The Hardy Bros in Hot Ice by Ann ~ Chapter 6

HOT ICE

Chapter Six

    Jack took the shortest route possible, but it felt like forever to all three of the occupants. Jack and Rose were both concerned for Joe’s safety and for his family. They knew the worries threatening to overwhelm Frank’s mind right then. The older Hardy brother looked down into the dark night with the twinkling lights coming up. Was his little brother alright? Would he get there in time? Were the thieves murderous?

   They kept Iola on the phone and she kept them all updated on what she could see from there. The police had made a silent approach and got the information from her. No one had gone in or out of the jewelry store. Frank asked Iola who the officer in charge was on the scene. She told him Detective Matt Levin had been off duty in the area and had responded. Frank sent a prayer of thanks. Detective Levin was a friend of the Hardys and all around good guy. Frank could trust and work with him.

************

   “We gotta get outta here before the cops come,” the male thief muttered, getting concerned how long this was taking. If they were in jail or killed, all of those jewels wouldn’t help them much.

   “Stay calm.” The female gestured toward the window with the cover over it. “We’ll get out of here before they even know it’s been robbed.” She looked over at Joe and smirked. “We also disconnected the silent alarm to the security company and police department.”

   “Won’t people be suspicious that the store is closed early?” Joe asked.

   “I have that figured, too.” She sneered and went over to the frosted door and tapped it. “When I came in I slapped up a small poster with adhesive on the back of it. Know what it says?”

   “Do you?” Joe asked.

   She glared at him. “It says ‘Closed for Repairs – No Heat’.” She smiled triumphantly.

   “Clever.” Joe smiled, too, because he still had the sarcasm going. “Since the police are sometimes called ‘the heat’ you were maybe being specific?”

   She nodded. “You aren’t as ignorant as I thought you were.”

   Joe refrained from speaking. It took much effort. He hadn’t changed his opinion of the thieves.

   “Will you move it?” the female thief yelled at Mr. Snoots. “We want to egress soon.”

   Mr. Snoots sniffed and looked at her rather disdainfully, but he did increase the speed of his movement, if only slightly.

   Suddenly she shot at the window, surprising everyone, including the other thief.

   “That’s plexiglass,” Joe told her when it bounced off of the surface, leaving a dent.

   “I know. I didn’t want it to shatter and draw attention,” she said. The bounce it took – that was what she hadn’t expected. Almost ricocheted right to her boyfriend.

   “You might want to be more careful, Natasha,” Joe said, “if you don’t want to accidentally take out Boris. Or were you trying to make it so you don’t have to split with anyone?”

   “It’s Bonnie and Clyde!” the female thief yelled. Then she turned to her boyfriend to yell daintily, “Don’t listen to him!”

   “Don’t worry, Boris,” Joe said. “She’s probably smart enough to wait until you get these bags toted out.”

   Boris, er, Clyde, or whatever his real name was, gave his girlfriend a slightly unsure look.

************

   Iola saw Frank walking toward her and ran to him. He hugged her and patted her back. “Joe’s tough,” he said quietly. He felt Iola nod her head.

   Iola had been talking with Detective Levin, who now walked over. His intelligent eyes held compassion as he greeted the three Bayporters. He sent a sympathetic look at Frank and clapped him on the shoulder. “Things will be all right.”

   Frank nodded. “Who are these thieves?”

   “They knocked out the security cameras so we have no visual inside, but from Iola’s observant descriptions, we’ve identified them.”

   Iola had made certain, before leaving, to gather all the details she could that would help. She’d made it a point to use a small glass tray she’d found and set it up to reflect what was happening in the main area of the store. She left it in case it could help anyone coming in the back way, particularly a police officer.

   Detective Levin showed Frank pictures of the two thieves. “We believe they hit a convenience store yesterday. And I’m sure you’ve already heard they’re armed and dangerous.”

   “I believe I have a plan that could work,” Frank said.

   “Let’s hear it.”

************

   A serious looking man stepped up to the door of the jewelry store. He paused only briefly as he looked over the area. The hat he wore obscured part of his face, but as he turned his head back toward the door, the streetlight nearby illuminated the scar along the side of his face. His expensive suit fit him well.

   He tried the door, just in case, then he pounded on it, speaking loudly in a voice that did not encourage anyone to argue with him.

   “Hey, Alberto Martinelli here. You expect me not to have a gift for my girl? Open up!”

   Inside, the two thieves weren’t sure what to do. They all heard him clearly. He had a powerful set of lungs.

   “I said, open up! Capisci? Capiche?” He waited. He didn’t like waiting. “I don’t like waiting.”

   In the main area of the store, the thieves debated. Joe decided to be helpful.

   “You know who that is, right?” he asked them.

   “No, do you?” the male thief wanted to know.

   “Yes, and since he knows there are people in here, he’s only going to get angrier. He hates to be ignored.”

   “But we’re busy robbing a store here!” the female thief whined loudly.

   “He’s not going away,” Joe stated.

   “Maybe we should cut out the back!” the male thief suggested, eyeing the entryway to the back room as he spoke.

   “Hmmmm, that would be embarrassing to leave without the most expensive pieces.” Joe pointed out several they hadn’t gotten to yet, gaining a glare from Mr. Snoots, because he was absolutely correct. Joe had read several books about gems and rocks, the latter he’d started collecting when he was younger.

   “Make sure no one else is out there and let him in,” the female thief said.

   Her boyfriend did so, and the new customer stepped inside, reaching out a hand as if to steady himself as he went through the doorway.

   Alberto Martinelli, actually Frank Hardy in disguise, looked calmly at the two armed robbers and demanded to know what was going on.

   Joe was thankful to have help, but he didn’t want his brother to be in danger. He knew, though, that the brother team would do what they could to keep the hostages, and themselves, from getting killed.

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