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Chapter 3: Photo Grief -
"Aim the laser at Penelope's left ear," the Hooded Claw told the Bully Brothers. "That way, it'll kill both of them. I can't have any witnesses."
An idea quickly snapped into Penelope's head. She fumbled around in her purse for her makeup mirror, and found it.
"Countdown to firing the laser," the Claw declared. "Five... four... three... two... one..."
At the last second, Penelope held the makeup mirror in front of her ear. It deflected the laser back, frying the laser cannon.
"Blast!" grumbled the Claw. "Why does this always happen?"
Meanwhile, Ronald had just gotten the safety bar unlatched. He lifted it, and Penelope joined him for a dive into the nearby fountain.
A few minutes later, Ronald and Penelope were walking along the boardwalk. Neither had spoken since the Ferris wheel incident, so Ronald felt he had better say something.
"You're very lucky to be the one I'm in love with," Ronald said, "and I'm not just saying that."
"How come?" Penelope replied.
"Like you are, I'm heir to a fortune. According to my father's will, should anything happen to me before my father kicks the bucket, the money will go to the last woman I loved, unless there is evidence that she did the killing."
"You must be awfully trusting to fall in love with me, Redlight."
"I am, I am. Sometimes I worry that someday a woman will catch my interest, then kill me and get the money. I know you, though, and you'd never do that."
The Hooded Claw was listening to all this. He quickly put two and two together. If he got rid of both Penelope and Ronald, he'd get two fortunes!
"Look!" Penelope said, pointing. "A souvenir photo studio! Come on, let's get our pictures taken!" The couple went in.
After paying the camera man, Ronald and Penelope stood in front of the camera. The camera man gave the two instructions about how to pose. "A little to the left... make sure your cheeks are touching... now hold hands... no, higher... turn a little... yes! Perfect! Now hold still."
Neither Penelope nor Ronald knew, or even suspected, that the camera man was actually the Claw in disguise. The camera had a fully loaded double-barreled gun hidden in it.
When the Claw "photographed" the two, the gun would shoot and kill them both. He hardly even needed to aim; his posing directions put them right in the gun's sights.
The Hooded Claw began to count down. "Okay, I'm taking the shot in 6... 5... 4..."
Will Ronald and Penelope survive this plot? Will this be their photo finish? What's the Anthill Mob doing?
"Come on, let's get some cotton candy!"
"The booth isn't open yet, dum-dum!"
"Who cares? I still want cotton candy, and I'm not going on another ride until I get some!"
Oh.