After church the next morning, Adam visited with Alyssa while Jason was stuck with helping Mrs. Kramer with gathering groceries at the town's general store. Both of the boys hated this chore because their mother would check every label and keep track of fat grams. If that was not time-consuming enough, she often took her huge coupon book with her as well. The general store was a gathering place after church because it seemed that is when the whole town did their weekly grocery shopping. So the boys often had to endure their mother's endless conversations with the townspeople about topics ranging from whom just moved in to the best deals in the store. Adam was able to escape the torture because Alyssa and her guardian, Clara, were both sick with the flu. Mrs. Kramer had made homemade chicken and noodle soup that morning for Sunday dinner and thought that they would appreciate some of it. Jason was not so lucky. He was still leaning on the cart while his mother was swapping coupons with Mrs. Raney when Adam strode down the aisle. He had a very wide grin on his face when he saw Jason.

"You are still in aisle 4?" Adam asked under his breath. The store only had 8 aisles, but it had taken him about an hour to go to Alyssa's and back. Jason smirked at his brother's comment.

"Adam! How are Alyssa and Clara doing?" Mrs. Kramer asked as Mrs. Raney listened as well.

"They are still weak, but doing better. They said to thank you for the soup," Adam replied to his mother. He felt sorry for them because the flu had weakened them and it was making it hard for Alyssa to get around. She had complained about feeling sick last night, but she really got sick after she had arrived home. Alyssa had called early that morning to tell Adam that she would not be in church so he would not worry about her.

"The poor things. I knew something was wrong when I didn't see them in the back of the church this morning," Mrs. Raney added. Then the two women continued in on a conversation about how much Alyssa had improved her condition since the accident. Adam was able to convince his mother to let them go while she visited because he was eager to get out to the car lot and he was afraid that he would be the next topic of conversation. He was sick of hearing about the accident.

After they got out of the store and into the Trans Am, Jason quickly turned the radio off and plopped into the passenger seat.

"Thanks for the rescue. I was about to die in there!" Jason said with a sigh.

"Just be glad that you live in a small town and that you have a genius for a partner," Adam said as he turned the radio back on. His favorite station, K103.6 the Blitz, was playing "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns and Roses.

"I am still very unsure about this Adam. We could be walking into a trap," Jason said as he switched the radio knob to one of his favorite stations, K98.7 Classic Oldies. The familiar riff of "Deadman's Curve" by Jan and Dean was easily recognized and he smiled out the window at the passing scenery.

"We have to take chances Jason if we are going to find out what is going on," Adam said as he hit one of his programmed radio station buttons. Once again, the sounds of Axl Rose of Guns and Roses filled the air. Adam stretched as they were just leaving the village limits. It was a "T-top day" and he was glad that he had removed his T-tops that morning.

"So you are up to stealing cars from other innocent people," Jason said as he put the station back on the oldies channel. He loved Jan and Dean and he was not in the mood to hear his brother's "noise". He was very nervous about this setup, even though Adam seemed to be taking things in stride.

"We will tip off the police as to where the cars are and keep track of them," Adam answered, visibly annoyed by his brother's comment and choice of music.

"That should make up for the crime. And what are we going to do if we get caught?" Jason asked, very curious to hear Adam's response.

"We are not going to get caught," Adam snapped back. "Are you chickening out or something?"

"No! But I am not crazy about robbing my neighbors!"

"Like you have never broke the law before in a case," Adam said with a mocking tone.

"I want to get to the bottom of this just as much as you do, but I don't know if this is the way to go about it," Jason finally said, crossing his arms in disgust. He knew what the next comment was going to be.

"So do you have a better plan Mr. Brain."

Jason could almost mouth the comment as his younger brother said it.

"Well, do you?" Adam chided. He knew that Jason was just being his square self, but that he was really into the adventure deep down. His brother had always been the serious one.

"You win," Jason gave in. "But one thing?"

"What?"

"If we get caught, you are going to explain it to mom and dad," Jason said as they were nearing the first turn off to the car lot.

"Don't I always?" Adam said with a mischievous grin. He then reached over and turned the station back to K103.6. Now they were playing "Paradise City" by Guns and Roses as part of a "rock block". He then pulled the radio channel knob off and put it into the pocket of his flannel shirt. His brother looked at him in shock and then just shook his head. "I love old cars. They have the neatest extras!"

When the boys reached the car lot, the same cars that were there on Saturday were still on the lot. They both got out of the car and looked around. Not even a second later, Chris and another man walked out of the office. The other man was more muscular than Chris was and he was wearing greasy bib overalls with a T-shirt. The dark-haired man walked up to the boys and eyed them suspiciously.

"Hey Adam! How is everything?" Chris said as they approached the Kramers.

"Fine and you guys?" Adam answered.

"Quiet morning. This is my brother Rod," Chris said looking back at the 6'5" man. "This is Adam, the guy that I told you about."

