Brian did the same, and then they lengthened their stride. They arrived in the alley at the back of the pharmacy with less than five minutes to spare, and when they saw the car was still there, breathed a sigh of relief that they weren’t too late. They tried the car doors but they were locked, so they dropped their bags behind the dumpster then crouched beside it, pulled their masks down over their faces, and settled in to wait.

It was already dusk, and night was imminent.

One moment they were trying to shoo away a cat prowling around the garbage, and then suddenly the back door opened. They got a glimpse of the familiar hat and coat, and tensed.

“Wait, wait,” Teddy whispered, and as soon as Phillips was almost to the car, he leaped out from behind the dumpster with the ball bat raised, ready to swing.

All of a sudden Mr. Phillips spun, and when they saw the gun in his hand, the twins froze. And then they saw his face. It wasn’t Phil Phillips. It was Chief Pittman, and he was shouting.

“Get down on the ground! Get down on the ground belly first, and lock your hands behind your heads.”

Brian started to run, when all of a sudden there were patrol cars coming up the alley from both directions with lights flashing and sirens screaming. He turned, staring at his brother in disbelief, and then dropped to his knees and locked his hands behind his head.

Teddy Hollis was in shock.

“How did you know? How did you know?” he kept asking.

“Drop that bat, then turn around and get down!” Lon shouted and aimed his gun straight at Teddy’s chest.

Teddy stared down the barrel and knew the next few seconds of his life depended on the choice he made. He’d already made one bad decision by trying to rob a man, and dying for it didn’t seem worthwhile.

He dropped the bat and went belly-down. He was putting his hands behind his head when he felt the first handcuff around his wrist. He glanced over at Brian, who was belly-down and silent.

When the chief pulled off the masks, Teddy groaned. They were going to jail.

After the officers loaded the boys up and took them to the station to be booked, Lon went back inside.

“Phil! Phil! It’s safe to come out now.”

Phil walked out, relieved but shaken.

“Were they armed?”

“With a baseball bat,” Lon said. He began taking off the hat and coat, then handed the pharmacist the bank bag. “Did you get your money counted for the night deposit?”

Phil nodded.

“Bag it up. I’ll ride with you to the bank, and then you can drop me off at the station on your way home, okay?”

“Thanks, Chief. I don’t know what would have happened to me tonight if you hadn’t been tipped off.”