91
Ashley burst into their hotel room the next morning. "I've got it! I've got Matilda's address."
Mia groaned as she rolled over, blinking blearily at the redhead in the doorway. "What?"
"Hurry and get up—the sooner we get ready, the sooner we can go apprehend Matilda and figure out where our friends are."
May sat up in the twin bed across from Mia's, her long hair sticking every-which way. She grabbed the glasses off her bedside table, having yet to put her contacts in, and put them on her face so she could see Ashley more clearly. "The police finally gave up the information?"
Ashley's expression became slightly sheepish. "Not exactly."
"Did you hack the police database?" Mia asked in shock. She had sat up as well, trying to finger-brush through her own tangled hair.
"No...nothing like that."
"Then how..."
"Will found it," Ashley moved to start packing her own stuff into her small suitcase, and the twins made eye contact.
"Your husband, Will?"
Ashley shrugged, her expression a mix of embarrassment and pride. "Let's just say, I'm not the only one in the relationship with a criminal record."
"Wait...what?" May's eyes were larger than ever under her glasses, and Ashley laughed a little.
"Don't worry—it was nothing that terrible. He just got in some trouble in his teenage years for piracy. Selling illegal copies of music albums and stuff like that. He's been on the right path since then, but he still has a connection or two with people on the dark web."
"Oh. Well...that's good, I guess." Mia frowned, trying to picture the laid-back, guitar-playing motorcyclist surfing the dark web. The thing was, it wasn't really that hard to picture. "Is he going to get in trouble?"
"All he did was call in a few favors," Ashley offered, pulling a brush through her hair a few times before pulling it all back into a ponytail. "If his sources are to be believed, then Matilda really does live here in Metallonia, in a big, private estate out in the middle of nowhere. And, get this..." Ashely turned to stare at the twins, her voice becoming soft. "Not only does Matilda have connections to the Metallonian Inquiry and Robotics Institution, she's one of the owners."
"She owns the place Julien was interning at?" May shook her head. "How did he not know?"
"I doubt she was ever there—she's the money side of the equation, and someone named Aristo Zerek is the lead scientist who runs the laboratory itself."
"We have to tell somebody about all of this!" Mia said, standing quickly. The pieces weren't quite fitting in the puzzle yet, but it felt like they were finally getting enough information to start making connections.
"I called my Mom. She and Dad are out with the rest of their old team, scouring the wilderness. She said she would pass the information along." Ashley pulled on her shoes. "We three are going to go apprehend Matilda, and they said that they're sending Zane and Pixal to the MIRI to talk with this Aristo person. They figure they will have the most leeway, considering it's their son who was working at the MIRI before he disappeared. Hopefully they'll be able to get more information on that side of things while we grill Matilda."
"Doesn't Matilda have a restraining order put out on you?" Mia realized. Ashley hesitated a moment.
"500 feet," she muttered to herself, but then she shook her head. "It may have to be up to you guys to do the heavy lifting."
"You're not coming?"
"I'll come, but you're right. I can't get close." After a moment, she nodded to herself. "Leave your phone on record while you talk with her. I'll tell you everything you need to ask on the way over, and then afterward, I'll go over the recording with you. We'll find a way to trip her up in her own lies."
"And if she refuses to talk with us?" May asked softly. Ashley's expression was hard to interpret.
"Then we'll have to get higher powers involved. The Metallonian Police Department seems to care less about Matilda's involvement, for whatever reason...but I'm sure the Ninjagoan City Council won't be so quick to turn a blind eye. Especially given that their ambassador is one of the ones missing."
"What kind of people?" Matilda didn't even bother keeping the irritation out of her tone. She had a migraine, and talking with her lackey in the Metallonian Police Department hadn't really been on today's to-do list.
"A couple of young adults. They insisted that we needed to give them your information, because you're the last one who saw Colby Walker before he went missing."
"I already gave a full account to the police force. Did you tell them that?"
"Yeah, we passed that along. They didn't get any personal information from us, but you told me to let you know if anyone came around sniffing."
Matilda scrutinized her manicure, annoyed that she hadn't even had time to go get her nails redone lately. "Why did they come around at all? What's their connection to Colby Walker?"
"Two said they were his sisters, and the other claimed to be a family friend."
Matilda froze, and then a bitter smile stretched across her face. "They were twins? The sisters?"
"Yes..."
"And I've no doubt the other was a spunky redhead, right?"
"You...know them?"
Matilda sighed heavily. "Thank you, Jones. No doubt they'll be on my doorstep by the end of the day."
"We didn't give them any of your information, Ms. O'Keefe. We keep your privacy—"
"I know that I can trust the Metallonian Police Department," Matilda assured. "But these particular girls have a habit of sticking their noses into my business."
"Would you like us to send a squadron to your estate? We can take them into custody, if they're trespassing at your residence."
Matilda tapped her chin with one fingernail, but then she shook her head. "I will let you know if it becomes necessary. I think I will be able to handle them." A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "In fact...this could be fun."
The communicator went dead once again, and Theo glowered at it. He turned it around in his hands, trying to figure out if something was wrong. He wished he knew more about electronics, but he was at a loss.
A soft knock came at the door, and he ignored it as he once again tried to get the inter-realm communicator to work. The door opened, and Theo didn't look up as Tolan came into his office.
"What are you doing?"
Theo resisted the urge to snap at him, knowing that it wouldn't accomplish anything. "Trying to connect to Ninjago." The communicator stopped buzzing, indicating that once again, the call didn't go through. The young man scowled as he lifted it. "There's something wrong with the communicator, though."
"It's not working?"
"I've been trying to connect to Amber for weeks, but it never worked. I assumed she was just not answering, but now I can't even connect to the council's device." Theo wiped at his face in frustration. "It's been a problem on my end this whole time. Amber's probably tried to reach me all this time, and hasn't been able to." He glowered at the mechanism one last time before tossing it onto his desk. "Hopefully she can get with my parents and let them know what she's learned about the Buyer."
"Your sister's researching the Buyer?" Tolan was leaning up against the wall of the office, his expression as stoic as ever.
Theo smiled bitterly. "I was going to do it myself, but I got kicked out of Ninjago. She took the chains to Metallonia to figure out where they came from. With any luck, she's already been able to make headway."
"What chains?"
Theo glanced up and finally scoffed. "Don't worry about it," he muttered as he went to stand up. Tolan watched him closely.
