Free Fall (The Barclay Family Adventures 2)

Free Fall BY

Ed Hanson

THE BARCLAY FAMILY ADVENTURES Series 1

Series 2

Amazon Adventure

African Safari

Danger at 20 Fathoms

Disaster in Oceania

Desert Ordeal

Falsely Accused

Forest Fire

The Floodgates

Hostages

Free Fall

Lost at Sea

Hurricane

Mountain Blizzard

Iron Mountain

The Pass

Mystery at Bear Lake

The Swamp

Ransom

Tornado

Sunken Treasure

Development and Production: Laurel Associates, Inc. Cover and Interior Art: Black Eagle Productions

Three Watson Irvine, CA 92618-2767 Website: www.sdlback.com Copyright © 2005 by Saddleback Educational Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

ISBN 1-56254-804-2 Printed in the United States of America 10 09 08 07 06 05 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

CONTENTS CHAPTER

PAGE

1 The Jewelry Exchange . . . . . . . . 5 2 A Clean Escape . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 3 Skydiving School . . . . . . . . . . . 14 4 The Barclays’ First Jump . . . . . 22 5 A Strange Discovery . . . . . . . . 29 6 Aaron’s Big Day . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 7 Jeff Takes Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 8 Unlikely Celebrities . . . . . . . . . 46 9 Stolen Gems Recovered . . . . . . 52 10 Community Service . . . . . . . . . 58

MEET THE BARCLAYS

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Paul Barclay A fun-loving father of three who includes his kids in his adventures whenever he can.

Ann Barclay The devoted mother who manages the homefront during Paul’s many absences as an on-site construction engineer.

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Jim Barclay The eldest child, Jim is a talented athlete in his third year of college on a football scholarship.

Aaron Barclay A high school senior, Aaron is inquisitive, daring, and an absolute whiz in science class.

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Pam Barclay Adopted from Korea as a baby, Pam is a spunky high school freshman who more than holds her own with her lively older brothers.

CHAPTER 1

The Jewelry Exchange It was late afternoon when Bob Morgan and Jeff Pace entered the building. They looked like any other well-dressed young businessmen. The 42-story Parker Building was by far the tallest structure in Springfield. Business offices and shops were located on the first five floors. Stories six and up were occupied by luxury condos. Bob and Jeff had been to the fifth-floor Jewelry Exchange before. In fact, they’d been there many times in the past few months. They’d studied the movement of the guards. They knew the layout of the various rooms—and where the security

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cameras were located. They also knew that after-hours security primarily consisted of sensitive motion detectors. At night, even the slightest movement on the floor would be picked up. Alarms would shriek and guards would soon come running. In fact, all elevators and stairs would be guarded soon after the alarm sounded. With all exits blocked, escape from the Parker Building would be virtually impossible. But that would only apply to someone who intended to leave at ground level. Bob and Jeff had an altogether different plan. It was nearly closing time when they stepped off the elevator on the fifth floor. Then they separated and casually walked through the Jewelry Exchange. Neither man gave any indication that he didn’t have a legitimate reason to be there. Bob gradually made his way to the men’s room on the far side of the Exchange. A few minutes later, Jeff followed.

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In the rear of the men’s room was a large storage closet. Cleaning supplies and other equipment were stored there. Bob was already working on the lock when Jeff came in. Once inside the closet, Bob and Jeff quickly hunkered down in the darkness behind a pile of boxes. There they sat, waiting silent and motionless, for the next five hours. It was a little past midnight when they stood up and slipped on ski masks and surgical gloves. Their faces would appear on no security cameras tonight, and no fingerprints would be left behind. Bob and Jeff were prepared for what would happen. Once they left the closet their movements would set off the alarms. They figured they had five or six minutes before the fifth floor would be overrun with police. Of course, they already knew exactly which gems they wanted—and exactly where they were located. Five minutes would give them plenty of time.

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They ran through the fifth floor, scooping up the targeted jewels. In less than four minutes, they had all they could carry. The stairway in the Parker Building connected all floors. Doors on each floor opened out onto a landing. But once anyone entered the landing, the door locked behind him. There was no re-entry. Bob and Jeff waited until the police were about ready to burst onto the fifth floor. Then they entered the stairwell and started jogging up the stairs. Both men were young and in good physical condition. But by the time they reached the roof—37 flights up—Bob and Jeff were gasping for air. Down on the fifth floor, police were searching the Jewelry Exchange. Finding nothing, they headed to the stairwell. After searching the elevators, other guards came running up the stairs from the first floor. Nothing!

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The guards could come up with just one explanation: The thieves had headed up. The metal doors on all floors were locked from the inside. They must be heading for the roof! Bob and Jeff were already there, looking down at the city below them. They knew the police were in hot pursuit, but they weren’t worried. Again, they needed only a few more minutes. As they took off their suit coats, Jeff smiled at Bob and said, “I think we did it, buddy.” Bob winked at Jeff. “Yeah, I believe you’re right about that,” he answered. With that they walked to the edge of the roof, smiled at each other, and dove into the darkness.

