Amanda Lester and the Black Shadow Terror Page 15

  Editta’s tone softened. “I always liked you, Ivy. Thank you.”

  Ivy called for the guard and Editta disappeared back into the facility.

  “Poor kid,” Ivy said as she and Dreidel got up to leave. “She’s had a hard time.”

  “I wouldn’t trust her,” said Dreidel.

  “She couldn’t lie. I had her in a primal state. Everything she said was true.”

  “Which means we’re no further ahead than we were,” said Dreidel. “No one seems to know how Hugh pulls these things off.”

  “No, but at least we’ve eliminated Editta as a source,” said Ivy. “And maybe set the stage for her to return.”

  Dreidel fell silent for a few moments. “You really thought Tightly was a god?”

  “Not literally, no,” said Ivy. “I did have a huge crush on him though.”

  “Bigger than on me?” said Dreidel in a tone she’d never heard before.

  Ivy reached out and stroked his face. “It isn’t the same thing.”

  “Fine,” he said. But she could tell he felt anything but.

  “How did you get her to talk?” said David when Ivy and Dreidel had returned from visiting Editta and delivered the disappointing news.

  “Just a little technique I’ve been developing,” said Ivy.

  “Show us,” said David. “Maybe we can all learn.”

  “All right,” she said. “Sit and face me.” David sat opposite her. “I got this idea from those red spiders we found last winter,” she said. “I thought if they could hypnotize people maybe I could too.”

  “Oh those,” said David. “They were yucky.”

  “I liked them,” Gordon Bramble, David’s best friend and sugar to his vinegar, piped up.

  “Blech,” said Amphora.

  “Now, David,” said Ivy. “Before we get started, I want to say that I’ve really come to like and admire you.”

  Dreidel sat up. His glance bounced from David to Ivy and back again.

  “Thanks,” David said, turning red.

  “I think you have a lot to offer,” she continued. “For example, this consultancy you and Gordon and Delara have started. That will make a real dent in crime. I’m sure of it.”

  Delara was peering at her skeptically.

  “Cool,” said Gordon. “That’s what we’re hoping.”

  David sat there stunned. “You do? Think that we’re going to make a dent in crime?”

  “Of course,” said Ivy. “Why wouldn’t I? You’re smart, inventive, and extremely brave.”

  Dreidel shifted in his chair.

  “Well I am a Wiffle, “David said cautiously.

  “And how,” said Ivy. Then her voice dropped low and became hypnotic. “Tell us something we don’t know about you. Not something embarrassing.”

  A dreamy look came over him. He seemed to have entered into a trance. “I can play the piano,” he said quietly.

  Gordon looked shocked. “Since when?”

  Ivy raised a finger to her lips. “Would you like to show us?”

  David got up and walked over to the upright in the corner of the room. He sat down and began to play a complicated piece by Liszt. The kids all stared. No one had had any inkling that David could play.

  When he’d finished Ivy said, “Thank you, David. Now I’m going to count to three, and when I’ve finished you will wake up refreshed and happy. You will remember what you just did and will feel peaceful and happy about it.”

  “Okay,” he said.

  “One, two, three,” Ivy said. As she reached the last numeral, David grinned and said, “I feel terrific.”

  “That was amazing,” said Gordon. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “It’s not a big deal,” David said. “I’m just lucky that playing the piano comes easily to me. “

  “You’re a genius,” said Delara, who ordinarily didn’t give compliments.

  “Yeah, mate,” said Gordon. “I’m really impressed. “

  “Thanks,” said David. He turned to Ivy. “You hypnotized me.”

  “I did,” she said.

  “And Hugh,” said Ramon. “You should have seen what she did to him.”

  The kids clamored round her.

  “What did you do?” said Simon.

  “She made him fall in love with her,” said Amphora, grinning. “I’ve never seen anything like it. He was positively gaga.”

  Dreidel looked as pale as a ghost. “You what?”

  “She was amazing,” said Amphora. “I’m sure if she’d had more time she could have made him do anything.”

