The Super Spies and the High School Bomber

by Lisa Orchard

  “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.”

  It seemed like hours, but one of the bombers finally climbed out of the truck. He pulled his hood tight around his face and jogged toward the entrance of the hospital.

  Scoop whispered, “Let him get inside and then we’ll start following him.”

  Sarah groaned. “There’s only one of them.” She flicked raindrops off her coat. “How are we going to know which floor he’s on?”

  Scoop flashed a grin. “Leave that to me.”

  Sarah made a face at him. “All right.”

  “I saw that.”

  Sarah smirked as she caught Scoop’s eye in the rearview mirror. “I guess I’m busted.”

  “You are so-o busted.” Jackie chortled.

  Sarah snickered. She loved Jackie—she was like the Yin to Sarah’s Yang. We go together like peanut butter and jelly.

  A few more minutes went by. Sarah grimaced, chewing on her thumbnail and tapping her toe on the floor of the vehicle. “This is taking way too long,” she c
omplained and pulled on the strings of her hood.

  “Just one more minute.” Scoop stared out the window, watching the activity in the parking lot.

  Sarah peered out the window, too. “I don’t see any FBI guys around here.” She continued to chew on her thumbnail as dread filled her heart. “Where are they?”

  “They’re here. They’re probably undercover,” Scoop said.

  “So that means they won’t be wearing those jackets with the letters FBI on them?” Jackie snickered.

  Sarah giggled. Jackie Jenkins, no truer friend could be found. Sarah relaxed a little. Jackie always seems to know the right thing to say. Her heart swelled with gratitude.

  “Okay girls, let’s hit the road.” Scoop opened the car door and was pelted with rain.

  Sarah and Jackie scrambled from the car. It was raining even harder now and the parking lot had turned into a small lake. The water seeped into Sarah’s tennis shoes, soaking her socks and chilling her feet. She picked up her pace and ran for the Emergency Room entrance. Jackie matched her stride for stride. It surprised Sarah that Scoop kept up with them.

  When Sarah reached the entrance, she dashed inside and pulled off her hood. Shaking the rain from her coat, she took a deep breath and peered into the waiting area. “I don’t see him.”

  Jackie pushed back her hood and ran her hand through her curls. “I don’t either.”

  “We’ll find him,” Scoop said.

  The girls followed Scoop down the hall. Sarah’s heart beat wildly. She glanced at the people around her as she searched for the bomber. What is he doing at the hospital? If he’s here to set off another bomb, where is he going to do it? Think! Think!

  Visions of the demolished high school invaded Sarah’s mind. She recalled the gaping hole of the building. How the first floor was obliterated, but parts of the second floor had still been intact, even though it had collapsed and was now located where the first floor had been. The first floor or the basement must have been where the bomb had been.

  Sarah grabbed Scoop’s arm and pulled him to a stop. She cast a furtive glance around the hall and then whispered, “I think he would put the bomb in the basement.”

  Scoop grimaced. “You’re right. We need to notify hospital security.”

  “What about the FBI?”

  Irritation flashed across Scoop’s face. “Hospital security will be able to find the FBI faster than we can.”

  “Right.” Sarah frowned.

  “Come on, girlfriend.” Jackie grabbed Sarah’s arm and pulled her toward the nurses’ station.

  Scoop was two steps ahead of them. He reached the station and leaned toward the nurse who typed on the computer keyboard.

  “Miss, I need you to call security,” Scoop said in a voice full of anguish.

  She looked up at him. “Is there a problem?”

  “There could be, please…I need you to call security, right now.”

  The nurse must have heard the desperation in Scoop’s voice because she frowned and picked up the phone. She spoke quietly into the receiver and then hung up. “They’ll be right up.” She stared at Scoop and asked, “Is there anything I can do before they arrive?”

  Scoop shook his head. He turned away from the nurse and rubbed his face. “They’re coming.”

  Sarah nodded and swung away, searching the faces of the people milling through the halls. She wanted to scream at them—the bomber is here! Run for your lives! Clenching her teeth so the words wouldn’t burst from her lips, Sarah continued her search. Her body tingled. We’re so close. I can feel it.

  Jackie followed Sarah’s lead and inspected the people walking by. “I don’t see him.”

  “I don’t either. I wish security would hurry.”

  Sarah glanced at her friend and saw her wide frightened eyes and her tight lips. She pulled on one of her curls.

  A thought flitted through Sarah’s brain, one that made her anxiety turn up another couple of notches. She pulled on Jackie’s arm. “Hey, do you think he would set the bomb in just one room?”

  Jackie’s eyes widened. “I don’t know.”

  Sarah turned toward Scoop. “Would the bomber just bomb one room?”

  He looked at her with eyes filled with dread. “I don’t know. When security gets here, we’ll have to ask them.”

  Sarah moaned. “They’re taking too long.”

  Scoop pressed his lips into a grim line. “I know. Do you girls want to go up and check on your uncle while I talk to security?”

  Before Sarah could answer, two men walked up, wearing blue security uniforms.

