What are the police now thinking about the story?

The interpretation that the police believe he made up the story aligns with the idea of doubt or skepticism regarding the truthfulness of what has been reported. This answer implies that the police have reached a belief based on the information available to them, indicating a level of distrust towards the veracity of the narrative provided.

In contrast, the other options present different degrees of suspicion or verification. For example, to suspect the story was fabricated also conveys doubt but can imply a different level of certainty – more tentative than outright belief that it was made up. Concluding that he told the truth suggests complete conviction in the man's honesty, while thinking he was involved would indicate a much more active engagement with the story, moving beyond doubt into possible complicity. Each of these alternatives adds a nuance that is more definitive or less skeptical than simply believing he made it up.