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CHAPTER 2

A Clean Escape The men had worn small backpacks— nearly unnoticeable under their suit coats. After falling a few feet, they pulled the cords hanging from their backpacks. Small, rectangular skydivers’ parachutes billowed out over their heads. Bob and Jeff were both skilled skydivers. They maneuvered through the air easily—as though they were at the controls of a small plane. Both parachutes were as black as ink. On this dark, moonless night, they were almost invisible. Neither the police who’d reached the roof nor anyone on the streets below could see them. A small park was just a quarter of a

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mile away. Using their toggle cords, Bob and Jeff steered their chutes toward the park. Except for a panel truck parked there, the park was empty. On the roof of the truck, a faint red light was blinking. A flashlight was also blinking on and off. Their landing signal was clearly visible. Now there were only two things to worry about. Did they have enough altitude to clear the park’s tallest trees? Could they make it to the open area where the truck was parked? It would be tight—but both men knew that. As they glided over the park, Bob could feel the treetops slapping at his legs. Raising his knees to his chest, he managed to clear the last tree before landing 20 feet from the panel truck. Jeff was right behind him. Not a word was spoken as both men hurried to gather up their chutes. In less than a minute, they jumped into the back of the vehicle. The man who’d been waving the

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flashlight took the red light off the roof of the truck. Then he closed the back doors and drove out of the park without turning on the headlights. Now on the main road, he switched on the headlights and headed west. A few blocks behind the truck, the city was alive with police sirens. Back at the Parker Building the police were dumbfounded. Two men had been prowling on the fifth floor; the video cameras proved it. But where had they gone? Some wild guesses were made. Perhaps the thieves had dressed as policemen to blend in with the real officers. Others wondered if a small helicopter had lifted them from the roof. But no one mentioned parachutes as a possible means of escape. Sitting in the back of the truck, Bob and Jeff removed their chutes. First they stuffed them into a large canvas bag. Then they took the jewels from their pockets and stowed them in a brown briefcase.

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Bob gave Jeff a friendly slap on the back. Then he climbed into the front seat and spoke to the driver. “Well, we did it, Wink,” he said, smiling broadly. “I can’t believe you pulled it off, Bob!” Wink exclaimed. “Nice going! How much do you think the stuff is worth?” “It’s hard to say for sure, Wink,” Bob replied. “But I’d guess 10 million or so— maybe a little more.” Jeff stuck his head between the two brothers sitting in front. “Now remember our agreement,” he said. “We aren’t going to touch any of these jewels for at least six months.” Wink Morgan nodded. “You’ll get no argument there, Jeff. And we won’t change our lifestyle either. We’ll just go about our everyday work as if nothing happened.” “Okay. Have we got any new students scheduled for next week?” Bob asked.

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CHAPTER 3

Skydiving School “Let’s get Dad by himself,” Pam Barclay suggested. “For one thing, he’s easier than Mom. And besides—maybe we can talk him into going along with us.” “Yeah, I think you’re right,” Aaron answered. “Good thinking, Sis.” Paul was relaxing in the living room. In fact, he was just finishing up the crossword puzzle in today’s paper. When Aaron and Pam walked in, they sat down near him. Right away, he knew that something was up. When the two of them teamed up, they always wanted something. “Dad,” Aaron said, “Pam and I have something in mind that we’d really like to do. We want to ask your permission.”

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“Actually, Dad,” Pam piped up, “this is something we thought you might like to do with us.” “Yeah,” Aaron chimed in. “You know how important it is to do things that will bring us closer as a family. This would be something we’d always remember.” “And it would be great fun, too,” they said almost in unison, their words tumbling over each other. Paul smiled. “Okay, so much for the preamble,” he chuckled. “Do you two ever intend to get to the point?” Aaron took a deep breath and started talking fast. “Well, Dad, we’ve always wanted to make a parachute jump. A couple of my friends did it last week. They said it’s great. In the morning an instructor gives a half-day of instruction. Then you can make your jump that very afternoon!” As Aaron’s breath ran out, Pam jumped in. “And the chutes open automatically! You don’t even have to pull your own rip

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cord. It would be really, really great, Dad— absolutely the best!” Paul stared at his children without saying a word. He had a stern look on his face, but that was only to cover the amusement he felt. He never tired of Aaron and Pam’s antics. Aaron was literally dancing from foot to foot in anticipation. “So, what do you think, Dad?” he finally blurted out. “Can we do it? Would you like to do it with us?” The smile Paul had been holding back finally broke through. “As a matter of fact, that’s something I’ve always wanted to do, too,” he said. “I think it would be quite a thrill. But I’m not sure how your mother would feel about it. Have you discussed it with her, by any chance?” “Well—no,” Pam admitted. “Uh—let’s not tell her,” Aaron suggested meekly. “Aaron!” Paul said sternly. “You know better than to even suggest such a thing.”

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Aaron hung his head. “I’m sorry, Dad. I guess I got carried away for a minute.” “Okay, son, that’s better,” Paul said. “I tell you what. I’ll talk to your mother about it. If she approves, we’ll do it.” Both Aaron and Pam clapped their hands in delight. “Oh, great!” Pam cried out. “The jump school is only about 20 miles from here, Dad. It’s called the Thunderbirds Skydiving School.” “Well, don’t get your hopes up too high,” Paul said. “You have to give me a couple of days to work on your mother. Then we’ll discuss it again.” It took more than a little convincing. But Paul finally talked Ann into letting the kids make a parachute jump with him. Then he called the skydiving school for more information. Before hanging up, he made reservations for the following Saturday. At dinner that evening, Paul broke the news. “Hey, guys, I almost forgot. Don’t

