AN: I'm sorry it's been so long. I had managed to lose half of this chapter for months and really didn't want to rewrite it but I found it again yesterday so yay :) So there's just 2 chapters left and then an epilogue which I'm working on and may finish soon it just depends how much I procrastinate this weekend. Anyways thank you so much for reading my fic. I'd love to know what you thought of it and if there are any things I need to make my writing better as well as the moments that you loved.

Love, Kallie xx


Chapter 29

Kittie's POV

Lexi and I had gotten back from our adventure pretty late. Everyone was in bed, even Michael. Mind you, it was close to midnight as I stumbled up the tower stairs to my room. I pushed open my door and wasn't really surprised to find my bed was empty. I shut the door quietly. Lexi was right. Sometimes people just needed to be alone. I stripped down to my underwear, leaving my clothes discarded on the floor. I was too tired to care. I stumbled into bed, pulling the covers up to my head. It wasn't until my breathing began to slow that I missed the warmth of the body that normally lay with me. 'Get a grip,' I told myself. I had spent years alone in my bed. I should be used to it. But I wasn't entirely. The last month with Oscar had changed that. It had been hard at first getting used to another large body beside me, but I had and now I missed it. Growling, I moved a pillow from behind my head and placed it beside me, so that I had something I could lean into. The soft foam settled against my back, slightly propping me up. I closed my eyes and pretended that the pillow was Oscar.

A knock at the door startled me, and for a second I thought it was Oscar, but it wasn't the tousled blond head of my boyfriend that stuck around the door. Instead, it was my dark, shaggy haired, too-cool for anything best friend.
"What do you want?" I mumbled, rolling back into my pillows.
"To check on you," he answered, his voice surprisingly close to me. As he sat down on the bed, I realised I shouldn't be surprised. He could move exceedingly fast and quietly if he wanted to. He put the phrase as quiet as a mouse into practice, except, aren't mice quite noisy? Sophie had wanted mice for her birthday and I had said no for a number of reasons. The biggest being the second we entered the shop, we were greeted with tiny squeaking voices that hurt Charlie's ears.
"You saw me, what, 5 minutes ago," I countered. I really wasn't in the mood to play games. I mean seriously, after the big speech I had given earlier which he had forced out of me, he had checked up on me enough.
I heard him sigh. "But seeing you isn't the same as knowing how you are. After the big explosion earlier, I'm a little worried." But then, after the explosion earlier he should have a pretty good idea how I was feeling and thinking.
"I'm fine," I replied, doing my best to make it sound true. Maybe if I lied to myself and everyone else enough, then it would become true.

"Liar." Lexi moved closer to me. "I know you, and I know you're lying." I heard his hand fall to his side so I knew he had gone to comfort me and then thought better. "Will you at least try to tell me what's wrong? I can't help if you don't tell me."
"Don't need help," I mumbled, the pillow muffling my voice.
"I'm sorry, I didn't understand um um umph um hep."
I sat up and glared at him. "You know that wasn't what I said."
"Then tell me again," he said with a cocky smile, his arms folded across his…. his… sorry, his Pokémon pyjama top.
I really wanted to roll my eyes and hit him at the same time, but I resisted both, just. "I don't need help," I repeated stubbornly, my eyes cold and hard.
"I don't believe you." I moved to hit him with my pillow (hitting him straight out would have hurt him and I thought both of us had been beaten up enough for the day). "Don't even think about it," he countered, pulling the pillow out of my grasp. He looked at me seriously. "Anyone can see how much you're hurting love."

"And anyone who knows me, knows I can handle it." I turned my eyes away from him, not wanting him to really see the pain that lay there in the windows of my soul.
Unfortunately that didn't happen. He tilted my head back up just like Oscar does. I shuddered, wishing Lexi hadn't done that. I pulled away and held up my hands when he tried to grab me again.
"No, please don't."
He sighed. "You don't have to do this alone. You have me, and Michael even though he's not really much help."
Okay, so he knew how to make me smile. He was right; Michael really isn't much help. But they loved him and he played with them and got to act like a big brother. He was the TA to my teacher.
Lexi must have noticed my mental tangent for he paused for a moment. "My point is that you're not doing this by yourself. You don't have to keep all of the stress and pain inside. It's alright to ask for help. It doesn't mean you're weak, quite the opposite in fact."

