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  “I don’t know.” Jesse paused. “That’s a pretty tall accusation with no proof. If you just had those pictures …”

  Robin folded her arms. “Who says I don’t?”

  CHAPTER 5

  The ride into town was quiet. Buck tried several times to get a conversation started, but Jesse and Robin were both preoccupied. Buck finally gave up.

  They were turning up Robin’s street when Jesse broke the silence. “Buck, how well do you know Pete?”

  “Not all that well, I guess. He’s only been working for me about six months. But he comes highly recommended, and from what I’ve seen, he’s a good pilot. Why do you ask?”

  “Here’s my stop,” Robin said, and pointed to a large two-story brick house with a circular driveway. “Jesse, would you like to come in with me? I’d really like to show you those pictures we were talking about earlier. Rodney can drive you home later.”

  Jesse looked at Buck for permission.

  Buck shrugged. “It’s okay with me. As long as you call your mom and let her know where you are.”

  “Thanks for the ride home, Mr. Sellman,” Robin said.

  “Anytime.”

  They waved goodbye and Robin led the way up the sidewalk to the front steps. She took out a key and opened the door. Almost like magic, a small woman in a maid’s uniform appeared.

  “Good afternoon, Miss Robin.”

  “Hi, Irma. This is my friend Jesse from the skydiving club.”

  The woman nodded. “May I get you or your guest anything, miss?”

  “No thanks. We’ll call if we change our minds.” Robin waited for the maid to leave and turned to Jesse. “Like I told you before, the roll of film stolen from my camera today was brand new. The one from Tuesday is in my darkroom. It won’t take us long to develop it. Then maybe we can see what’s so important about it.”

  Jesse wasn’t listening. Instead, he was staring at the crystal chandelier in the foyer. He took in the fountain and the marble staircase. “Wow. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

  Robin rolled her eyes and pulled him toward the stairs. “Come on. We don’t have time to stand around all day. We’ve got some major detective work to do.”

  As they climbed the stairs, Jesse tried not to gawk at the paintings along the wall. He thought he recognized famous signatures on more than one of them.

  At the top of the staircase, they went through a set of double doors. Jesse, still gaping at everything, almost stepped on the back of Robin’s shoe. Her bedroom was as big as his living room. The furniture was white, and framed photographs covered the walls.

  He stopped in front of one. It was a large Saint Bernard with a red balloon in its mouth. “Did you take this? It’s great.”

  “I took all of these. I’m not allowed to hang them anywhere but here”—Robin laughed—“and as you can see, I’m about out of room.” She moved to a narrow door beside her dresser. “You want to help me in the darkroom or wait out here?”

  “I don’t know how much help I’ll be, but I’ll give it a try.”

  Robin held the door for him. “Watch your step. It’s a little small. My mother had it converted from a closet.”

  “This used to be a closet?” Jesse shook his head in disbelief. Inside was a long work table, some plastic pans, shelves with chemicals on them, and a wire strung the length of the room with pictures clipped to it.

  “Here, put these on.” Robin handed him an apron and some rubber gloves.

  She went to a cabinet and took out a roll of film. “This is the roll from Tuesday. Hand me that brown bottle marked ‘developer,’ would you?”

  Jesse looked on the shelves behind him and located the bottle. He handed it to Robin. “I’ll have to turn out the safelight for a few minutes while I wind the film onto a reel,” she said. “Just hang on and don’t move, or you might knock something over.”

  Jesse stood still in the pitch darkness while Robin went to work. Soon the negatives were ready and she turned the safelight back on.

  Robin held the negatives up to the safelight. “Look at this. I told you there were people getting off that plane. I’ll have these enlarged so that we can get a better look.”

  Once the film was dry, Robin moved to a machine she called an enlarger. As she worked she explained how it operated. When she was through she hung several wet pieces of photographic paper on the wire with clips.

