Fourteen months ago, a federal grand jury that took testimony about former Mayor Luke Ravenstahl closed up shop — without issuing an indictment — and we’re still wondering what it was all about.

A conga line of the ex-mayor’s ex-girlfriends and staff members, top cops and bodyguards went before the 23-person panel behind closed doors in the spring, summer and fall of 2013. Even the Steelers were subpoenaed to provide information on tickets the mayor bought.

It was all over the news whenever the jury met. There were so many twists that this newspaper ran a story headlined, “All You Need to Know About the Investigation of Pittsburgh Police and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s Administration’’ in February 2014, with online links to dozens of stories published in the preceding 12 months.

By then former Police Chief Nate Harper had been sentenced to 18 months in prison for conspiracy to commit theft, and Mr. Ravenstahl had decided well before that to drop back and punt. The relief was evident on his face when he announced in March 2013 that he wouldn’t seek re-election; he hadn’t appeared at all comfortable in the job for the longest time.

A month before, he had asked for and received Harper’s resignation, a request that came immediately following a two-hour meeting with federal investigators. The mayor said then that he was cooperating and wasn’t a target of the investigation — and despite all the federal interest in everyone around him, the feds never refuted his characterization.

U.S. Attorney David Hickton never said he was investigating Mr. Ravenstahl. Mr. Hickton always referred to “an investigation of the city of Pittsburgh” that arose from the shenanigans uncovered in the chief’s office. And after Harper pled guilty in October 2013 to conspiracy, the convictions never went any higher.

So what do we make of the ending, which was not much of an ending at all? I called Mr. Hickton the other day, figuring he could at least say the case is closed — but he wouldn’t even do that.

“I’ve said all I’m going to say about the matter,’’ he said.

And that isn’t much.

The theory that Mr. Ravenstahl’s voluntary departure was part of some deal with the prosecutors doesn’t hold water, because the grand jury continued long after the mayor was a lame duck. I think we can safely say that whatever else the prosecutors found, they could not find that this mayor committed any crime. The case pretty clearly is closed. Closure is what it lacks.

So in this small town that plays a big city on TV, Mr. Ravenstahl, who was among the youngest mayors of any big city in American history when he took office at 26 in 2006, is rebuilding his life as privately as he can at 35. He recently became a manager of business development for Peoples Gas.

I left a message with the company Wednesday afternoon to allow him to comment for this column if he chose. I didn’t hear back. That didn’t surprise me, as Mr. Ravenstahl was reclusive even in his last years as mayor. And if I didn’t have to talk to me anymore, I probably wouldn’t either.

I can readily say I was happy to see Mr. Ravenstahl leave office, but I’d also be happy to see a man able to live his life with a bit more resolution.

There’s a pretty famous Sherlock Holmes story — famous in the sense that many more refer to it than have actually read it (myself included) — in which Holmes makes a reference to “the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime.’’ When a Scotland Yard detective tells Holmes the dog did nothing in the nighttime, Holmes replies, “That was the curious incident.’’

For Holmes, that was enough of a clue. A dog didn’t bark during an intrusion, and that ultimately led to a satisfying conclusion of his case.

For Pittsburghers, and even more for Mr. Ravenstahl and other members of his administration, there may never be any satisfying conclusion to the grand jury that sniffed around but never barked at or bit the former mayor.

Brian O’Neill: boneill@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1947. Meet Mr. O'Neill when he hosts a workshop on Pittsburgh's unique personality Nov. 9 at the Post-Gazette's new North Shore offices. Details at www.post-gazette.com/​pgu.

First Published: October 22, 2015, 4:00 a.m.