  Dreidel stared at his girlfriend. “Pardon me,” he said, and left the room.

  Clive ran over to Simon and whispered in his ear. “Did you see that?”

  Simon glanced at Binnie. She was caught up in Ivy fever and looking in the other direction.

  “Yeah,” he said. “Your point being?”

  “There’s trouble in paradise,” Clive said.

  “I thought you were always telling me to forget about Ivy,” Simon said.

  “I was, but I think things are changing,” said Clive. “She said she likes both you and Dreidel. If she drops him that’s your opportunity.”

  “You do want Binnie,” said Simon. “You’re trying to break us up.”

  “No, mate,” said Clive. “I would never do that.”

  Simon peered at him. “You’re different somehow. What’s happened to you since Ramon got hold of you during the summer?”

  Clive looked away. “Nothing.”

  “No, something’s changed. You’re wobblier.”

  His gaze snapped back to Simon. “Wobblier?”

  “Less set in your ways. More pliable, open minded.”

  Clive folded his arms. Simon mirrored him. “I’m always open minded.”

  “No, you’re not. Or you weren’t.”

  “I’m the same as I’ve always been.”

  “I don’t think so. I think those brainwaves Ramon bombarded you with did something to you. I can’t predict how you’re going to react anymore.”

  Clive shook his head and let his arms drop to his sides. “Not so.”

  Simon unfolded his arms and moved closer. “Fine, then tell me this. Do you or don’t you like Binnie?”

  “You know I like her. I always have. She’s smart.”

  Simon gave him a disgusted look. “Not that kind of like. I mean romantically.”

  “Of course not,” said Clive. “How could I like two girls at once?”

  Simon started. “What did you say?”

  Clive clapped his hand over his mouth and looked around.

  “No one’s listening,” said Simon, his voice low. “Who is she?”

  Clive gulped. “No one.”

  “Spill it,” said Simon. “You know I won’t tell.”

  “I don’t like anyone,” said Clive, eyes darting to Owla, who was gathered around Ivy with the rest of the kids.

  “Oh. My. God,” said Simon. “You like Owla.”

  Clive’s gaze veered back and forth between Owla and his best friend. “Shh,” he said.

  “She’s great,” said Simon with a smile. “You should ask her out.”

  “She’s a nerd,” said Clive.

  “So are you,” said Simon.

  “She won’t be interested,” said Clive.

  “I’ll bet she will,” said Simon.

  “No,” said Clive.” I’m too short.”

  “She’s short,” said Simon.

  “I’m not gonna do it,” said Clive stubbornly. “But you should keep your eye on Ivy and Dreidel. I think it could happen for you.”

  Simon leaned back and beheld his friend. “I don’t know who you are anymore.”

  He was secretly dancing inside, but he had important work to do as well as a loving girlfriend, and he was not about to put himself in an awkward situation. Or at least that was what he told himself. He glanced over at Ivy and his heart leapt.

  “Shut up,” he told himself. “You’re over her, she
’s over you, and we have another crisis on our hands. Get busy.”

  He turned his attention back to his history machine and switched it on. When he saw what was on the screen he yelped.

  “What is it?” said Binnie.

  “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God,” said Simon.

  Binnie looked at the screen and gasped. “Simon, do something!” she screamed.

  Everyone came running, crowding around and jostling for position. Simon cradled his head in his hands. There on the screen was Amanda in fancy ball dress, hunched over the body of a woman, clutching a bloody knife in her left hand.

  “She’s killed that woman!” Owla screamed.

  “What woman?” said Ivy. “Why is everyone screaming?”

  “Amanda stabbed an old lady,” said Amphora. “She looks dead.”

  “Where’s Nick?” said Ivy.

  “I don’t know, said Amphora. “I can’t see him.”

  “Who is that man?” said Owla.

  The kids watched as a little man in a trench coat took Amanda roughly by the arm. “Put her in the wagon,” he said.

