The Riverview Robberies
By Luther Dean
Chapter One
It was a normal day in the peaceful town of Riverview. Little did the denizens of this city have the slightest idea they would soon be the source of an incredible crime wave.
The robberies would start at the mansion of the House family, one of the wealthiest families in the city. Mr. Byron House had accumulated his large fortune over many years and always tried to use it wisely. The only thing that stood in his way was his spendthrift daughter, Roberta. She loved clothes and would never think twice about spending huge amounts of his money on the latest designs, or the best jewelry, or anything else she wanted. He was sure that girl would put him in the poorhouse someday.
But for now, he had installed a state of the art security system. He was sure there was no way anyone could possibly break into his house with it installed. But he was wrong.
"You all ready Lefty?" a lanky mustachioed criminal asked his partner.
"You bet Vinnie" the larger criminal replied "but are you sure dis is gonna work? Dis place looks like it has a real fancy alarm system."
"That's why we have someone inside" Vinnie explained "when everything is clear, they'll turn off the security system, and we go in and loot the place."
"When's da coast gonna be clear?" Lefty asked. As if to answer the giant criminal's question, the villains could see a light coming from the mansion window. "I'd say right about now."
The two criminals easily made their way through the gates, which had been automatically opened by their mysterious accomplice. Then they cut across the wide lawn to the mansion itself. The door was, of course, unlocked and they made their way inside.
"Wow, dis place is huge" Lefty said, wowed by the size of the mammoth mansion. "Where do we start?"
"Let's hit the kitchen" Vinnie suggested, sending the crooks on a madcap dash through the house. After searching several rooms, they finally located the kitchen and proceeded to fill their sacks with the expensive silverware. Then they made their way to the upper level of the house, where they purloined whatever they could find.
"Man check out all this loot" Vinnie said, gazing in awe at his full sack, "we should find some jewelry, then blow this joint."
"I wonder where dey keep all da sparkly things?" Lefty asked.
"Let's check some of these rooms," Vinnie said, opening the door next to them. It was the House's master bedroom, where the two elder Houses lay. "Nah, this ain't a good idea" Vinnie said, closing the door.
"Uh, hey Vinnie, I bet she has some nice jewelry" Lefty said, pointing inside the door he had opened. Vinnie looked inside; it was Roberta's room, filled with boy band posters, rich artifacts, and photos of some red-haired kid with freckles. Roberta lay on the bed, clad in only a silk nightie.
"Good work Lefty" the lanky crook said, "this girl has all kinds of stuff we can steal. But we've got to be real quiet like."
"No problem" Lefty said. Both crooks made their way to the jewelry box, and pried it open, awed at its' contents.
"Man look at all that jewelry" Vinnie said "everything in this box has to be worth at least 5 hundred bucks. Let's help ourselves."
The two crooks grabbed handfuls of the jewelry and began loading them into their sacks. Suddenly, Roberta began to stir; Vinnie seemed worried by the slight disruption.
"Hold up on the looting buddy" Vinnie said, "we need to take care of something."
Slowly the criminal snuck over to a large chest of drawers, and began digging inside. He grabbed a number of designer silk scarves and made his way over to the sleeping Roberta. Before she could stir again, he clamped his hand over mouth, riling the girl from her sleep, as she flailed and tried to scream. Quickly, he took one of the scarves and stuffed it her mouth, then tied the other around her head.
"Get me something to tie this dame up with!" Vinnie shouted, albeit in a hushed voice that wouldn't attract attention.
Lefty dug through Rob's dresser and produced another designer scarf, as well as several pairs of pantyhose.
"Hold her down" Vinnie commanded as he grabbed the girl's flailing hands. He tied the scarf securely around her hands, then grabbed one of the panty hose and tied it around her waist. He grabbed the other three lengths of hose and tied them around her ankles, knees, and her eyes. Then he dropped the still squirming heiress on the bed and went back to looting.
