“Daria Morgendorffer, please report to the principal’s office,” Ms. Li announced straight after Homeroom.
Daria sighed. She knew that was going to happen.
“How are you feeling?” Ms. Li asked when Daria had sat down.
“My best friend has been kidnapped! How do you think I’m feeling?”
“Mrs. Manson is ready to talk if you…”
“No!” Daria said. She didn’t want to deal with that quack of a school counsellor.
“Are you sure, Ms. Morgendorffer?”
“Of course I’m sure, Ms. Li. The best way for me to keep from thinking about what might be happening to Jane is for me to be in class doing schoolwork.”
“I see that you have made up your mind on that.”
“Yes,’ Daria said as she took the hall pass off the principal’s desk.
At the same time, as she went to her first class, Andrea looked for one of the students she knew had at least one sibling at Lawndale State.
She soon sighed one of them. “Tania!” she called out.
Tania Ashworth turned upon hearing her name. “Yes, Andrea?”
“Your brother is at Lawndale State, right?”
“He is,” Tania answered. “What is this about?”
“Ninja Talon and SpiderGirl asked me to help search for Jane.”
“And how would my brother be able to help with that?”
“He could give me access to one of the computer labs,” Andrea answered.
“I see, you want to access camera footage,” Tania surmised.
“Yes, I still have dial up at home.”
“I’ll if I can contact him at lunch.”
“Then that is what I’ll tell Ninja Talon later,” Andrea said as she left.
“Wait…” Tania said as Andrea disappeared into the distance. ‘Does she know who Ninja Talon is?’
She thought about it more. ‘Quite likely, but I’ll keep it to myself. Besides, I need to focus on the play tonight.’
Agent Leung returned to the Lawndale Field Office, where he typed up his notes and started writing on the whiteboard in the office. He started with the timeline. “Quentin Beck. Arrived in Lawndale on Saturday, 17th February, whereupon he goes to the Historia and is immediately hired by Quinn Morgendorffer as the theater’s special effects person.” There wasn’t anything suspicious there.
“Anything on the four business partners?” One of his fellow agents asked.
“Daria and Quinn Morgendorffer, sisters who have recently lost their father,” Leung said as he put up recent photos of the two, reflecting their changes in appearance. “Their mother, Helen, is associate in Vitale, et al.”
That brought about a silence. Jim Vitale’s reputation was well known in the field office.
“Daria is Jane’s close friend,” Leung added. “Thus she has no motive.”
“And the other two?” the other agent asked.
“Joseph Green and Robert Allen, cousins who are also nephews of the Historia’s former owner. All four are students at Lawndale High.”
“Could Angela Li be a suspect?”
“Unlikely. There is no impact on the school from the Historia opening. The Morgendorffers grades appear to be unaffected by their involvement in the theater. Quinn won the spelling bee, the day before the theater opened,” Leung said.
“And the cousin’s grades?”
“Steady,” Leung said as he turned back to the timeline. “Sunday, February 18th. The first rehearsal for Tempest. And later, Kalina Ondrovick says it’s amateurish on radio and Daria calls in to argue with her. That’s the first time the play is mentioned on the radio. That’s the main connection. That the play was mentioned on the radio.”
He continued through the timeline up to Jane’s abduction.
“But one thing is eluding me,” Leung said when he was finished. “And Peterson too. Motive. What reason does Quentin Beck have to disrupt the play.”
“Jealousy?”
“Quinn said that he was condescending of her age.”
“Which is?” the other asked.
“She turns 16 next week,” Leung said, and wrote her birthdate in late February of 1985 beneath her photo.
“And Daria?”
“Seventeen and half,” Leung added, writing her birthdate in late July of 1983 beneath her picture. “The cousins are 16, born in late 1984.”
They continued their brainstorming.
Between classes, Quinn caught up with Anna and Ben. “We have to do the mentoring at the Historia, rather than the Library,” she said.
“Any reason?” Ben asked.
“I’ll also be re-interviewing the previous applicants for the special effects position.”
“Because of what happened to Jane?” Anna asked.
“That’s part of it,” Quinn answered.
“Because Quentin Beck is responsible,” Anna surmised.
Quinn nodded.
“We’ll be there,” Anna said. “But what about Gerald? He won’t like it.”
“I know,” Quinn said. “He’ll be difficult to convince.”
At lunch, Tania went to one of the school’s payphones straight out of class. “I hope his in his room,” Tania murmured as she put in a couple of quarters. She then dialled the number.
“Yes?”
“Scott! It’s Tania.”
“Why are you calling me in the middle of the day? I have a class in twenty minutes.”
“Sorry about that. I have a favour to ask of you.”
“I’m already seeing the play.”
“That’s good but that’s not what this is about.”
