The Super Spies and the High School Bomber (23 page)

Opening her menu, Sarah studied her selections. “I really feel like a big bowl of their broccoli soup.” She shivered again.

“I'm going for one of their juicy bacon cheeseburgers.” Jackie closed her menu and laid it on the table.

“What are you going to have Scoop?” Sarah asked.

“I'm going to have their meatloaf and mashed potatoes with gravy.” He smacked his lips appreciatively. He eyed Sarah. “You've got to have more than soup.”

Sarah shrugged. “I guess.” She studied her menu again. “I'll have a grilled cheese sandwich too.”

Scoop nodded his approval at her.

The waitress strolled up and took their drink orders and then left.

Sarah leaned forward. “Do you think terrorists are after Ali Hameedi?”

Scoop shook his head. “I have no idea. We'll have to do some research and see what we come up with.”

The waitress arrived with their drinks. Sarah took a long sip of her lemonade and sighed. She was just starting to relax.
Now that the FBI knows who the bomber is, surely he'll be in jail soon.
Uncle Walt is safe
.

Sarah sighed again and her body went limp. She leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes.

The tinkle of the bell above the restaurant door invaded Sarah's consciousness. Wearily, she opened her eyes and gazed at the patron walking in the door. The flash of a blue security uniform sent her senses reeling.
Could it be
? Shock ran through her body like a bolt of lightning when she saw the man from the hospital—she was sure her scalp sizzled as the electrical charge exited through her head.

She sprang up and grabbed her menu. Opening it, she sank down again and used it as a shield.
I can't believe the bomber is in this restaurant
! Sarah took a deep breath and peered around her makeshift barrier.

The bomber grabbed a newspaper and stood at the hostess stand. The twinkling lights reflected off of his bald head. Sarah's heart thundered against her rib cage. It seemed so loud that she was surprised no one heard it.

Jackie glanced at her with a perplexed expression. “What are you doing?”

“Yeah, Sarah, what's going on?” Scoop asked as he peered over the top of her menu.

“I'm hiding,” Sarah whispered and pointed toward the door.

“From who?” Jackie looked toward the front of the restaurant.

Sarah watched as her friend reacted much the same way that she had. When Jackie was hidden behind her menu, Sarah peeked out at the criminal standing at the hostess station. He was wet with rain, but there was no mistaking the bald head and the build. The bomber was still at large, and he was about to be seated in Hinkle's restaurant.

 

 

“I can't believe he's here,” Scoop whispered and pulled his menu up to shield his face.

“Didn't he just start his shift?” Sarah whispered.

“Maybe he told the other guards he was sick,” Scoop said in a low voice.

The group huddled behind their menus for several minutes. Sarah couldn't resist a peek, so she moved her menu to the side as she peered at the bomber. He seemed unconcerned as he stood at the hostess stand waiting.

“I wonder why they're not seating him?” Sarah muttered.

“He might be ordering something to go,” Scoop replied.

“We have to call the police.”

Jackie leaned toward her friend. “Can you get to your phone?”

Sarah shook her head. “No I can't. You'll have to do it. Call Lacey. I'm sure she's with Scott.”

Jackie slowly reached her hand into her pocket. She pulled out her phone and punched in Lacey's number. “Lacey?”

Sarah huddled closer to her friend and moved her menu right next to Jackie's, so that they were hidden from view.

“Listen, Lace. The bomber is here at Hinkle's right now.” Jackie paused, listening. “Yeah. You need to tell the FBI at the hospital.” She paused again and scratched her head. “No, don't call me back. I'll call you back in fifteen.”

Sarah peeked out from behind the menus to stare at the high school bomber.

He stood at the hostess stand, casually thumbing through a newspaper. Sarah guessed he was waiting for takeout because the hostess had just walked by without offering a table.
At least we have that going for us.
If we sit tight, he won't even know we're here
.

The waitress came up to take their orders. Sarah quickly informed her that they needed a few more minutes. Promising to be back soon, she hurried away to wait on someone else.

