Nobody's There by Joan Lowery Nixon Page B

afraid Eddie could hear it. Quietly she got to her feet.
    Through the crack in the door she could see Mitchell move closer to Mrs. Merkel, forcing her to step back.
    â€œWhat do you think you’re doing?” Mrs. Merkel demanded.
    â€œLet’s go inside and talk,” Mitchell ordered. “You said your
late
husband. We won’t be bothering anyone.”
    â€œYou’re not welcome in my house. Besides, the police will be here any minute.”
    Eddie said, “That’s what they say in old detective movies.” He backed into the room, standing beside the open door.
    Abbie knew that Mitchell couldn’t see around the door. And Eddie didn’t know she was standing behind him. Even though she was so frightened that her arms shook, she picked up the chair and jammed the base of one of the narrow legs into the middle of Eddie’s back. “Put your hands up and keep them up,” she said sternly.
    Eddie did as he was told. “Don’t shoot!” he whimpered.
    Abbie tried to put a snarl in her voice. “Then tell your partner he’d better not move an inch until the police get here.”
    â€œM-Mitchell?” Eddie’s voice shook. “Did you hear her?”
    â€œI heard. Who’s back there? Who are you?”
    â€œNever you mind,” Mrs. Merkel snapped. “There’s the squad car now.”
    Mitchell growled, “You’re going to be sorry you did this, lady.”
    â€œHuh! You don’t scare me,” Mrs. Merkel said.
    Officer Martin and her partner—a tall, lanky man who unsnapped his holster as he ran up the walk—took charge. Mrs. Merkel quickly described how Mitchell and Eddie had tried to force her into the house, thinking she was alone.
    The two men were handcuffed and put into the back of the squad car. Then Officer Martin returned to Mrs. Merkel’s front porch. She was no longer the polite public speaker who had visited the senior citizens’ book club. Her eyes flashed with irritation.
    â€œYour actions endangered not only your own life, but this girl’s life too.”
    â€œWe weren’t in danger. We can take care of ourselves.”
    â€œYou also endangered our program. It’s set up so that senior citizens help protect other senior citizens. We can’t have them confronting crooks and putting their own lives in danger. Do you understand me, Mrs. Merkel?”
    Mrs. Merkel lifted her chin and held it out stubbornly. “I understand whatever I need to understand,” she said.
    â€œThen no more playing cops and robbers.” Officer Martin’s voice softened. “Thank you for pinpointing these con men. We’d like you to come down to headquarters and file a complaint as soon as you can.”
    When Officer Martin had left, Mrs. Merkel shut her front door and leaned against it. “Since that snippy little cop doesn’t want my help, she’s not going to get it on the big stuff.”
    â€œWhat? She thanked you. She said—”
    â€œI handed over a pair of perps to Miss High and Mighty and she scolded me. She’ll take all the credit for making the collar, and I did all the work. I made sure those perps would take the rap for what they did to Effie.”
    Abbie couldn’t help it. She began to giggle.
    Mrs. Merkel scowled. “What’s so funny?”
    â€œI feel like I’m in an old movie.”
    Mrs. Merkel’s frown grew deeper. “There’s nothing to laugh about. That’s the way detectives and private eyes talk. If you went to Paris, you’d try to speak French, wouldn’t you?”
    Abbie sank back into one of the overstuffed chairs, stretching her legs out in front of her. None of what was happening made sense.
    â€œDon’t think you can settle in there,” Mrs. Merkel told her. “I have to admit you did okay with that chair, but we’re not through. Drive me to the police station. We’ve got