每天读一篇英语小故事：The Robbery at the Mall(2)

英语自学网

　　Janelle used the phone of the helpful woman to call Cliff. Cliff played
golf with a medical doctor almost every Saturday. Perhaps Dr. Kildare could look
at her injuries. Cliff, angry but glad his wife was alive, said he would be
there shortly. She told him to bring their son and her spare set of car keys,
because her keys were in the stolen purse. Cliff and Donovan arrived just before
the police officer finished filling out his report. Cliff hugged his wife
gently. He told Donovan to drive home in Janelle’s car. Cliff then asked the
officer what the chances were of catching the attackers.
        　　The officer shook his head. “Not good,” he said. He told Cliff that
robberies like this one happened daily throughout southern California. “Thugs
are everywhere, prowling around like sharks in the ocean, looking for prey.”
Cliff asked the officer what could be done. “I know this sounds ridiculous, but
we police can no longer protect you law-abiding citizens. There’s simply too
many criminals. Tell all your female relatives and friends one thing: Don’t go
anywhere alone, day or night. A woman by herself, even in public, might as well
be carrying a bright neon sign that says: ‘Victim here—Come and get me!’ I’m not
supposed to be telling you this, because if the word gets out, tourism will
suffer in southern California.”
        　　The officer asked Janelle to sign the police report. He wished her a speedy
recovery, and promised to do his best to help put the culprits behind bars. He
reminded both of them that the two thugs now had their credit cards, address,
car keys, and house keys. He suggested that they make the appropriate phone
calls, change the locks to their house, and get new keys programmed for her car.
Cliff told the officer that a couple of his friends were at his house, with
guns, watching for intruders. Cliff and Janelle thanked the officer and the
helpful woman. Cliff drove Janelle straight toward Dr. Kildare’s house.
        　　“Maybe we should move,” he told Janelle. “To another city?” she asked. “To
another state,” he said.