“I was just tryin’ to finish the paving before the shift change,” Cooper Allan explained. He was a worn man, strong and broad, but rough around the edges and obviously tired from the night shift.

“I saw the carriage coming, but we’d already done that side of the street. Figured it was fine. That’s when the two men in masks came out!”

Detective Murdoch gestured for him to continue.

“One of’em had a shotgun and the other I think a smaller gun. I didn’t want to look too hard, sure you understand.”

“Of course,” Murdoch replied. “You witnessed the robbery?”

Cooper nodded. “Saw’em blow the door open real fast-like, and toss the guard to the ground. They grabbed the boxes and hightailed it over to a man with a wagon. Didn’t get a good look at him. We were hiding by then.”

“Understable.” Murdoch paused. “And what happened next?”

Cooper hummed. “It all happened real fast. Their horses took off, and they were shouting. That’s when I heard someone yell I’m the boss! and then the shot happened. Bang!”