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make any plans for next Saturday.” “Why not?” Aaron asked. “Because we’re supposed to be at the Thunderbirds field by 9 A.M. to get ready for our parachute jump that afternoon.” Pam shrieked with excitement. “Wow! That’s great, Dad!” she cried out. “Fantastic!” was all Aaron could say. “They said to wear old clothes,” Paul went on. “I was thinking maybe jeans and a sweatshirt would be appropriate.” Aaron jumped up from the table. “I’m going to call my friend,” he said excitedly. “I can’t wait to tell him that we’re jumping on Saturday.” “Hold up there, Aaron,” Ann said firmly. “I know you’re excited, but you can call your friend after you’ve finished your dinner. And after you’ve helped clean up.” **** The Thunderbirds Skydiving School was located on six acres of rural land 20 miles from Rockdale. A little airstrip was

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situated at one end of the property. In all, four buildings were on the site. One was a big combination hangar and machine shop. The jump school’s planes were stored and maintained there. A much smaller building housed the school’s office. The remaining two buildings were used for storage. At the far end of the property was a large open area. Right in the middle, a giant red cross had been spraypainted on the ground. Paul drove by a large sign at the gate. It said, Welcome to Thunderbirds Skydiving School. Then the Barclays parked and entered the building marked Office. Bob Morgan stood up and greeted them. “You must be the Barclays,” he said. “My name is Bob Morgan. I’ll be working with you today.” “Good morning, Bob,” Paul said as he shook the man’s outstretched hand. “I’m Paul Barclay. And these are my children, Aaron and Pam.”

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“Are you ready for the thrill of a lifetime?” Bob asked with a grin. “Oh, boy! We sure are,” Aaron said enthusiastically. Just outside the door, Paul noticed another group of Thunderbird trainees. They were leaping off a small platform and rolling on the ground. “That’s my partner, Jeff Pace,” Bob said. “The people he’s working with will be making their first jump today.” “Do just the two of you operate this business?” Paul asked. “No,” Bob replied. “My brother Wink works here, too. He’s the pilot and a great mechanic. We count on him to keep the planes in topnotch condition. Wink’s the guy who’ll be taking us up this afternoon.” The morning’s instruction wasn’t very complicated or difficult. Bob explained the procedure and the equipment thoroughly. Then he went over the sequence of events. First, Wink would take the plane up to

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an altitude of 3,500 feet. Then, he’d slow down as much as he could without stalling the engine. At that point, a jumper would step out onto the strut under the wing— and hold on for dear life! When it was time to let go, Bob would tap the jumper on the leg. At that signal, the jumper would let go and fall backward away from the plane. After the jumper fell for 10 yards or so, the tether strap would open the chute automatically. Then the jumper could enjoy the view as he or she floated to earth. To prepare for landing, the jumper would begin to steer the chute. The goal would be to come as close as possible to the painted cross.

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CHAPTER 4

The Barclays’ First Jump The Barclays spent most of the morning practicing rolling over on their hips after hitting the ground. As Bob explained, “Your biggest chance of injury is when you land. You have to roll with the impact of the ground.” At 1 o’clock, they were dressed in their jumpsuits. Bob Morgan helped them strap on their parachutes. All three Barclays were excited as they boarded the little Cessna with Bob Morgan. Bob’s brother Wink was at the controls. After his passengers were settled, he taxied the plane to the far end of the runway. Then the engine roared to life, and the

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plane headed down the runway. Aaron wondered if it would ever take off. But before he knew it they were 30 feet off the ground and climbing. By the time the Cessna reached the desired altitude, it was several miles from the airstrip. At that point, Wink turned the plane around and headed back toward the Thunderbirds’ airfield. Bob grinned at Paul. “You’re first,” he said. “Just remember—don’t let go until you feel me tapping on your leg.” As they approached the field, Wink slowed the plane to 80 miles per hour. That was as slow as he could fly without stalling the engine. Then Bob swung the door open and signaled for Paul to step out onto the strut. What a thrill! Paul thought as he stood under the plane’s wing with a strong wind blowing in his face. But he got a very different feeling when he realized he was more than half a mile above the ground!

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For a few moments, Paul wondered what he’d been thinking to agree to this. It was terrifying! Moments later Bob reached out and tapped Paul’s leg. That meant it was time to jump. But somehow Paul just couldn’t bring himself to let go right away. After a moment, Bob tapped his leg again. “If you don’t jump now you’ll miss the field,” he warned. Paul knew that he couldn’t chicken out and climb back into the plane. As he released his grip, he thought to himself, I must be crazy! Moments later he looked up to see a parachute billowing above him. Beginning to relax, he realized what a beautiful experience it was. He could see for miles in every direction! And the field marked with the big red cross was only a little to his left. Reaching up and grabbing the two toggle cords, Paul began to guide the chute toward the landing area. His descent took

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less than five minutes. When he hit the ground rolling, he was just 20 yards from the target. Not bad for a beginner, he thought to himself. Paul gathered up his chute and then looked up to see Aaron floating to earth. To the proud father’s amazement, Aaron landed right on top of the painted cross! Next came Pam. A slight gust of wind had caught her chute about 500 feet from the ground. Paul saw that she was being carried toward the far end of the field. He immediately started to jog in that direction. When he reached her, she had just hit the ground. She was wearing a triumphant smile. “Wasn’t that great!” she cried out. “How did you like it, Dad?” Also smiling, Paul reached out to hug his daughter. “It was a truly marvelous experience,” he replied. “But I’m not sure I’d ever want to do it again.” ****

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Before both groups of students left, Wink put on a show for them. He took his brother and Jeff up to 10,000 feet for a free fall jump. As everyone watched from the ground, the two divers leaped out of the plane. All the onlookers gasped as the free fallers soared through space. They fell for 2,000 feet before opening their brightly colored chutes. When they reached the ground, the group of first-time jumpers quickly gathered around them. “That’s what Thunderbirds Skydiving School is all about,” Bob said. “I’m glad your jump today was so exciting. But just imagine the experience of free falling thousands of feet! A lot more instruction is required, of course. But we’ll be happy to train you if you’re interested.” When the Barclays were ready to leave, Aaron followed Bob into the office. “Mr. Morgan,” he said, “I’d sure like to do some free falling. How much does all the necessary training cost?”

