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Early Saturday morning, Matt and I began our stakeout. Because we were in Chris’s care, Mr. Jackson had not followed through with his threat to have us grounded to the school grounds. Chris had supplied us with spending money and a cell phone to use to call him. I dressed for comfort in a pair of nice jeans and a faded tee shirt and Matt wore his favorite pair of tattered jeans and a hoodie.
Although we weren’t dressed in our uniforms, anyone who saw us would be able to tell that we came from the Academy. Matt carried himself in the erect manner of a military man. His dad had trained him that way long before he came to the Academy, but my posture was the same after only three years of training. I was glad that other Academy students came here so we wouldn’t be too noticeable.
The outside of the Stellar Diner was painted blue with a large sign in the shape of a rocket displaying the name of the restaurant above the door. We pushed our way through a glass door. A shrill chirp announced our arrival as we entered the bizarrely decorated diner.
“This place is weird,” Matt whispered.
I nodded as I looked around. It was definitely not somewhere I would have chosen to go on my own. The diner was dimly lit with stars projected on the walls and ceiling. Framed posters of sci-fi movies and movie stars adorned the walls. On one wall a huge TV screen was playing the latest Star Wars movie.
“Do you think that TV could be any louder?” Matt grumbled.
I grinned wryly, “Look at it this way. If we sit near the TV, no one can accidentally over hear us.”
“The question is can we hear each other?”
“At least the food smells good.” I took a deep breath as my stomach growled hungrily. “Mmm. Can you smell the bacon?”
We went to the counter and ordered breakfast from a young woman dressed in a Star Trek uniform. Then we took a seat at a futuristic-looking booth near a window facing Davis Janitorial. We had compromised by taking a booth a little distance away from the TV screen, but close enough to cover our conversations if we spoke softly.
“Do you suppose we’ll see anything?” Matt asked as we slid around the oddly shaped table.
I shrugged as I stared out the window at the building across the street. No one seemed to be there yet. “I hope so, but I think it will be a long day. We’d better try to look like we fit in here.” Matt gave me a cynical look. I shrugged and then continued. “At least we brought some books with us. It’ll look like we’re doing homework.”
“Have you seen any of these movies?” Matt nodded to the flashy movie posters on the walls around us. “I’m afraid war flicks are more in my line.”
“A few,” I admitted. My mom enjoyed sci-fi and I’d watched a few movies with her, but I preferred to watch mysteries with my dad. “Not enough to pass off as a true fan. Perhaps we’d do better if one of us takes a turn at the arcade in the back while the other watches the window.”
“Right.” Matt nodded. “Let’s hope the expense money Chris gave us holds out until we’re finished.”
By late afternoon, nothing suspicious had happened. As far as we could tell, Davis Janitorial Supply did normal business. We were getting a little tired and more than a little bored.
“A dollar seventy-five,” Matt said as he stuffed his change back in his pocket. “Between food and the arcade, I’m nearly broke.”
“That’s just enough to order another large order of fries,” I suggested. Between the two of us, we had ordered at least five large fries already.
“Come on, can’t we order something else?” Matt groaned. “If I have to look at one more French fry, I’ll be spending the rest of the stakeout in the little spaceman’s room.”
“I don’t care what you order,” I said and made a face at him. “It’s my turn to go to the arcade, so I won’t be eating it anyway.”
I slouched down in the booth. “I wish something would happen. I’m getting tired of shooting aliens. You’d think after spending the whole day playing the same game, I’d at least have a high score.”
“Do you think Chris could have been wrong about them?” Matt nodded toward the place across the street.
“Who knows.” I slid out of the booth to stretch. “Maybe they’re just lying low today.”
“I guess.” Matt opened the notebook he was supposedly writing science notes in and flipped through several pages alternating between his scrawling handwriting and my crisp block print. “We’ve written down the descriptions of all sixty-seven customers they’ve had today.”
Matt lowered his voice enough to be covered by the sounds of the movie playing behind us. “No shipments and not a single one of the customers looked like a terrorist.”
I shook my head and sat back down so I could talk without danger of being overheard. “Some of them have to be innocent customers. Probably most of them are. Maybe Chris could recognize...”
“Scott? Matt?” a feminine voice behind me asked in surprise.
I turned in my seat to face the owner of the familiar voice. “Hi, Trinity.”
“I’ve never seen you two here before. Are you sci-fi fans?” Trinity grinned excitedly.
“Today killed whatever curiosity I ever had in that department,” Matt grumbled.
I ground my heel into Matt’s foot and answered politely, “Not really. We were told about this place by a friend.”
“Isn’t it great?” Trinity looked around admiringly.
“She doesn’t really want an honest answer, right?” Matt gestured his thumb at a nearby picture of an ooze monster covering a city.
I kicked him under the table, a little bit in revenge for his kicking me earlier in the week, and smiled at Trinity. “Do you come here often?”
“A couple times a week. Grandma drops me off sometimes on days Dad’s going to be at the Academy late,” Trinity said, shuffling her feet awkwardly. “Hey, after I get some food, can I sit with you two? I’ve got to ask you about... something.”
“Sure,” I spoke up before Matt could say anything. Not only did I want an excuse not to have to go back to the arcade, but I also welcomed the chance to spend more time with Trinity.
“Great! I’ll be right back.”
As soon as Trinity was out of earshot, Matt growled, “What’s the idea? This is not a good time for a date. We’re on a stakeout. We don’t want her around.”
