The others stared at the unconscious boy in shock and, in Joey's case, disbelief.
"Who is this Vivalene?" Ishizu demanded, looking up at them.
"Why don't you ask Joey?" Tristan said bitterly. "He's in love with her."
Joey glared. "Hey, the Vivalene I know would never try to kill anyone!" he said defensively.
"Appearances can be deceiving," Ishizu replied grimly. "I must meet this Vivalene for myself. Where is she?"
"She works at the KETY radio station," Yugi told her.
Joey was fuming. "Look, I know Vivalene must have an evil twin sister or something," he declared fiercely, "and I'm gonna find out all about her! I havta clear my girl's name!"
"Oh, give it up, Joey," Tristan said in frustration. "Vivalene is the woman from Hades! We can all see it—why can't you?!"
"Because it's not true!!!" Joey screamed, storming out the door. "And I'm gonna prove it to everyone!!"
Rishid laid a hand on Ishizu's shoulder. "You must find this Vivalene," he agreed. "If she is the one who tried to kill our brother, she must be brought to justice."
Ishizu nodded, leaning over to kiss Marik on the cheek. "You will stay with him until I return?" she demanded pointedly of Rishid, who nodded solemnly.
"I will not leave his side," he assured her.
Ishizu headed for the door. "Come," she requested of the remaining teens.
****
Joey, meanwhile, had gone to the library and found Mokuba there with one of his mystery books, looking upset. "Hey," the blonde boy asked conspiratorially, "do they have computers here?"
Mokuba set the book down. "Joey, how's Marik doing?!" he demanded without answering the question. Seto had sent him to the library hoping that it would give him something else to concentrate on, but he couldn't manage it.
"Marik?" Joey repeated, scratching his head. "Well . . . I heard he was in the hospital. . . ."
"But he's still alive then?" Mokuba asked urgently.
"As far as I know," Joey said slowly, remembering how close the two boys were.
Mokuba smiled in relief at that, but then wanted to know what had happened. Joey had to admit that he didn't know.
"I'm sorry, kid," the Brooklyn boy said now. "But hey, I'm sure he'll be alright." He turned to leave. "Now I've got some research to do," he declared. "I've gotta prove to the others that Vivalene isn't the witch they all seem to think she is!" He decided not to mention that Marik had said that Vivalene had stabbed him.
Mokuba turned to go. "Good luck," he said dryly. "I've gotta go see Marik!!"
****
Ishizu entered the radio station, the other teens following closely. They weren't surprised to see that Seto was already there.
"Kaiba, are you alright?" Tea asked worriedly, going over to him. So much had happened to him last night, she thought to herself with a shake of her head.
Seto sighed. "I'm fine," he replied, glancing at Ishizu. "How's your brother?" he asked her. "I heard some disturbing news about him this morning." In case Marik really wasn't dead, he didn't want to upset the woman by reporting exactly what he'd been told.
Ishizu nodded solemnly. "He has been gravely wounded. I am looking for someone who may have initiated the attack on his life. Do you know of someone named Vivalene?"
Seto's eyes narrowed. He was certain he remembered her from somewhere, but he still couldn't place where. "I saw her down that hall," he said emotionlessly, pointing to a nearby corridor.
"Then I must confront her," Ishizu said softly, heading off. The teens, knowing that she most likely wanted to speak with Vivalene in private, lingered behind.
"So now what?" Tristan wondered.
Seto grunted. "Do as you wish. I have matters of my own to attend to." He turned to head off down another hallway.
"Perhaps we should all work together," Bakura suggested, knowing that he needed to meet with Bruce but dreading it.
"I work alone," Seto replied, not bothering to turn around as he disappeared around another corner.
Tea looked frustrated. "Why is he always that way?!" she cried.
Tristan shook his head. "Because if he wasn't, he wouldn't be Seto Kaiba," he proclaimed.
At that moment Bruce came down the hall. "Bakura!" he called, grabbing the boy by the arm. "I've been looking for you everywhere! Come right into my office!"
