“C’mon,” he said. “We can shimmy down this gutter pipe.”
One minute Josh was there, and the next he was gone. I crawled over to the edge of the roof. He was already on the ground and was motioning for me to join him. Here we go again, I thought. But, at least, this time, gravity was in my favor. I inched my way off the roof, feetfirst, and tried to wrap my legs around the gutter. I was hoping to descend in a very slow, gradual fashion. But no dice. I soon found myself sliding down the pipe completely out of control. The bad news—I had managed to scrape up my hands on the way down. The good news—I had landed on the part of my anatomy with a built-in cushion—my butt.
“Are you okay?” Josh asked.
“I’m fine. Let’s go,” I said. I pointed east, in the direction of the main gate. “We’re headed that way.” In pinball fashion, Josh and I zigzagged our way across the compound. We hid behind every tree, bush, or whatever object we could find that would provide cover. When we reached the main gate, we hid behind a large hedge. We immediately noticed a camp sentry sitting in a small guardhouse off to the side. I seemed to remember that the gate was motorized and that it opened inward. All we had to do was wait for a vehicle to enter or leave the camp, and we would be able to sprint to freedom.
We sat on the wet grass and waited for about twenty minutes, although it seemed like an eternity. Then in the distance, we heard the sound of an engine approaching.
“Someone’s coming,” I said. “Get ready.” I peeked through the chain-link fence.
As the vehicle got closer, I couldn’t help but notice that there was something strangely familiar about it. From a distance it looked like a big black station wagon. But as it got closer, I realized it wasn’t a station wagon at all. It was a hearse. And not just any hearse. It was Eugene’s hearse. The cavalry had arrived. This long nightmare was finally over.
CHAPTER 23
The Gull Next Door Caper
I elbowed Josh in the side. “We’re saved,” I said.
“What do you mean?”
I pointed to the hearse. “I know that guy. He’s a friend of mine. He’s here to take us home.”
Josh smiled. “Really?”
My heart was racing, but in a good way. When the vehicle stopped at the gate, I could now see its contents even better. Not only had Eugene come to our rescue, but Gram was riding shotgun. This was awesome.
The camp sentry stepped out of the guardhouse and approached the driver’s-side door.
Eugene rolled down his window.
“Do you have an appointment?” he asked.
“Sure do,” Eugene said. “We’re with the mayor’s office. We’re part of an oversight committee checking up on the how city funds are being spent.”
“Let’s see your credentials,” the guard said.
Eugene handed him what looked like an ID card. A phony one, no doubt. I had a pretty good idea what Eugene was up to. He knew that he’d never be given permission to enter the grounds to search for me, so he concocted a plan about some city committee. It was brilliant.
“Well, I’m afraid you’re not on my list. I’m going to have to ask you to turn around and go back to where you came from.”
Oh no. What was happening? They couldn’t leave.
“Call your boss,” Eugene told the guard. “I’m sure he’ll vouch for us.”
The sentry pounded his finger on the clipboard. “If you’re not on the list, you’re not getting in. Period. End of discussion.”
I couldn’t let Eugene leave. He was our only hope. When he began backing up the hearse, I knew I had to take matters into my own hands. I ran out from behind the hedges and out into the open so he could see me.
“Eugene!” I yelled. “It’s me, Charlie. We need your help.”
“What are you doing there?” the sentry said. He started moving in my direction.
Eugene immediately stopped the car, jumped out, and ran up to the fence.
“Eugene, you were right about Colonel Culpepper…He’s a phony…He’s a fraud…He’s behind all the burglaries in the area. We have to stop him.”
“And we will,” Eugene said. “But first we have to get you out of there. Just be patient and leave everything up to me.”
