STONES OF FIRE

By Tessa Harvey

CHAPTER TWO

(Continued)

Thomas looked up gladly as Angel entered the shop, but looked askance at the two men following her. She hurried over to him and took up position around the counter next to Thomas. For the first time she recognised the two men.

"Mack and Jim!"

Suddenly she remembered them from school. They had made her life miserable for a while until they had moved away.

"Hands on the counter, " Mack called. Maybe he thought there may have been an alarm button. "We just want a few of your beautiful stones."

"Yeah!" Jim put in. "It's good to share."

At that moment Angel slumped down in a faint at Thomas' feet.

"Don't move" snapped Mack to Thomas who was bending to check Angel. He was very annoyed.

They had planned to take Angel to delay any pursuit.

"Okay, load up some stones and money for us."

Thomas felt a tiny tweak on his sock. With a sigh of relief, he realised that Angel had staged the faint. He sensed she was going to press the silent alarm button to the police station and stepped away from her to divert attention.

"I'll get some bags," Thomas shakily offered.

He glanced out of the window and saw young Robert Jones watching carefully, not far from the window. 

The boy gave him a thumbs up and silently scurried away.

He must be playing truant again, thought Thomas distractedly.

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