The Super Spies and the High School Bomber (15 page)

“Hi,” Scott said, covering for the girls.

Once Sarah got her laughter under control, she studied Agent Black. He was older than Agent Gray and had intense brown eyes. When he peered at Sarah it seemed like he could see right through her. His suit was a darker gray than the first agent's, but it was just as rumpled.

He pulled a small notebook out of his shirt pocket. “Okay, why don't you tell us what you know?”

Sarah took a deep breath and told the agents the whole story. She told them about finding the cabin in the woods all the way through to the men chasing them to the police station.

Both agents wrote furiously, never interrupting once.

“So that's how we ended up here,” Sarah finished.

“Do you remember the license plate number?” Agent Black asked.

Sarah shook her head. “Only the first three letters, GLF.”

“How about the make or model of the truck?”

Shrugging, Sarah said, “It was a dark green pickup. That's all I know.”

“We can run a partial search.” Agent Gray stood and put his notebook back in his shirt pocket. “I'll get that started.”

“I've already run a search for the plate number and didn't get anything,” Scott said.

“Really?” Agent Gray asked.

“Yeah, Sarah may have written down the letters wrong or something like that.”

“They're talking about setting off another bomb.” Sarah squirmed in her seat.

Agent Black stood and rubbed his forehead. “We're going to locate them before they can do that. Can you describe the men for me?”

“They were big, but not fat…kind of like body builders.” Sarah frowned. “And the big one looked like that actor from the movie
The Fighter
. You know, the crooked boxer?”

“Have you seen them around town before?”

“No…but I haven't lived here for very long.” Sarah turned to Jackie. “Jack…have you?”

Jackie shook her head. “I didn't get a good look at either one of them.”

The agent sighed and scratched his cheek. “Would you girls be up for a drive around town? Maybe we can spot them?”

Sarah sat up straight in her chair. “We need to get someone up to the hospital. That's where their target is.” She bit her lip and looked down at her hands to keep the tears at bay. “It might be our Uncle Walt.”

Agent Black scrutinized her. “How do you know?”

“When we heard them talking they said something about needing to finish the job. Plus, they were up there when we were there.” Sarah stood and paced.

“All right, we'll get agents up to the hospital.” He looked toward Chief Johnson. “Chief, could you drive these kids around and see if you can locate these men?”

Chief Johnson crossed his arms over his chest. “Absolutely.”

“Good.” He swung toward Sarah and stared at her. “Why do you think the target is your uncle?”

“Because he's one of the teachers that was in the school when the bomb went off.”

“Why would these men be after him?”

Tears welled in Sarah's eyes. “I don't know. I can't imagine anyone having a beef with Uncle Walt.” Her tears spilled down her cheeks. She took a ragged breath before she continued. “But, our parents disappeared last year. I can't help but think there's a connection.”

The agent stared at her. “Anything is possible.”

Sarah wiped her eyes. She swore his voice had a tinge of compassion in it. This surprised her—she expected him to be emotionless.

Agent Black sat down. “Why don't you tell me about your parents' disappearance?”

Nodding, Sarah sat down at the table. She told him the whole story, even the part about the private detective her aunt and uncle had hired.

The agent wrote in his notebook then asked, “What do your parents do for a living?”

“My dad's a chemist for Piper Drugs and my mom's a teacher.” Sarah studied the agent, trying to read his mind. “Why?”

“I just wondered.” The agent shrugged. “This is all very good information. We're going to consider all options.” He stood and put his notebook back in his pocket. “Can I get a picture of your parents?”

“Yeah, I've got one at home,” Sarah said.

Agent Black spoke to the chief. “Okay, why don't you drive these kids around town and see if you can find that truck? I'll get the hospital covered.”

Chief Johnson nodded. “Okay, kids, let's go.”

The Super Spies stood and shuffled after the chief. Sarah stopped and spoke to the agent. “What do we do if we find them?”

“Chief Johnson will radio us and keep them under surveillance until we get there.”