Bakura sighed. He was definitely not looking forward to this.
****
Bruce hauled Bakura into his office, grinning broadly. "Well, boy, your show got the best ratings last night!" he announced. "That show never got those kind of ratings when Mandy hosted it!"
Bakura looked at him worriedly. "But remember, sir, I have no wish to take Mandy's show away from her," he said firmly. For that matter, he really had no wish to be a deejay at all.
"Yes, I remember," Bruce assured him. "Most people would just jump at the chance to take this show, but not you, Bakura! You have to speak with the other deejay first!"
Bakura looked rather embarrassed. "Well, of course," he said. "Otherwise I just wouldn't feel right."
The door opened and Mandy came in. "You wanted to see me, sir?" she asked in her usual, bubbly voice.
"That's right, Miss Granger," Bruce nodded. "Please be seated."
Mandy sat down next to Bakura. "Hi!" she chirped. "You know Seto Kaiba, right?" She was certain she remembered the silver-haired boy from yesterday.
"Um, well . . . yes," Bakura admitted, caught off guard.
"Enough of that nonsense!" Bruce roared. "Miss Granger, the truth of the matter is you've been asked for by our rivaling station, and I'm thinking of letting you go so you can accept the position. I've found a better deejay."
"The rival station?" Mandy cried, ignoring the rest of what Bruce had said. "Oh, sir, I just couldn't accept! I just couldn't!!"
"And why not?!" Bruce demanded.
"Why, it'd just be completely turnin' my back on Seto Kaiba!" Mandy said, wide-eyed.
"WHAT?!" Bruce screamed. "What kind of nonsense is this?!"
"Well, sir, Mr. Kaiba owns this station," Mandy explained, "and he doesn't own that other one!" She crossed her arms stubbornly. "I don't want to leave!"
"NONSENSE!! You'll take the job!" Bruce was turning purple.
"But who would do my show?" Mandy exclaimed, her eyes wide.
"This boy here!" Bruce clapped a hand on Bakura's shoulder.
Mandy stared at the boy in disbelief. "You're going to take my show away?" she cried.
Bakura stood up and shook his head firmly. "No, I am not. Mr. Von Wilkenson, I told you I would only accept the job if Miss Granger agreed, but she does not, so I cannot accept." With that, he turned and walked out the door.
****
Ishizu found Vivalene touching up her lipstick in a staff room.
"How did you get in here?" Vivalene demanded. "I don't remember seeing you on the staff."
"I am not." Ishizu came closer. "How I got in does not matter. What does matter is whether you are Vivalene."
Vivalene nodded. "I am," she said guardedly. "But who are you?"
Ishizu stood tall and firm. "I am Ishizu Ishtar," she announced.
Vivalene visibly started, but she quickly regained her composure. "Do I know you?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No, you don't." Ishizu crossed her arms. "But I have reason to believe you know my brother Marik."
"I can't imagine where I would know him from," Vivalene said flippantly. "What kind of man is he—so shy that he has to send his sister to find out if I will go out with him?" She tossed her head. "You can tell him the answer is no."
Ishizu couldn't control her anger at that remark. "How dare you! My brother is dying in the hospital because of you!" she burst out, her blue eyes aflame with fury.
Vivalene stood up. "What are you saying, Ms. Ishtar? That I tried to kill your brother?! I am absolutely appalled that you would make such a claim!"
"My brother whispered your name," Ishizu said fiercely. "He said you stabbed him!"
"That is truly outrageous!" Vivalene fumed. "I wouldn't kill anyone! And I don't even know your brother! I have no idea why he would whisper my name." She put her lipstick back into her purse.
Ishizu fixed her with a steely gaze. "I do not believe you. I believe my brother."
Vivalene was angry. "Your brother is dying—you said so yourself. How could you expect him to say anything that would make sense? There's no way you could prove I did anything to him, simply because I didn't." She pointed to the door. "And I think you should leave now, before I call the police and charge you with slandering my good name!"
