The Super Spies and the High School Bomber Read online

  “He disappeared into the woods.” Sarah held up the coat. “He left this.”

  “He sure was acting weird.” Jackie wiped the moisture from her face with her shirtsleeve. Some of her curls clung to her forehead, trapped by her sweat.

  Sarah pursed her lips. “I know. Why in the world would he run off into the woods?”

  Jackie shook her head. “I don’t know. He should be rescuing people from this mess.”

  “Maybe…he isn’t a real fireman,” Sarah said.

  “Maybe.” Jackie’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Why would someone come up to the school pretending to be a fireman?”

  “That is a very good question.” Sarah frowned as she rummaged through the pockets.

  “Anything?” Jackie asked.

  “Not really…just this cell phone.”

  Sarah was about to say more but was interrupted by a police officer yelling from the back parking lot of the school.

  “Hey! You kids! Get over here!”

  Scott cursed under his breath. “It’s my dad.”

  The teenagers whirled around and jogged toward the Chief of Police.

  “For Pete’s sake! What are you kids doing back here?” Chief Johnson grumbled when the kids reached the pavement.

  “We’re worried about my Uncle Walt,” Sarah said.

  “You’re not doing him any good back here.”

  “Dad, their uncle was in the school when the explosion happened.”

  The Chief sighed and pushed his hat back off his forehead. “Okay, I know you’re worried about him, but there’s nothing you can do for him here. The best thing you can do is go home and wait. We’re doing everything we can to find all the survivors.”

  “We found a body,” Sarah blurted out. Her body went rigid as the memory of the corpse hit her. A wave of nausea washed over her and she struggled to keep from puking.

  The chief shook his head. “Where?” His shoulders sagged, making him appear old and weary.

  “That way.” Sarah pointed.

  “All right, we’ll take care of it. Now, you kids…hey, why do you have that jacket?”

  “We found it over there.” Sarah pointed toward the woods. “On the ground.”

  “Yeah, Dad, this firefighter acted really weird. He chased us up the hill and then ran into the woods.”

  The Chief frowned and gazed toward the forest. “That’s strange. Is this the jacket he was wearing?”

  Sarah nodded. “Yeah, he dropped it before he went into the woods.”

  “Well, the fire department keeps an inventory of these. It should be easy enough to find out who it belongs to.” The Chief took the jacket from Sarah. “Now, I want you kids to head home. Scott, you go with them.”

  “All right, Dad.”

  Scott walked away from the rubble with his arm around Lacey. Jackie trailed after them, and Sarah reluctantly followed her.

  Sarah stopped and looked over her shoulder. “You’ll call us as soon as you find my uncle?”

  “I promise. Now you kids get home.”

  Sarah frowned and dropped her head. “All right.”

  Jackie put her arm around her and gave her a squeeze. “Let’s go.”

  Sarah started to walk away and then turned back again. “Chief?”

  “Y-e-e-e-s?”

  “There was this cell phone in the pocket of the coat.” Sarah retraced her steps and handed it to the Chief.

  “What the…” He grabbed a plastic evidence bag from beneath his coat and put his hand inside it. Taking the phone from Sarah, the Chief examined it for a minute, before wrapping the bag around it. He was careful to never touch it with his hands. His eyes narrowed. “You said this was in the coat pocket?”

  “Yeah, don’t you think that’s weird?”

  “Absolutely. Now, you kids go home. I’ll call you as soon as I find your uncle.”

  “Why did you put it in an evidence bag?”

  “Because it’s evidence,” Chief Johnson said curtly, and without another word spun on his heel and walked away from them.

  The Super Spies trudged toward Sarah and Lacey’s home—Sarah’s steps were heavy with worry. She could hear Lacey hiccup from her most recent bout of sobbing.

  Scott put his arm around Lacey and comforted her. A stab of guilt seemed to pierce Sarah’s heart and she inhaled suddenly. She was secretly glad Scott was taking care of her sister. It helped ease her burden.

  Jackie poked Sarah in the side. “Why is the cell phone evidence?”

  “I don’t know…but it must be related to the bombing in some way.”

