{"id":2764,"date":"2020-06-05T14:26:49","date_gmt":"2020-06-05T18:26:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.otownmedia.com\/blog\/?page_id=2764"},"modified":"2023-01-27T15:33:55","modified_gmt":"2023-01-27T20:33:55","slug":"the-bank-heist-pdf","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.otownmedia.com\/blog\/the-bank-heist-pdf\/","title":{"rendered":"
The Bank Heist \u2014 A Long-ish Short Story<\/div>"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

The story of Doug, his best friend Hale, their assorted parents,
\nbrothers and sisters, and a secret that just might be true.<\/h4>\n

An Eddy and McClure Story<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Mrs. Eddy peered through the screen door wiping her hands on her apron. \u201cWhy, hello, Douglas,\u201d she said. She always called me Douglas, not Doug.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs Hale around?\u201d Hale is my best friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, I don\u2019t know.\u201d Mrs. Eddy always started her sentences with \u201cwhy.\u201d She said it was because she was from Ohio.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw his bike outside, so I thought he\u2019d be around.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHALE!\u201d Mrs. Eddy had a big voice for a small lady.<\/p>\n

No answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, I\u2019m sorry, Douglas,\u201d she said. \u201cCan you come over later?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure Mrs. Eddy,\u201d I said. \u201cBye.\u201d<\/p>\n

I had found out that her name was Eloise, Ella for short, but it wasn\u2019t proper to use her first name. Like with a teacher. But I really wanted to feel the sound of saying \u201cElla Eddy\u201d in my mouth.<\/p>\n

\n

I found Hale later that day at Crawford Lake over by the Dunkin\u2019 Donuts. He was watching the dogs romp around in the dog run the town had built, his bike up against the fence.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Hale!\u201d I liked saying that. Not as much as I would have liked saying Ella Eddy, but it was close.<\/p>\n

Hale never said hello, he would just start in talking. \u201cSee that big Lab?\u201d Pointing. \u201cAnd that little Bichon Frise? That little guy\u2019s chasing the Lab like nobody\u2019s business.\u201d<\/p>\n

I looked. Little white dog. Big black dog. Uh-huh. \u201cSo, Hale, I was looking for you this morning. Saw your bike in the yard, but you weren\u2019t around.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hale was watching the dogs intently. \u201cHa! The Lab stops short and whips around! The little guy does a doggy-style child\u2019s pose and bounces off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s yoga, right?\u201d I stared at the little white dog front paws stretched out, hind end up in the air then pivoting like a top.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. A yoga thing Lizzy does. She thinks no one notices.\u201d<\/p>\n

I tried to imagine Lizzy Eddy, Hale\u2019s older sister, with her hind end in the air. She acts all a grown up at 18. Looks all curvy and such like. I couldn\u2019t imagine her doing the child pose.<\/p>\n

By the way, for the record, I\u2019m 14. Hale\u2019s 15. We\u2019re in the same grade. I should be a year behind Hale, but they bumped me into his grade cause when we moved here I took a placement test and that was that. Hale\u2019s tall and muscular and generally bigger than the other guys in our class. Certainly bigger than me.<\/p>\n

Hale hooked his fingers through the chain link fence which went around the dog run then shook the fence so it rattled all along one side. The dogs stopped dead and stared.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey! Quit that!\u201d One of the dog owners shouted. Hale acted like he didn\u2019t hear a thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, Doug,\u201d he said grabbing his bike. \u201cLet\u2019s go over to DD\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, Hale. Lemme just text my mom where I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

We ambled along the lake over to Dunkin\u2019 Donuts, Hale walking his bike from the seat.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, Hale, where were you this morning?\u201d I said picking up the thread. \u201cYour mom called out real loud and your bike was there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI dunno. Around I guess.\u201d Hale stopped and took me by the shoulder. \u201cListen, can you keep a secret?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, Hale.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is for real.\u201d Hale was acting real intense all of a sudden. \u201dNo foolin\u2019. No kiddin\u2019,\u201d he said. Hale dropped his bike on the lawn and plopped down next to it.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave a seat. Here\u2019s the thing. Last night I was coming home the back way on my bike. Just cruising. It was maybe 9 o\u2019clock. The moon was out and real bright. Everything looked sorta blue-ish with those dark moon shadows.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was coasting downhill on Gardner by the bank when I heard voices. Then the sound of breaking glass and more voices \u2014 heavy voices like two men arguing. Then the sound of a car taking off tires spinning on the gravel,\u201d Hale stopped and looked at me meaningfully. \u201cI think it was your dad and some other fella.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat!? My dad? What made you think it was my dad?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI dunno. The voice was a little sorta like his. And the SUV was real white in the moonlight. Looked like your dad\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJeeze,\u201d I said. \u201cWhy would my dad be at the bank at nine at night arguing with some guy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI dunno. Maybe it wasn\u2019t your dad. But I think it was. All I really heard clear was the voice saying \u2018tomorrow, then.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

I shook my head. \u201cWell, that\u2019s some crazy secret. I sure won\u2019t tell anyone.\u201d I shook my head in amazement. \u201cAnyway, where were you this morning, anyhow?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s another secret,\u201d Hale said. \u201cBut I can\u2019t tell you what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

After that, we went to Dunkin\u2019 and Hale had a macchiato and I had iced tea with a flavor shot. But I just didn\u2019t want to hang out anymore. Being around Hale who had a secret about my dad that now I had to keep too wasn\u2019t so much fun after all.<\/p>\n

I walked home wondering about secrets and moonlight on white SUVs.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"DINNER AT THE MCCLURES<\/strong><\/p>\n

Later that same day, Doug\u2019s sister Nancy McClure was sitting at the desk in her bedroom writing in her diary.<\/p>\n

Dear Diary, my brother Doug has been acting pretty weird today. I see him now from my window hanging around Dad\u2019s SUV\u2014 just staring at it. And earlier, when he came home, he looked like someone smacked him on the head. I said, \u2018Duggie, did someone smack you up upside your head?\u2019 And all he said was \u2018Yeah, something like that.\u2019 I mean, seriously? That\u2019s not weird? Doug \u2014<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNan! Nancy! Dinnertime!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014aw, shoot, Diary. Here we go again. I promise to write every day, but there\u2019s always something…<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNan! Dinner!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cComing, Mom.\u201d Nancy slid off the bed and took the wide front stairs two at a time, slipping into her seat at the dining room table just as Sydney McClure came in through the kitchen door with dinner.<\/p>\n