"You've been doing all this on your own for a while, haven't you? What else haven't you told me?"
"A little late for you to be mad about it," Theo pointed out as he left the office. The guard followed behind him. He waited for Tolan to chastise him more, but surprisingly, he let it go.
"Why were you trying to contact Ninjago?"
Theo frowned, and he finally shrugged. "I was going to let my parents know what we discovered from Rook and Quazier. They could use the information in their search...otherwise, we just have to hope that Amber knows enough to get them on the right track. Ninjago's a big place—its going to take them a while to find the Buyer if they don't have anything to go off of."
"What information were you planning on sharing?" Tolan's tone was hard to read, and Theo glanced over at him.
"The buyer has dragons—"
"Cole and Keyda already know. The other traders told us that when we interrogated them."
"Then the part about the accent could come in handy," Theo mused. "If they didn't sound like my Dad, they probably were not from Ninjago City or its surrounding areas."
"The only one who mentioned accents was Rook."
"And it was probably a lie," Theo agreed. "But I figure I might as well pass the information along." He ran a hand through his hair, feeling conflicted. His mind had been buzzing ever since they had brought Rook and Quazier in, but he found himself fighting between diving back into the puzzle he had been working on all these years and sticking with his claim that he would have nothing else to do with it. He finally glanced over at Tolan. "What did you learn from Quazier?"
Tolan's expression darkened. "Either he doesn't know much, or he's holding out. We got a physical description of the buyer, along with what he usually sent in payment, but no name, and no locations. Claims the Buyer kept his own life details to himself and the traders didn't really press him for his life story."
"He didn't say anything else about the Buyer? What about the dragons, or the buyer's lackeys?"
"You'd have to ask Ret. He was the only one Jaqah would let question him."
"Ret?" Theo stopped dead. "Ret's a terrible interrogator."
"Jaq wasn't in the mood to do it herself, and she wouldn't let me in there with him."
"Why?"
Tolan's expression flickered as his hand drifted to the hilt of his katana. "Something about how if she let me in there, the old worm wouldn't last long enough to tell us anything." His eyes flashed, and he scowled. "She was right, to be fair."
Theo was quiet, realizing why Tolan hated the trade leader so much. "I talked to Pippa yesterday," Theo offered carefully. "I'm glad she seems to be okay."
Tolan scoffed, glancing over at Theo before releasing his katana hilt. "She's alive...but we can hardly keep her in one place."
"She mentioned that she wanted to go to Ninjago to help in the search."
"Which is out of the question."
They both fell quiet as they continued down the hall. In the silence, the questions that Theo had been wrestling with the past day came to his mind, and he fought with himself about whether or not to ask them. At one point in his past, he wouldn't have hesitated asking Tolan's opinion about things, but he found it almost painful these days to trust anyone with his thoughts. At last, he glanced over at the guard.
"Rook was lying, right?" Theo demanded. "About knowing what the buyer looks like. She was just trying to save her own hide after getting caught, right?"
Tolan was quiet, and he finally shrugged. "It came across that way."
Theo nodded, turning away to glower at the floor as they walked. He was finally feeling justified in his bitter anger, but then Tolan spoke up again.
"I just don't know why she bothered getting herself caught."
"What do you mean, getting herself caught?" Theo turned to frown. "You tracked her down."
"She was on her way to the Central Fortress with the slave leader in tow when we caught her. She didn't even struggle...acted like it was all part of her plan. I just can't figure out why."
Theo stopped walking, but he finally scoffed. "She's just stupid," he finally muttered. "Still thinking she can do whatever she wants, and that I'll turn a blind eye to it. She really misunderstood our final conversation—I made it clear she was never to come back to the Central Province."
"Final conversation?" Tolan murmured. Theo didn't answer. He still hadn't admitted to the fact that he had been the one to release Rook, but he knew that everyone else already knew he had. The guard continued. "That's what she claimed to want, actually. She said she would hand over Quazier for one last conversation with you."
Theo clenched his fists, not sure what to think. "Well, she got it," he finally muttered. "Apparently all she wanted to do was call me names one last time...make me feel worthless. That always was her favorite thing to do."
"It just doesn't add up."
Theo looked over at Tolan, and it seemed the guard was lost in thought. "What doesn't add up?"
"Why would she risk imprisonment for one last conversation? She didn't have to find Quazier...she didn't have to come back. She could have disappeared into the realm, and honestly, it would have taken me and my crew a while to find her, if we did at all. If her motive really is freedom, this seems like a harder path to get it than merely disappearing into a new life."
"Maybe she was hoping to get a clean slate," Theo mused. "She thought she could trade Quazier over and we'd forgive all, and she could go back to doing whatever she wanted without any consequences for her betrayal."
"She's not that stupid," Tolan mused. "Besides, she's lived without a clean slate for this long. Why want one now? There are only a few things she could gain from having one."
"Like what?"
Tolan studied Theo carefully, his expression hard to read. "That's what I'm still trying to figure out," the guard admitted at last. "Ret mentioned something else that the slave trader talked about during their discussion."
"About the Buyer?"
"About Rook. Apparently, Quazier's under the impression that you hired her as a bounty hunter—he was gloating that you double-crossed her after she brought him in, just as he apparently told her you would."
Theo scowled. "I didn't hire her to do anything," he snapped. "I told her to get out of my life, and never come back."
"He was misinformed on a lot," Tolan agreed. "It seems he also assumed you and Rook had a very intimate relationship. He's convinced himself that you played with her emotions—won her over with promises of love, and that's why she betrayed him and the other traders that day at the Ravine."
Theo whirled on his guard, feeling furious. "I'm not the one who lied! And Rook didn't betray him that day...she betrayed me! She brought me there like she was bringing home a prize hoofer...if I hadn't been a step ahead of her, then she would have turned me over to the buyer without a second of remorse!"
Tolan watched the outburst calmly. As Theo finally stopped yelling, the guard merely shrugged. "I know, Theo. I never said I believed Quazier...I was just telling you what he said."
"Why?" The ex-Heir demanded. "Why tell me at all? I'm not the one who will be putting him on trial...I have nothing to do with any of this anymore!"
"I'm telling you because you asked me for my opinion on Rook," Tolan countered. "So I'm telling you my opinion of her."
"Which is what?"
