The girls found Scott sitting on the bank of the stream with his foot in his hands. Blood ran off of it in rivulets before dripping into the sand.
“What happened to you?” Lacey asked.
Scott’s face contorted with pain. “I stepped on something sh-sharp.”
Sarah noticed he shivered in spite of the heat. “Let me take a look at that.”
Scott pulled his hand away from the cut. Sarah stared at it and felt sick. The wound ran from one side of his heel to the other and blood flowed freely from it.
“I think you’re going to need stitches,” Sarah said.
“Yeah,” Scott gulped.
“How are we going to get you to the hospital?” Sarah scanned the area around her. I wish I’d ridden my bike.
“I’ll call my dad. He’ll pick me up in his cruiser.” Scott scrambled for his cell phone in his pile of clothes. “I need to put pressure on this cut. Can you hand me my T-shirt?”
“Sure,” Lacey said.
“You should put your foot above your heart. I remember that from health class,” Sarah instructed.
“Yeah, why don’t you lie back on the bank and stick your foot up in the air. We’ll put pressure on it,” Jackie said.
Sarah grabbed his T-shirt and pressed it over his cut. “Now push against me.”
Scott pressed his foot against Sarah’s thigh, and then started pushing buttons on his phone. Within minutes, she heard the sound of a siren fill the air.
“Help is on the way,” Lacey said.
“I never thought I’d say this, but it’s good to hear that sound,” Sarah said with a sigh.
Jackie snickered and nodded.
Scott’s dad pulled up and leapt from the cruiser. Sarah watched as he searched for the teens along the water’s edge. In his hand, he carried a first aid kit. Spotting Scott, he rushed toward him, wearing a worried frown.
The chief ignored the girls and focused on his son. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I could puke any minute.”
“Do you feel cold or faint?”
“Cold.”
“Can one of you girls grab the sweatshirt in the back of the car? And bring the water bottle too.” The chief opened the first aid kit and rummaged around inside.
“Sure,” Lacey jumped up and ran to the cruiser. Returning with the sweatshirt, she draped it over Scott, and then handed him the water bottle.
“Thanks.”
“Let’s take a look at this cut,” Chief Johnson pulled the blood soaked T-shirt away from his son’s injury.
Scott winced.
“What in the world did you step on?”
“I have no idea,” Scott said. He draped his arm over his eyes to block out the sun.
The chief bent down and grabbed some gauze out of his kit. “I’m going to bandage this foot up, then we’ll get you to the hospital. Are you feeling any better?”
“No.”
“We need to get you out of the sun.”
The chief went to work on Scott’s foot. Scott grimaced, but kept silent, letting his dad labor.
Sarah watched the chief dress Scott’s wound. She noticed he worked efficiently like he’d bandaged a cut this deep a million times.
She realized Scott was the spitting image of his father, same blond hair and blue eyes, the same deep tan.
Jackie whispered in Sarah’s ear, “You can tell Scott’s going to be a hottie when he’s older.”
“Tsk. Only you would think about that when we’ve got someone lying on the ground bleeding.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“It’s an emergency, and all you can think about is whether or not he’s going to be cute. Who cares? We’ve got an emergency here.”
“It’s not a life threatening emergency,” Jackie scoffed.
“You would say the same thing even if he was dying.” Sarah shook her head and rolled her eyes.
“Girlfriend, you’re way too serious. Lighten up.”
“Scott,” the chief said, bringing the bickering to a halt. “That was one deep cut. Do you have any idea what you stepped on?”
“I don’t know. I was walking in the water and lost my balance. When I tried to get it back I felt this huge pain in my foot.”
“Where were you walking?”
“Over by that tree.” Scott pointed toward a sapling hanging over the water’s edge.
His father squinted as he gazed toward the water. “You girls better stay out of the water until we find whatever Scott stepped on. We don’t want any more injuries like this.”
Sarah made a mental note of the sapling, and then nodded in agreement with the other Super Spies.
“Okay, let’s get you to the hospital.” Chief Johnson helped his son to a standing position, and then draped his arm across his shoulders. He chuckled. “You’re going to have to ride in the back. Can you imagine the gossip down at Hinkle’s? The chief of police had to arrest his own son.”
“Yeah, but Dad, you don’t have to use your lights and siren, you know.”
“Oh, but I do,” he said, laughing at Scott’s horrified expression.
The cruiser pulled away from the cul-de-sac with its sirens blaring and lights flashing. Jackie and Lacey stood at Sarah’s side. They stayed there until the sound of the siren disappeared.
“Let’s look for whatever Scott stepped on,” Sarah said.
“You heard the chief. He doesn’t want us going in the water,” Lacey protested.
“I know, but I’m going anyway.”
“You have a problem with authority,” Jackie snickered.
Sarah laughed. “So what?”
“So… nothing, let’s look.”
“You guys,” Lacey pouted.
Sarah rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to look. Jackie and I will.”
“Come on, Sarah.”
“Lacey, what is your problem?”
“The chief of police told us not to go in the water.” Lacey crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her sister.
“So what?.” Sarah gave her sister a dismissive wave. “Do you think he’s going to arrest us for going in the water?”
