Chapter 20

The officers were now sitting, and I was trying to calm down from the initial shock. The idea that they had found the girl sounded like she wasn't alive. That, we learned was far from the case.

"This is a bit of a strange one," Special Agent Downs said. "We didn't have a clear picture of the girl at all, so not much to go on."

"You were looking for her?" I asked. "Why?"

"Those two bank robbers were part of a national organization of sorts. That is, they all have one common goal. We've infiltrated some of their groups. Then this one crops up and took us by surprise. I think that was part of the plan," Agent Barnes explained. "The two men lived over a hundred miles from here. It took some time to track down their real identity, and then a current address. To say they were not forthcoming with information is an understatement. Now we know why."

"Ok," my father said. "You're holding us in suspense. What happened?"

"I'd love to tell you it was crack detective work," Special Agent Downs answered. "The truth is it was just dumb luck." He paused for a second before going on. "There was an officer that has been going to the schools in the area the girl lived. He was promoting bike safety at the schools. She showed up with her bike."

I wanted him to go on with the story. My father, on the other hand, was watching the two agents, as much as they were watching us.

"Something happened, and you want to know if my son had anything to do with it," my father said.

Special Agent Downs looked at my father and asked him, "Where were you when the robbery took place?"

"My wife and I were with another couple on vacation. At that time we were in ... I believe in Taktser, China. Did you know that it's the birthplace of the Dahai Lama?"

"I would assume you can provide proof of that?"

"With the way Homeland Security breathes down everyone's neck that goes out of the country?" my father answered, a bit flippantly. "I could show you probably five different forms that say we were there. Now, you have avoided the question a little too long. What was it you found, and why would you think my son had anything to do with it?"

Special Agent Downs cracked a smile.

"Are you a lawyer by chance?"

"No. I negotiate corporate hostile takeovers, so that they work."

The agent shook his head and then said, "I don't know how you would do something like that. I mean talk about a lot of emotion. Ever been shot?"

"No. I'm good at what I do. People come out of the negotiations, that I run, understanding what is going on."

"All right, here it is. When the officer was inspecting the bike, he saw some indicators that suggested a bomb. At that point the school was cleared and the bomb squad came in. You know what they do, right?"

"Secure and detonate the object," I answered.

"Unfortunately, yes. They didn't know we wanted our hands on that bike. Now, it's gone," Special Agent Downs said. Then with a smile on his face, he added, "Along with one of their containment vessels."

"What did it do?" my father wanted to know.

"Projectiles compromised the vessel; to the point a few windows were broken."

I was in a state of shock.

"I could have..."

"Been blown to bits, along with the girl," Agent Barnes said with a frown.

Everything started to turn gray and then black.

I blinked my eyes open and then shut them again.

"If you didn't want to leave," Jackie said with a smile, "you could have told us."

"Is Theresa still working?"

"Yes, she's been in several times. The doctor is on his way in to check you. John, I think she was really worried."

"I ... Are my parents here?"

"Yes, and those other two. They are not your relatives, are they?"