The Super Spies and the High School Bomber (20 page)

The rest of the Super Spies followed her as she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and punched in Scoop's number. She put the phone up to her ear and listened for the ring. Strolling toward the light post that stood in the center of the parking lot, Sarah couldn't wait to hear his voice.

“Hello,” Scoop boomed into the phone.

“Hi, Scoop.”

“Sarah Cole, how are you?”

“I'm fine.”

“What can I help you with?” Scoop chuckled. “As if I didn't already know.”

Sarah giggled. “You know us too well.”

“I do.”

“We need to ask you some questions. Can you meet us at Hinkle's in about fifteen minutes?”

“I was on my way to the hardware store, but I'll meet you there first.”

“Okay, see you in fifteen.” She closed her phone and gazed at her friends. “Scoop's meeting us in fifteen minutes at Hinkle's.”

“Cool beans.”

“Awesome.” Lacey twirled her hair around her finger and gazed at Scott. “Maybe Scott and I should go up and check on Uncle Walt, while you guys meet with Scoop.”

Sarah winked at her sister. “Good idea.” She faced Scott. “You can ride my bike, then we'll meet at the willow tree in an hour.” Sarah turned and grabbed Jackie's arm. “Come on, Jack, let's head to the diner.”

The Super Spies walked toward the highway. Scott and Lacey pushed their bikes until they reached the corner, then they mounted them and pedaled toward the hospital. Sarah and Jackie made a beeline for the restaurant.

The chill was still in the air and Sarah pulled her jacket tighter around her. She kept a vigilant eye out for the green truck. Now that she knew the bombers hadn't been apprehended her anxiety turned up a notch.

The girls reached Hinkle's and scurried inside. Sarah took in the twinkle of the Christmas lights and her mood brightened a little. She stopped at the hostess station and glanced around, looking for Scoop.

“He's not here yet,” she said.

“He's an old man,” Jackie reminded her. “He's slowing down in his old age.”

The hostess appeared and motioned to the girls. “Follow me, girls.” She walked down the aisle and stopped at a booth by the window. “Is this all right?”

Sarah nodded and sat down. “We're waiting for one more person.”

The hostess smiled. “I'll let your waitress know.”

Sarah faced the door, hoping to spy Scoop the minute he walked through it. Gazing around the restaurant, she noticed there were a few patrons sipping coffee and reading the paper. It was just after the morning rush and the staff was enjoying the lull. They chatted leisurely as they went about wiping tables and taking dirty dishes to the kitchen.

Sarah leaned forward and caught Jackie's eye. “I looked up ‘terrorist' on the Internet last night.”

“You already told me last night, remember?”

“Oh, that's right, I forgot.” Sarah frowned and rubbed her forehead. “Are there any political groups around town?”

“Beats me. I'm not into politics.”

“Yeah, you're into shopping.”

“How could you forget that?” Jackie smirked.

“I don't know.” Sarah rolled her eyes. “Oh, thank goodness…Scoop just walked in. Hopefully, he can shed some light on all of this.” She pointed to a portly man with snow-white hair.

Jackie whirled in her seat and glanced over her shoulder. “Yep, that's him.”

Scoop waved and then ambled over. “Hello, Super Spies.”

“Hi, Scoop,” the girls responded in unison.

As he pulled a chair up to their table, a waitress appeared and asked what they would like to order. Everyone ordered lemonade and she hurried away to get their drinks.

When she left Scoop ran his hands through his thinning hair and gazed around the restaurant. He then turned his attention back to the girls and asked, “How can I be of service?”

Sarah leaned forward and whispered. “The FBI thinks the bomb was set off by terrorists.”

“Are you serious?” He dipped his head and met Sarah's gaze.

Sarah gave him a solemn nod. “Have you heard of any terrorist groups around Harrisburg?”

“No, I haven't.” Scoop stroked his chin and frowned. “Why would there be terrorists here?”

“We don't know.” Sarah glanced at Jackie and shrugged.

“Terrorism usually involves countries that are fighting over major issues like religion, borders, or oil.”

“None of those things have anything to do with Harrisburg,” Jackie piped in.