Ishizu stepped back. "Very well," she said low. "But if you truly are guilty of this abomination, I will find out. And then justice will be done."
****
Joey sighed loudly in frustration, causing everyone nearby to shush him angrily.
Mai, who had found him there, sighed as well. "I guess you're not having any luck."
"Man, none at all!" Joey cried, messing his hair up. "I can't find out anything about Vivalene's family! And I just havta prove that she's not guilty!"
Mai sighed again. "Have you tried this website?" she asked, pointing on the screen.
Joey leaned in for a better look. "Is it any good?"
"It should be," Mai replied. "I've heard it's supposed to be the best. But I think this is ridiculous, Joey." She had already talked to Yugi and knew that Vivalene wasn't everything Joey thought she was. Now she just hoped that if Joey didn't find anything, maybe he would start to realize the truth. She doubted it, however.
Joey growled. "Man, not you too, Mai," he said in frustration, clicking on the website's name.
****
Seto Kaiba drove up to Lila's home again, thoughts swirling through his mind. What had the woman found? Was it something new, or just something she hadn't told him last night? And why all the secrecy? Couldn't Lila have just telephoned? Why had she instead made someone slip the note into the mailbox?
"We're here, sir," the chauffeur announced, breaking into Seto's thoughts.
"Good." Seto got out and walked up the driveway to the front door, which was opened by the maid before he could even knock.
"Oh, Mr. Kaiba, come in." She held the door open wide. "Miss Palmer's been expecting you."
Seto entered with a curt nod of acknowledgment, and then Lila emerged from the drawing room. "Mr. Kaiba. Right on time," she observed.
Seto didn't answer that. "What is it you wanted to show me?" he demanded.
Lila took him into the den. "You don't beat around the bush," she commented. "This is what I found." She held up a telephone bill. "This came today."
Seto stared at it.
"A few weeks ago," Lila continued, "JP came to stay here while his house was being remodeled. During that time—according to this bill—he made several phone calls to John Freddie, a local loanshark."
Seto took the bill from her and looked it over. "I see. Was JP having financial problems?"
"Not that I know of," Lila said slowly, "but as I told you, we're not close. And besides, it would go against his nature to come to me for help. He wouldn't want to 'burden' me with his problems, even though I'd be happy to help him if I could."
Seto nodded. He wouldn't want to ask for help either, if he was in that predicament—but for a different reason—his independent attitude.
"And that's not all," Lila said now. "After speaking with someone at the telephone company, I leaned that John Freddie called back here as well."
"How long ago were these calls made?" Seto wanted to know.
"Around the latter part of last month," was Lila's reply.
"Have you told the police?" Seto studied the bill for another moment and then handed it back to her.
To his surprise, Lila shook her head. "I've only told you," she informed him.
Seto gave her a stern look. "The police should know. Why haven't you told them?"
Lila looked guilty. "Well, frankly . . . I'm afraid that if Freddie abducted JP—but has kept him alive so far—that the news that Freddie is a suspect might make him do something drastic," she said.
That made sense, and yet . . . somehow Seto didn't quite believe her.
****
Rishid stayed by Marik's side, watching the boy worriedly. "Master," he said softly, "please try to get better." He had known the boy ever since Marik was born, and he couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to him now.
Marik moaned softly and turned his head to one side, his gold earrings clinking with the movement.
The door opened and a nurse came in. "Sir?" she said slowly.
Rishid stood up. "Yes?"
The nurse came over closer and handed him an envelope. "This came in the afternoon mail," she said. "It's addressed to Marik Ishtar." She glanced down at the unconscious boy as she said his name, feeling quite sad.
Rishid stared at the envelope suspiciously. There was no return address, and the only writing was glued on with newspaper letters. When he opened the flap, a single sheet of paper fell out and floated faceup onto Marik's chest. The only things on the paper were pictures of the poison symbol and a blood-soaked knife.
