The Super Spies and the High School Bomber (29 page)

According to Aunt June, Uncle Walt would have to do some physical therapy, but other than that, he was going to be good as new.

Sarah took a deep breath and filled her aunt in on the events of the previous night.

Aunt June put her hand to her throat. “The bomber tried to get into our house? Why would they try to break in? Are they after us?”

Aunt June's hand trembled as she fiddled with her collar, and Sarah felt a pang of sympathy for her.
She's freaking out
.

Sarah shook her head. “We're not sure. We called the FBI and they recommended that we stay with Jackie and you stay here with Uncle Walt.”

Aunt June blanched. “I guess that would be best. Are they guarding the house?”

“Yes.”

“I'll call Scott and make sure,” Lacey volunteered.

Sarah and Jackie exchanged a long look and cracked up laughing.

“Shut up, both of you.” Lacey stuck her nose up in the air and walked down the hall.

Sarah motioned toward Lacey. “She doesn't want us to hear.”

Jackie giggled. “No doubt.”

A song filled Sarah's mind,
Lacey and Scott sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Scott and Lacey pushing a baby carriage.
She laughed out loud and received strange looks from her aunt and Jackie. Sarah didn't care. She was so happy Uncle Walt was okay, giddiness had taken over.

Jackie gave her a playful nudge. “You've finally gone over the edge, girlfriend.”

Sarah laughed. “Yeah, well I'm enjoying the ride.”

“I can see that.” Jackie snickered and gave Sarah a squeeze.

Giggling, Sarah gazed down the hall at her sister. She twirled her hair as she spoke on the phone. Lacey caught her eye and stuck her tongue out at Sarah, and then turned her back on her.

Sarah looked away and took a deep breath. Uncle Walt was going to be okay. The weight of the last few days seemed to lift off her shoulders.

Lacey reappeared, closing her phone. “Aunt June?”

“Yes?”

“The Fibbies are guarding the house. They say it's safe for you to go and collect some things.”

“All right. I might as well do that now. What do you girls have planned for the day?”

Sarah exchanged looks with Jackie. “We were going to meet Scoop down at Hinkle's.”

Aunt June raised her eyebrow and gave Sarah a quizzical look. “What are you girls up to?”

Sarah shrugged, feigning innocence. “Nothing.”

“You're not investigating on your own are you? This is something the police should handle.” She gave Sarah an unwavering stare.

Sarah gulped. “We're just asking Scoop a few questions, that's it.”

Her aunt stared hard at Sarah. “I don't think it's a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“Because the bombers are after you. I don't like you girls wandering around downtown by yourself.”

Sarah groaned as she paced. She knew by her aunt's tone of voice, there was no arguing with her. Frowning as she walked, she tried to figure out a way to meet Scoop and keep her aunt's fears at bay.

She stopped. “Why don't you give us a ride to Hinkle's, and then Scoop can give us a ride to Jackie's?”

Her aunt opened her mouth to speak and then closed it again. Sarah could tell by her furrowed brow that she was considering her proposal.
Say yes! Say yes! Say yes
!

“All right.” Aunt June sighed and gave Sarah the eagle eye. “But, no investigating on your own…and
I mean no investigating on your own
. When you get to Jackie's you stay there.”

“Absolutely.”

“All right, let's go.” Aunt June grabbed her purse and overnight bag.

Sarah and Jackie exchanged high-fives as they followed Aunt June down the hall. Glancing back, Sarah noticed Lacey punching numbers into her phone.

As she nudged Jackie Sarah snickered. “How much you want to bet Scott meets us at Hinkle's?”

Jackie smirked. “I'm not taking a losing bet.”

The gang piled into the car, Sarah and Jackie taking the back seat, while Lacey rode shotgun. Aunt June started the car, and with a roar of the engine, they were on their way to the diner. Lacey fiddled with the radio and ignored Sarah and Jackie's giggles and knowing looks.

Aunt June glanced into the rearview mirror and caught Sarah's eye. “I'm still not too crazy about you running around town.”

Sarah sighed and rolled her eyes. “We're not running around downtown. We'll be at Hinkle's with Scoop. He's an adult.” She gulped when she caught Aunt June's glare in the mirror.