Scoop nodded. “You're right, we aren't a political hotspot. I think the FBI is barking up the wrong tree…unless they're talking about domestic terrorism. What made them think it was terrorists in the first place?”

“I guess because of the type of bomb that was used.” Sarah frowned and gazed at Scoop. “What's domestic terrorism?”

The waitress appeared with their drinks and Scoop waited until she left before he answered. “It's terrorism practiced in your own country, against your own people.” Scoop stared at Sarah as if he were trying to read her mind. “You say the FBI thought it was terrorism because of the bomb that was used?”

“Yep.” Sarah took another drink of her lemonade.

“There's got to be more to it than that.” Scoop's brow furrowed and he continued to stare at Sarah. “Did they say anything else?”

Sarah drummed her fingers on the table. “No, but they were really interested in the fact that my parents disappeared, and then a few months later the high school is bombed.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Do you think there's a connection?”

“It's pretty far-fetched.” Scoop gave Sarah a gentle smile. “Could there be something else besides your parents that might make the FBI think this is a terrorist attack?”

Sarah wiped her eyes and frowned. “Well, what about the target?”

Scoop raised his eyebrows and stared at Sarah. “You know who the target is?”

“No…but so far there are two people up at the hospital who survived the bomb, and the bombers are after someone at the hospital. It's either Uncle Walt or Ali Hameedi.”

“Well…we know your uncle isn't a terrorist.”

“Right, so maybe this Ali Hameedi is,” Sarah said.

Scoop stared at her. “You just might be on to something.”

“For real?”

“Yeah, I'm going to ask around about this guy. What was his name again?”

“Ali Hameedi, ” Sarah answered.

Scoop's burning curiosity suddenly infected Sarah.
Who is Ali Hameedi? Is he some sort of terrorist
?
Are these bombers after this teacher, and Uncle Walt is just an innocent bystander?
As these questions burned through Sarah's mind, the heat of dread rushed through her body.
Ali Hameedi is still at the hospital, and so is Uncle Walt.

 

 

Sarah sprang from her seat. “We have to get to the hospital.”

“Why?” Jackie asked, giving her a perplexed look.

“Because Ali Hameedi is there, and so is Uncle Walt.”

Scoop stood. “I'll give you girls a ride.”

They left quickly, stopping at the cashier to pay their bill.

Once outside, wind whipped fresh raindrops into Sarah's face. She blinked rapidly and struggled to pull the hood of her jacket over her head.

Scoop led the way to his car, a beige four door with a bent antenna. Sarah snickered when she saw it, but her smile quickly disappeared when she noticed a rickety green pickup idling at the stop sign. She pulled her hood tighter concealing her face.

Sarah grabbed Jackie's arm and whispered, “Don't look now, but the bomber's truck is stopped over there.” Jackie started to spin toward the pickup—Sarah pulled her short. “I said don't look.”

Jackie nodded grimly, and pulled her hood tighter around her own face. “I don't believe it. They're in town.”

The girls huddled together and crossed the street, right in front of the truck. Scoop was a few feet ahead of them, striding toward his car. His thinning hair stuck to his head like a wet rag. Sarah could see his bright pink scalp shining through strands of white hair.

She dared a peek from beneath her hood. Glancing at the truck, she tried to see the driver, but the rain running down the windshield made it impossible. All she could make out was the shadowy form of a man. Her heart lurched in her chest as she walked past.

The rumble of the motor sent Sarah's imagination into overdrive. Visions of the pickup leaping forward and running her over zipped through her mind. Her heart raced and her hand trembled as she tucked her damp hair into her hood. She grabbed Jackie's arm and clung to her as her legs wobbled.

Jackie snaked her hand up and gave Sarah's wrist a squeeze. Sarah hugged her friend's hand between her arm and her side and then quickened her pace.

Scoop reached the car first; he unlocked it and climbed inside. Sarah and Jackie scrambled into the back seat. Sarah took a deep breath and caught a whiff of tobacco.
Scoop's a pipe smoker
.I would never have pegged him for a pipe smoker.
She peered out of the back window and watched the green truck pull away from the stop sign and head north.

Sarah grabbed the back of the front seat. “Scoop, follow that green truck!”

