“It could happen,” argued Molly.
“Yes, of course it could happen, but did it? Or is something else going on here? I keep thinking about what Rob said to us yesterday: Just wait. There’s more in store, or should I say in shop, for you. And then that creepy, knowing, maniacal laugh of his.”
“So, w-w-what d-d-do we d-d-do n-n-now?” sputtered Tim nervously, now in rapid fire mode. “Whew, excuse m-me.”
Maggie patted his shoulder, smiled wryly and started walking again. Her friends followed. “Haven’t got a clue,” she sighed. “Not... a... clue.”
Chapter 15
The Continue-Um diner was bustling. It was a Friday night and lots of folks were celebrating the end of the work week, and treating themselves to a night out on the town. And in this sleepy little northeastern village, that meant either the diner, the bowling alley, or the movie theater. And on a wild and crazy night, sometimes all three!
Mr. Oddley sat stiffly in his chair, meticulously studying the menu. His right eye wandering occasionally above his printed list of food options, to the pretty lady sitting across from him. This was their third dinner together this week. So, was this their third date?
As if to punctuate the idea, Mr. Oddley pulled a small gift-wrapped box from his pocket and excitedly held it out before him. “For you.” he said.
A huge girlish grin spread itself over Liza’s face. “For me?” she asked. “Why, what is it?” But she didn’t wait for an answer as she tore happily at the wrapping. When she opened the box, the most beautiful, most delicate little mechanical butterfly unfolded its wings and came fluttering out, and settled on her open hand. It seemed almost alive. “It’s wonderful,” she said. And she meant it. No one had ever given her such a heartfelt gift before. She kissed him on the cheek.
It made her feel a bit guilty, but back to business, she had a job to do.
“Oscar, honey,” she drooled. “I have a teeny weeny little favor to ask.”
“Of course, for you, anything my dear, what is it? Just ask.”
“I want to watch you make those incredible toys of yours,” she said simply.
The threat of a storm drifted into Mr. Oddley’s thoughts, for no one except his three little helpers knew how his toys were made. But... this was Liza, his friend. And with that the sun broke through and warmed away the clouds.
“Of course, how about next week? We could...”
“How about tonight?” she interrupted.
For a moment the ill wind returned. “Well... I...” Well, nothing. Why was he so nervous and acting so silly? He crumbled his napkin and placed it on his plate, as if he were discarding his doubts. “Right now, then?” he asked casually.
“Yes,” was her happy and immediate reply.
***
The shop looked and felt very different at night. Much the same as a carnival does without its shuffling crowds of people, its flashing lights, and the discordant mix of voices, music and laughter; the place felt somewhat dead. The two of them entered.
Before Mr. Oddley could switch the lights on, a passing car, through a window, illuminated the red piercing eyes of a broken jack-in-the-box toy sitting on a shelf across from them. Liza gasped. Then with the lights switched on, she laughed, but it was an uneasy laugh.
With Liza following close behind him, Mr. Oddley led the way downstairs to his workshop.
Mr. Oddley explained how some crystals he’d found could make the ordinary into something very special. As an example, he took a balsa wood glider airplane, glued a tiny bit of crystal dust to it, and transformed it into a stunt plane, that flew around the room making crazy loops and spirals. Liza was awed and clapped her hands in delight. Mr. Oddley smiled.
“Is this what you hoped to see, my dear?” he asked.
“Oh, yes,” she answered sweetly. “Yes, yes, yes. Thank you Oscar.”
Then back upstairs, as they were leaving, Liza feigned embarrassment, told Mr. Oddley she forgot her purse, and went back down to the workshop to undo the latch on the basement window.
***
He was waiting in the shadows when Liza opened her door. He was sitting in her chair and had both feet on her desk. And he was flanked by two really big guys who, she was certain, did not possess the happy gene. The happy-to-kick-your-butt gene, maybe, but definitely not the happy gene.
“I assume the reason you’re here tonight is that you received my report?” asked Liza calmly.
No answer.
Liza cleared her throat. “Look, I sent you all the information I had at the time, and now, I know a lot more.”
No answer.
