Free Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key

First, Winston-Salem got a call from Washington to be on the lookout for this pair at their bus station. One of their cops remembered seeing 'em early this morning, only they gave their name as Castaway instead of Malone. They had tickets for here. So right off Winston-Salem tells Washington about it, then they call me. I'd no sooner got through talking to 'em when Washington calls me direct.”
    “But, Ben, who was it in Washington called you?”
    “Feller named Karman. Werner Karman. He's some kind of deputy in the Treasury Department.”
    “ Treasury Department?”
    “That's right. He said to grab those kids an' lock 'em up fast, and don't take no chances with 'em. I asked was they armed, and he saidno but the boy's known to be dangerous an' likely the girl is too. He said they both got police records, an' on top of it they escaped from some sort of correctional institution up north.”
    “I wouldn't have believed it,” came the mayor's voice. “And I'd hardly say they look dangerous. Why, the boy didn't even have a knife in his pocket.”
    “You can't go by looks, Milt. To look at 'em, you wouldn't think the Government wanted 'em, and that the Treasury Department would be offering a big reward.”
    “Seems kinda odd, Ben. Sure it's the Treasury Department paying the money?”
    “Well, who else would it be?”
    “Didn't you ask?”
    “Pshaw, when a feller says he's bringing me a thousand dollars cash for doing my duty, I ain't askin' whose pocket it come out of. I did ask what the kids had done, an' he let on it was pretty hush-hush, an' that Washington wanted 'em for questioning, an' wanted 'em fast. So I told him O.K., an' should I call 'im back when I got his prisoners locked up safe. An' he said don't bother, that he knew I'd have 'em when he got here, that he was in a hurry to catch a plane so he could get here before dark. He's flying to Winston-Salem, then renting a car.”
    “Hmm. He sure wants those kids bad.”
    Tony suddenly chilled with apprehension.
    “Tia,” he called silently, “did you hear all that?”
    “Hear what?” she replied. “I wasn't paying any attention. Tony, there's a little barred window high up on the wall here, and from the top bunk I can look out and see the mountains! Oh, Tony they're beautiful! If there's a window in your place—”
    He groaned. “For Pete's sake, listen to me,” he begged. “Tia, Mr.
    Deranian is on his way from Washington now to get us. We can't wait till dark to get out of here. We'll have to do it this afternoon.”
    “Oh, dear. Let's not worry about it. If we've got to do it, we'll do it. Tony, why do people have such awful places as this to lock other people in?”
    “It's because they're people. They're no better here than they are on South Water Street.”
    “Tony—”
    “Hush—they're talking again.”
    The mayor was saying, “It's a funny deal, Ben. You reckon we ought to call Washington and do a little checking on this Karman?”
    “Don't see why. He'll have to show me his badge an' papers before I release any prisoners to 'im—and the money. He said he'd bring it with him in cash. So, for that much money…”
    “You'll have to split it with Winston-Salem.”
    “No, I don't. Wasn't nothing said about that. You'll get your cut, like as always.”
    “Well, I'm not one to argue with cash. But I do say there's something queer about the deal.”
    “There could be. Fact is, just before he hung up, Karman said, 'Be careful with those kids, or they'll get away from you. Don't let 'em out of your sight till I get there.' Pshaw, they couldn't get away—not through two locked doors.”
    There was a short silence. Then the mayor said, “I think he was warning you, Ben, that they're not ordinary kids. You can tell that by looking at them. Any idea why they came to Fairview?”
    “No. I been wondering about that myself. I thought the boy was going to ask to phone somebody in town, but he fooled me.”
    “There's got to be a reason why