"Who is this Vivalene?" Ishizu demanded, looking up at them.
"Why don't you ask Joey?" Tristan said bitterly. "He's in love with her."
Joey glared. "Hey, the Vivalene I know would never try to kill anyone!" he said defensively.
"Appearances can be deceiving," Ishizu replied grimly. "I must meet this Vivalene for myself. Where is she?"
"She works at the KETY radio station," Yugi told her.
Joey was fuming. "Look, I know Vivalene must have an evil twin sister or something," he declared fiercely, "and I'm gonna find out all about her! I havta clear my girl's name!"
"Oh, give it up, Joey," Tristan said in frustration. "Vivalene is the woman from Hades! We can all see it—why can't you?!"
"Because it's not true!!!" Joey screamed, storming out the door. "And I'm gonna prove it to everyone!!"
Rishid laid a hand on Ishizu's shoulder. "You must find this Vivalene," he agreed. "If she is the one who tried to kill our brother, she must be brought to justice."
Ishizu nodded, leaning over to kiss Marik on the cheek. "You will stay with him until I return?" she demanded pointedly of Rishid, who nodded solemnly.
"I will not leave his side," he assured her.
Ishizu headed for the door. "Come," she requested of the remaining teens.
****
Joey, meanwhile, had gone to the library and found Mokuba there with one of his mystery books, looking upset. "Hey," the blonde boy asked conspiratorially, "do they have computers here?"
Mokuba set the book down. "Joey, how's Marik doing?!" he demanded without answering the question. Seto had sent him to the library hoping that it would give him something else to concentrate on, but he couldn't manage it.
"Marik?" Joey repeated, scratching his head. "Well . . . I heard he was in the hospital. . . ."
"But he's still alive then?" Mokuba asked urgently.
"As far as I know," Joey said slowly, remembering how close the two boys were.
Mokuba smiled in relief at that, but then wanted to know what had happened. Joey had to admit that he didn't know.
"I'm sorry, kid," the Brooklyn boy said now. "But hey, I'm sure he'll be alright." He turned to leave. "Now I've got some research to do," he declared. "I've gotta prove to the others that Vivalene isn't the witch they all seem to think she is!" He decided not to mention that Marik had said that Vivalene had stabbed him.
Mokuba turned to go. "Good luck," he said dryly. "I've gotta go see Marik!!"
****
Ishizu entered the radio station, the other teens following closely. They weren't surprised to see that Seto was already there.
"Kaiba, are you alright?" Tea asked worriedly, going over to him. So much had happened to him last night, she thought to herself with a shake of her head.
Seto sighed. "I'm fine," he replied, glancing at Ishizu. "How's your brother?" he asked her. "I heard some disturbing news about him this morning." In case Marik really wasn't dead, he didn't want to upset the woman by reporting exactly what he'd been told.
Ishizu nodded solemnly. "He has been gravely wounded. I am looking for someone who may have initiated the attack on his life. Do you know of someone named Vivalene?"
Seto's eyes narrowed. He was certain he remembered her from somewhere, but he still couldn't place where. "I saw her down that hall," he said emotionlessly, pointing to a nearby corridor.
"Then I must confront her," Ishizu said softly, heading off. The teens, knowing that she most likely wanted to speak with Vivalene in private, lingered behind.
"So now what?" Tristan wondered.
Seto grunted. "Do as you wish. I have matters of my own to attend to." He turned to head off down another hallway.
"Perhaps we should all work together," Bakura suggested, knowing that he needed to meet with Bruce but dreading it.
"I work alone," Seto replied, not bothering to turn around as he disappeared around another corner.
Tea looked frustrated. "Why is he always that way?!" she cried.
Tristan shook his head. "Because if he wasn't, he wouldn't be Seto Kaiba," he proclaimed.
At that moment Bruce came down the hall. "Bakura!" he called, grabbing the boy by the arm. "I've been looking for you everywhere! Come right into my office!"
