by Lisa Orchard
Jackie flailed her arms. “What are we going to do?”
“Don’t freak out.”
Jackie took deep breaths and fanned her face as if she were hot. “Okay, I’m not freaking out. I’m not freaking out. I’m not freaking out.”
“How did he get both of us in the truck?” Sarah asked.
“He must have had help. Probably his brother.”
“Yeah, but his brother isn’t up front.”
Jackie shook her head. “I don’t know, girlfriend.”
Sarah peered out of the cab window. The landscape rushed by and it dawned on her that they were headed out of town. A wave of panic coursed through her veins as she realized no one knew where they were. “We have to leave a clue.”
Jackie nodded emphatically. “That’s right. Leave a clue. Leave a clue. Leave a clue.” She took several more deep breaths.
Sarah furrowed her brow and looked around her. She noticed the bright red paint. “Jackie do you still have your nail file?”
Jackie nodded and gave her friend a bug-eyed stare. “You want to file your nails now?”
Sarah almost laughed. Her lips quivered, but then the gravity of the situation overtook her. “No! I want you to carve our names in the bed of the truck with your nail file.”
“Oh,” Jackie’s lips twitched. “I can do that. Why are we going to do that?”
“To let the police know we’ve been in the truck. If they find the truck…but we’re not here.” Sarah avoided looking at Jackie as she made her statement.
Jackie paused as Sarah’s words sunk in. “What are you going to do?”
“I’ve got my cell phone and I’m calling everyone I can think of.” Sarah pulled out her phone and started punching in numbers. She called Scott first.
“Hello?” Scott said.
His voice was the most beautiful sound Sarah had ever heard and in that second she believed everything was going to be all right.
“Scott. It’s Sarah. We’ve been kidnapped by the bombers.”
“Hello?”
Sarah cringed. “Scott?”
“Hello.” His voice was more insistent this time and he sounded irritated.
“Scott?”
The click of the phone as Scott disconnected the call sent a tidal wave of dread through Sarah. Sweat broke out under her arms and her throat seemed to close. She clenched her hands and let out a moan. “Oh, no.”
“What is it?” Jackie looked up.
“Scott couldn’t hear me.”
“Keep trying.”
Sarah punched in his number again. This time her phone informed her that the number was out of the service area. Groaning, she dropped the phone. Her fingers curled into fists and she pounded her thighs. What am I going to do now?
Sarah stopped pummeling her thighs. “I’ll call 9-1-1!” With shaking hands, she punched the three numbers. She fumbled and dropped the phone. Taking a deep breath, Sarah picked it up and punched in the numbers.
“9-1-1. What is your emergency?”
Sarah sobbed as she told the operator what was happening.
The operator immediately took action and informed Sarah she was sending troopers her way.
“You need to keep me on the line,” she informed her.
“Okay.” Sarah gripped the phone and breathed deep. Her heart pounded her chest with a ferocious beat. She could hear the operator typing on her keyboard. The clicking sound comforted Sarah.
“I’m almost done,” Jackie said.
Sarah looked up. “What?”
“I’m almost done. You know, with our names?”
“Oh, yeah, right.”
Sarah slumped down. Without warning, the truck lurched and Jackie and Sarah were heaved to the side.
Holding on to her friend, Sarah said, “That was one crazy turn.”
“True.”
“Where is he taking us?” Sarah stared out the window and saw trees flashing past. “We’re in the woods somewhere.” She continued to clutch the phone, but was no longer listening to the operator.
The truck lurched again and bumped around a corner. Sarah bounced to the other side of the truck and lost her grip on her phone. It sailed through the air and rebounded off the bed of the truck, then it hit the roof and disappeared from view.
“Oh no!” she cried.
The pickup jerked to a stop and the driver slammed it into park.
The Super Spies scurried toward the cab of the vehicle. They huddled together and watched as the bomber got out and walked away.
“He’s leaving us here?” Jackie whispered.
“I don’t know.” Sarah looked around her. “We’re in the woods somewhere.” Remembering her phone, she searched for it. “Look for my phone.”