When she left, Sarah gazed out from behind her menu again. The hostess was standing at the register punching buttons and on the counter sat a large takeout bag.

“He's almost done,” she whispered.

Jackie pressed her lips into a grim line. “I'll call and tell Lacey.”

“Hopefully, the police are waiting for him outside.” Sarah crossed her fingers. Her body surged with adrenaline as she watched the bomber walk toward the door.
We're so close
.

“Lacey?”

Sarah swung back and faced her friend.

“The bomber is leaving right now.” Jackie paused. “Okay.” She disconnected the call. “The police are on their way.”

“I hope they get here in time.” Sarah gulped as she watched the bomber walk out the door.

The waitress appeared. “Are you ready to order?”

“Yes. I want the broccoli soup and a grilled cheese sandwich,” Sarah said as she started to slide out of her seat, but the server blocked her way. “Excuse me.”

“Oh, sorry.” The server moved a couple of steps to her right.

Sarah stood and hurried down the aisle. When she reached the door, she searched through the pelting rain. She caught sight of the bomber limping toward his truck, fishing in his pocket for his keys.

Sirens wailed in the distance. The criminal turned toward the sound and peered at the police cruisers screaming up the street. Alarm flitted across his features. He turned toward his pickup and ran with an ungainly stride. Stopping at his truck, he fumbled with his keys.

The cruisers screeched to a halt in front of the restaurant. FBI agents leapt from the cars and sprinted toward the diner.

Sarah ran out the door and shrieked. “The bomber is down by that truck!” She pointed at the criminal.

He glanced at Sarah. She saw the recognition and the rage in his eyes before he turned and tried to unlock his pickup. He managed to get the door open and toss the bag of food in the passenger seat. With one glance back over his shoulder, he scrambled inside.

Meanwhile, Sarah screamed with all her might. “The bomber's down there! The bomber's down there!” She jumped up and down while she shrieked, trying to flag down the FBI agents.

The agents, with guns drawn, changed their course and sprinted toward the green truck.

The criminal slammed the vehicle into reverse and screeched out of the parking spot. Then the truck lurched forward and stalled. The bomber cast a frantic glance out his window as he started the truck again. The engine roared to life and the pickup flew down the street.

There was a flurry of activity as the agents raced back to the cruisers. They jumped inside and sped away with sirens screaming.

Sarah's jaw dropped as she watched the scene before her.
This is a real hot pursuit chase!
The sirens faded as the cruisers pulled out of sight. She shifted her weight and shivered. It finally dawned on her that she was out in the rain without her coat.

Dashing back inside, Sarah met Scoop and Jackie at the door. She saw Jackie's shock-filled eyes and Scoop's grim expression.

“Hey. They're going to catch the bomber.” Sarah spoke through chattering teeth.

“No doubt,” Jackie said. “Girlfriend, what are you doing outside without your coat?”

Sarah grimaced and brushed her wet hair out of her face. “I know. I was just afraid the bomber was going to get away.”

“Tsk. Come on, let's get some of that hot soup into you.” Scoop put his arm around Sarah's shivering shoulders and guided her back to the table.

When they reached their booth, they found hot plates of food waiting for them. They sat and ate hungrily.

Sarah bit into her grilled cheese sandwich. The melted cheese oozed into her mouth and warmed her from the inside.
There's something about a grilled cheese sandwich on a cold, rainy day.
After eating half of her sandwich she started in on her soup.

Glancing at Jackie, she saw her friend devouring her cheeseburger with an expression of pleasure on her face. Sarah looked at Scoop and swore he was wearing the same expression as he bit into his meatloaf. Sarah sighed and slowed down, enjoying her food.

“Do you think the police caught him?” Jackie asked, breaking the silence.

“I don't know. We'll call Lacey in a few minutes and see if she can give us an update,” Sarah said around a mouthful of sandwich.

“I certainly hope so.” Scoop put his fork down and took a drink of his soda.

“Me too.”

Sarah's phone buzzed. She dropped her spoon and chewed quickly, then answered it. “Hello?”

“Sarah?” Lacey asked through the phone.

