The Kids From B.A.D.
	Stories by Allen Morgan
	detective story collection
	no illustrations
	six stories - 128 pages

Burglars (part 6)

When Sam and Jake came back into the room they found John with his feet up on Mr. Thayer's desk, puffing away on a cigar and acting natural. Mike was sitting in the big chair trying to do the same. The burglars stopped dead in their tracks and stared.

"How'd you two get out?" demanded Sam.

"We got ways," said John mysteriously as he flicked his cigar at the ashtray. "We may be new to burglarizing but we've been escaping I for years. Closets are small potatoes for guys like us. What'd you want to lock us in there for anyway?"

Sam thought for a moment and then smiled weakly. "We were just testing you. Part of the burglar lessons, see? Just to know how smart you were."

"Well, we're plenty smart enough," John told him. "What do you say we split up the loot now so we can all blow this joint?"

"Split up the loot?" said Sam. "What for?"

"We helped you find it, didn't we? We want our share now, and if you don't come square with us we're going straight to the cops on you."

Sam started to growl but Jake laughed. "Say, you guys are picking up on this racket pretty fast. You got potential," he said. "So what do you want? The toaster? The radio?"

"Money," said John.

"Money? We didn't steal any money here."

"But you're going to sell this stuff to a fence later on, aren't you?" said John. "You'll be getting money from him."

"Right, kid, right. You know an awful lot about this business already," said Sam, glaring at Jake. "I'll tell you what I'm going to do for you. I'm going to meet you back here tomorrow night after I get the money and I'll give you your share then."

John shook his head. "You might double-cross us," he said.

"We would not," said Sam.

"So you say no*, but remember rule number three: don't trust nobody, especially not other crooks," John reminded him.

Sam cursed. Jake laughed. John held out his hand.

"Go ahead, Sam, give him some money," said Jake. "We'll be making plenty from this job. Give the kid a fiver."

"Why me?" protested Sam. "Why not you?" "Rule number three was your idea," said Jake. Sam got out his wallet and looked through it. "I only got tens and twenties," he grumbled.

"That's okay," said John. "I'll give you change."

Sam handed over a ten-dollar bill. John thanked him and put it in his pocket.

"What about my change?" growled Sam.

"Oh, I'll give that to you tomorrow night when you bring us the rest of our share," John replied.

Sam's mouth hung open, his face frozen in surprise.

"That's one on you, Sam," laughed Jake, slapping John on the back. "I've got to hand it to you, kid, you're picking up this business real fast. Come around in about five years or so and I'll put you to work steady."

Mike and John helped the burglars carry all their loot down to the kitchen and loaded them up at the back door.

"You guys go on ahead," John told them as he opened the door. "Me and Mike are going to smash a couple of windows before we go."

"Thanks, kid, you did a swell job," said Jake as he left.

"Don't mention it," John told him as he slammed the door.

At the sound of the door closing, the police snapped on their search lights. "Freeze. You're under arrest," they ordered. Sam and Jake just stood there with their mouths hanging open and their arms full of loot. They didn't know what to say.

"That's rule number four," John called through the door. "Don't trust nobody, especially not detectives."

The next day John told Ben and Sally all about it. "I had a feeling somebody was going to hit the place," he explained. "My stomach knew it all the time. All Mike and I had to do was hide out in the kitchen and wait for those two burglars to walk into our trap."

"What'd Mr. Thayer say when he heard about it?" asked Ben.

"Was he angry or happy?" Sally added.
"Both," said Mike. "First he was angry because we could have got hurt or something, but then he was happy because we stopped the burglary. He's going to give us a reward for saving all his stuff. He's getting some detective badges made up."

"Hey, that'll be great," said Sally.

Ben nodded his approval. "Can we keep the ten dollars you got from Sam too?" he asked.

"Why not?" said John. "Those crooks have to learn the hard way. Maybe now they'll spread the word to the other crooks they meet in jail that when you mess around with the Kids from B.A.D. you're bound to get burned."