(Diary, even if I can\u2019t write to you, at least I can talk to you in my mind. Here goes…)<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019m looking around the dinner table and there\u2019s my dad looking hungry, and Mom, setting out the casserole and salad, smiling at me. Desi and Danny, my twin brothers, are wiggling and poking each other like they always do. Diary, do twins really have secret languages? If so, poking is Desi and Danny\u2019s secret language.<\/em><\/p>\n

So, I innocently ask, \u2018Where\u2019s Doug?\u2019 You know, casual-like. And Diary, you and I both know he\u2019s outside hanging around Dad\u2019s car.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cDouglas!!\u201d<\/p>\n

Dad has a powerful voice. Must come in handy when he\u2019s coaching little league.<\/em><\/p>\n

Faintly. \u201cComing!\u201d<\/p>\n

(Here he comes, Diary. I\u2019ll talk to you later. We\u2019re having my favorite dinner: macaroni and cheese the way Mom makes it \u2014 two kinds of cheese and buttery toasty breadcrumbs on top.)<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Dad. Sorry I\u2019m late, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n

Doug piled into his seat across from me, helped himself to mac and cheese, and passed the bowl.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake some peas, Douglas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Doug pauses, chewing, then he goes all out on the twins.<\/p>\n

\u201cDesi, quit it! Mom, the dog\u2019s under the table again and Desi\u2019s teasing her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo I\u2019m not!\u201d<\/p>\n

This was true. I could see Desi was actually feeding Mischief, the beagle, his peas, which he detested.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s right,\u201d chimed in Danny. \u201cHe\u2019s not teasing the dog, he feeding the dog.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m not!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, you are! Look! The dog has peas on her nose.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t poke me!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll poke you if I want to \u2014-\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cENOUGH!\u201d<\/p>\n

(Diary, I got to tell you, those little league kids, they must be able to hear Dad in the next county! Then Mom took over.)<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cDesmond. Daniel. Stop it and eat your dinner. Including peas. Doug, switch places with Desi. Desi, you sit next to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Mom! Desi\u2019s got food on his chair and peas on the rug\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDouglas. Do. As. Your. Mother. Says.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dad sighed. It must have been a long day.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, everyone, let\u2019s start this meal over. Put down your forks and put your napkins alongside your plates. You, too, Sydney. Now bow your heads and be thankful for our food, our family and our health. When I say so, we can start dinner again.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Diary, I think the silence lasted for about a year. This was a dinner for the history books.)<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAlright. Bon app\u00e9tit, everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a while after that, all you could hear was the clatter of forks and the sounds of chewing.<\/p>\n

\u201cDad?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Doug.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did you take the stick figure family off the back of our car?\u201d<\/p>\n

Dad stops still, forkful of macaroni and cheese poised midair. There\u2019s more silence. Only this time it was suspenseful, not prayerful. I watch Dad and Mom just stare at each other. What is going on?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHuh? Dad?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI, uh, you know, I always thought those decals were silly. Telegraphing to anyone exactly who is in our family right down to the dog. And I, um, today I decided to do something about it. Last night, actually after you were in bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Diary, I think Dad just caught a case of \u201cweird\u201d from Doug. What was that all about? Soon as dinner\u2019s over ole Duggie\u2019s gonna tell me what\u2019s going on.)<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

\"ADINNER AT THE EDDYS<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cMom, any more pork chops?\u201d Hale Eddy asked.<\/p>\n

Mrs. Eddy put down her fork. \u201cWhy, I believe so.\u201d Getting up, she headed toward the stove.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Three.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I was saying,\u201d Eddie Eddy continued, \u201cwas that if they are going to wait fill potholes in Crawford Lake rim road til next winter, it will be minutes before they\u2019ll have to do it all over again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow come, Dad?\u201d Palmer Eddy always catered to his father\u2019s monologues at dinner so he could help himself to more food without being interrupted with how school was going.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the weather, Palmer. Those holes fill up with water, they pound the blacktop in, it freezes, the water expands, breaks up the blacktop, and the cars just dig it out again.<\/p>\n

\u201cBesides,\u201d Eddie said around a mouthful of pork chop, \u201cthose guys over at Highway, they\u2019re always in a hurry. No supervisor to keep them honest. If I was supervisor at Highway, I\u2019d watch those guys like a hawk. I just know in my bones that all those new black-topped driveways in town weren\u2019t all paid for legit to a licensed contractor. You know what I mean? And cement. What about the Neri\u2019s patio that got installed last year? They don\u2019t have that kind of money. I tell you if I was supervisor, I\u2019d be watching them like a hawk and taking inventory every night. Any tires missing from the garage? Know what I mean? Yeah. If I was supervisor\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, Ed,\u201d Ella Eddy looked up from serving Hale. \u201cYou\u2019ve been wanting to move to Highway as long as we\u2019ve known you.\u201d She looked around the family table before she sat down. \u201cPalmer, pork chop? Anyway, put in for a transfer, that\u2019s what I say.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh. You know the story. Boy\u2019s club all the way. Look down on Parks \u2018cause we don\u2019t have big machines. They ever mow grass on a hill? Forty-five degree incline? Huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMom? Any more baked beans?\u201d This time it was Palmer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, yes, Palmer. One minute.\u201d Ella put down her fork and went to the stove, ladled some beans into a bowl and returned to the table. \u201cHere you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll take some too,\u201d Hale said, reaching for the bowl. \u201cHey, Dad? Are there alligators in Crawford Lake?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the blitz are you talking about? You drunk or something?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, Eddie. He\u2019s 15.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI got drunk when I was 15.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStill do,\u201d Hale muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWait just one blame minute, young man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, Eddie\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDad?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat now, Palmer.\u201d Eddie shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you gonna run for Highway Supervisor? Mrs. Sackett said you couldn\u2019t run for dog catcher and win. She said\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cElla, these kids are going to make me NUTS. I\u2019m going for a walk. Don\u2019t expect me til later.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sound of screen door slamming. Car starting. Wheels on gravel. Silence.<\/p>\n

\u201cPalmer. Hale. You shouldn\u2019t tease your father like that. He works so hard. And you know he loves you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hale got up from the table and started for the door. \u201cMa, he just talks too much is all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere you off to, Hale?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI dunno. Around I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBe home by 10, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Okay. Come on, Palmy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t call me Palmy!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Pa. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Uninterrupted at last, Ella Eddy finished her dinner.<\/p>\n

