The hospital
October 11, 2000
Daybreak was starting to rise in the hospital where a weary Samuel
paced back and forth. The doctor finally came out ith a tired but triumphant
look.
"How is she, Doctor?" Samuel asked.
"Ms. Darren's doing fine. She'll need some stitches, but it'll be
alright," the doctor said.
The C-5 opened and Zack and Carmen stepped out. "How's Ivy?" Zack
asked.
"She's okay. But she'll need some stitches," Samuel said. "But the
strange thing is that Ivy's looking very withdrawn and depressed..."
"That is strange..." Zack trailed off, as Carmen slipped inside Ivy's
room.
"Ivy? You okay?" Carmen asked, pulling up a seat next to Ivy's bed.
"Carmen? You shouldn't be here. Crime and law enforcement don't exist
under the same roof," Ivy answered softly.
"It's okay. Dismiss that notion for now. Samuel told me you got a
nasty gash from Kassandra," Carmen said, noticing the bandages.
Ivy was quiet. "I should retire from Acme and public life."
Carmen was surprised. "Why do you say that?"
"I caused all this trouble. For you, for me, for Acme, for VILE. If I
had let Kassandra win that tournament ten years ago, I would never had caused
all this mayhem Kassandra's now unleashing." Tears rolled down Ivy's eyes.
"This is my fault."
Carmen gently brushed the tears away. "Don't place the guilt on
yourself, detective. You're not creating all this havoc. The blame lies in
Kassandra and Lee Jordan, not you."
Ivy rested her head on Carmen's shoulder. "I keep thinking is this
is a nightmare and it'll be 1990 when I wake up..."
"Maybe it is, but it's not. If you retire from Acme and from public
life, no one will defend Zack in times of trouble, even if the trouble
happens to be my goons. And nobody wants to be lonely." Carmen took out a
picture of a young redhead girl holding a trophy and presented it to Ivy.
Ivy took a look at the picture. "This was me ten years ago. Did Zack
give you this?"
"He did."
"Carmen, why? Why did this have to happen? I sound like a little
kid..." Ivy trailed off, tears soaking Carmen's shoulder. "I never meant to
hurt Kassandra this badly..."
Carmen sensed a young child coming out from Ivy through her voice.
"It's alright, Ivy Azalea. Things will turn out well, and nightmares will
once again become imagination. Don't lose your will to fight for what's
right."
Chicago
October 15, 2000
Ivy, Zack, Samuel, and Carmen stood in front of Natalie's apartment.
"Zack, Carmen, I think it's best if you guys stayed outside in case Lee or
Kassandra show up." Samuel said.
Zack and Carmen nodded solemnly. Ivy and Samuel went in.
Natalie looked over the legal papers with her attorney when Ivy and
Samuel interrupted.
"Mrs. Morrow...are we interrupting you?" Samuel asked.
"No, I was about to finish these papers with the law offices of
Howard, Fine, and Howard," Natalie said. "Have a seat on the couch."
A few minutes later the attorney left and Natalie put down a tray of
tea. "What is it that you wanted to ask?"
"It's Kassandra. She's gotten extremely violent," Samuel said. "She's
even gone as far as packing a knife for her weapon." He gently took Ivy's
left arm and rolled up her sleeve, showing Natalie the bandages.
Natalie sighed. "She became extremely violent during her last months
in this apartment. I had to tell her get out and never come home again. Now
that she's collected her mind, I fear she may come back and kill me. I'm
arranging with my lawyers for a full disownment of Kassandra and Lee Jordan."
"Kassandra I understand, but why Lee Jordan as well?" Ivy asked.
"My parents died 15 years ago in a deadly car accident. I was 25 with
my late husband Greg and 3-year-old Kassandra, my brother Richard was 21 and
in college, my sister Vivien was 16 and a high school junior, and Lee was 12
and still in middle school. Aunt Carol took in Vivien on her last two years
before graduating, but refused to take Lee in because he was so
uncontrollable. With no one else to take care of Lee, there was only two
choices--leaving him at an orphanage or I would take him in." Natalie looked
at a photo of a young Lee and sighed. "I wish I got him some help while he
was under my care."
"What was Kassandra like as a little girl?" Samuel asked.
