Free Flesh and Blood by Franklin W. Dixon

the bomb that was ticking at her feet showed that in thirty seconds they would all be dead.

Chapter 10
    "DON'T take another step," Joe warned.
    Joe pointed. Frank could see that the bomb was set to explode by any of three methods: the timer, a small, almost invisible trip wire, or if Callie moved.
    Frank's eyes met Callie's, and he could see the terror that stared back at him.
    He stepped over the trip wire.
    "Don't move, Callie," he said calmly.
    Twenty seconds.
    "It's motion sensitive," Joe said.
    "I saw it," Frank replied.
    After dealing with terrorists, Frank knew enough about bombs to recognize the secondary fuse that hung in the center of a metal washer. If the fuse made contact, an electrical signal would surge through the mechanism, thus exploding the bomb.
    Fifteen seconds.
    "Okay, Callie," Frank began - he knew that talking to Callie would calm her - "I don't have time to untie you. I'm going to disconnect the primary wire going to the timer." Frank moved as he talked.
    Ten seconds.
    He tugged as gently as he could. The wire wouldn't budge.
    "I think it's soldered together." Frank kept his voice calm.
    Joe shoved his pocket knife between Frank and the bomb.
    "No time." Frank had to keep his voice calm or Callie might panic.
    Five seconds.
    He clamped his fingers on the secondary fuse and lifted it through the metal washer - quickly but with a calm steadiness.
    Three.
    He tore the tape and the bomb from Callie's legs.
    Two.
    In one smooth motion he flung the bomb through the closed window in a perfect spiral, then covered Callie. The bomb shattered the glass as it flew outside.
    Joe and Chet hit the floor.
    First there was a bright burst of blinding white light, followed by a deafening explosion. Glass shards flew into the room, then dirt and dust.
    A split second later the midafternoon day was calm once again.
    "Callie!" Frank finished tearing the tape from around her legs. He gently pulled the tape from her mouth.
    "Oh, Frank!" she cried.
    Frank ripped off the tape that bound her wrists. Callie jumped up and threw her arms around his neck.
    "Frank! I thought I was dead!" She continued to hug Frank.
    "You're okay, Callie. You're okay." Frank put his arms around her. "Nothing's ever going to happen to my Number One Girl."
    Before Frank had time to react, Callie kissed him hard.
    "Enough already," Joe grumbled. "Let's get out of here before the cops arrive."
    Frank attempted to move, but Callie hung on.
    "Don't let go," she said, terror in her voice.
    "We've got to go," Frank said gently. "I'll explain later."
    Chet was already in the car, its engine revving. Several people from the neighborhood were gathering around, looking first at the small crater in the front yard, then at the blown-out window, and last at the four teenagers peeling away in the sedan.
    Chet and Joe were in front. Callie sat close to Frank in back, her hand holding his in a firm grip.
    "The police have orders to take us in," Frank explained.
    "Arrest you?" Callie was still shaken, and there was a tremor in her voice.
    "Not arrest us. Chief Collig doesn't want us on this case." Frank put his arm around Callie's shoulders. "Someone is out to kill Dad - and our friends."
    "Wh - why?"
    "To settle an old score. A blood law."
    "A what?" Chet asked from the front seat.
    Joe spoke up. "In Anglo-Saxon days they didn't have police or courts or jails. They relied on what they called 'blood law.' It's also known as 'an eye for eye.' Retribution."
    "But wh - who - wh - what - " Callie held back a sob.
    Frank quickly explained about Leonard and Bobby Mock, then about the videotape.
    "Do you remember anything after Mock and Mangieri kidnapped you?"
    Callie took a breath. She had to control her breathing while she spoke. "I - just remember seeing Chet fighting with Mangieri." She sobbed. "Then I tried to help. Someone grabbed me from behind - "
    "Bobby Mock," Joe added.
    "I guess."
    "Did you get a good look at his face? Was it Don West?" Frank asked.
    "Don West?