"I don't know." Tolan's expression flickered. It was rare he admitted to not knowing something, but as he met Theo's eye, he seemed sincere. "I'm still trying to figure her out...but I think it's worth noting that both you and her own leader see her as a traitor."
"Because she only cares about herself," Theo pointed out.
"Probably," Tolan agreed. "But it still doesn't explain why she turned herself back over. In my experience with people only out for themselves, they don't tend to purposefully get themselves thrown back into the dungeons."
Theo shook his head, wishing that he could put the assassin from his mind forever. He turned to walk away, his voice bitter. "What other motive could she possibly have?"
Tolan was no longer following him, though Theo could still feel the guard's eyes studying him from behind. "I guess only time will tell," Tolan mused softly.
92
"This really is the middle of nowhere, isn't it?" Mia mused as she stared out the window of the taxi-cab.
"It would be a good place to hide people," May added softly before glancing over at Ashley. "You don't think...you don't think Colby's locked up somewhere in her house, do you?"
Ashley's expression was hard to read. "I wouldn't put anything past her...but I don't know that she's that stupid. Surely the police would have searched her house when they figured out the connection between her and Amber and the rest. There's no way she would risk them finding them there."
Mia wasn't sure what to think. It made her sick to think about her brother being held hostage in the witch's home, but on the other hand, if he was, they could be closer than ever to finding him. "There it is," she pointed out. The neighborhood they found themselves in was high-end, but the mansion on the hill really took the cake. Sitting atop a perfectly manicured lawn, the home seemed to exude modern taste while still holding itself up with a classical aloofness. The whole thing couldn't scream Matilda more if it tried.
Sure enough, the manor turned out to be the right address. The taxi was forced to come to a stop at a large gate, and Mia felt her stomach clench. How would they manage to get in? Were they going to hop the fence?
"You sure she knows your coming?" the taxi-driver asked, looking like he wasn't sure whether he was comfortable abandoning the three girls at a locked gate.
"We'll be fine," Ashley offered confidently, paying the driver. He didn't seem like he believed her, but he finally shrugged as he turned and drove away. Mia watched him leave down the fancy lane, and then turned her attention back to the redhead in charge.
"How are we going to get in?"
Ashley's expression was tight, but she finally marched up to the ringer on the gate and pushed the button firmly. There was a buzzing noise, and then a man's voice answered.
"Yes?"
"Tell Ms. O'Keefe that Ashley Smith and Mia and May Walker are here, and we have some questions for her."
"One moment."
May stared at Ashley in shock. "She'll never let us in now!" she pointed out. "Ashley, she hates us!"
"We're only going to play into her hand by working angles of subterfuge," the redhead said, folding her arms. "If she won't let us in, then we'll report her to the Ninjago City Council."
"Maybe we should have just done that to begin with," the older Walker twin muttered, fiddling with the tablet in her hand.
"That way will waste so much time," Ashley countered, staring down the audio-box on the gate as if she were staring down Matilda herself.
"But why would Matilda ever let us in?" Mia demanded. She glanced back at where the taxi had driven away, suddenly wishing they had asked the driver to wait a moment.
Ashley had a dark glint in her eye. "Because people like her love a challenge."
Mia swallowed hard, but then the speaker was crackling again.
"Well, well. I suppose I knew it was only a matter of time before you all showed up." Rather than a butler, the voice was unmistakably that of Matilda O'Keefe. Mia felt her stomach clench, but she forced away the anxiety. This was for Colby.
"We have questions about the disappearance of Colby Walker," Ashley said firmly. "You were the last one to have seen him before he disappeared."
"So, naturally, you think I've done something with him? Goodness...it seems that none of you have grown out of your dramatic flair."
"If you won't answer our questions, then we'll be forced to appeal to the Ninjago City Council."
"I'm almost tempted to make you go that route...it won't take you far. The council doesn't delve into these personal situations you know."
"I think they would, when they realize you could be connected to the disappearance of their own ambassador." Ashley's accusation was heavy, but frustratingly, it didn't seem to ruffle Matilda's feathers. They could hear her laughing on the other side of the speaker, and Mia clenched her fists.
"It seems you all are as misguided as ever...but I suppose I have nothing else to do today. I might as well show you I have nothing to hide...though, if I remember right, Miss Ashley Smith, you are not allowed to be here."
"The restraining order is only for 500 feet..."
"...Or anywhere on my residence. Everything beyond this gate is my residence, I'm afraid."
Ashley muttered something under her breath, but then seemed to take the accusation in stride. "I'll wait here," she conceded. "But you should know that we've already let a lot of people know that we were coming to speak with you today. If anything happens to Mia and May on your residence..."
"You have really been watching too many crime shows, Miss Smith. You are the ones barging in on me, accusing me of things I did not commit. If anyone was going to do damage during this visit, I daresay it isn't going to be me. You let your little friends know that I'm willing to tell them what I know about their brother, but that I'm not against arresting the lot of you at the smallest hint of funny business. Do you understand?"
Ashley was obviously barely able to control her rage, but her voice was neutral. "All right."
"I'll send Yardston out to you." The speaker went dead, and the three women made wary eye contact.
"She's letting us in," Mia realized.
Ashley nodded. "I wondered if she would. You guys can do this...just remember the questions I gave you." She glanced between the twins. "In fact...Mia, maybe let May do the talking."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You were a little aggressive with Mr. Rushford," Ashley pointed out unapologetically. "If you do that in there with Matilda, we're all going to be calling our parents for bail. You've got to keep your cool."
Mia scowled. "I'll be fine."
After a few minutes, a well-dressed butler came down the drive and met them at the gate. He unlocked it and allowed the two twins to slip through before making a show of locking Ashley out. The redhead rolled her eyes before meeting Mia's eye.
"Just ask her the questions, and then come back out. Okay?"
The twins both nodded tensely, and then they were following the butler back up to the large manor. It really was beautiful, but Mia wouldn't let herself appreciate any of the interesting features. As far as she was concerned, they were in enemy territory now.
They followed Yardston through a side door, and Mia could feel her heart pounding as they walked through the air-conditioned hallways. The walls were dotted with art, and the floors were so polished it almost felt like a crime to walk on them. At last, they reached an open parlor, and Mia stiffened as she caught sight of Matilda.
The business-woman was lounging comfortably on a pristine white sofa. In fact, everything in the parlor was either white or gold, from the plush carpet and large, fluffy rug to the fireplace made of gold-streaked marble. The only pop of color in the whole room was a large painting over the fireplace in swirls of creams, blues, and navy.
