Chapter 12

"Are they okay," C. J. asked one of the officers nearby. He turned to her and took a deep breath.

"We don't know," he replied, "They are only lucky they weren't inside when the last explosion hit. It could have been much worse."

Vicki was the first to open her eyes and tried to sit up, "Stay down," someone nearby told her, "We're still waiting for the ambulance to come." Vicki recognized the voice of Chief Stevens.

"Where's C. J," Vicki asked, "Where they all right? I think they were far enough away."

"They're fine," Chief Stevens replied, "Don't worry about them. Just keep still until the ambulance arrives."

"Would you get C. J.? I know she'll want to talk to me," Vicki said, "Will you at least do that?" The Chief nodded and walked away. Almost seconds later, C. J. walked up. By now Joe was up too.

"What happened," Joe asked, "What's going on now?"

"Stay down," C. J. told them both, "There was an explosion." She then turned to Vicki, "I was so glad when Chief Stevens said you were awake."

"Hey," Vicki said, "You just can't get rid of me that easily, right? Come on C. J. you know that."

The sound of sirens reached the group, "That must be them," C. J. said, "I'll get out of the way and meet you there. I should call your parents."

"Not yet," Vicki said, "I don't want to worry them if it's nothing. Don't call until you know what's going on. Promise?"

"Promise," C. J. said a little reluctantly, but she thought that Vicki was right. There was no use telling her parents for nothing. They would have to find out eventually, "I won't tell them unless I have to do it."

"Thanks," Vicki replied, "I'm sure everything's fine though. I feel fine except for a headache and the fact that my wrist hurts a bit."

C. J. walked back to Frank and Callie as the ambulances headed off. The two were standing away from everything, watching the police cars and fire engines exit the area. Frank immediately turned to her, "Are they okay?" The officer had only let one person go back.

"They both looked better than before, but we'll have to find out more," C. J. answered, "I'll drive you two over, unless you want to take the rental."

"We'll meet you there," Frank told C. J. and he took Callie to the rental car nearby. He took off a moment before C. J. and they met at Sport's main hospital.

The three teenagers parked the cars and walked to the front of the white building. Up front, they asked for both Vicki and Joe. The three were directed to the same room, which the two were sharing for now.

Two doctors were inside the room, one with each of them. X-rays had already been taken. After a quick checkup, the doctors left, promising to be back shortly. Frank, Callie, and C. J. walked in and sat in the chairs available.

"What's up," Joe asked, seeming to be his usual self. Frank relaxed after this remark.

"Why are you asking us," Frank asked, "I think we should be asking you that question, don't you think?"

"I guess," Joe replied, "but the doctors say that we're pretty much okay. You won't guess what we found though."

"What," C. J. asked, "Was there a clue?" Joe nodded and Vicki pulled something out of her backpack.

"These are papers about a guy named Jim Condo that disappeared a few weeks ago, his apartment found destroyed, yet there wasn't a sign of him. I think he faked his own disappearance and joined with these people."

"But why," Callie asked, "And how can we find this guy? How is he linked?"

"We also found these formulas on the same desk," Vicki said, "I think they were being used to make some sort of secret weapon or something."

"A secret weapon," C. J. laughed, "Vicki, you come up with the weirdest ideas! Where did you get that from?"

"Look at these equations," Vicki replied and handed the papers to C. J, "What do they tell you?" Vicki's friend glanced over them.

"They tell me that this guy is a genius," C. J. answered, "I've never seen these before. I don't know what to make of it." The doctors came in then and the four went silent.

"It's okay," one doctor said, "Go on with your conversation. We won't be long." They remained silent, waiting for the doctors to leave, "Okay," the doctor said slowly.

Frank, Callie, Vicki, and C. J. glanced at each other and still said nothing. The doctors shrugged and got back to work, "We got the X-rays back a little while ago," the first one, Doctor Barnes, said, "It seems that the worst we found was a sprained wrist, Vicki. You both were very lucky."

"Which one," Vicki asked, and was relieved when she heard it was the left, "Thank goodness!" The doctors wrapped her wrist, looked at her quizzically and left. Joe looked at her strangely.

"What do you mean, 'Thank goodness," Joe asked, "Hello, you did sprain it."

"I know," Vicki replied, "but my right one is used for punching. It's stronger. I can still work on the case." Everyone stared at her and laughed, "What?"