Cooper heard someone swear. “Get me something to pry open this door.”
He tried to think. If they got the door open, it was all over. Staying low, he reached into his pocket and dug out the phone, now silent.
Where is Hammer?
Someone tugged at the door again. “Together now. Heave!”
A sliver of light came through.
No! God, please, save us! Cooper flipped open the phone.
“Slip that pipe in there.”
The sound of metal on metal—they have their pry bar in place.
“We’re g-going to d-die!” Lunk’s voice came in a choked whisper.
Cooper missed the button. Cleared it out. Tried again. Pushed SEND.
“On three, two, one—HEAVE!”
The wedge of light widened, then with a loud snapping noise, the room flooded with light.
Lunk clutched onto him. Cooper dropped the phone and held him right back. Too late for phone calls now.
He heard a phone ring—in the doorway.
“You rang?” Hammer’s voice. “Cooper—you okay?”
Cooper looked at Lunk and smiled. “We’re o-okay. Frozen, but okay.”
He stood and squinted into the light. Detective Hammer never looked so good. And other policemen in deep blue uniforms. Here to protect and serve. And save.
“Let’s get you out of there.” Hammer pulled a box off the makeshift barrier wall, handed it to a cop behind him and pulled off another to make a narrow pass-through.
Lunk squeezed through first, with Cooper following on shaky legs. The insulated door looked like a screen door now. The bullet holes riddled the door from top to bottom. The robbers obviously weren’t taking any chances.
Hammer inspected the wall of frozen hotdogs. “Did you two build that wall of wieners?”
Lunk threw an arm around Cooper’s shoulders. “That was my buddy’s idea. Tying the door shut too.”
“Brilliant.” Hammer squinted and cocked his head to one side. “Saved your lives.”
“And I’ll never forget it,” Lunk said.
“Detective Hammer,” Cooper said. “Frank Mustacci needs protection. He guessed who was behind the robbery. That’s why they tried to kill him.”
“I got a call from a couple of your friends right after you called me. Two of my boys are already with Frank.”
Relief swept through him, but he instantly tensed. “Hiro and Gordy—they’re the ones who called—they need protection too.”
“Not anymore.” Hammer pointed out the front window. “The two dirtbags who shot up this place are sitting in one of the squad cars out front. Nasty characters, both of them.”
“You sure you got the right guys?”
“Oh, yeah.” Hammer smiled. “One of them had a latex Elvis mask in his pocket.”
Lunk strained to look past them. “What about Mr. Stein?”
“We’ll get him. He won’t get far.”
“He had this beautiful place.” Lunk looked around the kitchen.
Hammer put a hand on Lunk’s shoulder. “Seems Joseph Stein liked the casinos better.”
Lunk still seemed to be in a state of disbelief. “So he robbed his own store.”
Hammer shrugged. “For him, it was the perfect solution. He just didn’t figure on witnesses.” He clapped Cooper on the back.
Several officers moved aside so a team of paramedics carrying medical cases could get through. Cooper recognized one of them instantly. The guy from the Rolling Meadows fire station who always waved when Cooper rode by.
“Hi,” the man smiled. “I’m Dave Rill. I need to check you out here.”
“And as soon as he’s done, I’ve got more questions for you two.” Hammer said.
“I’ll tell you everything you want to know,” Cooper said.
Hammer gave him that sideways look and nodded.
“And you won’t need that baloney detector either.”
Officer Hammer took off his mirrored sunglasses and smiled. “Looks like you finally got yourself a chest.”