Me: A lot of you got the answer right, but only one of you got it right first. Congratulations, thankchaosforspellcheck! Here's your free Rico!

Rico: *coughs up a smoke bomb, which goes off*

Me: *coughs* Rico? Where'd you go?

Chapter 8: Friends and Foes

"Sk-Skippa?" I whispered to my brother, trying my best to remain calm. "Who is that?"

A bald black man in a blue police uniform and black sunglasses and a black go-T walked up to us. He shined his flashlight down on us and smirked. "Had a feeling it was you, Anderson. 'Course, I didn't expect you to have company."

Skipper and I stood up. I was shaking like a leaf, but my brother just smiled cooly at the man. "Nice to see you again, officer. How's work?"

The man got into Skipper's face and growled "you and your little escapes cost me my rank as lieutenant! Not to mention my dignity and, once, my go-T!"

"Your...go-T?" I asked, puzzled.

The officer looked at me. "It grew back," he said. He returned his attention to my brother. "Still, you've caused me a lot of humiliation, Anderson. Now, I'm finally gonna turn you in."

Skipper grinned mischievously. "Oh, is that so?" He kicked the man in the groin, and the man yelped and collapsed. Skipper grabbed my arm and rushed me away.

"Skippa!" I said as we ran. "Who was that man!?"

"Officer X," he answered, not looking at me. "That's the police officer I've been telling you about. Don't worry, little bro. I won't let him hurt-" he was cut off by a rope being lassoed around us.

The roped tightened, but we somehow managed to stay standing. Officer X walked up to us. "Finally," he said, "after all this time, I've finally caught you, Anderson."

"Do what you want with me, X," Skipper said boldly, "but let my little brother go. The boy never did anything wrong in his life."

"Except," I stated, "for running away from home." Skipper groaned, and I could tell that I shouldn't have said that.

Officer X smiled deviously. "Couple of runaways, eh? Guess fugitive runs in the family. Now then, you two, I hope you're ready for some X-tra long time in juvy."

"Do I even have to mention the horrible 'X' puns?" Skipper asked sarcastically.

Suddenly, we heard a BONK, and Officer X fainted. We were both stunned, until we saw a girl standing behind him, holding a tree branch.

Her name was Sonya Rogers-Julien's older sister. She was a beautiful junior with soft amber eyes and long, curly, bleach-blond hair. Unlike her brother, she was always focused. She was wearing a white tank top, jean shorts, and white tennis shoes. Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail.

Sonya took one look at us and scoffed. "I try sleeping in and what happens? I hear some commotion and decide to wake up. You two are lucky I did."

"Will you just untie us?" Skipper asked, impatiently.

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever." When she finished untieing us, she asked "what happened, anyway?"

My brother glared at her. "None of your business," he told her. "All you need to know is that it involves our mother, alcohol, and the man you just KO'd."

Officer X groaned, starting to stand up, but Sonya whacked him with the branch, and he once again lost conciousness. She looked from me to my brother. "Rumor has it that you two are having some trouble with your ol' man. That true?"

"How did you know about that?" I asked.

"We go to public school." She shrugged. "Word gets around."

"Oh. Well, yes," I said sadly, "it is true."

"Anyway," Skipper looked blankly at her, "thanks for rescuing us. Now, if you'll excuse us, we need to head out."

Sonya tilted her head. "To where?"

"Classified."

"To Marlene Baker's house," I answered, then quickly received an annoyed glare from Skipper.

Sonya nodded. "I'll come with you. I've been needing to talk to that girl, anyway."

"We don't need any company," my brother argued.

Officer X started to wake up, so Sonya hit him in the head, again. I looked at Skipper with pleading eyes. "Skippa, please let her come. I hear she's very street-smart."

Skipper looked at me, then he looked at Sonya and sighed. "Alright, you can come. But you better not cause us any trouble."

She rolled her eyes. "No promises."

Still can't find Rico. :( Please review!

P.S. Sonya belongs to Meagan Snow.