The Case of the Gold Thief-Part Seven
by HA
When the others found Bo, they saw him struggling with a boy with ear-length blond hair. He kept a tight grip on his arm. "Come on, start talking!" Bo shouted. "Are you one of them?"
"Let me go!" the boy shouted angrily. "I'm not who you think I am!"
"Then start talking!" Bo demanded, with the image of Shirley being choked by the doll playing in his mind.
"Bo?" Shirley asked.
"He was trying to get away," Bo said as the others go in closer for a better look. "He's a tough one, but I'll make him talk."
Bart's eyes widened at the sight of the boy. "C.D.?"
The boy looked up at the new Stranger. "Hey, Bart," he managed to say through clenched teeth. "Could you tell your friend to let me go before I...?"
"Let him go!" Bart shouted.
"Why?" Blake asked.
"He's one of us," Rika answered.
Bo looked at the two Strangers. "He's a Stranger?"
Bart and Rika nodded. Bo released his grip and stepped back. The boy grumbled and managed to stand up.
"Guys, C.D. Morgan," Bart introduced the boy. "C.D., Shirley, Bo, and Blake."
"Hello," Shirley said.
"Hi," Blake said with a friendly wave and a smile.
"Um, sorry about that," Bo apologized.
C.D. shrugged. "No biggie. Can't blame you considering what happened. Still, good thing you let go."
"Why's that?" Bo asked, curious on what a person in an armbar could do.
"Let's just say you'd be in a lot of pain," C.D. said with a small grin. He looked at Shirley. "We would've met before, but I was in Pennsylvania at the time."
"You're the Big Ten member who wasn't at the meeting we attended," Blake recalled.
"And he's American," Shirley added.
C.D. held up his palm. "Oh, wait, don't tell me. It's the accent," he said with a laugh. "I keep getting that from everyone."
"He's also the one who saved me from the flooding base," Bart revealed.
"Well, we both needed rescuing from Damian and the Bigfoot," C.D. admitted.
Bart stepped up to his fellow Stranger. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be with Lucy in Texas."
"Change of plans," C.D. answered nonchalantly.
"Really." Shirley stood before C.D. "It's understandable. After all, Katrina is enough to replace you, Susan, and Hiroshi, correct?"
"What?" Bart glared at C.D., then eyed Rika suspiciously "What's going on?"
"Speaking of Susan and Hiroshi, where are they?" Shirley asked coolly. "Rika, do you have any idea?"
Rika sighed and pulled out her comlink. Switching it on, she said, "She knows. Get over here."
Soon, two kids entered the alley. One was a Japanese boy with tall, spiky hair. The other was a bespectacled girl with brown hair which ran down to her chin. The boy raised his arms in the air and declared, "Don't shoot! We surrender!"
The girl waved nervously at Bart. "Hi," she said with a little grin, showing her braces.
"Looks like our cover's been blown," Rika sighed, putting away her comlink.
"Really? I did not know that," Hiroshi cracked.
C.D. crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Shirley. "So, how'd you figure it out?"
"Yeah, Shirley. How'd you know?" Bo asked.
Shirley explained how she figured out everything. "First, Katrina never rejoined us after the incident after the school. She also wasn't present at Ivan's house. Second, the two sonic boomers that needed fixing. They were on top of a note reading 'Must fix for Susan and Hiroshi ASAP.' The date that followed was today's, so it didn't make sense to me for them to be without any means of self-defense on their mission."
"Okay, need to remind Ivan to be more discreet next time," Hiroshi thought out loud.
"But why would they stay here when they have a case in Texas?" Blake wondered.
"Because they thought I'm still incapable of doing things on my own," Bart concluded, sounding hurt and angry as he looked at the faces of his fellow Strangers. "Did Arthur put you guys up to this?"
"It was her idea!" Hiroshi shouted, pointing repeatedly at Susan. "I didn't want to stay behind, but they made me!" He fingered Rika and C.D.
Rika rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. "Hiroshi's partly right. It was Susan's idea, but Lucy was the one who authorized them to stay behind while Katrina took their place."
"But Arthur approved," Shirley stated. "Otherwise, the Think Tank wouldn't have known about it."
