Chapter 5 - The Rolo Connection

They huddled together in the darkness, and a big thump rocked the floorboards above them.
“What was that?” Evvie asked through chattering teeth.
“The safe,” he whispered. “They must have dropped it.” Chip pressed his ear to the floor above him and heard the muffled sound of men talking.
“For the love of Pete,” a thin reedy voice exclaimed. “You coulda put a hole through the floor!”

“Well, you didn’t carry this hunk of steel three miles through a storm,” Dusty shot back.

“Yeah,” grumbled a man with an Italian accent. “I don’t even feel my arms no more.”

“Any more you cretin.”

Chip recognized the thin voice belonging to the tall one.

“Can we focus on the matter at hand?” Dusty asked exasperated. “This isn’t grammar school for God’s sake.”

“That’s the first intelligent thing you’ve said since I hired you.”
“Don’t push me Winston,” Dusty growled.
“Fine,” the tall one snapped. “Let’s get this over with. Gino,” he barked. “Get the…”
Chip could hear a curse as something scraped the floor.

“What have we got here?”

“A yellow umbrella,” Gino answered brightly.
“I know what it is you Mediterranean fruit fly,” the tall one exclaimed. “The point is – how did it get here?”

Chip felt Evvie’s small hand grab his and squeeze it. He squeezed back. Maybe the three men would just let it go.
“Hey Winston,” Dusty exclaimed, “I found the map! See – you didn’t give it to me at the bank cuz it was here the whole time,” he said smugly. The tall one grabbed the crumpled piece of paper from Dusty’s hands. His eyes narrowed and he looked around the room closely, his glance falling to the wood stove. He opened the door and a thin trail of smoke spiraled upwards from a bed of ash.
“Gentlemen,” he said darkly, “We’ve had company.”

Chip didn’t wait any longer. He flipped on the flashlight and pulled Evvie’s hand to follow him. They carefully descended the remainder of the steps and landed on what felt like sandy soil. Chip pointed the tiny beam of light in front of them to get their bearings. It appeared that they were in an underground cavern.

“C’mon,” he whispered. “We have to make tracks before those thugs find us. Keep a lookout for a hiding place cause it won’t be long before they’re down here with us.”
“Great,” Evvie said through tight lips. “This is just the adventure I was hoping for.”
“You did good back there,” Chip said giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Guess you’re not afraid of the dark any more, huh?”

Evvie could feel his smirk in the blackness and leveled a cold gaze on him.
“For a minute there I almost liked you.” She tossed her thick hair over her shoulder. “Okay, now what?”
“We find a way out.”
They walked deeper and deeper into the cavern. After awhile their eyes got accustomed to the dim light. The ceiling above them seemed like it was dripping with swords—long, pointed collections that glistened when Chip’s light bounced off their hard surfaces.

“I think those are called stalactites,” Evvie said softly. “I remember studying them in Mrs. Hancock’s science class last year.”

“Wow. How do they get like that?” Chip stared in awe at the glittering roof of the cave. Formations of icicle shapes hung in all sizes, some nearly reaching the ground. He reached out and touched one. It was cool and moist.

“They’re mineral deposits called calcite. The calcite forms around something called a soda straw.” Evvie reached out and ran her hand down the length of one. “See, water runs through the straw, usually from some type of leak in the wall. The calcite is the mineral we’re seeing on the outside, and water runs down that too which is why they’re pointed and so sparkly.”

“Thank you for that wonderful lesson Mrs. Hancock,” Chip quipped.

“If you don’t want to hear, don’t ask,” she shot back.
“Wow Ev, you’re as prickly as a cactus.”
“And you’re a bonehead. Stop calling me Ev.”

Chip rolled his eyes. Then something she said came back to him.
“Hey, did you say there might be a leak?”

“Someone gets an A,” she bit out through tight lips.

Chip ignored her and moved slowly along the perimeter wall, feeling his way.
“Maybe that map made sense after all,” he said slowly. The air around them was perfectly still. No birds or animals came scurrying out to welcome them. It was as if they were all alone in a world with no sun or moon to light the way.

“What are you looking for?” Evvie asked closely from behind.
Chip stopped for a moment as he gauged which way to go. They had arrived at a crossroads where three tunnels splintered off. He walked in front of all three, and at the third entrance felt a slight draft.

“Our way out.” Chip pointed his light down the third tunnel. “Come on.”

Evvie hung back. Although this tunnel wasn’t as dark and black as the other two, there was a strange glow to it.
“Why this way?”

Chip motioned for her to stand next to him.
“Feel that?” he asked as her hair fluttered slightly around her shoulders.
“Where’s it coming from?”

“Don’t know,” Chip tapped the flashlight against his hands as he stared into the breezy void. “But I have a feeling it’s got something to do with Mud Falls. If water found a way in here, it has to have a way out.”

