The Cost of Kindness
Part 1
Police cars surrounded the Remington Mansion when Vasquez and Remy got back inside of the helicopter.
"Vasquez, why are there police cars surrounding the mansion?" Remy wanted to know.
"Don't know." Vasquez replied. He parked the helicopter in their helicopter hanger. He helped Remy get out onto the floor. The two then went outside. Vasquez shut the hanger. An officer came up to the two.
"Are you Vasquez?" He wanted to know.
"Yes." Vasquez replied. "I am." The cop took out a pair of handcuffs.
"You are under arrest." Both Vasquez and Remy were confused.
"What?!" Remy wanted to know. "But I'm only ten and didn't do anything!" The officer looked at him.
"Not you." He looked at Vasquez. "Him."
"Why are you arresting my bodyguard? What did he do?" Vasquez looked at Remy.
"Go find your parents, Remy." The bodyguard told him. "I got this." He looked at the officer. "What are you arresting me for? What did I do?" Remy then saw his parents and ran up to them.
"Mom, Dad? What's happening? Why is Vasquez being arrested?"
"Son," Russell began. "I'm afraid Vasquez isn't the man who we thought he was." The child was puzzled by this.
"What do you mean?"
"Never mind that, son." Rashida told him. "The point is you better say goodbye to your bodyguard. He will never be your bodyguard or anybody else's bodyguard ever again." Remy couldn't believe it.
"What?! No! There must be a mistake!" He looked at Officer Keys. "Officer Keys, please! Whatever he did; he's innocent! I knew him for ten years and he would never, ever commit a crime."
"Remy!" Rashida scolded him. She looked at him. "Sorry about my son."
"It's okay." Officer Keys responded. "He's just in shock." He looked at Remy. "Sorry, kid. I like to believe in you; I really do." He looked at the parents. "Sorry about your mansion, Mr. And Mrs. Remington." This confused Remy even more.
"We appreciate that very much." Russell responded.
"We will figure out a way out of this eventually I'm sure." Rashida put in.
"What about the mansion?" Remy wanted to know. Officer Keys looked at him again.
"Your parents will explain." He looked at his fellow officers. "Alright, guys! Let's move out!" He and the others went to the car. The officer who cuffed Vasquez led him away. Remy was about to run after them when his parents held him back.
"Wait, noooooo!"
"Remy, calm down!" His father told him.
"No!" He looked at his parents as he was now set free. "What are you two hiding from me?" His parents looked at each other. "Mom? Dad? Please, tell me! I'm a big boy! I can handle it. " Russell sighed and went to his son.
"Remy, I'm afraid to tell you this, but Vasquez is a criminal and needs to be arrested for his crimes." Remy was shocked.
"What?! No! I don't believe you! Vasquez would never do anything illegally." His mom was about to add something when Remy ran off. "VASQUEZ!"
"Remy!" Both of his parents ran to him as Remy was now running after the moving car that Vasquez was in.
"VASQUEZ!" Vasquez looked back at him from the window and frowned. Remy ran a few more steps and then stopped when he realized it was hopeless to catch up. He just watched the car disappear into the distance. He sniffed away tears. His parents were at his side now.
"Oh, Remy!" Rashida said, feeling sorry for her son. "Come to Mommy, baby." This whole ordeal proved all too much for the child as he ran to her and embraced her as he burst into tears. His mother comforted him.
"I don't get what's happening, Mom!" Remy sobbed. "Why is Vasquez being arrested? He's been nothing but good to me."
"I know, baby." Rashida told her scared and confused son. "He's been good for all of us and a good bodyguard for you. It'll be okay. We will get through this."
"Vasquez was the best bodyguard ever!" Remy added with a sad sniff.
"He sure was, son." Russell stated. "But sometimes what people may seem to us, they are completely different to others. To others, they are like a completely different person." Remy sniffed.
"But we can visit him, right?" Russell and Rashida looked at each other with a frown. "Mom? Dad? We can visit him, right…right?"
"We can't sugarcoat this to you, Remy. We can never live in the mansion again." Remy was shocked as he withdrew.
"What!? Why?"
"Because we lost all of our money."
