Read Online Bank Job by James Heneghan - Free Book Online Page A

after him.
    Trouble.
    I hurried over to the ice-cream shop and made my handoff to Tom. He stuffed my shopping bag into his backpack and then disappeared into the crowd of shoppers, heading for the SkyTrain station.
    The whole operation, from bank robbery to final handoff, took less than two minutes.
    I hurried back to Shoppers Drug Mart. If the man from the bank caught Billy, we could be in real trouble. The bank man was big and athletic. I got there in time to see him leap on Billy and wrestle him to the floor. They upset a display of sunglasses, the bank man on top of Billy, yelling like crazy. I felt helpless. What could I do? I fought the urge to rush over and try to pull the bank man away from Billy.
    A counter clerk, just a kid, helped the bank man to his feet. The bank man’s eyes were snapping with excitement. “He just…robbed the bank,” he panted, pointing down at Billy with a trembling finger. “Call the police.”
    The store manager pushed through the gathering crowd. “What’s going on here?”
    â€œThis hoodlum just robbed the bank,” said the bank man. “Call the police.”
    â€œCall the police,” the manager ordered the clerk.
    The clerk spun away toward the phone.
    Billy climbed to his feet, stunned. “I gotta go,” he said.
    â€œYou will stay right here until the police arrive,” the bank man said angrily, clamping two big hands onto Billy’s arm.
    The manager, on the other side, gripped Billy’s elbow with both hands. Billy struggled, but the two men were too much for him. They led him away to the office at the back of the store. I followed at a distance, lurking by the door, pretending to check out the vitamins.
    What could I do to cause a distraction so Billy could get away? Maybe knock down the vitamin display? I tested it. It was bolted to the floor.
    â€œSit here,” the manager said to Billy, pointing to a chair.
    Billy sat, looking puzzled as he brushed his hair out of his face.
    They waited.
    I waited.
    My heart was pounding. My mouth was dry.
    A police officer finally arrived, an experienced, older man, who began by questioning the bank man. “How do you know this kid robbed your bank? Did you see him?”
    â€œYes, I did. Gloria—Miss Hampton—sounded the silent alarm after she handed over the cash from her station. I saw him leave the bank. I chased him— didn’t take my eyes off him for one minute—into the store here and caught him.”
    The police officer took the bank man by the arm and whispered loud enough for me to hear, “But this is just a big dopey kid. Are you sure he’s the one you saw?”
    â€œYes, I’m sure. He was wearing a disguise, and I recognize his raincoat.”
    The police officer ordered Billy to stand up.
    Billy stood.
    The police officer said, “How old are you, son?”
    Mumble-mumble.
    â€œSpeak up.”
    â€œFourteen.”
    The police officer turned to the bank man. “What are they feeding kids these days—dinosaur meat?” He turned back to Billy. “This man said you robbed his bank. Well? Did you rob his bank?”
    Billy looked shocked. “No, sir. This man assaulted me. He is making a big mistake. The store clerk over there is a witness. Jumped on me and wrecked my back.” Billy twisted and groaned with the pain of it.
    â€œI’m going to search you,” said the police officer. “Empty your pockets.”
    Billy, bent in pain, emptied his pockets.
    The police officer searched him. Then he shook his head and looked at the bank man and the store manager. “No cash. No disguise. Did you see the kid with anyone, a partner?”
    I held my breath. Had the bank man seen me outside the bank with my shopping bag?
    But the bank man looked bewildered. And so did the manager. One shrugged. The other shook his head. The manager said, “Sam might’ve seen something.”
    â€œGet him in