Chapter 10
The Close Call
By now, the crook was several blocks ahead, and sprinting fast. Jack ran along the walkway and jumped over a railing in his way.
BLAM!
He came down hard on the pavement. Jack sprinted past a yellow-painted sweet shop and a red hotel with the Irish flag out front.
The crook hooked a left and ran across an elaborately designed bridge. Jack followed in hot pursuit, passing by sculptures of mythical creatures on tall green lanterns.
The crook headed past Parliament Street and toward Dublin’s City Hall. He stopped at a car park in front of the public library.
At the same time, an elderly woman was getting into her red car. The thief grabbed the keys out of her hands, shoved her aside, and jumped into the driver’s seat.
“Help!” shouted the lady as she pointed her bony finger at him. “He’s stealing my car!”
The thief started up the engine and peeled out of the car park. The car swerved, narrowly missing Jack, as he burst onto the scene. Jack noticed a white sticker on the back bumper. It said:
HONK IF YOU’RE OVER 80!
Jack rushed over to the woman.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said. “But I want my car back! I’ve had it since I was 62!”
There was the sound of footsteps behind Jack. He turned around ready to strike. It was Max. Max was panting and out of breath.
“Did you find them?” asked Jack. He was talking about their Book Bags, Tornadoes, and Watch Phones.
Max shook his head. “They weren’t on the boat,” he said. “He might have dumped them in the river.”
The elderly woman stood listening to the boys, half frustrated and half confused.
“What the devil are you two talking about?!” she said, stamping her foot. “I need to find my car!”
“Sorry, ma’am,” said Jack.
The boys quickly escorted the woman into the library, where a friendly receptionist agreed to look after her.