Rocky found out why Skipper was in a downcast mood over Thanksgiving and told the other three boys. They showered Skipper in reassurances that he was a great leader and they cared about him. Skipper was grateful, but told them to tone it down after so many messages.
In early December, Kowalski finally got an answer about the crash that killed his mother, surprisingly from Alex. The former 'Dance King' of the school had messaged him, then called. The boys were all in Kowalski and Rico's room.
The twenty year old didn't have vivid memories of that day, having been around seven years old and asleep for the most part, but he remembered his dad being scared and swearing, telling his son to close his eyes.
Alex had completely forgotten any questions about it by the time he was a teenager and his parents were too traumatized to talk about it. His father was extremely surprised when asked about it, but understood when he heard the reason why.
Alex and his parents, Zuba and Florrie, had been on their way to visit a family member when they came to a stoplight. They were at the back when they heard loud honking and the truck up front suddenly swerved. The other car had scraped by and bumped into several others. Everyone waiting was frozen in shock. Then people started getting out of their cars and yelling for help and to call the police.
Zuba got out of the car to see what was happening, then came back and told his wife to make sure Alex kept his eyes closed. Alex was curious as to what the noises were and what was going on, but his mother had convinced him to play a game where they had to close their eyes. The seven year old was convinced he was 'winning' and eventually fell asleep.
Sitting in the driver's seat, not wanting to leave her child, she fearfully looked at the crowd. She had the windows up so Alex wouldn't be disturbed, but she could see the terror and anguish on people's faces.
It took hours for the scene to be deemed safe to drive around, by that time, Zuba had returned, shaken and covered in blood. Their statements were recorded for the police and they shakily returned home.
Alex had woken up and questioned why his dad was red. Zuba said it was paint and someone had spilled red paint on the sidewalk. Alex's brain told him this made sense and that the paint had been in the truck.
Zuba and Florrie meant to tell their son the truth one day, but he never seemed to be traumatized by it and it wasn't like they were hiding anything from him, so it kind of just faded as a future conversation topic.
Zuba didn't remember learning anyone's name, but the faces of the ones who took the brunt of the truck were etched in his brain. Alex gave Kowalski his parents' number so he could ask since Zuba didn't want to scar his son.
Zuba asked if Kowalski was sure he wanted details. Staring at the picture of his mother, he said yes. Not letting anyone else hear it, Kowalski shakily listened for every morbid detail. His team waited with bated breath.
"T-thank you..." Kowalski couldn't keep it in, he let the floodgates open before he hung up. Skipper picked up the phone.
"Hi, this is his friend, Skipper. I uh, don't need you to repeat details, but I'm certain he has proof that one of the victims was his mother."
"I feared so. I'm so sorry." Zuba said. "May I ask how old he was?"
"He was three or four. His brother was about one."
"Oh my god...were they orphaned?"
"No. They lived with their father for about twelve years. They didn't know much about her or how she died if that tells you anything about him."
"It tells me enough. Alex always told me that the kid was smart but pretty closed off. Then he told me what someone told him they saw at a swim meet."
"I wish that was the worst of it." Skipper sighed.
"You don't need to tell me more. I wish them both the best and I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help."
"It's okay, you've actually cracked the case wide open. I don't suppose you remember the erratic driver's face?"
"No, I was looking more at the crash. My wife doesn't remember his face either."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. If you have any more questions or need me to repeat anything, just give us a call."
"Will do. Thanks again, bye."
"Bye."
"Kowalski?" Skipper asked as he put the phone down.
Kowalski cried into Rico's chest. Rico had his arms wrapped tightly around his boyfriend. Private had taken Kowalski's glasses so they wouldn't be squished and was absentmindedly cleaning them with a tissue.
"Private, let's give them space." Skipper said.
Private nodded, placed the glasses on the side table, and left with the leader. They went to their own room.
A few hours later, Private was woken by the sound of Rico running to the bathroom. Skipper had still been awake, reading.
Kowalski stood in their doorway, his hair messy and his face puffy.