\n

\"MischiefDOUG SHARES THE SECRET<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Doug. Can I come in?\u201d Nancy was at the door to my room.<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose\u2026uh, yeah, sure!\u201d I said. I sat up and put my phone down. \u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n

I had been lying on my bed, phone in hand, staring at the ceiling. I had Googled a map of Crawford looking for Gardner Blvd and the bank \u2014 satellite view. I was wondering whether it really was Dad who met that guy behind the bank. Not that scraping stick figures off the back of your car is damning evidence. Maybe just coincidence. Or meeting a guy behind a bank at 10 at night for that matter. But if your car could be recognized with stick figures on the back and then they were gone and your car now looked like every other white SUV\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw you staring at the back of Dad\u2019s car before dinner. Then you asked him about the stick figures. You made him stop in his tracks. What\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n

Oh, boy. Nancy\u2019s too smart for me to get away with any lame excuse like \u2018I forgot what the stick figures looked like and when I went to check they were gone.\u2019 Like that. Wouldn\u2019t fly two feet. But should I tell her Hale\u2019s secret? The one he made me part of? On the other hand, it\u2019s about our dad. And the disappearing stick figures.<\/p>\n

\u201cDougie? Hello?! You re acting really weird and I wish you\u2019d stop it. Come out of your trance and tell me what is going on?\u201d<\/p>\n

I shook off my thoughts. \u201cI dunno, Nan,\u201d I said. I thought for a moment. \u201cThere\u2019s\u2026well, there\u2019s something strange that Hale saw last night. And he told me about it this afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe swore me to secrecy. I can\u2019t tell anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did he see that is secret-worthy? It\u2019s something that has you bugged. I can tell.\u201d<\/p>\n

I looked at Nan. She\u2019s twelve. Old enough to understand stuff. Smart enough to honor secrets. She didn\u2019t look nosey, she looked worried. And that made up my mind right then and there.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. You\u2019re family. I trust you. But now you will have to keep the secret too, no matter what.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can do that Doug.\u201d I noticed that when Nan was serious she called me Doug. When she was being a pain in the neck she called me Duggie.<\/p>\n

I rolled off the bed and sat cross-legged on the rug. Nan sat down cross-legged facing me.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d I said. \u201cSay after me. \u2018I promise with all my heart\u2026\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI promise with all my heart\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the life of Mischief\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh! Duggie, not the dog!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the life of Mischief\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, all right. On the life of Mischief\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026that I will never tell\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026that I will never tell\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026what I hear tonight\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026what I hear tonight\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, come on!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEver.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, okay. Ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

I grabbed Nan\u2019s left hand and hooked my pinky through hers and twisted. Not so it hurt or anything.<\/p>\n

\u201cOw!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry. Okay. Ready?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nan gave me a look like a combination of get-on-with-it-already and this-better-be good.<\/p>\n

So I told her how yesterday when Hale and I were hanging out, he swore me to secrecy. That he saw two cars behind the bank at 10 o\u2019clock on Friday night and some voices. That he concluded one of the cars and voices was Dad. To say Nan was skeptical was an understatement. Her \u201cReally?!\u201d dripped with sarcasm. I know she doesn\u2019t think much of Hale, but I went on the defensive anyway to my regret.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen why was Dad so flustered when I asked him about the stick figures? I think he\u2019s got something to hide and that could be it,\u201d I said. \u201cBesides, Hale distinctly overheard one of the voices say they were to meet again at nine tonight and I plan to be there and see for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd just how are you going to be downtown at nine at night? Mom and Dad would never let that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m gonna tell Mom I\u2019m staying over at Hale\u2019s and that it\u2019s okay with his mom. Then I\u2019ll take the bike and go downtown,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWow. That\u2019s a whopper. You\u2019ll get in trouble big time for that.\u201d Nancy shook her head looking at me like I was nuts. \u201cBesides, what\u2019ll you do between now and 9 o\u2019clock since you\u2019re not really going to Hale\u2019s house?\u201d<\/p>\n

I stared at her. I hadn\u2019t thought of that in my plan. We both thought for a bit. Nan broke the silence.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about this? Why don\u2019t you go to the Community Center at Crawford Park? Is it open until nine? Google it! Play pinball or shoot hoops or something.\u201d<\/p>\n

I looked at Nancy in awe. Swearing her to secrecy did more than keep a secret, it put her on the team. \u201cYou\u2019re right!\u201d I said looking up from my phone. It\u2019s open till nine.\u201d I looked hard at Nan. \u201cYou won\u2019t tell, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nancy solemnly shook her head. \u201cI want to know what this is all about,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

We shook on it. I told Mom about staying at Hale\u2019s and took off on my bike for Crawford Lake. Seemed like Crawford Lake was a part of my life these days.<\/p>\n

\n

\"tennisHALE SHARES THE SECRET<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"After dinner, Hale and Palmer walked along the edge of the road toward Crawford Lake. At twelve, Palmer was feeling somewhat important hanging with his older brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cShould we bring our bikes?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNah, it\u2019ll be dark by the time it\u2019s time to go home. I hate riding in the dark. Besides, I want you to do me a favor.\u201d Hale had a tennis ball and was pitching it at a tree trunks catching the bounce back as they went along.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want you to go home in a little while and pretend you\u2019re with me. You know, talk like I\u2019m there, bang the screen door twice, make noise like two people going upstairs and close the door to our room. Both our bikes will still be in the yard. That\u2019s the real reason I don\u2019t want them now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGee, Hale. What you up to? A girl?\u201d Palmer was getting interested in girls, Nancy McClure for example.<\/p>\n

\u201cNah. A secret I got to check out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA secret that calls for me to be out past 9 o\u2019clock, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