"She used to be so sweet before Greg died of cancer the same year Mom
and Dad died. She was a bit rowdy around Lee, but he corrupted her mind when
I took Lee in and became his legal guardian. When Kassandra's temper became
more than I could stand I signed her up for martial arts back in San
Francisco. I tried to be a good parent to Kassandra and a good leader for
Lee, but it seems I've failed." Natalie answered, briefly closing her eyes.
"A few days ago Kassandra brutally attacked your niece Beatrice
Mitchell. Has Vivien told you that?" Samuel said.
"No, I wasn't even aware Kassandra was in the New York area. Ever
since I told her to get out she hasn't talked to me since," Natalie sighed.
"I can't believe I wasted nearly twenty years of my life caring for nothing."
"Is there anything good merits about Lee?" Ivy asked.
"Other than his botched capture of Carmen Sandiego, he's been nothing
but a ticking time bomb. His upraising in San Francisco has left me very
embittered and pessimistic about everything now. I was so happy at the time
of his birth when I was thirteen, but now I regret it had I known he would
grow up to be uncontrollable and a time bomb." Natalie said, shaking her
head.
"Thank you, Mrs. Morrow," Samuel said, getting up. Ivy followed suit.
"Call me Natalie," Natalie called after them as they left.
**********
Townhall Cafe
"If Lee Jordan wasn't so psychotic, I would've felt sorry for him,"
Carmen said, sipping her cappucino.
"I would've tolerated him a bit during his stay at Acme," Ivy
answered, warming her hands around her espresso.
"What we need to do is get hold of Kassandra. Kassandra can't keep on
this path of destruction." Samuel said.
"Mrs. Mitchell seemed rather odd when I went to talk to her...I
didn't get any good info from her or her three kids," Zack said.
"Belligerent woman?" Ivy asked.
"That's rather odd," Samuel said. "Vivien's a nice lady, a good
mother...why didn't she cooperated?"
"Maybe because she thought Zack was too young to be Acme," Carmen
said.
"That could be," Ivy said. "He's only 14 and a juvenile."
"I say we go back to New York and check things out," Carmen said.
"Chief, C-5 us back to Mrs. Mitchell's apartment," Zack said.
**********
New York
"Hi, we're from the Acme Detective Agency. We received news of an
attack on your daughter Beatrice," Samuel said. Zack and Carmen were outside
keeping watch.
"I know. Beatrice has recovered physically but emotionally she
refuses to talk," Vivien said. "She's retreated to her room. Feel free to
talk to her, but I don't think she'll help you find my niece Kassandra."
Ivy and Samuel made their way to Beatrice's room, where they found
the child looking out the window, depressed.
"Beatrice?" Ivy asked. The girl didn't answer her.
"We're not here to hurt you. We came because your cousin had attacked
you and you may provide some info to where she is," Samuel said gently.
"Don't arrest her," Beatrice answered.
Samuel and Ivy looked at each other with surprise. "But why?" Ivy
asked.
"She's my cousin." Beatrice continued staring out the window.
"But what your cousin did was wrong."
"I know!" Beatrice shouted.
"Family instinct," Samuel whispered.
"Did Kassandra say anything to you while you were with her?" Ivy
asked.
"She came for money Mom won in her divorce lawsuit several years
ago."
"Anything else?" Samuel said.
Beatrice was silent for a minute. Then she exploded. "DAMMIT WHY THE
HELL ARE YOU ASKING ALL THESE QUESTIONS?!" she screamed.
Samuel and Ivy were half-expecting an outburst. "We just want to know
where Kassandra is. What she committed was a crime." Ivy explained.
"I can't! If Kassandra finds out she'll kill me!"
Samuel and Ivy were shocked. "Does Kassandra mean that?" Ivy asked.
"She had a knife! I'm not lying!" By then Beatrice was
hyperventilating.
Samuel held a paper bag in front of Beatrice to calm her down. "Calm
down. We're keeping the information confidential."
"She mentioned a place where technology and old ways are
intermingled," Beatrice said. "She left her tape recorder behind. You can
have it." She handed over a gray recorder.
Samuel pocketed the tape recorder in his coat. "Thank you. We'll make
sure Kassandra doesn't find out you told us her whereabouts."