"Ah...if it isn't the dynamic duo," Matilda mused. She looked different than she had when Mia and May had last faced her. She was thinner, her hair longer, and her age was beginning to show. However, the patronizing look in her eye and the curl of her nude-colored lips was all too familiar. The twins froze in the entryway, and Matilda gestured to the large sofa across from her. "Come have a seat. Can Yardston get you a drink?"
"No, thank you," May said stiffly. Mia didn't even answer—she just glowered. Matilda didn't seem to notice as she turned to her butler.
"Bring me something bubbly, Yardston. And don't forget the ice."
The twins made their way over to the couch, sitting stiffly on the snow-white surface. Mia pushed a few buttons on her phone in her pocket, ensuring that their conversation would be recorded. Next to her, she knew May was doing the same thing on her tablet.
"So...I'm assuming you're here in Metallonia looking for your brother, and you've discovered that I was the last person to see him," Matilda said, beginning the conversation. "Now you're here to interrogate me and figure out if I've done something dastardly to him...is that right?"
"It...wouldn't be the first time you've locked up someone we cared about," May pointed out carefully. Matilda rolled her eyes.
"What happened three years ago had nothing to do with you two, despite your efforts to become as involved as possible. It was directly between me and my company and a family of Oni who insisted on trespassing in Ninjago."
"That's not what happened, and you know it!" Mia snapped. May reached out to grab her hand—a warning to keep her cool. Matilda noticed the gesture and her smile grew.
"Yes, well...it's all in the past regardless. What is it you need from me about your brother?"
May took a deep breath. "Colby was invited to the RIFA and told of an internship and scholarship that he was being awarded by an anonymous donor. On Friday, he had a luncheon scheduled to meet and thank that person." May hesitated a moment before continuing firmly. "We know you were that anonymous donor, Matilda."
The woman hardly seemed phased. "And?"
"And there's no reason you would have supported our brother!" Mia snapped. "You couldn't care less about him and his art! You were using him, Matilda, don't think we don't know it!"
May was squeezing her hand, but Mia didn't care. Just the sight of the woman infuriated her, and Matilda's patronizing smile wasn't helping.
"Why would you say that?" Matilda asked, seemingly baffled.
"Because Colby isn't good enough to get into the RIFA!" Mia pointed out. "All he does is slap paint on a canvas. You can't tell me that you honestly have any interest in my brother's future in art!"
Silence fell, and Yardston entered to hand Matilda her drink. The woman pursed her lips as she swirled the thin glass. "Slap paint on a canvas? Is that all you see, when you look at his work?"
Mia's heart began to pound louder. "That's all there is to see. Which is why—"
"Really? Because when I look at your brother's work, I see balanced pieces of art, mid-way between an impressionists interpretation of nature and an expressionalist's portrayal of abstract ideals, such as emotion."
May shifted next to Mia as the twins stared at the businesswoman. "That's not—" May started, no doubt trying to get the conversation back on track, but Matilda cut her off.
"And if you girls had really bothered to look into the Rushford Institution of Fine Arts, you would have discovered that they have recently opened an entire wing dedicated to abstract art due to its growing popularity among the Metallonian upper and middle classes. In a country where history and emotion holds such a sway over its popular culture, artists that possess the uncanny ability to capture emotion in abstract work are in high demand. This shift in artistic value led Mr. Rushford to invest a lot of capital into this new branch of fine arts, which has in turn led to him searching the realm for abstract artists to fill it." Matilda took a sip of her drink, her eyes never leaving Mia's. "Which is where I come in, you see—I'm one of his investors, but also one of his talent scouts to ensure my investments are being well spent. After Mr. Rushford let me know that abstract art was a focus of his, I kept a look out for such work as I toured various art shows and the like. He trusts my judgment in such style, because I have what you might call a natural eye for good art."
Matilda looked away at last, gesturing to the large canvas above her mantlepiece. "Do you like it?" she asked, forcing Mia to look away from her to also study the artwork. "Isn't it intriguing, the way the colors seem to shift into each other, the longer you look? It's called Tranquility. I bought it from a Charity Art Auction here in Metallonia. Artists all over the realm submitted pieces of work to be auctioned, knowing the proceeds would be donated to local orphanages. This particular piece was submitted by a high school art student, which I must say surprised me. The balance of color and shading is of professional caliber." Matilda turned back to Mia, her smile growing just a little. "Care to guess who the artist was?"
Mia was on her feet before she could think better of it. "You're a liar!" she shouted.
"You don't have to take my word for it," Matilda offered. "Feel free to take it off the wall—his signature is on the back. But do be careful, would you? I paid good money for that."
"Mia..." May warned, but Mia barely heard her as she marched over to the fireplace and pulled the large canvas off the wall. She whipped it around, sure that Matilda was lying. However, as her eyes caught sight of the writing on the brown paper on the back of the canvas, her heart fell.
Tranquility
Colby Walker, Ninjago High
For a moment, no one said anything, and Mia's hands trembled as she stared at her brother's messy handwriting.
"I'm surprised you didn't recognize the piece as his, to be honest," Matilda offered airily as she took another sip of her drink. "It's a very obvious representation of his style. Muted tones, swirls of shading...a Walker piece if I ever saw one." She frowned in thought. "You know...the more you look at it, the more it looks like waves...or ripples in a pool. But that's the thing about Mr. Walker." She met Mia's eye again, her eyes glinting above the rim of her glass. "Everything he does just makes one think of water."
If May hadn't stood to grab her, Mia wasn't sure what she would have done. At the very least, the rosé Matilda was sipping would have stained a lot of white furniture.
"Mia, calm down," her twin ordered as Mia tried to rip from May's hold to get to Matilda.
"What have you done to my brother?" she shouted, tears stinging her eyes. "You're a criminal and a liar!"
Matilda's smile faded, and she set down the glass on a nearby table. "Look, girls, I said I would answer your questions, but I did not agree to let you come in and verbally assault me. Do I need to call the police? Or can you show yourselves out?"
"Wait!" May begged, and Mia finally stopped fighting as she realized that Matilda was on the brink of kicking them out. The older twin hurried on desperately. "Whether or not you had actual interest in Colby as an artist, there is no way he would have accepted you as a benefactor. As soon as he discovered it was you, he would have come straight home!"
