Ultimate Nyssa Glass by H. Burke (best value ebook reader .txt) 📕

or wind-up toys and practice on them. When I eventually got away, though, I went to a trade school and learned electrical repair.” She took the now opened clock from Theo and poked about for the right sized gears. “I like making an honest living with my hands.”

Theo leaned closer to her. “Do you think I could learn things like that? Electrical repair and fixing clocks sounds more interesting than school.”

“I’m sure you can learn … after school. Once I’m done fixing this one we can take the other apart for parts.”

After a bit, one clock ticked on the counter beside the cash register while the parts of the other lay sorted into various trays. Nyssa beamed at Theo as he picked over the pieces. Then his stomach grumbled.

“Hungry?” she asked.

He nodded.

“You should check in the kitchen.” Ellis glanced up from his work. “I bet Mrs. H is prepping a plate of sandwiches for lunch. If you offer to help, you might get an extra cookie.”

Theo grinned and bolted out of the room.

Nyssa laughed, an odd warmth humming in her chest. She turned and found Ellis smirking at her.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing—it’s just for someone who doesn’t know the first thing about looking after a child, you’re amazing with Theo.”

She shrugged, unwilling to admit how much she enjoyed the boy’s company. “He’s a good kid. I still think he’d be better off with real parents, not a pair of teens playing house.”

“I’m only a teen for a few more months.”

“Physically. Maturity wise, not so much.” She chuckled. Her eyes roamed to the wall clock. “Almost noon and not a single customer. It’s odd. Between the advertisement and the sign, I expected at least one or two walk-ins.”

“I know.” Ellis’s smile faded. He wheeled over to the window. “Oh wait, someone’s coming towards us.”

The shop bell rang as a man with a bald head and a long duster pushed in. Sweat beaded on his broad, red face.

“Who’s in charge?” he grunted.

Ellis raised his eyebrows. “That depends on what you’re looking for. My colleague handles most electrical repairs. My own expertise is in machinery and engineering.”

The man’s brow furrowed, and he glanced from Nyssa to Ellis. “I … I heard this was a good place to unload merchandise.”

“We do trade in used electronics as well,” Nyssa said. Could the junk man have sent him? He certainly looks like he’d be at home in a junkyard … and smells it.

She managed to keep from wrinkling her nose, but the man smelled of grease and body odor. Black rimmed his fingernails.

“I got items of a more … valuable nature.” He reached into his coat and pulled out a paper bag. Opening it revealed a gleam of gold. Nyssa stiffened.

“There’s a jeweler down the street,” Ellis said. “I’m afraid we wouldn’t be able to give a fair price for items like that.”

“I ain’t interested in a fair price. I just need a buyer who don’t ask questions.”

“They’re stolen, aren’t they?” Nyssa said.

“That’d be a question.” The man sneered.

Theo entered, carrying a tray of sandwiches. He slipped it onto the counter, his eyes tracking the large man’s movements.

“Theo, go into the back,” Ellis ordered.

Instead, Theo slunk to Nyssa’s side and took her hand. She squeezed his fingers.

“Word on the street says you won’t turn your nose up and you daren’t go to the cops. I need to unload this merch before the cops come pokin’ ‘round my domicile. So, what can you give me for these?”

“You’ve been misinformed. You should go.” Ellis steered his chair between Nyssa and the man.

Nyssa gazed past the thief out the window. The blasted officer who had been present all morning was gone. Of course, nowhere near when we need him.

“Don’t tell me I came all this way on a wild goose chase.” The man’s eyes darted to the register beside Nyssa. “Well, it won’t be for naught. What’s in the drawer?”

“Nothing. We haven’t had a client yet today.” Nyssa hit a button, and the tray popped open with a ding. A few loose pennies made up the whole of the till.

“There must be something.” The man’s fists clenched. He darted towards Nyssa. Ellis grabbed him by the arm, but the man clouted him.

Nyssa gasped and clambered onto the counter. She jumped onto the man’s back as his fist again swung towards Ellis. Ellis blocked the blow. He jabbed upward with a punch of his own, but the attacker dodged and kicked out. Ellis’s chair toppled over.

Nyssa sank her teeth into the man’s shoulder. He flailed at her, but she held fast, squeezing his neck. It was like hugging a tree trunk. His fingernails dug into her arms.

“Theo! Get help!” she shouted.

The boy ran from the shop, dodging the attacker’s grasp.

The man caught her hair. Sharp pain drove into her scalp as he yanked her over his shoulder. Her back hit the floor. Breath escaped her lungs in a whoosh. Ellis moaned.

Had he blacked out? Is he badly hurt?

Nyssa reached over and grasped his arm. Ellis stirred. The man kicked him in the side. Ellis grunted, his face contorting in pain.

“Stop!” Nyssa yelped, then covered her own face against a blow from the man. It never came. Instead he jumped over the counter and tore into the shelves. Tools and electrical components clattered to the floor.

Ellis attempted to right his chair which had half collapsed on top of him. Blood dripped from a gash above his eye.

“Stay down!” Nyssa whispered. “I have a plan.” It was a lie, but she didn’t want to see him hit again.

He grimaced but froze.

Waiting for a brilliant idea I don’t actually have. Think. How do I get us out of this?

Nyssa wormed away from Ellis to behind his workbench. She pushed herself onto her hands and knees. The grunts and crashes from behind the counter became increasingly irate.

I’ve got to do something before he starts searching the main house. He might hurt Mrs. H. Dear Lord, let Theo bring help soon.

A wrench glistened at the