The Super Spies and the Pied Piper (15 page)

“What is going on back there?” Agent Gray demanded.

“It's the Stalker! He's right behind us,” Sarah whispered hoarsely, her tongue still thick and cumbersome. She took a deep breath and whispered a prayer of thanks for the heavy rain. She recognized the truck but couldn't see the driver through the down pour, which meant he couldn't see her. “We have to get away from him before he sees us!”

Agent Gray jumped out of the car into the pelting rain. Raising her head, Sarah peeked out the back window and was able to make out the watery form of the FBI man standing at the driver's window of the truck. He gesticulated as he spoke. Sarah took a deep breath and wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans. Returning to her original position, she watched the scene before her with a vigilant eye.

After a few minutes Agent Gray returned to the car and the Stalker sped off throwing water everywhere. Sarah stared at the agent as her heart slowed to its normal pace. “Why did he stop?”

“He thought he could be of assistance,” Agent Gray answered as he tried to dry his face with a handkerchief. He was soaked to the bone and irritated. “Actually, it's good that we ran into him.”

“Really? Why?” Lacey asked. Her tone of voice betrayed her doubt.

“Because now we know he's in town,” Sarah answered as she made eye contact with Agent Gray in the rearview mirror.

“That's right.” Agent Gray glanced down at his clothes. “I'm soaked. I might as well change the tire now.” He grimaced as he shook his head sending drops of water everywhere.

Sarah snickered and winked at her sister. “We don't have to get out, do we?”

“No, you don't have to get out,” Agent Gray grumbled. He opened his door and once again stepped out into the blinding rain.

“Too bad you don't have an umbrella,” Sarah muttered and winked at Lacey.

“Tsk. You shouldn't make fun of him,” Lacey chided, but her lips twitched with suppressed laughter.

Sarah snorted and poked her sister in the ribs. The two girls convulsed into giggles. Agent Black shot them a disapproving look which made them laugh even more. They fell against each other trying to escape the FBI man's penetrating glare.

“I'm going to go help Agent Gray,” he stated, opening the door and letting in the rain. “You kids stay here.”

Sarah leaned forward and watched the agents. “I hope they have dry clothes they can change into.” She glanced at Lacey, suppressed laughter danced in her eyes. Both girls convulsed into giggles again and collapsed onto each other.

Sarah sat up and wiped her eyes and focused her attention back to the agents. Agent Gray had removed the jack from the trunk and was now attempting to jack the car up. The vehicle titled toward the left.

“It looks like the rain is stopping,” Lacey said, looking out her window.

Sarah glanced out and realized the rain had indeed stopped. “Maybe we should get out.” She nudged her sister.

“Sure.”

They climbed out and stood in the cool air as the agents repaired the tire. An occasional car sped past, spraying them with a fine mist. Sarah shivered and pulled her jacket tighter. Looking around, memories paraded through her mind. She thought back to the family get-together where she had created the french fry teepee with her father. The memory of her father's laugh brought tears to her eyes. It had been a sweltering day and Sarah was warmed by the image of her father, sister, and herself huddled around the picnic table trying to make the french fries stand up. Her dad had been the only one who had succeeded.

Sarah wiped her eyes and shook her head. Determination fueled her and she grew impatient waiting for the agents to finish their task. “Are you almost done?”

Agent Gray gave her an irritated look. “Ye-e-esss… we're almost done.” He glanced at Agent Black and shook his head. “
Teenagers
.”

Sarah exchanged looks with Lacey and shrugged. Sighing, she surveyed the area and realized that they were under the billboard sporting the Piper Drugs ad. Her thoughts again focused on her father and a sense of urgency overwhelmed her. Clenching her hands, she furrowed her brow and paced. Questions invaded her mind. They came so fast there was no way for Sarah to stop them.
Who is
the St
alker?
And what is his connection to my dad
?

Lacey fell into step beside her. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah.” Sarah bit her lip. “I just want to get the show on the road.” She glanced back and winced when Agent Gray dropped the tire iron. It clanged to the ground, sending tremors through the earth. “Looks like they're almost done.”

Lacey wrapped her hair around her finger. “It does.” She took a deep breath. “You know…we just might find Mom and Dad today.”

“I know.” Sarah scuffed her shoe on the tarmac. “These questions keep going through my mind and I just can't find any answers. It's driving me crazy.”

“I'm scared.” Lacey's lower lip trembled as she spoke. “What if we find out something bad?”

“Like what?”

Lacey shrugged and averted her eyes. “I don't know…like what if we only find their phone?” She looked at her sister with eyes filled with unspoken words.

Lacey's statement hit Sarah like a punch in the stomach and she put her arm around her sister. “That could happen,” she whispered. “And it will feel horrible, but I think not knowing is the worst thing in the world.”

Her sister didn't answer, but tears welled in her eyes and a sob escaped her lips.

“I don't feel any better.”

