Sarah paused and listened for a moment before she crawled through her bedroom window. It was quarter to eleven, and she was mentally preparing for the night’s adventure. She tried to get Lacey to stay behind, but her sister was determined to see this through. She’s getting braver. Sarah smirked at this thought, but quickly frowned when she thought about what they planned to do.
“We can go. The coast is clear,” Sarah whispered. She leapt to the ground and scrambled out of Lacey’s way. Her pulse raced as she waited for her sister in a crouched position. It seemed to take her forever.
“Come on. Jump,” Sarah whispered.
Lacey whimpered, and then plummeted to the ground below. She rolled into Sarah, knocking her over.
Sarah stifled a groan and righted herself. “We should’ve just camped out.”
Lacey stood and brushed off her sweat pants. “Yep, that’s definitely easier than sneaking out of the window.”
Sarah ignored Lacey’s reproachful tone. “We’ll plan better next time.”
“I hope there won’t be a next time.”
“Let’s go.” Sarah led the way and Lacey followed close on her heels.
The moon hid behind the clouds, throwing mysterious shadows everywhere. Sarah’s anxiety intensified. Her palms were already slick with sweat, and they hadn’t even left the back yard. I hope everything turns out all right tonight, Sarah thought to herself as she took several deep breaths.
Lacey grabbed her by the back of the shirt and held on tight. “I’m getting the weebeejeebees.”
Reaching behind her, Sarah squeezed Lacey’s trembling hands. “Yeah, it’s creepy tonight.”
Sarah’s pulse quickened as the girls made their way to the cul-de-sac. A slight breeze rustled the leaves on the trees. Stopping when they reached the path, Sarah took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She peered into the gloom, looking for anything out of place.
Searching through the murkiness, Sarah spied the willow tree. It stood on the bank of the creek, casting a forbidden shadow. In the dark it loomed like a wicked troll waiting to gobble the girls up.
The first flare of fear ignited in the pit of Sarah’s stomach. “It’s now or never.”
Lacey twisted Sarah’s shirt tighter in her hand. “I’m right behind you.”
The Cole girls crept toward the hardwood. Sarah felt the hair on the back of her neck rise and a chill ran down her spine.
“Whoo! Whoo!” Sarah called.
“Whoo! Whoo!”
Sarah walked through the branches, feeling slight stings as they slapped her face. She found Jackie first, her eyes wide with fright, and her face sickly pale. Scott stood next to her, his breathing shallow, and his face shiny with sweat. Suddenly, dread coursed through Sarah’s body.
“Hey, guys.” Sarah frowned.
“Hello, girls,” a deep voice snapped in the darkness.
The flare of fear in Sarah’s belly exploded into a raging fire.
Klonsky loomed from the shadows. “I got your message.”
Silence. Sarah saw the mixture of fear and frustration on Scott and Jackie’s faces.
D.W. followed Klonsky out of the shadows and stared at the teens.
Jackie finally found her voice. “I guess we weren’t the only ones who decided to come early.”
“That’s right,” Klonsky said, and took a menacing step toward Sarah, brandishing a gun. “Now where’s the knife?”
Sarah stared at the gun and gulped. Thoughts ran through her brain like a runaway train. She couldn’t seem to focus on any one thought, just the gun pointed at her.
“Where’s the knife?”
“In a safe place,” Sarah stalled, trying to pull her thoughts together.
“You don’t have it with you?” Klonsky glared.
“No. Do you think I’m that stupid?” Sarah returned his glare with a defiant stare of her own. Avenge the Cat Lady! Don’t let him see you’re scared! She stood in a rebellious stance, hiding her trembling hands. Her heart pounded her chest with a ferocious beat. “You can’t shoot us, because then you’ll never find the knife.” Sarah’s mind still spun a mile a minute, trying to come up with a get away plan.
“If you’re dead, it won’t matter.”
“We gave it to some friends and told them if they don’t hear from us within an hour to call the police,” Sarah lied.
“You’re lying.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” Sarah shrugged. “Are you willing to take that chance?”
“Shut your pie hole,” Klonsky snapped.
He stood in a threatening pose, but Sarah could tell by the look on his face that her words had hit home.