Palmer stopped short and faced Hale. The returning tennis ball skimmed out into the street. \u201cLook, if I\u2019m gonna cover for you, I want to know why. Or I\u2019ll tell Mom when I get home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, geez, Palmer. Alright. I saw something last night behind the bank. Two men talking. Being furtive \u2014 know what being furtive is?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, sneaky. So there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, sneaky. And I overheard one say \u2018nine tomorrow night\u2019. Tonight\u2019s \u2018tomorrow night\u2019 and I want to find out what\u2019s going on. Having my bike would just get in the way. And if the bike wasn\u2019t in the yard when you get home, Mom would know I didn\u2019t come with you. Get it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCool, Hale. A mystery. Like those Hardy Boys books Dad keeps in the attic.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t know about that. But it could be a big deal, this clandestine meeting. Know what clandestine is?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Secret. Come on, Hale. We ain\u2019t in school. And you ain\u2019t my teacher.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell you could learn a lot from me if you wanted to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd one more thing,\u201d Palmer folded his arms and stared at Hale. \u201cYou tell me what happened tonight behind the bank or I tell Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCripey, Palmer. That\u2019s blackmail. Know what blackmail is?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust sayin\u2019, Hale. I\u2019ll do it, but remember, you\u2019re telling me what\u2019s up.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tennis ball had rolled into the gutter. Hale picked it up and did a couple hand to hand bounces. \u201cJust head on home and do the favor. I\u2019ll tell you what\u2019s up tomorrow.\u201d Suddenly Hale lobbed the tennis ball as hard as he could into the woods and walked off. Palmer shook his head and started back home.<\/p>\n

\n

\"ScreenshotHale continued walking down Spring Street toward Gardner Boulevard. Hand in pockets, he kicked a pebble along the sidewalk. He spied something shiny, a quarter. He picked the quarter up, tried to knuckle-roll the coin like he once saw Val Kilmer do in a movie. Exasperated, he flipped it into the grass.<\/p>\n

Pete\u2019s Saloon was on the corner of Spring and Henry. Hale looked through the window for his father. Not seeing him, Hale entered an took a stool at the bar.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, Hale,\u201d Bud Rawlins said, wiping down the bar with a wet cloth. \u201cYou\u2019re not supposed to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Cause my dad isn\u2019t?\u201d Hale countered.<\/p>\n

\u201cNaw. Cause you\u2019re too young to drink.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlcohol. Ugh. Hate the way my dad smells after he\u2019s been here. No offense to you,\u201d Hale added quickly.<\/p>\n

Bud flexed the tattoo on his tricep. \u201cNone taken,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just need to hang out for a bit before I have to go home. Can I play Space Invaders?\u201d<\/p>\n

Space Invaders was this ancient arcade game. One of the most famous ones. It was a fixture in Pete\u2019s Saloon going all the way back when Pete himself was behind the bar.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure. Got quarters?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hale thought briefly of the quarter he tossed into the grass. He shrugged. \u201cNaw.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLucky I\u2019m in a good mood tonight,\u201d Bud said. \u201cHere\u2019s a roll of quarters. But when it starts to get busy, you got to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hale inserted a quarter and the screen filled with rows and rows of highly pixelated alien space ships raining fire on his barricades while he expertly maneuvered is laser beam back and forth taking out invaders as fast as they marched down the screen. The sound of the laser beam rang out on the bar and the drumbeat of invasion grew faster and faster. Once the last invader had been wiped out or Hale\u2019s position blew up (which wasn\u2019t very often), the whole thing started all over again.<\/p>\n

Hale\u2019s brow was furrowed with intense concentration. There was nothing else in his world but pixelated spaceships and laser beams.<\/p>\n

The bar started to fill up. One and twos, mostly men. The jukebox started playing and the TV was turned on to the basketball game.<\/p>\n

Bud Rawlins loomed up behind Hale. \u201cTime to go, fella. I\u2019ll take the rest of those quarters.\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

It was 8:30.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Ping-pongDOUG KILLS SOME TIME<\/strong><\/p>\n

I think I would even admit it to Nancy that I was nervous leaving the house in a lie. I had so convinced myself of it, that I almost turned into the Eddy\u2019s house on my way to the lake. I wondered if I was doing the right thing, whether there would be anyone from school at the Community Center, whether I would get to the bank when things were happening, what Hale might say\u2026 I guess I was in a sort of a dither, like Dad calls it.<\/p>\n

It was quiet at the Community Center for a Saturday night. Couple guys on the indoor court playing hoops and a wild game going on the outdoor one. I stopped to watch some muscular guys taking some serious long shots and scrambling for the ball like they were playing defense and offense at the same time.<\/p>\n

The lake was quiet in the twilight. Sleepy birds were twittering around, and clouds were reflected in the still water. It was kinda nice actually. Calmed me down a bit.<\/p>\n

I went checked the clock in the club house. 7:30. Boy, time was going to be going really slow.<\/p>\n

I hung around the ping pong table. A guy and his girlfriend were laughing and hitting the ping pong ball all over the place. Twice I caught it midair arcing toward the bathrooms and tossed it back their way. After a while they gave up and went outside.<\/p>\n

I picked up the paddle and a ball and tried to play by myself using the wall as a back board. 7:45. Man, this is gonna take forever to get to 9 o\u2019clock.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlay you a game.\u201d a voice startled me out of my thoughts.<\/p>\n

It was a girl. Maybe 18. Skinny. Tall. Crooked smile and a lot of eye makeup.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re Doug McClure, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah?\u201d I said staring at her. Did I know her from somewhere?<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw you with my brother this afternoon over by the dog run.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oh my god. It was Lizzy Eddy. I almost didn\u2019t recognize her. Sheesh. Another girl to mess up my plans.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, hi Liz,\u201d I said. \u201cI, uh, didn\u2019t recognize you \u2014 uh, didn\u2019t expect to see you here. I mean, I wasn\u2019t expecting to see anyone I knew.\u201d I was just getting in deeper and deeper.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you want to play a game or what?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure.\u201d And we played. She was fierce. Hammered the ball. Took long shots that stopped the ball dead just on my side of the net. Or sent them rebounding so I had to jump for them. It was all I could do to keep up. After a while, I said, \u201cWhew. Okay. You win and we weren\u2019t even keeping score.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Doug. Cool. Well, I\u2019ll be taking off.\u201d And like that she was gone through the swinging doors and out into the night. She was like Hale that way.<\/p>\n

The room felt very empty all of a sudden. I started thinking again about the meeting by the bank and whether my dad would be there. I felt for my phone to check the time. My heart went cold. I didn\u2019t have my phone. Oh, man.<\/p>\n

I looked around the ping pong table. Maybe some of those shots Liz sent me knocked it out of my pocket. But I would have heard that. Maybe it dropped out by the basketball court. I went out and ruffled the grass with my foot along the fence where I had been standing watching the guys play man-to-man.<\/p>\n

