"I need you to run a few errands for me before I have to leave tomorrow," Mr. Kramer said as he finished his list. "I am not interrupting anything for you am I?"

"No Dad, I was just getting ahead on my world history assignments. It will be nice to get out since all it has been doing is storming and raining," Jason said anxiously.

"Okay, I will need you to drop off my suits at Belle’s and get some groceries to last you and Adam until your mother gets home on Monday evening," Mr. Kramer said as he read off the list to his oldest son. "Also take my sedan to get some gas in it so it will be ready to go tomorrow morning."

"I m anxious to see what mom brings home this time since she went to the Mexican ruins," Jason said as his father handed him the list. "Now what was it that you are going to San Francisco for?"

"Investigator’s convention. The state is sending two of us to check out what is new in the field," Mr. Kramer said as he leaned back in his chair.

"You will definitely have to share what you have found with us. Well I will get Adam and we will get this done before it gets late," Jason said turning towards the door.

"Yeah, where is your brother? I need him for a separate job," Mr. Kramer said, realizing that his youngest son was missing. "Adam! I need to see you!"

"I’ll go and get him," Jason said, knowing that his seventeen-year-old brother was probably deeply engrossed into his music in his room. He knew that even the largest earthquake would not distract Adam when he was listening to his hard rock music. Jason walked down the hallway to the last bedroom. He peered into the door and he learned that his prediction was correct. There sitting in his bean bag next to his stereo system was his brother. His medium length blond hair was rustled by his earphones as he lay in the beanbag with his eyes fully closed. Jason crept quietly across the floor and was standing directly behind him. He reached down and put his brother into a friendly headlock. Then he took his knuckles and gave Adam a "noogie". Adam immediately aggravated by the interruption and the moving of Jason’s boney knuckles across his head, reached back for his brother and flipped him over his head. Jason landed with a thud on the floor, laughing at his brother’s disgusted look.

"Why do you do that? If I sneak into your room, you yell at me," Adam said as he removed the earphones and turned his stereo off. "I was almost asleep."

"What were you listening to anyway?"

"Pink Floyd."

"You mean that weird stuff that makes all of those space noises?"

"I happen to be listening to "Learning to Fly", the one that you like."

"Oh, well that one is a neat one. Dad wants to see you."

"What for? I haven’t done anything. I even stayed home tonight and it is Friday," Adam said in a defensive tone.

"I think he needs you to do something for him since he has to go to that convention. I have to do a few errands for him myself," Jason replied to his brother. It was not unusual for Adam to get into trouble. He was a smart boy, but he preferred to channel his energies into his sports and social life. Both boys would normally have been out on a Friday night, but with his trip the next day; their father asked them to stay home. "Besides why are you acting so guilty?"

"I haven’t done anything, but I was just making sure," Adam said as he slyly grinned and got up to go and see his father. Jason laughed and followed his brother to the study.

The Kramer boys were the sons of Carl and Laura Kramer of the small town of Emerald Beach, California. Emerald Beach was located south of San Diego and was hidden along the rugged shoreline and the mountains. Laura was an archeologist for the University of San Diego and often taught history classes for the university. She was currently out on a dig in Mexico. Carl was an investigator for the state of California, but he sometimes tackled some cases of his own. His sons were also trying to follow in his footsteps and often helped on his cases. They worked together as a team because they got along so well, not to mention they were brothers. However, they were as different as night and day. Jason was the clam boy who excelled in academics, debate, and chess and was the right fielder for the Emerald Beach Wildcat’s baseball team. He often spent time with his best friend, Craig Johnson, a long blond haired boy with similar interests. Jason also liked to take long walks with his girlfriend of a year, Kara Dobbins. On the other hand, Adam was very athletic. He was the running back for the football team and also played on the basketball and baseball teams. Even though Adam was a very intelligent individual, he often put his energies into his sports and social life. Adam was a very popular junior at his school along with his best friend, Chuck Cooper. Red-haired and very stout, Chuck was a great defensive line player both on and off of the field for the brothers. Even through their differences, the brothers worked well together and looked out for each other both on and off cases.

"What do you need Dad?" Adam asked as he entered his father’s room. His father looked up and handed his son a manila envelope.

"I need for you to take these reports to the Mercerville Police Department. They are reports that they need for an upcoming trial so please be careful with them," Mr. Kramer added. "Be careful since the weather had not been very cooperative up the coast."

"I will," Adam said as he turned to leave. He knew that Mercerville was a small village that rested in the valley of the mountains. It was a good hour drive from Emerald beach and the road was not the greatest, but it was still a nice little one gas station town.

Soon Adam was starting up the van and on his way. He waved at Jason, who was driving his father’s sedan and turned his radio up.

*****

Adam was about twenty minutes from Mercerville when he saw a light flash across the sky and heard the familiar sound of thunder.