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Bob Morgan smiled as he studied the eager young man in front of him. “You know, Aaron, I’d love to work with you. I suspect you’re a natural at this. For one thing, you showed no fear today. For another, it was extraordinary to land right on target on your first jump! “I’ll tell you what we can do. My brother and I have been talking about hiring someone to help with odd jobs around here. We need someone to mow the field, stow the gear, and clean up— things like that. How would you like a job for the summer in exchange for free falling lessons?” Aaron was thrilled at the opportunity. “You mean I could be a Thunderbird for nothing?” he asked. “Well, not exactly for nothing,” Bob chuckled. “You’d be working for us, remember?” “Yeah, sure,” Aaron answered. “How about getting here every day?”

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Bob asked. “Would that be a problem?” “No way!” Aaron exclaimed. “I just got my driver’s license, and my family has a second car. I’m pretty sure my parents would let me drive it to work.” “Okay, then,” Bob said. “Why don’t you check with your dad? If he agrees with this arrangement, give me a call. Then I’ll tell you when you can start.”

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CHAPTER 5

A Strange Discovery Two weeks after the daring jewel robbery, investigators still had no good leads. Chief Harvey of the Springfield Police Department was very frustrated. Today he was meeting with some of his officers to discuss the case. “Does anyone have any new ideas?” he asked. “We need some suggestions for a fresh approach.” A young officer spoke up. “Chief, I was discussing the robbery with a friend of mine. It may sound farfetched—but he suggested the thieves may have escaped by parachuting off the roof.” “Huh! I didn’t think the Parker Building was tall enough to be a safe base 29

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for parachuting,” Chief Harvey answered. “Neither did I, sir,” the young officer admitted. “But according to my friend, that’s not quite true. Using one of the newer chutes, a skilled skydiver could probably do it. My friend should know what he’s talking about. He used to jump a few years ago. He also pointed out that there are three skydiving schools right in this area.” Chief Harvey was interested now. “Well, all our leads so far have led to a dead end,” he said. “Let’s check out those diving schools. I want to see a list of every experienced skydiver within a 50-mile radius of Springfield. There can’t be that many of them. After that, we can do background checks to see if any of them has a criminal record.” The next morning two plainclothes detectives visited the Thunderbirds Skydiving School. Bob Morgan and Jeff Pace were working in the office. Wink Morgan was in the yard, working on the carburetor of one of the Cessnas. Aaron 30

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had started his job a few days earlier. This morning he was perched on a riding mower cutting the grass in the landing area. After introducing themselves, the two investigators told Bob and Jeff about the purpose of their visit. “We’re looking into the robbery at the Jewelry Exchange,” the first police officer explained. “We’re checking out the possibility that the thieves may have escaped by parachuting off the roof.” Then the second officer spoke up. “What we need is a complete list of all the experienced skydivers you’ve trained.” “Wow! That’s an interesting theory,” Bob said. “The roof of the Fargo Building, you say? That wouldn’t be an ideal base for parachuting.” “But would it be possible?” one of the officers insisted. “It would sure be dangerous—but it might be possible,” Bob admitted. Then he looked at Jeff and nodded. “Will you get these gentlemen a list of our graduates?” 31

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Jeff stood up and walked to a file cabinet on the far wall. “Our group of experienced skydivers isn’t too large—only about 40 people,” he said as he handed the officers the list. “Who are the instructors here at the school?” one of the officers asked. Bob smiled and said, “Jeff and I are.” “Are your names on this list?” Bob seemed surprised. “Why, no, I don’t suppose they are,” he replied. “Would you please add them, sir?” the same officer said. He handed the list back to Bob. “Remember—we need a list of all skilled skydivers.” “Of course,” Bob said as he added his and Jeff’s names and addresses to the list. As he handed it back, he said, “You know there are some other diving clubs around.” “Yeah, we know that,” the officer replied. “Officers are visiting them right now.” Then he handed both Bob and Jeff his business cards. “If either of you think of anyone else who’s not on this list, 32

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please give us a call right away,” he said. As the police officers got ready to leave, they thanked Bob and Jeff for their cooperation. After they’d gone, Jeff turned to Bob. His face was tight and worried-looking. “I don’t like this,” he said. “Oh, stop fussing, Jeff,” Bob said as he shrugged his shoulders. “There’s nothing at all that can connect us to the robbery.” “I hope not,” Jeff replied nervously. “But the fact that they’re looking at skydivers isn’t good. Maybe we should divide up the gems right now and split.” Bob tried not to lose his temper. “Sometimes I don’t know why Wink and I went into business with you!” he hissed. “What would the cops think if we closed up shop and disappeared? We’d become the prime suspects! Come on, Jeff, use your head.” Jeff wasn’t totally convinced. He was still muttering under his breath as he walked out of the office. 33

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**** When Aaron finished mowing the field, he drove the mower into one of the storage sheds. Preparing to check the oil, he looked around for some old rags. He peered inside a rusty barrel in the back corner of the shed. Pulling out what he thought was an old cloth, Aaron was shocked to see that it was a black parachute! And right beneath it was a second one! That’s funny, he thought. I’ve never seen these guys use black parachutes for any kind of jumping. As he was heading to his car, Aaron spotted Jeff in the yard. “Hey, Jeff!” he called out. “Did you know that somebody stashed a couple of black parachutes in the storage shed? I just found them stuffed in an old barrel.” Jeff frowned and gave Aaron an icy look. Without a word, he turned and stomped away. Aaron couldn’t figure it out. Had he said something wrong?

