They prepared for what they were about to face behind a billboard over on the south side of town. Cherry christened her wig and tied the black mask behind her head. She handed Dallas his mask.
"Don't make me wear that." He pleaded.
"What if they recognize you? You'll get thrown in jail and I won't. I'll probably grow horribly lonely and find some hot young bartender to keep me company. And I'll slowly forget that handsome hood I once went out w-"
"For the luvagod, stop that!" He cut her off, looking like a man in panic. He grabbed the mask "Gimme that thing."
She laughed as he tied it on. "I knew that would scare you."
"Scare me? Tomorrow, I'm running every single bartender out of town! I might not even be able to look at a bottle of beer the same way again!" He still wasn't laughing yet.
"I give that a week." She knew he couldn't stick to his threat about the alcohol.
They both put on gloves next. Then Cherry pulled Dallas' hammer out of her bag and handed it to him. He liked the way it felt in his hand. He was so ready to bludgeon something. Cherry grasped her metal pipe and swung it around. "I take what I said earlier back. I like this thing."
"So where are we hittin' first?" Dallas asked. She turned to her notepad. She had underlined all the most vulnerable houses.
"These ones. They're just begging to be raided." Dallas turned the engine over and pulled out from behind the sign.
The first house was entirely dark. Cherry had expected that no one would be home tonight. "How are we gunna do this?" Cherry actually didn't know for once.
"It's simple baby." Dallas nonchalantly slammed his hammer into the window, like it was no big deal and just entirely obvious.
Cherry winced as the glass exploded. "…I meant how do we do this quietly."
"Too late now dollface. I'm still not going to be able to fit in that window though." He cleared the shards of glass away with his gloved hand.
Cherry took a deep breath. "Then at least keep guard out here. I'm sure the whole neighborhood's heard us. Just yell at me if anyone decides to come and investigate." She took another breath to calm her nerves and slipped inside the window.
"Hey," Dallas whispered. She turned around and looked through the busted window to see him. "don't look so worried. Greasers are made for this stuff." That actually eased her anxiety a little.
Once inside Cherry grabbed for every remotely expensive-looking thing she could find. She worked quickly and soon her bag was brimming with jewelry and what money she could find. She estimated the bag's contents now valued at roughly $575. So before she got too greedy and the bag got too heavy for her to hold, she made her way back to the window.
Dallas helped her out this time, grabbing her hand and pulling her through the empty hole that was once a window. "How'd we do?" He asked curiously.
She flashed the open mouth of her bag at him, revealing all the shiny commodities inside. "You tell me." She told him. He whistled at the riches in awe. "What about out here? Nobody…" She stopped herself as she noticed the grown man lying on the grass, rolling around and holding his side in pain.
"What happened!" She demanded in a hushed shriek.
"I hit him." Dallas answered simply.
"You were supposed to tell me if anyone came!"
"But that'd be no fun." He sounded innocent enough. Cherry sighed and ran to the Chrysler, Dallas right behind her. As soon as they got into their seats they erupted with excited laughter and giddily examined their bounty.
"I can't believe this!" Cherry shouted, trying on her third gaudy necklace.
"Yeah, I know! These people have some ugly-ass costume jewelry!" Dallas responded weighing an impossibly garish ring in the palm of his hand.
"No, I mean we actually did it!" Cherry applauded. "And I was so sure -"Suddenly the sound of sirens blared behind them and those telltale lights made their untimely appearance. "F- - -." She muttered under her breath.
"Drive Dally!" She threw her own hand on the ignition and cranked it. His engine roared and he slammed on the gas pedal. The police were still far behind them, and Dallas could drive pretty fast. He threw his rusty New Yorker through traffic and alleyways until they were sure they couldn't hear any sirens. Cherry looked like she was about to throw up. It took her a while to even say anything.
"…Dally?" She finally managed to whimper as she clutched her chest. She was sure her pounding heartbeat was making the necklaces she had on tremble. "Do you think they got our plate number?"
It took Dallas a while to answer too. "Baby, this ain't my car. If they did get our plates, it's Tim Shepard that's going to jail."
They both looked at each other and the car was silent for a long while. Then they simultaneously busted into the same mad laughter their successful heist had induced just a few minutes ago. Maybe they were laughing harder now. Poor Tim Shepard had no idea he was a burglar.