The Super Spies and the Pied Piper (14 page)
Read The Super Spies and the Pied Piper Online
Authors: Lisa Orchard
Everyone sprang into action and huddled around her trying to get a look at the picture. Agent Gray grabbed it out of her hand. “Let me see that.” He studied the photo and pursed his lips. “There's definitely a man there.” He focused his gaze on Sarah. “Are you sure it's your dad?”
Sarah took a deep breath and exhaled a heavy sigh. “I'm not a hundred percent sure, but he always wears that red cap. And the guy is the right height, but I can't make out any facial features to be sure.” She pulled on the hem of her shirt and fidgeted in the booth.
“All right.” Agent Gray stroked his chin and then shifted his weight. “We need to come up with a plan to get inside that house.” He pulled out a chair and sat down.
“Can't you get a search warrant?” Sarah furrowed her brow and stared at the agent.
“Isn't that all you need?” Lacey asked.
“A blurry photo isn't enough for a judge to issue a warrant.” Agent Gray sighed.
“Are you sure?” Sarah protested. “I mean⦠it really looks like my dad.” Angry tears filled her eyes and she clenched her hands as they rolled down her cheeks.
As the rest of the group sat down, a waitress appeared and handed out menus. She quickly took the drink orders then left to fill them. Sarah followed the waitress with her eyes as she disappeared behind the swinging doors that led to the kitchen.
Taking a deep breath, Aunt June attempted to tame her hair. She usually wore it secured at the nape of her neck with a large barrette, but some of it had escaped. She pulled at some loose tendrils and tried to tuck them back into the barrette. When her hair was secured, she reached for the photo. “Let me see that.”
Sarah sighed and handed it to her aunt. “What do you think?”
“It certainly looks like your father.”
The waitress returned and proceeded to take everyone's order. Sarah watched her as she worked, taking in her wiry, dark hair and her large brown eyes. She needed to concentrate on something besides her predicament for a moment.
The server must have felt Sarah's scrutiny because she cast an uneasy glance in her direction and then angled her body away from her. Shifting in her seat, Sarah gazed at the floor, embarrassed that the waitress had caught her staring. When she finished taking everyone's order, the waitress scurried away to fill it.
Aunt June faced the agents. “There is definitely something going on in that house. Is there anything we can do?”
Shock ran through Sarah's body like a bolt of lightning. It seemed to gather speed the farther it traveled and she swore her scalp sizzled as the energy left her body.
She's
on our side!
Aunt June must have read the shock in Sarah's eyes because she gave her a long look and said, “You're still in trouble.”
Sarah squirmed in her seat and dropped her gaze.
“I could always go back and say I need to clarify some points for my interview,” Scoop said.
Agent Gray cleared his throat. “I don't know⦔ He stroked his chin and furrowed his brow. “It'd be best if we could catch him committing a crime.” He made eye contact with Agent Black and gave him an almost imperceptible shrug.
Aunt June's expression grew wary. “What do you have in mind?”
Agent Gray flinched and avoided eye contact with her. “Ahhh⦠the food's here. Let's eat.”
The waitress appeared carrying a tray laden with plates of juicy burgers and fries. Sarah's mouth watered when her plate was put before her. “Nothing like a Hinkle's cheeseburger.”
“I'm so glad. I'm starving,” Lacey said.
Everyone grew silent as they ate. Sarah finished in record time and realized she couldn't remember tasting her food. She was consumed with finding her parents.
I know we're close
; she clenched her hands and took a deep breath.
When the waitress took her plate away Sarah cleared her throat and eyed Agent Gray. “So⦠I have a plan. Do you want to hear it?”
Everyone gazed at the agent, waiting for him to answer. He shifted in his seat and cleared his throat. “All right. Let's hear it.”
Sarah perked up. “Okay, you said we need to catch the Stalker committing a crime, right?”
“Uh⦠huh,” Agent Gray responded in a cautious tone. He seemed to be choosing his words carefully.
“How are we going to do that?” Aunt June asked, wary and on edge. The worry line appeared on her forehead and Sarah knew her aunt's radar had been activated.