“Yeah, it's me.”

“What happened at Hinkle's?”

Sarah took a deep breath and relayed the story to her sister. Lacey gasped when she told her about the chase.

“How's Uncle Walt?” Sarah asked.

“He's the same. He hasn't opened his eyes again, but the doctors aren't worried.”

“Okay. I think we're going to do some research and then I'll meet you guys up at the hospital.”

“Hold on. Aunt June wants to talk to you.”

Sarah heard the sound of someone fumbling with the phone.

“Sarah?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you all right?” Aunt June's voice quavered.

“Yes, I'm okay.”

“I want you to come back up to the hospital.”

“Okay, I've got to check on something, and then I'll meet you there in a couple of hours.”

Aunt June sighed. “Sarah, I don't like you running around town with the bombers still at large.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “I'm with Scoop, Aunt June.”

“All right.” Aunt June's voice was full of resignation. “You be careful.”

“I will. I promise.”

Hanging up the phone, Sarah faced her companions. “Okay, guys, let's finish our food.”

“Then I'm taking you home so you can get some dry clothes, young lady,” Scoop said in a stern voice.

Sarah opened her mouth to argue, but closed it again when she saw Scoop's stubborn expression.

After they finished their lunch, Sarah and her companions rushed to the car. The rain had stopped, but it was still chilly.
It could've stopped
raining twenty minutes ago
, Sarah thought with a wry smile.

Scoop unlocked the car and the group piled inside.

“Okay, Sarah, your house first,” Scoop said as he backed out of the parking space.

“Where are we going to do our research?” Sarah asked.

“My house.”

“Then can you give us a ride back up to the hospital?”

“Of course.”

Within minutes, Scoop pulled into the driveway. Sarah rushed from the car and ran inside. When she reached her bedroom, she made a beeline for the dresser and pulled open drawers looking for dry clothes. She found her gray sweatshirt and a dry pair of jeans. Looking in the mirror, she picked up a brush and ran it through her drying hair. Her body temperature increased within seconds. That, and a full belly, made her feel like her old self again. She was ready to take on the world.

Grabbing her jacket, she ran back out to the car where her companions waited.

Scoop backed out of the driveway and roared down the road. He was hunched over the wheel and his gaze never left the street.

“You're a man on a mission,” Sarah teased.

“Yes, I am,” Scoop said with a wry chuckle.

It only took ten minutes to reach Scoop's place, situated at the end of a cul-de-sac. A neat front yard encircled the bungalow style home. Small shrubs grew in front of a large picture window and around his miniscule concrete porch. A white awning hung over the front door, which would provide shelter to anyone selling cookies. Black shutters hugged the windows and contrasted with the white siding. Sarah had always thought of Scoop's home as masculine, especially since he was a bachelor.

The retired reporter pulled into the driveway and parked the car. He groaned as he climbed out of his seat. “Come on, girls, let's go inside and get to work.”

Sarah and Jackie climbed out of the car and followed Scoop.

Once inside, Scoop scurried around turning on lamps and picking up clothes and debris around the small living room. Sarah exchanged a look with Jackie and stifled a giggle.

“He needs a maid,” Jackie muttered, turning her back so Scoop couldn't see her talking.

Sarah cracked a grin. “You got that right.”

Scoop turned on the computer and it beeped to life. “I'm going to put these things away. Do you girls want anything to drink?”

“I'm fine,” Sarah said.

“Me, too.” Jackie gave him a smile before she unzipped her jacket. She took it off and laid it over the arm of a chair with a faded leaf pattern. Sarah followed her lead and took off her coat also, then the two girls followed Scoop. Stopping in front of the computer, they waited for him to come back.

Scoop returned and sat down at the computer. “Grab a couple of chairs, girls, and watch the master.” He chuckled as he cracked his knuckles and then wiggled his fingers above his keyboard.

Sarah exchanged a look with Jackie and stifled another giggle. “Okay, Scoop. Let's see the magic.”

He typed on the keys and then scrolled through the names that popped up on the screen. “Hmmm.”