Matilda leaned back in her chair, her brow furrowing slightly. "Well...you are right about one thing. Mr. Walker was not keen on the idea of having me for a benefactor. I really wondered if he would be...but I had hoped that he wouldn't hold back on his own future, just because I didn't see eye to eye with some of his friends a few years ago."
"Didn't see eye to eye?" Mia repeated venomously, but her sister cut her off.
"We just have a hard time believing that our brother went straight from a meeting with you to hiking in the Metallonian wilderness," May said, meeting Matilda's eye. Matilda didn't shy away from the staring contest, raising a thin eyebrow.
"Well, I'm afraid I can't enlighten you on what your brother decided to do after leaving our appointment. All I can tell you is what happened during it."
"And what did happen, when he showed up and realized you were his benefactor?"
Matilda turned away at last, reclaiming her drink as her gaze became distant. "He was upset, to say the least," she admitted as her long nails clicked against the glass. "I had expected him to be wary, but I didn't expect him to break down crying. He is a rather...anxious soul, isn't he?"
Mia stiffened with rage. "What did you do to him?"
"Nothing," Matilda scoffed.
"Besides get his hopes up just to crush them!" Mia hissed. "What on earth did you have to gain, toying with his emotions like that?"
"You know, he thought it was some kind of prank as well. What you all need to realize is that the internship and the scholarship are 100% genuine. No tricks, no conditions."
"He vandalized your building all those years ago," May pointed out carefully. "He helped us when we targeted you and the NCST. There's no reason you would have done anything to help him or his future."
Matilda chuckled darkly. "Why? Because in your mind, I'm a villain, and these situations are always black and white...is that what you mean?"
"I just mean...it doesn't make sense for you to help someone who targeted you."
Matilda continued to tap her glass with one fingernail, looking thoughtful. "To be honest, girls, I don't really hold your brother in contempt for what happened all those years ago. His part in it all was minimal at best, and frankly, I blame his involvement on the bad influences surrounding him." She tilted her head slightly. "By which, I mean you two, of course."
"Bad influences? How dare you..."
"Do you really think I considered a thirteen-year-old vandal a significant threat? It was obviously merely his way of contributing to what you must have convinced him was a worthy cause. No...I hardly blame your brother for what happened all those years ago, and I certainly wouldn't spend thousands of dollars and waste significant time and effort for some kind of petty revenge all this time later." She raised an eyebrow. "That's what you're convinced this all is, right? Some kind of revenge plot?"
"What else happened, before Colby left the luncheon?" May asked, avoiding the question.
"Well...after he broke down, I tried to convince him that he should put the past behind him and embrace this opportunity. It really could be a head start for his career, after all, and he has a true talent for abstract art, even if he doesn't have the funds to attend the RIFA on his own dime. I tried to get him to see the value of the arrangement...but he wasn't in the right mindset to think about his future. I suppose finding out it was me who funded him shocked him more than I thought it would."
"Of course it shocked him! You're a—"
"Mia, stop," May snapped, shooting her sister a warning look before turning back to Matilda. "Then what happened?"
"Well, then this girl came barreling into the room, shouting at me and going off. I nearly called the police on her, but then it turned out that she was with Colby. His girlfriend, or something."
"Dani," Mia muttered.
"She was furious with me...though, once again, I had done nothing to warrant it. She made all sorts of threats, and your brother was beside himself. I told him that I would stay in touch in case he changed his mind..."
"Changed his mind about what?"
Matilda's expression flickered with displeasure. "He let me know that he wouldn't accept anything that I was a part of. I told him I'd give him a few days to think it over, just in case he came to his senses."
"Of course he'd want nothing to do with you! You locked up Theo and burned down your own business with him inside!"
"Mere conspiracy theories...but I can see now why your brother was so hesitant to grab this opportunity." Matilda tsked as she studied the twins. "It's your fault...you two have set him up for failure. Filling his head with these hero vs villain ideologies. Though I suppose I can't blame you alone, either...these mentalities have been a way of life for your family and the other professed heroes of Ninjago."
"Maybe if you weren't such a villain, then—"
"What happened after Dani came? Where did she and Colby go?" May asked, once again cutting off her sister's words.
"I have no idea."
"Liar!" Mia accused.
Matilda held up her hands in an innocent gesture. "I really don't know. They left together, and after giving me an earful, your brother's girlfriend kept assuring him that they could 'salvage the trip.' I didn't bother trying to follow them out, though I waited for Colby to call me about the proposal." She frowned in thought. "I really thought he would, after he had time to think over it...but the next thing I knew, he and his girlfriend are on the news. Imagine my shock when I discovered that they were missing...and not just them, either...but a whole crew of others, including my own son." Rare emotion flickered over Matilda's expression, but she steeled it in the next moment, looking away. "I knew immediately how all of this was going to look, you know. I realized I could have very well been the last person to have talked with your brother and his girlfriend before they disappeared...and given how everything went down a few years ago, I knew there would be those who tried to use this tragedy to paint me in a bad light."
"Stop playing innocent," Mia snapped. "We know you had everything to do with their disappearances!"
"Do you really think I'm that stupid?" Matilda demanded as she looked up to meet her eye again. "What motive could I possibly have for harming your brother and his friends...and my own son?"
"You lost the election, all those years ago..."
"So you think I put a half-baked plot together all these years later, bent on revenge? If I really was the type of person to do that, do you think I would have targeted so many people that I knew would be traced back to me? Do you really think I would have met with your brother in person a few days before making him go missing? That would have been very poor planning, to directly link myself to him right before his disappearance...but I just knew that you and others would assume that was exactly what I did." She finished off the last of her drink. "You know, the second I found out he was missing, I went straight to the police to put in my statement, knowing that people were going to show up on my doorstep with all sorts of accusations. Though, to be fair, I thought I would have gotten more backlash from my ex-husband, or been harassed by the news. That's perhaps the strangest part of all of this...you three are the only ones who have come to accuse me so far."
Mia and May were quiet as they processed what Matilda had said, and May finally spoke again. "Why did you reveal your identity to Colby?" she asked at last. "If you were really just interested in supporting his future, you could have remained anonymous. You had to have known he wouldn't have agreed to let you support him."
Matilda turned her attention back to the large painting where it was now leaning up against the fireplace. "I thought about it," she admitted. "But I suppose if I was going to be the one to set him off on his road to success, I wanted him to know exactly where that success was coming from." Matilda set her empty glass on the coaster on the table once again. "He reminds me a little of myself, to be honest."
