"I don't believe this," he whispered. "They're planning some kind of robbery, and we're hearing the whole thing. If they knew we were listening —" He looked scared, suddenly.

My mouth went dry. He was right to be scared. No crook likes to be overheard when he's planning a crime. In the movies, anybody who "knows too much gets killed." Without a word to each other, Quint and I simultaneously scooched down in our seats so that we couldn't be seen from the window. But

there was no way we were about to stop listening.

The argument seemed to be gathering steam. "I've had it with you!" said Frank. "You may be an expert on jewels, but that's not enough. I need a partner who isn't going to wimp out on me."

"Just give me some time! These aren't just any jewels we're talking about, you know. The cops are going to go wild when this stuff turns up missing."

Jewels! This was getting better and better.

"I keep telling you," said Frank, "we don't need to worry about the cops. We'll be long gone before they even know the jewels are missing."

"I don't know," said Red again, looking stubborn. "Let's go over the plan one more time."

"No!" yelled Frank. "We've been over it a million times. You're either with me or not with me. And I gotta tell you, if you back out now, I'll kill you!"

Quint grabbed my arm, and I grabbed his. This was serious. I had no doubt that Frank meant what he said. He looked totally capable of killing somebody. He was tough and mean, and if I were Red I would run out of the room. Just then, Quint's father cracked the door

to the TV room. "Quint! Jessi!" he called. "Turn down that TV! Morgan and Tyler are trying to get to sleep."

Quint and I looked at each other. My first impulse was to giggle. This was a real fight we were listening to, not the TV. We couldn't turn it down if we wanted to. But then I saw the panicked look in Quint's eyes, and I realized that this was no laughing matter. Quint's dad had just yelled out our names, loud enough for Frank and Red to hear. I turned to look out the window, and saw that the two of them had stopped arguing. Instead, they were staring across the airshaft — at us.