The Sham (A Chloe Boston Mystery Book 14) Read Online Free PDF

stiff cardboard. To my surprise, the thing certainly looked real.
    “With all that I just said in mind, and I’m sure you’ll have to give it some thought, I’d now like to present the mayor of Derrydown with a check for $10,000 to show our appreciation for our fine sister city.”
    Now was the time to strike if anything was going to happen. I reached a hand to feel behind me and that’s when I found that Mr. Black was missing. I edged my way toward the podium. That’s when the goon in the pinstriped suit chose to strike.
    “I’ll take that,” he announced as my father was about to hand the huge check to McConnell.
    Mr. Black had appeared from the audience without warning. He grabbed hold of the check and turned to run. My father struggled to keep hold of the check, even though it was worthless. Ultimately, he was pushed aside and with check in hand Mr. Black was free to run for the nearest exit.
    “Stop that man, he has our check,” someone on the city council called.
    “I’ll get him!” Gordon answered as he began to give chase.
    “Gordon, stop!” I called without success, my voice echoing inside Officer Bill’s head. “He’s armed you fool, let him have it.”
    Mr. Black managed to drag the huge check through a side exit and Gordon followed close on his heels. Since I was near the exit, I shambled as quickly as I could in pursuit. As was usually the case, I had a hard time getting the costume head through the door. Turning sideways I was barely able to exit with minimal damage to Officer Bill’s nose. I angled my tiny viewport down the alley toward Main Street and saw Mr. Black running with his cumbersome burden followed by a gasping and overweight Gordon. I shambled after them.
    I can only imagine the sight we must have presented to the citizenry of Hope Falls that was out that night. First came a classic east coast goon dressed in a dark pinstriped suit running away with a six foot by three foot replica of a check in his hands. He was followed close behind by an overweight police officer with green hair. In the trailing position was Officer Bill shambling after both of them while trying not to trip over his enormous feet doing his best Keystone Cop imitation. The people still waiting outside the restaurant to get in turned and applauded as we ran by, thinking we were part of the entertainment.
    When we made it to the corner, Mr. Black stopped and drew his Berretta. He pointed his weapon at us and fired two quick shots. They went wide. The man was a terrible shot while holding a six by three foot check.
    “Look out, he has a gun!” Gordon bellowed as he turned to run away.
    We ran back past the people waiting outside the restaurant with a shambling Officer Bill in the lead, an exhausted Officer Gordon barely able to keep up, and an east coast goon trying to run after us while balancing a huge check in one hand and a pistol in the other. The applause increased during this pass and people exited the restaurant through the front doors to see what was happening in the street.
    I stopped running when I saw the Chief, bearing a revolver, round the corner of the alley onto Main Street. I turned to face Mr. Black as did Gordon. Mr. Black tried for one last shot but only succeeded in dropping his gun. He turned and ran the other way.
    Our next pass by the waiting crowd was met with loud cheers and hoots of laughter. Fortunately the chase soon concluded right in front of our audience when Mr. Black tripped and fell. I was too winded to have shambled a foot further. Before Mr. Black could get back up and start running again, Dale Gordon sat on him. There was no getting up for the goon while Gordon relaxed on his back and gasped for breath. Eventually the Chief caught up with us to take control of the situation.
    “Gordon, get off of that man,” the Chief ordered while holstering his weapon.
    “Can’t,” Gordon wheezed between heavy breaths. “Dying.”
    I fully understood where Gordon was coming from. I