To whom it may concern:

Sorry for being so long getting back to this. A certain member of my family (who shall remain nameless) decided that it would be fun to send my laptop off to be repaired over Christmas. The finally pronounced it dead at the end of January and I've only really just got familiar with my new machine.

Faust - Don't get me wrong, Faust, I'd love to chat about the book, but if you want to do so please email me instead of writting in my reviews. The reviews are feedback for my story, not R L Stevenston's.
Sammet Liselle - Come on, McSlytherin, you know how I fell about my John! And Bet is anything but intellegent, trust me on that one. As for what happens next, I'll tell you now.
Morph - Ta for your short and sweet review! Sorry for not updatting sooner.

Disclaimer: Good news folks! I finally own LXG :listens to earpiece and whispers: What did you say? What do you mean the paperwork didn't go through :sheepish grin: Erm, forget I said anything!

Chapter 9 – Another Message

"It is imperitive that we get back in contact with that anonymous messenger," Nemo called to a crewman as the League boarded the Nautilus once more. "See what you can do to speed up the process." The crewman bowed politely and walked off to the communications room.

"The thief stole Jekyll's notes on Hyde's potion," Sawyer explained to the others. Nemo's eyes widened slightly. Jekyll shuffled on his feet.

"Yes, about that." He muttered. "I was wondering if it were possible for you to tell me what makes you think she took it, and for what reason." Sawyer turned to Jekyll and grinned, cheekily.

"You can't see it?" He asked. Jekyll reluctantly shook his head. Sawyer folded his arms in triumph and began to explain. "You've got to admit that the vine, that "Japanese Hop", wasn't acting particularly naturally. Say that this woman had managed to make up your potion and somehow administer it into the vine. That would explain the size and nature of it."

"Very clever," Skinner commented. They began to make their way down the corridors of the Nautilus to the communications room.

"How long does it take to make the potion, Jekyll?" Nemo asked. Feeling a little stunned, Jekyll shook himself.

"Only a few hours," He told them. "She could have had the notes for much longer than that, though." He thought hard about the attic room. Nothing looked as though it had been disturbed, besides the book. There was no evidence of force on the hatch, nor had there been in any other part of the house. Not only must they have been taken before Bet had moved them into the attic, they must have been taken since she moved into the house. "They must have been taken since Bet moved in."

"Right," Mina said. "Tomorrow we'll ask Elizabeth about all the people she's invited into the house, and whether there were any opportunities for someone to enter without her knowing." She smiled at Jekyll. "We'll solve this, yet."

Jekyll smiled weakly back. How could Bet have been so careless with his work? Surely she had realised what the consequences would be if they fell into the wrong hands. He had told her of Hyde's fight with the Dante Beast. Jekyll knew that he didn't stand a chance and, if he were on control of the situation, would never have let Hyde on him in the first place.

"We're back in contact," Nemo's crewman called to the anxiously waiting League. Eagerly, they stepped towards him to listen to what their messenger had to say.

"I see you were able to visit me at St James Park." The crewman translated. "I'm only sorry that I wasn't able to contact you."

"I'm sure you were," Skinner scoffed, sarcastically. Mina shushed him.

"I had seen the thief, and decided that it was best not to reveal myself talking to you in their presence. I saw the vine being released, and did try to prevent it from reaching you without being spotted, but, as you know, I was unsuccessful."

"You can say that again," Sawyer whispered to himself, placing a hand over the wound on his arm.

"Tell him that we have seen the thief," Nemo told the crewman. "We might as well find out a little more about her." The crewman did so, but there was a long pause before a reply came.

"I did some research and have concluded that the vine that you encountered is a Japanese Hop. It had been tampered with by some sort of chemical to cause it to have a life of its own."

"Yes," Sawyer grinned broadly, leaning back on the wall behind him. "We kindda worked that one out for ourselves." Nemo frowned.

"Ask him again about this woman," Nemo commanded. Another long pause.

"The vine isn't the only thing this thief has prepared. You must be careful about whom you associate with. Any weakness will be spotted and taken out."

Nemo clenched his fingers into a fist. Why was their only contact being so stubborn? Surely, now that they had seen the thief, he would be more reluctant to give them more information. All they knew so far was she looked like and she had made a visit to Jekyll's house at some point in the last 28 months. He demanded the crewman to ask the question once more.

"You know enough about the thief for what is needed. I have been spying on them for a few weeks. I know the robbery will occur before the next full moon, but I'm still not sure when. Neither am I sure how they will do it. As soon as I get that information I will inform you."

"He's not going to budge," Mina spoke to Nemo, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I think our best lead at the moment is the theft of Jekyll's notes." She stepped forwards and spoke to the crewman. "Thank him for what information he could give us and tell him that we will be ready to receive any more when he can tell us." The crewman looked at Nemo who, reluctantly, nodded back at him.

"I will contact you within the next four days. It won't be long now."

The signal went dead. Nemo allowed the crewman to exit, leaving the League on their own.

"What's our next step, then?" Sawyer asked, seating himself in the corner of the room. Mina walked to the radio and brushed her fingers along it.

"Tomorrow afternoon," Mina told him, "we'll return to the Stapleton's and ask Elizabeth about any female friends she may have invited into the house. If there is any joy from that, it's probably best to find out where this thief is residing."

"Even if we can't find her," Nemo continued. "There may be a great benefit from searching her house."

Jekyll had been very quiet during the whole of the message. In fact, he had hardly heard anything that had been said. His mind was distracted by his notes. If this thief did have them, the vine wouldn't be the only thing she could use it on. Any living plant or animal could be affected by it. He ran a hand through his hair.

"For now," Nemo said. "I suggest we all get some sleep. We may have a very busy day ahead of us tomorrow."

Slowly, the League filtered out of the communications room and to their rooms.

NB: There we are! Next chapter we can get back into the flow of the story a bit better. Reviews are greatly appreciated!