Eugene was a rock. He was calm and confident. It didn’t even seem to bother him when a half-dozen military vehicles suddenly pulled up and blocked him in. And he grinned when four armed guards surrounded Josh and me. I had heard about people smiling in the face of danger, but did Eugene have any idea what was in store for all of us? If the colonel had no qualms about making two kids disappear, he certainly would have no problem with adding two more people to the mix. When a guard ran up from behind Eugene and handcuffed him, he winked at me. It was almost as if this was all part of his master plan. I wished I could be more like Eugene, but I was confused and scared and uncertain of what the immediate future held for all of us.
The guards piled us into the backs of jeeps and transported us to—where else—Colonel Culpepper’s office. I had a chance to give Gram a hug as we filed into the office and were instructed to sit, side by side, opposite the colonel’s desk. Sergeant Stanley stood guard at the door—in the event we had any notions of slipping out.
“Nice to meet you, Josh,” Gram said, extending her hand.
“Likewise,” Eugene said.
I couldn’t believe these two old-timers. They were relaxed and smiling. It was as if they were at a social function.
“Hi,” Josh replied nervously.
“Just shut up over there,” the sergeant instructed.
“We’d just like to have a little conversation,” Eugene said. “You can’t even grant a condemned man his last wish?”
“I’ll let you know when you can speak and when you can’t. And right now you can’t. Got it?”
Eugene turned his body so the sergeant could see the handcuffs still locking his arms together from behind.
“My hands are falling asleep,” Eugene said. “Would you be so kind as to remove these restraints?”
“No, I wouldn’t,” the sergeant snapped.
“Well, I guess we’ll just have to keep talking,” Eugene said. “Maybe that’ll wake them up.”
The sergeant snarled and shook his head. “Anything to shut you up.” He pulled out a key and removed the handcuffs from Eugene’s wrists. “Not another word—and I mean it.”
We sat in silence for the next twenty minutes. With each minute that passed, the more frightened I became. Whenever I managed to make eye contact with either Eugene or Gram, they would wink or smile. I just didn’t get it. They were so cool under pressure. Maybe it was because both of them, over the years, had gotten themselves into so many scrapes like this one that they just knew they would somehow survive. I, on the other hand, with only limited experiences under my belt, was less than optimistic about our chances.
Another fifteen minutes passed before Colonel Culpepper appeared in the doorway.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” the colonel said. “I had to make a few phone calls. It’s somewhat difficult to reach our elected officials on the weekend.” He glanced at the four of us. “So, what do we have here?” He stared at Josh and me. “Why, it’s the Houdini brothers. My associates have informed me how you escaped from the toolshed. Very ingenious. I commend you.” He turned to Eugene and Gram. “And this must be the Dynamic Duo.” He walked up holding the ID card that Eugene had given the sentry at the front gate. “I had a little talk with our friend the mayor. It seems there is no oversight committee checking into how city funds are spent…Mr. Johnson…or whoever you are.”
“The mayor’s a busy man,” Eugene said. “He must have forgotten about us.”
“He is forgetful,” Gram added.
The colonel leaned in. He was nose to nose with Eugene. “I’m not here to play games, Grandpa. I want to know why you’re here. And remember that your answer might just save some innocent lives.”
“I already told you,” Eugene said. “We’re part of a co
mmittee that was—”
The colonel raised his hand as if he intended to strike Eugene, but stopped and sighed.
“You insist on testing my patience,” he said. “Well, in that case, I have no other option but to charge you with high treason. And I think you know what the penalty is.”
Eugene cleared his throat. “Listen, mister—”
“You will refer to him as the colonel,” Sergeant Stanley snapped.
“My sources tell me that your colonel hasn’t served a single day in the US military,” Eugene said.
“So he hasn’t earned the title,” Gram added.
“Why, you old—”
“There, there, Sergeant,” the colonel said. “Don’t allow this insolent pair to bother you. We won’t have to deal with them much longer.”
I kept waiting for something to happen. But nothing ever did. And what good did it do to argue with the colonel? He was just becoming more and more upset. I trusted Eugene and Gram, but I didn’t know where this was going.
