“Thanks for the heads-up,” Lon said. “If the Hollis brothers do show up, we’ll be waiting for them.”

“For the record, you got an anonymous tip. I don’t want Charlie put in danger for being called a snitch,” Dan added.

“Understood,” Lon said, and disconnected, then headed up the hall.

Larry Bemis, the night dispatcher, was already on duty.

“Hey, Chief, are you heading home for the night?” Larry asked.

“Not yet,” Lon said. “We just got a tip on a possible robbery. I don’t want anything going out over the radio. Radio the two officers on duty, and tell them to meet me ASAP in the parking lot here at headquarters.”

“Yes, sir,” Larry said, and began dispatching the call as Lon went out through the back of the building.

As soon as Lon got in his cruiser, he called the pharmacy, and the owner, Phil Phillips, just happened to be the one who answered.

“Phillips Pharmacy.”

“Phil, this is Chief Pittman. I need you to listen carefully,” he said, and then related the story he’d been told.

Phil was horrified. “What should I do?”

“I’ll be there shortly, so proceed as usual. One of my officers will drop me off so there’s no visible police car. I’ll be inside with you the whole time.”

“Okay. I need to put the Closed sign up and get LilyAnn and the last customers out of here. I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”

“Don’t do it early. Keep your normal routine, but say nothing to them. I’m just coming in as a customer.”

“Will do,” Phil said.

When both patrol cars pulled up behind the station, Lon got out to meet them.

“What’s happening, Chief?” Ralph Herman asked as he got out.

“We got a tip on a possible robbery at the pharmacy this evening. Some teenagers plan to rob Phil and steal his car as he is locking up. Do you know the Hollis brothers?”

“Tall, skinny kids with blond hair?” Ralph asked.

“Yes,” Lon said. “Those are the ones we’ll be looking for.”

“We know them on sight,” they both said.

“Good,” Lon said. “Ralph, I want you to drop me off at the pharmacy now. I’m going inside, and you just drive away. Both of you keep an eye on the alley, because they plan to take him down when he leaves to get in his car. Only it won’t be Phil coming out. It’s going to be me. So if you see them slip into the alley, let them be. Just back me up.”

“Yes, sir,” they said.

Lon got into the cruiser, and Ralph drove straight to the pharmacy and dropped him off.

Lon went inside, waving at LilyAnn as he passed. “I’m going back to talk to Phil,” he said.

LilyAnn nodded and kept checking customers out.