Part Seven: Up a Tree

"OK, Jasmine and Li caught Anna Litical and Art Issan trying to escape
through the emergency exit. But Carmen managed to escape. So did Hannah Lulu
and Harold Angel," Ivy read from the report an hour later. She and Zack were
in the Acme control room. "So I guess we did a mediocre job."

Zack shrugged and frowned at the Acme roster. "I still think this is a stupid
picture."

Nigel came in, munching on a huge bag of chips.

The Chief looked suprised. "Whoa, Nigel! When they write 'party size' on that
bag, they don't exactly mean 'party of one'!"

Ivy raised her eyebrows. "Stop eating. Nigel, you have to do something about
Sara Bellum."

"I have a plan." Nigel retorted, somewhat annoyed. "It's that I'm so nervous
about it, I've been able to do nothing but eat junk food." He continued
eating the chips.

"Get over those nerves, loverboy," Ivy teased.

Nigel gritted his teeth. "Don't call me that."

"Aw, Nigel," Zack cut in. "You just need something to relax ya. Here, have a
cookie."

Nigel glared and snatched the bag of cookies. "C-5 to Yosemite National
Park." He jumped into the corridor.

Ten minutes later, Nigel had reached the park. He approached a small tree,
and began to climb.

He heard a voice from below. "Oh, sweet sprrrocket!"

Nigel cringed. How did Sara find him this time?

Just then, the C-5 corridor opened, and several Acme detectives stepped out.
Looking up, they sized up the situation.

Nigel looked down at his allies. "I refuse to come down."

Sara looked up at him. "Does this mean we don't go to dinner tonight?"

Ivy glared at the professor. "It's your fault he's stuck in that tree. Can't
you at least say something to him?"

Sara looked back up in the tree. "Hang on, sweet sprrrocket! I'm coming after
you!" She jumped on the trunk, and began to climb.

Nigel almost screamed. He inched away from the tree trunk, not noticing the
branch above him looked a little weak.

Sara reached the branch and began to put her weight on it.

Nigel grabbed the branch above him. There was a sickening crack as the branch
gave away. Nigel screamed as he sank to the ground and landed hard on his
side.  Then he lay still and crumpled.

Valerie rushed to him, with the others close behind.

Sara climbed down the tree. "Is my sweet sprrrocket OK?"

"He must have struck his head on this rock," Valerie observed, turning Nigel
over.

"Ohh," Nigel sighed.

"Are you all right?" asked Valerie.

Nigel checked himself for broken bones. "I'm fine. Just a few bruises."

Ivy turned to Sara. "He could have been seriously injured, even killed, and
you think it's all right. Go tell your boss what you two have caused!"

To be continued..