Chapter 4
Location: Seville House
The lead agent read over the note. "Oh, crap. This is over our heads. Ronald, call the chief." "Yes sir." "Hey, let me see that." Alvin said. "I'm sorry, Alvin. But, this is evidence." "Look mister…" "Jackson. Agent Jackson." "Okay, Mister Jackson, look. this is my family and friends we're talking about here. So, I have a right to know what that says." "But, Alvin.." "If it was your family, wouldn't you want to see it?" "Hmm, alright. I suppose it should be okay." Agent Jackson handed Alvin the note. "Dear, Alvin. By this time, you've surely noticed that your family is gone and that insipid inspector has probably filled you in on who is responsible. Yes, my dear boy, it us, the Vorsteins. You know, we've lived in a terrible squalor, while you've lived in peace. How is that fair? The young get enjoyment from the suffering of the elderly? You sick, piece of trash! You don't deserve your peace. And so, in the spirit of disrupting that peace, we propose a little game. We have captured your family and spread them across this big, wide world of ours. We will provide you with clues that will lead you to them. You will have to decipher the clues and then travel to the location the clue reveals. After that, well, just try to rescue them. We've included the first clue. Consider it a gift.. But, remember this, and make sure that royal pain who goes by the name Jamal gets this through his thick skull, if anybody other than you, Alvin, comes after them, we'll have a way of knowing. And, we'll make it so that you'll never see your family again. Best follow the rules. The game is on. Are you ready?" Alvin read aloud. "Judging by the way its worded and how it jumps around, this was obviously written by someone who was very angry, and in a big hurry." The other agent nearby said. "Which means, most likely, that it's from exactly who it says it's from. This is a ransom note from the Vorsteins." Agent Jackson. Alvin read over the note and then yelled at the agent on the phone. "Hey! You got Jamal on the line?" "Yes." "Tell him to get me a plane! I'm going after these freaks!" "But, that's…" "Just tell him!" 'Sir, listen…" Moments later. "He said that he's on his way. He'll be here tomorrow. He says to wait until then." "I can't wait until tomorrow!" "Please, Alvin. I understand your frustration, but, please, try to be patient. We need to coordinate ourselves here so that nothing goes wrong. You don't want anything to go wrong, do you?" Agent Jackson asked. "No, but…" "Alvin, look. I've ridden with the chief a few times. And, all of them were critical times. So trust me when I say this. The chief drives like a bat out of heck in a critical situation. He may very well be here sometime tonight. Probably around midnight or so. And that leaves us with six hours. Six hours to prepare for his arrival." "Prepare how?" "Well, didn't the note say that they've included the first clue?" "uh, yeah. It's here at the bottom of the page." "Well, why don't we figure out what the clue means? If we can figure it out, a bare minimum, no matter what ends being decided, we'll at least be on the right track." "Well, alright." "Okay. Now, let's think. They said they spread the others all over the world, so, to figure out these clues, we'll probably need an atlas. You know, a world map. Do you have one of those laying around here?" "Uh, yeah! Simon's got one in his room." "Well, go get it." "Okay!" Alvin ran off to Simon's room. "Excellent situation control, sir." The agent named Ronald said. 'Thank you." Moments later. "Okay, I got the map!" "Alright. Now, let's take a look at the clue." Alvin pulled the note out once again and read the clue out loud. "In the halls of Montezuma is where our chase begins. Here you will find the color red, viewed through a female lens. On the steps of the ancients, lies your prize to win." "Okay. Let's figure this out." Agent Jackson said. "Okay, first of all, lets see where it's talking about. Let's see. The halls of Montezuma. That must refer to some Aztec ruins in Mexico." "So, they're keeping the first person in Mexico. But, who?" Alvin asked. "Well, I don't know why, but, something tells me that this line here, about the color red, is supposed to tell us who the person is." Ronald said. "Hmm, the color red, viewed through a female lens?" "Pink!" Alvin yelled. 'It's the color pink. Think about it. Don't people usually refer to pink as the girl version of red?" "Yes, your right. So, who wears pink?" "Brittany does." "Is that Brittany Miller?" Agent Jackson asked. "Yeah." "Okay, so, they're keeping Brittany in Mexico, at some Aztec ruins."" Alright, now we know where we need to go. What now?" Alvin asked. "For now, we'll just have to prepare for the chiefs arrival. "That must be the chief." Ronald went and answered the door. Sure enough, Jamal was standing at the door. "Hello, sir. You made good time." "Well, naturally. There's no time to waste. Where's Alvin?" "In here!" Alvin yelled from the den, having overheard Jamal. "Alvin, it's good to see you again. "Yeah, yeah. Look, we've already figured this out. Listen." "Alvin explained everything. "I see. Good work, men. Now, then, Alvin…" Alvin shoved the note in Jamal's face and pointed to the line that talked about Alvin being the only one allowed to come after his friends and family. "Darn it. And they know that we know that they're capable of carrying out that threat." 'Please, Jamal. I have to go." "But, Alvin, you're a minor and a civilian." "Jamal, you don't me, okay? But, you can ask anyone who does. I will do whatever I want, whenever I want. So, if I want to go after my family, there is nothing in this world that could stop me. Not you, not these guys, not even the whole, dang military. And that's not an exaggeration. It's a promise. So, to prevent the wasting of valuable time, just let me go after them." "Well, I guess I could send you, with some agent escorts .That would be alright.. Is that alright with you?" "Whatever it takes." "Alright. But, I suppose I should clear with your father." just then, the phone rang. "I'll get it." Alvin said. Alvin picked up the phone and said ' hello, Seville residence. Alvin speaking. Oh, hey, Dave. What's up? What? You fell down some stairs and broke your leg? Ah, man. I wonder if I should tell you then. Tell you what? Well, you see um…" "Here, I'll do it." Jamal said. "Uh, Dave, there's somebody here who wants to speak with you." "Hello, Mister Seville. It's me, Inspector Jamal of Interpol. Listen, I have some bad news." Jamal explained the situation and, after Dave finally calmed down, explained what they were going to do. "And I promise you. He will absolutely be protected on all sides, at all times. What? Well, I'm sorry sir, but, I really don't think it's best to involve any more civilians in this. Well, yes, I guess we do owe you. Um, well, I guess I could bring in two more people in for advisory roles. Okay, who do we contact? What? Ask Alvin? Well, okay. Alvin, he says that he wants some people that your family trusts to go with you on this. I think I can swing for two more people. So, who do you want?" "Um, ask Dave if Miss Miller will be back tomorrow." Jamal did. "He said yes." "Okay, then her and my mom, Vinny." Jamal relayed Alvin's choices to Dave. 'Okay, that works for you? Okay, then we'll send them with him. And don't worry, everyone will be coming home, safe and sound. You have my word. Alright, I'll talk to you later. Goodbye." Jamal turned to the others. "Okay, off to bed. Big day tomorrow." "Hang on, guys. I'm coming."