"How?"
"Ask your mother. It's her fault." Rashida got mad.
"My fault?!" Russell looked at her, also mad.
"Yeah, it's your fault. You are the one that got scammed."
"How was I supposed to know that it was a scam?"
"Because it sounded too good to be true. They asked about your personal information like the name of your bank, among other things." Remy began to get anxious. He didn't like seeing anybody fight, especially his parents.
"Well, they needed to know that info."
"For your money, Rashida!"
"Well, at least my credit card didn't get hacked."
"Right, because I was too smart to get caught into a scam."
"What does that supposed to mean?"
"You know very well what that means." Remy couldn't stand the bickering anymore.
"Stop fighting!" Remy blurted out. His parents stopped arguing and looked at him. "Please, you know how it stresses me out. I can't take it anymore!" Rashida looked at her husband.
"Our son's right, Russell." She told him. "Can we please not do this in front of him?" Russell shook his head.
"No, he needs to know this." He bent down to his young son. "Remy, there are disrespectful jerks out there who are going to take advantage of you. Whatever you do, do not get scammed."
"And don't allow anybody to hack into your account." His mom put in.
"Well, if a kid bully can hack into your Goober account," Remy began. "I think anybody can. Sorry, Mom."
"Well, be careful."
"Uh, right. " He changed the subject. "So, where will we live?"
"For the time being, on the streets." Russell explained.
"So, we're homeless beggars now?" His dad nodded. "Gosh! This is really happening isn't it?"
"I'm afraid so."
"And this isn't a bad dream?"
"We wish we were all dreaming." Rashida put in. "But we're not. This feels unreal, but it's the sad truth. This is our reality now."
"But I don't want to be a sewer rat!" His parents were confused.
"Son, what are you talking about?" His father questioned.
"Oh, Cricket told me that some homeless people live in the sewers."
"Oh, well, we are not going to live in the sewers."
"Oh, good." He then noticed boxes all around the entrance to the mansion. "Is what's happening to us the reason why there's boxes everywhere?" His mom nodded. The child was about to say something more when his phone went off. He took it out, looked at it and brightened. "It's Vasquez!"
"Son," Russell began. "I don't want you to…" Too late, he answered.
"Hello, Vasquez!" Russell was about to take the phone from his young son when his wife held him back.
"Compose yourself, Russell." Rashida told her husband. "Let Remy talk to him."
"I'm sorry I'm putting you and your folks through all of this, Remy." Vasquez told Remy on the other end. "But you have to believe me; someone's framing me. I never committed any crimes. I would never do that."
"I believe you, Vasquez." Remy told him. Vasquez smiled.
"Thank you, Remy. I knew you would believe my word."
"Of course. Now go and clear this all up, and then you can come back and you can be my bodyguard again." Vasquez frowned.
"I'm afraid it's not that easy, Mas…I mean, Remy." Remy frowned.
"Why ever not?"
"People aren't as forgiving as you are."
"Well, can't you at least try to talk to them?"
"I'll see what I can do, but I can't promise anything." Remy smiled.
"Thanks, Vasquez. That's all I want from you."
"Can I talk with your dad? I want to apologize. I wanted to call him, but was afraid that he wouldn't pick up."
"Sure." He looked at his father and offered him his phone. "Dad? Vasquez wants to talk to you." Russell took the phone from him.
"Remy." He told him. "Go to the boxes to see the things you want and things you want to donate." Remy looked at his father, shocked.
"What!?"
"Don't argue, son. You heard me." So Remy didn't argue. "Then come back, and plug your ears. I have some choice words I want to say to Vasquez that aren't acceptable for kids to hear."
"Oh, Dad, please don't fight with him. It's not his fault. He's innocent. He said that he was framed." Russell narrowed his eyes at his son.
"Remy!" Remy sighed.
"Fine; he'll tell you." Remy went to the boxes.
"You got some nerve calling, Vasquez!" Russell said into the phone. "And the audacity to call my son!"
"Sorry, sir." Vasquez apologized. "I just needed to talk to him and to you guys."
