Survivors Will Be Shot Again by Bill Crider Page A

said.
    â€œHandcuffs?”
    â€œThat’s right. Handcuffs. Hands behind your back.”
    Todd complied, looking distraught. Andy stepped behind him, holstered his .38, and secured Todd’s hands with zip-tie cuffs.
    â€œYour turn,” Andy told Noah.
    Noah didn’t speak. He just lowered his hands and put them behind his back.
    When both boys had been cuffed, Rhodes said, “Better pat them down, Andy.”
    â€œRight. They might be carrying sidearms or switchblades.”
    They weren’t carrying anything, however, and Andy looked a little disappointed when he reported it.
    Rhodes pointed at the ground and said, “I see a jewelry box and an urn. What else did you two take from the house?”
    â€œThat’s all we had time to grab,” Todd said. “Those old people came back and we just ran.”
    â€œGood,” Rhodes said.
    Andy picked up the urn and looked inside.
    â€œAny ashes left?” Rhodes asked.
    â€œLooks like most of ’em,” Andy said. “I doubt Ms. Lansen will know the difference.” He picked up the lid and replaced it. Then he got the jewelry box. “Unless somebody squeals.”
    â€œWe won’t say anything,” Todd said. “Right, Noah?”
    Noah nodded.
    â€œIf you took anything else and those other two ran off with it, we’ll find out,” Rhodes said.
    â€œI swear that’s all we got,” Todd said.
    â€œI hope so,” Rhodes said. “Let’s go.”
    He and Andy marched Todd and Noah out of the trees and back to the Lansen house. Todd and Noah walked awkwardly because it was hard for them to balance with their hands behind them. Rhodes didn’t feel too sorry for them, however.
    Rex Lansen was waiting in the backyard when they arrived. He took the urn and the jewelry box from Rhodes and thanked him.
    â€œKathy’ll be glad to get these ashes,” Rex said. He stared at Todd and Noah, who looked away. “What about the others?”
    â€œWe’ll get them,” Rhodes said. “We know who they are.”
    â€œGood. I appreciate you getting these ashes back. Kathy would’ve grieved forever about ’em if you hadn’t.”
    Rhodes didn’t mention that not quite all the ashes were there. Nobody else said anything, either. Rex went back into the house, and Rhodes put his hand on Todd’s upper arm.
    â€œI’ll take this one in my car,” Rhodes told Andy. “You get the other one.”
    â€œHe doesn’t smell too good,” Andy said.
    â€œI know,” Rhodes said. “That’s why I’m taking this one.”
    Both boys looked quite unhappy, and Rhodes thought Todd might cry as he put him in the back of the Tahoe, first removing his hat. What the boys didn’t know yet was that they wouldn’t be spending any time in jail. Andy had been exaggerating for effect, hoping to give the boys a little scare. They’d be taken to the juvenile processing office, which was in the jail, all right, but which was really just a room for temporary detention. Not exactly a four-star hotel, but not nearly as bad as a cell.
    Since they’d already admitted what they’d done and named their partners in crime, Rhodes didn’t even have to interview them. They’d go to the jail and wait in the processing office until their parents showed up. Rhodes would release them into their parents’ custody, and they might not even face charges if Rex felt lenient. Or even if he didn’t. They were juveniles, and as far as Rhodes knew the burglary was a first offense. Still, going to the jail would be good for them. It wouldn’t hurt them to be a little bit scared for a while.
    Rhodes hadn’t taken Todd in the Tahoe just because Noah smelled bad. Todd had been talkative, and Rhodes wanted to talk to him about the burglaries at Billy Bacon’s place. It didn’t seem likely that Todd and his friends were responsible.