk." Ryan became very angry and threatened David, reminding him of why he was there and why he had better keep his mouth shut.
***
Daniel and his wife Michelle opened the door to their apartment, and were talking fervently. Feeling uneasy for some reason, Michelle told Daniel to go and check on the diamonds in the safe. He asked "Why?" She gave him "the look." Daniel knew what that meant and said, "Okay, then you turn on the Packers game while I check." As he walked to their bedroom and opened the door, he felt something gnawing at him. Entering the room he began to slide the dresser out of the way of the secret door when he noticed that there was mulch on the floor. Daniel began to move more quickly. As he unlocked the door to the safe and walked in, he saw a horrendous sight, every drawer was open and the diamonds and cash were gone. He ran from the safe yelling, "The diamonds are gone!” “Call the police! Call the police right now!"
Richard was so glad to see David’s parents and he told them, “I’ve been so worried about David.”
“He has not been himself this week, and it’s not like him to miss dinner.” Cathy and Steve both said in unison, “So are we and Steve asked, “Where do you think David could be?”
***
When the police finally arrived at their apartment to investigate the crime scene, they discovered shoe prints outside the bedroom window and mulch on the carpet. “There doesn't seem to be any forced entry,” noted one officer. “Who has access to this apartment?” asked another. Daniel was preoccupied so he didn’t hear the question. “Sir, said the officer again. “Sir, did you leave this window unlocked?”
***
While in the car, David thought about that dreadful day that it had all started. He had ditched his science class, and that was just the beginning, of the story. David’s thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Ryan because he was screaming at him for being sloppy, insinuating that he had done it on purpose. David hollered back at Ryan, asking, “What the heck are you talking about?” Ryan, in a lower voice, reiterated his charge of sloppiness. Just then Joe spoke up and told both of them to shut up until they had returned to the library basement.
Upon returning, the three boys quickly made their way through the back entrance of the library and down into the basement. No sooner had they entered the basement, when Ryan began to accuse David of sabotaging the operation. David defended himself again and again, saying , “What are you talking about?” Sounds like you have regret now that the deed is done.”
***
As the police were wrapping up their onsite investigation, Michelle and Daniel began to ask the officer in charge if they were going to catch who did this. The officer in charge gave them some bad news. “It looks like who committed this crime covered his tracks quite well.” “We were unable to lift any useable fingerprints, and the balance of evidence does not point us in any real direction.” Michelle and David were visibly upset at the news. The officer in charge did, however, have one hunch that he felt could pay off. “I have a feeling whoever did this, had help from the inside.” The thought of an inside job was unthinkable to Michelle and Daniel, yet they remembered telling the police when they first arrived, who had access to the property. Their cleaning lady Sheila was the only person who had access to the apartment , and even she did not know about the secret room with the safe.
***
As Richard, Cathy, and Steve searched David’s dorm room for clues, they came across a yellow sticky note that said, “Help me!” “I am in trouble!” “I am trying to get a message to Michelle and Daniel Gellar, please tell them they are in danger!” After reading this note Richard, Cathy and Steve were very worried about David. They all agreed to find and warn the Gellars. Their search led them to the Gellar’s apartment. When they arrived, the crime scene tape was blocking off the area. The group ripped the tape and made their way to apartment 2C. A light knock brought Daniel to the door. “He said, “How can I help you?” Richard, Cathy and Steve began to tell the story of what they had found in David’s dorm room that led them to this apartment. Daniel quickly asked them in and asked Michelle to join them in the family room to hear the story. “It seems like David is somehow involved in the robbery,” said Daniel. Steve agreed, but added that he must be participating against his will.
***
As Richard, Cathy, and Steve continued their discussion with the Gellars, Steve took a minute to check his IPhone. To his amazement, an email from David popped into his inbox. “Oh my God,” said Steve. “What is it? ”asked Cathy. “David is involved and he is trying to warn us because he cannot escape.” “ He says they will be selling the diamonds and jewelry tomorrow at noon under the old train drawbridge.” “ Let’s call the police right now and let them know.”
***
As the noon hour approached, all of the players were in position for a police sting operation. The goal was to switch the bag with an undercover police officer to make the exchange and ultimately the arrest. Richard, Cathy, Steve, Michelle ,and Daniel were in a nearby undercover police van awaiting the arrival of the suspects, each one in their own agony.
***
As the gang pulled up underneath the old train drawbridge, Ryan told Joe, “I think I see the guy that were suppose to meet.” They got out of the car and walked toward the tall thin man. The undercover police officer began to talk, “Your late.” “Sorry, there were complications.” “Show us the jewelry and diamonds.” demanded Ryan. “Did you bring the cash?” “I am not showing you anything until I see the cash!” the man said, “Don’t waste my time boy, show me the goods now or I’m walking.” Joe and Ryan pulled out the bags with the stolen goods and set them on the ground, ready to make a transfer. As soon as the bags hit the ground the police moved in. “Everybody on the ground, now!” “This is the police.” Ryan, Joe, and David hit the ground in disbelief. It was all happening so fast.
***
Out of the undercover van came Richard, Cathy, Steve, Michelle, and Daniel, and they seemed to be overwhelmed by the show of force. As the police began to unravel the stories it became clear that David had been a victim, not a perpetrator. His parents and his roommate were relieved that everything seemed to be working itself out. David agreed to cooperate with the police. There was not any detail left out, and David was relieved to have the whole truth known. He told the police how he had borrowed a friend’s car without asking and that when he had been driving it, he had hit a parked car. Joe had been with him and had convinced him that it was best not to tell anyone. The next day at class he had found out he had hit his English professor’s car. Several weeks went by and David kept his secret. The more time he had spent with, Joe the more he had realized he was not a good guy. He told them about how Joe had begun to blackmail him about the hit, and run.
Everyone went down town to the Culver Police Station for questioning. Joe and Ryan were sentenced to a four-year sentence with no parole. David was given two years of probation for cooperating with police and testifying against Joe and the gang.