“We were arrested yesterday when we didn’t do anything.”
Sarah shook her head. “We weren’t arrested.”
“We were handcuffed and put in a police car. That’s sounds like being arrested to me.” Lacey stamped her foot to make her point.
“That’s because you had blood all over your shirt.”
“Guys, knock it off,” Jackie said, waving her hands in the air. “Sarah, let’s look. Lacey, if you don’t want to help then stand on the bank until we’re done.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you guys,” Lacey said, sticking her nose in the air.
Sarah made a face at her sister. “Don’t worry, we won’t.”
The water swirled around Sarah’s legs as she searched, rushing past her as it made its way downstream. Feeling the strong pull of the water, she braced herself against the current. It was hard to see anything at the bottom of the creek bed with the water surging past, but she didn’t give up. At first, the cold water had been a shock but now Sarah enjoyed its briskness. Walking through the frigid water drained the heat from her body, making the sweltering sun bearable.
A half an hour went by before Sarah caught a glint of something shiny in the creek. She plunged her hand into the icy current, only to find the object out of reach. Taking a deep breath, she dove under water. Opening her eyes, she saw the glint of metal. It was hard to see through the churning water, but Sarah persisted. Her lungs ached for air, so she surfaced, gasping for breath. Diving down again, she used a tree root to pull herself closer to the shiny object. Her heart almost burst through her chest when she realized what it was. Wedged between two rocks was a knife with its jagged edge sticking straight out into the creek. Shooting to the surface, she gasped for air one more time, before plunging below and prying the knife free.
Jackie shrank back in horror when Sarah pulled the huge knife out of the water. It sported a leather handle with an eight-inch blade and jags at the end.
“Holy crap!” Jackie gulped as she stared at the knife. “That is one nasty knife.”
“You can say that again.” Sarah examined the knife in her hands. “Scott’s lucky he didn’t get hurt worse. This could have gone all the way through his heel.”
“Holy cow!” Lacey shrieked from the creek bank. “Is that what I think it is?” She danced from one foot to the other.
“What’s the matter? Gotta go to the bathroom?” Sarah smirked.
“Shut up.”
“Just stop freaking out, would you?” Sarah grumbled.
“Look at this.” Jackie pointed to the spot where the tip of the knife should have been.
“It must have broken off,” Sarah said.
“Yeah, it looks strange.”
“We better show this to the chief,” Sarah told Jackie.
“No doubt,” Jackie said as she made her way to the bank.
“They’re probably still at the emergency room,” Lacey pointed out.
“Let’s go.” Sarah rushed toward the bank, splashing water everywhere.
“We need to put the knife in a backpack or something,” Jackie said.
“You’re right.” Sarah pursed her lips and blew air through them. “We can’t go walking into the hospital with a knife. Let’s stop at home and I’ll grab my backpack.”
The girls sprinted back to the house. Sarah dashed in the back door and flew downstairs. She changed out of her wet clothes and grabbed her backpack. Rushing out the front door, she found Jackie and Lacey in the yard.
“It will be faster if we ride bikes,” Jackie suggested.
“True. You can ride on the back of mine,” Sarah said.
The Cole girls grabbed their bikes and pedaled to the emergency room. Lacey took the lead, and Sarah and Jackie wobbled behind her.
“For a beanpole, you sure are heavy,” Sarah puffed.
“Wimp.”
“Cork it.” Sarah grunted as she leaned forward and pushed down on her pedal.
“Just keep pedaling.”
“Man, I’m out of breath already.”
“That’s because you keep talking. Shut up and pedal.”
“Maybe you should pedal and I should ride.”
“I don’t think so,” Jackie snickered.
They reached the hospital and locked their bikes to a lamppost standing outside the emergency room door. Sarah brushed her hair away from her sweaty temples and sighed.
“What’s the matter, girlfriend? Are you all tuckered out?” Jackie teased.
“Shut up.”
“Make me.”
“I can’t. I’m too tired from hauling a beanpole on the back of my bike.”
The girls looked at each other and laughed.
“Come on you two,” Lacey groaned, holding the door for them.
Walking down the corridor, Sarah was surprised to find the hospital so quiet. Whenever she saw a hospital show on TV there was always a flurry of activity. Doctors rushing to the emergency rooms, nurses screaming down the halls for doctors, and orderlies pushing bodies covered with blood on gurneys. This hospital contrasted sharply with the image Sarah had of them. It seemed peaceful to her, as she took in the shiny waxed floors and the subdued conversations at the nurses’ station. She spied a sign reading ’Emergency Room’ and motioned for Jackie and Lacey to follow her.
The Super Spies walked into the brightly lit waiting area. Chairs lined the walls of the room with wooden tables in the corners. Plants and magazines sat on the tables, giving the area a comforting atmosphere.
Sarah saw the chief first as he paced in the waiting area. He was the only one in the room. She noticed he kept glancing at his watch as he walked.
“Hi, Chief,” Sarah greeted.
“Hello, girls.”
“How’s Scott?” Lacey asked.
“He’s getting stitched up. He’s going to be okay.”