“What are we gonna do now?” D.W. whined.
“We’ll get the knife, and then we’ll take ‘em back to the crime scene.” Klonsky stared at Sarah. “Where’s the knife?”
“I’ll take you to the knife,” Sarah lied. “But first I want to hear why you killed the Cat Lady.”
“That’s none of your concern,” Klonsky said, with an arrogant sneer.
“So you admit you did it?” Sarah pounced.
“Don’t try and get smart with me, kid. I’m a cop.”
“What are we gonna do?” D.W. whined.
The crooked cop sighed. “Let’s take them back to the house. I’ll think of a plan by the time we get there.” He pushed Sarah forward. “Move it.”
Sarah walked with Lacey behind D.W.; Jackie and Scott followed them, and Klonsky took up the rear. Walking forward, Sarah racked her brain for an escape route. We outnumber them, the small but brave voice inside her head whispered.
“I’ve got to pee,” Sarah complained.
“Too bad,” Klonsky snapped with a dismissive wave of his hand.
Sarah ground her teeth in frustration. She continued to walk. Lacey whimpered beside her.
Sarah put her arm around her. “It’s going to be okay.” I wonder if I could get the pepper spray from Scott.
Suddenly, Sarah pulled Lacey to the ground, tripping Jackie and Scott. They fell in a heap, all tangled up.
“Pepper spray,” Sarah muttered to Scott. As if by magic, the can appeared in her hand.
“Get up!” Klonsky yelled.
Sarah concealed the pepper spray in her pocket. She prayed the crooked cop and his partner wouldn’t notice the bulge.
“Quit screwing around,” Klonsky said. His voice sounded like the growl of an angry dog.
The Super Spies picked themselves up and brushed the leaves and grass from their clothes.
Klonsky pushed Sarah and Lacey ahead of him. “Keep moving.”
Stumbling forward, panic gnawed at Sarah’s self-control. She knew if they were going to escape they would have to go now. Putting her arm around Lacey as if to comfort her, Sarah whispered, “Run.” Using her body as a shield, she pointed toward the field, which lay in the opposite direction of the creek.
Lacey sniffled and wiped her nose on the hem of her T-shirt. She made eye contact with Sarah and nodded. In a flash, Lacey took off through the field and Sarah ran toward the creek.
“Run!” Jackie screamed.
Sarah glanced over her shoulder and saw Jackie and Scott running in different directions. The criminals reacted by taking up the chase.
Sarah heard Klonsky behind her, his footfalls hammering the earth, heavy and unrelenting. She imagined the land trembling every time one of his feet pounded the ground. Her heart raced. The creek was her only hope. If she made it to the water, she would escape. A relieved sob burst through her lips when she heard the bubbling waters of the stream. Lengthening her stride, she prepared to jump. I’m almost there.
All of a sudden, Sarah was yanked to the ground. Agony erupted around her head. Klonsky had grabbed her hair and pulled. She was airborne. Landing, she screamed in anguish as all of her weight came down on the pepper spray can in her pocket. Pain radiated from her head, but it was no match for the misery shooting down her leg.
Sarah moaned. Panting, she opened tear-filled eyes and saw Klonsky looming above her. She saw fire in his eyes, and anger radiated from every pore. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to a standing position.
“Don’t try that again,” he said in a menacing voice.
Sarah shrank away from him, her knees buckling from the pain. She almost went down, but Klonsky supported her by pulling her against him. Smelling his after-shave sickened her; it was a heavy musky scent.
She pushed away from him. “I can walk on my own.”
“Just don’t try anything funny,” he said with a sneer. “Remember, I have a gun.”
She took several unsteady steps. Her leg throbbed, and her head pounded. Sucking air through clenched teeth, Sarah willed herself not to puke.
“This way,” Lon commanded. He pushed her forward.
She stumbled. Righting herself, she took several deep breaths and swallowed the wave of saliva flooding her mouth. Nausea wormed its way up her throat again. Fighting it, she kept it down. She limped forward, searching for an escape route.
Out of the darkness, D.W. appeared with Scott in tow. “Lon, I gots this one, but the girl got away.”
Scott tottered forward. His injured foot hindered him, causing his capture.