Bakura sighed. He was definitely not looking forward to this.
****
Bruce hauled Bakura into his office, grinning broadly. "Well, boy, your show got the best ratings last night!" he announced. "That show never got those kind of ratings when Mandy hosted it!"
Bakura looked at him worriedly. "But remember, sir, I have no wish to take Mandy's show away from her," he said firmly. For that matter, he really had no wish to be a deejay at all.
"Yes, I remember," Bruce assured him. "Most people would just jump at the chance to take this show, but not you, Bakura! You have to speak with the other deejay first!"
Bakura looked rather embarrassed. "Well, of course," he said. "Otherwise I just wouldn't feel right."
The door opened and Mandy came in. "You wanted to see me, sir?" she asked in her usual, bubbly voice.
"That's right, Miss Granger," Bruce nodded. "Please be seated."
Mandy sat down next to Bakura. "Hi!" she chirped. "You know Seto Kaiba, right?" She was certain she remembered the silver-haired boy from yesterday.
"Um, well . . . yes," Bakura admitted, caught off guard.
"Enough of that nonsense!" Bruce roared. "Miss Granger, the truth of the matter is you've been asked for by our rivaling station, and I'm thinking of letting you go so you can accept the position. I've found a better deejay."
"The rival station?" Mandy cried, ignoring the rest of what Bruce had said. "Oh, sir, I just couldn't accept! I just couldn't!!"
"And why not?!" Bruce demanded.
"Why, it'd just be completely turnin' my back on Seto Kaiba!" Mandy said, wide-eyed.
"WHAT?!" Bruce screamed. "What kind of nonsense is this?!"
"Well, sir, Mr. Kaiba owns this station," Mandy explained, "and he doesn't own that other one!" She crossed her arms stubbornly. "I don't want to leave!"
"NONSENSE!! You'll take the job!" Bruce was turning purple.
"But who would do my show?" Mandy exclaimed, her eyes wide.
"This boy here!" Bruce clapped a hand on Bakura's shoulder.
Mandy stared at the boy in disbelief. "You're going to take my show away?" she cried.
Bakura stood up and shook his head firmly. "No, I am not. Mr. Von Wilkenson, I told you I would only accept the job if Miss Granger agreed, but she does not, so I cannot accept." With that, he turned and walked out the door.
****
Ishizu found Vivalene touching up her lipstick in a staff room.
"How did you get in here?" Vivalene demanded. "I don't remember seeing you on the staff."
"I am not." Ishizu came closer. "How I got in does not matter. What does matter is whether you are Vivalene."
Vivalene nodded. "I am," she said guardedly. "But who are you?"
Ishizu stood tall and firm. "I am Ishizu Ishtar," she announced.
Vivalene visibly started, but she quickly regained her composure. "Do I know you?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No, you don't." Ishizu crossed her arms. "But I have reason to believe you know my brother Marik."
"I can't imagine where I would know him from," Vivalene said flippantly. "What kind of man is he—so shy that he has to send his sister to find out if I will go out with him?" She tossed her head. "You can tell him the answer is no."
Ishizu couldn't control her anger at that remark. "How dare you! My brother is dying in the hospital because of you!" she burst out, her blue eyes aflame with fury.
Vivalene stood up. "What are you saying, Ms. Ishtar? That I tried to kill your brother?! I am absolutely appalled that you would make such a claim!"
"My brother whispered your name," Ishizu said fiercely. "He said you stabbed him!"
"That is truly outrageous!" Vivalene fumed. "I wouldn't kill anyone! And I don't even know your brother! I have no idea why he would whisper my name." She put her lipstick back into her purse.
Ishizu fixed her with a steely gaze. "I do not believe you. I believe my brother."
Vivalene was angry. "Your brother is dying—you said so yourself. How could you expect him to say anything that would make sense? There's no way you could prove I did anything to him, simply because I didn't." She pointed to the door. "And I think you should leave now, before I call the police and charge you with slandering my good name!"
