"Excusez moi," Hercule Poirot barged past Luna and Christopher urgently. Hastily walking towards Abbie, George and Matt; he drew a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his forehead.

"Enfants!" He called. The three Cadets looked at him. Jogging slightly, Poirot reached the three students with an air of triumph.

"Yes?" Matt Cullen raised his eyebrows expectantly, but not meaning to be rude.

"Mes amis, you have all been troubled, have you not, about the … ah … disappearance of Monsieur Hughes?"

"It wasn't a disappearance," Abbie narrowed her eyes, surprising even herself. "Dom's dead."

Poirot mumbled something indistinct and avoided looking at any of them in the eye.

"Oui," he said after a fashion, twirling his spectacular mustache anxiously. "Dom is dead, but that's not why I wanted to talk to you. I need your help."

George couldn't control his delight; he let out a whoop of joy before being silenced by Poirot's stare.

"What with?" Matt Cullen inquired, almost afraid to wonder. Poirot beamed at him.

"Now, enfants, I'll get to that in a minute. But for now …" Hercule Poirot offered Abbie his arm. She accepted, and together the four of them started to retreat back to the building.

Michael Szuplewski sprinted forcefully towards his camp, the place where he now slept. He wouldn't call it a home; he was never there during the day. When it was light he had better things to do. Reaching his tent, he clambered inside, only to come face to face with an unexpected addition.

"JESUS –" Michael stared at the rabbit for longer than was really necessary. The animal's dark eyes blinked back at him. Both of them were silent.

"He's mine." A figure stepped out of the shadows behind Michael. Michael Szuplewski peered curiously out of the tent and looked directly at a pair of black Converse.

"Hello, Alex."

Alex Roberts bent down, beckoning for the rabbit. The animal just sat there.

"He's called Voldemort," Alex explained, straightening up, and brushing grass of his knees. "Not that bad, usually, but sometimes he can be a bit much."

Michael shrugged, looking back at Voldemort. The rabbit glared at him, and Michael quickly turned back to Alex Roberts.

"What are you doing here?" Michael Szuplewski said the first thing that came to his head. "Hey, are you spying on me?"

Alex threw back his head and laughed.

"No." He spluttered after a while, controlling his hysterics. "I left. For good, and I was hoping you'd let me live here. Because no way am I going back to that place." Alex spoke about CCF with venomous disgust.

Michael shrugged, as though he couldn't care less, but inside he was secretly pleased he had someone to share his impressive plans with.

Tossing Alex a pillow, Michael clambered into his sleeping bag. Alex Roberts gestured thankfully and eventually, the two Cadets nodded off.

"I have found something out," Poirot shrugged modestly, "and it may be linked to Alex and Michael Szuplewski's departure."

"Go on …" Matt Cullen prompted.

"Well." Poirot rocked back on his heels mischievously. "My comrades – I mean, my associates – have been following Alex Roberts movements since the fateful day he left us for good."

Abbie Hughes suspected Poirot was enjoying the absence of Alex more than he was letting on.

"You mean you've been prying in Alex Roberts' private business?" George Clark shook his head in mock disapproval. "Tut tut, Poirot."

"No, monsieur," Hercule Poirot sounded stern, a sure sign he had missed the joke part of George's speech, "they have been working. Now, when you've finished …"

George Clark nodded quickly, firmly avoiding eye contact with Abbie.

"The two enfants have been closely observing Michael Szuplewski's movements whilst I was busy here, and as soon as Alex Roberts quit this organization I made it their duty to follow him. You see, I knew something dark and dangerous was going on. Something that's above all which has happened here."

"You mean to say," Matt Cullen pulled a face, "that Alex Roberts has been killing people?"

"NO!" Hercule Poirot roared, frightening the lives out of the three Cadets. George Clark bit back a smile.

"I mean, mon ami, that Monsieur Szuplewski has been plotting against me!" Poirot wiped his brow anxiously. "I think … no, wait, I know that Alex Roberts and Michael Szuplewski have joined forces! Right at this very minute they're hatching a plot! I fear that the next death … will be mine."

Matt Cullen raised his eyebrows.

"So what're you going to do about it?" Abbie asked dubiously.

"My associates have installed a small device in Szuplewski's hideaway. Over time we shall see just what exactly they're doing … and maybe then we can put a stop to it …"

"Luna …" Mike Walsh ignored Christopher Kennedy entirely as he stood in front of the blond girl. Luna Lovegood stared expectantly at him.

"Can I talk to you? In, er, private?"

Christopher rolled his eyes and stomped away to his friends. Yes, he does actually have friends.

"You see …" Mike Walsh glanced slightly towards Richard Lean, who was having a very forced conversation with Sarah, Vanessa and Rachel. "My friend, right, he's …"

"Is this Richard Lean?" Luna smiled serenely as Mike flushed.

"Er, yes it is actually. Well, he was just wondering whether you needed any … advice." This word obviously disgusted Mike as much as it did Luna.

"Advice?" Luna Lovegood wrinkled her nose. "About what?"

Mike Walsh mumbled something extremely quietly. Luna stared at him.

"Okay!" Mike held up his hands in surrender. "About your relationship with Kenno!"

"'Kenno'?" Luna Lovegood asked incredulously. Mike nodded. "Oh. Well can you please inform your friend Richard that 'Kenno' and I do not need any advice …?"

Mike nodded again and started to walk towards Richard Lean, thinking desperately of how he was going to nicely put Richard down.

"Michael?" Luna called softly, and Mike was so used to being called, well, Mike, that he actually looked round for Michael Szuplewski. After understanding, however, that it was he Luna was talking about; he turned and waited. Luna Lovegood skipped up to him, perhaps with a touch of irritation.

"Sorry." Luna did actually look sincerely apologetic as she shrugged at Mike Walsh. "But … me and Christopher are, you know, a match made in heaven."

There was nothing else for Mike to do.

"EW!" He gagged, very disgusted.