  Jackie’s eyes widened. “I bet you’re right. That means the fireman who had the phone is involved. Do you think he’s the bomber?”

  “Hmmm, I don’t know.” Sarah furrowed her brow as she thought. “What does a cell phone have to do with the blast?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Let’s ask Scott, he might know.” Sarah grabbed Jackie’s arm and pulled her forward until they caught up to the others.

  “Hey, Scott?”

  He glanced over his shoulder. “Yeah?”

  “What does a cell phone have to do with the explosion?”

  “I’m not sure, but I can look it up on the Internet for you if you want.”

  “That would be awesome.”

  Scott turned back toward Lacey and put his arm around her again. They were immediately immersed in a deep conversation.

  Sarah let them walk a few yards ahead, before she whispered to Jackie. “We have to get back up to the school and look for that guy.”

  “Sarah, he’s long gone by now.”

  “I know, but he must have been running somewhere.”

  Jackie frowned. “True.”

  Sarah grabbed her arm. “He’s got a hideout in the woods. That’s the only explanation.”

  “No doubt.”

  “We’ve got to find it.”

  “We can’t now. The place is crawling with cops and firemen.”

  Sarah gave her friend a lopsided grin. “We’ll just have to sneak out tonight.”

  It was Jackie’s turn to stare at Sarah as if she were on the train to Crazy Town. “You want to sneak up to the school at night?”

  “Yep.”

  “The cops will still be there.”

  “I know, but it’ll be at night. We’ll be able to get by them, easy.”

  Jackie giggled. “Okay, let’s do it.”

  “Just you and me,” Sarah whispered.

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  Sarah and Jackie caught up to Scott and Lacey. They traveled behind them and exchanged knowing glances all the way home.

  On reaching their house, tears welled in Sarah’s eyes. She still had a hard time calling it home—she missed her parents and wanted them back in her life. Every time she spied her aunt and uncle’s place, it reminded her that her parents had disappeared while on their vacation.

  She stared at the home and inhaled sharply. Sarah had always described the tri-level house as friendly with its yellow siding and large, open porch. It had a charming swing that hung from hooks above the stoop. Now, with the windows broken, it looked abandoned. It appeared weakened, almost fragile and sadness seeped into Sarah’s veins.

  Aunt June appeared on the porch and scanned the street as if she were searching for the girls. She had changed into jeans and a T-shirt. Sarah winced at her aunt’s resemblance to her mother—the same honey-colored hair and green eyes. They both had the same frown line between their eyebrows when they were worried. A sob rose in Sarah’s throat, but she clamped her lips together and refused to let it escape. Now wasn’t the time to cry.

  Relief filled her aunt’s eyes when she caught sight of them walking down the street. “There you are! I’ve been so worried.”

  As the Super Spies reached the front yard, Aunt June hurried down the stairs, and ran up to her nieces and pulled them close.

  “We went to look for Uncle Walt,” Lacey said, in a muffled voice.

  �
�I figured that out from your note. Do you know how dangerous that was?” Aunt June pulled away from the girls and looked them up and down. “You’re not hurt, are you?”

  “No we’re not hurt. We couldn’t just sit and wait, Aunt June,” Sarah explained.

  “Really! Well, you girls took a huge risk.”

  “Remember, that’s what teenagers do. You’re a psychologist. You know that.” Sarah slipped into her defiant mode; she seemed to do that much more quickly these days.

  “I see. Thanks for telling me my business.” The relief that had flooded Aunt June’s eyes a moment ago disappeared, replaced with sparks of anger.

  “What do you mean?” Sarah asked.

  “You girls are grounded.” Aunt June’s lips pressed together in an angry line and her body went rigid. She clenched her hands at her sides and walked a few steps away from the girls.

  Sarah guessed the clenched hands were her aunt’s way of controlling the urge to strangle her. “Grounded? Why?”

  “Because I told you to stay put.”

  “We couldn’t just sit and wait, Aunt June.”

  “How unfortunate for you.” Aunt June turned around and faced the girls. “Because now you’re grounded.”