  Jesse studied the glossy, still wet photos. “Well, you’re right about one thing. These people aren’t part of the staff and they don’t look like inspectors. But who are they?”

  “The woman looks familiar.” Robin held a magnifying glass up to one of the pictures. “In fact, they all do.”

  CHAPTER 6

  “Jesse!” Robin burst into the training room waving a large manila envelope. “I found out who they are.”

  “Calm down.” Jesse put his finger to his lips and whispered, “Pete’s around here somewhere.” In a louder voice he said, “Hi, Robin. Did you come out to get some shots of Buck’s exhibition jump today?”

  Robin followed his lead. “Right. That’s why I’m here.” She grabbed his arm and said in a low voice, “I know who those people in the picture are. Where can we talk?”

  “Come on. We’ll go to Buck’s office. We don’t have a lot of time, though. I’m going up in the plane with him in a few minutes.”

  “This won’t take long. After you see it you might want to show it to Buck.”

  Footsteps sounded behind them in the hall. “Show what to Buck?”

  They both whirled around. Pete Reeves was standing a few feet away.

  Robin tried to act nonchalant. “Oh, it’s nothing, really. I was just telling Jesse that maybe I was starting to get over my fear of heights. I thought Buck might like to know, that’s all.”

  The pilot glanced down at the envelope. “What’s in there?”

  Robin took a step backward. “Nothing. Just some pictures I was going to show Jesse.”

  “Really? I love photography. Could I see them?” Pete reached for the envelope.

  Jesse moved in front of Robin. “Maybe later, Pete. We’re in a hurry right now.” He took Robin’s elbow and propelled her down the hall and out a side door.

  “That was a close one.” Robin followed him across the grass to a nearby hangar. “I guess it was a mistake to bring these pictures down here today. I was so excited, I forgot about what Pete might do.”

  “Well? Are you going to keep me in suspense? Who were the people in the picture?”

  Robin undid the clasp on the envelope and pulled out a newspaper article. “Read this and see if you recognize anybody in the picture at the top of the page.”

  Jesse skimmed through the column and then looked up at the blurry newspaper photograph. “I don’t believe it! These are the people in your photos. But why would Pete be transporting members of a Central American drug cartel?”

  Robin pulled out another picture. “Remember the other day at my house, when I told you these people looked familiar?”

  Jesse nodded.

  “I couldn’t shake the feeling, so I went to the library last night and did a little research. It turns out that these three had their pictures on television and in the papers about six months ago. The FBI had arranged a deal with them. In return for their cooperation in helping to capture some of their competitors, they were supposed to be given amnesty.”

  “I remember something about that. Didn’t it backfire in some way?”

  “Right. The cartel’s head man, Corrubia”—Robin pointed to a portly man with a black mustache in the photograph—“planned a trap. Instead of helping the FBI catch his competitors, he killed them and stole all their holdings. But that’s not the worst of it. The FBI team that was sent down there to make the deal was never heard from again. I’m sure Pete’s getting a lot of money to fly Corrubia and his friends here.”

  Jesse frowned and leaned against the wall. “Robin, this is big. The authorities should hear about this.�
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  “What do you think we should do?”

  “Go home. Don’t do anything until I talk to Buck. After all, it is his company. When we get back from the jump, I’ll call and let you know how he wants to handle it.” Jesse started for the door, then stopped. “Robin, be sure you go straight home. These people are dangerous. There’s no telling what they might do to get those pictures.”

  “Don’t worry about me.” Robin put the article back inside the envelope. “I’m the fraidy-cat, remember? I won’t take any chances.”

  “Good.” Jesse moved to the door. “I’ll call as soon as the plane lands. I better go. Buck’s probably wondering where I am.”

  Robin tucked the envelope under her arm and stepped outside with him. She headed down a gravel path toward the back door of the main building.

  There was no sign of Pete inside. At the end of a hallway, she stepped into the lobby. Through the large plate glass windows at the front of the building she could see her father’s car parked by the curb.