Sarah dipped her head and walked out the door. She hurried to catch up with the others, gnawing on her thumbnail as she walked.

She darted between Agent Gray and another FBI man talking as she rushed to catch the other Super Spies. “Excuse me.”

They moved out of her way before resuming their conversation. Sarah slowed and strained to listen to their discussion.

“It's looking like terrorists to me,” Agent Gray said.

“What makes you think so?” the other agent asked.

“Well, for one thing, the type of bomb that was used.”

“Come on, Bob. A high school student could have made that bomb.”

“I know, but it's really bothering me that one of the teachers in the blast had a brother disappear a few months ago, and then this.”

“That does sound fishy.”

“It does,” Agent Gray said with a sigh. “We'll find out more once we talk to those men. We better keep Homeland Security up to date.”

The two agents rounded a corner and Sarah could no longer hear the conversation. A chill ran down her spine as she thought about what she had overheard.
Could terrorists be after my family—and if they are, why
?

Jackie glanced back and then stopped, and waited for Sarah to catch up. “Whatcha doing hanging back there, girlfriend?”

“I was listening to the FBI agents.”

“What'd you hear?”

“They think terrorists are behind the bombing.” Sarah frowned.

“What do you think?”

“I have no idea. I just know they better stay away from my Uncle Walt.”

Jackie slipped her arm around Sarah. “No doubt, girlfriend. No doubt.”

The Super Spies followed Chief Johnson to his cruiser. The girls scrambled into the back, and Scott sat up front with his dad. The group drove through the streets in search of the rickety pickup.

The chief drove for what seemed like an eternity without any luck. They even drove back to the nursery and found it closed for the day.

“I can't figure out why they came here.” Sarah shifted in her seat and yawned, then tapped the back of the seat in front of her. “Hey, you know what? They had bags of…I think it was fertilizer in the back of their truck.”

Chief Johnson gripped his wheel so tight that his knuckles turned white. He clenched his teeth and a vein bulged in his forehead.

Sarah exchanged looks with Jackie.

Scott turned in his seat and eyed the girls in back. “Fertilizer is one of the ingredients in bombs.”

Sarah's stomach fluttered and she stared at Jackie and saw her eyes widen. “Oh.”

Chief Johnson rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “It doesn't look like they're around town now.”

“Lacey and I need to get home. We're supposed to meet Aunt June at the house.”

“I could drop you kids off,” the chief offered.

“How about me?” Jackie asked.

“Yeah, I can drop you off, too. In fact, I'll drop you home first. Your house is right on the way to the Bennett's.”

“Thanks.” Jackie leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes. “I'm so exhausted.”

Sarah gave her a nudge. “Me, too.”

Jackie reached over and squeezed her arm.

Sarah leaned her head back against the seat and sighed. Her bones ached with weariness. She couldn't wait to lie down in her bed and sleep.

Five minutes later, the Chief pulled up in front of Jackie's house.

Her home was a large two-story with a sprawling front yard. Surrounding the yard was a stone fence with a wrought iron gate. The whole estate whispered of wealth and a long forgotten era of croquet games and garden parties. Sarah knew that it was one of the oldest homes in Harrisburg.

Jackie climbed out of the car and leaned in to say goodbye. “I'll call you later.”

“Cool.” Sarah yawned.

She watched her friend open the gate and wind her way up the walk to the front door. Jackie turned and waved before she disappeared inside.

The Chief put the car in gear and puttered down the street toward the Bennett home. Within minutes, he had pulled into the drive and parked the cruiser.

Sarah leaned forward in her seat. “The FBI's up at the hospital, right?”

“Yes,” the Chief answered.

Sarah sighed. “Thanks.”

Lacey gave Scott a shy smile. “Call me later?”

Scott blushed and stammered. “Ah-ah, yeah.”

Lacey glanced at the Chief and quickly added, “Just to give me an update on what's going on… that's all.”

He smirked. “Ri-i-ight.”

Lacey blushed and climbed out of the car. “Come on, Sarah.”