"You honestly think that I want to talk to you after what you did? Don't you know the pain we are going through, especially Remy who is scared and confused about the whole thing?!"
"Many apologies, sir. I never wanted to hurt anyone, especially Remy. If you just let me explain."
"I think it's too late for that, Vasquez."
"But…" But Russell didn't want to hear anymore.
"Remy, here's your phone back." Russell said when done. He offered the phone back to him. "You may unplug your ears." But Remy didn't hear. He was plugging his ears. "Remy! Son!" Rashida nudged her son. He looked up at her and unplugged his ears. "Oh, sorry." He took back his phone and put it in his pocket. On the ground was his pet python, Snakey in his tank in a box and a green cardinal plush in the same box. He had put his Dirt Jar next to the stuffed bird. "So, how was the talk?"
"Just start walking, son." He and his wife picked up their boxes,
"Walk where? I can call for a Goober and we can…" He frowned when he saw his dad's expression. "Oh, right. No money." He picked up the box, struggling a little with the weight, and began walking with his parents. "But we can't walk forever."
"We won't. We'll just walk for however long we can." Remy sighed. He couldn't believe this was really happening right now. He wished he was back with Cricket and the Greens, away from this mess. He wished this never happened in the first place. "And I don't think you should keep your snake, son." Remy couldn't believe it.
"What!? But Snakey's my pet. I love him! Cricket gave me him. There's no way I'm giving him up."
"But his food and vet visits cost money. I'm sure he'll go to a good home." Remy got mad.
"No! I don't care that he costs money to own! He's staying with me! You just don't separate a boy from his beloved pet snake; you just don't! Pancake stays with me too."
"Who's Pancake?" His mother wanted to know.
"He's my stuffed cardinal, Mom, remember? Vasquez gave him to me when I turned three. He and Snakey are both special to me because they are both gifts from people I care about." Russell sighed.
"Son," He began, mad. "I don't like this any more than you do. I am your father. When I tell you something, I expect you to…" Remy's phone rang.
"Hold that thought, Dad." He took out his phone. "It's Cricket." He answered it before his father could tell him something. "Hey, Cricket. What's up?"
"Remy!" Cricket said on the other line. "You will never believe this!"
"What is it?"
"We're on our way back."
"To the Country?"
"No, to Big City!" Remy was shocked.
"What? But, Cricket, you were going back to Smalton because that is where you live now. Don't tell me that you're going to kidnap me and your Gramma again. I thought your family learned your lesson about that."
"We realized that we all missed living in Big City, so we're going to live in Big City and Smalton! Tilly and I are now going to be city kids and country kids! Isn't that awesome? Now we can hang out alot more!" Remy was relieved to hear this.
"Oh, thank goodness! I needed to hear some good news right now." Cricket grew concerned.
"What's that supposed to mean? You good over there, Remy?"
"Well, to be honest with you, Cricket, no. You and your family should have kept me hostage. Everything is going wrong it seems like."
"What is it, Remy? What's wrong? Why do you want to be a hostage?" Remy sighed. "Come on, Remy. We're friends. You can tell me anything." Remy told him everything. Russell tried to take his phone away from him when, once again, his wife held him back "Oh, man!" Cricket said when Remy was done. "That's really awful."
"I know and the worst thing is that my parents are blaming each other for us being homeless now. I hope they don't get a divorce. That'll be the worst, uh, no offense."
"No offense taken. I love my parents, but sometimes Tilly and I wish they were together like they used to. A kid just wants his parents to get along. If they do that, a divorce is no problem. See what I'm saying?"
"Wow I do! That's a good way to look at it."
"Exactly! Things change, Remy, whether you like it or not. You just have to live with it, the good and the bad."
"You're so right, Cricket." He changed the subject.
"I wish I could help you with your situation, buddy."
"I do too."
"Remy!" Russell shouted.
"Gotta go. My dad wants to talk to me."
"Good luck for your future, I guess. You'll get out of this and be happy again. I just know it."
"Hope so and thanks." He hung up and put it back in his pocket.
"First off," Russell began. "Your mother and I aren't going to get a divorce."
"Not yet, anyways!" An annoyed Rashida put in.