Liza was getting nervous and said. “Look, tonight, I promise I will get you what you want. The secret to Oddley’s toys.”
“Do it,” said the shadowy figure. Then he and and his goons left Liza’s office. She immediately got on the phone to Rob. The deed had to be done tonight. There was no time to waste. No time.
***
Rob was getting ready for bed when Liza called. He whined and complained that he was too tired to go out again. And he asked why this couldn’t wait until tomorrow? But, then, a promise of extra cash woke him right up. And after that, why downright perky, he was.
A half hour later, Rob was peeking through the basement window that Liza had secretly unlocked. In his hand was a small satchel, and from it he pulled a flashlight to scan the room, just to make sure there were no surprises. But no, nothing, the place was clear. He slithered his way through the opening, walked over to the work bench, and pulled out a large pair of bolt cutters.
The bolts that secured the plexiglass cube, in which rested the box where the crystals were stored, poked through the underside of the work table. Rob leaned under and SNAP, SNAP, SNAP, SNAP; he severed them. The crystals were his for the taking. So, with a chuckle and a grin, he took them.
And instead of going out the same way he’d come in, he locked the window and thought he’d leave through the back door. Ha, let them figure this one out, he thought to himself. Everything locked up tight... so how could anyone have gotten in to Rob them? “Hah,” he laughed. “The cat burglar pulls off another perfect crime.” Ugh, no, not the cat burglar, he thought. He hated cats. They were miserable creatures that made him sneeze.
As he stepped through the door, he paused momentarily... he could have sworn he’d heard something.
No matter, he was back on the street, and with the adrenaline rush of the burglary still energizing him, Rob looked to the night sky and laughed. He felt invincible. He called Liza and told her he had the stuff and he’d be right over. Then for some silly reason he thought of an old, old song his grandpa used to sing to him as a lullaby, and he started whistling it. That bouncy song was titled Money Makes The World Go Round.
Ah, it was a beautiful night.
Chapter 16
She hadn’t wanted him to come along, but he had begged and pleaded so well that... No, look, that’s not what happened at all. What did happen was that he refused to give her the crystals unless he accompanied her. And Liza wasn’t about to test her physical strength against this rather wiry and nasty tempered kid.
Ok, but not that she was afraid of him. Heck, no! She was still the boss and...
No, no, no. Hold on a minute. Look, the truth was she was a tiny bit afraid of him. Not really of him, you see, but of what she imagined he was capable of. He who was all of 14 years of age, but was powered by a blend of ignorance, meanness, and greed.
It was ultimately her decision he come along, but it was a decision based upon careful consideration of her situation. So they drove, in silence, to Universi-Toy headquarters.
***
Hugh Merless nearly drooled as his assistant placed the box upon his desk. Liza and Rob stood silently by the door. Their arms folded, and their faces radiating triumph. But their triumphant looks quickly turned to confusion when Merless opened the box. It was empty, except for a small sympathy card that read:
So sorry, our gain is your loss
/> Ha ha ha... Maggie, Molly, and Tim
Merless turned his eyes to Liza and Rob. He waved the card in their faces, tore it to pieces, and flung the pieces into the air. “What the hell is this?” he whispered, but it might as well have been a scream. Liza stammered and mumbled something inaudible. Rob just smiled.
“And what are you smiling about, you cretin, you moron, you idiot?” shouted Merless.
“Well, sir, I was just thinking about what I’m going to do to them,” said Rob matter-of-factly.
Hugh paused, he huffed, his face went numb. But then he smiled, he chuckled and he laughed. A laugh to scare the tarter from your teeth. “Yes,” he cried. “We will have our fun now, won’t we?”
Liza was confused. It seemed as if these two mental monsters had found some common ground. Some arena where they found strength and could thrive. Oh, but, for sure, it was an ugly place.
“I like your style lad. Come here boy,” cackled Merless.
***
Liza drove Rob home. The house was dark and sad. Apparently, no one cared to take note of Rob’s comings and goings. It was how she, herself, had grown up. Basically ignored. Alone in a house full of people. She waited until he closed the front door then drove off. This night had confused her. When she reached her own place, her emotions rose to the surface. She sat in her car, in front of her own dark, sad house, and cried.