“We found something in the creek, after you left.” Sarah opened her backpack.
“I thought I told you girls to stay out of the water?” The chief stopped pacing and frowned.
“I didn’t go in the water,” Lacey said, crossing her arms across her chest and giving Sarah and Jackie a superior look.
“Good for you,” he winked at Lacey.
“I think you should arrest them.”
The chief laughed. “I can’t arrest them for going in the water.”
Sarah smirked. “Told you.”
“You should, they didn’t follow orders.” Lacey put her hands on her hips and gave Sarah and Jackie a reproachful look.
Chief Johnson chuckled and shook his head.
Sarah ignored her and pulled the knife out of her backpack. “This is what we found.” She held it up with a flourish.
The chief pursed his lips and let out a low whistle. “You found this in the water?”
Sarah nodded. “Yeah, is it a hunting knife?”
“I’m not sure, but you better let me have that.”
Chief Johnson took the knife out of Sarah’s hands and turned it over in his own, examining it.
“What kind of knife is it?” Lacey asked.
“It’s a dangerous one,” he said, not taking his eyes off of it.
“I wonder how it got into the water?” Sarah wrinkled her brow.
“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out. You girls run along now. I’ll have Scott call you when he’s done here.”
“Bye, Chief.”
“You girls be good,” Chief Johnson winked as they were leaving.
The Super Spies left the emergency room and walked toward the doors leading outside. Sarah noticed again the peaceful atmosphere and the cleanliness of the hospital. Even though it appeared stark, with its white walls and white tiled floors, she felt comforted and safe. It hummed with the hushed tones of efficient care. Pushing open the door, Sarah walked outside.
The heat hit her as soon as she walked out. It was like walking into a wall of hot jello. Her movements required more effort. Heavy moisture hung in the air, and Sarah’s lungs worked extra hard to suck in oxygen. Sarah stopped when she reached her bike, deep in thought. Jackie and Lacey paused beside her.
Sarah squinted in the sun. “Man, we need to meet and pull all of our info together.”
Jackie fussed with her curls. “You’re right. Maybe we can meet tonight?”
“Yeah, I’ll ask Aunt June if you can spend the night. Maybe we can camp out.”
“Awesome,” Jackie beamed.
“I want to camp out, too,” Lacey piped up.
“Only if you help put up the tent.”
“Deal.”
The girls pedaled their way to Jackie’s house and dropped her off. Her house stood on the corner of Broadway and Walnut. Surrounding the dignified home was a stone fence with an iron gate. A manicured lawn grew within the boundaries of the fence, whispering of a forgotten era of garden parties and croquet games. Sarah wondered about the history of the house and the many secrets of the small town.
“Thanks for the ride.” Jackie climbed off the back of the bike, pulling Sarah from her thoughts.
“Be at my house at seven.” Sarah pushed her hair away from her sweaty forehead and took some deep breaths.
“Do you think you’re up for a campout?” Jackie teased.
“Be there or be square, Beanpole.”
Jackie laughed. “See ya at seven.” She waved and hurried inside.
Gliding through the streets of Harrisburg, Sarah felt the breeze cool her skin. She couldn’t remember ever feeling so free. At home, her family had to schedule a biking excursion and take the bikes to a bike trail in order to ride. The trail was always busy with bikers and people on roller-blades—it wasn’t as carefree as this small town. I might like growing up here, Sarah mused, as she steered her bike onto her street.
The girls turned into the driveway and dropped their bikes on the front lawn. Racing inside, Sarah asked their aunt if Jackie could spend the night. She said it was okay, so Sarah called Jackie while Lacey helped with dinner.
After a dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, Sarah and Lacey dashed off to put up the tent. Both girls were excited about camping out in the backyard. Sarah couldn’t wait for Jackie to spend the night, and her heart danced with anticipation. We go together like peanut butter and jelly. A smile burst out on Sarah’s face. Even though the threat of Klonsky lurked in the background, she was enjoying her summer and her new friend.
Sarah and Lacey managed to get the tent up without too much trouble, and they brought out sleeping bags and a cooler full of soda. While her sister was in the house gathering more camping supplies, Sarah opened the flaps to air out the tent. It smelled musty from being stored away all winter.
Joining her sister in the backyard, Lacey carried a flashlight and a radio in her hands. “Looks like we’re ready.”
“It sure does.”
Lacey searched the cooler, counting cans with her index finger. “I’m going to get some more, just in case.”
“Good idea, you can never have too much.”
While her sister ran back into the house, Sarah’s thoughts turned toward their investigation. A chill ran down her spine when Klonsky came to mind. What possible reason could he have for killing the Cat Lady? As she pondered this question, a police cruiser turned the corner and drove slowly down the street. Sarah saw Klonsky at the wheel. He glared at her from inside his car. Sarah’s blood ran cold. She sucked in a breath and stared back, refusing to be intimidated. Scowling and shaking his finger at her, he yelled and sped away. Sarah took several deep breaths; she hadn’t understood what he shouted, but she knew it couldn’t be good. With trembling hands, she pushed her hair out of her face. All of a sudden it hit her.
Klonsky knows where I live.