"I –" I stopped, finding it hard to accept the truth myself. But I couldn't let that stop me. "I don't know how."
Lexi looked at me, clearly confused. "You don't know how what?"
I couldn't believe I was saying this. "I don't know how to ask for help."
"You don't –" he looked at me and burst out laughing.
"Shush!" I said, grabbing the pillow back off him and throwing it in his face. "You'll wake the kids up, worse yet you'll wake up Oscar. He's already convinced himself once that I'm cheating on him with you."
Lexi stopped and looked at me incredulously. "He thinks what?" he spluttered. "I'm sorry but a) I know you shouldn't have types but I do – and you my friend are not a red-head, and b) I would never ever date or steal anyone who's already in a relationship. I'm not that sort of person."
I hung my head slightly, my shoulders sagging. "I know that, but Oscar doesn't. I don't get how he can't see that I'm crazy about him. I would die for him, I would go through hell and back to prove my love. I just don't get how to make him see." I threw myself backwards on my bed, letting myself sink back into my mattress. I pulled my duvet over my head, slightly regretting it. It may be January but we had the heating up fairly high to keep Cal warm. He got pretty cold, like me, so it was a good thing. I just probably shouldn't have turned the heat up that high.

Lexi tugged at the duvet, pulling it off my head. "Well, have you tried talking to him about it?"
I raised my eyebrows. "No, we just hit each other and have sex," I responded sarcastically. I rolled my eyes at his startled look. "Of course we've tried talking. Can't you tell sarcasm anymore? The problem we've got is that we both have hot tempers at times and both of us are hurting a lot still."
"Okay, so leave him tonight to calm down and talk to him tomorrow."
I tried to smother a yawn and failed. Lexi just smiled. "You need to get some sleep Kitten." He got up and walked towards my door, his feet barely making a sound on the carpet.
"Wait," I called after him. The loneliness and emptiness of my bed was getting to me. "Would – would you stay with me tonight? But no funny business. You stay on your side of the bed." I tried to be stern. Not too sure if it worked.
Lexi chuckled. "Scouts honour. Scootch." He stepped towards the bed, arms up by his chest, ready to climb in.
"You were never a scout. Your mum didn't believe in the scouts."
This made him laugh. "It was Brownies she didn't believe in actually on account of them being mythical woodland creatures that made children run off into the woods."
I glared and threw the closest thing at him which happened to be one of Charlie's toys off of my bedside table. I must have picked it up earlier.
"Okay, okay on spy's honour. Now budge. If you want me to stay, move over."
I shook my head and moved over a little to give him room. He chuckled and lay down next to me, facing me. "A sleepover just like old times eh?" I scowled and rolled over, praying for sleep quickly.

I woke up the next morning sleepily. I frowned and wondered why my alarm clock hadn't gone off. The pile of broken plastic on the floor told me that Lexi had probably broken it, attempting to turn it off. I rolled my eyes. I'd clean that up later. For now I was a little worried about where Lexi was. I quickly pulled on pyjamas, remembering that I had just gone to bed in my underwear the night before. I don't think he'd really noticed, and if he had, he hadn't dared to point it out in case I had hit him. I hadn't been in a good place last night. I didn't have to wait for long though. My bathroom door opened, and out Lexi came, wrapped only in the towel around his waist.
I stared at him before I remembered I shouldn't stare, and looked away. "What are you doing?" I asked, turning away as he moved closer.
"Enjoying the luxuries of an en-suite," he smirked. "Don't worry, I shall protect your virtue and cover myself so you don't see anything. Thanks for the shower Kitten."
I heard him move away and my bedroom door shut. I lay back on my bed, pulled a pillow over my face and screamed, thankful that I had remembered to use a pillow to muffle my screams.