The colonel locked eyes with Eugene. “You do know what’s in store for you, I hope?”
“Oh, I’m well aware of what you have planned for us,” Eugene said. “But let me ask the same question—you do know what’s in store for you, I hope?”
“A man in your position?” the colonel said. “There’s nothing you can do to harm me.”
Eugene turned to Gram. “Constance, exactly how long have we been here?”
Gram glanced at the clock on the wall. “I’d say about fifty-eight minutes,” she said, “give or take a few seconds.”
Eugene leaned back in his chair and locked his fingers behind his head as if to relax. “It won’t be long now.”
“Listen, old man,” the colonel said. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but unless I get some answers, and fast, it’s going to get ugly in here.”
And right at that second, I could faintly make out the sound of a siren, then another, and another—and they kept getting closer.
Gram looked up at the clock. “They’re a minute early.”
“That’s okay,” Eugene said. “I don’t mind.” He stared at the colonel. “I’m afraid the ride’s over, soldier. Time to get off.”
Corporal Waters ran into the office. He was out of breath. “Colonel, the compound is under attack. There are cops everywhere. What are we gonna do?”
Colonel Culpepper glared at Eugene.
“SWAT teams to be exact,” Eugene said. “You see, I told them that if we weren’t out of here in one hour, then they should join the party.”
Sergeant Stanley was perspiring. He turned to Eugene and pointed to his boss. “It was all his idea.”
“We were just following orders,” the corporal said.
“Shut up, you fools,” the colonel shouted.
I could hear footsteps in the hallway. It sounded like a group of people running in our direction. I glanced at Colonel Culpepper. His expression had suddenly softened. He stared forward in a trance-like state. He was smiling. He seemed at peace.
“I did the right thing,” he said. He didn’t appear to be talking to any of us. “I saved those boys. I fed them. Clothed them. Put a roof over their heads. I was their shepherd. I rehabilitated them. If it hadn’t been for me, they would have fallen prey to the system. Don’t you see? I did them a great favor.”
A half-dozen members of the local SWAT team charged into the room. One of the officers scanned the area. He seemed to be assessing the situation. He nodded to Eugene.
“Commander Patterson, are you and your party safe?”
“Quite safe, thanks,” Eugene responded.
Another officer approached the colonel and pulled a paper from under his bulletproof vest. “We have a search warrant,” he said.
I pointed to the portrait of General Patton. “You can start by looking behind that picture,” I said.
A third officer began handcuffing Sergeant Stanley.
“I want to cut a deal,” the sergeant said. “You be sure to tell the prosecutor that.”
Eugene put his arms around Josh and me. “C’mon, boys, it’s time to go.”
As we exited the colonel’s office, I glanced back at him. He was seated at his desk with his head buried in his hands. I don’t know why, but I kind of felt a little sorry for him.
Gram patted me on the back as we walked down the hallway. “What did I tell you?” she said. “Didn’t I say you oughta take on this case? Glad to see you took my advice.”
“To be perfectly honest, Gram, it was kind of by accident.”
“Whatever,” she said. “You got the job done and I’m proud of you.”
When we walked out the front door, there had to be at least a dozen police vehicles in the open field, all with their lights flashing. A few sirens were still blaring. It was quite a scene. As we approached one of the squad cars, the back door flew open and two familiar faces greeted me.
“Well, we did it again, huh, Charlie?” It was Henry.
“Wait a minute. You would never have known he was in trouble if it wasn’t for me,” Scarlett said as she slid out of the backseat.
“So apparently you got my text,” I said.
Scarlett nodded.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Henry said. “When Scarlett called me and told me you had texted her, I thought she was out of her mind.” He shook my hand. “Charlie Collier…welcome to the twenty-first century.”
Josh put his hand on my shoulder. “So, that’s what happened.”
