I snuck around back and climbed inta Mike's treehouse, before returning again to the subconscious.
"Oi followed Mike's trail backwards and found the way back, but there are police cars at 'is 'ouse... What am oi supposed ta do?" I asked the others, well the other two, mike and Chester were still fast asleep.
"Vhat do zey vant?" Lana asked, concern clear on her face.
"Oi dunno, oim in tha treehouse roight now." I replied grimly. Then Vito piped up:
"Ey, d'ya think dis is about da bruises Mikey boy has?"
"True... Perhaps zey have ze culprits in custody!" She exclaimed with a look of relief. "You should talk vith them, let ze poor darling rest."
"It's Mike's problem, shouldn't he deal with it? You don't even know what the other guy looks like!" Veto pointed out.
"Oi can still talk with 'em. Ya mess with moi mates, ya mess with me." Svetlana agreed and so it was decided.
"Oi'll letcha know what 'appens!" I called as I faded out. Then the telltale gasp indicated my control. I went back to the frond door and opened it carefully. I stepped inside and took a few steps forwards, when *BANG* the door slammed shut behind me.
"Mike? Is that you?" A worried voice called out, and before I could reply I was scooped up in a tight embrace... Too tight.
"Mike, where were you you had me so worried the police showed up and I didn't know where you were and they won't tell me anything and..." She stopped hugging me and held me at arms length. When she saw my throat she gasped in horror.
"Er...oi'm not..." I tried ta point out that I wasn't mike but Mike's Ma can be a wee bit obsessive.
"Oh my sweet baby what happened to you!?" She once again took me in a bone crushing hug.
"Can't...breathe..." I squeaked. She released me and took a step back.
"Oh, honey I'm so sorry! I was just so worried and..." I put my finger to her lips.
"Mrs S. it's me, Manitoba. Mike's asleep, 'e's 'ad a rough day. 'E got lost and asked me ta get 'im 'ome."
"Oh!" She blushed. "I'm so sorry Mani... Without the hat I... Thank you for getting mike home."
"No worries Sheila, 'appy to do it."
"Ahem." A voice interrupted from the living room doorway, reminding us that we were not alone.
"Is this Mike?" The officer inquired.
"Not at the moment. Name's Manitoba Smith, at your service." I said with a little bow. The officer looked at Mike's mom questioningly, as it for confirmation that it was true.
"I thought you said he needed a hat for that." He seemed suspicious.
"Well, Y'see officer, we can surface while mike is asleep as well." The officer seemed to accept this.
"Come on, let's go back to the living room! I'll fetch more coffee."
"Thanks, Oi could use a cuppa." This earned a look from Mrs S. "Is there somethin' wrong Sheila?"
"No, it's just... Mike doesn't like coffee." She said."I didn't think his pers-er-you guys would either." She shrugged. "Coming right up." With that she walked off. I moved towards the living room, noting that the officer was eying me suspiciously. When I got there, I saw that there were four officers in the room. I reached up to tip my hat, realized it wasn't there, and rubbed my neck instead.
"G'day mates." I said awkwardly. I really miss my hat... They were scrutinizing my every movement. "Er...D'ya mind if I go fetch something right quick?" The officer at the door considered my request and gave a curt nod. I came downstairs a few minutes later with my hat in hand. Placing it on my head, I immediately felt better. Keeping control while Mike was asleep takes a lot outta me, even without the others talking. When I walked into the room Mrs S was handing out coffees.
"Ah, beauty." I said, breathing in the aroma when she gave me mine. I let out a sigh. I hadn't had a cuppa in awhile, this was sure to help my nerves.
"So, you are the explorer, correct?" One of the officers inquired.
"That is correct."
"Can we talk to Mike?" Another asked. Why were there so many of them?! I sipped my coffee before answering.
"The poor boy is all tuckered out, oi would rather let 'im rest... You c'n ask me anything, and I'll answer to tha best o' my abilities" They seemed displeased with my response, but decided ta take me up on my offer.
"When did you, um, wake up?"
"Oi came out sometime shortly past dusk, Mike doesn't 'ave a watch, so oi can't give specifics, sorry mates."
"Where were you when you did come out?"
"Oi was unfamiliar with the area, but it was a real seedy neighbourhood. I found my way back by following Mike's tracks. 'E was right ta be scared... That place wasn't fer a sweet boy like 'im."
"You say he was scared? Did he say of what?"
"'E didn't say, but 'e has a nasty bruise on 'is throat as you can see. That probably 'ad something ta do with it, along with being lost in a nasty place, 'at'd do er."
"Do you know anything else that may be pertinent to the case?"
"I'd say that about does it."
"Can we talk to Mike now?"
"'E's still asleep. May oi ask what this is about?"
"Three people are in the hospital with major injuries and small fractures. Can you wake him? It's important." I considered this for a moment before nodding once.
"Tell ya what, oi'll go and see what oi can do." I took off my hat and closed my eyes. I reappeared in the living room, startling the other two who were hanging around.
"Guys we have a problem. They wanna talk to mike... And oi don't think it's good...they said three people were in the hospital..." Veto rolled his eyes and shrugged dismissively, Svetlana saw this and slugged him on the shoulder.
"ey, how much trouble could the shrimp have gotten himself into?"
"how do you know zat zey aren't here to help?" she asked me, ignoring Veto.
"they seem a mite bit too suspicious to think our boy is tha victim... they were eyeballing me tha whole time, and there are four of 'em! that seems a tad excessive if they think he's harmless. Oi wish oi knew what 'appened!" even Veto looked concerned at this.
"Four?" he asked incredulously. I nodded in confirmation. "that ain't good..."
"so, should we wake 'im up?" I asked.
"Svetlana vould rather you didn't.. ze poor dear must have been through
so much today... he needs his rest..."
"but we dunno any details! Something happened, and Mike was the one there, not us." Veto pointed out.
"oi have a feeling that Mike doesn't know much more than we do..."
"Svetlana has idea! vithout ze hat you are ze spitting image of Mike, yes?"
"roight..." I replied, seeing where she was going with this.
"Manitoba can pretend to be Mike for a little bit, and vhen mike vakes up, we vill send him out right avay! Zey won't know ze difference."
"but what about Mrs S ? she'll know something is off."
"vell, 'Mike' vill probably vant to talk vith 'is mum when he vakes up, yes?" I nodded in agreement.
"I still think this is a stupid idea." Veto said to no one in particular.
"but ve vill have to do something about zat accent of yours." Svetlana continued, ignoring Veto.
"oi 'ave been practicing actually..." I said sheepishly.
"H-How's this?" I asked (pretty convincingly I might add). Svetlana clapped her hands in delight, then pecked me on the cheek! my eyes widened in surprise.
"it's perfect Mani!" she exclaimed. "sank you so much for doing zis for Mike!"
"what kind of a friend would I be if I didn't?" I said, keeping up the accent. she clapped again.
"Ey, lovebirds, hate ta interrupt but dontcha have people waitin' for you, 'Mike'?" Vito said pointedly.
"What?! I-we were-I was-er..." we struggled for words, blushing furiously.
"Ahem, roight then. I should get back..." I said, my accent faltering. Veto rolled his eyes. I cleared my throat, readjusting my voice.
"Wish me luck!"