The Bank of Badness
Page 6
“Dammit,” Robin muttered. The lock wasn’t opening.
Then it popped open.
In and out, Robin told himself as they swung the door up on its rollers. Don’t get distracted, in and out—let’s get the hell out of here.
Robin unconsciously put his hand on the pepper spray dispenser in his pocket as he headed into the storage shed. He knew there was no chance there’d be anyone inside. Still, he was nervous. At least he knew what he was looking for: those gold-and-silver candlesticks he’d seen on Monday night. He was sure that the Rangers had stolen them from Missus Collins. When he’d first seen them, he hadn’t made the connection. Now he’d come back to get them so his grandmother’s friend could have them for her seventy-fifth birthday party.
She’s gonna get a nice package from the post office. No return address.
While Kaykay held the flashlight, Sly and Robin moved the boxes behind which the candlesticks were hidden. They were still there, just like Monday.
“Gonna make an old woman happy,” Robin said, grabbing them and sticking them in his backpack. “Now, let’s make it look good and get out of here!”
They moved all the boxes back exactly the way they were before.
Robin took stock. No one would ever know that anyone had been there. The bank of badness was in shape for another withdrawal, whenever they chose to make one.
“Mission accomplished,” he told his friends.
They started for the door.
That’s when Robin heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
“Flashlight out!” he hissed at Kaykay and Sly. “Get down!”
Kaykay snapped off her light. The three kids dropped to the concrete floor. The footfalls grew louder. Robin heard a couple of guys talking and laughing. Every other word started with f-u.
He prayed.
Please don’t be Rangers. Please walk right past us. Please don’t notice we’re here. Please, please, please, God. Help us!
His prayer went unanswered.
Someone shouted. “What the hell? The door’s open!”
Then Robin heard the sound of running feet and more high-octane cursing.
“Oh God,” Sly moaned. “Oh God, oh God, oh God—”
“Shh!” Robin warned. Every instinct in his body was telling him to run or hide. But there was nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. He and his friends were trapped like rats in a box.
A moment later he saw two hulking figures in the doorway silhouetted against the night sky. One of them was a huge guy who looked like the boss dude from the Mustang. “Who be in there? If someone be there, I’ma kill your asses!”
Omigod. It’s him!
And then … Click. Click.
Robin shook with fear at the sound of two handguns getting cocked.
I’m going to die. We’re all going to—
He never finished the thought. Instead, he yanked the pepper spray dispenser from his pocket. In the same motion, he fired at the gangstas. The Rangers screamed in agony as the burning spray hit their faces.
“Run!” Robin bellowed at his friends. “Run for your lives!”
Blam! Blam!
Two gunshots.
Robin heard Kaykay scream in pain.
“Oh God! Help! Help me!”