"Secondly, why would you tell Cricket of our situation, son?"
"Why not?" Remy questioned. "He's my best friend. He deserves to know."
"Just because he's your friend does not mean you need to tell him about your personal life. Now, he's going to tell his family and they will feel sorry for us."
"I don't get what the big deal is, Dad. He should feel sorry for us. They all should. This is a bad situation."
"Remy," His mom began. "I know Cricket is your best friend, but there are some things that you don't tell him." Remy looked at her.
"What are you saying, Mom? I'm not going to keep secrets from him." Rashida sighed.
"You're right. He deserves to know. After all, he would find out about this sooner or later."
"Exactly!"
"It's just that it's too bad that he and his family dropped you off during this time. It's bad timing now that they moved back to the Country."
"Oh, they're moving back." Both Russell and Rashida were shocked.
"What?!"
Cricket did a sad sigh when he hung up his phone. Bill looked at him in the rearview mirror and grew worried.
"Everything okay with Remy, son?" He wanted to know.
"Not at all, Dad." Cricket replied. "He said we should have kept him hostage, and I don't blame him."
"He wants us to keep holding him against his will?" Tilly wanted to know. "Why?"
"They lost Vasquez and they're all now homeless." His father and Tilly were shocked. Bill parked the truck on the side of the road so he could hear. He stopped the engine and looked back at his son.
"Okay, Cricket." He said. "Tell us everything that Remy told you. Vasquez is dead?"
"No, Dad! Why does everyone jump to that conclusion? I mean, I guess I get it, but still!" He told them everything.
When he was done explaining everything, both Bill and Tilly couldn't believe it.
"I can't believe it." Bill stated. "Poor Remy. Poor Remingtons. Poor Vasquez."
"Why must the world be so cruel to such nice people?" Tilly asked herself. "Why? It's so heartbreaking and such a shame."
"I suppose there isn't a way we can help, right, Dad?" Cricket asked. Bill looked determined.
"Actually, there is." Both children were confused as Bill took out his phone.
"Dad?"
"What are you doing, Papa?" Tilly questioned. Bill dialed Russell's number.
"I'm going to call Mr. Remington to see if they want to move in temporarily until they get back on their feet." Cricket couldn't believe this and cheered.
"Really?!" Cricket asked. "You're the best, Dad!"
"Shouldn't we ask Gramma first if it's ok with her?" Tilly asked. "I mean, it is her house after all."
"Shhh, kids, I'm talking." Bill said on the phone. "I'll call Gramma after I finish with Mr. Remington."
"Yeah, Tilly." Cricket told his sister. "Hush!"
"You hush too, Cricket." Bill said.
"Oh, right. Sorry, Dad. You won't hear a peep from me." He then pretended to zip his lips shut and threw away the imaginary keys.
"Russell," Bill said when he picked up. "I heard from Cricket. I'm so sorry. Is there anything that we can do?" Russell sighed.
"That is what I was afraid of." He said.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Well, do you guys want to live with us until you get back on your feet? We already have Gloria living with us, but we can have a few more."
"No, that's okay. I don't want to impose."
"Our sons are friends, Russell. Therefore, we are friends. You're not imposing at all. I just want to be helpful. That's the beauty of kindness. It doesn't cost a thing. Remy and Cricket will like it."
"I'm sure they will." He saw that his wife wanted his attention.
"Hold on, Bill. Rashida wants me." Russell covered the phone to look at her. "What?"
"Who are you talking to?
"Bill Green. He knows of our situation and is inviting all of us to stay with him and his family until we get things settled." Rashida smiled.
"How nice and thoughtful of him. If Bill is inviting us. I think we should go."
"No, Rashida. I don't want to impose on them. They already have Gloria living with them. We'll be too much."
"Well, if we all can't, at least let Remy go and only him."
"What!? But we just got him back. We stay and suffer through this together as a family."
"He's just a kid, Russell. He shouldn't be exposed to all of this."
"You may be right, Rashida, but he needs to learn eventually that the world isn't like a fairytale with sparkles and rainbows. He needs to know. It's better that he knows early on in life rather than later when he's an adult and it hits him like an upcoming train."
