Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2 A large map of Israel lay spread out across the Gomezes' kitchen table. The entire family, along with Michael's best friends, Justin and Sadie, stared at two acorns and a tiny little Monopoly iron that rested on the map. You might have thought the group was playing a board game. But this was no game! Dr. Gomez and Michael were planning a rescue mission. "The acorns are the squirrels?" Jane, Michael's little sister asked, holding the family cat, Mr. Nemesis, on her lap. "Yes," Michael said impatiently. With that confirmation, Mr. Nemesis reached a paw out and thwacked the acorns, sending them flying. "Bad cat!" Michael hollered. "Why is there an iron?" Jane wondered. "The iron represents the man in the suit and sunglasses. It was the only other game piece I could find," Michael said, picking the acorns up from the floor. Justin nodded. "Nobody ever wants to be the iron." "Yeah, what's with the iron?" Sadie added. "I'm always the hat." "I like the race car," said Justin.

"C'mon guys, we need to concentrate!" Michael barked. "Dad, where do you think he's taking them?" "They will most likely fly into Tel Aviv," Dr. Gomez said. "It's one of Israel's three international airports and the biggest. It's where we flew in and out of this summer." Dr. Gomez moved the acorns and the iron on the map, over the Mediterranean Sea to Tel Aviv. "From there, my best guess is that they will head straight to Jerusalem by car— about an hour's drive." He scooted the trio of tiny objects over to Jerusalem. "Or less if you use the race car," Justin whispered to Sadie, earning a glare from Michael. "Not back to the Dead Sea?" Mrs. Gomez wondered. "I don't think so," Dr. Gomez said. "The man in the suit and sunglasses is working for a collector. Merle and Pearl wouldn't be of much value to a collector at the Dead Sea."

"Well, that's good, at least," Mrs. Gomez said. Merle and Pearl had said more than once that they had no desire to return to the Dead Sea area. It was way too dry and salty for squirrels there. "If we can find out who the collector is, we can most likely find Merle and Pearl." Dr. Gomez frowned at the map. "But what if we can't find them, Dad?" Michael said. "I'm scared I'll never get to see Merle and Pearl again." He sighed. "I wish we had some kind of a clue where they're

headed."