"Yep, we're all one happy family," Hiroshi said, adopting a Southern accent. "Yessirree."
Bart walked to one side of the wall and stared silently at it. Shirley noticed that his head was bowed and his arms hung at his sides.
Susan looked at Bart, then at the others. "Um, can I talk to him alone?" she asked in a barely audible voice.
"What can you do?" Bo asked.
"I think she can do something," Shirley said, her eyes looking over Susan. "Let's go."
"Do we have to?" Hiroshi asked.
"Yes," Rika said firmly, looking at Susan and Bart.
"We'll be around the corner if you need us," Blake told Bart, who kept silent.
Everyone left Susan and Bart in the alley. Susan walked up to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Bart..."
"I can't believe you still think I'm helpless," Bart said, keeping his face to the wall. "I can't believe you guys still think I need to be watched at all times."
"I was worried about you," Susan said softly.
"So you decided to watch me secretly and bail me out," Bart said sharply.
"That's not how we had it planned." Susan was still looking at Bart's back. "We were just going to keep an eye on you for a while, then we learned Number Nine-Nine was in Redington." She took a deep breath before continuing. "Bart, he nearly killed you last time, and he would've done it again at Sussex."
Bart turned his head a little. "I can take care of myself."
"Bart, you nearly drowned in there..."
"Susan, I'm okay..."
"...because of me."
Bart stopped himself from saying another word. He turned around to face Susan. "Wha...?"
"You wouldn't have tried to sneak into the ENIGMA base if I hadn't been captured," Susan said. She blinked, and Bart swore she was about to cry. "You risked your life to keep Number Nine-Nine busy, and you nearly drowned." She sniffed and bowed her head. "Maybe I shouldn't have told you about the Strangers' Club."
Bart placed his hand on Susan's shoulder. "Don't worry about it," he said softly. "Considering what Number Nine-Nine told me, ENIGMA would've targeted me sooner or later." He formed his mouth into a little grin. "Good thing you knew CPR."
Susan blushed brightly. "You wanted me away from here because of Number Nine-Nine."
"Well..." Bart struggled momentarily with his mouth before saying the right thing. "I didn't want you hurt."
Susan looked up and flashed a brace-lined grin. "I'm a Stranger. Remember, I can take care of myself."
"I just wish that you guys would give me that chance," Bart said.
"Bart..." Susan took his hand. "We were just looking out for you."
"I know, but still..."
"You're not alone now," Susan reassured him. "You're part of a team, and we don't let anything happen to our teammates." She found herself blushing again as she showed Bart her hand. "Remember this?" she asked, moving a finger.
Bart stared at a silver ring on her delicate finger and smiled gently. "I should. I gave it to you."
Susan kept her hand up. "Bart, you gave this to me because you love me. To me, it shows I'm committed to you, and I'll be damned if I'm going to leave you alone with some masked psycho," she said softly yet firmly.
Bart continued to wear his smile as he shook his head in resignation. "What did I get myself into?" he asked half-jokingly, reaching for her hands.
"Oh, you'll find out soon," Susan replied, smiling back. She took Bart's hands and gazed into his eyes.
As they stared into each other's eyes, they heard gagging from around the corner. They recognized Hiroshi's voice. "Waiter, I'd like a barf bag, please." Next came the sound of a slap followed by a loud "Ow!" They watched as their friends entered the alley. Hiroshi was rubbing the back of his head.
"Why must you be so annoying?" Rika asked sternly, glaring at the wisenheimer Stranger.
"So sue me for being a character," Hiroshi answered.
"Don't tempt us," C.D. quipped, pointing at the wisecracking Stranger.
Bart fixed his eyes on his friends. "How long were you guys listening in?"
"I wasn't," Shirley said. "I was watching the museum."
"The ambulances came," Blake added. "We saw some people getting medical attention outside."
"They looked all right," Bo added further.
"We can't do anything else," Shirley stated.
"Time to split?" Bo asked.
Shirley nodded and led the way out of the alley and onto the sidewalk. As she and the others walked away from the museum, she reached into her pocket and took out the plastic bag with the cotton swabs. "I believe Ivan would be interested in examining this," she said, taking one out and showing it to Rika. "After all, your microscope is better than mine."