"I'm surprised he let me stay sleeping there that long without panicking." Kowalski said. "He really had to go. I just need space. I don't want to describe what he told me, just that he definitely did describe my mother. She didn't die on impact like one of the other victims. He said he could hear her breathing. Talia and Stella were closest to the blast and were knocked out by metal before anything. I have no idea how long my mom suffered before she died."
"She's not suffering anymore." Skipper said. "And neither are you and Kenny. Not in the same way."
"Again, just go on like normal and I'll keep you up to date." Kowalski let the rest be unsaid. Skipper and Private nodded. Kowalski returned to bed and explained to Rico what he told the rest of the team.
For the next week, everyone gave Kowalski space even though he wasn't telling anyone outside the team anything. Kenny was concerned as he could tell his friend and his brother were downcast. Kowalski told him it wasn't time yet.
Julien, not knowing exactly was happening, started asking Skipper to attend a party his family was hosting after Christmas. Maybe he felt like they needed a morale boost.
…
"Please!" Julien begged for the umpteenth time, blocking Skipper's access to the dining hall.
Skipper groaned. "Why should we?"
"Because you solve the problems like investing alligators."
"That's not what investigators are, but what problem requires the four of us to go to some snooty shindig?"
"Shin-wha?"
"How is your rich party our problem?"
Julien shuffled his feet and looked ashamed. "Um...I am trying to do right by everyone...including myself. It's not just for Josie, I swear!"
"O-Kay, what do you need us for? You literally have Clover." Skipper indicated the redhead who was currently patting down Mort who claimed it tickled.
"I am doing no tickling whatsoever." Clover said.
"Some of my dad's friends are...how shall I say this? Uh...very suspiciousy. He met them a little while ago and they're talking about projects and stuff-I don't know-I was bored and stopped listening...and more of you is better." Julien said.
"You really don't know what type of projects?" Skipper asked.
"A building, I think." Julien scrunched his face, thinking.
"I guess Kowalski can look that part up."
"So you'll do it?"
"I'll think about it."
"It's better than nothing!" Julien said happily. He moved so Skipper could go eat.
...
Later, Kowalski showed Skipper the research. Private and Rico put down their card game and paid attention.
"He's just a backer, really. Julien Makyhira Sr isn't someone to put his funds in something without knowing exactly what it's doing. He may have been lied to or swayed in their favor. Basically, this company that appeared out of Nowhere-Kansas that is- and all of the sudden has the ability to make citywide changes and improvements."
"Have they done anything before?" Skipper asked.
"No. That and the fact that Kansas has no idea they even existed until the rumors among the upper class started."
"Rumors? Why haven't I heard anything?"
Kowalski blushed slightly. "I may have play acted as Julien, the teenager, on message boards so I could gain information. His passwords are the easiest things to guess."
"There are message boards?"
"Just for the people closest to the projects. There are teens around his age who will say anything to him because they want to be friends with him. More accurately, schmoozing his father."
"Schmooze." Rico said. Then he laughed. "What's that?"
"It sounds odd." Private said.
"Slang, boys." Skipper said. "It means to try to butter someone up and get close to them. Obviously Julien's rich friends aren't actually his friends."
"Oh." Private looked sad. "Do you think he knows that?"
"No. He's completely unaware that the only real friend he had was Maurice." Kowalski replied. "Maybe Mort, but he barely consi-EINSTEIN'S UNDIES!"
The three boys jumped. Kowalski had shifted a paper and his eyes were glued to a blueprint.
"Geez, Kowalski, what is it?!"
"The schematics for whatever this building is...it'll tear a chunk of Central Park. That includes the zoo, apartments, and the high school."
Skipper took the paper as Rico and Private leaned in.
"A chunk? That's at least half!" The leader exclaimed.
"They can't do that! It's Central Park!" Private said.
"We're not letting them demolish our park." Skipper growled.
Rico grinned devilishly.
