My name is Agent Joe Cardiff, retired. And in my lengthy career with the FBI, only one case has been left unsolved ­ the case of bank robber Randolph "Cigs" Brandon. He was called Cigs because he was never seen without a cigarette in his mouth. The guy even ate dinner with a Chesterfield hanging from his lip.

In 1957, Cigs escaped custody in Louisiana. My partner Todd and I trailed him through several states. Along the way, Cigs had forced his way into the homes of women, robbed them of their money, ate their food, and viciously beat them before leaving. For that alone I wanted desperately to bring him to justice.

Todd and I eventually traced him to the backwaters of West Virginia, only to have the trail go cold. We were nervous when a bloodhound following his scent lead us to a house with a sign out front that read: "Madame Petra. Fortunes Told. Tarot Cards. Spells and Curses for All Occasions." My heart fluttered. Cigs had found another woman, alone at home, to rob and torture. But Petra greeted us at the front door, and assured us Cigs had never been there.

In her living room, I thought I smelled cigarette smoke, but Petra said it was incense. Todd spied an ashtray containing a dozen butts, but Petra said they had been there for weeks, left by her brother. I saw a gray man's shirt and pants on the floor behind her sofa, but she whisked them away, saying they too belonged to her brother.

On leaving Petra's house, the bloodhound pulled me into the rear yard, right up to a baby boy in a playpen. "Stupid dog," I grumbled. As we left, Todd said there was something not quite right about that baby's face, but I reminded him that we were looking for a chain-smoking felon. Petra could tend to her own baby.

And we never found another lead. I only hope is that Cigs received appropriate punishment for his crimes, especially for his evil treatment of women, if not from the law, then from an intended victim. And if you have any idea where Cigs might be, contact this web site.


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