Klonsky grumbled in frustration. “Let’s get these two back to the house.” He pushed Sarah and Scott ahead.
“What are we gonna do?” D.W. whimpered. “Those other two are going straight to da cops.”
“Stop your sniveling. I’ll think of something. Don’t forget I’m a cop.”
The criminals and the captives walked in silence. Sarah gazed down as she limped—praying Klonsky would stumble, or fall—anything that would allow her to get away.
“Lon, what are we gonna do?”
“Shut your pie hole. I’ll think of something.”
Klonsky’s mood darkened as they walked. He kept nudging Sarah from behind with the gun.
Sarah sighed and dared an angry glare at the crooked cop. Escape was not an option at this point. She searched the darkness looking for signs of Jackie and Lacey, hoping they were following close behind. Her efforts were not rewarded, and she knew their prospects were grim.
After what seemed like hours, they reached the Cat Lady’s house. Sarah stopped and stared at the infamous dwelling.
It stood dark and uninviting. The sagging porch seemed to match Klonsky’s sinister sneer. Sarah shivered as she stared at the dark windows; she felt like the house was alive and watching them. It seemed to be laughing at her predicament, and Sarah’s heart skipped a beat.
All the stories about the Cat Lady flew through her head. She wished they were true; then the Cat Lady’s spirit would swoop down and save them with her magical powers.
Sarah watched as Klonsky pulled something out of his pocket and walked up the steps. She realized it was a key when she heard the door unlock.
“Get in here,” he said, his voice nothing more than a growl.
Sarah and Scott hobbled up the front steps. Her heart raced as she tried to think of a get-away-plan.
“Hurry up!” Klonsky demanded as he pulled a flashlight from his back pocket and turned it on.
Picking up her pace, Sarah limped through the front door, and stopped. Scott followed behind her. Sarah noticed the usual cat smell in the air and quickly pulled the collar of her shirt over her nose and mouth.
“Where are we supposed to sit?” she asked.
She surveyed the room, looking at the stacks of newspapers. Tears of compassion for the Cat Lady filled her eyes, and she forgot about the pain in her leg. Sarah knew she would heal, but the Cat Lady never got that chance.
“Right here,” Lon said as he brought in two chairs from the kitchen. He dropped them right in front of the bloodstain, glaring at the teenagers.
Staring at the dark stain, Sarah fought back her tears as rage coursed through her body. She clenched her teeth and moved her chair away from the bloodstain. Scott followed suit. Sarah eased into her chair, struggling to keep her swirling emotions under control.
“He’s such a creep,” she whispered, feeling powerless. She was no match for Klonsky, and this made her even angrier.
Scott glanced around, and then gave Sarah a slight nod.
It was eerie sitting in the living room with the Cat Lady killers, and Sarah shivered in spite of the heat. She’d never been in this situation before, and it finally dawned on her she was in over her head. Sarah’s shoulders slumped as she realized even if she had been injury-free she would still have difficulty escaping.
The hammering in her head subsided, but her leg still throbbed. A groan burst through her lips as she moved it. Heat seemed to radiate from her injury and another wave of nausea engulfed her. Beads of sweat broke out on her forehead, but she managed to keep the nausea down. Sarah pressed her lips together, keeping any more sounds from escaping.
Wiping the sweat from her brow, Sarah peered at Klonsky from beneath her hand. He disappeared from view behind a stack of papers, but she could hear him pacing in front of the staircase leading to the second floor.
“Lon,” D.W. whimpered, walking over to where Lon marched.
“Shut up, and let me think.”
He continued pacing,growing more agitated with each step.
“Where’s the knife?” the crooked cop demanded, stopping with an abrupt turn and peering over a stack of papers.
“Relax, I’ve got it right here in my backpack,” Scott said.
“Give it to me.” He walked around the papers and stood in front of the teens with his hand out.
Scott reached into his backpack and pulled out the knife. It was bundled in a rag. Klonsky snatched it from Scott’s hand, and quickly opened the bundle to see for himself.
Scott and Sarah exchanged an apprehensive glance.
“All right.” Klonsky expelled a deep breath.
“What now, Lon?” D.W. asked.