"Colby is nothing like you!" Mia snapped. Everything Matilda said set her on edge, and she wished she could pound the truth out of the woman.
"Sure he is," Matilda countered as she leaned forward. "When I was his age, I had a similar problem to the one he's been facing this last year."
"What are you talking about? What problem?" May asked carefully.
Matilda shrugged one thin shoulder. "Wanting to work for a future that everyone says is unrealistic. Of course, my background was far different than his—I came from high-class roots who scoffed at my dedication to becoming a business woman." She sneered at the memory. "My family was rather narrow-minded, thinking I was best suited for little more than a profitable marriage. But though I have the looks of a trophy wife...I certainly didn't have the ambition...or should I say, the lack thereof."
Matilda paused, making a show of looking around the fancy parlor. "In order to get what I wanted, I had to turn my back on my family, and all those who thought I wouldn't last in the cut-throat world of business. They left me with nothing, but it didn't matter. I excelled in my schooling and my business ventures. I became a self-made woman, making a name for myself and soaring to the height of society all over again, even after the hiccups that I encountered along the way." She leaned back to lounge on the pristine sofa once again. "I suppose that I just wanted Colby to realize that he was going to have to do the same if he ever wanted to reach his own goals."
Mia and May glanced at each other, and Matilda scoffed when she noticed their confusion.
"His family is holding him back," the woman explained flatly. "You are holding him back. He's never going to be successful in what he loves if he continues to listen to those who would clip his wings, so to speak."
"How dare you!" Mia said, her blood boiling as she realized what Matilda was getting at. "We support him more than a washed-up politician with ulterior motives ever could!"
Matilda's gaze was challenging. "Are you sure?" she asked softly. Mia clenched her fists, and Matilda continued. "Do you know what place he took in the Ninjagoan Young Artist Competition? Did you even know he entered? You didn't even recognize his art when it was staring you right in the face...and you'd like to claim that you're such a firm supporter of it?"
"Look, we've gotten off track again," May stammered, though Mia could tell Matilda's jab had affected her as deeply as it had affected herself. "We're here to find out what happened to Colby, not talk about his art or future or any of that."
"Then we have nothing to talk about, because my only interest in your brother was to assist in both his art and his future." Matilda shrugged. "He's talented, and he could have a bright future ahead of him, if you would stop getting in his way."
"He's missing!" Mia spat, trembling with rage. "How dare you sit there and talk about him and his future, when we don't even know where he is!"
"And I'm sorry for that...truly." Matilda kept calm as she maintained eye contact. "He's a promising artist, and I really do hope they are able to find him and the others...including my own son, remember."
"Yeah right...like you care about Colby, or M, or any of them! Just so you know, we are going to find them, and when we find out that it really was all your fault..."
"I don't know what more I could possibly do for you," Matilda cut in flatly, leaning forward once again. "I understand you're worried about your brother, but honestly, this entire conversation seems less geared toward collecting information that will help you find him than it does trying to get me to confess to a crime I didn't commit. I've let you in here, allowed you to ask your questions...there isn't anything else I can do for you. I don't know where your brother is...and there's nothing I can do to change that." Her gaze became challenging once again. "In fact, the longer you're here, it almost feels like you're less angry about the fact that I can't help you find your brother than you are about the fact that I know him better than you seem to know him yourselves."
"You don't know anything about him!"
"I know that he wouldn't have needed an internship or a scholarship to reach his goals, if his own sisters hadn't shattered his confidence and self-esteem," Matilda said bluntly. "If you're trying to track down people who have hurt your brother...you might want to check a mirror sometime, sweetheart."
The lightbulb above them flashed once and then exploded, and Matilda looked up in shock at the sparking wires as glass rained down on them.
"What on earth?" the woman breathed as she looked up at it with a furrowed brow.
"You're wrong about our brother." May's voice was soft, and as Mia looked over at her, she realized that her sister's hair was floating around her in a full static charge. Matilda seemed confused by it, but she scoffed softly at May's accusation.
"And you're wrong about me." Matilda's tone had taken on an edge now, and she turned to call her butler. "Yardston! Please escort the Walkers out of the manor...and if they cause any trouble, do call the police, would you?" She turned back to the twins with a cold look in her eye. "They've spent up the last of my patience."
Mia wanted to explode, but she realized how close her sister was to exploding herself. One wrong move, and they could accidently set Matilda's whole house on fire...and as satisfying as that could be, she knew it would land them in deep trouble, and only benefit Matilda's image in the long run. Keeping that in mind, she allowed the elderly butler to lead her and May from the house. They walked in silence, struggling with feelings of anger and loss.
They reached the gate, and Yardston didn't say anything as he unlocked it. Ashley was still there waiting for them, and her brow pinched as she caught sight of their expressions.
"What happened?"
"I hate that woman," Mia growled. The sound of a sob caught her off guard, and she turned to see her sister breaking down. Ashley reached out immediately, though she winced as May shocked her on accident.
"Oh my gosh...what did she do?"
"She's just a liar," Mia said, though she was suddenly on the verge of tears herself. "The things she said..."
"Did she say anything that we can directly use to find Colby?"
Mia trailed off and finally shook her head. Ashely's expression was conflicted, but she finally sighed.
"I've already called a cab, and it will be here soon. We can listen to the recordings you got on the way...but we've got to head over to the wilderness and meet up with everyone asap."
"Why?"
Ashley glanced down at her phone. "My mom just called. The search and rescue people found someone."
93
"Where am I?"
Dani's voice was lost to the chaos around her. Bright lights...blurry figures in scrubs and medical masks. Her eyes felt heavy as she blinked, the hallway moving past. Or maybe she was the one moving...her bed was rolling down the hall.
"She's conscious," one of the voices called, and Dani tried to swallow. Her head felt like it was stuffed with cotton, her mouth dry as a bone.
"Where am I?" she croaked again. Someone leaned in, as if to answer, but their words faded as things grew dark.
When she opened her eyes, the people and the noise was gone. Dani stared up at the ceiling, surprised at the silence and stillness that she found herself in. She took a shuddery breath, her thoughts at last managing to connect. She was in a hospital...but...why?
She tried to sit up, but doing so made her arm sting. She looked over and was surprised to see several I.V's positioned in the crook of her elbow, and she trembled. What had happened?
"Danielle!"