Maybe it dropped while I was riding here.<\/p>\n

Sheesh. Mom will kill me. She\u2019s gonna kill me anyway for lying and being out late, so what\u2019s a one more thing? I went back to the club house and looked at the clock. It was 8:40! It was time! Heart beating, I hopped on my bike and headed for the bank.<\/p>\n

\n

\"TheNANCY GETS A GRILLING<\/strong><\/p>\n

After Doug left, Nancy McClure went to her room and caught up with her diary.<\/p>\n

Okay, Diary. Thing have gotten even more interesting, if that\u2019s possible. It goes like this. Hale has a secret which he tells to Doug who now has the secret which he tells to me (some secret, huh?). After this is all over, I\u2019ll tell you what it is Diary, but not now.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

Anyway, Doug\u2019s off to a place in town \u2014 which I can\u2019t name for fear of reprisals, as they say \u2014 to see if the secret that Hale told him is true. Got that? Haha! Here\u2019s Mom coming upstairs with the laundry.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNan, here\u2019s your laundry. Put your things away tonight, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sydney McClure peeled off a stack of shirts and undies and put them on Nancy\u2019s bed and went out to Doug\u2019s room with his clean shirts and socks.<\/p>\n

Mom was in Doug\u2019s room when I heard her saying something.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it, Mom?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mom came into my room with a cell phone in her hand.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI found Doug\u2019s phone next to his bed. He forgot to take it with him to Hale\u2019s. I\u2019ll call over there and tell him. He\u2019ll be looking for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oh, man. Mom calling the Eddy\u2019s! And neither Doug or Hale are there. This was going to be tough.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHi, Ella? This is Sydney McClure. Fine thanks. I\u2019m calling because Doug left his phone home. I just found it. Can I talk to him?\u201d<\/p>\n

I can hear the garbled sound of Mrs. Eddy talking at the other end.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cDoug\u2019s not there? He left for your place 15 minutes ago!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Please check with Hale. I\u2019ll hold.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was what seemed like a very long pause.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes? What? Hale\u2019s not there? And Palmer hasn\u2019t seen Doug? What\u2019s going on? Doug left here on his way to you. Why isn\u2019t he there by now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cElla, let me call you right back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diary, I could feel the Inquisition coming.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNancy Grace! Did Doug tell you where he was going tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hmmm. How to answer. Simple is best<\/em>. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid he say he was going over to the Eddy\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen where is he?\u201d There was panic in Mom\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n

Diary, I couldn\u2019t let my mom think something happened to Doug between here and Hale\u2019s house, no matter how much my finger got twisted. I just couldn\u2019t. You wouldn\u2019t either. Mom sat on my bed. She was looking awful worried.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe said he was going to the bank at 9 o\u2019clock to check something out but he didn\u2019t want anyone to know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNine o\u2019clock? The bank? What bank? There\u2019s got to be at least 20 banks in Crawford, maybe more.\u201d At my look, she said, \u201cWell, six, maybe. But every bank will be closed at 9 o\u2019clock on a Saturday \u2014 on any day. Why was he going to a bank at night?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said it was a secret and I wasn\u2019t supposed to tell.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou will tell me. Now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diary, when she gives me that look, there\u2019s no hope for it.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHale heard two guys talking behind a bank last night and saying they would meet again tonight at 9.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoug said that Hale said one of the guys was Dad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur Dad? I mean, your Dad? Sanford?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYea.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s crazy. Hale is not to be trusted. I think he just says things to get people worked up. Ella \u2014 Mrs. Eddy \u2014 doesn\u2019t know where Hale is, but I\u2019ll bet Doug is with him wherever he is. I\u2019m going over to the Hale\u2019s \u2014 I mean, the Eddy\u2019s. You stay with Desi and Danny and when your father gets home tell him I will call. Doug\u2019s grounded for the rest of the school year, that\u2019s for certain. And he\u2019s going to stay away from Hale.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s Mom. Goes right for the punishment before all the facts are in. Hale\u2019s just Doug\u2019s best friend.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

\"ScreenshotPALMER GETS A GRILLING<\/strong><\/p>\n

Palmer was deep into Clash of Clans. A marauder had taken out his barracks since the last time he logged on. Looking over the carnage, he considered how best to realign his defenses. Should he spend some gold to upgrade his archer tower? Or maybe buy an additional mortar? If Mom would only let him buy some gems, he could add new defenses and not worry about his barracks. Vaguely he heard the phone ring and his mother\u2019s voice saying, \u201cHi, Sydney! How are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Palmer perked up. Sydney. That was Doug\u2019s mom\u2019s name. Like the city in Australia. Strange name.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, Doug\u2019s not here, Sydney.\u201d<\/p>\n

He could actually hear squawking coming over the phone. Then his mom said, \u201cAt least I don\u2019t think so. I heard the boys clattering in a while back, but I thought it was just Hale and Palmer. Let me go check.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHale! Palmer! Where are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Palmer sighed. Here we go. \u201cIn here, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s Hale?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI dunno. Right now, you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean generally. He is not here. Where is he? I think you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPal-mer\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s hanging out behind a bank waiting for something to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat bank? What\u2019s going to happen?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI dunno. That\u2019s all he said. Told me to cover for him. Leave our bikes in the yard and make noise like we were both coming home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPalmer Eddy! Shame on you! But I suppose at the very least you didn\u2019t lie to me.\u201d Ella Eddy thought for a moment. \u201cMrs. McClure is calling back shortly. Doug\u2019s gone missing too. What do you think, it\u2019s the same thing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI dunno. Hale and Doug talk a lot about stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

Just then there was a flash of headlights, the squeal of tires, and the sound of spraying gravel. Ella ran out to the driveway just as Sydney was getting out of her car. Palmer stood on the porch watching.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you heard anything?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, Palmer says Hale\u2019s gone down to the bank for some reason and thinks maybe Doug has too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s pretty much what Nancy told me. This is crazy. It\u2019s 8:40 at night. They shouldn\u2019t be out this late. What bank? That\u2019s what I want to know. There\u2019s at least ten banks in this town.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two women stared at each other. Sydney was angry in her concern. Ella was more complacent, but worried just the same.<\/p>\n

Palmer spoke up. \u201cI think I know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ella turned, \u201cWell?\u201d Her voice was unusually harsh.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s \u2019cause Hale didn\u2019t have his bike. He would have to walk there. So maybe the bank that pretty close by\u2026\u201d Palmer\u2019s voice trailed off.<\/p>\n