  “They’re arresting her,” said Binnie. “Look at her. She looks as if she’s in a trance.”

  Simon peered at the screen. Binnie was right. Amanda was completely out of it.

  “Good grief!” said Scapulus. “Do you know who that is?”

  “Yup,” said Simon. “That’s Lestrade. How’s that for irony? Inspector Lestrade has just arrested his great-great granddaughter for murder. If that doesn’t beat all.”

  “We have to bring her back,” said Binnie.

  “I know!” said Simon testily. “I’m working on it.”

  “Don’t get your knickers in a twist,” said Binnie. “I’m just saying.”

  Simon reached out and pulled her to him. “Sorry, love. I’m a bit stressed.”

  Binnie gave him a peck on the cheek. “I know. I’m sorry.”

  He enfolded her in his long, skinny arms. “Don’t ever let anyone tell you I don’t love you.”

  She pulled back and looked at him. “Why would you say a thing like that? Has someone said something?”

  “No, of course not,” he said. “I don’t know what I’m saying. Come here. Give us a kiss.”

  Binnie wrenched herself out of his arms. “I don’t think so.”

  Scapulus Holmes had just about worn a path in the carpet except no one could see it for all the leaves. “We have to assume the cartel has all our information,” he said, continuing to pace. “Thrillkill is right. Whether or not Hugh and Blixus are alive we need to do damage control.”

  “Agreed,” said Diamond, who had perched on top of the piano. She was so tiny she could fit into the most unlikely spaces, and did as often as possible. Scapulus said she was secretly a cat. “We need to breach their repository and assess the situation.”

  “If only we knew where it was,” said Scapulus.

  “We know where Blixus and Hugh’s hideout is. It’s a place to start.”

  “If I were Blixus, where would I keep sensitive information?” he said. “Not in my home, that’s for sure.”

  “Of the non-digital sort, you mean,” she said.

  “Yes. Physical stuff.”

  “Someplace unlikely and secure,” she said.

  “Then not the Tower of London,” he joked.

  She laughed. “No.”

  “But a place that doesn’t change,” he said. “They wouldn’t want anyone interfering with the loot. Which means no place too busy.”

  “Like the London Eye?” she said.

  “Oh good grief. Certainly not.”

  “What’s the least popular place in Britain?” she said.

  “Camilla’s bedroom?” he joked.

  She laughed again. He loved her smile. It was one of many endearing qualities she possessed. He couldn’t believe how lucky he was to have found her. He still wondered how a criminal could be so appealing. Not that she was a criminal anymore, but she had been for most of her life and it hadn’t hurt her one bit. In fact, it had probably improved her. Not that he’d ever admit it. A Holmes had to be staunchly anti-crime. It was what made him a Holmes.

  “Good one,” said the former criminal. “How about if we go to that hideout in London and look for clues?”

  “The private papers of Blixus Moriarty,” he said. “That would have to be interesting. Check stubs, petrol receipts, takeaway menus. A veritable goldmine.” He giggled. It was so much fun bantering with her. He never tired of her quick mind.

  But when they arrived at the house in London, they discovered that the police had removed everything and logged it into evidence.

  “Oh nuts,” said Scapulus. “We’re going to have to sit in a dreary room at New Scotland Yard.”

  “We have to follow procedure,” said Diamond, an astonishing statement for someone who had bent rules all her life. She really was going straight though. Her love for him had transformed her. “Which means they won’t let me in.” With her dodgy record as a known associate of Taffeta Tasmania, the police watched her closely. “Unless you want to break in. I can manage that if you want.”

  “Wait a minute,” he said. “No we don’t.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We don’t have to break into the evidence room. All we need is Simon’s history machine.”

  Diamond’s eyes grew bright. “You mean spy on the past?”

  “Of course,” he said. “Why didn’t I think of that before?”

  “Because I dazzled you and addled your brain?” she said, tossing her shiny hair.

  He strode to the piano, pulled her close, and buried his lips in that hair. “Exactly.”

