The Riverview Robberies
By Luther Dean
Chapter Three
Meanwhile, the two real criminals were enjoying their successful haul in an old abandoned factory they were using as a hideout.
"Not a bad haul, eh Lefty?" Vinnie asked "and the boss said there'll be more to come later, provided we do what he says."
"Hey how come we ain't never met da boss in person?" Lefty asked.
"How the heck am I supposed ta know?" Vinnie replied "all I know is, the boss sets up the jobs, and we get a cut of the take. I don't need to see the boss to know that's a sweet deal."
"Duh, what's da plan for tonight?"
"Tonight we're supposed to steal a necklace from some other rich girl with red hair. Her name's like 'plant' or something. The boss'll call us with the details.
The next day, Betsy brought Mughead a tray of brownies for helping her out with her captive scheme.
"The plan worked like a charm" Betsy explained "Artie was more romantic than I have ever seen him in a long time. I think he liked the idea of rescuing me from an evil crook."
"Well I'm glad to hear things worked out, I guess" Mughead replied, wolfing down the brownies, as though someone was trying to steal them.
"That whole 'being tied up' thing isn't something I'd like to try again though" Betsy said, "unless of course, the ropes were loosened so I could slip out of them easily. I think you hurt my wrists."
"Hey, you wanted it to look authentic, didn't you?" Mug asked, licking brownie crumbs off his hands.
"Good point" Betsy replied. Before she could say anything else, she noticed another of her friends approaching her. The short haired brunette was known as Marge. She was the girlfriend of Riverview's quarterback, Bull Brower. Unfortunately, Bull was quite overprotective of his girlfriend, to an obsessive degree.
"Hey Marge" Betsy said.
"Betsy, I'm glad I found you" Marge said, "I'm having a slumber party tonight. I'd love for you and Rob to come. That is, if she's not still shaken up."
"I'm sure I can persuade her to come" Betsy said.
"Great,
meet at my house at
"This might be good for Rob" Betsy told Mug, "a good slumber party might help her get over being robbed."
"I just would make sure that Artie doesn't find out about this" Mug replied, "or he'll be all over that place."
"Not to worry" Betsy replied, "even I wouldn't tell Artie about this."
Maybe Betsy wouldn't, but somebody would. That someone was Roger Crimson, the most sneaky and self-centered guy in Riverview. When he found out that Marge was having a slumber party, a scheme formed in his brain.
Since it's a girls only slumber party, that means that big ox Bull won't be able to keep an eye on his girlfriend he thought. And that opens the door for me to make my move. With this in mind, he slunk off to prepare for the party.
Later that night, Betsy and Roberta arrived at Marge's house. "I truly love slumber parties" Rob said, "of course, this won't be as extravagant as one of mine, but I'm sure it will be entertaining."
Sounds like the old Rob is back Betsy thought to herself. The two girls approached the door and rung the bell. Marge opened the door, dressed in her green nightdress.
"Hi gals" she said, "come on in, and we can get things started."
"Are we the only guests?" Rob asked, looking at the empty house.
"That's right" Marge said "I thought it might be nice if just the three of us hung out tonight."
"That's a delightful idea!" Betsy said "just three best friends having fun. We could order pizza and watch romantic movies…"
"And give ourselves makeovers" Rob added, "what a fun night this will be!"
And
so the girls went on through the night, doing the things that girls do whenever
they get together. At around
Standing there was Cherry Pitt. Like Roberta, she was beautiful and rich. But she was also after Artie, which did not make the two the best of friends.
"What
are you doing here Cherry?" Rob asked angrily "shouldn't you be in
"Glad to see you too Roberta" Cherry replied, the venom in her voice evident. "I know it must seem strange for a popular and rich girl like myself to be here at an average slumber party. But since my dad was worried about us getting robbed, he felt it wasn't safe for me to be in the mansion tonight. Do you mind if I hang out here?"
"As a matter of fact…" Rob began.
"We'd be delighted" Betsy replied. Rob turned to look at her friend and glared at her with a look that could melt ice.