“Well, I'm coming in to talk to Scoop myself.”

Sarah shrugged. “Whatever.”

Aunt June signaled and turned into the same parking space the bombers had used the other day. The irony wasn't lost on Sarah and she gave Jackie a rueful smile.

“I know, girlfriend. I know.”

The crew climbed out of the car and made their way into the restaurant.

The jingle of the bell above the door brought back the memory of being caught in the back of the criminal's truck. Sarah remembered the chase through town and a chill ran down her spine.

The group stopped at the hostess station and Sarah searched the restaurant for Scoop. After a few minutes, she spied him sitting in a booth reading a paper.

Pointing, Sarah said, “There he is.”

The Super Spies and Aunt June hurried to Scoop's booth. He looked up from his paper. “Hello, Super Spies.”

Aunt June held out her hand. “Hello, Scoop. It's nice to see you again.” She smiled at him. “I was wondering if you could give the girls a ride to Jackie's house after you've finished your…business.”

“Of course,” Scoop said, shaking her hand.

“Thank you. I'm worried about the girls walking around town with these criminals still at large.” Aunt June glanced nervously around the restaurant.

“I understand, but I don't think you have to worry about them coming back into town.” Scoop gave Aunt June a reassuring smile. “I will make sure they arrive at Jackie's safely.”

Aunt June spoke to the girls. “Okay, I'm going home to pick up some things for your uncle and then I'm heading back to the hospital. I will call you later."

“Okay,” Sarah said with a triumphant grin. “Give Uncle Walt a kiss for us.”

“Yeah,” Lacey piped up.

Aunt June whirled around to leave and Sarah ran up and hugged her. “This is almost over.”

Her aunt hugged her back and then continued out of the restaurant. Sarah watched her go. After a moment, she took giant steps back to the booth and sat down next to Jackie. Lacey had climbed into the booth first and sat wedged against the wall.

The delicious scent of burgers and fries wafted through the restaurant. Even though she'd just had a cinnamon roll, her stomach rumbled.

Grabbing a menu, she said, “Anybody else hungry?”

“I am.” Jackie reached for a menu.

“Me too.”

While the group studied their menus, the waitress approached and took their drink orders. When she returned with the drinks, each girl ordered a cheeseburger and fries.

After the waitress left, Sarah stared at Scoop. “Okay, what have you got?”

Scoop pulled a small notebook out of his shirt pocket. “Well, I have Randy Ferguson's class schedule for all four years of high school, and I did some digging on him and his family.” He unfolded some pages and handed them to Sarah.

Taking them, she read silently while Jackie looked over her shoulder.

“Did anything jump out at you?” Sarah asked.

“Well, not at first. He seemed like the all-American kid. He got decent grades and he played football. He was a star, actually.” Scoop frowned and scratched his head. “But I did some further digging and found out that he's been in trouble with the law. I guess he's got a problem controlling his temper.”

“Did he have a beef with any teachers?” Sarah frowned.

“Not that I can tell, but the people who would know are his friends.”

Sarah leaned forward. “And they are?”

“Well, I've got a list here.” Scoop pulled another piece of paper out of his pocket. “But I don't think it's a good idea for you guys to go talking to his friends. If he's the bomber, you could get yourselves in hot water.”

“We won't,” Sarah said.

Scoop pulled down the paper in her hand and gave her the old one eye. “Uh...huh.”

“For real, we won't.” Sarah met his gaze.

“Where have I heard that before?”

Sarah dropped her eyes and fidgeted in her seat.

Scoop sighed. “So, I guess the only thing I can do is take you girls with me.”

“Oh, Aunt June isn't going to like that,” Lacey protested.

Sarah rolled her eyes. “She won't know if you don't tell her.”

Jackie nudged Lacey. “Yeah, come on, Lace. Don't you want to get the man who hurt your uncle?”

“Yeah, but I don't want to get into trouble.”

Scoop gazed at Lacey and gave her a toothy grin. “You won't get in trouble, you'll be with me.”

“Yeah.” Sarah peered at her sister. “We'll be with an adult. What could possibly go wrong?”