***
“You were right in suspecting something, Maggie,” said an appreciative Mr. Oddley. “Someone did try to steal the Incredimite crystals. Thanks to you all they got was an empty old painted cigar box. And now, if we’re lucky, we’ve got their photo right here.”
Tim pulled the little camera down from the sill over the back door and handed it to Mr. Oddley. He fumbled with the buttons and brought up the last photo taken. “Well, let’s see. Aha, hmm, ah... who is this?” he asked.
Molly and Tim gasped, for they saw it was Rob. Maggie merely nodded knowingly. She wasn’t at all surprised. Not at all.
***
Maggie and Tim were spending the evening at Molly’s house, as their parents had gone out to dinner and a movie. They were just hanging out.
“I’m finally getting used to this date thing,” said Maggie, as she sat, juggling three balls with one hand. “Well, sort of, anyway.”
“Me t-too,” said Tim, hypnotically watching the balls arc through the air. “At least, kind of.... and it’s not like I don’t like your Mom, it’s j-just...”
“I know,” sighed Maggie. “It’s just that she’s not your Mom. Your Mom’s gone, and you don’t like the idea of someone coming into your life to take her place. I kinda feel the same, except, you know, about my Dad.”
Molly, who had been busily working away at her desk, looked up. “Listen, you two, you should be happy your parents found each other. They’ll never forget their first loves, but they’re both great people and they deserve to stumble in love again. Good grief, be happy for them.”
Maggie and Tim were stunned. Molly was, of course, absolutely, if not uncharacteristically, correct. They both felt small.
Anyway, said Molly. “Great news, I’ve decided I’m going to be a cartoonist.”
“I thought you were going to be a writer?” asked a confused Maggie.”
“Oh, please, d-don’t go there,” said a knowing Tim, as he slapped a hand to his head.
Molly huffed. “Well, maybe some day, but for now I need to express myself in art. I’m going to create a cartoon strip and call it Molly’s Words of Wisdom.” she said proudly. No one knew what the heck she was talking about, but they responded with a hearty, “Hey, wow, great, good name!”
“It’s obvious you have no idea what I’m talking about, do you?” huffed Molly, in the superior tone of voice she sometimes used. Neither of her friends were offended. They merely sighed. “And here is my first cartoon,” she said proudly, as she held up a jagged little drawing on a wrinkled little sheet of paper for her friends to see.
“It’s a worm, get it?” beamed Molly. “A worm living in a rotten apple, and he’s starting to become like the apple, but he can’t help what he’s becoming because, you see, he lives in that apple. Get it?” Her smile was faltering. She felt she was losing her audience. “Oh, never mind,” she said, as she grabbed her cartoon and ripped it in two.
“Why’d you do that?” said a somewhat flustered Maggie. “Actually, I thought it was kind of cute.”
“Me t-too,” said an apologetic Tim. “You didn’t give us a chance to say we liked it, or, or anything.”
“Why’d you rip it?” asked Maggie again.
“Because it’s not very good,” mumbled Molly. “And I need to be good at something.”
“But you’re good at lots of things,” said Tim. “You can write stories, and you can draw cartoons, and you can play volleyball, and you can train dogs. Don’t shake your head no, Bernie’s very well behaved.” Bernie yawned and sniffed his foot.
“Uh, right, well, do you know what you’re 100% absolutely great at?” asked Maggie.
“What?” asked Molly, sitting up tall, eyes wide.
“Being a good friend,” said Maggie.
“Yes, you’re always there for us,” agreed Tim.
“Aw, how cute,” sang a chorus of voices from the doorway. The kids spun around, and saw Molly’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan, Tim’s Dad, Dennis, and Maggie’s Mom, Judy. Each sporting an ear-to-ear grin. Oh, how embarrassing it was. Being supportive and caring within the privacy of their friendship... and being caught by the old folks. How humiliating!
Regardless, Molly smiled at her friend’s words. And she taped the pieces of her torn cartoon back together again, and stuck it to her cork board.
