The crane’s cable tightened, and the Audi rose slowly off the lawn, swaying a little in the morning wind. Leonard stood with his arms crossed, grinning at me like he had already won. Then, halfway over the wall, something dropped from underneath the car and clattered onto my grass. A small, dented metal box, tied to the chassis with a cable.

The operator froze the controls. “Sir, what is that?” he called. Leonard’s grin vanished, and he rushed forward, but I got there first. I picked up the box, and its lid had come loose. Inside lay thick bundles of cash and a handful of small plastic bags. The whole street went completely silent. Then someone behind me whispered, “Call the police.”