"I'm sure he'd love to," Rika commented, taking the cotton swab and wrapping it in a handkerchief before placing it into her pocket.
Bart and Susan walked together and glanced at each other occasionally. "Hey, C.D." Bart addressed his fellow Stranger.
"What?" the blond American said, still keeping his face forward.
"How come you decided to stay here? Why didn't you go with Lucy and her group?" Bart asked curiously.
"She asked me to," C.D. answered, still facing forward. Shirley, who had been listening, turned around and noted how C.D. tried to keep a straight face, but could not stop the mild blush forming there.
Bart and Susan looked at C.D., then shook their heads. Hiroshi rolled his eyes. "Somebody stop the pain now," he groaned.
"Hiroshi..." Rika began, annoyed.
"I'll be good," he squeaked.
"You've got a good grip," C.D. told Bo.
"Thanks," Bo replied.
"A little longer and I might've been forced to seriously hurt you," C.D. said in a factual manner. "Maybe even kill you."
"Yeah?" Bo looked at C.D. closely. "What can you do?"
C.D. smiled and flexed his hand. "Blake, you're from California, right?"
"Uh-huh," Blake answered.
"That's my hint," C.D. said cryptically.
As her friends talked amongst themselves, Shirley silently pondered what had happened at the museum. She replayed the killer doll's message in her head, searching for a clue to ENIGMA's next move.
With Mojo resting on his shoulder, Number Nine watched his computer as it played the footage taken by the doll. He scratched his chin as he watched the ball robot attack Bart. "I don't recall adding that to the doll," he said with a tone of anger.
Behind him, Number Nine-Nine gulped loudly. Number Nine turned his chair and faced his nephew. "Well, I did add something extra..." he admitted under his uncle's withering glare.
Number Nine banged his fist on his armrest, startling Mojo. "Our orders are to carry out this job and eliminate the Holmes girl, not carry out your personal vendetta!"
Number Nine-Nine stood at attention. "But Uncle, isn't that what Mr. E is doing?"
"Perhaps, but this Bart James isn't the one who's helping Interpol," Number Nine answered. "You've risen through the ranks to become my secondary, but your recent failure has prevented you from seeing Mr. E. You're probably the only secondary who hasn't met him. It is a great honor to see the face of our leader, and you've possibly blown it!"
"But Bart must pay for what he did!" Number Nine-Nine fingered the scar on his face. "He ruined my beautiful face, not to mention my standing within ENIGMA. He's the reason why I haven't had the honor of seeing Mr. E!"
"That's enough!" Number Nine rose quickly from his seat, forcing Mojo to hang on to his shoulder. The Elite Eight member statred down his subordinate. "You will follow my orders and keep your emotions in check. Otherwise, I will do the one thing you fear the most."
Number Nine-Nine's face blanched. "Uncle, you wouldn't..."
"I would." Number Nine reached into his nephew's pocket and pulled out the tiny medicine vial. "If you don't keep your priorities straight, I'll tell Number Eight to stop manufacturing these," he warned, shaking the vial before Number Nine-Nine. "You know what will happen if you stop taking these. Do you want that to happen?"
Number Nine-Nine bowed and shook his head. "No, Uncle," he answered solemnly.
"Good," the top ENIGMA agent said as he tossed the vial back. "However, the next part of the plan may require you to channel your rage at the detective's friends, including Monsieur James."
"Really, Uncle?"
"Yes. You can even employ your special toy along with the ones I'm giving you."
"Goody!" Number Nine-Nine clapped his hands together. "I can't wait to show it to Bart and his little friends," he said, giggling with evil glee.
"I'm glad you agree." Number Nine paced around his nephew. "Now, here's what we'll do tomorrow..."
That night, Shirley looked up from her microscope. "Fascinating," she remarked as she took the slide with Number Nine's blood. "Watson, this is simply fascinating."
Shirley's pet basset hound answered with a yawn from his place on a nearby chair. Shirley smiled, then recalled the doll and its message. After some thought, she put it all together. "Of course! The uniform!" She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Inspector Hewitt's office number.
END OF PART SEVEN