Lexi's POV

After 2 days of watching Kittie and Oscar avoiding each other, I had gotten fed up, and from the looks of it, so had everyone else. So Carrie, Michael, Elle, and I had decided to corner Oscar, and Rose would keep Kittie busy until we had convinced Oscar to talk to his girlfriend. So at half 12, after everyone was off for lunch, we marched up the corridors, Rose to find her target, and the 4 of us to find ours. I spotted Oscar hanging outside one of the empty classrooms. Despite arguing with Kittie, he didn't seem that inclined to talk to the girls that were crowding around him. Well, that at least was one thing in his favour. I wasn't best pleased that he was ignoring and hurting my best friend. No girl, or guy should be treated like that, especially over nothing. But looking at the guy, I could see the same shadows of guilt and pain that I had when I hurt people I loved. Maybe I should cut the guy a bit of slack. But first, he had to patch things up with Kittie. I glanced over at Michael and he nodded, hopefully thinking the same thing. They were pretty close as siblings get. They drove each other crazy, but they loved one another. I'd seen the two of them together yesterday when they didn't think I was watching.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Elle clench her fist and I reached out to her. "Don't hurt him," I warned. "He's still her boyfriend, and we're just here to make him talk to Kittie."
She scowled. "Can't I just hit him a little?"
I looped my arm around her shoulder, a little surprised she didn't pull away. "As much as I'd like that, I'm afraid not. She would kill you if you hurt him. She really loves him."

Ignoring Elle's grumbling and non-subtle swearing, I walked up to Oscar. Either he didn't notice me to start with, or he chose to ignore me. Michael held back Elle as she moved to hit him.
"We need to talk," I said.
"Leave me alone, please," he replied, still not looking at me. He sounded more sad, more deflated than angry. He tried to move away from us but I pushed him back. "What's your problem man?" he snapped, glaring at me. His eyes were dark and stormy now.
"You and Kittie, that's my problem." Why was he getting so angry with me? I probably shouldn't have pushed him but I had barely done anything. Whatever it was, it was making me angry.
"Look, I know you don't like us together. You're jealous and would rather have her to yourself, but she's with me. So drop it."
I stared at him. "Wait, you honestly believe I like Kittie like that? Dude, you've got it all wrong. She's just my friend. I… I like someone else." I glanced over at Elle then looked away quickly. Damn, I shouldn't have done that. From the corner of my eyes, I noticed Elle and Michael move away, quietly talking.

"You really like someone else?" Geez he was so easy to read sometimes. I swear I watched his face change as he tried to understand, but then the anger was back. "If you really like someone else, why do you keep spending so much time with my girlfriend?"
"Because she's my friend, one of my best friends. I don't love her like you do, but I care about her a lot. Which is why I'm here. She was really upset last night. She misses you and hates not talking to you. Oscar, can't you see how much she loves you?"
"Wait, how do you know how she was last night?" he asked accusingly.
"Because I was with her last night, and the last couple of nights. She's broken and she needs somebody. If you're not going to be there for her, of course I'm going to."
"Last couple of nights?! You are way out of line. I'm her boyfriend, not you."
I rolled my eyes. "Then act like it. She's miserable and you're doing nothing to sort things out. You can't just ignore her every time she doesn't tell you something. She's got a past, and she really struggles to tell people things. The only reason I know what I do is because I have been there by her side since she was small. So either man up and talk to her, get her to open up to you more, or break up with her. Just don't leave her to torture herself."
We stood there for a few seconds, neither of us saying anything. "Fine," he said, a hard look in his eyes. He pushed past me and then stopped. "Just stay away from her."
"Or what?" I retorted before I could stop myself. I really needed to work on my temper.
Before I knew what was happening, Oscar grabbed my arm and threw me against the wall. "Or you'll have me to answer to," he threatened, his face inches away from mine.
He let go and I watched him walk away down the corridor, hopefully to go and find Kittie. I sighed and leant back against the wall. I hoped it had worked.