“We do unless you want to order more fries,” I whispered. “She’s a regular here. She’ll help us look like we actually belong here. Besides, I want to hear what she wants to talk about.”
“Fine, you talk to her, and I’ll keep watching.” Matt turned his gaze back to the warehouse across the street.
“Scott,” he whispered hoarsely without taking his eyes off the window. “Isn’t that Mrs. Gunther?”
I risked a quick glance across the street to see Dr. Kestler’s housekeeper push open the door. Only she wasn’t dressed anything like a housekeeper. Tight black jeans and a short-sleeved navy blouse also revealed that what we thought was flab was actually well defined muscle. As she started through the door, she looked in our direction and paused.
“Don’t stare.” I focused back on the homework in front of me. Don’t let her see us. “Act normal.”
We concentrated intently on the homework in front of us, even though we had finished it hours ago. From the corner of my eye, I saw Mrs. Gunther turn and enter the building.
“Looks like Chris was right about that place after all,” Matt commented without looking up. “I'll keep watch while you talk to Trinity.”
I nodded, closed my books, and turned my attention to Trinity as she returned with her tray.
Wow, she looks really great today! She was wearing black denim pants and a green top. Her locket glittered against her shirt in the flashing lights of the diner and her red hair hung loosely around her shoulders. I blushed when I realized I'd been staring at her.
She seemed too preoccupied to notice, but Matt wasn’t. He grinned up at me and shook his head with mock pity. Kicking his leg again seemed overkill, so I just rolled my eyes and focused on Trinity.
“Uhh, have a seat,” I said awkwardly, slid toward the window, and motioned for her to sit beside me.
“Thanks.” She sat next to me and stared uncomfortably at her plate.
“So... what’s your favorite sci-fi movie?” I mean, she had said that she came here often, so she had to have one, right?
“You know,” Trinity said, still staring at her plate as if she hadn’t heard me. “I thought it would take a miracle to keep you guys from getting expelled. Mr. Hinkly’s tough on curfew.”
“We can thank God we didn’t.” I shrugged. And SATURN, but it's not like I can tell her that.
“I’ve been thinking a lot since then.” Trinity looked up at me and began playing nervously with her locket. “You guys always talk about God and church and stuff. I guess, well... I just wanted to know what was so great. You two go to church more often than I come here. If it’s that much fun, maybe I could go with you next time.”
“You’re more than welcome to go with us on Sunday.” I grinned widely. Thank you, Lord!
A smile turned up the corner of Matt's mouth as he continued to pretend to do his homework.
“I’ll warn you though,” I continued, looking at my gaudy surroundings. “If you’re expecting a big show or flashing lights, it’s not like that. You really don’t go to church just to be entertained.”
“Then why go so often?”
“We go to worship God,” Matt spoke up, his pen poised over his notebook as he risked a glace away from the window. “Because of what His Son, Jesus, did for us.”
“Did for you?” Trinity's eyes widened, then narrowed. “Jesus died nearly two thousand years ago.”
“You’re right, He did die.” I nodded. Even if we didn’t see anything more at Davis Janitorial, our time here was now well worth it. “But He didn’t stay dead. He rose from the dead. He died to pay for our sins so that we...”
“Sorry to interrupt your sermon, Spy Boy, but no one wants to hear your boring fairy tales.”
Not now, Lord, I thought, dismayed by the interruption. I just got started!
I turned sharply to see Winston sneering at us. How did we not see him come in?
“Buzz off, pest.” Trinity flicked a fry at Winston. “No one invited you.”
“No, no one invited me,” Winston said bitterly, looking accusingly at me. “Maybe that’s because you don’t want Superintendent Hinkly to know what you are up to.”
“Maybe it’s because you’re a bully and a loud mouth,” Matt returned hotly.
“Knock it off, you two,” I whispered urgently. We were supposed to be blending in, not getting kicked out. “You’re making a scene.”
“I don’t care!” Winston’s voice rose above the noise from the TV. “I don’t care if everyone hears me. You two have been playing spies long enough. You probably imagine you’re on some sort of stakeout or something!”
“Scott,” Matt hissed. He tensed and nodded to the window. Mrs. Gunther was crossing the street toward the diner.
“Winston!” My conversation with Trinity was over. If we didn't all get out of here now, any chance of escaping would be, too. “All of you.” I started nudging Trinity out of the booth. “Leave. Now.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Winston crossed his arms over his chest. “Did I blow your cover? Are you afraid some thugs are going to come out of that building across the street and get you?”
“Winston!” Matt stood, bumping into the table and nearly spilling Trinity’s glass into her lap. He flexed his muscles and looked down at Winston threateningly. “This isn't a game. Move it!”
“Certainly, Cadet Marshall.” Winston grinned wolfishly. “I’m sure Superintendent Hinkly will be greatly interested in your extra-curricular activities.”
It was too late. The shrill cheep of the door opening made my heart skip. Mrs. Gunther shoved open the door, glanced around the diner with distaste, and glared in our direction.
“What is going on?” Trinity cried as I shouldered her out of the booth.
“The kitchen?” Matt grabbed Winston by both shoulders and propelled him forward. “There's got to be a back exit.”
The crowd had picked up and making our way to the kitchen was like navigating a rave. We finally made it through without knocking over any people or dinner trays.
Mrs. Gunther blocked the door, the butt of a handgun just barely sticking up from her waistband.
“The only place you four are going is with me.”