She flinched at the voice, but as she turned, she realized that it was June. Her older sister had tears in her eyes, and she reached out to grab Dani's hand from her seat in a nearby chair.
"June? What's going on?"
"You're awake..." June's words choked off, and Dani stiffened as she watched her sister start to cry. Dani tried to sit up again, but June managed to get ahold of herself as she gently pressed Dani back down. "You're dehydrated...you need to rest."
"Dehydrated?"
"You were out there for so long...the doctors said that you were out in the sun, and you must have been without food and water..." June's voice broke, but she cleared her throat. "I've got to go let Mom and Dad know that you're awake. They're with the police right now."
"The police?" Dani squeezed her sister's hand from where she was holding it. "I don't understand. What happened to me?"
June paused, glancing back at her. "Don't you remember?"
Dani tried to. Her mind seemed hazy. After a moment, she exhaled shakily. "I was with Colby, at the hotel. He was going to his appointment...but then..." she swallowed again. "I can't remember anything else."
June's expression was tight, but she finally stood up. "You're all right now, Danielle. The doctor's said that once you woke up, you'd be okay. You just...you really had us worried, in the meantime."
"Was I in some kind of accident?" Dani asked. She arched her neck to see if anyone else was in the room, but June was the only one. A sudden fear hit home, and she turned back to her sister. "Where's Colby?" June looked away, and Dani's heart fell. "June, what's happened? Where's Colby? Is he alright?"
"I'll be right back with Mom and Dad," June murmured before leaving the room. Dani stayed in bed, her chest feeling tight. Her mouth was still as dry as ever, and the panic only made it worse. Had she been in a car accident? But why would that have made her dehydrated? Why didn't June answer her?
The door opened again, and Dani turned, hoping her sister had returned with her parents. Instead, a doctor came in. He smiled as she met his eye, but Dani hardly felt comforted.
"How are you feeling?" the doctor asked kindly, taking a seat next to her.
"I'm thirsty." It was the first thing that came to mind, but then her eyes filled with tears. "What happened to me?"
"You vent hiking vith some friends of yours and got lost," the doctor explained kindly. "You vere dehydrated and malnourished ven you vere brought in, but I am sure you vill make a full recovery."
"Hiking?" Dani asked, still feeling like she was in a daze. "Which friends? Is Colby in the hospital too? I don't remember anything..."
"Zat happens sometimes, vith traumatic experiences like this," the doctor said. "Ze best zing for you to do right now is get some rest so you can fully recover."
"But I need to know where my boyfriend is! Please...the last thing I remember, I was with him."
There was a knock at the door, and Dani and the doctor both turned to see who it was. After a moment, another man poked his head in. Dani assumed he was another doctor, due to the labcoat, but he seemed almost apologetic.
"Vould it be all right if I came in?" he asked.
"Are you family?" the doctor replied, standing up. "Ve are trying to keep correspondences vith new patients to family only."
"I am not," the man admitted. "But I am part of ze team zat is still searching for ze ozer hikers, and any information zis young lady can provide could be beneficial in finding zem sooner razer zan later."
The doctor hesitated before glancing at Dani. She studied the man in the doorway with a frown, trying to piece what he had said into what she already knew. "Vould you feel up to answering a few questions?" the doctor finally asked, and Dani pushed herself upright.
"Um...yeah. I'm fine talking, I just...I have questions too."
The doctor looked conflicted, but he finally sighed. "All right, I suppose you can have a short visit," he told the man before turning to Dani. "Do not strain yourself. I vill be back shortly vith a drink of vater for you."
She nodded her thanks, and turned her attention back to the newcomer. He had steel-grey hair, as well as grey eyes, and he seemed to be studying her intently from his place in the doorway. Dani swallowed, not sure what he wanted to ask and if she would be able to answer. After a few moments of silence, she finally spoke.
"So...who are you?"
The man blinked before smiling thinly. He came into the room to claim the empty chair. "Forgive me. My name is Aristo Zerek. I just have a few questions about vat you remember about zis whole incident."
Dani nodded, but then her expression clouded. "I'm really, really sorry, but the truth is, I don't remember much."
"Is zat so?"
She closed her eyes, willing her mind to pull up something that would have anything to do with what she had heard so far. She tried desperately to remember any kind of hike, but there was nothing. "It's just...the last thing I remember, I was at a hotel with my boyfriend." She opened her eyes, a question coming to mind. "What day is it today?"
The man met her gaze calmly. "Vendsday."
Dani lurched. "Wednesday? Are...are you sure?"
He smiled sadly. "I am sure. You and your friends have been missing since Friday."
"Oh my gosh..." Dani stared at him, feeling numb with shock. She remembered the ball that she and Colby had gone to...wasn't that Thursday night? And she vaguely remembered being with Colby in the hotel, but she couldn't remember if that was that night as well, or the next morning. But if she didn't remember anything after that, then that meant that she had lost five days. "How long have I been here in the hospital?" she asked, her voice shaking.
"You vere found only a few hours ago, in ze vilderness up norz."
"So I was out there...missing...for five days?"
"Vell...zat is vat ve vould like to know," the man offered, almost apologetically. "Ve are not exactly sure of ze exact time you and your friends vent hiking... but no von had heard from any of you since Friday afternoon. You are sure you do not remember anyzing? Any clue zat could help us locate zose still missing?"
"I..." Dani trailed off, her eyes filling with tears. "I can't remember. But who's still missing?"
The man's grey eyes flicked across her face, and he finally pushed himself to his feet. "You vere vith two employees of mine. Agatha Axel vas recovered soon after you, as you vere both found in nearly ze same place. My intern, Julius Cyrus, remains missing...along vith three ozer teens, whom I believe vere friends of yours."
Dani's heart was in her throat. "Who? Which friends? Colby? You're telling me...Colby's still out there, somewhere?"
"Do not panic." Zerek put a hand on her shoulder, smiling at her kindly. "Zere are teams of people scouring ze area zat you were found, and zey hope to recover your friends shortly."
"Who is it that's still missing?" Dani demanded.
"I believe ze names of zose still missing are Colby Valker, Amber, and Marty Openheimer."
Dani's blood ran cold as she stared up at the man, her mind blank with denial. "But that doesn't make any sense," she tried. "M was there? And Amber? Why..." She trailed off as a memory came to mind, and she pressed her hands to her mouth in horror. The man's smile faded as he studied her.