He stared at Sarah with a confused expression. “Why?”

“Because that's the bomber's truck!”

“Get on your phone and call the FBI!” Scoop yelled.

Wearing a grim expression, Scoop started the car. He turned in his seat and stared out the back window waiting for the traffic to clear.

When the vehicles were gone, Scoop backed the car out of the parking spot and accelerated down the road. He paused at the stop sign. Rushing through the intersection, he barely avoiding a collision with a station wagon.

“Yikes,” Sarah exclaimed and shot Jackie a look.

“Scoop, we didn't know you could drive like a wild man.” Jackie grabbed the back of the front seat and held on tight.

“I wasn't always a small town reporter.”

“What were you, before you were a reporter?” Sarah asked.

Scoop chuckled and met her gaze in the rearview mirror, then turned his attention back to the road.

Sarah pushed the buttons on her cell phone and groaned. “The call's not going through.”

“Keep trying,” Scoop urged.

Up ahead the truck merged onto the highway. Scoop tailed the bombers, staying a couple of car lengths behind them.

Sarah kept her eye on the pickup as Scoop drove. The rhythmic squeak of the wipers on the glass was a comforting sound to her, something ordinary at a very unordinary time in her life. She sighed, releasing some of the tension in her body. Pulling off her hood, Sarah ran her hands through her hair attempting to put some wayward strands in place. “Where do you think they're going?”

Jackie pushed back her hood, sending her curls into a wild dance. “I have no idea. Scoop, do you know where they're going?”

He shook his head. “No I don't. They're heading in the direction of the hospital, but that's all I can tell at this point.” He sat hunched at the wheel, watching the traffic with a well-trained eye. “It's been a long time since I've been in hot pursuit.”

“Were you a cop before you were a reporter?” Sarah asked.

He laughed. “No, but I was in the army.”

Sarah and Jackie exchanged a quick look, before Sarah turned her attention back to the green truck. It was still a couple of car lengths ahead. The truck's brake lights flashed in the driving rain.

“They're slowing down.” Sarah sat at the edge of her seat, her heart racing.

Jackie pointed. “Look, they're turning.”

Scoop slowed the car. “I'll follow them, but I've got to stay back so they don't see us.”

“Oh, no!” Sarah grabbed Jackie's arm and squeezed. “They're turning into the hospital parking lot.”

“We'll follow them.” Scoop slowed even more.

A horn blared and a car sped past. Sarah guessed the driver was angry about their slow speed.

“Do you think they're going to set off another bomb?” Sarah asked. Her voice sounded like a high-pitched squeak, almost like she had sucked on a helium balloon and then tried to talk. She cleared her throat and shivered.

Scoop reached up and patted her hand. “I don't think they'd set off a bomb during the day. Look at all the cars in the parking lot. There's too many people here, too many witnesses.”

“Yeah, that makes sense.” Sarah gulped. She didn't feel any better. She glanced at her friend.

Jackie reached over and squeezed her hand. “We're going to catch them, girlfriend. Don't worry. Remember the FBI is here.”

Sarah's spirits soared. “That's right!” A grin spread over her face and she gave her friend the thumbs up sign.

Jackie winked at her. “Another win for the Super Spies.”

Sarah couldn't help but giggle.
Jackie's so dramatic
. “Give me some skin.”

Jackie laughed and gave Sarah a high five, flashing her model-perfect smile. “My turn.”

Sarah reciprocated and relief flowed through her body.
These men can't hurt Uncle Walt anymore.
The thought of Uncle Walt brought tears to her eyes. Her heart ached at the thought of him lying in a hospital bed in a coma.

“Hey, they're parking over there.” Jackie pointed toward the Emergency Room entrance.

Sarah gazed where Jackie pointed and watched the truck pull into a parking spot. It stopped and the taillights were extinguished.

Scoop pulled into the parking area, but parked two rows away from the pickup. He turned off the car, never taking his eyes off the truck.

Sarah held her breath as she waited for the men to climb out. They seemed to be taking forever. She exhaled and squirmed.

Jackie glanced at her and gave her an understanding smile. “It won't be too much longer.”