Cleo opened her eyes to sunlight streaming through the cracks in the rock walls of a little cave she had found down on the beach. It was big enough for her and her stuff, and it was hidden from view. She took a moment to yawn and stretch, before immediately setting to work. She grabbed Lewis's laptop, which had luckily gained a good amount of charge from her time at the institute, and opened up the Internet, using the free wifi of a little beach front café that was close.

She grabbed her phone and thought for a moment. She downloaded an app that could track any phone and clicked on it. She had heard about it from Rikki – the blonde practically worshipped it, as it helped her find her phone when her notorious forgetfulness kicked in. Using his email and password – which she had conveniently conned him into giving her the last time he was in the Gold Coast – she could find out where Lewis's phone was now.

Cleo tossed the phone down with her extra clothes and bag, leaning against the rock. She could do all that later, and she didn't know how long her phone would take to find Lewis's, and she was getting impatient. Cleo grabbed her sunglasses and her backpack and headed out of the cave. She squinted in the sudden sunlight, her sunglasses doing little to stifle the sun's rays. She was a little worried that someone would find her cave and steal Lewis's laptop and her things, but she was quite convinced the cave was hidden unless someone knew where to find it or was looking very hard.

Cleo looked across the beach. It was early morning, and there were only a handful of people scattered across the sand. Cleo thought for a moment before running back into her cave, dumping her bag on the ground, and racing back out. She walked off the beach and into town, finding a beautiful patch of land which was ideal for her needs. Cleo sat crossed legged on the grass, just taking a few moments to herself.

She allowed her whirring mind to slow down as she took a few deep breaths. I didn't realise how much I needed this, Cleo thought. I feel so much better now. After a few more moments of relaxation, she got up and started walking back to her cave. Huh. Maybe this town isn't so bad after all. Cleo took her sunglasses off and ran her hand through her long hair. She eventually made it back to her little cave, and picked up her phone.

One device found.

Yes! She thought joyfully. Lewis, I'm coming for you!

She looked at the screen eagerly. Now, where is he? Okay... She peered at the words displayed on the screen. 74th Sovereign Street... Boston! He's in Boston! Yes!

Cleo did a little happy dance and pranced around with her phone. She laughed and jumped up and down until she was exhausted. She collapsed against the rock, pulling a blanket around her and closing her eyes.

Cleo grabbed her backpack, totally energised after her long sleep. She tossed her phone in and pondered for a moment whether she should take Lewis's laptop. No, she thought. I'll leave it here. She raced out of the cave and looked up Sovereign Street on her phone. Okay. It's a little while away from here.

Cleo shaded her eyes from the light and set off. Lewis, here I come!

Cleo edged around a grey, looming building. Sovereign Street was rather out of the way, and there was one building at the end, and down a slope.

Cleo felt across the two faded, obviously old numbers. 74. This was it. Cleo highly suspected that whatever was in this building could be a danger to her and Lewis, so she decided to only go around the edges of the building. She hid in the shadow of an overhang and listened earnestly for any voices.

"You know... don't think it's important... useless..." Was all Cleo could really make out – she was too far away from the voices. She moved a little closer and tried again.

"You know... his phone... anyone could track it..." Cleo's eyebrows rose at this piece of information. His phone. Lewis's phone? Were they talking about Lewis? Cleo tried listening again, but couldn't hear anything this time. She frowned and moved closer.

"Hey!" An angry voice came from behind her. Cleo whipped around. "What are you doing here?"

"Um... uh..." Cleo stuttered, but decided to just run. She broke out into a sprint, her heart racing. She heard loud footsteps behind her.

"Stop right there!"

Meanwhile...

Emma talked to the police nervously. A full out investigation had been launched about a week after Cleo's disappearance, and now all of the mermaids were being interrogated.

Rikki's screams could be heard in the room next to her.

"I told you! I don't know anything! She's my best friend for goodness sakes! What do you think, I kidnapped her?"

Emma gulped and stared at the woman before her. "Uh... when will we be finished?" She asked shakily.

"In a few minutes," The red headed policewoman replied smoothly.

"Why are you questioning me again? I thought we'd been over this?" Emma asked, her voice a little stronger this time.

The woman ignored her and read something that was written on the pad in her hands. "Don Sertori, the victim's father..."

"Cleo." Emma interrupted, glaring at the woman. "Her name is Cleo."

The woman nodded. "Alright then," She said, "Cleo's father said she had become secretive in the past few years. That has something to do with you, I believe?"

At the woman's accusing glare, Emma snapped. She was tired of being polite.

She stood up roughly, her eyes shooting flames. "Listen. I do not have anything to do with Cleo's disappearance. I did not know she was going. And the only thing I'm guilty of is wanting her back so desperately I want to scream," Emma said, tears welling up in her eyes.

The woman actually seemed to smile. "Okay. Just a few more questions."

Emma wiped at her eyes and sat down obediently.

"Do you know anything about Cleo's 'strange' behaviour?"

Emma gulped. She knew exactly what the woman meant by strange. But instead, she shook her head, "No."

Rikki was ready to kill the man sitting before her. The only thing that stopped her was the fact that he looked utterly terrified.

"I did not hurt Cleo, and I would never take her away from her family," She said slowly, so this idiot man could understand. "She was my best friend. She... she is my best friend," She whispered.

"Okay..." The man looked over the paper pad in his hands. "And I think that's it."

Rikki stood up abruptly and hurried to the door.

"Oh! There's one more question!"

Slam! She was gone.

Rikki strutted angrily over to the interrogation room Emma was in and opened the door, stopping the policewoman in mid-sentence.

"Come on, Emma. We're leaving." She said, gesturing for them to go.

Emma nodded and stood up.

"You can't do that, we still have more questions," The woman said quickly.

Rikki glared at the woman. "Listen here. I have been accused of kidnapping and hurting my best friend. I am not going to stay here and take that! Now come on, Emma! We're leaving!"

The policewoman stared; open mouthed as the two teens left the room, officially besting her.

Rikki and Emma stopped by Bella's room and collected her too, and the three girls ran out of the station together.

They hugged; glad to be out of that awful place where they were seen as criminals, not innocents.

Bella, with tears in her eyes, said, "What are we going to do?"

Cleo rounded a corner, panting heavily. Only after five minutes of listening did she dare to see if the footsteps were gone. I don't see anyone.

She breathed a sigh of relief and started walking as fast as she could away from the building. It looks like I'll have to find Lewis tomorrow...

She retreated back to her cave, much discouraged. She leant against the rock walls, huddled in a blanket, her anxiety finally subsiding as she drifted off to sleep...