The two girls looked for the missing cell phone. Finally, Jackie found it wedged in a space around the wheel well.
“Found it!”
“Great. Let me see it.”
Jackie handed the phone to her friend. Sarah quickly punched in 9-1-1.
She groaned. “Out of service area.” Tears welled in her eyes.
“Now what are we going to do?” Jackie demanded.
“Shhh. Let me think.” Sarah tapped the phone against her chin. “Is the cap door locked?”
“I don’t know.”
They rushed toward the back of the truck. Sarah tried to open the door. “Crap, it’s locked.” She furrowed her brow and scanned the bed of the vehicle. “Hey, where’s your nail file?”
“Why?”
“Maybe we can pick the lock.”
Without another word, the two girls scrambled, searching the bed of the vehicle. Sarah found the file toward the front of the truck.
Grabbing it, she scurried to the back door. She handed Jackie the cell phone. “Keep trying 9-1-1. I’m going to work on this lock.”
The girls focused on their tasks. Jackie pushed buttons and Sarah tried to pop the lock on the truck. They worked like that for several minutes. Frustrated, Sarah pounded the back window of the cap.
She glanced up and screamed. Randy Ferguson was watching her, his glaring eyes inches from the window. He hammered on the window, sending the girls screaming back toward the cab. The ‘roid rage’ burned in the bomber’s eyes; Sarah cringed and turned away. Leaning on Jackie for support, she watched the monster as he unlocked the cap.
Opening the door, he sneered at the girls. “Get out of there.”
Sarah shuddered—his voice was low and angry. Jamming the nail file in her back pocket, she glanced at Jackie. Her friend shoved the cell phone in the back of her jeans and pulled her shirt over the bulge.
“We’re not coming out,” Sarah said in a flat voice. She clenched her hands to stop the shaking.
The bomber’s lip curled into a cold smile. “Get out here, right now!”
Sarah held her ground. “No.”
“If you don’t come out here now, I’m coming in to get you.” His voice was the growl of an angry bear.
Sarah glared at the criminal. Think! Think! Think! “No way.” She sat down and crossed her arms over her chest. “Before I do anything, I want to know why you bombed the high school and hurt my Uncle Walt.”
He seemed taken aback by this statement. “Your uncle’s a teacher?”
“Yes.” Sarah glared at the man, willing him to answer her questions. “I’m waiting.”
“Yeah, we’re waiting,” Jackie piped up, crossing her arms over her chest.
Keep him talking. Sarah rubbed her forehead. “So, why did you do it?”
“I didn’t do anything.” He dismissed her with a wave of his hand. “Now get out of the truck.”
“Yes you did,” Sarah pushed.
“I didn’t do anything. Now get out of the truck.”
Sirens filled the air. Sarah’s heart leapt at the sound. The police are coming! She smirked at the criminal. “Now you’re in big trouble.”
The bomber blanched at the sound of the sirens. He glared at the girls. Sarah could tell he was trying t
o decide what to do.
“Get out of the truck now!” he bellowed.
“No!” Sarah and Jackie said together.
The criminal’s face turned red and he clenched his lips so tight they almost disappeared in his face. He pulled open the door and started climbing inside.
Sarah’s heart jumped in her chest and the hair on the back of her neck prickled. She made eye contact with Jackie and saw the fear in her friend’s eyes. Think! Think! Think!
“Stay away from us!” Jackie screamed and pressed herself against the cab.
Randy Ferguson glared at the girls. He didn’t respond, but kept inching closer. His huge body was contorted as he tried to fit into the back of the truck. His knees were in his chest and he could only take small, shuffling steps forward. He looked like a giant trying to fit inside a small house.
Sarah racked her brain for a way out of this mess. Her stomach clenched and her whole body went rigid. “Jackie, divide and conquer.”
“What?” Jackie shot Sarah a crazed look.
Sarah motioned with her hand for Jackie to move closer to the bomber by inching along the side of the truck. Sarah crept along the opposite side.
