Chapter Twenty-Seven

Harriet wasn't sure who was at the door, but Danny froze as soon as he opened it. Why wasn't she surprised? Whenever she admitted that her life wasn't perfect, either the doorbell rang, or she was chased for several blocks with an umbrella or cane by an annoyed interviewee.

"Danny?" she asked, starting to get concerned by his lack of response. "Danny? are you okay?"

Worried she stood and approached the boy. Before she could tap him on the shoulder, he fell into her arms unconcious.

Whenever someone passes out, there's always a fuss. People focus on the person who was indisposed and payed attention to nothing else. This case was an exception. Harriet was more focused on the form of a puppy on the doorstep.

At first she thought it was dead, but then realized it was faintly breathing. Having used up her ability to be surprised that day, she didn't hesitate reaching for Danny's cell phone to call a vet.

But before she could dial, the phone rang. Without glancing at the caller ID, she answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Danny! We need your help!"

-----

A minute earlier, Sam decided that trying to call Danny again wouldn't hurt.

She was successful... sort of.

Instead of Danny, she was speaking to the woman who, on television, made her out to be a crazed killer.

"Sam? What's wrong? Danny just fainted because someone left a dog that appears to be dead but really isn't on the doorstep. Wow, that was a long sentence!"

"Very funny Harriet! What's next? My parents just arrived and are eating the sofa cushions!"

"Sam! I'm telling the truth! But you said you needed help. What's wrong?"

Against her better judgement, Sam told Harriet a watered down version of what had happened the past few days. From the "Ghost Boy" preparation on friday, to the News Broadcast on Saturday, to the Junior CIA work on Sunday, up till now.

Harriet took a deep breath, and replied, "Stay where you are. I'm coming to get you."

"But don't you have a dying animal on the doorstep?"

"I know. I'm seriously going to have to multitask here."

-----

Harriet was probably breaking several speeding laws, but she had to get Sam and Tucker out of that slightly disturbing section of the city.

As Harriet pulled up to the curb, a policeman who was following her pulled over. (She was too concerned with staying on the road to notice him).

He pulled up his visor, "Escuse me ma'am, but that display of driving was the worst I've ever seen. I'll need to see your license."

"My license?" Harriet started sweating bullets, "I'm kinda in a rush, and I must of forgotten it. Look, I really need to-"

The policeman gave her a measured look, "Look lady, I don't care if your cousin is being stocked by a creepy looking guy, the way you were driving could have killed someone!"

Harriet calmly opened the door and faced the policeman, "For your informationpal, I've got a dying animal in the car, the kid who I'm babysitting has fainted, and my cousin and her friend ARE being followed by a creepy looking guy! So I suggest you stop worrying about what MIGHT have happened, and start woorying about what COULD happen!"

Several people walking by had stopped to stare at Harriet's outburst, two of them were Tucker and Sam, who quickly snapped out of their daze and proceeded to get in Harriet's car.

The policeman looked like he had never been yelled at like that in his life. And just stared blankly as Harriet, still ignoring the speed limits, pulled away from the curb.