Ethics of a Thief Read Online Free PDF Page B

fingers through his hair. He looked up. “You can help me find what we’re looking for, or you can hinder our search. If you decide to help, you will go home sooner. Do you understand?” He took a long study of Abigail’s face. “Hey, what we came for is extremely valuable. We’ll not leave without it.”
    Silence, then filled the room. Abigail scowled at her captor. She wanted to get the children to safety, but he had just told her she couldn’t. Someone killed her friends; if not one of these four men, then who did it?
    As Abigail followed Matt into the library, she vowed to do anything to get the children home safely. She placed her arm around Lisa. “You’re so quiet; are you okay?”
    “I want to go home,” Lisa said, with tears welling up. “I want my mommy.”
    “I know, Sweetie. The man said we can go home once he finds what he’s looking for. Do you want to help him?”
    “Promise we can go home?” Lisa asks.
    “Sweetheart, that’s what the man said.” Abigail glared at Matt. To her astonishment, he came over, sat on his heels and spoke to Lisa.
    “Look. This must be hard on you, but I promise you’ll return home safely. Do you believe that?”
    Lisa silently gazed into his eyes for several seconds. His warm smile caused her to stop crying. She reached over and hugged his neck. Neither spoke a word. Her tears started running down his shirt. Lisa pulled away and moved next to her aunt. How amazing, Abigail thought, the same man keeping her hostage is now comforting Lisa and making her feel safe. Abigail reached down to brush a curl away from Lisa’s eye, as they watched their captor.
    Although Danny was adventurous, he, too, was afraid and wanted to go home. After watching the four men, he knew they were in control, and he must do what they said. Earlier, when he saw Matt on the dock, he was okay, but after seeing how mean he was to his aunt, he had doubts.
    While he adjusted to the situation, he tried to think of some happy memories. His whole life seemed to come into his mind.
    When they lived in Pine Valley, he and Lisa spent many hours exploring the land near their home. On one occasion, they spied a caravan of gypsies on the bank of a nearby stream. He and Lisa would hide and watch the tribe cook meals and visit together. One day, he eyed a young, black-haired beauty a few years his senior. Lisa mercilessly teased. “You want to marry her, don’t you, Danny?” His denial was ferocious, yet it didn’t stop him from staring at the girl.
    He had heard stories about gypsies, but was still amazed to see women wearing dresses and jewelry, yet barefooted. One time, Lisa started to get a closer look, but he pulled her back, afraid of getting caught.
    Daydreaming, his mind went to another time of exploits. They waited for the old ice cream truck to slowly make its way up the steep incline. Lisa would ask him to get ice cream. He would jump on the fender, open the back door, grab a few ice creams and toss them into the bushes. After the truck was out of sight, they would sit and eat. They thought the ice cream tasted better than at home. As young Christians, they were taught that stealing was wrong, but they had too much fun to feel guilty.
    Danny recalled the times he walked Lisa home from school. The poorly paved road they traveled had weeds on each side. Their mother wanted them to pick up the mail for her friend Gordon Snyder. He was a large, sickly man and was unable to walk down the steep, long driveway to fetch his mail.
    His sister and he were often out of breath while walking up the winding, dirt path to his modest abode. Around the house were weeds and a few shrubs. Gordon’s two ferocious Doberman Pinschers greeted them with angry barks. The only thing separating the feared dogs from them, was a flimsy screen fence.
    He feared that one day the animals would escape and attack. Somehow their fears only heightened the adventure. One day, Lisa bravely walked up to the dogs and yelled,