Kittie's POV

Lunchtime used to be one of my favourite times of the day. Now I dreaded it. After what had happened with Rider, I wish I'd never agreed to it. It had screwed up everything. Well, that and my inability to trust anyone. I weaved through the crowds, trying to get away to some peace and quiet in the tunnels. I didn't really have to think about where I was going. My feet knew the way. It was something I had done a million times over, even from the different entrances to the passages. I had just reached the east stairwell when a hand grabbed my shoulder. Quickly I spun around, expecting it to be a teacher and for me to be in trouble – technically I shouldn't be up here. But it wasn't a teacher, it was Rose.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," she said, brushing her hair out of her eyes. She looked nice with it loose. Made a change.
"That's alright. Did you need anything?" I asked, a little surprised. She must have come looking for me, but I was a little unsure why.
"Well I wanted to talk to you." I watched her shift nervously from foot to foot. "It's about why you left us."
"You want to know why I left?" I was a little surprised but then it's only fair that she knows why.
"Yeah, I was wondering if it had anything to do with us. Carrie and I weren't exactly that welcoming when you arrived, and I know Oscar was more but that's 'cause you looked hot. You still do."
I smiled. "It wasn't because of any of you, and thanks. It was a number of reasons really."
"Like what?" She looked puzzled, but then I didn't blame her. Things were complicated.

"Umm well I missed being here, seeing my friends. My uncle only moved me because he didn't think I can take care of myself. I'm now working with MI6 for a bit, and well it wasn't entirely healthy spending pretty much every minute of the day with Oscar. We need to have some space apart. He's still living at mine for the time being, so we really are together all the time."
"Oh, I see," she said quietly. I could tell there was something on her mind. "Did it work you two being in the same school together?"
"It did, but living with him as well has meant that I never really have time that's just me. Sure I can go off and stuff but we're pretty much together all the time." I looked at her. "You're thinking of asking Scoop out, aren't you?"
She stared at me, blushing and a little shocked. "No!" she protested, a little too much meaning yes. "Why, did he say something?"
"I couldn't possibly say," I replied with a smile. "Seriously, just ask him. The worst he can do is say no."
"But what if he says no?"
"Then you either move on or wait to see if circumstances change. But I'm guessing he'll say yes, unless you ask him in front of the class or the whole school or something. You're too amazing to say no to."
She pulled me into a hug. "Thanks Kittie."
"Anytime," I replied.

Oscar came marching up to us and I had a feeling another row was going to begin. "We need to talk."
"I'm busy," I answered, turning back to Rose.
A hand grabbed my arm from behind and began pulling me further down the corridor. "Now," he demanded sternly as he dragged me away.
"Fine. Just tell him, ask him," I called back to Rose as Oscar and I moved further away.
We stopped outside a classroom by one of the hidden passageways I'd shown him on the first day.
Oscar sighed and let go. "Okay, before you say anything, there's something I really want to get off my chest," he said, not really looking at me. "I can't believe you didn't tell me you were leaving and going to work with some cocky douchebag. I mean I get why you didn't but I still wish you had. I'm going to miss you at St Hopes. But we need to have some alone time. Which is also why I may try and sort things out with my dad and maybe go and live with him. It's only next door, and I've loved staying at yours, but it's your house, not mine. And I'm only thinking about."
"It's a good idea," I interjected when he stopped to breathe. "Family is important and now you know your dad's alive and around, you should try and sort things out."
"You're honestly okay with that? I'm not talking to run away from you, you have to understand that. It's just that he's my dad."