Rod just nodded his head. Jason could tell that he was not a good character to mess with and he felt like he was being sized up. It concerned him because he still feared for Adam's health.

"This is my older brother Jason. He is a computer whiz," Adam said without a falter. He had noticed Rod's behavior too, but thought that he should play the hometown boy part.

"Is this the car you put together?" Rod finally commented walking over towards the car.

"Yep! Rebuilt her from the bottom up," Adam said as they walked to the car.

"So you know your parts?" Rod said motioning for Adam to raise the hood. He then peered in at the eight-cylinder engine and smiled. "You got a 413?"

"Yep, I had to re-route the converter to help with the gas mileage, but she will move," Adam said leaning under the hood with him.

"So you are interested in a job? Well first I need to see if you meet the qualifications," Rod said standing back up. "Chris said your dad is a fed."

"He is not a fed. He works for the state," Jason said defensively. "We need the money, not a criminal check. Besides he is always off running around the state. He could care less about what we do. "

Rod was stunned by the comment at first, but looked over at Adam.

"Fine, bring me back an older model car and you have yourself a new career," Rod said as he walked off. But then he stopped and turned around. "But don't mess with me. I have people that I am responsible to and they don't take to kindly to people messing with their operation."

"Okay, we will see you this afternoon with the merchandise," Adam said as the brothers walked back to the car. Chris walked up to them.

"Need help?" He asked as the Trans Am's engine roared to life.

"No, we can handle it," Adam said as he drove off with a wave.

As they got down the road, Jason finally broke the silence.

"So Sherlock, where are we going to get a car?" he asked sarcastically.

"You are going to get the car," Adam answered, pushing his blond hair back out of his face.

"Me? How in the world am I going to steal a car?"

"You are going to ask Dad for the old Nissan."

"You mean his old car that has not ran for a year. I think that when he means that he wants a car, he wants one that will start," Jason said sarcastically.

"I will take care of that problem, you talk to Dad," Adam said as he reached over and turned the radio up to hear his favorite station. He looked over at his brother, who was visibly upset with him. He did not understand why Jason always doubted his ideas. He was more determined than ever to pull this one off. Meanwhile, Jason was wondering what in the world Adam was thinking. He was still recovering from an almost fatal accident not to mention meeting up with their former uncle, who caused the family and Adam a lot of emotional stress. It wasn't that he was against solving the case, but he worried about the way that Adam was jumping into things without thinking. But then again, he had always done that even before the accident.

After a short ride home, Jason went to page their father while Adam went immediately to work on his father's old work car that was being stored in an old barn that sat in the corner part of the Kramer property. Within fifteen minutes, Mr. Kramer had returned his son's page and listened while Jason told him about the new case. Their father agreed to let them use the car since he was just going to sell it for $500.00 any ways, but made Jason promise to be careful. He was also going to check out the information that he could find on Rod and Chris Hardin and would contact them Monday night. Jason quickly hung the phone up and was about to go and tell Adam the news when he ran straight into his mother. She was standing there with her hands on her hips and Jason could tell that she was not too pleased.

"So when were you planning on telling me about your whereabouts?" She said sternly. Jason was trying to think of a way to explain things, but Mrs. Kramer cut him off.

"I know that the both of you are determined to follow in your father's footsteps, but don't you think this is a little too soon," Laura Kramer said, her eyes piercing into Jason like daggers. "We almost lost your brother and he is still not right. Then I come home and hear that, that ..."

Jason knew that his mother was still adjusting to everything. Learning about her youngest son's abuse at the hands of Bill was extremely hard on her, especially since Adam was still recovering from his injuries when the whole secret came to a chilling end. Jason felt that she blamed herself for a lot of things in his brother's life and right now she just wanted to have some calmness. However, he also knew that Adam was fighting to have the normal life that he had before and maybe that would do him some good, but unfortunately that is not how their mother felt about it.

"Mom, Adam just wants things to get back to normal. We have to find out what is going on because we can't let these people steal and cheat our friends. I promise that I will watch him," Jason said putting his hands on his mother's shoulders. Her anger had turned to a softer look as she thought about what her oldest son had said. "Besides he is so stubborn that you would not be able to keep him out of it."

"You are right. I guess I have been a little too protective lately. He is not seven anymore," She said glancing out the window towards the old maroon barn. "But I am always going to worry about my boys. I guess I should trust you since you are almost grown men."

Jason blushed at that comment, but reassured his mother that he would keep her posted and most of all keep Adam in line. After excusing himself, he went to the barn to see what Adam had gotten himself into with his father's old car. He honestly did not think that Adam would be able to get the car started, but he heard the sound of a car running as he approached the barn. It did not sound perfect, but it was running he thought as he went into the two-story high barn. They used it as a storage area instead of junking up their garage. Their father hated it, but their mother insisted on leaving the barn intact and even making the Kramer men repaint it about 2 years ago.