یک تماس نزدیک

CHAPTER ten

A Close Call

“Tony, Tony, are you all right?” repeats Trish, shaking him.

At first Tony doesn’t react. Then, slowly, he lifts his head. “Trish? What. what happened?”

“We hit the traffic lights,” says Stacy. “Are you okay?”

“The brakes” says Tony. “The brakes don’t work. it’s strange. Oh, look at my mom’s car! It’s a wreck!’’

“Don’t worry about that now, Tony. Let’s leave the car here and call a taxi. We all need to go home and rest.”

“Caper said I was next,” says Tony, slowly. “This situation is getting really dangerous. I’m scared.”

“Don’t think about it now,” says Stacy. “Let’s just go home.”

The next day Tony, Ricki and Stacy arrive at Trish’s house after lunch. Trish is sitting at the computer. She types a new user name and starts writing the message to Eric Caplin.

To: caper@whosemail.com

From: coolguy@whosemail.com

Subject: Change of user name

Eric,

It’s P. I have a new user name. the old one wasn’t safe anymore. We must be very careful. No one must be able to connect us to the accidents.

C and A aren’t going to do anything. they’re too scared, they’re ready to quit the team I think. but we need to cover our tracks. Let’s talk tomorrow after school.

Cool Guy.

“There,” says Trish. “Now let’s see if Eric, or ‘Caper,’ replies and gives us some written proof.”

She sends the e-mail. The friends go to make some coffee. When they come back there is a reply to their message. It says: To: coolguy@whosemail.com

From: caper@whosemail.com

Subject: Change of user name

Cool Guy,

Anderson and Caruso don’t know anything. No one can connect the accidents to us. Quit worrying. no one can touch us. See you tomorrow.

Caper

“That’s it” shouts Trish. “We’ve got them!” She prints the message and puts it in her school hag. “Tomorrow afternoon we can go and see Mr Stockton and tell him everything we know.”

“But we still don’t know exactly what Eric and Pat did, or who helped them,” says Ricki.

“You’re right, but Mr Stockton can investigate that,” says Stacy.

“We don’t want any more trouble.”

The next morning Tony and Ricki are in the computer room at school working on a math’s problem. Suddenly Pat, Kyle and Eric come into the room. They close the door and Kyle puts a chair in front of it so no one can come in. Tony is nervous.

“What do you want, Pat” he asks.

“Don’t move, Caruso” says Eric sharply “Sit down. Now!”

“You think you’re really smart, you two, don’t you? Well, we’re on to you,” says Pat.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” replies Ricki, defiantly.

“Now, Anderson, that’s not very honest for a good little boy scout like you,” sneers Eric.

“Yeah, a boy that’s always top of the class and sucks up to Coach Bergman to get on the team” adds Pat.

Eric shows them a print-out of their e-mail with the false user name.

“Kyle was at my house yesterday when I got this. He went to play billiards with Pat. He asked Pat about his new user name, but Pat didn’t know anything.”

Tony and Ricki say nothing. They feel scared.

“I suppose now you want to go blab to old Stockton, eh, Anderson? Well, we’re going to teach you a lesson. You have to understand we mean business.”

Ricki stands up but Eric steps forward and pushes him to the ground. He’s very angry. Ricki tries to get up but Eric pushes him again.

He pulls Ricki’s hair and lifts his arm to punch him.

“Get off the basketball team, Anderson. I’m going to fix you!”

Tony tries to catch Eric’s arm, but Kyle and Pat hold him back.

“Eric, don’t” he shouts. “That’s not the way. Don’t make any more trouble.”

“Shut up, Caruso, you’re next” shouts Eric.