"I know," I smiled. "If I had the option I would do it. And you'd only be next door. We could see each other as much as you wanted." I knew there was something else bothering him. "What else? Come on, I know you Oscar. There's something else on your mine so tell me."
"Okay," he said, running his hands through his blond hair. "What's the deal with you and Lexi? You two are close, I get that, it's just sometimes it feels like there's something more going on than you two just being friends."
"Oscar," I answered, grabbing hold of one of his hands. "I swear we're just friends. He's got a lot going on in his life right now and he needs me. You also know that if he ever tried anything I would hit him and kick him out. And, before you ask, he's staying with us because he managed to annoy the government in Russia and if he goes home, they'll find him. They know he's here, but they can't do anything about that. So he's stuck with us for a bit longer. He can go home soon."
He looked at me, trying to make sense of it all. "So he's never made a move on you?"
I shook my head. "Nope. Well, he did kiss me once. Don't look at me like that. We were 5 and Michael bet him his pocket money that he wouldn't kiss me. Now to a 5 year old £2 is a lot. Since then, nothing. Just friends."

He pulled me close, holding me in his arms for a few moments. "I've missed you. I'm sorry I got mad, I just had some thinking to do."
"That's alright," I replied, wrapping my arms around his back. "I've missed you too but I figured you just needed some time to cool down. I'm sorry too for not telling you."
"Do you forgive me?" he asked, looking down at me.
"Do you forgive me?" I answered, knowing my answer to his question was yes.
"Always." He leant down and kissed me gently, his lips softly brushing against mine.
Running footsteps down the corridor pulled our lips apart but we stayed together in each other's embrace. "Sorry to interrupt the make up session but Hans has been arrested," panted Elle. "They're taking him away now."
"What?" I cried, letting go of Oscar. Why? What happened?"
"They found the painting at his, and there's video footage of him entering and leaving the gallery around the time the painting was stolen. Of course they haven't got anything of it being taken because the cameras went down just after he arrived and just before he left. But they think that's enough evidence to arrest him."
"What about DNA, fingerprints? It could have been planted."

She shook her head. "His prints are all over it."
"Something just doesn't add up. He says he didn't do that. He limps for Christ's sake. There's no way he could get past the security system and it's too easy, too neat. He's too clever to get caught."
"I know, but what can we do?"
I bit my lip, thinking. "Get the others here now. I have a plan."
"A rescue mission?" she asked.
"Nope, more like file searching," I replied, my face set with determination. "Get Michael to distract the Head, you the secretary, and Rose and Carrie Mrs Fauster. They can talk to her about spy stuff. Just keep them all busy."
"What about us?" Oscar asked. "What are we doing?"
"Well, we need to break into files, but we need Lexi. He's the best I know at lock picking. Don't look like that. He's still my best friend even if you're jealous."
Oscar rolled his eyes but said nothing. "Elle," I called as she ran back to tell them. "Tell him to meet us here asap." I smiled as she ran before turning to Oscar. "Come on Mr Halliday," tugging at Oscar's arm. "We have some passages to go through."

3rd POV

Kittie and Oscar crept through the dimly lit corridors as quietly as they could. Kittie wished she'd remembered a torch. That would have made travelling a whole lot easier and safer. Whilst she knew the tunnels like the back of her hand, and could navigate them with ease, Oscar couldn't and was forced to stumble his way through, catching himself on the uneven floor, collapsed debris or miscellaneous discarded objects from over the years. If a torch had been brought then the noise would have been at definite minimum, something which Kittie was concerned about. She'd been caught fairly recently within the passageways because she had been too noisy, and now silence mattered even more. Oscar tripping over again, causing him to stumble, made Kittie stop. She reached out to him, her hand brushing lightly over his shirt as she moved her hand down towards his.
"Here, let me be your eyes," she whispered, her hand finding his. "I'll guide you through."
"And I'll follow you into the dark," he sang softly in response with a chuckle.