Sydney looked at Palmer appraisingly. \u201cThat\u2019s very good reasoning, Palmer. You have your phone there? Google \u201cbank near me\u201d and let\u2019s see what you get.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two women and the boy stood in the driveway their faces in blue light and dark shadow as they bent over his cell phone.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s two closest,\u201d Palmer said. \u201cLeverage Saving and Loan on Howard and Bay Ridge Bank on Gardner.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich bank should we check out first?\u201d Sydney murmured to herself. Ella said, \u201cWhy, B comes before L, let\u2019s check out Bay Ridge first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood idea, Ella. Let\u2019s go find the boys.\u201d Sydney opened the passenger door for Ella. \u201cPalmer, you get in the back.\u201d<\/p>\n

And with another spray of gravel the McClure\u2019s white SUV spun out onto the road.<\/p>\n

\n

\"StripDOUG AND HALE WAIT IT OUT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even though I lost my phone, I wanted to know more about Hale\u2019s secret. Coming from the lake on my bike, I took the hill up Gardner way too fast. I was puffing just halfway up. I wondered if Hale was there already. Without my phone I wasn\u2019t too sure what time it really was.<\/p>\n

Gardner Boulevard has an island in the middle with trees and bushes and grass. Coming up the hill you really can\u2019t see the bank on the other side until you\u2019re almost on it. There\u2019s a break in the island so cars coming up the hill can turn into the strip mall the bank\u2019s a part of.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what I did too looking around for Hale.<\/p>\n

Everything was quiet, no moon out yet. The only light was from tree shaded streetlights, those LED ones that make harsh shadows. I could see how eerie the white SUV must have looked to Hale last night.<\/p>\n

I pulled up at the entrance to the strip mall. The bank is on the near side with an insurance office (closed), a nail place (also closed), and a pizza place (closed) filling in the middle.<\/p>\n

It was so quiet that I wondered all of a sudden whether I got Hale wrong when he said he overheard the word \u201ctomorrow.\u201d Maybe when the voice said \u201ctomorrow,\u201d he meant today\u2019s tomorrow (meaning Sunday), not last night\u2019s tomorrow (which meant now). I slung off my bike and looked around.<\/p>\n

\u201cPsssst! Doug! Over here!\u201d Hale\u2019s voice, practically a whisper, came from behind a boulder at the edge of the driveway down to the parking lot in the back. I leaned my bike up against a tree and followed the sound of Hale\u2019s voice. I squatted down beside him behind the boulder. He started in like he always does. Like I\u2019ve been there all along.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhadaya think? I picked this spot \u2018cause I can see the front corner of the bank, all along the driveway and down around the back.\u201d<\/p>\n

I checked it out, peeping around the rock. There were bushes between the street and the parking lot across the front of the stores, but you could pretty much see everything. \u201cGood spot, Hale.\u201d We sat crouching for a moment. \u201cWonder when they\u2019ll get here,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe they won\u2019t. Maybe they will, but much later. Maybe they\u2019re meeting right now, only somewhere else. Maybe they changed their minds and aren\u2019t gonna meet at all. Maybe they met earlier and are home watching TV by now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJeeze, Hale, that\u2019s a lot of \u201cmaybes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. I got here 20 minutes ago. Waiting gets me nervous.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I see a headlight coming up Gardner from the lake.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hale started. \u201cWhere?\u201d Then, \u201cOh, yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n

The car kept on going up Gardner toward Henry Street.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, Hale. How long you think we should stay before giving up?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWon\u2019t your mom wonder where you are?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNaw. I got Palmer to cover for me.\u201d We crouched for a minute. \u201cHow about you?\u201d<\/p>\n

I told Hale how I had said I was staying over at his house and that Nancy helped with the plan. \u201cShe\u2019s cool,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGirls are good for something at least,\u201d Hale muttered. He perked up. \u201cThere\u2019s another car coming up the hill.\u201d<\/p>\n

This time we could tell the car was slowing down. From where we were, we watched it turn in that break in the island on Gardener and pull into the bank parking lot.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoly crap, Hale\u201d I hissed. \u201cIt\u2019s a white SUV!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhadid I tell ya?\u201d Hale sounded very self-satisfied.<\/p>\n

The SUV pulled into one of the angled spots in front of the bank and killed the lights.<\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t you say they were supposed to meet around the back?\u201d I whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d was all he said.<\/p>\n

Silence. All was dark in the SUV. It must be near midnight by now. That\u2019s what it felt like anyway. Surely it couldn\u2019t have been my dad creeping around in the dark on a Saturday night. Or Friday night either for that matter. We kept crouching behind the boulder waiting for what was going to happen next.<\/p>\n

\n

\"ThePALMER AND NANCY CHECK IN – PART ONE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Palmer sat in the back seat of the McClure\u2019s SUV wondering how much trouble he was really in and how much Hale would be in when an incoming message alert sounded on his phone. He looked down and saw it was Nancy McClure. Quickly he silenced all sound.<\/p>\n

Nancy: Where are you? Are you home? What\u2019s happening?<\/p>\n

Palmer: I\u2019m in your mom\u2019s car with my mom. How\u2019d you get my number?<\/p>\n

Nancy: From school. Remember? Crisis Buddy Day?<\/p>\n

Palmer: Oh, yeah. I guess I have your number, too.<\/p>\n

Nancy: Whatever. What\u2019s going on? Is my mom still mad?<\/p>\n

Palmer: Not so much mad as in a frenzy. My mom\u2019s much cooler.<\/p>\n

Nancy: Where\u2019s Mom going?<\/p>\n

Palmer: The Bay Ridge Bank on Gardner. Our moms decided that\u2019s where Hale and Doug are. We just turned in to the bank and parked. Your mom drives really fast.<\/p>\n

Nancy: Let me know what happens, okay?<\/p>\n

Palmer: Okay.<\/p>\n

Palmer looked out the window of the SUV. The tint made everything seem darker and more sinister with the LED streetlights piercing the blackness. His mom and Nancy\u2019s mom were mumbling in the front.<\/p>\n

All of a sudden, he saw a car turn hard into the driveway from the street and, dowsing its headlights, speed down to the back. Whoa. Maybe Hale was right. Maybe there would be a secret meeting.<\/p>\n

Then, a jeep barreled up Gardner, turned into the bank driveway and zoomed down to the back all kinds of lights on – headlights, fog lights, roof lights.<\/p>\n