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Aaron’s Big Day By the time he reported to work the next morning, Aaron had forgotten about the black parachutes. He had more important things on his mind. Today was the day! After making several jumps with Bob, Aaron was scheduled to make his first solo jump this afternoon. He couldn’t wait to free fall and pull his own ripcord. Bob Morgan would be in the air with him, of course. But Aaron would make all the major moves by himself. First, he would check the altimeter on his wrist as he fell 1,000 feet. Then it would be up to him to open his own chute. This was the first step toward becoming a real skydiver. Aaron arrived early. He quickly parked

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his car and headed across the yard toward the office. “Good morning, Aaron,” Bob greeted him cheerfully. “Are you looking forward to your big day?” “I sure am,” Aaron answered. “Great! We’ll go up this afternoon. Why don’t you finish mowing the field this morning,” Bob suggested. Aaron passed Jeff as he headed to the shed to get the mower. While Bob had been warm and friendly, Jeff gave Aaron a cold look. I wonder what his problem is, Aaron thought to himself. He has no reason not to like me. Oh, well, I always liked Bob and Wink better, anyway. Aaron had just finished mowing when Wink came up to him. “Hey, Aaron,” he said, “we need some stuff from town. How about taking the truck to Springfield and picking it up?” Aaron was happy to help. “Sure, no problem, Wink,” he replied. It would take about 45 minutes to 36

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make the 25-mile trip to Springfield. To pass the time, Aaron turned on the radio. A news reporter was interviewing the chief of police about the Jewelry Exchange robbery. Aaron was shocked to hear the chief’s new theory. He now suspected the thieves had escaped by parachuting from the roof! “Yes, we now believe that skydivers must have been involved,” Chief Harvey continued. “We figure they must have used dark-colored parachutes. There was no moon that night. In the night sky, they would have been practically invisible. We are checking out skydivers in local diving schools and clubs.” Aaron was stunned. For the first time since yesterday, he thought about the black chutes he’d found. His mind raced as he drove. Was it possible that Bob and Jeff had committed the robbery? It was a little past 1:00 P.M. when Aaron arrived back at the field. When he brought in the supplies, Bob was waiting for him. 37

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“Go get dressed now, Aaron. Then grab a chute from Jeff,” he said. “Let’s get this jump over with.” When Aaron walked into the hangar, Jeff looked irritated and angry. He handed Aaron a chute without saying a word. After changing his clothes, Aaron walked to the plane where Bob and Wink were waiting for him. Within moments, they were ready to go. As Wink taxied the plane down the runway, Bob reviewed the procedure with Aaron one last time. “As you know, Aaron, we’re going to jump from 7,000 feet today. You’re to spread your arms and legs as you free fall for 1,000 feet. Keep an eye on your altimeter at all times. As soon as it registers 6,000 feet, open your chute. Have you got all that?” “Yes, I do,” Aaron said excitedly. Ten minutes later, Wink turned to the two jumpers. “Okay, guys, we’re at 7,000 feet,” he called out. “I’m turning and

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heading back toward the airfield now.” Bob swung the door open. Then he waited until he could see the landing field up ahead. “Okay, Aaron, this is it.” Aaron slid over to the opened door and pushed himself out of the plane. A rush of adrenaline hit him as he fell through space. It was the most thrilling thing he’d ever experienced in all his young life! He checked the altimeter on his wrist. It read 6,500 feet. Just a little farther, he thought to himself. A moment later he pulled the ripcord on the right side of his chest. That’s funny, he thought, I don’t seem to be slowing. Aaron looked up, fully expecting to see a billowing parachute overhead. He was shocked to see that his chute was limp, tangled, and snarled. There was nothing to hold him up. Aaron knew exactly what that meant: He was plummeting to certain death!

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Jeff Takes Off Bob had jumped just after Aaron. He was free falling 100 feet from the boy when he saw the tangled chute. He knew that Aaron’s only chance of survival rested with him now. He’d have to catch up to Aaron by going into a fast free fall. Then, once he’d grabbed Aaron, he could open his own chute. Bob put his arms out in front of him and dove. In this position there was almost no air resistance. The distance between the two divers was closing fast. Bob wondered what Aaron must be feeling. The poor kid must be terrified, he thought to himself. Of course, Aaron had no idea that Bob was closing the gap between them. For all he knew, the next few minutes were to be 40

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his last. But then he felt Bob grasping him tightly with his left hand. With his right hand Bob pulled his own ripcord. As his red and blue parachute billowed out, he reinforced his grasp on Aaron with his right arm. Now the two skydivers began floating to earth together. “Aaron, are you all right?” Bob yelled into his ear. “I am now,” Aaron answered in a shaky voice, “thanks to you!” “Listen to me, Aaron,” Bob shouted. “We still have a problem. With two of us on one parachute, we’re falling faster. That means we’ll have a harder landing. It’s more important than ever that you roll when we hit.” Sure enough, the ground came up to meet them quicker and harder than Aaron remembered from his past jumps. After rolling over a couple of times, Aaron checked his body to see if anything was broken. When he was sure that he was okay, he looked over toward Bob. 41