October 11, 2000
Daybreak was starting to rise in the hospital where a weary Samuel
paced back and forth. The doctor finally came out ith a tired but triumphant
look.
"How is she, Doctor?" Samuel asked.
"Ms. Darren's doing fine. She'll need some stitches, but it'll be
alright," the doctor said.
The C-5 opened and Zack and Carmen stepped out. "How's Ivy?" Zack
asked.
"She's okay. But she'll need some stitches," Samuel said. "But the
strange thing is that Ivy's looking very withdrawn and depressed..."
"That is strange..." Zack trailed off, as Carmen slipped inside Ivy's
room.
"Ivy? You okay?" Carmen asked, pulling up a seat next to Ivy's bed.
"Carmen? You shouldn't be here. Crime and law enforcement don't exist
under the same roof," Ivy answered softly.
"It's okay. Dismiss that notion for now. Samuel told me you got a
nasty gash from Kassandra," Carmen said, noticing the bandages.
Ivy was quiet. "I should retire from Acme and public life."
Carmen was surprised. "Why do you say that?"
"I caused all this trouble. For you, for me, for Acme, for VILE. If I
had let Kassandra win that tournament ten years ago, I would never had caused
all this mayhem Kassandra's now unleashing." Tears rolled down Ivy's eyes.
"This is my fault."
Carmen gently brushed the tears away. "Don't place the guilt on
yourself, detective. You're not creating all this havoc. The blame lies in
Kassandra and Lee Jordan, not you."
Ivy rested her head on Carmen's shoulder. "I keep thinking is this
is a nightmare and it'll be 1990 when I wake up..."
"Maybe it is, but it's not. If you retire from Acme and from public
life, no one will defend Zack in times of trouble, even if the trouble
happens to be my goons. And nobody wants to be lonely." Carmen took out a
picture of a young redhead girl holding a trophy and presented it to Ivy.
Ivy took a look at the picture. "This was me ten years ago. Did Zack
give you this?"
"He did."
"Carmen, why? Why did this have to happen? I sound like a little
kid..." Ivy trailed off, tears soaking Carmen's shoulder. "I never meant to
hurt Kassandra this badly..."
Carmen sensed a young child coming out from Ivy through her voice.
"It's alright, Ivy Azalea. Things will turn out well, and nightmares will
once again become imagination. Don't lose your will to fight for what's
right."
Chicago
October 15, 2000
Ivy, Zack, Samuel, and Carmen stood in front of Natalie's apartment.
"Zack, Carmen, I think it's best if you guys stayed outside in case Lee or
Kassandra show up." Samuel said.
Zack and Carmen nodded solemnly. Ivy and Samuel went in.
Natalie looked over the legal papers with her attorney when Ivy and
Samuel interrupted.
"Mrs. Morrow...are we interrupting you?" Samuel asked.
"No, I was about to finish these papers with the law offices of
Howard, Fine, and Howard," Natalie said. "Have a seat on the couch."
A few minutes later the attorney left and Natalie put down a tray of
tea. "What is it that you wanted to ask?"
"It's Kassandra. She's gotten extremely violent," Samuel said. "She's
even gone as far as packing a knife for her weapon." He gently took Ivy's
left arm and rolled up her sleeve, showing Natalie the bandages.
Natalie sighed. "She became extremely violent during her last months
in this apartment. I had to tell her get out and never come home again. Now
that she's collected her mind, I fear she may come back and kill me. I'm
arranging with my lawyers for a full disownment of Kassandra and Lee Jordan."
"Kassandra I understand, but why Lee Jordan as well?" Ivy asked.
"My parents died 15 years ago in a deadly car accident. I was 25 with
my late husband Greg and 3-year-old Kassandra, my brother Richard was 21 and
in college, my sister Vivien was 16 and a high school junior, and Lee was 12
and still in middle school. Aunt Carol took in Vivien on her last two years
before graduating, but refused to take Lee in because he was so
uncontrollable. With no one else to take care of Lee, there was only two
choices--leaving him at an orphanage or I would take him in." Natalie looked
at a photo of a young Lee and sighed. "I wish I got him some help while he
was under my care."
"What was Kassandra like as a little girl?" Samuel asked.
