If Carl Hiaasen and Janet Evanovich were to write a book about the Oregon Coast, this could be the story.
The armored car’s regular collection route was key to their cunning scheme. Charlie and Ray were going to hijack the Tillamook run. They carefully plan and cleverly execute this ingenious casino heist right under the nose of Steve Crenshaw, a dedicated Portland cop driven by an obsession for justice. The crooks are briefly sidetracked by the bumbling capers of two goofy local hoodlums, but Charlie and Ray soon recover their loot and stash it safely in Portland.
James Jenkins, Steve’s mentor and Sheriff of Tillamook County, assists him in pursuing the casino thieves. Steve also has the loyal support of Brenda, his quirky and alarmingly skillful Precinct Dispatcher who harbors a secret passion for him. Steve works relentlessly to find the criminals. His inability to resolve the case leaves him feeling frustrated, discouraged and defeated. In a tragic incident, he mistakenly shoots a local ghetto youth. Unable to forgive himself, he descends into a deep depression. On administrative leave, he withdraws from everyone, sadly ending a blossoming romance with an attractive neighbor. Finally, after a period of morbid penitence, Brenda’s unconventional amorous approach enables Steve to find absolution and a path to recovery. He resumes his police duties and pursues his fanatical quest with renewed zeal.
Ultimately, a prim little waitress with an awkward flatulence problem, a cranky steelhead trout, a box of Voodoo donuts and a bright but kooky Precinct Dispatcher with exotic lusts, each play a unique role in this perfect crime. Steve’s perseverance is finally rewarded when he suddenly recognizes a clue that enables him discover the identity of the casino robbers. He
frantically races to arrest the thieves before they leave the country, but his desperate effort is thwarted by a stampeding herd of squealing pigs, and the criminals slip through his grasp.
Defeated, dejected and wounded, he returns to the Precinct office where he is astonished to discover that Brenda's deft but illicit tactics have brought this caper to a surprising conclusion.