“And that’s how we’re going to get out of here? Through a leak?”
“Maybe,” Chip shrugged. “Won’t know until we go and check it out.”
“What are we waiting for?” she asked tartly, moving into the glowing void. “Let’s get this adventure over with.”
Chip wished he had a spitball or something to throw at her.
After five minutes of walking, the dry sand beneath their feet changed to pebbles. A strong breeze wrapped around them and the eerie darkness faded into a soft blue glow. Chip turned off his flashlight and took the last step out of the tunnel.

“Holy figorama!”
The words escaped from Chip in a big whoosh. They stood in the mouth of a huge cavern, and at its base was the most beautiful pool of water either had ever seen. A milky turquoise glimmered and glowed under the crystal stalactites. Boulders the size of cars jutted into the air around its base, and the ceiling towered nearly three stories above them. The most miraculous thing they saw—moonlight. Dust motes glittered in a single, laser-like beam that shot through the chamber from a small opening in the cavern’s roof. To Chip, it looked like a small person might be able to fit through it, and the beginnings of a plan started to take shape.

“Guess this means the storm is over,” Evvie said with relief. Noticing Chip’s determined gaze, she followed it to the roof of the cavern. “Oh no, not again.” She backed away like he was a disease she was afraid of catching. “You’re crazy Chip,” she exclaimed looking back up at the hole. “We can’t get out of here that way. I mean look at it!”
“Exactly,” Chip answered, surveying the escape route. “See that one group of rocks over there?” he pointed.

“No,” Evvie said obstinately.

“The ones right next to the opening,” he continued patiently. “We climb up there. You get on my shoulders, and I think you’ll just be able to reach the opening and pull yourself out.”

“What about you?” Evvie asked. “You won’t be able to reach.”

“I’ll give you my rope. Once you’re outside, tie it to a big enough rock or tree to hold my weight, and I’ll climb out. It’ll be a cinch.”

Evvie bit her lip. It was a long way up. And a long fall down if they screwed up. “I don’t know…” she started when Chip put a hand over her mouth and shook his head. The heavy fall of footsteps could be heard approaching the opening. Evvie’s eyes widened. Chip looked around and found a small opening between two boulders. They squeezed in just as Dusty emerged from the tunnel. A slow whistle escaped his lips.
“Well give the man a cigar,” he said thoughtfully. “I’ve lived here my whole life and thought this was a well-kept secret. How’d you find these caves Winnie? ” Dusty sent a sharp glance to Gino who just shrugged his shoulders.
The tall one materialized from behind.
“Don’t call me that,” he spit out through jagged yellow teeth that could have been mistaken for fangs.
“Just making conversation,” Dusty said lightly, but the lines around his mouth tightened.
Chip felt his insides shrink. The man called “Winnie” was nothing like his warm and cuddly name. His eyes were watery blue as if all the color had been wrung out of them. Cold and glacial, like an iceberg.
“Yeah? Well the only sound I want to hear is the scraping of that boat on shore. Where is it Gino?” he demanded settling his reptilian stare on the third man.
The Italian was bent over, his breath coming in big gulps from dragging a cart filled with hundred of sacks. Chip and Evvie watched as his face started to regain its natural color.

“Just…give me a minute,” wheezed Gino.

“We don’t have a minute you grease monkey,” snapped the tall one. “Mariposa Grove is crawling with coppers by now, and if we don’t make our schedule, the escape route will be cut off. The plan has always been clear: I’m the brains, Dusty’s operations and you’re the muscle. Now, I’m gonna ask you both a very simple question. Where’s the bloody boat?!”

By this time, his face had turned scarlet with rage and the two other men stood cowed in the face of his wrath. Dusty bravely stepped up. Chip saw his hands shake for a minute before he hooked them into the belt loops of his jeans.

“No need to get riled up,” he said clearing his throat. “The boat’s right here.” Dusty strode directly past Chip and Evvie’s hiding spot, and they held their collective breath. “Gino man, give me a hand.”

“Hey, that rhymed,” the Italian said with a childish smile. He was rewarded with a smack to the back of his head. “Oww! Whadya do that for?” he howled rubbing his injured skull.

“We’re not here for fun and games,” the tall one said through gritted teeth. Gino’s expression mirrored more hurt than pain, and Dusty looked away. The two men began to pull on something, and soon a white and red dory came into view.

“So that’s what happened to Mr. Campbell’s boat,” Chip whispered, clearing the bangs from his eyes. Evvie nodded never taking her eyes off of the robbers. Chip smiled. Seeing the small boat again was a wonderful thing. If something that large and heavy could get in here, then there was a way out for two normal sized kids.

“I don’t see why we can’t have fun robbing,” Gino pouted. “In Italy, we don’t take life so seriously.”

“Guess they do in England,” Dusty answered with a nod to the tall one.

“It’s cuz they got no sun,” Gino nodded sagely. “They have, what you call it here? SAD Syndrome.”

“Stop your gabbing you two and get that thing over here,” the tall one said as if on cue.