“Well, could Scott come?”

Sarah snickered and nudged Jackie. “Yeah, as long as you don't tell on us.”

“Deal.” Lacey flashed a triumphant grin.

Seconds later, Scott walked up to the booth and slid in beside Scoop.

Sarah nudged Jackie. “Told ya.”

“Don't I know it, girlfriend.”

Scott ordered a burger and fries and gave Lacey a wink.

Scoop leaned forward. “Okay, kids. The way I see it, we should talk to the people he hangs out with now as opposed to the kids he hung out with in high school.”

Sarah nodded. “That makes sense, but aren't they the same?”

Scoop gave Sarah a smile. “Yeah, but a lot of them have gone off to college and moved away. We'll concentrate on the few who stayed. That would be these five here.” He pulled a pen out of his pocket and circled the names on the paper. “They're all still in town and it's my understanding that they're still thick as thieves.”

The waitress arrived with their lunches, so Scoop folded the pages and put them in his pocket.

The Super Spies dug into their meals. Eating with gusto, Sarah smiled.
Soon the bombers will be in jail and I can go back to being a normal teenager.

After their meal, the group made their way to the hostess station. Scoop paid for everyone's lunch, and then the Super Spies strolled to his vehicle.

“Where are we going first?” Sarah asked from the back seat.

Scoop glanced in the rearview mirror. “I thought we'd go to the first one on the list. Ken Daniels.”

“Where does he live?”

“Out in the boonies,” Scoop answered as he continued to meet Sarah's gaze in the mirror.

Sarah asked Jackie. “Where's the boonies?”

“Way out of town. Out in the sticks.”

“You really didn't answer the question.” Sarah frowned.

Jackie giggled and nudged her friend. “It means out in the country, but they still have toilets and running water.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “Whatever.” She settled back in her seat. “How long does it take to get to the boonies?”

Jackie snorted. “Well, since Harrisburg is so-o big, it'll take hours.”

“Shut up.”

“You just can't stand to wait.”

“So?”

Jackie smirked and nudged her again. Sarah nudged her back. The two girls cracked up laughing.

Sarah sighed, enjoying the laughter. It had been a long time since she'd had a carefree moment.

Scoop drove further out of town. Winding his way down a side road, he came to the Ottawa River. When he drove over the bridge, a trailer park came into view. Scoop slowed and turned into the park. Sarah and Jackie exchanged a perplexed look.

“Ken Daniels lives here?” Sarah leaned forward and asked.

“Yep.”

He wound his way down the small roads in the park. Reaching a dead end, he pulled into the drive of a small ten by thirty trailer. Scoop turned off the engine and leaned back against the seat. He rubbed his forehead as he stared at the mobile home.

Sarah studied the tiny home. It was beige and had brown skirting. The aluminum siding was dented in places, telling Sarah the mobile home was old.

“Doesn't look like anyone's there,” she said.

Scoop pursed his lips. “No it doesn't.” He opened his door and heaved himself out. “I'll just go knock on the door. You kids stay here.”

Scoop strolled up the walkway and climbed the stairs. He pounded on the door and waited. There was no answer.

He pounded again and waited. This time a heavyset man opened the door and Scoop engaged him in conversation. Scoop nodded and then shook the man's meaty hand.

He jogged back to the car and hopped in. “Well, he hasn't seen Ken for about a week.”

“Who was that guy?” Scott asked.

“That was his roommate.”

“Did he have any idea where we could find him?” Sarah asked.

“Yeah, he told me where Ken works. I thought we could head over there.” Scoop stuck the key into the ignition and started the car.

“Okay.” Sarah settled back in her seat then met Scoop's gaze in the rearview mirror. “Where does he work?”

“At the factory in town,” Scoop said as he backed out of the drive.

“Couldn't we have just called him instead of driving all the way out here and then back into town?” Sarah grumbled.

Scoop hit his forehead with the heel of his hand. “Wow, now why didn't I think of that?” He smirked at Sarah. “They're not listed in the phone book.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

Scoop laughed and returned his attention to the road. After what seemed like hours, he pulled into the parking lot of a huge factory, Harrisburg Metals.