Judy cleared her throat and spoke. “Didn’t mean to invade your space, guys. But you were so cute. We’ll be downstairs chatting. Sooo cute! Come on down in a few minutes. We brought dessert. Cute!”
Dessert... now that just might make up for our mortification, thought the kids.
Everyone was happy on this cold winter’s night.
The kids, their parents, and all the animals were feeling warm and fuzzy. Eeny Meeny and Miny Moe snuggled together with Bernie in the corner of the room. Bernie, because he loved his new little buddies. The two cats, well, most likely because it was a bit chilly and Bernie was like a heated seat. Cats are like that.
Dessert was good. What can I say, it was chocolate cake.
Now, perhaps you’re all wondering, could this peaceful evening be the calm before the storm? Hmm? Well, I won’t tell you. You’ll just have to keep reading.
Chapter 17
The next morning school was cancelled because of a broken water main, but the kids got up early anyway and decided to go to the shop and help Mr. Oddley with whatever he needed help with. And they arrived just as a large dark limousine was pulling away. Mr. Oddley stood by the door, pacing and looking frazzled, or more frazzled than usual, I should say.
“Is everything OK?” asked Maggie.
“I don’t know,” he answered. “The man in that limo just offered to buy my toy store. Wanted to buy the secret to my toys. Was ready to write me out a check. He seemed so friendly, all smiles and slaps on the back. Said he owned a little toy business of his own.
“And?” asked Maggie.
“And I told him no,” said Mr. Oddley, shaking his head for emphasis.
“And?” asked Molly.
“And he wasn’t happy. He started shouting. Called me a fool. Shook his fist at me. I was shocked. It was like I had let what I thought was a friendly old dog into the room only to find it was actually a vicious beast.”
“And?” asked Tim.
“And,” Mr. Oddley paused for a moment. “And he said he’d get my secret one way or another.”
The kids were all and-ed out, but not Mr. Oddley.
“And,” he said. “I think I need to get a good security system, hide the Incredimite in a safe place, and talk to Liza. She seems to know about these kinds o
f things.”
“Liza?” squirmed Maggie uncomfortably. She still had her doubts about that woman. Nothing specific, just a vague feeling.
“Yes, Liza. Why?” asked Mr. Oddley.
“Oh, nothing,” responded Maggie. Best to let it go, she said to herself. I have no proof and maybe I’m wrong about her.
***
Liza put down the phone. She had told Oscar she would set him up with a reputable company that could install a top notch security system for him. What a break! Getting her hands on the crystals would now be a piece of cake.
She was pleased, or at least part of her was, because another part was... well, she wasn’t quite sure, but that other part felt a little sad. Like she was about to lose something important and special. But that was silly, because she was about to earn herself lots of money. She should be happy... but still?
***
Of course, the person Liza contacted was none other than Hugh Merless. Big surprise! And a less than reputable company he knew of would be the one to install the system. That way he would have all the alarm codes and would be able to disarm the device at will. How sweet. He would be able to break in without breaking in. And he would be able to make it look like a software failure.
Still, he had to be careful that the robbery couldn’t be traced back to him, so he would have Liza make the arrangements. Because if she was caught it would be no skin off his nose. What was he paying her for anyway if not to take risks?
And perhaps Rob could help? That would prove the boy’s loyalty. With a quick phone call he set his plan in motion.
***
Mr. Oddley anxiously watched as the workmen installed the anti-theft hardware, which included a wall safe to hide the store’s, uh, valuables (shh, that’s for the crystals). Beside him stood Liza, who wore a pained expression of conflicted confusion on her face. And beside her stood Maggie, who took it all in. But she was neither anxious nor confused. She was in full puzzle mode. There was more going on here than a simple alarm installation.
OK... why didn’t the truck have its company name and logo displayed? Why did the workers look like thugs and smell like beer? Why did they insist that payment be in cash? Why was their address a P.O. Box number? And why did one of the men, the supervisor I suppose, keep stealing glances at Liza? Something was wrong here. So obviously wrong. Maggie wondered, did Mr. Oddley see it, feel it too?