Kittie turned back and began leading him through the corridors, whispering where to step and where to avoid. They had just reached a fork in the passages when Kittie noticed a light coming from the left passage. She shielded her eyes, her heart fluttering wildly. For a moment she feared they had been caught before they'd even done the dangerous bit. But as the light and the figure holding it drew closer, she realised it was only Lexi.
"What are you doing?" She asked in a hush whisper. "We waited for you but you didn't show. In the end we gave up. I didn't know you knew the passages."
"You're not the only one who comes in here to hide Kitten." Lexi glanced behind at Oscar. "Hey buddy. How come you two don't have a light?"
Kittie shrugged. "Forgot one. I never really need one, but I forgot Oscar would."
"Not so wonderful now is he?" Lexi murmured under his breath, but not quietly enough for Kittie to not to hear who glared at him.
"Come on," she said, shaking her head at him. "We have a job to do and a leader to save."

The trio continued, turning right at the fork and headed towards the main office. The passageway sloped gently downwards, leading past the flights of stairs they would have climbed had they been walking in the normal corridors. At last their journey ended, Lexi coming to an abrupt stop. Kittie, used to him stopping suddenly was prepared, but Oscar was not, causing him to crash into her.
"Sorry," he whispered, catching her as she nearly fell. "You'll have to warn me next time you do that."
"What makes you think there'll be a next time?" She whispered back, enjoying the warmth of his hands on her.
"You mean this isn't normal walking through hidden passages and breaking and entering? I thought that was just a normal part of your day."
Kittie hit him half-heartedly, not really fussed at his cheek. She was more gratefully that he was teasing her like he used to.

Lexi peered through the darkness at the back of the picture in front of him having slid the panel in the wall back so they could get through. "How do you open this Kittie? I've never been through this way before."
"You've never needed to whereas I have. It's amazing what the teachers leave lying around on the desks in the office. However it's not the desks we are after, more the filing cabinets which is where you come in. Move out the way and I'll open it."
Lexi stepped back on Oscars toes, causing him to grumble and groan. Kittie ducked and slipped between the two, avoiding the struggle of movement in the confined space. Carefully she ran her fingers over the top of the frame, trying to find the hidden catch to swing the painting out. Her fingers caught the edge of the catch and she pressed down on it. She groaned as the painting swung open, revealing Mr Davenport, the deputy head.

"Miss Swan," he said firmly, his arms folded against his tweed jacket and starch white shirt. "How nice of you to stop by. I think we need to have a little chat, don't you?"
With a sigh, she stepped through the hole in the wall, in front of Mr Davenport.
"Yes sir," she answered meekly.
"And what about your friend? I know it wasn't just you inside. You weren't quite quiet enough I'm afraid. Your skills need a little sharpening. A week learning how to be quite as a mouse ought to do it, don't you think?"
Kittie knew better than to argue with him. "Yes sir," she said, moving away so that Oscar could come out. "Oscar, come on. It's no use hiding."
A little puzzled, Oscar stepped out of the shadows and climbed through, standing next to Kittie.
"Well then, come on you two. Let's go." Mr Davenport began to move towards the door, Kittie and Oscar following. Then he stopped. "Oh and if you see Mr Porter, tell him I wish to see him." He had a small smile on his face as he said this, as if he knew that Lexi was still in the passage.

As they left the room, Kittie stopped as if to tie her shoe lace. Mr Davenport and Oscar continued on.
When they had gone, she hurried over to the open painting. "Search the teacher's files. When I last spoke to Hans, he mentioned a family. Maybe they know something. Get an address or a contact or something so we can talk to them after school. You've got everything you need to break into the files?"
Lexi nodded. "Yeah. Go, before you get in trouble."
"Good luck with your mission ..."
"Right back at you Swan. I can't believe though that you didn't take old Davenport into account when you planned the distractions."
"Well last I heard, he was in France, and he wasn't in until today. I haven't seen him around. If I'd known, I would have done something about him."
Lexi chuckled. "We'll these things happen. Hope you're not in too much trouble. See you later then Kittie." He waited in the dark until Kittie had left the office, shutting the door behind her so that Lexi wouldn't be caught.