"We do this diplomatically." Kowalski said. "No beat ups, no blow ups. Sorry, Rico. We have to infiltrate this party and try to figure out what's going on. What if it's a bluff? This 'company' came out of nowhere, how do we know it has the funds to back it up?"
"They got it from scamming rich people." Skipper said.
"Yeah, but what do they contribute? The plan falls apart unless they have their own starter funds or something like that."
"Blowhole?" Rico asked.
"It's entirely possible." Kowalski responded.
"Why would they get rid of so much?" Private asked.
"To weed us out. With no high school, no apartments, and no house yet, we'd be forced to go to other local schools. Private and Rico, you may have to return home and everyone's dispersed. Skipper and I would be pretty far apart too considering we don't drive yet. Even if it's not about us, they do see us as at least a minor threat, maybe moderate since Rhonda's defeat. With one team out of the way, what's to stop them?"
"We're not going to let that happen." Skipper said. "Kowalski, are you alright for this new mission?"
"Yes. This will distract me and distractions can be good. I'll come to you when I'm ready to talk about it." He added at Skipper's open mouth.
"Alright then, I'll take that."
...
The four of them invited Julien to the apartments the next day. They showed him Kowalski's research.
"Did you know any of this?" Skipper asked.
"N-no. I thought it was going to be a restaurant or something...you know, a smallish piece of land or an old building. I didn't think they'd smash up the park." Julien shook his head. "My dad cares about the park...or he did..."
"He might still." Private said hopefully. "Maybe he didn't know the full story."
"Maybe..." Julien still looked crushed.
"We'll figure this out. How fancy is this thing?" Skipper asked.
"Formal wear. Suit and tie."
"Tie?" Rico complained.
"Don't worry, we can do this." Skipper said. "We'll follow all the rules, but you'll have to teach us."
"Okay then, get ready for training I barely listened to because I was too busy shaking my booty! Imma get my stuff real fast." Julien cheered. He dashed out of the room.
"I'm ever so slightly terrified." Kowalski said.
"Well, we had PARK B teach Julien fighting techniques, it's fair he teaches us something to help us. We're asking him for free access to a rich party. There'll be good food there."
Rico's expression brightened.
"Does that include desserts?" Private asked.
"Of course, my sweet toothed compadre."
"It would be nice to finally see how Julien grew up and why he broke out of a stifling lifestyle." Kowalski said.
"Attaboy, Kowalski. I knew you'd come around." Skipper said. "Admittedly, my dad used to run with that type of crowd once upon a time."
"Really?" The others asked.
"Yep. He and Julien Sr go back a ways. Not best pals, but certainly associates. I don't usually like spreading that around, not that my dad told me much about it to begin with. Definitely don't tell Julien." He said as a knock sounded.
Julien brought music, thinking he could try to do some sort of 'training montage'. Private said that only worked on television, much to Julien's disappointment. He bounced back and proceeded to teach them.
Julien and Skipper were the only ones who knew how to tie a tie. Kowalski asked if they could wear a bow tie, but Julien said it was specifically necktie wear, which he agreed with Rico that it sounded kinda dumb. Private couldn't do it for the life of him, so Skipper said he'd do his. Kowalski convinced Rico to wear his tie by offering to do it for him. Once Julien left, Rico took the practice tying to kiss Kowalski. This led to many errors and Skipper finally had to tell him to stop.
Skipper decided to let his dad know, since he and Julien Sr used to know each other. George was hesitant about the boys going on this mission and called his son.
"Son, are you sure you know what you're doing?" George asked.
"Of course. I know you don't like me around these people too much, but we think we can gather information. Julien, the kid, thinks there's some fishy people around and that we can help." Skipper replied.
"There might be dangerous people there."
"Anyone in particular I should keep a lookout for?"
George made a sound like he wanted to answer it. He inhaled sharply and cleared his throat.
"No, not really. Just be careful and remember I'm a phone or watch call away."
"Will do."
"Be safe, soldier."
"Yes sir. Love you, dad."
"Love you too, Skipper."