  “You can still see into the past?” said Scapulus when he and Diamond met with Simon in the common room.

  “I can, but you have to be careful,” said Simon, absently hitting keys on the turned off machine. “You never know when you might be pulled into it.”

  “It only happened the once,” said Diamond.

  “The same conditions are in place,” Simon cautioned. “At least as far as we know.”

  “How do we do this then?” said Scapulus.

  “It will be tedious,” said Simon. He drew in the air. “I’ll have to start from a known point, then follow Blixus in time until he goes to his repository. Assuming he has one.”

  “The cartel has to have one somewhere,” said Scapulus, watching his finger.

  “What exactly are we looking for?” said Simon.

  “A place where they would physically back up all the digital information they stole from us,” said Scapulus. “I shouldn’t have any problem wiping out their devices. I need to eliminate the data in all its forms though.”

  “Are you sure you can get all the digital stuff?” said Simon.

  “I’ve done most of it already,” said Scapulus. “What I haven’t been able to do is fix our systems. We don’t dare add anything new until everything is clean and stable and we’ve destroyed the hive, so to speak.”

  “How big does this repository need to be?” said Simon.

  “With micro technology not that big,” said Scapulus.

  “Maybe the size of a filing cabinet?”

  “Maybe,” said Scapulus. “But it would have to be in a place that can be secured. Like a bank vault, perhaps.”

  “This sounds like a needle in a haystack,” said Diamond.

  “Which is why the history machine is our best bet,” said Simon.

  “But if we tie it up looking for the cartel, how are we going to get Amanda and Nick back?” said Diamond.

  “That,” said Simon, “is the question, isn’t it?”

  “How about if we use the machine in shifts?” said Scapulus. “Diamond and I will take turns scanning while you and Clive are sleeping or eating.”

  “Sounds reasonable,” said Simon. “You’ll only need to cover a couple of days’ time anyway, starting when Hugh got hold of our data. It’s only been two days so that isn’t much.”

&nbs
p; “True,” said Scapulus. “Although without continuous access to the machine it will still take a while.”

  “Then why don’t you start now?” said Simon. “Clive and I will take a break.”

  Scapulus sat down at the history machine and set the day and time to forty-eight hours previous. Diamond pulled up a chair next to him and they focused on the screen. It flickered and Blixus came into view at his hideout. Scapulus knew that was where he was because it matched Ramon and Amphora’s description. He was sitting at a desk looking at a laptop.

  “Is there any way to speed this up?” she said.

  “Not yet,” said Scapulus. “That’s a feature Simon would like to add but he hasn’t had time yet.”

  She made a face. “So we’re stuck in real time.”

  “Afraid so.”

  They sat and watched for a minute or so.

  “All he’s doing is looking at a screen and clicking a few keys,” said Diamond. “Is that how he spends his days?”

  “I know,” said Scapulus. “The great Moriarty at work. Not exactly scintillating.”

  As they watched, Hugh entered the room and Blixus looked up.

  “How’s it going?” Blixus said.

  “Piece of cake,” said Hugh.

  “Think you can get a visual on them so we can watch them run around like idiots?” said Blixus.

  “You got it,” said Hugh, and left the room.

  Scapulus and Diamond looked at each other. “They’re watching us!” he said. “Fiends.”

  “Do you think they can see us right now?” she said, scanning the ceiling and walls for hidden cameras.

  “If they’re alive, yeah,” he said. “And I’ll tell you what else. They’ve watched Simon work on his machine. Hugh has probably figured out how to time travel.”

  “No!” Diamond cried. “Are you sure? Maybe what happened was so random he’ll never figure it out.”

  “Although . . .” said Scapulus, studying his hands, “everything is the same as it’s been. Maybe he hasn’t figured it out yet.”

  “Maybe he never got the camera working,” said Diamond. Then, seeing some motion in front of her she grabbed Scapulus by the arm. “Oooh—wait. Something’s happening.”

  They turned their attention to the screen. Hugh was talking.