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gazed through the crowd. And then she saw him. Boomer was taller than she’d expected, with bushy hair. Ultra-dark sunglasses concealed his eyes. He walked like a lion on the prowl.
    Nancy strolled up beside him. “Hi, Boomer!” She dug into her pocket, then displayed the earrings in her upturned palm. “What do you think of them?”
    Picking up an earring, he studied it carefully. “Expensive.”
    Nancy grinned slyly. “Not when you’ve got a five-finger discount.”
    â€œMy favorite kind!” Boomer laughed, then stared at Nancy with mock severity. “You? A shoplifter? Shame on you!”
    â€œOnly when I need the money.” Nancy pretended to look around nervously. “How much can I get for this stuff?”
    Boomer stared at her for a long moment. Finally he tossed the earring into her outstretched palm. Walking past her, he whispered, “Parking garage. Ten minutes.”
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    Nancy breathed deeply, then coughed, as the strong gasoline fumes of the Ala Moana garage filled her lungs. She was perched on her car’s front fender. Casting a glance to the right, she saw Ned loitering at the up-ramp. Just knowing he was there made her feel better.
    Then Boomer came down the steel stairway from the mall, boot heels hammering the metal. Looking around suspiciously, he went straight to Nancy’s car.
    â€œHere’s how we work it,” Boomer muttered. “You get half now. Then you take your stuff upstairs, go to the public phone, and leave it in the coin return. The rest of your money’ll be in there.”
    â€œHow much?” asked Nancy.
    â€œThirty bucks.”
    â€œIn the coin return? Anyone could take it!”
    Boomer grinned evilly. “It’s being watched. No one will—”
    He halted abruptly. Face frozen, he stared at a reflection in the neighboring car’s windshield. Nancy heard a footstep behind her.
    Glancing over her shoulder, she gasped out loud. Approaching the stairs was the moon-faced man—the same man who had been spying on Lisa Trumbull’s apartment!
    Boomer seemed to sense Nancy’s anxiety. “Be cool. He’s not going to bust us.”
    â€œYou know him?” Nancy blurted.
    â€œNahhhh, but he’s a cop.” Boomer leaned casually against the other car. “I can tell. That joker’s got plainclothes written all over him.”
    Nancy sneaked a quick glance. The moonfaced man lingered at the bottom of the stairs. Then, pretending not to look at them, he ambled over to the Star-Bulletin dispenser and bought a newspaper.
    Alarmed, Nancy realized that he was shadowing her!
    Nancy’s heartbeat seemed to fill her chest. The moon-faced man stood blocking the stairs, pretending to read his paper.
    Nancy turned and noticed Boomer’s suspicious gaze. He was glowering at her. His expression grew more menacing as he realized he couldn’t escape up the stairs.
    Suddenly his hand darted inside his leather jacket. “Now I get it! He’s with you .” A smallpistol appeared in his big hand. “You set me up, you little—You’re a cop! ”
    Before Nancy could move, Boomer had looped his arm around her neck. He held her in a choke-hold, using her as a shield as his pistol swiveled toward the moon-faced man. “Game’s over, cop! Back off, you hear me?”
    Nancy felt the cold steel of the gun against her temple.
    â€œBack off, I said, or this is the end of her!”

Chapter

Seven
    T HIS IS IT , cop!” Boomer tapped the muzzle against Nancy’s head. “Say goodbye to your partner.”
    Mouth agape, the moon-faced man stared at them. He held out a quaking hand. “N-now wait a minute, buddy! You got it all wrong!”
    â€œYou’re following me!” Boomer roared, his left arm locked under Nancy’s chin. “Lousy, stinking cop!”
    Uttering a frightened yelp, the man turned and fled.
    Boomer