“Neither do I,” Sarah admitted. She took a deep breath and surveyed their surroundings. “We should head back to the car, Lace. We don't want the FBI agents to come looking for us.”

“All right.” Lacey took a deep breath and squared her shoulders.

Sarah turned back toward the car. Lacey followed her, brushing her hair away from her face. Reaching the vehicle, Sarah bit her lip to keep the inquiry of their progress from leaving her mouth. Her patience was soon rewarded because Agent Gray stood up and stretched.

“Okay. Let's go.” He strolled to the back of the vehicle and placed his tools along with the old tire in the trunk.

The girls piled into the backseat and the two soaking wet agents climbed in the front.

“Do you have dry clothes?” Sarah asked.

Agent Gray sighed and put the key in the ignition. “Yes, I'll find a gas station and change in their bathroom. I always have an extra set of clothes with me.”

The FBI man started the car, checked his mirrors, and then pulled out onto the highway. As they picked up speed, Sarah's stomach fluttered.

“We'll be putting mission snag the Stalker into play soon,” she said to Lacey.

Her sister gulped. “I hope everything turns out all right.” She cast a worried glance at her sister.

Sarah took a deep breath. “I just hope we find the answers we're looking for.”

“Me too.” Lacey fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. “And… I hope you'll be safe.”

Sarah gave her a smile, trying to hide her own fear. “I'm sure I'll be safe. I've got the FBI with me.”

Her sister leaned toward her. “What's your plan?”

“I thought I'd go to the Bakery again.” Sarah shifted in her seat. “You know, get another one of those yummy cinnamon rolls?”

“I don't think you should go alone.” Lacey crossed her arms over her chest and gave her sister a reproachful look.

Sarah snickered. “You just want another one of those rolls.”

Lacey shrugged. “Think what you want… but I want to go with you.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?” Lacey raised her eyebrows and gazed at her sister with eyes filled with shock.

Sarah shrugged. “Maybe I don't want to do this by myself.”

Lacey stared at her and Sarah averted her gaze. She wasn't going to admit to her sister how nervous she was. When Lacey didn't speak, Sarah gave her a playful nudge and then gazed out the windshield. The
W
elcome to Alden
sign caught her eye, she gulped. “It's almost time.” She moved forward in her seat and addressed the agents. “Lacey wants to be part of the sting.”

The sting
. Those tiny words sent tremors through Sarah's body and her chest tightened. She'd never been part of an elaborate plan like this before and the conflicting emotions those words conjured up overwhelmed her.

Taking a deep breath, Sarah tried to figure out the feelings swirling through her. Fear was there, of course she felt nervous, but excitement too. It was a thrill to take down the bad guy and she knew in her heart the Stalker was a bad guy. She felt anger too. Rage at the Stalker and his stinky cigarette scent. And hope. Hope that her parents were alive and well.

Agent Gray glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “After I get changed we'll work up a plan.”

Sarah nodded and slid back into her seat.

The agent slowed the vehicle and made a right into the gas station. “I'll just stop in here and change my clothes.”

“I want to change mine too,” Agent Black said.

After parking, the agent faced the girls. “You kids stay in the back seat and I'll lock you in.”

“Okay,” Sarah said.

The law men jumped out of the car. Agent Gray pointed the remote at the vehicle and locked the car.

The Cole girls sat in silence. The atmosphere grew warm and Sarah squirmed before she unzipped her jacket. She glanced at Lacey, not sure what to say.

“Just a few more minutes,” Lacey said. Her voice cracked betraying her anxiety.

Sarah glanced at her and gave her a smile. “That's right.”

“Promise me you won't do anything stupid.” Lacey glared at her sister.

Sarah held up her hands, surrendering. “I promise. Man, you need to chill out.”

Lacey gave her an apologetic grin. “Sorry. I guess I'm a little scared.”

“You don't have to go with me, you know.”

“I know. But I'm more scared of you doing this by yourself.” Lacey shifted in her seat and twirled her hair around her finger. “I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that we might actually see Mom and Dad again… or that we might not.” Her face clouded over and she turned away.

Sarah glanced out the window before answering, “I know. This could all be over in a few short minutes.”

Lacey grabbed her sister's arm and squeezed. “Be careful.”

Sarah gave her sister a nod and opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by the agents returning to the car.

Agent Gray reached over the front seat and handed Sarah a decorative pin in the shape of a pink Carnation. The flower portion appeared to be the transmitter and the stem portion was the part Sarah would need to attach to her shirt. “I want you to pin that to your blouse. It's the transmitter that we've been talking about and it'll allow me to hear everything.”

Sarah reached for the pin and fastened it to her shirt. “How's it look?”

“Very pretty,” Lacey said, before giving her a pointed look. “And remember, I'm going with you.”

“I know.” Sarah bit her lip to keep the emotion out of her voice. “Everything is going to work out fine.”