"Are you all right? Have you remembered somezing, after all?"
"I texted him...oh my gosh, I was the one who told M to come." Her mind began racing a mile a minute, and her hands shook as she confessed. "He must have shown up to apologize to Amber, and Colby and I must have met up with them and dragged them all on some adventure..." A sob escaped as Dani was overcome with guilt. "It was my idea! It had to have been...this has me written all over it! I probably tried to take them out on a hike to make them talk and make up, and instead...I...I..."
She began crying, not able to cope with the fact that she didn't know the full story, and that on top of not remembering anything, her friends were still missing. The man watched her weep, and Dani finally looked up.
"I want to remember!" she told him miserably. "I want to help, so they can get found...but I just can't remember anything."
"It is not your fault," the man offered kindly. He retrieved a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it over to her, and Dani accepted it. "Zese kinds of events have costly consequences on memory. Perhaps ven Agatha vakes up, she vill remember more."
"Agatha..." Dani mumbled. She looked back up at the man. "Wait...you said Julien Cyrus...that's Amber's cousin. And Agatha's his girlfriend; I met her at a dinner a while back." She shook her head. "They were with us too?"
"It seems so."
"And they found Agatha? Is she...is she okay?"
The man's expression clouded, and he finally sighed. "Actually, she is currently in a critical state, zo ze doctors say if she survives ze night, she vill hopefully pull through."
Dani's eyes widened in horror. "What?"
"Zey believe she vas bitten by a venomous snake, but zey are uncertain how long she vent vithout medical attention. Zey are doing all zey can for her in ze meantime." He shook his head sadly. "It is a shame, really. She vas a very promising scientist."
Dani felt sick to her stomach, and they sat in silence for a few moments as she processed. "So... you're her boss, you said?"
"Indeed. I run ze Metallonian Inquiry and Robotics Institution vere Agatha and Julien both vork. My company has equipped ze search and rescue teams vith drones...ve have been eager to assist in any vay ve could." The man paused. "I vas here to visit Agatha and see how she fared, but your sister came downstairs into ze vaiting room and mentioned you vere avake. I thought I vould come see if I could ask vat you remembered."
"I really am sorry," Dani offered, feeling worse than ever. Not only was this whole ordeal probably her fault...but now she couldn't even help her missing friends. Part of her wanted to jump out of the hospital bed and go charging into whatever wilderness they were lost in, but she was overcome with a wave of exhaustion. Her body ached all over, and she could barely think straight.
"Do not be sorry."
Dani looked up to see the man studying her again, his expression hard to read. Before he could say anything else, the door opened once again. "Danielle!"
Dani turned to see her parents coming back in with June in tow. At the sight of her family, Dani's emotions got the better of her and she began to sob once again. Her mother rushed over, and Dani barely noticed the man as he slipped out of the room completely.
"I'm afraid he isn't answering. Let me try again." The secretary winced in apology before dialing the number again. Zane smiled kindly.
"It is all right. We would just like to try to get in touch with him as soon as possible."
Nearby, P.I.X.A.L was busy scanning the room they were in. The guards at the door of the MIRI had allowed them to come into the reception area after patting them down, but further guards were stationed to keep them from going any farther.
"Hello, Doctor Zerek?" the receptionist said, and Zane turned his attention back to her. She seemed relieved that the head of the company had finally answered, and her words came out in a rush. "I apologize for bozering you, but zere are two people here who were hoping you could speak to zem about ze disappearance of zeir son." The receptionist went quiet for a moment as she listened, and then continued. "Yes...ze intern. It's his parents, and zey vere hoping zey could speak to you directly."
The woman's brow furrowed, and then the looked surprised. "Oh...um, of course, Doctor Zerek. Von moment." She looked up to meet Zane's eye before holding out the phone. "He said he vould speak to you now."
Zane was also surprised, but he accepted the phone. "Hello, my name is Zane," he offered as he spoke into it.
"Hallo," the voice on the other side replied. "I am sorry zat I am not available at zis moment for an in-person meeting—I am currently at ze hospital in Bembay to check ze status of von of my employees. Zo, if you are asking after Julien Cyrus, zen perhaps you know Agatha."
Zane frowned. "Yes...I met her once, briefly. I believe she is dating my son." His circuits turned furiously. "Does that mean they found them? The missing hikers?"
"Only two—I regret to say zat Julien and a handful of ozers are still missing."
Zane exhaled slowly before continuing. "We were hoping to talk to you about what you know about the disappearance. There have been some...details that have come to light that we would like more information on."
"Details?"
Zane glanced around at the receptionist and guards, who all seemed to be listening intently. "Perhaps it would be best to discuss it in person."
"I agree. I am villing to meet vith you, but I must confess zat I vill not be back at ze MIRI for some time. I have been working exclusively at my private laboratory in the mountains of Estyeer, trying to update my company's surveillance drones. We donated several to assist in ze search and rescue, but I am certain zat if ve can get zem to a higher caliber, ve can find ze rest of the hikers sooner razer zan later."
"I see. When do you think we would be able to speak with you?"
"I zink a sooner meeting vould benefit us boz," the man on the other end of the phone offered. "Vie don't you join me in Estyeer?"
Zane checked his mental log for a map of Metallonia, locating the region of Estyeer quickly. "I suppose that would work for us, if you do not mind," he said.
"Not at all. In fact, perhaps you vould even be villing to assist in my research. If my memory serves right, you are an android as vell as a scientist, if you are Julien's fazer."
"Um, yes...that is correct."
"Zen you are ze same Zane who worked on ze FLCN drone for Ninjago City's security system?"
"It is pronounced "falcon" drone...but yes, that was a project of mine."
"I vould be honored if you vould assist me in updating ze surveillance drones I have been vorking on."
Zane glanced at P.I.X.A.L, who frowned thoughtfully. "We could probably stay long enough to assist you," he finally offered. "Though, our first priority is to get the information we need to find Julien and the others."
"Of course. Julien is a high priority of mine, as vell." The man's tone had almost become amused, with confused Zane. However, the Zerek continued in the next moment. "After I return to Estyeer, I vill send a company car to come pick you up from ze MIRI. I am looking forvard to meeting you in person...I have heard many zings about ze great Zane of Ninjago City."
"We look forward to meeting you as well," Zane agreed in an effort to be polite. "I hope that we will be able to help each other."
"I do believe ze visit vill be very...enlightening."