  She let out a breath. “So far so good.”

  When she reached the sidewalk, she started to open the car door.

  Something was wrong.

  Rodney always came around to open the door for her. She cupped her hands to block the sun and strained to see through the tinted windows. Someone was sitting in the front seat, all right. But it wasn’t Rodney.

  The driver’s door opened and a tall Hispanic man jumped out and started around to her side.

  Robin barely had time to think. She turned and ran for all she was worth. The man shouted something in Spanish and raced after her.

  The lobby door banged shut behind her, but she knew better than to look back. If she could only find someone to help her! The hall was empty and so was the training hangar.

  Robin darted out the side door of the hangar and bolted across the field. A small plane was just rolling out of a hangar, and people were standing nearby.

  “Wait! Don’t go!” Robin screamed.

  The tall man chasing her stopped when he saw what she was doing and ducked behind a truck.

  Robin was out of breath when she reached the plane. Buck took her by the shoulders. “What’s wrong, Robin?”

  “I … need … help.” Robin gulped air and tried to collect herself.

  Jesse moved to her side. “Has something happened, Robin?”

  Robin nodded furiously. She was just about to explain when Pete appeared in the doorway of the small airplane. The color drained from her face and she felt dizzy.

  “What’s the problem out here?” Pete growled. He looked at his watch. “We’re behind schedule already.”

  Robin swallowed. “Uh, no problem.” She glanced back at the truck. “It’s just that …”

  “What is it, Robin?” Buck asked gently.

  Robin swallowed again. “I’ve decided that I want to go up with you.”

  “Now that’s a surprise,” Buck said. “What’s gotten into you?”

  “Nothing. I just think it’s about time for me to get over this silly thing I have about heights, that’s all. Can I go?”

  “Buck, we don’t have time for this,” Pete protested. “Your class is waiting for you at the landing zone. Let’s go.”

  “Her dad did sign that permission slip,” Jesse chimed in.

  “Are you sure about this?” Buck searched her face.

  “As sure as I can be.” Robin tried not to look as nervous as she felt.

  Buck patted her on the back. “All right. Looks like we’ve added a crew member.”

  CHAPTER 7

  “Everything all right?” Buck asked, tapping her shoulder.

  “Great!” Robin yelled over the roar of the plane’s engine. She was sitting on the floor with her head down, trying not to think about where she was. It was hard, considering that the plane’s door was wide open and Buck was preparing to step out on the wing strut.

  Jesse adjusted the buckle on his parachute harness and stepped close to the door to watch for the landing zone. After spotting it and checking the wind indicator for the second time, he reached out and slapped Buck’s thigh.

  Buck’s jump was perfect. He threw his body backward into a poised arch and drifted away from the plane.

  “You really ought to see this, Robin. He’s the best.”

  Robin didn’t move. “I’ll take your word for it.”

  The rainbow-colored parachute slipped out of its deployment sleeve and blossomed in midair. Like a paper doll, Buck floated effortlessly to the ground and landed in the center of the zone.

  “Right on target as usual,” Jesse said proudly. He moved to the front of the plane. “You can take us in, Pete. Buck’s down.”

  Pete nodded and turned the plane around. Jesse sat down on the floor beside Robin. Because Pete might be able to hear snatches of their conversation, he decided not to ask what had happened back at the field. Besides, Robin didn’t look much like she wanted to talk right then anyway.

  Jesse leaned back and closed his eyes. Someday it would be him floating down through the clouds, putting on exhibitions for students. Later he’d enter international jumping contests. When he landed perfectly on the X, the other contestants would all crowd around him begging for his autograph.

  The plane lunged forward. Jesse’s eyes flew open. The engine coughed and sputtered. He jumped to his feet. “What’s wrong, Pete?”

  “Looks like engine failure. We’re going down, kid. You and your girlfriend better get out now if you want to keep your skin.” Pete unbuckled his safety belt and checked his own parachute. “What are you standing around for? Didn’t you hear me? We’re going to crash!”

