by Cass Tell
She went to the browser in her phone and a warning popped up. It said, “Virus Alert! Tracking Trojan.”
She had loaded a free anti-virus program on her phone and somehow it identified an attack.
“Let’s get out of here,” she said.
They put their half-eaten sandwiches in a trashcan and picked up their bags, one sport bag and a plastic laundry bags containing clothing they had received at their Tallahassee hotel.
Amy had a flash of horror and realized that she needed to get rid of the sport bag, for it had a logo of Northern Bank on the side. They should not be associated with the bank.
Then they walked across the large open space in the building. As they got to the main exit door, Amy turned and saw the man in the baseball hat tucking his newspaper under his arm.
He looked at her and began walking in their direction.
Once Amy and Jack went through the exit door she cried out, “Run.”
Chapter 2
Panic filled her. Was that man really following them or was it her imagination? There was no time to think about it. For now, the goal was just to get away.
In front of the terminal building, there was a large park with palm trees, but no place to hide. Beyond the park and across a wide street were tall buildings. It would take too long to get to them.
There was no logical place to go.
Jack cried out, “There.” He pointed at a taxi. A man was getting out of it while reaching into his back pocket to take out his wallet.
They sprinted to the taxi, bumped into the man and dove into the back seat.
“Hey, what are you doing,” the man said.
“How much is it?” Amy asked the taxi driver.
“How much is what?” He questioned.
“How much is his fare, the man who just got out?”
“Twenty-five dollars,” the driver responded.
Her heart was pounding. “We’ll pay it, but please just go, quickly.”
The driver smiled. “That’s a new one. Are you sure you have the money?”
“We have it, but get going. We’re being chased.”
At that moment, the man with the baseball hat charged out the terminal door.
“See. He’s there,” Amy frantically said.
“Gotcha,” The driver said. He put his foot on the accelerator and the car shot forward.
The man with the baseball hat ran to the curb, removed his hat and wiped his head with his hand.
The previous taxi passenger put his wallet back in his pocket, raised his hands and headed toward the terminal.
Amy quickly took her phone from her bag, turned it on and with trembling hands, she snapped a photo of the man in the hat.
As the taxi turned the corner, the man with the baseball hat still stood by the curb watching the taxi disappear.
“What was that all about?” The driver asked.
“We just came arrived by bus and that man tried to rob us.”
“I understand. Down here, we are peace-loving people, but there are some riffraff. New Orleans gets lots of tourists and it has its share of thieves, mainly pickpockets. Now, where do you kids want to go? But first, pay me the twenty-five bucks.”
Amy reached into her sport bag, opened a small purse, counted out the money and handed it to the driver.
She thought of her cell phone and reflected on the message, Virus Alert! Tracking Trojan. Was someone tracking them? She took her cell phone from her bag, opened the back cover and removed the battery. Would that be enough to stop the phone from revealing its location?
“So, where do you want to go?” The driver asked again.
“Do you know anyone who is good with phones?”
“What does that mean?”
“I need an expert on phones and viruses and that sort of thing?”
He glanced back at her. “What’s the problem?”
She wondered if she could trust him but she needed help. “I’m not sure, but someone might be tracking us by using my phone.”
“I see.” He paused for a moment, glanced again at her and said, “I know someone. First let me call.”
The driver took his cell phone from a holder mounted on the dashboard, dialed a number and waited. A moment later he spoke, “I’ve got a couple of passengers, a couple of kids and they need help with their phone. Someone might be tracking them. Do you have time to see them?”
He waited a moment and said, “Thanks.” Then he put the phone back on the holder.
He turned left at the next corner.
“What did he say,” Amy asked.
“He said to come. He’s got a small shop over by the French Quarter.”
“What kind of shop?” Jack asked.
“Phones and stuff.”
“But, what does he do?” Jack asked.
“You’ll have to ask him when you see him. I’m not that technical.”
Amy looked at the buildings along the street and a shiver went through her. Their plan was to stay in New Orleans for a day or to, to relax and rest before heading to Texas. This was anything but relaxing.
The image of the man in the baseball hat stayed with her, his cold dark eyes looking at her as he had peered over the newspaper.
Did the man in the hat have anything to do with the tracking virus on her phone? Even more important, where did the virus come from and for what purpose? And, did it have anything to do with the troubling email she received from Buddy?
Chapter 3
The taxi stopped next to a red curb and the driver pointed to a small shop. “Over there,” he said.
A sign in the window read, “Cheap Phones and Phone Plans”
“Go in there,” he said.
“Who should we ask for?” Amy asked.
“Just say the taxi driver called and explain your problem. I’m illegally parked here, so need to go.”
Amy paid the driver the amount on the taximeter, plus a tip. They thanked him, got out of the taxi and went to the shop.
Once inside, Jack whispered, “Wow, look at this place.”
From floor to ceiling, there were phones, phone cases, cables, and accessories. One large bin had a sign, “Used Phones.” In the bin was a pile of boxes with different brands of telephones, most of which Amy had never heard of before.
In one corner, there was a rack with tablets and laptops for sale, again with unknown brands.
A man appeared from an open doorway at the back of the shop. He wore crutches and his foot was in a cast.
He was of medium height, wore a faded gray t-shirt with an image of Albert Einstein on the front, and he and wore thick horn-rimmed glasses. Amy guessed his age to be in his mid-thirties.
He gave a cautious smile and said, “What’s-zat?”
“What?” Jack replied.
The man grinned. “I can see y’all aren’t from around here. I said, What’s-zat. It means, How you doing? We speak a special dialect here in N’Walins called Zat.”
“Oh, okay,” Jack replied.
How can I help you?” the man asked.
Amy answered, “The taxi driver called you a few minutes ago and I need help with my phone. It showed an antivirus message about a tracking Trojan, whatever that is. And, then someone was following us at Union Station. I’m not sure the virus and the man are connected. Can you help?”
“Let’s see your phone,” he said, stretching out his hand.
She took the from her sport bag and handed it to him. “I took out the battery,” she said.
“I can see that. I also see that your phone is an antique, and how can you even see through that cracked screen?”
Amy felt hurt. Her parents had given the phone to her and it held sentimental value. “I know it’s old, but I like it.
“Come with me,” he said.
Get news on the soon-coming release of The Insidious Hope. Go to the following web page to sign up:
http://www.casstell.com/amy-and-jack.html
A Note from CASS TELL
I hope you enjoyed the third book of The Adventures of Amy and Jack.
These are two resourceful kids who use their wits and courage to face insurmountable forces.
Amy is a thoughtful and strategic older sister while her brother Jack is her quick thinking sidekick.
The first books in the series are:
Book 1: The Impossible Prize
Book 2: The Dreadful Intimidator
Book 3: The Wicked Storm
Book 4: The Insidious Hope
Book 5: The Unbearable Truth
Go to my website to get more information on my books and sign up to get news of future releases.
http://www.casstell.com/amy-and-jack.html
And, if you like this series, please tell your friends so they can enjoy the fun.
Happy reading,
Cass Tell