  “Aunt June!”

  “I don’t want to hear another word, Sarah.” Aunt June spit these words through clenched teeth.

  “For how long?”

  “Forever.” She looked at Sarah with blazing eyes.

  “Aunt June, Sarah made me go,” Lacey piped up.

  “I did not! I said you could stay home. I see what you’re doing.” Sarah glared at Lacey.

  “Lacey, that’s enough. You’re both grounded. I just can’t handle another family tragedy right now.” Tears sprang into Aunt June’s eyes, and her anger burned out as quick as it had ignited. Her shoulders slumped. “Did you find out anything?” She whispered the last question as if she were afraid of the answer.

  Sarah shook her head unable to speak. Her aunt reached for Sarah and Lacey, and pulled them into an awkward embrace.

  Scott cleared his throat. “I should head home.” He made a weak gesture toward the street. Sarah could tell he was uncomfortable with her aunt’s display of emotion.

  “Yeah, me too,” Jackie said.

  “Scott, if you hear anything please call us.” Aunt June blinked back tears and gave him a tremulous smile.

  “I sure will.”

  Jackie and Scott trudged wearily through the front yard. Looking over her shoulder, Jackie caught Sarah’s eye and gave her a sympathetic smile.

  “You girls come in here and help me finish cleaning up this glass. I’ve got some men coming over to put boards over the windows for the next few days.”

  “Don’t you think we should go look for Uncle Walt?” Sarah asked.

  “No. I don’t think we’d do much good up there. We’d probably just get in the way.” Aunt June stumbled on the stairs that led up to the porch. She caught herself on the top stair and sank down until she was sitting. Her shoulders shook with the emotion she had kept in check all day. Sarah and Lacey exchanged a look and then stared at her dumbfounded. Sarah walked up and put her arm around her. Lacey did the same and sat on the other side of her aunt.

  “All right, we’ll stay home,” Sarah said.

  Aunt June got control of her emotions and patted Sarah’s hand. “You’re such a strong girl, Sarah. Just like your mother.”

  Basking in the glow of the compliment, Sarah squeezed her aunt. The family sat on the porch in silence drawing strength from each other.

  Sarah stood. “Let’s go inside.”

  Aunt June took a deep breath, pulled herself up, and walked into the house. Sarah and Lacey trudged behind her.

  Once inside, Sarah glanced in the closet. Spying Uncle Walt’s muddy running shoes, she sagged against the doorframe and stifled the sob that rose in her throat. She took a couple of shuddering breaths, before following her aunt and sister into the kitchen.

  After helping her aunt clean up the glass, Sarah took a shower. It felt good to wash the dust and soot from her hair. Walking out on the porch, she decided to sit on the swing and contemplate what to do next. The waiting was getting to her. She had tried her uncle’s cell phone a dozen times, and each time the phone had gone straight to voicemail.

  The workmen arrived to board up the windows. While they worked, Lacey wandered out on the porch and sat next to Sarah. She had showered too, and Sarah caught a whiff of her sister’s flowery shampoo. The familiar scent reminded her of her mother and eased some of Sarah’s anxiety.

  “Hey,” Lacey muttered.

  Sarah studied her sister. Her eyes didn’t have their usual sparkle and her face was pale. With growing alarm, she continued her scrutiny. “Do you want a Tootsie Roll?” Sarah had concealed them behind her back, not wanting to share, but Lacey’s behavior scared her.

  Lacey brightened. “Yeah, I’ll have one.”

  Sarah handed her one of the treasured candies, glad she had gotten a reaction from her sister. “Nothing like chocolate to ease stress.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Have you heard from Scott?”

  “No, I tried his cell a little while ago, but no answer.”

  “I hope Uncle Walt’s all right.”

  “Me too.”

  The girls sat together on the swing. They listened to the men at work. The sound of pounding hammers comforted Sarah—a normal sound on a very abnormal day. She relaxed, glad the workers didn’t ask any questions.

  “I just can’t figure out why someone would blow up the school.” Lacey broke the silence and shifted on the swing.

  “I can’t either.”