“Well⦠they seem to want me,” Sarah said, glancing at her aunt before looking down at the table. “And I was thinking⦠you guys could use me as bait.”
“Absolutely not.” Aunt June pounded the table with her fist. The empty plates protested by clattering against each other. Her eyes blazed as she stared at her niece.
Sarah jumped in her seat, startled by her aunt's anger. “Wait⦠I think it's a good idea.”
“Absolutely not.” Aunt June shook her head and pounded the table again. She leaned forward and continued to glare at Sarah.
“It will be perfectly safe,” Agent Gray reasoned. “We'll be right there.”
“Absolutely not.” Aunt June's eyes glittered. She pressed her lips together, forming an angry slash under her nose.
“Maybe I could wear a wire or a transmitter⦔ Sarah looked at Agent Gray for confirmation.
“Yes, you could. And we'd be right there to grab the guy as soon as he made a move for her.” The FBI man leaned forward in his chair and made eye contact with her aunt.
“Don't you want to find Mom and Dad?” Sarah made eye contact with her aunt and gave her a beseeching look.
Aunt June opened her mouth and then closed it. Her mouth pressed into a grim line and the worry frown grew more pronounced between her brows. “Of course, I want to find your parents.” She struggled, opening her mouth and closing it several times as if the words were stuck in her throat. Tears welled in her eyes. “I just don't want anything to happen to you, Sarah.”
“She'll be perfectly safe,” Agent Gray assured her. He seemed to realize Aunt June was about to relent and he pressed his advantage. “We'll just use her to flush this guy out.”
“You wouldn't allow her to be captured?” Aunt June bit her lip and gave the agent a long stare.
“No⦠we'll only use her as bait.” Agent Gray rubbed his face with his hand and sighed. “So⦠Sarah, let's hear your plan.”
“All I have to do is show myself in town and he'll come looking for me.”
“Really?” Agent Gray put his coffee cup back down without taking a sip and leaned forward, staring at Sarah with an intensity that would make any criminal uncomfortable.
“Yep.” Sarah shifted in her seat and averted her eyes, becoming uncomfortable locked in the agent's stare.
“How can you be so sure?” Agent Black tilted his head and gazed at her with his own probing stare.
“Because we showed two people in Alden Mom and Dad's picture, so one of those people had to contact him and let him know we were there. I think he's been on the lookout for us for a long time.”
“Maybe.” Agent Gray pursed his lips and continued looking at Sarah. “So what's your idea?”
“I think it's the guy at the bakery that told the Stalker about us.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because, Dottie has only been in town a week, I don't think she's had enough time to develop a close friendship with the Stalker.”
“Good point,” Lacey said, pulling her long hair away from her face.
Sarah smiled and sat up straight in her seat. “So⦠I say we go back to that bakery and see what happens.”
“I want you to wear a wire or you're not doing it,” Aunt June said, giving Sarah the evil eye.
“We've got a transmitter she can use in the car and she'll never be out of our sight,” Agent Gray reassured her. “As soon as he makes a move for her, we'll be on him.”
Tears welled in Aunt June's eyes. “If anything happens to my niece, I'm holding you accountable.”
Agent Gray nodded, and then glanced around the table. “It's time to hit the road. I'll buy lunch for everyone.”
They stood and made their way to the door. Sarah's heart thundered against her chest. It was so loud she was sure everyone heard it. She covered it with her hand and took a deep breath.
We might find Mom and D
ad today
! Her stomach fluttered at the thought and then clenched in desperation.
”Sarah,” Lacey said from behind her.
Sarah spun around. “What?”
“Are you nervous?” asked Lacey, falling in step beside her.
Sarah bit her lip. ”A little bit. But I want to find Mom and Dad.”
“What if they're not in that house?”
“They are. I can feel it.”
The girls grew silent as they strolled out of Hinkle's. Sarah gasped when the wind took her breath away. The air was thick with moisture; she could almost smell the rain. Ominous, dark clouds sailed through the sky, reminding her of dirty cotton balls.
Sarah raised her head and sniffed. “It's going to rain.”
“It sure is.”