  Sarah studied the first man—he was tall and so thin she was sure a strong gust of wind would blow him into a tree. She bit her lip as the image of this man stuck high in a tree, being pummeled by a gale, flashed in her mind. A human windsock. His pasty skin gave him the appearance of being in ill health and he seemed skittish as he fidgeted with his belt.

  He’s acting strange. Sarah frowned and the hair on the back of her neck prickled.

  The second guard loomed into view and Sarah gasped as her heart jumped in her chest. He was a big man, but not fat. Built like a body builder. The fluorescent lights reflected off his bald head. Fear raced through her body like a raging river. She stared at the guard and a whimper escaped her lips. Startled, Scoop swung away from the guards and stared at Sarah. She shook her head, warning him.

  Confusion flashed across Scoop’s face. “What’s wrong?”

  Sarah shook her head again. “Don’t say anything.” She spoke through tight lips, hoping the guards wouldn’t hear.

  The second security guard cleared his throat. “Are you the one who needed security?” His voice was low and raspy and had a trace of irritation in it. He glanced at Scoop and then looked at the girls. His eyes narrowed. “Don’t I know you girls?”

  Sarah turned away so fast she ran into Jackie. “No you don’t know us.”

  Scoop reacted quickly and stepped between the guards and the girls. “Yes, we’re the ones who called security. We were wondering if there are FBI agents here?”

  Sarah peeked around Scoop and caught a glimpse of the angry scowl on the guard’s face. Her body flooded with dread.

  “Why would the FBI be here?”

  “That’s what we were wondering. We thought you might be able to answer that,” Scoop said.

  “What makes you think the FBI would be here?” He stared at Scoop with suspicion.

  “I thought I saw someone wearing an FBI jacket in the parking lot.”

  “Nope, no FBI here.” The guard peered at the girls as they cowered behind Scoop.

  Sarah met his gaze. His eyes widened with another flash of recognition. She averted her gaze and stepped closer to Jackie.

  The bomber reached behind Scoop and squeezed Sarah’s arm, yanking her out from behind the retired reporter. She yelped in surprise and looked up, meeting the guard face to face.

  “I’ve seen you before,” the bomber said through clenched teeth. “Yeah… you were the girls that were by my truck.” He tightened his grip on Sarah’s arm. “What were you doing to my truck?”

  Sarah whimpered and her eyes darted frantically to Scoop.

  “Hey now,” Scoop said, grabbing the security guard’s arm. “Take your hands off of that young lady.”

  The guard shoved Scoop aside without taking his eyes off Sarah. “What were you doing to my pickup?” He squeezed her arm tighter.

  Sarah winced at the pain and looked into the bomber’s faded blue eyes. She gulped when she saw the anger burning in them. “It wasn’t us,” she stammered while she tried to pull her arm out of his vise-like grip. Her body trembled and panic wormed its way from her stomach up her throat. She wiggled, trying to break free.

  “Randy, what’s going on?” The skinny guard asked.

  “These two girls were hanging around my truck a couple of days ago.”

  He glared at Sarah and pushed his face right next to hers. She took in his acne-scarred cheeks and the bump in
his large nose. A squeak of surprise erupted from her mouth as she stared at his face. He looks a lot younger than Uncle Walt. The scent of cigarettes on the bomber’s breath forced Sarah to turn away sickened by the smell.

  “Answer the question. What were you doing to my truck?”

  “It wasn’t us,” Jackie piped up.

  The guard turned his attention to Jackie. Sarah took advantage of the opportunity and bit his hand. He cried out and jerked his hand away. Sarah raced for the stairwell. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Jackie following her. She also spied Scoop stepping in front of the security guard, knocking him off balance as he tried to pursue them.

  Sarah reached the stairwell and rushed up the stairs. A few seconds later, she heard Jackie’s feet hammering the steps. When she reached the second floor landing, Sarah stopped and waited for her friend.

  When Jackie appeared, Sarah cried out, “I can’t believe the bomber works for the hospital!” Her stomach tightened into a knot of anxiety.

  “I can’t either, girlfriend.” Jackie’s chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath.

  Sarah pulled on her arm. “Let’s go.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “To see my Uncle Walt.”

  The sound of the first floor door hitting the wall sent waves of fear through Sarah’s body. It slammed with such force that she felt the vibration in the hand rail. Heavy feet pounded the stairs—the sound got her moving. She raced through the second floor entryway and sprinted past the nurses’ station. Jackie was right on her heels.

  Rounding the corner, she skidded to a halt. There standing in the middle of the hall with her back to Sarah was the nurse who had given her such a hard time just a few days ago.

  Sarah whirled around and collided with Jackie. She motioned toward the bathroom. Jackie gave her a puzzled look before glancing over Sarah’s shoulder. A flash of understanding danced across her face.

  Sarah pulled Jackie with her as she raced to the restroom. She dashed inside and gasped for breath. Sarah pushed up her sleeve and looked at her arm. A shudder ran through her body when she saw the beginning of an angry purple bruise. She clenched her hands to stop them from shaking.

  She leaned against the door. “I still can’t believe it. One of the bombers is a security guard here.”