“More like “MAD Syndrome,” Dusty returned with a wink and Gino hid his chuckle under a cough as they made the final pull over to the water. Without another word, the two men started loading the satchels from the cart into the boat. The tall one stood and watched through a thin veneer of smoke that spiraled around his head from a cigarette. Slowly, he reached inside his jacket where the blunt handle of a gun appeared.
Evvie gasped.

He swiveled toward the sound, those blue eyes piercing the hole right where they hid.

“Uh oh…” she trailed off.

The tall one came striding over, dropped his cigarette into the rubble of rocks and ground it out with the heel of his boot.
“Well, well, well. Looks like we got company fellas.” Dusty and Gino slowly straightened up from their tasks and looked around to see what was going on. The tall one dropped to a crouch in front of their hiding place. “Don’t make me wait all day,” he said softly as his cold, colorless eyes locked with those of ocean blue.

Chip felt the menace dripping from every syllable and had the sudden urge to pee. It didn’t help matters when Evvie gripped him from behind. She pressed her face into his back, and Chip became very aware that the infamous “Goth Girl” was scared to death. She was in danger, and it was all his fault.
“Come on outta there. We won’t hurt ya… yet,” the tall one said under his breath.

Chip thrust his chin up in fighting Cooley fashion. A quick plan flashed through his head, and he stepped forward without hesitation.

“Man, it’s about time you guys got here,” he said scolding the three men. “We’ve been waiting for what, thirty minutes or so right?” He turned to Evvie expectantly. She nodded slowly.

“Umm, yeah, that’s right,” she said weakly.

“Dusty, it’s been awhile,” Chip said warming up to the game. “How ya doing?”
Rolo’s Dad looked confused.
“Good, I guess.”

“Cool,” Chip said. “Gino my man, bet you were wishing you were on a sunny beach with all this blasted rain, huh?”
The Italian grinned showing a missing tooth on the left side.

“Sì, that’s aright.”

“Got any more of those smokes Winnie?” Chip asked the tall one, forcing his legs not to buckle. “I’ve been trying to quit but… well you know how it goes.”

The tall one looked like a teakettle ready to blow its top.

“What in tarnation are you rambling on about boy?” He stepped up to Chip and bent down until their two faces were touching. “Come on now, be quick about it and don’t forget to introduce the sweet thing behind you.”

Chip felt Evvie’s grip tighten on his shoulders, and his mind raced ahead trying to figure out his next move, but it was all just a jumble. If only he’d eaten another piece of chocolate! Instead, he was looking straight into the murderous eyes of a bank robber without a plan. The words just tumbled out of his mouth.

“We’re the Rolo Connection.”
“Rolo Connection? The tall one spit into the ground. “Never heard of it.”

Chip swallowed the ball of fear lodged dead center in his throat. He and Evvie were as good as dead unless Rolo’s Dad helped them.
“Course ya wouldn’t. You’re not a local,” Chip coughed. “If folks hereabouts want something they can’t come by legally, they come to the Rolo Connection. Isn’t that right, Dusty?”

A stricken look passed across Dusty’s face. His lips moved but nothing came out. The tall one’s eyes narrowed, and Chip quickly walked over to Dusty and sent him a pointed look.

“Dusty uses Rolo a lot. We call it that for short in these parts,” Chip added helpfully. Dusty’s face went white.

“This Rolo,” the tall one said lighting up another cigarette. “It’s just you and the girl?”
Chip saw the gleam in his eyes and knew what was running through his brain. He forced a laugh.

“Hey mister, we’re just kids. They sent us here to make sure the goods got delivered is all. They’re expecting us back any minute.”

“I see.”
For a long minute, no one spoke. Chip had to pee so bad, he thought his eyes must be turning yellow. He shifted back and forth from foot to foot to relieve the pressure, but it wasn’t doing much good.
“So Dusty,” the tall one said through narrowed eyes. “Is he talking smack or truth?”
Rolo’s Dad looked at Chip who silently mouthed the words, ‘Rolo sent me.’

Dusty’s lips quivered. For a glorious moment, it looked like it would work.
The tall one punched his fist into the palm of his hand making an awful smacking noise.
“Blast it! I haven’t got all day!”

Dusty’s shoulders slumped, a desolate expression crossing his face.
“No Winston. This boy’s telling a lie or he’s been in the moonshine. I work alone, remember? That’s why you hired me.”
“That’s what I thought.” The tall one threw his cigarette in the water, which made a hissing sound.
Chip watched it float on the perfectly still surface. They were dead. The tall one would kill them, strap rocks to their feet and throw them in the lagoon, never to be found again. A long purplish cord seemed to rise up out of the milky blueness and pulled it under, leaving nothing behind but a ring of ripples.
“Holy figitis!” Chip gasped. “Did you see that? Something’s in the water!”

The tall one glanced over at the now calm pool. “Nice try kid, but the game’s up.”

Copyright © 2000 by Nina Martin.  All rights reserved. This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For information, address: info@cooleyscurse.com