Read Online Valley of Death by Gloria Skurzynski - Free Book Online Page B

next to the one Leesa had shared with Ashley—915. “Like my dad said, lock your door when you get inside,” he told Leesa. “Just in case.”
    â€œIn case what?”
    â€œIn case that spy from The Unit might be hanging around—you know, the guy who followed us on the motorcycle? I mean, if he actually was a spy.”
    Jack watched to make sure that Leesa had entered her room and shut the door firmly, then he let himself into his own room and flopped onto the bed. What a terrible day! Could anything else go wrong? His only (very, very tiny) glimmer of hope was that his parents would be too upset about Ashley to worry much about the broken radio handset.
    Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he sat up and began to work on it again, manipulating the parts to see if he could fit them together. When the room phone rang shrilly, he jumped so hard the pieces flew out of his hands.
    â€œHello?” he said.
    â€œJack, it’s Dad. Are you OK?”
    â€œUh…yeah.” Jack hesitated, not wanting to blurt out just yet that he’d damaged an expensive military radio even though he knew he’d have to own up to it sooner or later.
    â€œIs Leesa with you?”
    â€œNo, she’s in her own room.”
    â€œFine. Both of you stay put, do you hear? Your mom and I are still here at the hangar, and we won’t be coming back to the room anytime soon. The kidnappers have started talking over the two-way radio that Ashley had with her.”
    â€œThey have? What did they say, Dad?”
    Steven spoke louder, raising his voice to be heard over the din of shouts and calls in the background. “They asked for water to be dropped to them by helicopter.”
    â€œAre they going to get it? Are the park people going to give them water?”
    â€œNo.” The answer was curt, terse. “They think that if they do, it will just make the standoff last a lot longer.”
    Jack’s mind raced. That meant Ashley would be suffering from thirst, even though the sun had gone down and the desert would be cooling off to nighttime temperatures. He swallowed hard, imagining her thirst, wishing the law enforcement people would just give in and send water.
    â€œJack, I want you and Leesa to keep your doors locked until we get there,” Steven told him.
    â€œOK, we will. Dad—” Jack was about to inform him about the cell of The Unit in Darwin Falls, when Steven broke in.
    â€œGotta go now. Something’s happening here.” There was a click, and then a dial tone.
    Feeling useless for the hundredth time that day, Jack picked up the pieces of the radio and once again tried to fit them together. He was startled when he heard voices, faint but understandable.
    â€œWe’ve got things set up here for medical services, plus there’s a fire engine and a couple of ambulances.”
    â€œYes, sir, and the two military helicopters from the California Highway Patrol are in the air now.”
    The two voices faded, then another voice came through loud and clear. “Have one of the choppers drop a smoke bomb. We need to identify two things—the location of the fugitives and the direction of the wind. Tell the helicopter to fly high. I don’t want another aircraft to get sniped at.”
    â€œI’ll convey that order, sir.”
    The radio couldn’t be damaged too badly because Jack was still able to hear incoming messages. They were weak but audible. If he couldn’t fix it, someone who knew more about electronics might be able to. Time passed—he wasn’t sure just how much—before he heard another communique:
    â€œOur troops are about 200 feet to the east of the kidnappers. We’re moving forward in stealth mode, flat on the ground.”
    â€œGo to 150 feet and stop. No sudden movements. Remember—our strategy is to confine and contain.”
    Jack found the talk button and pressed it. “Anybody out there? Can