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

here,” growled the police officer.
    The manager called the clerk in. Was this kid alone when he came into the store”?
    Sam shook his head. “I didn’t see him running in. I didn’t see nothing. All I seen was this guy”—he pointed at the bank man—“jump this guy.” He pointed at Billy. “And knock over the sunglasses display.”
    â€œYou’re my witness,” Billy said to Sam. “You saw this man deliberately attack me, right?”
    Sam stared up at Billy nervously. “I…I dunno.”
    The police officer turned to the bank man. “How can you be sure the thief came into the store? How do you know he didn’t just keep running and get lost in the crowd?”
    The bank man frowned. Before he could answer, the police officer said, “Did you lose sight of the thief at any time? Between the time he left the bank and the time it took you to get out into the mall? Did you have him out of sight, even for one second?”
    The bank man said, “No, I told you. I didn’t take my eyes off him.” But he was beginning to look worried.
    â€œCould you be mistaken? The kid here, well, you can see for yourself. He’s got no money, no disguise. Could the real thief have got away?”
    The bank man said, “But…”
    I had seen and heard enough. Billy would be okay. He didn’t need any help from me. I headed for the train station.
    â€œThey let me go,” Billy explained later to Tom and me in their room. “I gave them a false name and address. Then they let me go.”
    I asked, “What name and address did you give?”
    Billy chuckled. “Thomas Cruise, 1408 Magnolia Street.”
    â€œI felt awful watching them question you,” I said, “and not able to help. How is your poor back? Are you still in pain?”
    â€œNothing wrong with my back. I just wanted to freak out the guy from the bank.”
    â€œNo more holdups,” Tom said firmly. “That’s it for me. You guys want to rob friggin’ banks, well, you go right ahead, but count me out. I quit!” He cracked his knuckles. “Thomas Cruise, Magnolia Street! Was that dumb or what? You were almost caught! And if they get you then they get us too. I don’t plan to spend the rest of my life in prison.”
    Billy shrugged. “I already told you. They don’t send kids to prison.”
    I said, “Stop it, you two. How much did we take this time?” I pulled the shopping bag out of Tom’s backpack, emptied it onto his bed and counted the bills. There weren’t many. “A hundred and fifty dollars.”
    â€œOne-fifty,” moaned Tom, disgusted. He snatched the bills and threw them to the floor. “All that stress and all we get is hundred and fifty friggin’ bucks!”
    We always expected thousands, many thousands. In gangster movies, bank robbers were always counting huge stacks of crisp hundred dollar bills. A hundred and fifty dollars didn’t even come close. A hundred and fifty dollars, in the opinion of Tom Okada, was a joke.
    I agreed with him, but I didn’t say anything.
    â€œI quit!” he said again. “The whole idea is friggin’ stupid!”
    â€œIt’s not stupid!” I said. “We’re the Three Musketeers, remember?”
    â€œThe Three Musketeers is stupid and you’re friggin’ stupid too!” Tom left, slamming the door.
    Later that night Tom and I were in the kitchen doing the dishes. He said angrily, “Billy talks us into it. We do whatever he says. It’s like we’re his puppets. He pulls the strings and we jump.”
    â€œNot me,” I said. “Nobody pulls my strings. I go along with him because he’s right. It’s the only way we can ever get our hands on that kind of money.”
    Tom snarled, “You look into his big blue eyes and listen to his voice and you’re lost. It’s like