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Bob was sitting up and shaking the cobwebs from his head. Wink had already landed the plane. Now he was running across the field toward the two jumpers. As he got closer, he called out to both of them, “Are you okay?” Bob was obviously shaken by the frightening experience. Struggling to his feet, he looked at the tangled mass of nylon spread out behind Aaron. Turning to his brother, he said, “I packed that parachute myself, Wink. There’s no way that should have happened.” Aaron slipped out of the chute, and Bob began to examine it. “Someone tampered with this chute!” he screamed. “Wink, go see if you can find Jeff.” Bob and Aaron were slightly unsteady on their feet as they walked up to the office. “I don’t know how to thank you, Bob,” Aaron said sincerely. “I could have died. And you saved my life.” “Well, I had to,” Bob replied with a grin. “After all, you’re my star pupil!” 42

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“Maybe not for long,” Aaron replied. “A parachute that doesn’t open puts a real damper on a career as a jumper.” Bob put his arm around Aaron’s shoulder. “Well, Aaron, I can certainly understand how you feel,” Bob answered. About 10 minutes later, Wink came bounding into the office. “There’s no sign of Jeff anywhere,” he blurted out. “I don’t like to say it, brother—but I think we’ve been had!” “What do you mean?” Bob asked. “Don’t you get it? Jeff is gone—along with his car and his briefcase.” Bob’s jaw dropped. “And if I’m not mistaken,” he said, “Jeff’s the one who repacked Aaron’s parachute.” Bob looked into Aaron’s eyes. “Tell me something. Did you ever do anything or say anything to Jeff that could have caused a problem?” As he waited for a reply, he watched Aaron closely. “We never really talked much,” Aaron said. “He’s not as friendly as you guys.” 43

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Aaron thought for a second and then continued. “But yesterday afternoon when I was leaving work, he suddenly seemed to get angry with me. I was telling him about two black parachutes I’d come across in an old oil drum. He just glared at me and then stormed off.” Bob sighed. “Oh,” he said in a low voice. “That explains a lot.” Aaron studied Bob’s face. “I think I know what you two are talking about,” he said quietly. “What do you mean?” Wink asked. Taking a deep breath, Aaron blurted it out: “You’re the guys who robbed the Jewelry Exchange, aren’t you?” Bob and Wink looked at each other nervously. “What makes you say that, Aaron?” Bob asked. “I heard a news report on the radio,” Aaron explained. “The police are pretty sure now that the thieves were skydivers. They’re guessing that dark parachutes were used to make them invisible at night. 44

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“It’s all starting to add up. Right after I stumbled on two dark parachutes at your place, Jeff tries to kill me. Now you say a briefcase is missing. I figure it’s got to contain the stolen gems.” Bob took a deep breath and sighed. “You’re pretty smart for a kid, aren’t you?” “What do we do now?” Wink gulped. “Well, brother, I think we should call the Springfield police. Jeff took off only an hour ago. He can’t be very far away. Chances are they’ll catch him and recover all the jewels. Remember this, Wink: No one got hurt in the robbery. Heck, if we cooperate, we might get off easy.” Aaron eagerly nodded his head in agreement. “And I’ll testify in court that you saved my life!” he offered.

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CHAPTER 8

Unlikely Celebrities Two hours later, Bob and Wink Morgan were sitting in a room in the Springfield Police Station. Chief Harvey and several other officers were questioning them. The brothers had given the officers all the information they could—including a description of Jeff’s car. An APB (all points bulletin) had been issued for him. “I can’t really explain why we did it, Chief,” Bob said. “Probably just to prove that we could, I guess. It sure was dumb.” The chief leaned back in his chair and scratched his head. “I don’t understand it. Why didn’t anyone notice you when you entered the building? After all, you must have been wearing parachutes.” “The backpacks we designed were very 46

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narrow and compact,” Bob explained. “They fit under our suit coats. I guess we just looked like a couple of burly guys.” Wink tapped his foot nervously. “What do you think will happen to us?” he asked. “That’s not for me to say,” the chief said. “The fact that you turned yourselves in is in your favor. It’s also important that no one was hurt. And, of course, it will help a great deal if we recover all the stolen gems.” **** When Aaron arrived home, his father was in the front yard throwing a Frisbee to Charlie. As he climbed out of the car, Charlie ran over to greet him. Usually, Aaron played with the dog before going indoors. But today he had too much on his mind. Ignoring the yellow Lab’s invitation to play, he said, “Dad, you’ll never believe what happened today.” Paul looked at his son curiously. “What’s going on?” he asked with a smile. 47

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“Wait until you hear this!” Aaron exclaimed. “The guys at Thunderbirds robbed the Jewelry Exchange. They’re at the police station now—all except for Jeff. He escaped with all the jewelry. But that was after he tried to kill me. And—” Paul’s forehead creased with concern. “Slow down, son,” he said. “You’re going too fast for me. Who robbed what and who tried to kill whom?” Aaron caught his breath. Then he told Paul the whole story, including his terrifying fall with a tangled chute. “If it weren’t for Bob, I’d have been killed, Dad. Isn’t there anything we can do to help them?” Paul thought about it for a moment. “I don’t know, son,” he said as he shook his head. “They did commit a crime. But maybe we can visit them tomorrow. Then we’ll see if there’s anything we can do.” “I sure hope so,” Aaron said. “They did a bad thing, but they’re really nice guys— except for Jeff. He’s a creep.” 48