"That may be true, but he's still young. He has plenty of time to learn as he grows up. Can't he live with them while we deal with this?" Russell thought about this. "Please?"
"Dad?" Remy wanted to know. "What's going on? Are you talking to Mr. Green? Why?" Rashida looked at him.
"Not now, baby." She told him. "I've been married to your father for years. He's thinking."
"Oh, ok." Russell looked at his wife.
"Ok." He told his wife. "He can go on his own." Rashida smiled.
"Ok, what?" Remy asked. "What are you talking about, Dad? Are you talking about me? I feel like you are." Russell put his phone back next to his ear. Remy sighed in defeat. "Aw, man! I hate being in the dark."
"Ok, Bill. You got it, but only Remy stays."
"But what about you and your wife?" Bill wanted to know.
"Thanks for the offer, but no thanks. Rashida and I can manage things on our own."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. We need to think what's best for Remy."
"Ok, I feel bad for you guys, but I understand. I can't force you. If you ever change your mind and want to move in with your son, let me know. I'll order a ride for Remy. Just tell me where you are."
"We will. We will stay near our mansion, at the front gates. Thanks and thanks for doing this. We really appreciate it. We'll repay you someday for this."
"You're welcome. Anytime. And don't worry about the money. I'll pay for everything. You don't have to pay me back at all. I'm just doing my best and helping those in need." Bill hung up, and ordered a ride for Remy. After he was done with that, he called his mother's house. Gloria answered. "Hey, Gloria."
"Bill?" Gloria questioned. "What are you calling for? You guys just left a couple of hours ago. Do you need me to get your mother for you?"
"No, no, don't bother. Just say that Remy's coming over." Gloria was confused.
"What?! Why?"
"Well, he's going to live with us for a while." Gloria was now more confused.
"What?! Why?" So Bill told her. "Oh, man; that's awful. Poor Remingtons. But it's nice that you offered to let them stay, even if it is just Remy. You are a nice person, Bill Green. So thoughtful, just letting people stay at your house until they get their life back together."
"I knew you would understand, Gloria."
"I do, but I feel like your mom should know. I can go get her."
"No, no. Ma might complain at first, but I'm sure she'll be more willing if you just explain."
"I don't think that's how it works, but, whatever. I'll tell her."
"Thanks again, Gloria."
Russell hung up his phone and put it away in his pocket when he was done talking to Bill. He smiled at his son.
"Good news, Remy. You're going to live at the Greens' temporarily. Cricket's dad was kind enough to get a Syft ride for you, so you can keep your snake." Remy was excited about this.
"Really?!" He questioned. "That's awesome! First Gloria and now…" He then realized something. "Wait, what about you and Mom? Aren't you guys coming?" Russell shook his head.
"Nope. Just you, son. Mr. Green invited us, but I declined."
"Why?"
"There will be too many people living there if we come too. Your mom and I will be fine on our own."
"Nonsense! I won't live there if you guys aren't there. I refuse! If you guys want to live on the streets, then I will too!"
"Remy. We don't want that from you." Rashida told him. "We want you to live with the Greens'. The streets aren't always kind to the homeless. We don't want that life for you. Won't you please live with the Greens'? This won't be forever. Once we get a place to live again, we'll come back for you. That's a promise."
"But I want to live with you guys. I just got you guys back, and now I have to leave you guys again? I love the Greens, but this isn't fair."
"We know you want to be with us. We do too, but this isn't the time. Please! Your father and I just want the best for you."
"But I'll be in a house and you guys on the street. That's not fair. You know I'll worry about you. It'll stress me out. Stress is not good for my mental health. I'm only a kid!"
"But it'll stress you out more if you are living on the streets like us." Russell stated. "This might not make sense to you now, but one day, you'll thank us."
"But…but…"
"No, buts, son. Look, life isn't fair at times. You just have to deal with it. We just wait now for your ride and walk back to the mansion gates. You have us until then, so say what you need to say to us in the meantime." Remy sighed.
"Ok." They walked back to the mansion.
Minutes later, Russell got a call from Bill again. Bill explained what the car looked like and the driver's name and what he looked like.