  Jesse turned to Robin. Her eyes were wide with fear. “I can’t do it, Jesse!”

  “Sure you can.” Jesse tried to keep his voice from shaking. “It’ll be just like in class. I’m going to be with you all the way. It’ll be great, the biggest thrill of your life, something you can tell your grandchildren.”

  “I can’t hold her much longer!” Pete yelled over his shoulder. “We’re on fire! If we don’t get out soon, it’ll be too late.”

  Jesse helped Robin to her feet and led her to the door. “I know it’s not the way you pictured your first jump, but we’ll have to deal with it. Hang on to me. When it’s time for you to pull your cord, I’ll let go of your hand and push you away. Got it?”

  “I think so.”

  Jesse gave her hand a squeeze. “You’ll be fine. Ready?” He looked back at the pilot. “See you on the ground, Pete.”

  They stepped into air.

  Robin gripped Jesse’s hand and closed her eyes. They were dropping fast. What was it Buck had said in class about terminal velocity? Something about how your body reached a maximum speed and then leveled out the rest of the way to the ground.

  Jesse squeezed her hand again and then gently pushed her away. Robin immediately reached for the ripcord and pulled.

  Nothing happened.

  She felt a scream welling up in her throat. Her eyes snapped open. Jesse was a few feet away, frantically motioning for her to pull the cord.

  Again and again she yanked at the cord, but the chute refused to open. She careened wildly through space.

  Jesse maneuvered close to her. He grabbed for her foot but couldn’t hold on to it. Her body continued to tumble helplessly end over end toward the ground.

  He reached for her again, this time managing to catch his fingers on one side of her harness. She felt a slight jerk upward as his chute filled with air and lifted them both back up a few feet.

  Jesse worked to help Robin to an upright position. She flung both arms around his neck and held on for dear life.

  Everything on the ground started to look bigger by the second. Jesse tried to gauge when they would hit.

  He suddenly realized that something was terribly wrong. Beneath them, instead of seeing the flat plains near the airfield, he saw mountains. The shapes of trees loomed below him, first small and then immense. Jesse braced for the collisi
on.

  They hit hard, crashing through dozens of layers of branches in a tall pine tree, the chute finally snagging on a thick limb.

  Jesse’s face was scratched and bloody. He could hardly catch his breath. His sides felt as if he’d been kicked. He looked up. The parachute was hopelessly tangled in the branches above them.

  Robin’s face was buried in his chest. She still had a death grip around his neck. Her hair was a mass of sticks and pine needles.

  They hung there like that for a full minute. Finally Jesse found his voice. “Robin?”

  “Huh?”

  “Are you okay?”

  Robin groaned and moved her head slightly to the left so that she could see his face. “Is the thrill over yet?”

  Jesse attempted a smile, but it made his face hurt too badly. Even talking was a strain. “Almost. Now all we have to do is figure out a way to get out of this tree.”

  Robin glanced down. They were suspended at least twenty feet in the air. “What do jumpers usually do when this happens?”

  “Believe it or not, this isn’t supposed to happen. Pete must have been way off course for us to wind up here.”

  The limb they were hanging from suddenly made a loud cracking noise.

  Jesse looked up at the growing split in the branch. “Looks like we may not have to figure a way down after—”

  His words were lost in the fierce snapping of the branch. Without any further warning, the limb broke loose and they plummeted through the rest of the branches to the ground.

  CHAPTER 8

  “Jesse?” Robin touched the side of his face gingerly. His eyes were still closed. “Can you hear me?”

  His lashes fluttered and then his eyes slowly opened. “I hear you.” He tried to sit up but made it only to his elbows. “Man, I feel like a ton of bricks landed on me.”

  “Thanks a lot.”

  “Don’t tell me it was you.”

  “Sorry. You did a nice job of breaking my fall, though.”