As soon as she was gone, Lexi left his hiding place and headed towards the locked filing cabinets. Pulling a black pouch from his blazer pocket, he studied the lock on the first cabinet. From the size and combination lock, he deduced this must be the one holding the teachers files. He unravelled the material, and chose pick he thought would work. Carefully he inserted the length of metal and tried to shift the tumbler. When it didn't respond, he frowned and picked up another pick, inserting that as well. Using the two pieces, he was able to shift the lock. With a grin of triumph, he took the lock picks out and placed them back in their case. He pulled open the cabinet and began looking for Van Dhrest's file. Fortunately for him, he'd opened the right cabinet. Quickly he located the file, a little surprised that even the teachers were filed alphabetically. Leafing through the file, he looked to see if there was anything about his tutor's family. A sheet of paper falling to the floor, caught his attention.

He picked up the piece of paper, and stared at it. What he read surprised him. Van Dhrest did have a family, a wife, a son who was 9 and a daughter who was 14. Amelia... the name seemed familiar to him. Acting on a hunch, he walked over to the student's filing cabinet and jimmied the lock. Searching for Amelia Van Dhrest got him nowhere, however Amelia Dhrest did. His grin broadened before turning to a frown. Meetings with the school councillor, arguments with teachers, including her father on a frequent basis, mass detentions and multiple fights led him to believe she was a troubled child. She wasn't trouble - he knew her sort and knew there was a reason for her behaviour. He had a theory that she just wanted attention from her father but he couldn't be sure without asking her. He also firmly believed that it was her who had stolen the painting. The door handle rattled and voices outside, brought his attention back to reality. Quickly he replaced the files, shut the cabinets and slipped back through the hole, pulling the painting back into place.

An hour later, he stood in the passage outside the main training room where Kittie and Oscar were still being lectured by Mr Davenport. Eventually the teacher left, and Lexi left the passage. Kittie looked at him expectantly.
"So, what did you find? Have you got an address for us?"
He grinned cockily. "Got something even better. He has a daughter who goes here, minus the Van bit in her name to try and hide the family connection to stop bullying and teasing. She's 14, and from the looks of it is a troubled kid."
"Seriously?" Kittie looked thoughtful. "But why would she steal the painting and frame her dad? She may be troubled, but why do that?"
"Well, and this is only guessing, but maybe she wants him to notice her, to notice that she's just as good as the spies he teaches, as good as us. She probably wants to be accepted for the spy she knows she is. I know what it's like feeling like you need to prove who you are to your parents, and to feel like you have to do something big to get them to notice you. That's probably why she's listed as a 'troubled kid' because she keeps acting out, hoping that by getting in trouble, he'll notice her."

Kittie stared at Oscar, shocked. "You guessed all that from what Lexi said? And you've felt like that?"
He shrugged. "Well I always wished my dad would hear about everything and come back to look after me, to deal with me and help me. But it didn't work. He came back to have his own life."
"But he wants you to be a part of it," interjected Kittie. "He came looking for you, admittedly not in the best way, but he came to you. He found you and wants you in his life. You're wanting to move in with him."
"Wait what? You're moving out?" Lexi looked at Oscar a little confused.
"You make it sound like I want to go, that I want to leave you. Do you really think that's why?" Oscar asked, looking at Kittie, ignoring Lexi.
"No, I..." Kittie shook her head. "That's not what I meant."

Lexi held up his hands. "Okay, before you two start arguing again, can we actually go and talk to Amelia and find out if she really did take the painting?"
When Kittie and Oscar looked blankly at him, he sighed, adding "That's her name, Van Dhrest's daughter. I'm pretty sure she did, but if we point blank accuse her, she's gonna clam up and admit nothing. That's what I would do. So we're going to need to be clever."
"Like imply without saying?" Kittie asked, thoughtfully.
"Yeah, but also we need to convince her to give it back and 'fess up."
"So how do we do that?" Oscar hadn't quite got the level of finishing trails of thoughts that Lexi and Kittie had.
Lexi grinned wickedly, wiggling his eyebrows. "Here's the plan."