I smiled. “Remember when we were in your room last night and I was admiring your new phone? I was texting Scarlett that we were in trouble and needed help. Of course, I almost wasn’t able to send it. If you recall, you wrestled the phone away from me.”
“Sorry about that,” Josh said.
“And so Scarlett called me, and I called Eugene, and the rest is history,” Henry said. “By the way, Charlie, I found your backpack in the bushes back by the police station—so I knew you were here. And I loved that note. Very creative.”
“Thanks.” I glanced back at the building we had just come from. Police officers were escorting Colonel Culpepper, Sergeant Stanley, and Corporal Waters to an awaiting vehicle. I assumed that other officers, at that very moment, were searching the colonel’s office. Once they opened the safe and found the cash and furs and whatnot, this would be an open-and-shut case.
I felt a tap on my shoulder.
“So, another case closed, huh?” Scarlett said. “You’re something else, Charlie.”
I grinned. “Well…this was a real group effort.”
Gram walked over and hugged me. “And don’t you worry about your parents,” she whispered. “I’ll square everything with them.”
Oh no, I had forgotten about them.
Gram placed her hands on my shoulders. “They won’t be too happy to learn that you kind of stretched the truth about the camping trip with Sherman’s family,” she said. “But when they read about you in the paper again, I’m sure they’ll be okay with it.”
“I hope so,” I said.
“You sweet-talk your mom, and I’ll handle your dad,” she said. “In our line of work, we sometimes have to fib to the civilians. It’s for their own good, you know. We’re just trying to spare them a little grief, that’s all.”
“Consider it one of the hazards of doing business,” Eugene said.
A member of the SWAT team approached. “Commander, could we have a word with you?”
“Excuse me, won’t you,” Eugene said as he followed the officer. Gram joined them.
Henry slapped me on the back. “So, did you miss me, partner?”
“Henry, I’ve been gone less than twenty-four hours.”
“You missed me. I can tell,” he said confidently. Henry turned to Scarlett. “But you know what he really missed?”
Scarlett shrugged.
Henry grinned. “Peter’s mother has three children. One is named April, one is named May. What is the third one named?”<
br />
“A brainteaser?” Scarlett said. “Now?”
“Why not?” Henry said.
Why not, I thought. “So Peter’s mother has three children—one is April, one is May, and you want to know the name of the third one, huh?” I asked. He nodded. To tell you the truth, I would have thought that upon my return from a virtual death trap, Henry could have come up with something a bit more challenging. “If Peter’s mom has three children, and one is April and one is May, then the third one has to be…” I smiled. “Peter.”
“I was going to say that,” Scarlett said. “Charlie beat me to it.”
“Yeah, right,” Henry said. “Like you had any idea what the answer was.”
“I did too,” she said.
“No way,” Henry shot back.
“Did too.”
As they continued to argue, I grinned and sighed. It was so good to be back.
The days that followed were pretty exciting, let me tell you. Not only was I interviewed by the local newspaper, but radio and television came calling as well. Henry, Scarlett, and I were celebrities again for a couple of days there. And like before, Gram and Eugene chose to keep their contributions anonymous. The news was full of stories about how Colonel Culpepper had duped city leaders into thinking that he would solve their juvenile delinquency problems. The Oak Grove city community relations office immediately went into damage-control mode. But most residents weren’t buying it. Radio talk shows were filled with callers who were demanding a recall election for the mayor and council. But when the dust finally settled, most citizens just planned to make their voices heard at the upcoming general election.
Most of the colonel’s staff was taken into custody as well. Lesser charges were filed against them. As for the boys—the residents of Camp Phoenix—they were initially bused back to various police stations for processing. The more serious offenders were incarcerated. Others were sent to foster homes. But most were released to the custody of their parents, including Evan. I was glad to see that. All of the boys, however, were forced to attend a series of sessions with court-appointed counselors who really did want to try to rehabilitate them.
The Camp Phoenix Caper Page 21