“I'm coming.” Sarah patted the Chief on the shoulder. “Thanks for the ride.”

“No problem. You kids stay inside tonight. Those men got a good look at you and Jackie. They're going to be looking for you.”

“Right.” Sarah climbed out of the cruiser and caught up to Lacey in the yard. She glanced back as the police car backed out of the driveway, the Chief's words played like a worn out song through her mind. The questions that she'd asked herself over and over danced through her weary brain again. There was no stopping them.
Who are these men? Are they terrorists? Are they after Uncle Walt?
She felt sick.
What are we going to do
?

Sarah walked through the door. “Tell Aunt June I went straight to bed. I'm exhausted.”

Lacey nodded. “Okay. She'll be home any minute.”

“I'll be asleep by then.”

“I'm going to see if there's anything on TV.”

“Whatever.”

Sarah descended the stairs to the bedroom she shared with Lacey. Once inside, she realized she didn't feel well, but knew that with some sleep she would be good as new. Pulling on her nightshirt, Sarah yawned and crawled beneath her quilt. Her head hit the pillow and she was instantly asleep.

 

 

Sarah woke with a start and glanced around the dark room. Disoriented, she shook her head.
What time is it
?

Glancing over at the bed next to her, she searched for Lacey. When she found it empty, Sarah swung her feet to the floor. Her stomach rumbled. She hadn't eaten since this morning. As she gave the clock a bleary-eyed stare, Sarah was surprised to see it was ten o'clock.
Is it ten o'clock at night or is it morning?

She scratched her head, then reached over and turned on the bedside lamp. A cozy glow illuminated the room. Standing, Sarah stretched, before searching for some clothes. Her stomach rumbled again, louder this time.

After donning a pair of sweatpants, Sarah staggered up the stairs. When she reached the kitchen, she found Lacey at the table eating a piece of pizza.

“Hey,” Lacey greeted her. “There's more in the fridge.”

Sarah scratched her head and walked to the cupboard for a plate. “Is it morning or night?”

“It's night,” Lacey answered as she took another bite.

“Where's Aunt June?”

“She went back up to the hospital. She doesn't look so good.”

Sarah sighed and opened the fridge in search of the pizza box,
Westside Pizza, the best in Harrisburg.
Closing the door, she walked to the counter and opened the box. She found four pieces left. “Boy, you guys were hungry.”

“Yeah, Aunt June even ate a couple of pieces. No one can turn down pepperoni and double cheese.”

Sarah pursed her lips and slid two slices on her plate and then put it in the microwave.

“I'm eating mine cold.” Lacey cracked a smile.

“I like it that way, too. But right now I feel like something hot.”

Once the microwave
dinged
, Sarah took her plate out and sat at the table across from her sister.

Lacey cleared her throat. “I guess school starts again on Monday.”

Sarah chewed. “For real?”

“Yeah, I guess the high schoolers are going to be coming to the junior high.”

“No kidding?”

“They've got some sort of plan. The people with last names A thru J start classes at seven in the morning and end their day at one o'clock. The students with names from K thru Q start at eight-thirty and go until three-thirty.”

“And the ones with names between R and Z?”

“They start at ten o'clock and go until five.”

“Yuck.” Sarah grimaced. She took another bite and chewed. “That means I go from seven until one?”

Lacey nodded.

“What about the junior high?”

“The same thing.”

“Well, at least we'll be done with school by one in the afternoon.”

“True,” Lacey said as she took another bite.

The girls ate their pizza in silence. Sarah stared off into space and took in the boarded up windows. An involuntary shudder traveled through her body as that closed-in feeling came over her.

“When are the windows getting fixed?” she asked.

Lacey shrugged. “I don't know.”

“I hope soon.” Sarah finished her food and put her plate in the sink, then she rummaged around in the refrigerator looking for something to drink. She pulled out a soda and turned to Lacey. “You want one?”

“Yeah.”

Sarah brought Lacey's soda to the table, sat back down, and popped the top on hers. She took a long drink and smacked her lips appreciatively.