Wow. Palmer thought. This was getting complicated. Like the Hardy Boys story \u201cThe Secret Panel\u201d that Dad had in the attic. Was this a \u201cmeet\u201d of the criminals and he was stuck in the car with his mother and Nancy\u2019s mother? He rolled down the window just in time to hear a voice say \u201cHah!\u201d and another one say,\u201d Shush! They\u2019ll hear you!\u201d<\/p>\n

Well \u201cthey\u201d did. The car doors opened and Sydney McClure started calling, \u201cDoug! Douglas! Is that you? Where are you? Ella, take a look. Here\u2019s Doug\u2019s bike over by this tree.\u201d Then Ella called out, \u201cHale Franklin Eddy, you come out here wherever you are hiding.\u201d<\/p>\n

Palmer decided to text Nancy.<\/p>\n

\n

Palmer: Hey, Nan.<\/p>\n

(Delivered)<\/p>\n

Palmer: Nan, checking in.<\/p>\n

(Delivered)<\/p>\n

Palmer looked up as a big black police cruiser rolled up and blocked the entrance to the driveway. Oh, boy.<\/p>\n

\n

\"graphicPALMER AND NANCY CHECK IN – PART TWO<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Nancy sat alongside her father in the Jeep. He was so pee-oh\u2019d she didn\u2019t dare say anything. She couldn\u2019t even concentrate enough to write to her diary in her mind. So she just decided to memorize everything she saw and write it up later when she got home. If she got home.<\/p>\n

Danny and Desi were in the back putzing around with some action figures from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a hand-me-down from Doug. Dad looked like steam would come out of his ears if anything else happened. The Jeep took the roads and the curves and the hills at speed tossing Nancy around inside her seat belt.<\/p>\n

They barreled up Gardner hill and swerved into the bank driveway and shot down to the back parking lot. Nancy regretted giving Dad all this detail, but what could she do? She could tell he was afraid Mom and Doug were in danger or at least that something unpleasant was going on.<\/p>\n

In the parking lot was another car. Dad pulled up to his driver\u2019s window was across from the other driver\u2019s window. Both windows rolled down simultaneously.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s for meeting me here, Eddie,\u201d Dad said. \u201cI had the whole story from Nancy, who had it from Doug who had it from your son Hale.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks for the call, Sanford. What\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cApparently, on Friday night Hale spotted two cars down here in this lot, overheard some voices saying there was a meeting here again tonight. So Hale conceived of the stupidest \u2014- well, he\u2019s your son, Eddie \u2014 Hale decided to sneak back here tonight and see what was what.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen he made the mistake of getting Doug involved. Doug\u2019s a good kid, but impressionable. So somewhere around here Doug and Hale are hiding. To add to the confusion, both Palmer and Nancy told their mothers what was going on and our wives saw fit to take off and arrive here to find the kids for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoly mackerel,\u201d Eddie shook his head. \u201cHale\u2019s got some heavy time coming for this one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I got home and asked where her mother was, Nancy here,\u201d Sanford gestured to Nancy with a snort, \u201cNancy here tells me, I tell you and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDad! Look! At the top of the drive. It\u2019s the police!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, oy vey.\u201d Sanford heaved a big sigh and nodded to Eddie. \u201cLet\u2019s go meet the cops. Nancy, you stay here. Do not \u2014 are you listening\u2014do not let Desi and Danny out of the car.\u201d With that Dad moved the Jeep, jumped out, and joined Mr. Eddy who was walking up the driveway to the front of the bank.<\/p>\n

Nancy looked down. There were two messages from Palmer. Oh, man, he must be somewhere around here, too.<\/p>\n

\n

Nancy: Hey, Palmer, whatsup?<\/p>\n

Palmer: Been trying to text you. Our moms are looking for Hale and Doug. There\u2019s two cars down in the parking lot like Hale said. The police just showed up.<\/p>\n

Nancy: I see the flashing lights.<\/p>\n

Palmer: Where RU?<\/p>\n

Nancy: Down in the parking lot below the bank.<\/p>\n

Palmer: You\u2019re in one of those cars?<\/p>\n

Nancy: Where are you?<\/p>\n

Palmer: In your Mom\u2019s SUV.<\/p>\n

Nancy: But where?<\/p>\n

Palmer: In front of the bank.<\/p>\n

Nancy: Oh, man. I\u2019m in my dad\u2019s Jeep. He talking to your dad. He was here when we got here.<\/p>\n

Palmer: My dad?<\/p>\n

Nancy: Yea. You didn\u2019t see him?<\/p>\n

(pause)<\/p>\n

Palmer: The police are talking to your and my mom.<\/p>\n

Nancy: I told Dad. He\u2019s on fire! Just backed the car up, got out, charged up the drive.<\/p>\n

Palmer: My dad too?<\/p>\n

Nancy: Yep.<\/p>\n

Palmer: Oh, boy.<\/p>\n

(pause)<\/p>\n

Palmer: Here they come. They\u2019re crowded around the police. They\u2019re all talking at once. Your dad\u2019s waving his arms in the air. Your mom keeps looking around. My dad\u2019s arguing with my mom. No surprise.<\/p>\n

Nancy: Where\u2019s Doug and Hale?<\/p>\n

Palmer: Don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n

(pause)<\/p>\n

Palmer: Hey, one of the cops spotted Hale and Doug behind a rock on the driveway.<\/p>\n

Nancy: Behind a rock!?<\/p>\n

Palmer: Halfway down.I can just barely see it from the car.<\/p>\n

(pause)<\/p>\n

Nancy: Hey, Palmer! What\u2019s going on? I hear voices but not what they\u2019re saying.<\/p>\n

Palmer: They all went down the drive. Police too. I can\u2019t see.<\/p>\n

(pause)<\/p>\n

Nancy: Palmer!!!<\/p>\n

Palmer: The cop\u2019s coming back up the driveway with Hale and Doug. I can hear Hale saying, but I saw them, I heard them!<\/p>\n

\n

\"PoliceBUSTED<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hiding behind a bolder was not very comfortable. There were prickly things poking in my back and I had stepped on something squishy. But if I moved, I\u2019d blow Hale\u2019s cover and if he moved, he\u2019s blow mine.<\/p>\n

So we just waited.<\/p>\n

I heard my mom calling. It was hard not to call back. But I was in it up to my neck, so I may as well go in it over my head. Then I saw a police car with high beams on and spotlight sweeping around the front of the bank. Stopping on Mom and Mrs. Eddy. The police get out and start talking to them.<\/p>\n