  “Do you think it has anything to do with Mom and Dad?”

  “Why would you ask that?” Sarah’s body tensed and she watched Lacey.

  “Well, Mom and Dad disappear while they’re on vacation, then a couple months later Uncle Walt’s school is blown to bits.”

  Sarah furrowed her brow. “Yeah, I thought about that, too, but I don’t see the connection. What would one have to do with the other?”

  “I don’t know,” Lacey said, her voice trembling with emotion. “We just seem to have family members disappearing on a regular basis…I just thought they might be connected.”

  “I’m not saying they’re not…I just don’t see a connection. We still don’t know what happened to Mom and Dad.”

  “Yeah.” Lacey bit her lip and twirled a strand of her wet hair around her finger.

  “I wish Aunt June hadn’t fired that private detective.” Sarah gritted her teeth.

  “I know, but she was running out of money.”

  “I’m going to be a detective.”

  “I know.” Lacey shifted in the swing, causing it to change its course.

  “When I get my driver’s license I’m out of here. I’m going to find Mom and Dad.”

  “Sarah…they might be dead.” Lacey’s lips trembled.

  “They’re not dead, Lacey,” Sarah retorted. She refused to consider that possibility.

  Lacey shrugged. “Well, that private eye didn’t find them. Maybe they can’t be found.”

  Sarah swung around and glared at her sister. “I can’t believe you’re saying that about Mom and Dad! You just shut up! Do you hear me?”

  “I was just sayin’.”

  “Well, shut up.”

  The sisters sat in silence for a few minutes.

  “What do you think happened to them?” Lacey whispered.

  Sarah shook her head. “I don’t know.”

  “Do you have any ideas?”

  “None, but I’m going to find out.”

  “How?”

  “If I tell you, you can’t tell a single soul.”

  “I won’t, scouts honor.” Lacey gave Sarah the scout salute.

  “Spit in your hand and we’ll shake on it.”

  “Sarah, that is so-o gross.”

  “Do it. If you want to hear my story.”

  “Fine, bu
t then I’m going inside to disinfect,” Lacey said with a sour expression. She held out her hand as Sarah spit in hers then grabbed Lacey’s in a firm shake. The spit made a squishing sound as Sarah squeezed Lacey’s fingers.

  Lacey pulled her hand away and wiped it on her shorts. “You are so-o gross.”

  “I stole the file from Aunt June.”

  “What file?”

  Sarah rolled her eyes. “The investigation file, the one the detective gave her.”

  “Awww, Sarah. You stole that file?” Lacey’s eyes bugged out and her mouth opened into a huge O. She looked like one of those kissing fish Sarah had seen last year at the aquarium when her class had gone on their field trip.

  “Yup.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m going to pick up the investigation where he left off.”

  “You are? When?” Lacey shifted in the swing again.

  “As soon as possible.”

  “What if Aunt June finds out it’s gone?”

  Sarah shrugged. “So what? I can always put it back.”

  “Yeah.” Lacey fiddled with the hem of her T-shirt.

  “Anyway, I’m going to find them as soon as I can.”

  “I want to help.”

  Sarah groaned. “We’ll see.”

  “What do you mean, we’ll see?”

  “Well, it might get dangerous.”

  “Oh, give me a break.” Lacey rolled her eyes.

  “It might,” Sarah insisted.

  “So? Aren’t you going to be scared investigating by yourself?”

  “No way.” Sarah masked the fear that fluttered in her stomach.

  “You’re going to need help. What if something happens?”

  “You’ll get scared.”

  “I will not,” Lacey denied hotly.

  “Do you remember last Halloween? When you got scared at that haunted house?”

  “So what? You know, Sarah, you can’t hold that against me forever.” Lacey stood and put her hands on her hips and glared at her sister. “You’ve overused that excuse.”

  “Okay, okay.” Sarah held her hands up in surrender. “Don’t have a cow.”

  “So, I can help?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “Sarah.”

  “I just don’t want anything to happen to you,” Sarah blurted out, angry that Lacey had wheedled out of her the real reason she refused her help.