Free The Pineville Heist by Lee Chambers

thin air–like the bodies did?”
    Aaron felt the bottom fall out of his stomach, like a weight crashing at his feet.
    Principal Parker gruffly pushed past Amanda. “Bodies? What the devil is-”
    Glancing at the 'Danger' sign beside the doors, Aaron's heart skipped a beat. “Maybe… maybe someone moved it?”
    Aaron's suggestions fell on deaf ears, as Carl grabbed the boy by the arm and yanked him away from the library. “If your nose was Pinocchio's it would be as long as my…”
    “Carl!” Amanda cried, cutting Carl's remark short.
    “I'm done listening to his stories,” Carl spluttered, the indignation getting caught in his throat.
    “But, I really found.”
    “Shut up! You've wasted enough of our time.” Carl's 'good cop' veneer had slipped, revealing a hot-headed and frustrated man who's had enough crap for one day. Amanda shot him a warning glance, but Carl didn't care. He knew a wild goosechase when he saw one. Missing money, missing bodies. There was a real search to do but this kid was just wasting time.
    Principal Parker slowly coughed and interjected in the silent aftermath of Carl's outburst. “What's going on? Aaron?”
    Aaron swallowed and began to answer: “I found the…”
    “I said shut up!” Carl's voice was sharp and fired at Aaron with a violent velocity.
    “But…” Aaron's face was strained and weary. Why wouldn't anybody believe him?
    Carl pulled a cell phone from his pocket and flipped it open. Yet, Principal Parker raised an index finger in polite protest. “That won't work in here.”
    “Why not?”
    “We installed a ‘no cell phone’ system this year. Too many students were spending all their time texting and so forth…”
    Carl didn't wait for Parker to finish his rambling thought and instead walked away, down the hallway. “Wait here. I'll be right back,” he said, directed at Amanda. “I have to call the Sheriff.”
    Principal Parker shook his head, clearly feeling vexed by his sudden lack of authority in his own school. Watching Carl leave, Parker touched Amanda on the arm, snapping her out of a glazed expression. “Look, I have to finish locking up, and then I'm heading home for a bit,” he told her. “Call me with an update, if they tell you anything.” He rolled his eyes, as she nodded back at him.
    As Parker ambled down the corridor, out of view and earshot, Amanda leaned towards Aaron, in a friendly, collegial way. “What did you find, Aaron?”
    Aaron studied her face. “What?”
    “Carl said to show him something.”
    “The money,” he said, clearly and loudly. Triumphantly the words came out of his mouth. Finally somebody wanted tohear what he had to say. Somebody was actually listening. “I found the money the robbers took from the bank.”

fifteen
    Amanda was quiet for a moment or two. “Oh my God,” she muttered absent-mindedly. “Aaron, this is important–where's the money now?”
    “It was right there…” Aaron pointed to the empty space of floor, just as the library doors burst open with a loud slam–a monstrous hulk clambering toward them, part Darth Vader, part Sponge Bob Squarepants. Amanda screamed, before realizing that what first appeared to be a Space Monster was in fact Chuck in a large bright-yellow biohazard suit, with an air-filtered helmet.
    “Jesus, Chuck!” Amanda exclaimed, holding her heart as if it might explode.
    “Sorry, guys,” Chuck said in a muffled hiss as he pulled the helmet off, in a fine cloud of dust, unmasking a bemused grin.
    Amanda stepped back, covering her mouth with her hand. She sure as hell wasn't paid enough to inhale any toxins. Yet, Aaron leaned forward, peering into the library to see a bunch of Chuck's tools and materials scattered around.
    “Did you find a green bag out here?” Aaron asked, impatiently.
    “A green bag?” Chuck vacantly repeated Aaron's words.
    “A backpack,” Aaron clarified.
    Chuck shook his head slowly. “No, I don't think so… ” He turned back to the doors and