Chapter 22: Chaos in the Garage

Carol tried all day to tell her siblings about Schlegel, but she never had a chance.  Renee had gone straight to the billiards room to find someone else to thrash.  Carol could have tried going to her brothers’ room and telling them what she’d heard, but Schlegel had gone back to his room right across the hall.  Carol couldn’t risk being overhead, so she decided to wait.  Before she knew it, it was dinnertime, and that was hardly a secret opportunity.  After dinner, Blaine complicated matters by suggesting they all go out in the backyard and watch the sun set over the ocean.  Then, Bourdon asked Drew and Edward if they wanted to watch a movie.

After that, Carol decided she’d just have to handle this herself.  When they finally retired for the evening, she pushed her bed across the room until it was almost right next to the door.  Renee looked at her quizzically.

“What—”

“Shh!” said Carol, giving her sister a look.  “It’s a surprise.”

“Oh,” said Renee.  “Good night.”

“You too,” sighed Carol, climbing into bed.  She wondered whether or not to tell Renee what was happening, now that they were alone.  She decided she would, but as she started to get out of bed, she saw that Renee was curled up, eyes shut.  She wasn’t asleep yet, but Carol would have to go across the room and wake her up to get her attention.  If the room was bugged, Carol didn’t want to take that chance.  Especially after Renee had asked about the bed.  That was enough of a risk for tonight.

Settling back down, Carol pulled out a book.  If she fell asleep, there was no way she’d hear Schlegel get up.  Fortunately, it was a pretty exciting book.  Sea Gold by John Blaine (no relation to their host).  It was about a project to extract minerals from seawater, such as gold.  Of course, there were saboteurs, and series star Rick Brant was hot on their trail.  Carol had just gotten to the part where Rick and his friend Scotty had been left for dead in the water eight miles offshore when she heard the unmistakable click of a doorknob.  She slammed the book, sat bolt upright, and listened.  A door creaked open, and she heard a few footsteps.  Then, there was a click as the door shut.

Someone across the hall was up and about.

Slowly getting out of bed, Carol counted off five seconds.  Then, she gently opened her door and peeked out.  There was Schlegel, heading down the stairs.  Carol slipped outside and closed her door, holding the knob as she did so the latch wouldn’t make as much noise.

Schlegel descended the stairs, not once looking back.  Then, he opened the front door and strode outside.  Once the front door had shut, Carol hurried down the stairs after him.  She opened the door just in time to see Schlegel walking briskly towards the driveway.

Carol stepped outside, shutting the front door quietly.  Then, she ducked down behind some bushes.  Her head up, eyes on her quarry, she followed in silent pursuit.

Just as she thought, Schlegel went straight to the garage.  It was open, and the moonlight gleamed off the shiny cars inside.  Schlegel went straight to a BMW; the light inside came on as he opened the car door.

Carol reached the garage and crawled in at the side, crouching behind a Porsche.  She peeped over the hood in time to see Schlegel stuff a large bundle of papers into the glove compartment.  He closed the compartment, took his keys, and started the motor.  All at once, he snapped his fingers, got out of the car, and ran back towards the house.

Ah-ha! thought Carol.  Now’s my chance!  She ran over to the car, opened the driver’s door, and hopped in.  Leaning over, she tried the handle of the glove compartment.

Unlocked!

Carol reached in for the papers.  This is so easy, she couldn’t help thinking.

“Hey!” came a voice off to her left.  “What are you doing?”

Carol stiffened.  That was Schlegel’s voice!  She turned her head and saw him running towards the garage!

“There’s only one way out,” thought Carol.  She sat up and slammed the door to the BMW.  Fastening her seatbelt, she gunned the motor.  The German luxury car darted out of the garage and down the driveway, past the astonished German diplomat.

Phew! thought Carol.  That was a close one!  I’ll just drive down the road a bit and find a spot to pull over.  Then, I’ll check and see if these are the plans.  If so—

Carol’s thoughts sort of trailed off as she saw the gate approaching.  It opened automatically, but she was already going forty miles per hour—faster than she would have liked.  Better not go through there that fast, she thought, hitting the brake pedal.

The car lurched forward!

Shoot, wrong pedal, Carol thought, switching to the other one.

The car went even faster!  Now, it was at sixty, and the gate loomed ahead!

Frantically, Carol spun the wheel to the right.  The car jerked, almost flipping over.  With a crack!, the right rearview mirror snapped off as she shot through, much too near the side of the gateway.

Carol took her eyes off the road and glanced down at the pedals.  That bigger one on the left was the brake.  Right?  Yes.  Yes, she was sure.  She jammed her foot down on it.

The car sped up!

Carol’s heart leapt into her throat.  She’d tried both pedals, she was sure of it.  Ahead was a winding road with steep cliffs on the left.  It was tough enough in the daytime for a good driver, but Carol was far from a good driver.  She’d taken three tries to pass her driving test.  She’d stalled in parking lots.  She’d had traffic violations named after her.  Now, two thousand feet in front of her was one of the toughest curves she’d seen in her life.

It was getting closer.

“AAAAHHHH!!!” screamed Carol.