The Kids quickly made their way to the World Wide Talent Agency and up to where Mr. Socrates was. They stopped at Dottie's desk.
"Hi, Dottie," Wally greeted her. "How's Mr. Socrates?"
'He's pretty mad," the bespeckled receptionist said. "Go right in, but I have a feeling you're all in trouble!" The Kids nodded, they knew all too well. They got on the automatic walkway with heavy feet. The door opened as they entered, but closed the minute Elvis tried to come.
"Hold it, Elvis," Steffy said. "You KNOW you can't come in, Mr. Socrates is allergic to you, and we're in enough trouble as it is!"
The Kids entered the room where their computerized boss was sitting. Butch felt empty without Merilee right next to him, like she usually was. They glanced up at his somewhat menacing form, with his hundreds of buttons and lights stretching to the celeing, towering down upon them. "Good Evening," his booming voice said, somewhat angrily. "It had just coe to my attention, that you ave cancelled the last leg of your tour. May I enquire why you chose to do this without informing me of this? Where is Merilee, why is she not with you?"
"Well…uh…actually..uh..sir," Wally began, stumbling over his words as he did so.
"Mr. Socrates," Butch said, finally lifting his head. "I'm afraid, Sir, I'm to blame for her not being her. It seems I've upset her greatly, without my being aware of it. .it was all a big misunderstanding, Sir. But unfortunately she isn't even taking to me...and a few days ago she quit the band. I take full responsibility for it, Sir. It's completely my fault."
"I must say, I am very disappointed in you, Butch. I have put you in charge of this group because I was under the impression that you are a very responsible and dependable person. Are you aware of the seriousness of what has just occurred? She is a very valuable member of this organization, and an important factor to this team."
"Yes, Sir. "
"I am holding you personally responsible for what has happened. While you are out on your assignment,. I will try to track down the current location of Merilee and when you return, you will be in charge of getting her back."
"But, Sir, we're not going to be assigned someone else?" Wally asked.
'I'm afraid not, Wally, there is not enough time. Your mission is very urgent. You have been booked to perform at the Opening Day of the fashion show of Lady Catherine of Paris. Her precious collection of diamonds is in danger of being stolen. Your mission is to follow Lady Catherine and to protect her diamonds. Here is further information pertaining to the case." An envelope flew out of his slot and into Butch's hand. Just the the lights around the turned bright red and a high pitched sound emoted from Mr. Socrates, which to them could have only meant one thing. "Eh….eh..ah…CHOOO!! What is..is that dog in here.." Wally quickly looked around to see the Elvis had pried the door open with his nose and was making his way calmly to the group.
"No, no, Elvis, out!!" Wally cried.
"Wally, get him out!" Butch said frantically.
Wally picked up Elvis and began to leave with Steffy right behind him.
"Ah..CHOOO!!" Mr. Socrates said. "Wait…Butch…you stay here for a few minutes," as soon as Elvis was gone, the lights turned back to normal. "Thank you. Now, Butch, now that we are alone, I need to have a few words with you.."
Judy and Lori were watching the evening news on television. Once in a while she glanced up to the bedroom where Merilee went to after they had gone on their bike ride. She was only grateful not too many people were at the beach, the last thing her sister needed was to be bombarded with autograph hounds or nosy tabloid reporters while she was trying to get over this heartache. She remembered the way her sister had pedaled fiercely and left them both far behind. She also knew her sister wasn't eating much and had looked pretty pale. "I hope she's all right," Judy said for about the fifth time.
Lori nodded. "We just have to be patient while she works through this, after all it was only yesterday that her whole world fell apart. All we can do is love her and be there for her." Just then a knock was heared on the door. "Who could that be?" she asked, getting up to answer it. She opened the door to find her neighbor, Mrs. Rogers, on the other side. "Mrs. Rogers!" she said happily.
"Hello, Lori, Judy!"
"Hi, Mrs. Rogers, please come in!" Merilee walked downstairs just then. "Merilee, look who it is! Mrs. Rogers, you remember my sister, Merilee, don't you?"
"Hi, Mrs. Rogers!" Merilee greeted her happily.
Mrs. Rogers stared happily. "THIS Is Merilee?! Pretty cute little Merilee, I can't believe it! What happened to that pudgy, pigtailed little girl who was so shy and who bounced around her background playing that little toy tambourine?"
Merilee giggled. "She grew up!"
"Wow, and LOOK at how lovely she grew up to be!" she smiled and took the cover off the platter she held in her hands. "Well, I came over to show you my newest baking creation…chocolate torte!"
"Oh, yum!" Lori said happily. "I'll go get some dishes and forks!" She went into the kitchen
Mrs. Rogers sat on the couch. "Sit, sit, Merilee, Dear, I haven't seen your pretty face in such a long time! How have you been?"
Merilee stared at the floor. "Well..uh…all right, I guess…I"
"Has something happened, Dear?"
"Well…"
Judy took her sister's hand. "She broke up with her boyfriend yesterday and left the band she was in. Rem,ember, I told you she was in a band?"
"Oh, yes, oh, I'm so sorry,. Dear. But it was his loss, I think. I mean, look at you, you're so pretty and so intelligent...he's the loser in my book to let you go!"
"How many times have I told her that?" Judy said.
"It will get better with time," Mrs. Rogers said, putting her arm around her. "Hey, you know what helps a lot? Chocolate torte!"
"And here are the plates!" Lori announced, bring them in with pride. She set them down on the table.
"So, Merilee, Dear, can we look to see you at Church this Sunday? " Mrs. Rogers asked., cutting the torte and passing out the slices. "I do remember how when you were in the choir you had such a beautiful golden voice! That's how you got over your shyness, as I recall, you stood up there and you sang your heart out, and everyone loved it! I know you would just bring the Church down if you came and sang your lovely heart out!"
"Great idea, you should come and sing, Merilee! Your voice is so lovely!"
"I think that would be a great idea, you should sing this Sunday!" Lori encouraged her.
Merilee smiled for the first time since she arrived, slowly starting to feel at home. "Maybe I will."
"Well, according to this," Wally said, assuming Merilee's previous job of reading the paper, "We are to met Lady Catherine at the airport, she knows the real reason for us being here, and wait for our contact, who will identify himself as B-4." he glanced at Butch to make sure he had heard what he had read. Butch was staring straight ahead, but he managed to nod his head. Wally and Steffy knew that Mr. Socrates must have read Butch the riot act judging from his behavior. Was it Wally's imagination, or was Butch near tears again? He saw Butch once in a while glance at the empty seat next to him…MERILEE'S seat!
The pain of missing Merilee hit Butch deep in his chest. He felt half-naked….it was as if a part of him had been torn away…cause it was, due to his own stupidity! It took loosing Merilee to make him realize how much she had meant to him. Now God knows where she went…and he couldn't even look for her right now! He resolved to solve this case quickly so they could start searching for the girl he loved…and to bring her back!
As the jet landed in London, they saw their fans surrounding them, ready to practically run them over. They exchanged a three-way glance, how would they explain Merilee's absence? Even better question...how on earth would they solve this case without her?