“What is this about then?”
Tania then began explaining what Andrea had asked her about.
“You want me to allow this Andrea to use my account to try to find this Jane? Because of SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon?”
“Yes,” Tania said.
“I’ll have to think about it,” Scott said.
“Let me know before the play starts tonight.”
“I shall, bye.”
In the library, Andrea found Brittany hiding somewhere near the back. ‘She looks 100% the cheerleader she has been the past few years,’ she thought. ‘Apart from that time in the Zon when she had her hair dyed dark.’ She shook her head. That wasn’t what she wanted to think about. She saw that she was reading a book on the history of Lawndale. “Brit?” she asked.
Brittany looked up. “Hey, Andy,” she said with a slight smile.
She almost ignored the nickname. Brittany was the only one who could get away with calling her that. ‘Still is, it seems,’ Andrea thought. “I found Tania Ashworth. She said she would talk to her brother.”
“Tania. She’s in the play too,” Brittany acknowledged.
“I had heard about that.”
“I’ll let Spidey know, later.”
“Good, I’ll be off,” Andrea said.
“You don’t have to.”
“We’re still too different.”
“I’m in the play because I want to change,” Brittany said in a vulnerable tone.
“So, you’re a cheerleader and an actor, as well as a vigilante, not the imaginative girl you were.”
“I guess so,” Brittany said with a twirl of a pigtail. “But small steps?”
“Yes,” Andrea said with a slight smile as Brittany went back to reading her book.
Daria and Sandi entered the cafeteria at the same time. “How are you after last night?” Daria asked.
“I just needed to rest,” Sandi answered. “I’m fine now. Mother says that when she had overextended herself that way, it took overnight for her.”
“Does she usually search for people like that?” Daria asked.
“Not often. But she was active in Boston before I was born.”
“Meaning…”
“Exactly,” Sandi confirmed.
‘That’s something. I think Boston does have hero vigilantes occasionally. It happens more often in New York.’
They came to the usual table to find only Harry and Tania waiting.
“So, any clue as to where Jane is?” Tania asked, hoping that she get some clue to tell Andrea and Scott later.
“No clue, but probably near the lake,” Daria answered. “Also, the FBI are now involved in the investigation.”
“Not surprising,” Sandi commented between bites.
“But the play is going ahead?” Harry asked.
“Of course,” Daria answered. “The show must go on. It’s what Jane would want, and tonight is sold out.”
“That’s good,” Tania said.
“Are you ready?” Daria asked.
“I am,” Tania said. “Last night was a bit scary, but I’m ready.”
“You’re in the play?” Harry asked. “You haven’t said.”
“Yes, I’m playing Ceres, one of the muses.” Tania answered.
“But what if something happens again?” Harry asked.
“Not only would Peterson be there, but the FBI agent as well,” Daria said. “Besides the theater has been checked over many times.”
“So, it won’t happen?” Harry asked.
“No,” Sandi answered.
Quinn joined Stacy, Tori and Tiffany for lunch. “What’s up, Tori?” she asked.
“I’m fine,” Tori said. “But now the paper has mentioned the play.”
“They did have to report that something happened last night,” Quinn pointed out.
“That’s true, but what if Mom is targeted, even if it’s not her byline? Like, I know that being a reporter can be dangerous, even a local one. But with everything going on in Lawndale…” Tori said before shedding a tear.
“I’m sure she’ll be safe,” Quinn said.
“Safer than the critics and Jane?” Tori asked.
“Yes,” Quinn said. She looked at Stacy, who was fretting as she usually did. She took her hand. “It’s going to be fine.”
“But, Jane? What if Mom’s in danger because she works there?”
“She hasn’t mentioned the play on radio,” Quinn said. “And I’m sure Jane will be found soon.”
“But she has been mentioning it in the café,” Stacy said.
“By SpiderGirl?” Tiffany asked.
Stacy looked at Tiffany. “Maybe. Or maybe Ninja Talon or this Dafoanairi.”
“Probably the fourth vigilante,” Quinn said. “Besides, I’m sure the vigilantes have been in the Historia as their secret identities.”
“Weren’t most of them there last night?” Tori asked.
“They were, but it seems that things happened too fast,” Quinn said. “But they will probably be prepared for tonight.”
“I hope so,” Stacy said.
Kevin looked around after he had got his lunch. Most of the students were as usual. He had heard about what had happened the previous night and hoped that Jane would be found soon. He looked around again and didn’t see who he wanted to see. He knew that something was going to change soon, but Brit had been a constant since they had started going out.
Mack saw Kevin sit across from him. “Hey, Mack Daddy, do you know where Brit is?”
“I don’t, and how many times I have I said not to call me that?”