"Relax Rob, she just needs a place to crash for the night" Betsy replied "besides, what could happen?"
But Betsy had no clue that the cherry haired girl had been followed from her house. And at that moment, the tow thieves were devising a plan to steal her necklace.
Inside the house, the girls resumed business as normal. After a delightful game of Twister, the girls settled down to tell about their most romantic experiences.
"So one time, Artie took me on a picnic in the park" Betsy said, "there were squirrels and birds everywhere, it was really wonderful."
"He told me he was sick!" Rob shouted "but apparently, he had enough strength to make you a picnic lunch!"
"Now Rob, don't get angry" Marge said, trying to prevent any fighting between the two.
"Yes Rob, don't get so bent out of shape" Cherry said "after all, maybe some boys just don't like the bossy, brunette type. I think they prefer the attractive, successful redhead."
"Why you!" Rob yelled. She grabbed her pillow and whacked Cherry with it.
"How dare you!" Cherry shouted and hit back with her own pillow, which missed and hit Betsy.
"Ow!" Betsy yelled, "take this!" and she attacked Cherry with her pillow. Soon all four girls were walloping each other with pillows. But their fun was to be short lived, due to a sudden knock at the door.
"I'll get it" Marge said, "it might be the pizza man."
But it was not the pizza man. Instead, Marge found herself staring at two mean looking customers, holding a gun.
"Evening ladies" Vinnie said, "did we interrupt something?"
"I know you!" Rob shouted, "you're the two awful men who robbed me!"
"Good guess dollface" Vinnie replied "but right now, we're here for your redheaded friend's necklace." He pointed the gun at Cherry "hand it over!"
"But this is a priceless Pitt family heirloom" Cherry exclaimed.
"Do what he says" Betsy whispered. Cherry reluctantly handed over the necklace.
"Okay, on the ground, all of ya!" Vinnie said.
"You have the necklace, just go," Rob said.
"Sorry, but we can't have ya calling the cops, now can we? Get the stuff Lefty."
While Lefty left to get the equipment, Vinnie pulled the phone cord out of the wall. Then he used it to bind Cherry's wrists.
"Ow! That hurts!" she exclaimed.
"Tough rich girl" Vinnie replied. Just then Lefty reentered the room with 2 coils of rope and several scarves. Vinnie used some of the rope to tie Cherry's ankles, and then bound Rob similarly. Then he used the rest to tie them back to back.
"You won't get away with this" Cherry said, "my father is a very powerful man. He'll hire the finest detectives money can buy. And they'll track you down, wherever you…mmmph!"
Cherry's tirade was cut short by the wadded scarf jammed in her mouth. Vinnie tied another over it, securing it behind her long red hair.
"That oughta keep ya quiet" he said "now for you, House."
"Oh no you don't" Rob said "help…mmph!" Rob's cries didn't reach very far before she too was gagged. Vinnie than turned his attention to the other frightened girls.
"Okay, you two, on the floor, now" he said, pointing the gun at them. Betsy and Marge obeyed, and allowed the crooks to bind their hands and feet. But they found out they had run out of rope.
"Try seeing if they got some of that curtain cord" Vinnie suggested. Lefty checked the curtains and pulled down the drapery cord, which they wound several times around the girls.
"Please, you can take whatever you want, just don't hurt us" Marge pleaded, her eyes beginning to well up with tears.
"Relax lady, we ain't gonna hurt ya" Vinnie said, "now open up."
Marge didn't want too but Lefty forced open her mouth, allowing the packing to be shoved in. Betsy was subjected to similar treatment before both girls had other scarves tied around their heads.
"Thanks for the necklace, I'm sure we'll get a fair price for it" Vinnie said. Cherry muttered curses at him, but they were all muffled under the gag. Then the villains turned off the lights and left the girls to struggle helplessly.
Just great Betsy thought all we wanted to do was have a slumber party to cheer up Rob. And what happens? We get robbed and end up bound and gagged! And this time, Artie's not going to come to my rescue! How can we get out of this?