When the order was ignored, he fired twice. The bullets pierced the rear tires of the truck. Air whistled out and the rubber slowly flattened.
For a few yards the truck wobbled on, then stopped. Two detectives leaped for the cab.
“All right, get out!” ordered Detective Fuller, covering the men.
The truck driver and two others slouched sullenly out of the cab. As flashlights swept their faces, Penny recognized one of the men.
“Hank Biglow!” she identified the driver.
“And this man is Ham Mollinberg, a brother of Ropes,” said Mr. Parker, indicating a red-faced fellow in a leather jacket. “The man beside him is Al Brancomb, wanted for skipping parole in California.”
“Any others in the warehouse?” demanded Detective Fuller.
“There should be,” said Penny excitedly. “Where’s Mr. Burns?”
“What Burns do you mean?” questioned one of the detectives.
“Connected with your police force, unfortunately,” informed Mr. Parker. “That’s why I planned to consult the Prosecutor before I spread the story on the Star’s front page. You boys have done good work in Riverview and I didn’t want to make the department look bad.”