Nobody's There by Joan Lowery Nixon Read Free Book Online Page B

unknown person or persons robbed the Gulf East Savings and Loan. The head cashier had beenknocked unconscious, the president of the bank had been shot and killed, and the vault was found open. No estimate has yet been made as to the amount of the missing money.”
    As she thought about the crime, Abbie felt a wave of sorrow not only for Mr. Hastings and his family, but also for Irene Conley. How horrible it must have been for her to come back to consciousness and find her employer dead.
    Abbie studied the picture of the Hastings children. The youngest boy looked close to her age.
You lost a father too
, she thought,
but at least you know that
your
father didn’t want to leave you. He wasn’t like mine.
With a shudder, Abbie quickly turned the page of the newspaper.
    Beside her the telephone rang. Her mind still on her father, Abbie angrily gripped the receiver.
If this is Dad
, she thought,
I’m going to tell him exactly what I think of him for butting in and spoiling Mom’s day.
    â€œHello,” she yelled at the phone.
    â€œDon’t yell like that. Keep your voice down, or you’re going to ruin everything.”
    â€œMrs. Merkel?”
    â€œOf course it’s me. You shouldn’t have to ask.”
    Abbie took a deep breath and answered with satisfaction, “It’s Sunday, Mrs. Merkel. I have the day off.”
    â€œDay off? What kind of an assistant are you? Days off are for people with nine-to-five jobs, not for private investigators. I need you. Right away.”
    â€œI can’t.”
    Mrs. Merkel lowered her voice. “They’re on my block now, you stupid girl.”
    â€œWho’s on your block?”
    â€œThe crooks. Who else?”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œDon’t argue. Is Mrs. Wilhite going to tell me you have Sundays off when I tell her I asked you for help and you refused to come?”
    â€œLook, Mrs. Merkel,” Abbie said. “I’m not going to let you intimidate me. If I get in trouble with Mrs. Wilhite, well, okay. So be it. Just because you tell me that crooks are on your block, you expect me to—”
    A recorded message suddenly interrupted Abbie. “If you wish to place a call, please hang up and dial again.”
    Abbie slammed down the phone. “Crazy old lady!” she grumbled. “She hung up on me.”
    Mrs. Thompson appeared in the doorway, raw hope in her eyes. “Was that call for me?” she asked.
    Abbie groaned.
It wasn’t Dad, if that’s what you’re asking
, she thought.
Oh, Mom, don’t hope that he’ll call you. Don’t expect him to. He isn’t going to apologize for what he did. He isn’t going to beg you to take him back. Not ever.
    â€œIt was Mrs. Merkel,” Abbie answered. “She’s worried about some crooks.”
    â€œCrooks? What is she talking about?”
    â€œI don’t know, Mom,” Abbie said, “but I’d better drive over to her house. Could I use the car?”
    â€œSure,” Mrs. Thompson said.
    The phone rang again, and Abbie picked it up. She turned away so that she couldn’t see the spark of hope on her mother’s face.
    â€œGet over here fast!” Mrs. Merkel yelled into the phone. “Those crooks are coming closer. They’re practically next door.”

A bbie scanned Darnell Street as she drove onto Mrs. Merkel’s block. A tar-encrusted black truck and a small trailer with roofing equipment stood on the street in front of Mrs. Merkel’s home.
    Abbie parked her car a short distance away and walked to Mrs. Merkel’s house. She could see two men, their overalls as dirty as their truck, leaving the porch of the house next to Mrs. Merkel’s.
    As she reached to press Mrs. Merkel’s doorbell, the door flew open and a gnarled hand shot out. Mrs. Merkel grabbed Abbie’s arm, pulling her into the house, and slammed the door.
    Abbie squinted in the dim light, examiningher