And then, Dad and Mr. Eddy came charging up the driveway from the parking lot talking to each other a mile-a-minute like my grandma used to say. All I could hear was \u201cWhy did they\u201d \u201cHow could they\u201d \u201cWhen did you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Everybody clusters around the police. Seems like they are all talking at once so I can\u2019t make out what they\u2019re saying. I gotta guess they\u2019re telling the police that we\u2019re missing and what Hale told me that I told Nan that Nan musta told Mom. I wonder if Palmer is as big a snitch as she is.<\/p>\n

One of the police broke away from the group and started down the driveway with a big, powerful flashlight. Swinging it back and forth, she didn\u2019t have much trouble finding us behind the boulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, boys,\u201d she said. \u201cTime\u2019s up. Let\u2019s go.\u201d She didn\u2019t sound angry or anything, but I wouldn\u2019t have wanted to say no to her.<\/p>\n

Hale and I stood up and stepped out onto the driveway. I felt all itchy and buggy. There was a black beetle on my jeans and leaves stuck to my socks.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore we go meet your parents, tell me your story.\u201d The cop was looking right at Hale, so I let Hale do the talking.<\/p>\n

He told how he was riding down Gardner Blvd last night around this time and saw cars at the back of the bank. How he heard what seemed like an arrangement to meet again tonight. And how he came maybe tonight to find out.<\/p>\n

The police looked skeptical.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I saw them! I heard them! There was a white SUV!\u201d<\/p>\n

She nodded and jotted in her notebook. \u201cOkay. Come on. It\u2019s time to go home.\u201d<\/p>\n

We went up to where Mom and Dad and Mr. and Mrs. Eddy were. And Palmer. I could feel Hale stiffen. Palmer was officially in trouble.<\/p>\n

The police said a few more things to our parents that I didn\u2019t listen to, then got into the cruiser and took off. We all just stood there for a minute.<\/p>\n

Then the dam broke.<\/p>\n

How dangerous it was for us to do this. How irresponsible we were. How much trouble we were in for lying, for staying out late. How worried they were. How scared they were when they couldn\u2019t find us. To never scare them like that again. How much we meant to them. How much they loved us \u2014 you get the picture.<\/p>\n

Finally, my dad said, \u201cWell, it\u2019s getting late. We can sort out punishments tomorrow. What say we all go over to the Dairy Queen on Route 60 and then go home?\u201d<\/p>\n

You know? My dad\u2019s just the greatest.<\/p>\n

\n

So Dad and Mr. Eddy walked back down the driveway and got their cars. Dad pulled up and there was Nancy inside. She stuck her tongue out me, the snitch.<\/p>\n

I went with Mom. Dad took Nan, Desi and Danny. Hale and Palmer went with Mr. and Mrs. Eddy.<\/p>\n

In the car Mom and I were quiet for a while. I said, \u201cI\u2019m sorry Mom to cause all this trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

Remarkably enough, she just said, \u201cYou know about curiosity and the cat?\u201d I nodded. \u201cWell in this case, you ain\u2019t got no satisfaction.\u201d<\/p>\n

We were quiet again for a while. \u201cMom, why was Dad so uncomfortable when I asked him at dinner about the stick figures on the car?\u201d<\/p>\n

I saw her smile in the light from the dashboard. \u201cBecause your Dad and I had a bet that you wouldn\u2019t notice. He said a month. I said two days. It was less than 24 hours. You beat both of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was it!?\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked at me smiled. \u201cThat was it. By the way, I found your phone. It was by your bed. You have your phone to thank for this whole evening.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I have you to thank, Mom. Thanks for looking out for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

By the time we got to DQ I figured it was 11:30 or something. The dash clock was only 9:56!<\/p>\n

Yeah. I was really, really sorry I caused my parents worry. But the fact remained, what did Hale see and hear?<\/p>\n

\n

\"Pancakes\"AFTERMATH<\/strong><\/p>\n

We were all sitting around eating breakfast together on Sunday morning. Dad was making blueberry pancakes as fast as we could eat them. Desi and Danny were making blue-tongued faces at each other. Nan was staring out the window at the sunshine on the lawn. Probably thinking what she would write in her diary about last night. I saw that book one time. It\u2019s dynamite.<\/p>\n

Mom had gotten a newspaper, something she rarely does unless it\u2019s important like who won the election or where July 4th fireworks were going to be.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, guys!\u201d she said suddenly. \u201cCheck this out!\u201d She folded back the paper to a story on the local pages and read aloud.<\/p>\n

Crawford, May 11 \u2014 About 9:50 Saturday night, police surprised two thieves in the rear parking lot of the Bay Ridge Bank on Gardner Boulevard. The pair were recently charged with attempting to break into an ATM in Cuttersville in March and again were found loitering near the ATM at the Bay Ridge Savings Bank on Grove last week. Raymond Jones, 18, and Sam Beckwith, 20, were arrested at gun point after trying to escape first in a white SUV and then on foot. Inside the SUV, police found two 3D printed hand guns, a hand-drawn map of the bank, ski masks, gloves, flashlight, and a tool kit.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So there everybody. Hale was right. But was I right to listen to him? Even now that seems okay. Was I right to go there without telling anyone? Maybe not. And Nancy doesn\u2019t count. But do I have to \u201ctattle\u201d everything to my parents? They think so. I don\u2019t. Besides, what about the \u201cother\u201d secret Hale has that he wouldn\u2019t even tell me?<\/p>\n

Wonder if Hale\u2019s seen today\u2019s newspaper.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Story by Caroline Meyers, \u00a92019<\/p>\n

Photo 158178387<\/a> \u00a9 Volodymyr Muliar<\/a> | Dreamstime.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The story of Doug, his best friend Hale, their assorted parents, brothers and sisters, and a secret that just might be true. An Eddy and McClure Story Mrs. Eddy peered through the screen door wiping her hands on her apron. \u201cWhy, hello, Douglas,\u201d she said. She always called me Douglas, not Doug. \u201cIs Hale around?\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/full-width.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2764","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.otownmedia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2764","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.otownmedia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.otownmedia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.otownmedia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.otownmedia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2764"}],"version-history":[{"count":39,"href":"https:\/\/www.otownmedia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2764\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3425,"href":"https:\/\/www.otownmedia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2764\/revisions\/3425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.otownmedia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}