Running on Empty Read Online Free Page B

Interfering with a police investigation. Using a false name to register at a motel." The detective snorted a laugh.
    "Not funny," Frank said.
    "It's a riot from where I'm standing."
    Joe studied the short and balding detective with the puffy eyes and massive bulldog jaw. Not only did the man have bad manners, but his clothing looked like Salvation Army rejects - matching dark green polyester jacket and slacks, a food-stained paisley print blue tie, and an orange double knit shirt. His walrus mustache held the crumbs of what had probably been his dinner.
    "Just who are you?" Joe asked.
    The man straightened up, a hard look crossing his face. "I'm Detective-Sergeant Terry Cronkite, head of Southport's Auto Theft Division."
    "So? What do you want with us?" Joe asked.
    Cronkite shifted his cold, hard stare to Joe. "I'll tell you what I want from you, wise guy. I want you out of Southport in the next fifteen minutes or I'm booking you into our finest accommodations."
    "How did you know our names and where we were?" Frank asked.
    "I get a call last Saturday from Ed Brooke wanting to file a stolen car report. So, I file it. I return this afternoon for more information, and I find Mr. Brooke climbing the walls with worry because his nephew tried to play cop," Cronkite said. He put his pistol in its shoulder holster. "I trust you two won't do anything foolish."
    "Just finish your story," Joe said.
    Cronkite shrugged. "Anyway, I finally get Mr. Brooke calmed down, and he not only tells me that he thinks this nephew of his - a, uh, Chet Morgan - "
    "Morton," Joe said through clenched teeth.
    "And he's not his real nephew. Mr. Brooke is an old family friend."
    "Yeah. Right." Cronkite took a stick of gum from his pocket, unwrapped it, and put it in his mouth. "Not only is this Morton kid missing, to make matters worse, you two yahoos talk Mr. Brooke into letting you 'pretend' to steal a car for the very people who may have kidnapped Morton!"
    Cronkite rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. He looked from Frank to Joe.
    "And you know what happened to that thirty-five-thousand-dollar car you so politely delivered to Smith and that numbskull assistant of his? They chopped it!" He blew and popped a small bubble.
    "Real comedian, aren't you?" Joe said.
    Cronkite's face turned crimson.
    "Listen, punk. The only reason you and your brother aren't in jail now is because Brooke is a friend of mine and he's worried sick about his nephew. He doesn't need any junior detectives from Bayport botching up my case."
    "We're not 'junior detectives,' Detective," Frank insisted. "We want to find Chet as much if not more than you do. He's our best friend. We've known him all our lives."
    Cronkite's breathing was hard. He continued to stare at Joe, who glared back at him. He glanced at Frank, then returned to Joe. He pulled on his mustache.
    "Yeah. That's what Brooke said."
    Frank was relieved to see some calm return to Cronkite's face.
    "I'm sure you two don't mean any real harm," Cronkite continued, "but this is out of your league. We're talking major serious here."
    "We know that. We wanted Uncle Ed, uh, Mr. Brooke, to call the police, but he was afraid that Smith would harm Chet if the police were involved. We were going to contact you in the morning."
    "We can help you on this one, Detective," Joe added.
    "Uh - uh, no way," Cronkite asserted with a wave of his hand. "That's all I need in my file, that I let a couple of crazy kids from Bayport assist in a police investigation."
    "We're not kids," Joe said.
    "You know Officer Con Riley in Bayport?" Frank asked.
    "Con? Sure. What about him?"
    "Call him. He'll square with you that Joe and I are legit, that we know what we're doing."
    "Didn't you two hear me? You're not a part of this case, you're through. Period."
    "Then arrest us," Joe insisted.
    "What?"
    Joe stood directly in front of Cronkite. "The way I see it, you're going to have to either arrest us or let us help in some way. We're not returning to