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“I can see what you mean,” Atchison said.
“Would you say that it was common knowledge that you sometimes had large amounts of cash on the premises?”
“I think most bars and restaurants do,” Atchison said. “They have to. A good customer wants to cash a check for a couple of hundred, even a thousand, you look foolish if you can’t accommodate him.”
“I thought it would be something like that,” Washington said. “That’s helpful.”
“And I never keep the cash in the register, either, I always keep it downstairs in the safe. You know that neighborhood, Sergeant, I don’t have to tell you. Sometimes, when there’s a busy night, I even take large amounts of cash out of the register and take it down and put it in the safe.”
“In other words, you would say you take the precautions a prudent businessman would take under the circumstances.”
“I think you could say that, yes.”
“We’ve found, over the years—and I certainly hope you won’t take offense over the question—that in some cases, employees have a connection with robberies of this nature.”
“I guess that would happen.”
“Would you mind giving me your opinion of Thomas Melrose?” Washington asked. “He was, I believe, the bartender on duty that night?”
“Tommy went off duty before those men came in,” Atchison replied, and then hesitated a moment before continuing: “I just can’t believe Tommy Melrose would be involved in anything like this.”
“But he was aware that you frequently kept large amounts of cash in your office.”
“Yes, I guess he was,” Atchison said reluctantly.
“How long has Mr. Melrose been working for you?” Washington asked.
“About nine months,” Atchison replied, after thinking about it.
“He came well recommended?”
“Oh, absolutely. You have to be very careful about hiring bartenders. An open cash drawer is quite a temptation.”
“Do you think you still have his references? I presume you checked them.”
“Oh, I checked them, all right. And I suppose they’re in a filing cabinet someplace.”
“When you feel a little better, Mr. Atchison, do you think we could have a look at them?”
“Certainly.”
“Mr. Melrose said that business was slow the night of this incident.”
“Yes, it was.”
“He said there was, just before he went off duty, only one customer in the place; and that when that last customer left, you took over for him tending bar.”
“That’s right. I did. You have to stay open in a bar like mine. Even if there’s no customers. There might be customers coming in after you closed, and the next time they wanted a late-evening drink, they’d remember you were closed and go someplace else.”
“I understand.”
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“The one customer who left just before you took over from Mr. Melrose: Do you remember him? I mean, was there anything about him? You don’t happen to remember his name?”
Atchison appeared to be searching his memory. He shook his head and said, “Sorry.”
Washington stood up. “Well, I hate to leave good company, and especially such fine coffee, but that’s all I have. Thank you for your time, Mr. Atchison.”
