Bella and Will relaxed on the couch, Emma and Ash talked in Cleo's bedroom, Lewis watched TV, so did Rikki and Zane, and Cleo was on the computer.
She started searching through web sites when a new email came up. She opened it and it didn't say who it was from it just said To: You.
Cleo,
I believe you and your friends thought you could out smart me. I enjoy your clever thinking, but you can't hide forever. If you do not return in the next twelve hours. I will post a video of the four of you as mermaids, everywhere! Take your time and decide, but not too long. Time is ticking.
From,
Dr. Linda Denman
Cleo was shocked. She didn't know what to do, or what to say to the girls' as she continued to scroll through the e-mail their was a hidden message at the bottom,
Seashells, Seashells, but the Sea shore. One touch of water and you're done for.
5,42,26
Cleo stared; 5? 42? and 26? What did that mean? Was it some sort of lucky number. Do I have to add them? Thinking about that one clue distracted her from all items around her. She didn't even tell the girls about the e-mail.
In Cleo's Room Ash and Emma were still talking about the mermaid things Ash didn't get a chance to understand...
"When you and the girls' were crazy over Nate?" Ash asked.
"He had a perfume on that made mermaids be attracted to them."
Ash laughed,"That perfume really wreaked!" Then he asked,"What about when Zane spilled some smoothie on you the day I kicked him out?"
"I turned into a mermaid. That's why I headed to the cooling room."
"Did Zane know?"
"Oh ya..." Emma rolled her eyes. "This wasn't the first time Denman captured us."
"So... he found out the first time you were captured... and when juice spilled on you, he was still a jerk."
"In a way, he protected me. But ya, I guess you could say that."
"One more thing." Ash said.
Emma nodded,"Sure. What is it?"
"The day I before I found out you were a mermaid, I tried to get you in the water. Remember how you freaked out and walked away...Well, if I put you in the water..."
Emma interrupted-"I would have transformed, those kids that came by a few moments later would have seen me, and my life would have been ruined!"
"Oh." Ash said. "That makes sense."
Bella and Will snuggled together, happy to be safe and sound. When a question suddenly popped into Bella's mind.
"Hey, Cleo!" Bella yelled.
Cleo almost awoken to reality because she was so in thought with her e-mail,"What?" she asked.
"What about your Dad, Sam, and Kim. Where are they?"
"Since we were gone yesterday. I'm guessing my dad assumed I was sleeping over at one of your houses. Considering a note was left on my laptop that says,
4:42 p.m.
We are seeing some of Sam's relatives, be back tomorrow. Hope you had fun with your friends
-Dad
P.S. You're lucky you don't have to go!
-Kim
Bella laughed,"Typical Kim."
"Anyways, they should be back late tonight. I'll just tell them we are having a big sleepover, he's ok with the boys' now."
"Just not any other boy." Bella added.
"Exactly."
They all went back to their business, Emma and Ash came down to join everyone a while later, and they once again had pizza for dinner.
"It's not Pizza Pauly's Pizza." Rikki sighed.
Emma corrected her,"No, it's not. It's Cheesy Chad's Chewy Cheese Pizza."
"Have you ever noticed how many places around here are alliteration?" said Zane.
Lewis teased."Alliteration is the biggest word you've used! You get a gold star!"
"Oh, shush!"
What is Cleo going to do? Why is every pizza place alliteration! Find out in Blackmailed Part 2