Ockham's Razor: A Deductive Riddle

Chapter 31

A thousand thoughts flashed through Ian's mind. He recognised Dean, but he wanted desperately to retain enough doubt to keep himself from believing that he was to blame for any of this happening. Why would Dean rob this place? He had been given enough money from the Benefactor to more than pay for six months worth of living, especially by the way that Ian saw him existing in his place. And, Dean had taken about another $35000. Was that gone too?

Ian decided to apply Ockham's Razor.

Option 1. Another robber saw Ian's photo from the news, and read how the three of them managed to contain the employees and get away with the loot. Then, they found the same disguise, arrived on a throwaway bicycle, left a "device" at the door, and managed to get away with over $1000 in cash.

Option 2. Dean rehashed his performance at the bank and conducted a solo job.

Unfortunately for Ian, Option 2 was far simpler.

Ian could not come to think of any reason why Dean would do such a thing. Was he that starved for action? Did he burn through the Benefactor's money that quickly? Did he just not care that Ian and Dave had gotten him that job? Was the gas station just too easy a mark to not hit?

Then it hit him. It was all of it. Dean was so unreliable, unpredictable, unemployable that he merely would go from opportunity to opportunity. He was the only one between the three that did the bank job that seemingly had no misgivings about holding up a bank, even when they believed it was ostensibly legal. He had no compunction whatsoever about stealing that $35000 from the bank when they were told to not do anything. He loved living on the edge, being the wildcard, liking things only because they were cool in movies, having no loyalty but to himself, and jumping at any opportunity that presented itself. After all, he wanted to not use the Traveltel, then when no one was using it, he lived there.

Dean was only looking out for Dean. And, unfortunately, he would almost certainly turn tail if he was caught. He did not know Ian's last name, none of the team did except the Benefactor and supposedly the mysterious Courier. But, Ian was one of probably less than 100 south Asian people in Great Plains/Saint Barbara. And he was willing to be that none of the others would have the name Ian.

He felt very vulnerable. His freedom and safety depended upon Dean remaining free and safe. As much as he did not like it, he needed to protect Dean. No, he needed to control Dean.

But first, he needed to get to Dean's apartment and confront the man.