“Shut up, and let me think.”
Sarah exhaled a deep sigh of relief. The substitute knife worked. It bought us some time. She sighed a second time, as the room grew silent and the tension thicker with each passing minute. Klonsky took up his pacing again, clenching and unclenching his hands.
Sarah tried to come up with a get-away plan, but the cop’s constant movement was driving her insane. Sweat formed on Sarah’s brow again. She didn’t want to draw Klonsky’s attention, so she let it run down her face. It dropped off the end of her chin onto her T-shirt.
She glanced at Scott. His face was shiny with sweat, and his eyes were wide with fear.
“What should we do?” Sarah whispered
“I don’t know,” Scott answered.
“Lon,” D.W. whined.
“I know, I know.”
“We gots the knife…let’s just get out of here.”
Leaving would be good. Sarah exchanged a glance with Scott and gave him a nudge.
“We can’t do that, these kids know too much.”
Those words shot sparks of anxiety through Sarah’s system. Her stomach clenched as a new fire of fear ignited. She squirmed in her seat. Scott put his hand on her arm and squeezed, telling her to be still.
“What do you mean?” D.W. asked.
“We’ll have to make it look like an accident.”
“What?” D.W. protested. “What about the other two kids?”
“We’ll be all right. I’m a cop. It’ll be my word against theirs.”
Sarah heard the arrogance in his voice, and the bile rose in her throat. What a total creep. She swallowed, refusing to puke.
“I don’t know,” D.W. wavered.
“Do you have a better plan?” Klonsky asked.
“No.”
“All right, then it’s settled. We’ll make it look like an accident.” The crooked cop strode around the stack of newspapers and stood before the teenagers, glaring at them.
Following, D.W. asked, “How are we gonna do that?”
Klonsky sighed. “I haven’t got that far yet.”
“Lon, they’s just kids.”
“I know, but they should’ve kept their noses out of my business.” He pivoted and walked back toward the kitchen.
Fear wrapped its fingers around Sarah’s throat, making it hard to breathe. Her heart pounded in her chest. The sound seemed deafening, and she couldn’t believe no one else heard it.
“We’ve got to do something,” she whispered to Scott.
“Pepper spray,” Scott whispered back.
Sarah let out a strangled sob. Pepper spray! She’d forgotten about the can in her pocket.
“Hey,” she called out. “What are you going to do with us?”
Sarah heard Klonsky’s heavy steps, and then he loomed over the stacks of paper glaring at the teens. “Shut your pie hole.”
He disappeared into the kitchen. Sarah could hear him rummaging around in the drawers.
“Make him come all the way in here,” Scott whispered.
Sarah nodded. She put her hand in her pocket and grasped the can of pepper spray.
“Why’d ya do it, Klonsky?” Sarah yelled out. Her voice sounded high and tinny. She cleared her throat and took several deep breaths. She could hear him coming into the living room. The house shook with his thundering steps. “Why’d you kill poor Mrs. Fedewa? What’d she ever do to you?”
Klonsky stood directly in front of her, glowering from above. She could hear D.W. shuffling into the room behind him.
“Lon, what’d she say?”
“Nothing.” He glared at Sarah. “Shut your pie hole.”
“Why’d you do it? Murder Mrs. Fedewa?”
“Lon…that lady…she has the same last name as me,” D.W. said.
D.W. is David Fedewa!
“Uh…uh…uh,” Lon stammered, turning toward his partner.
Now! Sarah made her move. She sprang from her seat, bringing the pepper spray forward as she stepped toward the crooked cop. At the sound of her movement, Lon spun toward Sarah, and she sprayed the pepper spray in his face.
Stumbling back, he fell to his knees. His hands balled into fists, and rubbed his swelling eyes. He coughed uncontrollably, and tears streamed down his cheeks.
“Lon, are ya all right?” D.W. wailed.
“I can’t see! Stop those kids!”
Screaming, Sarah rushed D.W., pushing him aside. He stumbled against a stack of newspapers. Scott lurched from his chair and slammed into D.W., knocking him to the floor. D.W. grabbed Scott’s injured foot.
Sarah grabbed Scott’s arm and tried to pull him toward the door.