Needless to say Rob was extremely angry. Not only had those men broken into her room and tied her up, but they stretched out some of her designer clothes to do it! And with the cursed blindfold, she couldn't see what those fiends were stealing.
After grabbing all of the valuables they could, the two thieves headed toward the door.
"Thanks for the stuff dame" Vinnie said, as he left.
Rob screamed muffled epithets at him, and thrashed against her bonds. She soon began wishing she hadn't ordered the silk pantyhose, as the fabric held tight. The only thing left now was to wait for someone to untie her. How embarrassing that will be! she thought.
The next morning, Roberta was untied by the family butler, Simmons, who had come to her room to deliver her breakfast. Her father and mother were up as well and were shocked to hear what had happened.
"Oh daddykins, what are we going to do!" Rob exclaimed, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Don't worry my dear" Byron said, "we'll get to the bottom of this. The thieves couldn't have gotten far. I called the Riverview police and they'll be here shortly to investigate, and perhaps figure out how the crooks got past our security system. For know, I think you should just go to school and forget this whole ordeal."
"Good idea daddy" Rob said, "a day at school should help me forget all about that horrible night. Ta-ta then."
Later that afternoon, Roberta showed up at Riverview High. Her parents sent her to a public high school so she could mingle with kids of different social status and cultures. She had already made quite a few good friends. And there was one that Rob knew could help her relieve her troubles.
Betsy Cooper was a cute blonde with her hair tied in a ponytail. She was always so nice to everyone, helping out whenever and however she could. She and Rob had been friends for years, although they did compete with one another when it was about their mutual crush.
"Hey Rob" Betsy said, acknowledging her friend with a wave, "how are you today?"
"Very bad, I'm afraid" Roberta replied "my house was robbed last night!"
"That's terrible!" Betsy exclaimed.
"And the worst thing was, those ruffians broke into my room and tied me up. It was awful, I tell you, just awful!"
"Gosh, I'm sorry Rob" Betsy said, "is there anything I can do to help?"
"No, just don't tell anyone else about it" Roberta replied.
"Don't worry Rob my lips are sealed" Betsy said.
In another part of the school, the freckle faced, red haired Artie Andrews was in a slightly better mood.
"I feel great today Mug" he said to his best buddy, Mughead Morris, "I've got a date tonight with Betsy. Those are always so easy on my wallet."
"If you guys go out, save me some of the food, will ya?" Mug asked.
"No problem Mug" Artie said, when he noticed Betsy and Roberta approaching. "Hey girls, what's up?" he asked.
"Sorry Art, but Rob has sworn me to secrecy" Betsy replied sternly.
But Roberta herself had a hard time keeping her hardship a secret "Oh Artiekins, it was horrible!" she screamed, blubbering like a baby "these awful men broke into my house and robbed us. And worse, they tied me up! I never felt so helpless in all my life!"
"That's terrible Rob!" Artie said, getting slightly angry "man, those two jerks are lucky that I didn't get to them first, because I'd show them…"
"Somehow, I doubt that Art" Mug replied.
"I'm still a little shaken up about the whole terrible ordeal" Roberta said, "perhaps you and I could go out tonight and help me get over it?"
"I'm sure Artie would love to" Betsy interrupted, "but he and I have a date tonight, so…"
"Sorry Bets" Artie said, "but Robbie's been through a traumatic experience recently and she needs comforting. You understand don't you?"
Betsy sighed, she had lost again. "Of course Artie" she said, "Rob does deserve it more, I suppose."
"Great" said Roberta, her mood suddenly changing "a date will be just the thing to get me back to my old happy self. Now I'll need to pick an outfit, and my shoes, and a purse, and…"
Betsy ignored her friend and walked away. 'Well, I'm happy for Rob' she thought' I mean, she has just been through a traumatic experience. Being bound and helpless like that, I can't imagine what that feels like. Still, it could also be interesting, especially if some handsome hero came to your rescue. Man, it would be great to have Artie be my noble knight, riding in to save me'… It was then that an idea formed in her head.