“Rush him!” Sarah cried.
The two girls rushed forward and ran into Randy.
Sarah hoped to topple him. If he lost his balance, he wouldn’t be able to take them prisoner. Randy took each girl in each of his strong arms and pulled them close to his chest.
“Let go!” Sarah sputtered. She kicked and screamed as she bit his arm.
Bellowing with pain, the bomber pulled the girls tighter, and then rolled onto his back. He propelled everyone forward and pushed them out of the truck.
Sarah landed with a thud. Gasping for breath, she sat up and searched for Jackie.
Jackie had dropped a few feet away. She scrambled to a standing position and scanned the area with a wild-eyed stare.
“Run!” Sarah grabbed Jackie’s arm. They took off through the woods. Sucking in air, Sarah ran. The leaves on the ground were still wet from the rain the other day, making the ground slippery. Sarah’s heart pummeled her chest. She glanced over her shoulder and spotted the criminal. He was hot on their trail. A sob burst through her lips.
Jackie stumbled and fell. Sarah rushed to her side and pulled her up, but it was too late.
Randy grabbed the girls by their arms, and shook both of them roughly. “Don’t try that again.”
Sarah glared at the criminal, but kept her mouth shut.
The sirens grew louder. The police are closer! Sarah tried to wrench her arm out of Randy’s grip. He held tighter and searched for a hiding place.
“You’re going to have to let us go, if you want to get away,” Sarah yelled.
“Shut up!” He continued his frantic search.
“Let go!” Sarah struggled.
“Yeah! Let go!” Jackie screamed as she squirmed.
Randy peered through the trees, and held the girls tightly. The sound of breaking branches and the groaning of the shocks on the cruisers filled the air as they approached. The sirens were deafening now and she could see the lights flash through the trees. They’re here! We’re saved!
The bomber dropped the girls’ arms and reached behind him. He pulled a gun from behind his back. “You girls, shut up and come with me.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Sarah’s blood ran cold when she stared down the wrong end of the gun. Holding her trembling hands out in front of her, she said, “Okay, okay. Just don’t shoot us.”
Jackie moved a few steps and huddled next to her friend. Her eyes were as big as saucers and she clutched Sarah’s arm.
The bomber waved the gun in the direction of the woods. “I want you girls to walk this way, ahead of me.”
Sarah didn’t think her feet would move—they seemed heavy, as if she were cemented to the ground.
“Move!”
Sarah cringed at Randy’s threatening tone and stumbled forward. Jackie clung to her and they exchanged a fearful look. The sound of the agents crashing through the woods filled the air and Sarah clenched her teeth to keep from screaming out. She knew if she shouted she was dead. It was agonizing, hearing the agents so close, but not being able to signal them.
They trudged deeper into the woods. Sarah walked slowly, searching the area for an escape route or anything she could use as a weapon. She crossed her arms over her chest trying to stay warm. The day was growing cooler and her jacket was at school.
“This way.” Randy Ferguson pushed Sarah to the left.
The girls floundered onto a trail.
The bomber pushed both girls again. “Faster.”
Thoughts flew wildly through Sarah’s mind. How am I going to let the police know where we are? Where is he taking us? What is he going to do with us when we get there? A chill ran down her spine at this last thought and she shivered.
“Why’d you do it?” Sarah asked, hoping to distract him. She clenched her hands.
“Yeah, why’d you bomb the high school?” Jackie echoed.
“Keep moving!”
They walked a few more steps before Sarah tried again. “I just don’t understand. Why a bomb? Who were you mad at?”
“I wouldn’t expect you to understand,” Randy muttered. His voice dripped with anger. “Keep moving.”
A glimmer of hope shone in Sarah’s mind. He was responding to her questions. “Who made you mad?”
“I don’t want to talk about it. Keep moving.”
Sarah and Jackie exchanged a look, but kept quiet. Birds chattered in the trees and Sarah could no longer hear the voices of the police. Her eyes darted frantically looking for an escape route, and her stomach twisted into a painful knot. How are we going to get out of this mess?