“Okay everyone, let's take two cars,” Agent Gray said.
“I can drive.” Scoop raised his keys and shook them. “Who wants to ride with me?”
“I will,” Aunt June said, stepping toward him.
“I think we should ride with you guys.” Sarah pointed toward the FBI agents and shrugged.
“That's a good idea,” Agent Gray said with a curt nod. “We've got to get a transmitter hooked up to you.”
The Cole girls followed the FBI men to their vehicle and piled in. No one spoke as Agent Gray started the car and followed Scoop out of town and onto the highway.
Sarah sat in the back seat next to her sister and stared out the window watching the world rush by. Tingles of apprehension sent shivers through her body and she pulled her jacket tighter. She didn't want to admit to anyone just how nervous she felt.
What if something goes wrong
? Shaking her head, Sarah tried to dispel the fear that was taking control of her.
Lacey nudged her. “Are you all right?”
Sarah gave her a tremulous smile. “I think so.”
Her sister reached over and squeezed her arm. Gratitude filled her heart and she reached over and gave her a squeeze back. Sarah leaned forward and looked out the windshield. It started raining and fat raindrops splattered on the glass like bugs.
“Will the transmitter work in the rain?” Sarah asked.
Agent Gray met her eyes in the rear view mirror and gave her a reassuring smile. “Yes.”
Moving forward until she sat at the edge of her seat, she draped her arms over the back of the front seat and said, “So, what's the plan? What does the transmitter look like?”
Agent Gray glanced in the mirror again and shifted his head slightly so he could keep his eyes on the road. “We're going to pin the transmitter to your blouse.”
“Won't the Stalker be able to tell what it is?”
The FBI agent shook his head. “No, it looks like a piece of jewelry.”
“Oh⦠okay.”
Sarah started to slide back next to her sister but stopped when she heard the FBI agent's voice.
“We should think of a code word for you.”
“A code word?” Sarah asked, hanging her arms over the front seat again.
“Yes, in case⦠things don't go as planned.”
Sarah gulped. “What do you mean?” Her thumb worked its way into her mouth and she chewed on her thumbnail.
Agent Gray pursed his lips and seemed to choose his words carefully. “Let's say this manâ¦the Stalker takes you some place where we can't see you. So we can't see if he's acting in a threatening manner toward you.”
The hair on the back of Sarah's neck stood up and she swallowed the hard lump of fear that rose in her throat. “Oh, okay.” She gave the FBI man a fake smile and hoped he didn't see through it.
“What do you think the code word should be?” Agent Gray asked.
Sarah shrugged and then glanced at Lacey.
“How about Super Spies?” Lacey suggested, twirling her hair around her finger.
“Yeah, I like that.” Sarah nodded and faced the agents again. “The code word is Super Spies.”
“All right. When we get closer to Alden we'll pull over and go over the plan.”
“Sounds good.” Sarah settled back in her seat and sighed. Turning to Lacey she asked, “What time is it?”
Glancing at her watch, Lacey said, “It's twelve-thirty.”
Sarah grabbed her arm, startling her with the intensity of her grip. “You know what? Scoop never told us what company the Robinson's were suing.”
Lacey's eyes widened. “You're right. We have to find that out.”
“I'm going to try and call him.” Sarah pulled out her cell phone and punched in the retired reporter's number. She groaned when she got a busy signal. She faced her sister and said, “Don't let me forget to ask him.”
Lacey giggled. “You won't forget.” She laughed again and then gave Sarah a playful nudge. “Of course, if you're
in lo
-
o
-
ove
who knows what you'll remember.”
“Tsk. Shut up.” Sarah rolled her eyes.
“You deserve it. After all the grief you gave me.”
Sarah gave her a sly look. “What grief? I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Oh, give me a break.” Lacey rolled her eyes and then burst into laughter.
Sarah giggled a little bit and then cracked up laughing. She laughed until her belly hurt. It felt good after all the angst of the last few days.
Lacey dried her eyes and gazed at her sister. “Are you nervous?”
“Maybe a little,” Sarah admitted. She glanced out the window and rubbed her hand on her thigh as if she were smoothing a wrinkle out in the fabric.