“Stop them!” Klonsky bellowed.
“I gots his foot!” D.W. shrieked.
Scott pulled a can of pepper spray from his pocket and sprayed it in D.W.’s face. The criminal howled in pain and fell to the floor.
Sarah pulled Scott to the door. The teens burst through it, just as two police cruisers pulled up in front of the house.
“You kids get back behind the cruisers!” one officer yelled as he bolted toward the front door. Sarah and Scott hobbled behind the cruisers, both of them gasping for breath.
“I’m glad that’s over,” Sarah gulped. She clenched her hands to stop them from shaking. She took huge gulps of air and kneeled down on the ground, hoping she wouldn’t faint.
“Me too.” Scott’s voice sounded thin and far away.
“I didn’t know you had another can of pepper spray.”
“I brought two. I always have a backup, just in case,” Scott said with a weak smile and leaned against the cruiser.
“We didn’t get our confession, though.”
“Yeah.” Scott scuffed the pavement with his shoe. “I wonder how the cops knew we were here?”
“I’m guessing Jackie and Lacey had something to do with that.” Sarah stood and leaned against the cruiser next to Scott. She clasped her hands in front of her to stop the trembling.
“Where are they?”
Sarah and Scott searched the crowd forming around the cruisers. The flashing lights and sirens had disturbed their sleep, and they were gathered together, wearing pajamas and robes. She spotted Lacey and Jackie across the street behind the oak tree in front of the church. Smiling, she hobbled across the street with Scott behind her.
“Thanks for calling the cops,” Sarah said with a quivering lip.
“We called Detective Swift. He called the cops,” Jackie said. She gave Sarah a quick squeeze. Sarah gave her a grateful smile. Her body relaxed, and tears of relief welled up in her eyes.
Just then another police cruiser pulled up in front of the Cat Lady’s home. The door opened and out stepped Chief Johnson.
“There’s my dad,” Scott said, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“Yep. I bet we’re in a lot of trouble, aren’t we?” Sarah asked.
“You could say that.”
“Yeah, especially since our plan didn’t work.” Tears of frustration filled Sarah’s eyes. She wiped them away, and Jackie gave her another squeeze. Grateful for her support, Sarah leaned on Jackie and sighed. “I think I figured out who Klonsky’s sidekick is.”
Jackie twisted toward Sarah, her eyes widening. “Who is he?”
Before Sarah could reply Chief Johnson spotted them from across the street.
“You kids get over here!”
Sarah gulped. “Here we go.”
She reluctantly stepped out from behind the oak tree. The rest of the Super Spies followed her. They walked to the cruiser Chief Johnson had just exited.
“What do you kids think you’re doing?”
“Dad, just listen to us.”
Chief Johnson glared at each individual Super Spy. His blazing gaze rested on Sarah the longest. She squirmed and avoided eye contact.
“I certainly will. You kids are coming downtown and giving us statements.” His frosty tone contrasted with the fire blazing in his eyes.
“Chief Johnson, Lon Klonsky murdered the Cat Lady,” Sarah blurted out.
“Yeah, where’s your proof? Do you have a confession?” His sarcastic tone cut Sarah to the quick.
Her shoulders slumped. “No.”
“I didn’t think so. You kids certainly made a mess of things. Now get in the car, you’re going downtown.”
Just then, Klonsky and D.W. were led to another cruiser. The criminals wore handcuffs, and their eyes were swollen shut. Neither one could see. They stumbled down the stairs and would have fallen if not for the support of the officers.
“Chief? Are you there?” Klonsky asked.
Sarah noticed he resembled a schoolyard bully, rather than a raging hulk that committed a brutal murder.
“I’m here, Lon.”
“Chief, I’m innocent. I didn’t do anything.”
“That’s what all the criminals say.” Sarah spat the words at him, her body rigid with anger.
The chief turned toward the kids and gave Sarah a menacing look. “Get. In. The. Car.”
“Chief, tell them to take the cuffs off.”
Spinning back toward Klonsky, he said, “Can’t do that, Lon. You’re riding in the back. Consider this an education.”
Sarah and the Super Spies climbed into the back of the cruiser, and for the third time that treacherous summer, they were on their way to the police station.