Huey was unhappy.
He couldn't enjoy Big Rock Candy Mountain. Not without the constant thought of Louie in the mansion alone, missing out on his favourite adventure a second time. His mother's reason for grounding Louie from Big Rock Candy Mountain the first time was understandable, but Huey felt that her reasoning this time was irrational. It was almost as if she got pleasure out of punishing Louie. Huey frowned when he looked at his mom. His mother seemed to be smug and happy, almost as if she was glad she grounded Louie.
Huey gritted his teeth, and rolled up the legs of his pants. He sat at the edge of their raft, skimming his legs through the pink natural spring Pep! they were floating on. Like last time, Ms. Beakley was cheerfully playing her harmonica while Dewey struggled with the fishing net.
Huey snorted. Some things never changed.
"Hey," Webby said, sitting next to him.
"Hi." Huey said glumly.
Webby noticed the aura of quiet anger around the oldest triplet. She frowned and gently set her hand on his shoulder.
"You okay, Huey?"
Huey groaned. "Yeah. I'm just worried."
"About Louie? I'm sure he's fine," she reassured him.
"Not just that," Huey frowned. "I'm just worried about him and my mom's relationship, you know?"
Webby sighed. "I know your mom can be hard on Louie, but you know it's for his own good, don't you?" Webby asked carefully.
Huey just sighed. "I know…"
Webby pulled him in for a hug which Huey happily reciprocated.
"I got one!" Dewey cried.
Dewey pulled out a fish much bigger than him and immediately, he fell over. Huey just chuckled and stood up to help Dewey with the fish.
Goldie made it to her hotel, looking carefully to make sure no one saw her. She climbed the fire escape to her window and slipped into her room.
"Well, that certainly was an adventure," she mumbled to herself, pulling off her hat, letting her long blonde tresses tumble out. She pulled off her gloves and ran her fingers through her hair. She wrinkled her nose. "Fighting good guys always makes me grimey. Guess I'll need to take a shower."
She put the bag onto the table in her room and headed into the bathroom.
Fifteen minutes later she had finished showering and came back into the room in just a white fluffy hotel towel.
"Mmm, let's see what mommy hauled tonight." she purred, opening the bag and pulling out the two cats.
"Gorgeous," she said, tracing a finger over the diamond eyes and smooth black marble. Then the smile disappeared off her face and her eyes narrowed. There was a chip in the marble. She leaned in and examined more closely, picking at it with her fingernail. More "marble" flaked off.
"No… no no no!"
She retrieved her jeweler's magnifying glass and examined the diamonds.
"Nooo…" she moaned flopping back in her chair in a huff.
"What's the matter Goldie? Do the cats not get you excited?"
She whirled around and glared at the voice coming from the window.
"You!" she accused. "You bastard! These are fake!"
All she received in reply was a rather gloating smirk.
"How?!" she demanded.
Louie stepped in through the window nonchalantly. "You're predictable, that's how."
She scowled. "Predictable? Wanna tell me how you pulled this off? You're rather smug with yourself, aren't you?" She turned away and crossed her arms in a pout.
"What I want to know is how you knew I was home alone." Louie frowned.
At this she looked extremely pleased with herself. "I'm good, that's how."
"You were curious as to what I was doing home alone and used the cats as an excuse to come see me?" he snorted.
Goldie rolled her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself. I wanted those cats. How did you switch them out?"
"Easy. The minute I knew I was home alone, I called the Duckworth and told him to pull the real statues and replace them with the fake ones. I had a feeling I knew what you were after them."
"You think you're so smart, don't you?"
"Well, I see all the angles." Louie smirked.
"Oh stop," she scowled. "I know why you followed me here—how did you follow me here? I made sure you weren't around."
She received another smirk in answer.
"You're just so cocky tonight, it's sickening."
"Well, I think I'm smart." Louie shrugged.
She shook her head and rolled her eyes again.
"You look nice with wet hair." Louie commented.
"Is that Louie code for 'you look hot and I came here for just one thing'?"
"Goldie," he said, his voice losing its teasing tone.
"If you think I'm gonna just let you waltz in here after that little show you put on and let you take a booty call, you've got another thing coming," she lectured.
Louie crossed the few steps to her and held her shoulders gently.
"Look, I'm sorry, but you know it's my job to make sure you don't steal from Scrooge. Anything outside of that…"
She looked up into his eyes. "I can't honestly believe that you really care for me."
"I wouldn't be here right now."
"Is it me, or is it what I can do for you?"
"I think you know." Louie grinned.
She gave a rueful laugh and looked down. She eyed the scratches on his chest.
"Those actually went pretty deep. I'm impressed with myself."
"You would be." he snorted.
"Let's see if they went all the way through." she murmured.
She removed his top and examined his chest, which was free of scratches.
"Mmm, I knew there was a reason I kept coming around…" she murmured, rubbing her hands over his well toned muscles.
Louie tugged on her towel and it dropped to the floor.
"These last few days have been very stressful for me," he said, his voice low and husky. "And you are going to help me with it." he growled, pushing her onto the bed.