"She used to be so sweet before Greg died of cancer the same year Mom
and Dad died. She was a bit rowdy around Lee, but he corrupted her mind when
I took Lee in and became his legal guardian. When Kassandra's temper became
more than I could stand I signed her up for martial arts back in San
Francisco. I tried to be a good parent to Kassandra and a good leader for
Lee, but it seems I've failed." Natalie answered, briefly closing her eyes.
"A few days ago Kassandra brutally attacked your niece Beatrice
Mitchell. Has Vivien told you that?" Samuel said.
"No, I wasn't even aware Kassandra was in the New York area. Ever
since I told her to get out she hasn't talked to me since," Natalie sighed.
"I can't believe I wasted nearly twenty years of my life caring for nothing."
"Is there anything good merits about Lee?" Ivy asked.
"Other than his botched capture of Carmen Sandiego, he's been nothing
but a ticking time bomb. His upraising in San Francisco has left me very
embittered and pessimistic about everything now. I was so happy at the time
of his birth when I was thirteen, but now I regret it had I known he would
grow up to be uncontrollable and a time bomb." Natalie said, shaking her
head.
"Thank you, Mrs. Morrow," Samuel said, getting up. Ivy followed suit.
"Call me Natalie," Natalie called after them as they left.
**********
Townhall Cafe
"If Lee Jordan wasn't so psychotic, I would've felt sorry for him,"
Carmen said, sipping her cappucino.
"I would've tolerated him a bit during his stay at Acme," Ivy
answered, warming her hands around her espresso.
"What we need to do is get hold of Kassandra. Kassandra can't keep on
this path of destruction." Samuel said.
"Mrs. Mitchell seemed rather odd when I went to talk to her...I
didn't get any good info from her or her three kids," Zack said.
"Belligerent woman?" Ivy asked.
"That's rather odd," Samuel said. "Vivien's a nice lady, a good
mother...why didn't she cooperated?"
"Maybe because she thought Zack was too young to be Acme," Carmen
said.
"That could be," Ivy said. "He's only 14 and a juvenile."
"I say we go back to New York and check things out," Carmen said.
"Chief, C-5 us back to Mrs. Mitchell's apartment," Zack said.
**********
New York
"Hi, we're from the Acme Detective Agency. We received news of an
attack on your daughter Beatrice," Samuel said. Zack and Carmen were outside
keeping watch.
"I know. Beatrice has recovered physically but emotionally she
refuses to talk," Vivien said. "She's retreated to her room. Feel free to
talk to her, but I don't think she'll help you find my niece Kassandra."
Ivy and Samuel made their way to Beatrice's room, where they found
the child looking out the window, depressed.
"Beatrice?" Ivy asked. The girl didn't answer her.
"We're not here to hurt you. We came because your cousin had attacked
you and you may provide some info to where she is," Samuel said gently.
"Don't arrest her," Beatrice answered.
Samuel and Ivy looked at each other with surprise. "But why?" Ivy
asked.
"She's my cousin." Beatrice continued staring out the window.
"But what your cousin did was wrong."
"I know!" Beatrice shouted.
"Family instinct," Samuel whispered.
"Did Kassandra say anything to you while you were with her?" Ivy
asked.
"She came for money Mom won in her divorce lawsuit several years
ago."
"Anything else?" Samuel said.
Beatrice was silent for a minute. Then she exploded. "DAMMIT WHY THE
HELL ARE YOU ASKING ALL THESE QUESTIONS?!" she screamed.
Samuel and Ivy were half-expecting an outburst. "We just want to know
where Kassandra is. What she committed was a crime." Ivy explained.
"I can't! If Kassandra finds out she'll kill me!"
Samuel and Ivy were shocked. "Does Kassandra mean that?" Ivy asked.
"She had a knife! I'm not lying!" By then Beatrice was
hyperventilating.
Samuel held a paper bag in front of Beatrice to calm her down. "Calm
down. We're keeping the information confidential."
"She mentioned a place where technology and old ways are
intermingled," Beatrice said. "She left her tape recorder behind. You can
have it." She handed over a gray recorder.
Samuel pocketed the tape recorder in his coat. "Thank you. We'll make
sure Kassandra doesn't find out you told us her whereabouts."