Free Home Alone 2 by Todd Strasser Page B

of the Plaza Hotel and the McCallisters jumped out.
    "Hey, what about the fare, mister?" a cabbie shouted at Uncle Frank as he left his cab.
    "Uh, how about a group discount?" Uncle Frank asked.
    "Whatya talkin about?" The cabbie pointed angrily at his meter. "That's the fare, you gotta pay it."
    Uncle Frank pretended to search his pockets. "Gee, I'm out of change. My brother Peter'll get it."
    By the time Peter paid all the cab fares and got into the hotel, Kate was standing at the concierge's desk, red-faced and furious. On the other side stood the concierge and Ms. Acivedo, the clerk who'd checked Kevin into the hotel.
    "What kind of hotel lets a child check in alone?" Kate demanded.
    "The boy had a convincing story, a credit card, and a reservation," Ms. Acivedo stammered.
    Kate glared at the clerk in disbelief and then turned to the concierge. "What kind of idiots do you have working for you?"
    The concierge swallowed. "Uh, the finest in New York City, ma'am."
    Kate felt her blood begin to boil. "It's Christmas Eve, and because of you my son is lost in one of the biggest cities in the world."
    "I'm truly sorry, ma'am," the concierge apologized.
    "You're going to be more than sorry," Peter said angrily. "After we find our son, I suggest you prepare yourself for a civil suit."
    The concierge blanched. "Sir, you must understand that it was an innocent mistake. But in order to make it easier for you, we'd like to give you a complimentary suite here at the hotel for as long as it takes to find your son."
    "Think you could make that two complimentary suites?" Uncle Frank asked.
    "I suppose we could give you an extra large suite," the concierge said.
    "Sounds fair," said Uncle Frank.
    "Mom! Dad!" Jeff waved from the other end of the lobby. "The cops are here!"
    Peter ran across the lobby, went out the main doors, and down the steps. Several police cars were parked outside. A moment later, Kate came out and stopped on the steps. As she stared at the lights of the city, she began to realize the enormity of the challenge that lay ahead. Somewhere out there, helpless, lost, and afraid, was her son.
    It would have stunned Kate to learn that her son was only a few blocks away at that moment, his face pressed against the window of Duncan's Toy Chest. On the sidewalk next to him was a plank of wood, a can of paint, and a brick.
    Inside, on the second floor, Marv and Harry let themselves out of their playhouses. The store was dimly lit and quiet. The two bad guys trotted down the unmoving escalator.
    "Bars up!" Harry ordered cheerfully, pulling a crowbar from under his coat.
    "Yes, sir!" Marv grinned and pulled out his crowbar.
    On the first floor, they vaulted over the cashier's counter. Harry jammed his crowbar into a cash register and started to pry it open. Sproing! The cash drawer slid out, revealing thick wads of green currency.
    "Look at all that moola!" Marv gasped.
    "Must be Christmas." Harry winked happily.
    Marv quickly ripped open the next register. It, too, was filled with cash. "There's more money in this place than I ever dreamed!"
    "It makes you wonder why we spent so much time robbing houses!" Harry laughed with delight as he dumped the wads of bills into a green gym bag he'd taken from the sporting goods department.
    "The amazing thing," said Marv, "is we're fugitives from the law, we're up to our elbows in cash money, and there ain't nobody who knows about it!"
    Outside on the sidewalk, Kevin turned the paint can on its side and laid the plank of wood across it, creating a teeter-totter. Then he took an envelope out of his pocket. On it he'd written To: Mr. Duncan (The Guy Who Owns This Store) . Inside was a special message. Using a rubber band, he wrapped the envelope around the brick.
    Kevin looked through the window and watched as Harry and Marv gathered up all the money that was supposed to go to the kids at the Children's Hospital. This is it, he thought, taking a deep breath and watching a plume of vapor escape