Ishizu stepped back. "Very well," she said low. "But if you truly are guilty of this abomination, I will find out. And then justice will be done."
****
Joey sighed loudly in frustration, causing everyone nearby to shush him angrily.
Mai, who had found him there, sighed as well. "I guess you're not having any luck."
"Man, none at all!" Joey cried, messing his hair up. "I can't find out anything about Vivalene's family! And I just havta prove that she's not guilty!"
Mai sighed again. "Have you tried this website?" she asked, pointing on the screen.
Joey leaned in for a better look. "Is it any good?"
"It should be," Mai replied. "I've heard it's supposed to be the best. But I think this is ridiculous, Joey." She had already talked to Yugi and knew that Vivalene wasn't everything Joey thought she was. Now she just hoped that if Joey didn't find anything, maybe he would start to realize the truth. She doubted it, however.
Joey growled. "Man, not you too, Mai," he said in frustration, clicking on the website's name.
****
Seto Kaiba drove up to Lila's home again, thoughts swirling through his mind. What had the woman found? Was it something new, or just something she hadn't told him last night? And why all the secrecy? Couldn't Lila have just telephoned? Why had she instead made someone slip the note into the mailbox?
"We're here, sir," the chauffeur announced, breaking into Seto's thoughts.
"Good." Seto got out and walked up the driveway to the front door, which was opened by the maid before he could even knock.
"Oh, Mr. Kaiba, come in." She held the door open wide. "Miss Palmer's been expecting you."
Seto entered with a curt nod of acknowledgment, and then Lila emerged from the drawing room. "Mr. Kaiba. Right on time," she observed.
Seto didn't answer that. "What is it you wanted to show me?" he demanded.
Lila took him into the den. "You don't beat around the bush," she commented. "This is what I found." She held up a telephone bill. "This came today."
Seto stared at it.
"A few weeks ago," Lila continued, "JP came to stay here while his house was being remodeled. During that time—according to this bill—he made several phone calls to John Freddie, a local loanshark."
Seto took the bill from her and looked it over. "I see. Was JP having financial problems?"
"Not that I know of," Lila said slowly, "but as I told you, we're not close. And besides, it would go against his nature to come to me for help. He wouldn't want to 'burden' me with his problems, even though I'd be happy to help him if I could."
Seto nodded. He wouldn't want to ask for help either, if he was in that predicament—but for a different reason—his independent attitude.
"And that's not all," Lila said now. "After speaking with someone at the telephone company, I leaned that John Freddie called back here as well."
"How long ago were these calls made?" Seto wanted to know.
"Around the latter part of last month," was Lila's reply.
"Have you told the police?" Seto studied the bill for another moment and then handed it back to her.
To his surprise, Lila shook her head. "I've only told you," she informed him.
Seto gave her a stern look. "The police should know. Why haven't you told them?"
Lila looked guilty. "Well, frankly . . . I'm afraid that if Freddie abducted JP—but has kept him alive so far—that the news that Freddie is a suspect might make him do something drastic," she said.
That made sense, and yet . . . somehow Seto didn't quite believe her.
****
Rishid stayed by Marik's side, watching the boy worriedly. "Master," he said softly, "please try to get better." He had known the boy ever since Marik was born, and he couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to him now.
Marik moaned softly and turned his head to one side, his gold earrings clinking with the movement.
The door opened and a nurse came in. "Sir?" she said slowly.
Rishid stood up. "Yes?"
The nurse came over closer and handed him an envelope. "This came in the afternoon mail," she said. "It's addressed to Marik Ishtar." She glanced down at the unconscious boy as she said his name, feeling quite sad.
Rishid stared at the envelope suspiciously. There was no return address, and the only writing was glued on with newspaper letters. When he opened the flap, a single sheet of paper fell out and floated faceup onto Marik's chest. The only things on the paper were pictures of the poison symbol and a blood-soaked knife.