Highway Robbery Read Online Free Page B

left, a woman entered Matt's office. In her mid-forties, she was tall and fair with light brown hair. Her jeans and work shirt were grease stained.
    Matt smiled. "Pat! Come in, sit down. This is Joe Hardy. He'll be learning the ropes in the garage. And his brother, Frank, here, is going to crew with you as your helper. Boys, meet Pat Mulvaney."
    As they exchanged hellos, Pat noticed Joe staring at her. "Something wrong, Joe?"
    Joe's face got red. "Well, no - I figured - that is, you're a woman!"
    Matt laughed. "Say, you are a detective, aren't you! She's a fine driver, too. And she happens to be my wife's sister. She's someone I need and trust. So I want to let her in on why you two are here."
    Pat listened, looking Frank over carefully as Matt explained. "You look healthy enough," she said with a smile. "It's about time Matt got someone to help get those crooks." Pat turned and headed back out the office door. "When you're finished talking with Matt, come out to the garage and I'll start your lessons."
    After she'd gone, Joe said, "Mr. Simone - "
    "Please. Make it 'Matt.' "
    "Okay, Matt. I'm sure you're right to trust Pat about who we are, but - "
    "Pat's my right arm around here," Matt interrupted, frowning.
    Frank could see how defensive and gruff Matt was, but they had to get him to understand how important it was to maintain secrecy. Leaning forward, he tried to pick up where Joe had left off. "Matt, what you have to understand - "
    Frank stopped abruptly as a shrill scream from the garage echoed through the room!

Chapter 5
    Matt jumped up and ran out of the office into the garage, Frank and Joe at his heels. The workers inside were staring at Pat Mulvaney, who was comforting a pretty dark-haired girl. The girl was shaking and trying to hold back tears.
    "I - I'm s - s - sorry, I - it was just that I didn't expect it ... " the girl stammered.
    "What happened?" Matt demanded when he reached them.
    Pat's face was grim. "Teri wanted some papers that I'd put in the cab of this truck. She opened it - and found this."
    Pat reached up into the cab and pulled out a large rat with a paper tied around its neck. "Is this someone's idea of a joke?" she asked no one in particular.
    Joe took the rat from her and handed it to Matt.
    "Is it - is that - real?" Teri asked with a small shiver. "Is it - dead?"
    "It's not real," Joe reassured her. Just then he took a good look and noticed how cute Teri was, even though she was still terrified. "It's just an imitation, the kind of thing you'd buy in a joke shop. But it does look gross, all right."
    Matt opened the note and studied it. Frank and Joe leaned in to read what had been printed in large block letters. It said: "RATS GET HURT WHEN THEY WON'T WISE UP."
    Matt crumpled the note in his fist, his face red with anger. "When was this put here? You have any idea?"
    "It could've happened any time since I pulled in yesterday," said Pat. "There've been a lot of people around."
    Matt turned to the girl. "Teri, are you all right? It was just someone's bad idea of a joke, that's all."
    Teri smiled weakly. "I know, it just caught me by surprise. What does that note mean? It sounds like a threat. Is someone mad at Pat?"
    Matt shook his head. "No, honey, it's supposed to be a joke, and the joke is supposed to be on me." Joe was hoping Matt would explain what the so-called joke was about, but he obviously didn't want to talk about it. Matt just smiled at Teri and changed the subject. "Oh, hey, let me make some introductions, here. Frank, Joe, this is Teri Yarnell. She works with Felix on the books. Frank and Joe Hardy are our newest employees, Teri. Joe and Teri, you two come with me. Frank, stay here, and Pat can start showing you the inside of the cab of a big rig."
    Frank didn't miss the sudden interest his brother was showing in Teri, and he smiled as Joe instantly struck up a conversation with her.
    "Frank," said Pat, "hop up in the driver's seat, and I'll show you around."
    Frank climbed up into