As soon as Russell got off the phone, a car then came up to the side of the road and stopped.
"This is for you." He told his son. "Goodbye, son. We love you."
"What about the money?" Remy wanted to know.
"Oh, don't worry about that. Mr. Green took care of it." Remy wanted to add some more, but just ran up to hug his parents. They hugged him back. The driver stepped out.
"I'm here for Remy Remington!" He announced.
"It's time to be brave, son." Russell said.
"I'll try, Dad." A teary-eyed Remy responded with a sad sniff,
"We know you will." Rashida stated. "You went to live in the Country for a while. Ever since you met Cricket and his family, you changed and came out of your shell. We don't like that you now rebel against us, but we can't always get what we want I guess. We just have to live with it. You're not that timid, shy boy that you once were. You can do this!"
"I'll make you proud, Mom. You too, Dad. I'll be a big boy about this, promise. Are you guys sure you won't come with me?"
"We're sure." Russell told him. Remy nodded and hugged them again, crying. His parents continued to hug him back. The driver was getting impatient.
"This is very touching," He began. "But can we go now? I have more passengers to pick up after I drop him off." When the hug was over, Remy walked to the car.
"Buckled?" The driver asked once they were in the car. Remy was in the back of the car with his seatbelt on. The driver also had his seatbelt on.
"Buckled." The boy answered in a melancholy tone. The car took off. Remy wanted to look out the window to see his parents one more time, but he was too short to see from his seat. He looked at Snakey and Pancake.
"Good thing I can keep you, guys." He said. Tears welled up in his eyes again and he wept softly. The driver felt sorry for him.
"And keep that pet snake off of the floor. I normally won't allow pets on rides. but you seem sad, so I'll allow it this time."
"I will." Remy answered sadly. "Thanks."
"And what are you crying about, kid?"
"Don't want to talk about it."
"Ok, but just know this, things do get better. Believe me."
"Whatever."
Alice was watching TV when Gloria came up to her after getting off of the phone with Bill.
"That was Bill." Gloria informed her. "He said…"
"Shhh!" Alice shushed her. "Not now. I'm trying to watch this." Gloria sighed.
"Why do I even bother?" She asked herself. The suitcase on the TV revealed $200. The audience on the TV booed.
"Should have not picked that suitcase." Alice told herself. "I knew it." Gloria grabbed the remote and muted it. "Hey! You couldn't wait to mute it until it's a commercial break?"
"Sorry. But you need to hear this."
"Okay, but make it quick."
"Your son called and said that Remy is going to come here to live here for a while."
"Live here? Being in the Country with Cricket wasn't good enough for him? First you and now him? Why? My son needs to know this isn't a hotel. Tell him no!"
"Alice, I didn't like this at first either, but then Bill told me the reason."
"Which is?"
"Remy and his family are homeless now." Alice looked at her like she was crazy.
"What are you talking about? He's rich. He lives in a mansion and he even has his own personal bodyguard. It's a surprise he didn't turn out to be snobby and arrogant." Gloria told her everything that Bill told her. Alice's jaw dropped. "Well, my son has a heart then if he took you in and now Remy. He made his mother proud. But what about the kid's parents?"
"He invited them, but they said just Remy will be enough."
"So, they rather live out in the streets? Wow! What dumb people if they prefer living out on the streets then their son's best friend's house. It'll be less noisy then, so at least there's that."
"Well, anyways, Remy will be here soon. I'm going to go outside soon to meet him, Just wanted to let you know."
"Okay, whatever. I have to have a word with him in inviting him over without my permission then. I mean, it's nice what he did for you, and now that Remy kid. But this is still my house. He needs to know that."
"You do that, Alice." She left the room. A commercial then came onto the TV. Alice groaned in frustration.
"Unbelievable! Now, it cuts to commercial? Where were they a few minutes ago?"
"Kids." Bill said to them once he was done talking to Gloria on the phone. He was driving near a gas station. "Before we go home, we have to stop here to get gas." Cricket snickered.
"Gas." He said.
"For the Kludge!" Bill stated, irritated. Cricket changed the subject.