To Sarah, it seemed like she had been walking for hours. Her throat was parched and her legs had turned to jelly. “Where are we going?”
“There’s a cabin at the end of this trail. Keep moving,” Randy replied tersely.
Sarah stifled a groan and stared at the ground. Think! Think! Think!
She whirled around and faced the bomber. “Why did you hurt my Uncle Walt?” She clenched her fists and stared defiantly into the criminal’s eyes.
The bomber stopped and raised the gun. “You’re not in any position to ask questions. Now keep moving.” His voice was low and even, but his eyes blazed with anger.
He shoved Sarah’s shoulder. She ground her teeth and resumed her journey.
Sarah exchanged another look with Jackie. Her friend had that wild-eyed look again. She kept pulling at her curls and biting her lip.
Just when Sarah was toying with the idea of making a run for it, a cabin came into view. The trail seemed to end at its door.
It was a ramshackle building no bigger than a large shed. No porch adorned the door, but there was a decaying awning hanging above it. Sarah stared—the windows were all intact. Warning bells went off in her head.
“Where are we?” she blurted out.
“You don’t need to know that.” Randy pulled ahead of the girls. Fishing in his pocket, he pulled out a set of keys and unlocked the door. “Get inside.”
The girls stumbled into the cabin. It smelled musty. Sarah’s heart pounded against her chest. She was hoping the police could hear it.
“What are we doing here?” she asked as she looked around the dwelling.
It was a single room with a fireplace. It had been used recently. Sarah could tell because there was a charred chunk of wood sitting inside of it. Perched in front of the fireplace were a couple of chairs. Against the far wall sat a cot underneath a curtainless window.
“We’re going to sit tight.” The bomber peered out the window.
“Are you looking for someone?”
Turning his head toward Sarah, he said, “Yeah. I’m expecting someone. Sit down and shut up.”
Tucking the gun into his belt, Randy peered out the window again.
Sarah sat against the far wall, and studied the bom
ber. She tried to think of an escape plan, but nothing came to mind. Reaching behind her, she touched the nail file inside her back pocket. But what do I do with it? I can’t use it as a knife—it just isn’t strong enough. “Why’d you do it, bomb the high school?” Sarah asked. Maybe if I get him talking…
“What do you care?” Randy sneered.
“I care a lot. You hurt my Uncle Walt!” Sarah felt her face flush and she averted her gaze, trying to keep her emotions under control.
The bomber stared at Sarah. Anger flickered in his eyes. “Who’s your uncle?”
“Walt Bennett.”
“Did you know all the teachers were in on it?” Randy fingered the gun.
Sarah’s heart skipped a beat. “In on what?”
Randy exhaled a long sigh and clenched his hands. “I played football for that school, you know?” He began pacing. “I loved playing the game, and I was good at it too.”
“What does that have to do with bombing the school?” Jackie blurted out.
Sarah shot her a warning look and put her finger to her lips.
Randy had turned his back on the girls and looked out the window again. “It has everything to do with the bombing.”
“Tell us about it,” Sarah said.
Randy faced the girls and started pacing again. “I loved football, until I started playing in high school.”
“What changed when you got to high school?” Sarah glared at him as she pictured Uncle Walt lying in a hospital bed.
Randy sighed and eyed Sarah. “Football was a big money maker for the school.”
“Yeah?” Sarah shot Jackie a look.
“It was all about winning. Bill Stevens could get away with anything because he had a winning team.”
Sarah furrowed her brow. “What did he get away with?”
“He was abusive to his players. We were like cattle to him.” Randy glared at the girls. “He got us hooked on steroids.”
“Why didn’t you tell some teachers or go to the principal?”
“Yeah,” Jackie blurted out. “I mean a bomb? Don’t you think that’s a little extreme?”
“You don’t get it. The teachers were in on it!” Randy’s face turned a dangerous shade of red. He clenched his fists and his pacing grew agitated.