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The evening news was all about the robbery. All aspects of the crime were covered in detail. The doorbell rang as the family was watching TV. When Ann opened the door, she found herself looking at two police officers. “Good evening, ma’am,” the officers said in unison. “We have a few questions for your son, Aaron,” one of them went on. Ann led the officers into the living room. Aaron quickly proceeded to fill them in on the events of the past two days. He told them about accidentally finding the two black chutes and described Jeff’s reaction. Then he went into great detail about Bob’s heroic effort to save him from certain death. “Bob and Wink are really good people at heart,” he said more than once. After talking with Aaron for an hour, the two officers thanked the family and stood up to leave. Back in the squad car, one of them looked at the other and shook his head. He couldn’t figure it out. 49

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“Everyone seems to really like these guys! Who are we dealing with here— Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid?” Later that evening, the police found Jeff’s car in Springfield. It was parked at the far end of a parking lot at the mall. **** Jeff was on the run. He knew that Bob and Wink had no way of tracing the car. But they’d be mad that he’d skipped with all the jewels. Now they’d probably try to blame him for everything—including Aaron’s death. For all he knew, the police might already be after him. He debated his next step for a while. Then he headed for the Springfield bus terminal. His plan was to break into a car there. After all, people who left their cars at the station had probably gone on a bus trip. They might not report the car missing for hours—or even days. That would give him enough time to put some miles between himself and his pursuers. **** 50

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The next morning, the local paper ran an unusual article. The story seemed to make folk heroes out of Bob and Wink! They were described as pleasant, clean cut young men who’d pulled off a daring robbery. But no one had gotten hurt! And now they’d given themselves up and promised to help recover the stolen gems. Better yet, one of the men had risked his own life to save the life of a young boy. Somehow the two jewel thieves had been turned into celebrities. Reporters from all around the state wanted to interview them!

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CHAPTER 9

Stolen Gems Recovered Jeff was tired. He’d driven for seven hours, stopping only once for gas. While heading west on the turnpike, he decided to pull into the next rest area. Some coffee and a quick nap were what he needed. Springfield and the Morgan brothers were almost 500 miles behind him now. Just as well, he thought to himself. Those guys are softies—not real men like me! Jeff hadn’t listened to any news reports. He had no idea how events were unfolding back in Springfield. Now he wondered how Bob and Wink had explained Aaron’s death. Had they tried to pass it off as an accident? Or had they decided just to let the jewels go and blame everything on 52

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Jeff? If those two boys played it right, they might get off scot-free. I might be on the lam now, Jeff thought to himself, but things will cool down. Then I’ll have enough money to skip the country and live the easy life. Those guys are losers! Now Jeff started thinking about how to get rid of the jewels. Selling them in a rush would cut his take. But even if he got 20 cents on the dollar, he’d end up with around two million dollars! Yeah, he said to himself. Things are looking pretty darned good for Jeff Pace. Jeff pulled into the next rest area and parked the car. As he wearily headed toward the coffee shop, he didn’t notice the Pennsylvania State Police cruiser parked nearby. Two officers in the middle of their all-night shift had stopped for coffee, too. They watched Jeff approach. His description had been sent all over the country. Police in every state were on the lookout for him. One of the officers put down his coffee. 53

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“That guy looks a lot like the jewel thief from Massachusetts,” he said to his partner. Pulling out the APB, he reread the description. “Yeah, it’s a real close match,” he went on. “And look—he’s driving a car with Massachusetts plates on it.” The two men got out of the cruiser and waited outside the coffee shop. Soon Jeff walked out carrying coffee in one hand and a donut in the other. He was surprised to be flanked by two burly state troopers. The officers were polite but very firm. One of them said, “We’d like to see your license and registration, please.” For a moment, Jeff was speechless. Then he started moving slowly toward the car. “Sure thing,” he mumbled. “They’re in the car. I’ll just get them for you.” “Hold it right where you are,” the same officer said. Pulling his gun from his holster, the trooper kept a close watch on Jeff while his partner went through the car. “Hey, it’s been hot-wired,” his partner 54

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called out. “And what have we here?” He lifted the brown briefcase from the passenger-side floor. Opening the latch, the officer stared in wonder at millions of dollars in stolen gems. Jeff Pace was immediately taken into custody. Within the hour, arrangements were being made to transfer him back to Massachusetts. **** Back in Springfield, Chief Harvey walked out of his office. When he reached the cells, he stopped and looked through the bars at the Morgan brothers. “Well, boys, I have some good news for you,” he said. “And what might that be?” Wink asked. “The Pennsylvania State Police caught up with your friend a few hours ago. And they recovered all the missing jewelry from the car he’d stolen.” “That is good news!” Bob replied. “But Chief—he’s not our friend.” The Chief looked stern. “Maybe not 55

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anymore. But he was your friend at one time.” “Yeah, I suppose so. But that was a big mistake on our part,” Bob muttered. **** Some time later, Paul and Aaron were given permission to visit the prisoners. “Aaron told me what happened,” Paul said. “While I don’t condone your crime, I’d like to help you. After all, you saved my son’s life! Do you have a lawyer?” “Not really, Mr. Barclay,” Bob said. “We had some legal papers filled out when we started our business. But I don’t think that guy handles criminal cases.” “Probably not,” Paul agreed. “But I know someone who might be willing to take your case. Let me make a phone call.” “Oh, thank you, sir,” the brothers said at the same time. “As you can see, we need all the help we can get,” Bob continued. “And by the way, I have to tell you that you’ve got one fine young man there. He went through a terrifying experience—and he handled it 56