"But what about Remy? He'll be bored at the house without me."
"We won't be here long. Plus, Gloria and your Gramma's there to keep him entertained."
"But they're adults! They will literally have nothing in common. Remy freaked out at first when he found out Hector was a teenager."
"He'll be fine, Cricket. They will take good care of him. Plus, he has his game system and phone. You kids have it better than me when I was a kid." Cricket sighed.
"Fine, but if he dies of boredom, it'll be your fault." Cricket then had an idea. "Hey, so you think Remy might want a snack?"
"Sure. I think that'll be nice. You and Tilly can have one too, but just one each!"
"Thanks, Dad!"
"Yeah, thanks, Papa!" The kids got out of the car and raced into the gas station while Bill attended to the Kludge.
Tilly and Cricket were looking at the chip display by the bathroom.
"So, what kind of chips do you think Remy will like?" Cricket asked his sister. Tilly shrugged.
"Don't know." She told him. Cricket took out his phone.
"Maybe I'll just call him then and ask."
"Good idea."
"I can't believe that lady, Rashida, was dumb enough to get scammed." The kids overheard someone on the phone. They both froze.
Must be a different Rashida. Cricket thought. There's no way that they're talking about my friend's mom. But then they heard more. "Of course we got the money. We got lots of money. Thanks for telling us about this wealthy family. Who knew that there was a Rashida Remington who lives in a mansion and owns a limousine and a helicopter right here in Big City." The Green children looked at each other. Cricket laughed nervously.
"I'm sure he's talking about a different wealthy Rashida Remington with a helicopter and a limousine living in Big City?" Cricket said to his sister. "That's possible, isn't it?"
"Maybe." Tilly said to her brother. "But not likely. I have my doubts. This can't be a coincidence." Cricket thought about this.
"Hmmmm, you might be right about that, Tilly. Let's go closer and just make sure."
"Cricket, no! It might be too danger…" Too late, Cricket ran closer. Tilly sighed.
"Okay, bye!" The purple-skinned caller with dark purple hair resumed. "Good luck with the bodyguard!" Cricket saw the man hang up. He gasped.
He's talking about Vasquez! He thought in his head. Oh my gosh; he is talking about the Remingtons…I'm pretty sure.
"It's just too bad about their young son and husband." The light-green skinned woman with red hair told the man. They both wore black. "I bet they are really mad at her for this."
"I bet they are too, Bella." The man agreed. "But we don't need to worry because we're not them. They had loads of cash! I'm just surprised that this didn't happen to them before."
"I love the way you talk, Bash!"
"And I love that you love the way I talk." Bash said. He and Bella then kissed each other on the lips.
Yuck! Cricket thought, sticking out his tongue in disgust. Why can't they do that in private? Don't they know that children might be spying on them?
"Well, what do you want to do?" Bash asked.
"Want to rob another bank?" Bella asked.
"You know it! You know me so well." They began to walk away.
I can't let them get away! Cricket ran out in front of the thieves.
Cricket, no! Tilly thought in a panic.
"You two have just been busted from a kid from the country!" Cricket said, pointing a finger at the two. "I heard all that you said just now. So, I'm going to get help and pretty soon you two will get arrested!" He was about to call for help when Bash ran up, picked him up and placed his hand over the kid's mouth. Cricket screamed, but his screams were muffled. The two villains laughed.
"Foolish child!" Bash said. "You should have not confronted us and just gone to help. Now, it's too late and now we have to kidnap you." Tilly gasped.
I have to get Papa! Tilly then ran off as fast as she could.
"We really hate to do this to a sweet and innocent little boy." Bella stated. "But you leave us with no choice." She followed Bash as they carried a struggling Cricket.
Officer Keys led Vasquez to his cell.
"Here you are." Keys said. He opened the cell. "Enjoy your cold, dingy cell!" When Vasquez was in, Officer Keys locked it and left with the keys, whistling. Vasquez sighed sadly, wondering why he was put in here and if he'll ever see Remy and Remy's parents ever again.
"Hello there, Tiger Fang." Vasquez heard an all too familiar voice. He looked and gasped. It was his arch nemesis, Viper Fang!