“She’s probably preparing for the play,” Robert said.
“Oh yeah, that’s tonight,” Kevin responded.
“But I have seen her today. She is at school,” Mack said.
“But where in the school?” Kevin asked.
“You know where she will be,” Robert said.
“But Mom and I won’t see the play until tomorrow,” Kevin said.
Quinn caught up with Gerald after leaving the cafeteria. “Gerald!”
“Quinn?” Gerald asked as he approached the cafeteria himself.
“We need to do the mentoring at the Historia today,” Quinn said, and then explained as she did to Anna and Ben.
“I don’t think trying to mentor and do job interviews at the same time is a good idea,” Gerald said.
“I know, but I didn’t want to cancel, and besides the play is starting tonight.”
“Is that a good idea?”
“There will be police, and the FBI there, and maybe one or two of the vigilantes,” Quinn said. “Besides, Jane wouldn’t want the play to not go ahead on her account.”
“I suppose. I’ll be there.”
“Great. It’ll be in the bookshop.”
Quinn caught up with Brittany between classes. “What did Andrea say?” she asked after they ducked into a bathroom and made sure that the stalls were unoccupied.
“That she will be able to do it with Tania’s brother,” Brittany answered.
“That is, Tania Ashworth?”
“Yes.”
“Interesting. But does she know when?” Quinn asked.
“Tania hadn’t got back to her yet.”
“She’ll probably get back to her this afternoon.”
“I’ll try to find out before school finishes,” Brittany said.
“You’ll know where I’ll be.”
Brittany nodded and headed out.
As school finished, Andrea caught up with Tania. “I told Ninja Talon that you would call your brother,” she said.
“I did,” Tania responded. “He said that he would get back to me before the play starts tonight.”
“Got it. I guess I’ll be waiting at the Historia, then.”
“That’s probably a good idea.”
Daria came to the Lexus to find not only Quinn, but also, Anna, Ben and Gerald waiting. “Just as well there aren’t more people,” she said.
“True,” Quinn said with a giggle.
“Let’s just get there,” Gerald said.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be driving safely,” Daria said as she opened the driver side door.
“You should have seen her on the way to Freemont,” Quinn said.
Daria sighed. “I never imagined that a crime I’ll be trying to solve would be Jane’s abduction.”
“Same,” Quinn said.
“Any clues?” Anna asked as she got in after Ben.
“Other than the stormwater system, none,” Daria answered as she turned on the engine.
“What did Ms. Li want to talk about earlier?” Quinn asked.
“Offering Mrs. Manson’s services,” Daria answered.
“And you turned her down, of course,” Quinn said.
“Yes. I don’t want a repeat of self-esteem class,” Daria said.
“Of course.”
Brittany and Andrea caught up in the parking lot after the Morgendorffers’ Lexus had driven away. “So, what did Tania say?” Brittany asked.
“She’ll get back to me before the play starts,” Andrea answered.
“I guess I have to wait at the Historia too.”
“Or you can come and go.”
“That’s true, but I’d be patrolling close to it,” Brittany said.
Daria and the others entered the Historia from the rear and saw Peterson in the lobby when they got there.
“How was school?” she asked.
“It went well,” Quinn said.
“But Jane’s absence was noted,” Daria aid.
“I have heard from Leung. The local field office has started a search of the Creek between the Jefferson Bridge and where it flows into the lake,” Peterson said.
“That’s great, isn’t it?” Anna asked.
“It is, Ms.”
“Coultard.”
“Coultard,” Peterson repeated. “It is, as you put it, great. It means that something is being done.”
“Thanks for the information, Ms. Peterson,” Quinn said. “But we need to start our session now. I have a busy afternoon ahead of me.”
“Of course.”
Officer Peterson waited until Quinn and the others had entered the bookstore. “I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to make your own search of the area, but if you do be sure to keep out of the agents’ hair.”
Daria sighed. “I wouldn’t, although the temptation is there. It would take me too long. Dafoanairi is remaining downtown this afternoon. Besides, I need to prepare for tonight. You know that I’m the director, as well as the playwright.”
“Of course.”
“Now, write about your experience with Shakespeare’s works, or adaptations of it,” Quinn said. “The first of the previous applicants should be here in five minutes.”
“Including The Tempest?” Anna asked.
“Of course,” Quinn said with a giggle. “But the play doesn’t count.”
At the same time, Brittany, Andrea and Tania arrived at the Historia separately. Brittany went over to Daria. “How are you holding up?” she asked.
“Well enough. Peterson told me that the FBI is searching downstream of the Jefferson Bridge.”
“I see,” Brittany said. “I’m sure that she will be found soon. If not tonight, then, tomorrow.”
“We can only hope,” Daria said with a slight smile.
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