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like a pro. You should be very proud of him.” “Well, I am proud of him—for a lot of reasons,” Paul replied. After leaving the jail, Paul called Ken Goodrich. He and Ken had been friends for many years. And Paul considered Ken to be just about the best criminal lawyer in the area. Over lunch, he filled Ken in on all the details of the case. Like everyone else, Ken had been reading about the two suspects in the newspaper. So he knew a good deal already. “Of course I’ll represent them, Paul,” Ken said. “The flattering newspaper stories about those two young men will help. And if Aaron tells his story on the stand—well, I can’t imagine that any jury would want them sentenced to a long jail term.” “Really? Do you think that you can get them off?” Paul asked. “Well—perhaps not entirely,” Ken replied. “But I do have an idea. Who knows? It just might work. And it will certainly surprise you.” 57

CHAPTER 10

Community Service The hearing was held six months later on a cold November morning. At last, the fate of Bob Morgan and his brother Wink would be determined. A good deal of controversy surrounded the case. Both young men had become even more popular with the media. Several articles had been written about the crime. In every case, the brothers were depicted as basically good but foolish young men who’d made an unfortunate mistake. Their supporters called for leniency. After all, they’d cooperated with the police, assisted in the recovery of the jewels, and shown genuine remorse for what they had done. But another group of people disagreed 58

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strongly. They felt the Morgan brothers should be severely punished. It was obvious that they’d carefully planned every detail of the robbery. That made them out-and-out criminals who deserved maximum sentences. Judge Ferrell presided over the hearing. Beforehand, Ken Goodrich had spent many hours talking with the District Attorney’s Office. Lawyers on both sides had tried to reach an agreement. Any recommendation had to be fair to both sides. And most importantly, it had to be one that Judge Ferrell would find acceptable. Jeff Pace had no status in the Morgan brothers’ trial. The state had decided to try him separately for robbery and attempted murder. Consequently, his situation would have no bearing on what happened to Bob and Wink. For about 15 minutes, Ken Goodrich spoke eloquently about the two men he was defending. He pointed out that 59

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neither of them had a criminal record. And without their help, he added, the gems might never have been recovered. He reminded the judge that they had given themselves up—and, most importantly, they’d saved Aaron Barclay’s life. “Obviously, your honor,” Ken said, “some punishment is appropriate. The District Attorney and I have come up with a suggestion. Both sides feel that our recommendation would be in the best interest of justice.” Judge Ferrell nodded somberly. “I’m listening,” he said. “We recommend that you sentence the Morgans to six months in jail—which is the time they’ve already served,” Ken said. “We further suggest three years of probation and one year of community service.” The judge settled his gaze on the District Attorney. “Does this meet with your approval?” he asked. “Yes, it does, your honor,” the DA 60

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promptly responded with a curt nod. “Oh—and one more thing, your honor,” Ken Goodrich added. “What’s that?” asked Judge Ferrell. “Our State Police Department recently decided to form a team of skydivers to parachute into problem areas. We’d like to suggest that the Morgan brothers be assigned to that project for their community service.” “Hmmm. That’s an interesting idea,” the judge said thoughtfully. Bob and Wink sat motionless. Both young men were nervously awaiting the judgment that would decide their future. A moment later Judge Ferrell spoke. “I’m accepting the recommendations of the District Attorney and the defense attorney. The accused are hereby sentenced to serve six months in the county jail. Since this term has already been served, you are both released. In addition, you will be on probation for three years. And in the meantime, you will train a state 61

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police task force in skydiving techniques.” Bob and Wink gasped in relief. They thanked Ken Goodrich and looked around for Paul and Aaron. As the Barclays approached, Bob said, “I don’t know how we can ever thank you for your help.” Paul smiled. “Oh, that’s easy, Bob,” he said. “Just stay out of jewelry stores and off of rooftops.” Wink reached out and shook Paul’s hand. “That’s a promise, sir. Believe me, that’s a promise you can count on!” Then Bob turned to face Aaron. “How about it?” he asked. “Are you still interested in going on with your free fall training?” Aaron laughed. “Maybe someday, Bob. But right now the memory of the fouled up parachute is a little too fresh. I think I’ll put skydiving on hold for awhile.” Both men shook Aaron’s hand. Then Bob said, “I understand, my friend— but you’ll always get a warm welcome back at the Thunderbirds school.” 62

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“I appreciate that,” Aaron said with a big grin. “Maybe I’ll change my mind.” As they left the courthouse, Aaron turned to Paul. “I wonder if I’ll ever have the nerve to skydive again.” Paul threw his arm around Aaron’s shoulders. “I wouldn’t be a bit surprised, son,” he said with a laugh. “I think you’ve been bitten by the bug. And when you’re ready—the Thunderbirds Skydiving School is only 20 miles away.” “Well, we’ll see,” Aaron said. But when they reached the car, he gazed up at the clear blue sky. Paul noticed a definite gleam in his son’s eyes. That’s my boy! he chuckled to himself. **** Four months later, Jeff Pace was tried and found guilty. He was sentenced to 10 years in the state prison.

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COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS Who and Where? 1. The Jewelry Exchange was located in what building? 2. Which two story characters were brothers? 3. Where did Aaron find the black parachutes? 4. Who offered Aaron a job at the jump school? 5. In what state was Jeff Pace arrested?

Remembering Details 1. What was the name of the Morgan brothers’ jump school? 2. What symbol marked the spot on the skydivers’ landing field? 3. The thieves had agreed to hang onto the jewels for what period of time? 4. What kind of airplane did Wink fly? 5. What did the thieves wear to disguise their identity?

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