Everyone was sleeping soundly. It was the good thing their mothers had taken the sound proof room, so they didn't get woken up when a shrill alarm rang through the hotel at 2:00 in the morning. Kevin, Joe, and Nick staggered sleepily out of their room and almost collided with Emily, Jody, Melissa, and Stella.
"Sorry," Kevin said groggily.
"It's okay," Kevin answered.
"What is that noise?" Joe said. He was a little annoyed.
"Yeah, it's only 2:00 A.M.," Stella agreed.
"I think it's the burglary alarm," Melissa pointed out.
"Maybe we should go down and check it out," Nick suggested.
"Good idea. Let's go," Emily agreed as she slipped her feet into a pair of flip-flops.
In the lobby, they saw all the ski instructors and employees just arriving.
"Guys, Lori's fiancée` isn't here," Stella pointed out.
"We'll worry about that later," Jody said.
"Someone call the police!" a voice shouted.
"I wonder what happened," Jody continued. Just then, Lori Shara's shrill scream rang through the lobby.
"!!!!" she cried. "My necklace! My million dollar necklace! My precious antique necklace! My heirloom necklace!" she sobbed.
"Uh, I think the heiress's precious, million dollar, antique, heirloom necklace was stolen," Joe stated matter-of-factly.
"No kidding, genius," Nick said.
"Well, it's true," Joe retorted.
"Guys, guys, please. It's too early to fight," Stella pleaded. She looked ready to fall asleep.
"Sorry, Stella," they both said sheepishly.
"Let's get over there and find out what happened," Melissa said determinedly.
They headed over to the heiress, who was almost in hysterics. She was sobbing about her necklace while some of the employees tried to calm her down. Kevin told the employee watching the case until the police arrived that they were detectives. He asked if they could look around.
"I suppose so," the employee responded. Joe, Nick, and Kevin took fingerprints while the girls looked for clues. Emily found a buckle and two sheets of paper. When she held them up to the light, she could see writing. She decided to look more thoroughly later. Jody found some snow and some strands of hair. They decided that was all they would probably find.
"Let's go find the night manager," Nick said. They began searching and finally found him. He was behind the desk, blindfolded, bound, and gagged. Joe quickly took off his gag and blindfold and began untying him.
"What happened?" Joe asked as he moved to the rope around the clerk's ankles.
"Well, I saw someone dressed in black come in the front door and head for the necklace case. I was about to call the police when I was attacked from behind and wrestled to the ground. A gruff voice told me not to make a peep. I saw three people in ski masks before he tied a blindfold over my eyes. I was bound and gagged and hidden behind the desk, I think. Then the alarm went off and you guys found me," he explained.
"How many people do you think were involved in the robbery?" Stella asked as she stifled a yawn. She hadn't fallen asleep until one 'o' clock and the alarm had rung at two.
"At least four, maybe more," the employee answered.
"Whoever they are, they tie good knots," Joe said. He was still working on the rope the clerk's ankles.
"Before you were attacked, did you hear anything?" Kevin asked.
"Got it!" Joe said, holding up the rope triumphantly.
"No. Like I said, I was reaching for the phone and I was attacked," the clerk answered.
"Thank you," Emily said as they walked away.
In the elevator, Stella collapsed of tiredness. Joe's fast reflexes caught her before she hit the ground.
"Thanks," Stella told him shyly. As tired as she was, she thought of a great idea. "Guys, I have an idea," she said as the elevator stopped on their floor.
"What?!" Joe asked. He, like the others, was curious.
"Do you remember the display in the dining room? The heiress's earrings are there. They are worth half a million. What if the thieves plan another robbery? How about I watch the dining room tonight?" Stella said as they entered their suite. She was starting to fall asleep.
"Good idea, but be careful Stel," Melissa warned.
"Well, we should all get some sleep, especially you Stella. It's three in the morning and we'll probably get woken up tonight," Kevin said. The others agreed. Joe quickly set Stella down on her bed and followed his brothers to their room.
The next day, they went snowboarding on the slopes. They had a great time until Kevin caused a domino effect and they tumbled down the mountain. At 1:30 that night, Stella took up her post in the dining room. Melissa had convinced her to take a short nap, so she wasn't too tired, but still, she was exhausted. The others were in the suite's living room, ready to leave quickly. As Stella stood there, she thought she saw a shadow. 'Get a hold of yourself, Jones. It was probably nothing.' Stella told herself. She knew she couldn't fall asleep, no matter how tired she was. Suddenly, she was wrestled to the ground. Before she was blindfolded, she saw six people in masks. After she was bound and gagged, she felt a sharp pain on her cheek. She felt again and realized she was being punched. She began struggling until she was hidden behind the podium. A woman whispered a threat in her ear and she heard retreating footsteps. The alarm went off at that second and she felt her cheek bruising from the punching. Stella kept thinking how tired she was, but she forced herself to stay awake.
About twenty minutes later, she heard her friends calling her name. She couldn't answer because of the gag and couldn't make any noise because she was so tired. All of a sudden, she felt strong hands on her shoulders. She thought one of thieves was coming back for her and she became frightened again. When Joe untied her and she felt herself being carried in his strong arms, she relaxed, laid her head on his shoulder, and fell asleep.
Sorry it's a little on the short side. Chapter 5 is really long. It is more than six pages in my notebook. Please review the first four chapters and I will try to type it and upload it fast. Thanks.