Please review, it would be greatly appreciated and would help to speed up the writing process, thank you.
Sorry it took SO long to update, between two jobs and no idea's has made it hard. I'm SO very sorry to those who liked the story but left after a bit, I'm very grateful to those who were patient with me and stayed. Thank you faithful readers, and yes I'm thinking of a sequel. :D
The three friends watched as Dr. Black and Allan discussed their plans in low voices. Tintin struggled against the men that held him; one of the men just smacked him in the head.
"Cut it out you vagabond!" the man said.
"Stop beating on the boy you ill-mannered pirate." Haddock grumbled. Melody sat in silence, how did the Captain come by her father's work, and why didn't he tell them? She was angry with the Captain for not being there when she needed him, angry that he didn't trust them enough to tell them anything. Melody turned to the Captain.
"Why didn't you tell us?" she asked glaring at him. Haddock didn't like the look she was giving him, he was about to answer when Dr. Black walked over.
"Take the Captain to the ship, and take care of the children."
The door suddenly opened and a disheveled man walked in breathing heavily.
"They're coming!" he cried out. Alan walked to the man and shook him.
"Who's coming?" he growled.
"The police, I was on my way here when I saw them." He said shifting uneasily; Dr. Black strode up to him.
"You led them straight to us?!" He yelled, he pulled out his gun and shot the poor man in the chest. Melody screamed and turned away.
"Everyone get to the boat NOW!" Allan yelled, the men ran around like crazy, before they could get to any of the doors, the police walked in and aimed their guns at the thugs.
"HANDS UP!" the police yelled, Tintin sighed with relief, Haddock half smiled, and Melody grinned. The police took the thugs into captivity and then released Tintin and the others. The three friends hugged each other for a moment before they heard a commotion; they turned to see Dr. Black struggling against the police.
"You don't understand, I'm a professional scientist, I have to recover the dangerous work!" he ranted the Captain turned to him and glared.
"It's over Dr. Black," Haddock said, the mad man stared at him.
"What do you mean Haddock? It's not over until the research is in a safe place." Dr. Black said.
"It wouldn't be safe in your hands or anyone's for that matter, that's why I burned it." Haddock said. Dr. Black's eyes grew wide, Melody gasped, Tintin was shocked, and Allan grumbled something about not getting paid.
"Why would you destroy someone's hard work!?" Dr. Black screamed. Melody didn't know if she was relieved or frustrated, she turned to the Captain and simply said.
"Why?" Haddock looked at her for a moment before answering.
"Your father came to me two weeks before he died; he gave me the research and told me to keep it safe until he returned. A week and a half later I received a simple telegram that said 'Burn it.' I didn't know why, but I did as he asked." He paused for a moment, "Melody, I went to your home when I found out they killed your parents, but they told me you had left to go live with a family member, and to leave you alone." Melody hugged the Captain, she understood, and she was no longer angry with him, Dr. Black however was furious.
They walked out of the building and watched the police put the thugs into a big truck, the police started to ask them some questions. Tintin looked around and gasped when he saw a police box in the distance between some trees, he turned to the Captain.
"Captain, look it's th-," as he looked back he couldn't see it.
"What was it, Tintin?" Melody asked.
"A blue box, a police box, but it's gone." Tintin said, Haddock quickly moved to the boy to see, but there was nothing there, he patted Tintin on the back.
"Probably just wishful thinking." Haddock said.
Melody watched the police take Dr. Black into the squad car; she watched as he head butted the police officer, he grabbed the officer's gun, why did they handcuff his hands in front of him? He turned and aimed the gun at Haddock; Melody's heart sank as she heard the gun go off, and she did the only thing she could think of, Melody put herself between the Captain and the bullet.
Haddock heard a gun go off behind him, he turned around just in time to see Melody crumple to the ground in front of him, he looked up to see the shocked look on Dr. Black's face, and realized that the man had tried to kill him. The police wrestled the gun out of his hand before he could fire again; they put him in the car and one of the cops radioed for an ambulance.
Haddock knelt next to Melody and picked her up, he cradled the girl in his arms, and she looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
"I-I'm sorry…I didn't know…w-what else to do." She gasped. Tintin stood next to the Captain; he couldn't believe what had just happened. Haddock just stared at the girl; he remembered when she was younger and how she always wanted to go with him on his many trips.
"You're going to get through this Melody, and when you do me, you and Tintin will go sailing, just like I promised when you were a little girl." He was trying so hard not to fall apart. Haddock looked at the bullet wound; it had gone in just above her heart, and he watched her wince with the sudden pain.
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause so much trouble." Melody said she took a deep ragged breath and closed her eyes.
"No." Haddock said, he held her close and quietly sobbed, he didn't care if they saw him grieve, he had been in this girl's life since she was four, he had watched her grow, and he didn't expect to watch her die. Tintin silently let a few tears fall, he heard a siren in the distance, but it was too late. His heart ached as he watched his friend silently cry, he couldn't take it, and he walked away a few steps to let the fact sink in; Melody was gone.
