Hey ya'll! It's Heir here, writing from Sicily! Data did a great job on his turn last chapter, now it's my turn!
CHAPTER SEVEN
Sirens echoed across Valletta as police converged on the Bibliotheca museum. Everything had happened so fast though, there was little anyone could tell them about the sudden attack. Distraught as she was about Lilly's abduction, Miley could hardly speak at all. Even if she could have, there was almost nothing she and the others could tell the police anyway; they certainly had no clue who was responsible for the kidnapping or why. They purposely avoided any mention of the blessed silver earrings or how they had come into possession of them.
Finally the police allowed them to leave, and Miley and the others made their way back to their hotel. Jackson stayed close by his sister, doing his best to comfort her.
"We're gonna get her back, Miles, I promise," he told her gently. Miley nodded numbly.
"We have to," she whispered, her voice tight. "We just have to." She sniffled. For a brief moment, Jackson thought of asking his sister about the sudden, growing attachment to Lilly. In the end though, he decided she was upset enough, and now was not the time to press the issue.
"So what do we do now?" Oliver asked hopelessly. Lilly was his best friend too, and though he wasn't quite as devastated as Miley seemed to be, he was still upset.
"We find where they took Lilly, and we get her back," Miley replied simply.
"We?" Oliver repeated. "Alone?"
"We need to tell dad," Jackson added. "He's been off taking care of things for your concert Miles, he doesn't have a clue what's going on." To this surprise, Miley shook her head.
"No," she said, a slight edge to her voice. "You know dad, he'll want to get the police involved, and we can't do that."
"Why not?" Jackson asked, puzzled.
"What do you think those people will do to Lilly if they see the police coming for them?" Miley responded, fighting to keep the panic out of her voice. "We can't let that happen!"
"Miles… I know you want to get Lilly back. We all do – but what else can we do? We don't even know where they took her!"
"No," Miley responded thoughtfully, "but I know someone who might…"
Vicky sighed as she slammed the book before her shut. For two weeks she had studied and researched but nothing had come from her tedious work. She had an oral the next day on Spanish and she had been working on her family tree for over two months. This was beyond enough!
Finally deciding to call it a night, she switched on her cell phone and left the study, locking the door behind her. She ascended the metal staircase to the attic above where she slept. A slanting ceiling lay above her head and four beds were placed in random intervals. She flopped down on her own bed and was about to start reading up on Shakespeare's Macbeth for her exam next week when…
Hey, answer your phone!
She sighed and rubbed her temples. Curse the day her friends gave her that ring tone. She grabbed the phone and flipped it open. "Hello?" she asked sleepily, laying back on the pillow.
"Vic! I've been trying to reach you for hours!"
"Sorry, Miley. Working. What happened?" she asked, crossing her legs and standing straighter, sensing the urgency in her friend's voice.
"It's Lilly - she's been kidnapped! I think they really think she's a de Piro and now they've taken her somewhere. I don't know where though!"
"I'll be right over with my cousin and his boat. Meet us at the Grand Harbor." Vicky closed her phone and straightened out her clothes. After packing enough things in her bag and checking the time (ten-thirty), she grabbed her cell phone and called the first person on her list.
"Hey, James. I need a favor."
Miley huddled close to her brother as they waited in a secluded part of the harbor. Catamarans, yachts, tankers, and other large ships were everywhere the eye could see. Miley stared at the sea. It was completely black, a dark oily black. And still no sign of their ride. She looked at Oliver as he jumped from foot to foot, keeping himself warm and trying to exert his energy and anger.
"Hey guys!" She looked to the right as yacht came forward. It was about twenty feet long, white, and had a boy of about Jackson's age at the wheel. He was steering it towards them slowly and smiled at them. He had black hair, greenish eyes and wore very loose clothing. The only thing in common with his cousin was the same look in the eyes and the same smile.
"Hope on! WhiteStar loves new passengers!"
Miley took his outstretched hand and she fell into the boat, caught by Vicky. "We're going to Sliema. It'll take us about ten minutes if James steps on it. Then we're gonna meet my brother there and he's gonna take us up to Mdina. He works close to Sliema so it won't be long waiting."
After everyone was on the boat, James backed out of the port and drove to the right, towards the large commercial city.
"Why Mdina?" Jackson asked, rubbing his hands together.
"Because I saw some pretty sinister things going around there yesterday when I went up with a couple of friends; it isn't usually so. They must be there. But we're keeping an eye on the seas too," James calmly responded.
"He can be smart when he wants to be." Vicky smiled at her joke and looked at her friend. She was shivering and huddled in a coat a bit too large for her. Probably Jackson's. Vicky sighed and slung her arm around her. "Don't worry. It'll be fine."
"Please! Don't do anything to my friends!" Lilly screamed at them as they tied her up on the chair. She stared up at the ceiling. Completely…trapped. So this is what prison feels like…
She saw a bright flash of light on her right and glared at the camera. "It works fine." The man put it away and she stared up at his boss. He seemed to be the most sinister.
"We may have to switch bases. With their Maltese accomplices it won't take very long for them to find us," the woman with them urged the man before her, stroking his hand. "I believe Gozo would be a nice place to keep her too."
Maximilian looked down at her and leant near Lilly, not once taking his eyes off her. "Yes. I agree. If things get to loud, we will move her."
He stroked her cheek. "But be warned. If you make to much noise, I will personally meet your friends and show them what real pain is like."
Lilly made to bit his hand, glaring at him. "You. Won't. Dare."
"If you act like you just did, I will." She grimaced and pursed her lips together.
"Good. Keep it that way."
"Welcome to Sliema. We would give you a more beautiful introduction next time, once your friend is safe and sound and we're not worrying about our upcoming exams." James gave them their bags and revved up the boat. "Call me if you need me. I'll be keeping an eye on the seas." And with that, he left.
Vicky grabbed Miley's hand and dragged her forward. "There. Over at the parking lot. White second-hand Fiat Panda. My brother's car."
Miley looked at the man near it. Tall; black hair; black suit and white tie. She had seen him before. "Hey, that's the guy we saw on our first day! The one with the nurse!" Jackson beat her to it.
"Oh, so you've met. Yeah, he's my older brother." They ran forward and Robert opened the cars. "Hop in kids. Mdina awaits!"
"That's enough." Maximilian was surprised at himself. He had just stopped his henchmen from beating his victim. That was usually not expected of him. What could he call it? Pity? He looked at the girl. She had refused to co-operate, claiming she knew nothing about what they asked her. She was coughing up droplets of blood by now. He had treated her to his usual treatment. If she didn't answer with what they wanted to hear, she'd be beaten.
"Take the photo and leave her. We'll sleep close to the emergency exit tonight. Just in case her friends come looking for her tonight, of course."
"That's weird."
"What?"
"The cathedral's open." Oliver looked at the square block of light coming from the large building nearby.
"So?" he asked, staring at the imposing building again.
"It closes at around six to the public." Vicky looked around. They were alone, completely alone. "Come on. They should be more careful next time and make sure we aren't following them." They all four ran to the Cathedral. Jackson looked through the door and waved to the others. "Coast clear. In you come."
The others went in and looked around at the dimly lit church. It was very similar to St John's Co-Cathedral. Large, Baroque, filled with tombstones on the floor. The only difference was the dedication: St. Paul.
"OK. Now what?"