“You don't have to do it if you don't want to.”
Sarah bit her lip. “I know, but I want to find our parents.”
“What if you don't find anything? What if there's no connection between the Stalker and Mom and Dad?” Lacey asked with sudden intensity. “Then you're putting yourself in danger for nothing.”
Sarah took a deep breath and then exhaled. “There's a connection. I know it.” She furrowed her brow and stared down at her hands. “What other reason would the Stalker have for following us?”
Lacey averted her gaze and worried the hem of her shirt with her fingers. “I guess.”
She didn't sound convinced but Sarah got the feeling she wasn't prepared to argue with her. Sarah leaned toward her and whispered, “Don't you want to find Mom and Dad?”
Lacey's eyes filled with tears. “Of course I do. That is a totally dumb question.” She swiped at her tears with an angry hand. “I'm just worried about you.”
Sarah patted her knee. “Don't be. I'll be all right.” She almost choked on her words.
Lacey gave her a tremulous smile and then stared out her window.
Sarah shifted her weight and looked out at the world rushing by. Her stomach fluttered with the anxiety she hid from her sister. She took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on the landscape as it flashed past. The same questions that haunted her earlier in the week invaded her mind.
Why haven't Mom and Dad called us
?
What is the connection between the Stalker and
my
parents
?
Could my dad know him from work
?
Just as Sarah shook her head to stop her thoughts, a loud bang filled the air and their car lurched out of control. She was thrust against Lacey as their vehicle careened into the lane of oncoming traffic. Screaming, Sarah grabbed the front seat and ducked down as Agent Gray fought to get control of the car. Lacey followed her lead and ducked down behind the seat as well.
Sarah took a deep breath and peeked over the front seat just as an angry horn blared. Agent Gray wrenched on the steering wheel and the car lurched into its correct lane, missing oncoming traffic by inches.
“What is going on?” Sarah demanded.
“We've got a flat. I've got to pull over and fix it,” Agent Gray called out as he looked in the rearview mirror. “Are you kids okay?”
“I think so,” Lacey responded in a shaky voice.
“Never better.” Sarah rolled her eyes and shook her head. “I thought you guys were better drivers than this.”
“Watch it⦔ Agent Black glared at her from the front seat.
Sarah gave him a sheepish smile. “Just kidding.”
The FBI agent slowed the vehicle and pulled over onto the shoulder. He pursed his lips and took a deep breath. “Okay. Let me step outside and take a look.”
He glanced out the windshield and grimaced. The rain chose at that moment to turn into a torrential downpour and pelted the car with all it had. It sounded like golf balls were being hurled at it. “Maybe, I'll wait a few minutes and see if it lets up.”
Sarah peered out at the rain. “You think?” She smirked and nudged her sister and then focused her attention to the men in the front seat. “We should we call Scoop and let those guys know what happened.”
Agent Black sighed and rubbed his eyes as if he were tired. “That's a good idea. Give him a call.”
Sarah fumbled for her phone and finally got it out of her jeans pocket. She punched in the retired reporter's number and waited for him to answer.
“Scoop?” Sarah paused and listened. “We just got a flat tire, so you might want to pull over and wait for us.” She paused and listened again. “We could do that. We'll meet you at that little diner where we had lunch yesterday.” She listened one more time and then said, “Okay. Bye.” Eyeing the FBI agents, she put her phone back in her pocket. “We'll meet them in about an hour.”
Agent Gray nodded then leaned forward and looked out the window. “It's starting to let up. Let's give it a few more minutes and then I'll change the tire.”
Sarah sighed and glanced out the back window. Her heart leapt to her throat and her tongue seemed to swell to double its normal size. She let out a guttural sound and pointed out the window with a trembling hand.
“What is wrong?” Lacey asked, giving her a perplexed look.
Sarah whimpered and pointed. The back window was filled with the steely-toothed grill of a black four wheel drive truck. She grabbed Lacey's arm and stared into her eyes. Her sister's eyes widened with recognition and her mouth twisted into a grimace.
Regaining her composure, Sarah pulled her down and whispered, “Duck!”