Across
the cafeteria, Quinn joined Stacy, Tori and Tiffany.
“Have
you found out anything else?” Tori asked.
“Not
much,” Quinn answered. “Daria and I are going to talk to him this afternoon.”
“What
do you think he’s up to?” Stacy asked.
“I’m
not sure. That’s what we’re going to try to find out,” Quinn responded.
“But,
if he’s hiding something, won’t he just not say it?” Tiffany asked.
“That’s
true. But Daria and I have different ways of asking,” Quinn answered. “It would
be like good cop, bad cop, but different.”
“Not
that different,” Stacy said.
“But
different enough,” Quinn said.
Around
2:00, Xanthe had returned to the Historia, where Quentin Beck had yet to show
up. ‘Suspicious,’ she thought. ‘But nowhere near proof.’ She then saw a
journalist she was familiar with enter the café.
“Officer
Peterson,” Penelope Jericho said. “I’d like an interview about what you have
found out so far about the disappearance of Kalina Ondrovick.”
“On
the record?” Xanthe asked.
“Of
course.”
“Yes.”
Penelope
ordered a coffee first, before she interviewed Peterson.
“First,
off the record. I have sources that say that you cooperate with SpiderGirl,
Ninja Talon, the fourth vigilante and now this Dafoanairi.”
“That’s
true, regarding SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon. I haven’t met the fourth vigilante
more than twice and the same is true of Dafoanairi.”
“And
what is your reasoning regarding cooperating with them?”
“That
it is best to cooperate than to be antagonistic,” Peterson answered.
“Good
answer.”
“Now.
When the report came in you started tracing where she was last seen?” Penelope
asked.
“Yes,
and I found that she was last seen here, at the Historia.”
“And
Elisabeth Rowe allowed you to make a search?”
“Yes,”
Xanthe answered. “She wasn’t anywhere to be found. There’s no evidence that she
met with foul play here.”
“You
searched everywhere?”
“Yes,
including backstage, on the roof and the basement. Except the apartments. Only
the Morgendorffers, Mr. Green and Mr. Allen have access to those.”
“I
see. Where else is LDPD looking for her?” Penelope asked.
“The
usual places, including the parks, the old quarry, the Creek, near the
Strawberry and in the forests.”
“Thank
you for your time.”
As
soon as school let out, Daria headed to the Historia, where she found Peterson
waiting for her in the café. “Peterson?” she asked. “Has something come up?”
“More
like, someone has gone missing. The critic who disparaged your play, Kalina
Ondrovick, is missing.”
Daria
was surprised. “Missing?”
“I’m
afraid so. This was the last place she was seen. I searched it this morning.”
“Obviously
you didn’t find her.”
“I’m
afraid not, and Elisabeth said that she last saw her talking to Quentin Beck,”
Peterson said.
“It
gets even more interesting,” Daria commented.
“Would
you know where he is?”
“No
idea. But he should be here soon. I told him to meet Quinn and I to discuss
some plans he’s drawing up before this evening’s rehearsal.”
“You
sound suspicious,” Peterson observed.
Daria
then told Peterson what she, Anna and Ben had seen.
“Doesn’t
seem that odd,” Peterson commented.
“More
that it was backstage, rather than on the stage itself.”
“That’s
true.”
“And
he was evasive when I asked him,” Daria added.
“I also
read that article this morning.”
“I
didn’t intend to draw media attention.”
“I
know, but think of this. Ninja Talon is highly skilled,” Peterson pointed out.
“And SpiderGirl and the Enigma have powers. You’re an inexperienced ordinary
teen.”
“I’ll
keep that in mind.”
“Good.”
“But
I will continue as I have been. The other four can’t be everywhere,” Daria
said.
“And
I see you’re now considering yourself one of them.”
“As
part of investigating what’s going on.”
“Aren’t
you busy? Peterson asked. “School, helping to run the theatre and your
investigation, on top of that.”
“Not
overwhelmingly so.”
Peterson
thought on that answer. ‘Probably what Quinn would say too.’
Quinn
and Angie arrived at the Historia. “Are you sure it will be quiet?” Angie
asked.
“Daria
reminded me that the bookshop had been soundproofed,” Quinn responded.
“Soundproofed?”
Angie asked. “But why?”
“I’m
not sure, but just as well,” Quinn answered with slight giggle.
“Was
it Osborn?”
“Possibly,
I’ll have to ask Daria about that.”
“And
I’ll ask Robert.”
Daria
unlocked the Morgendorffer apartment. “I don’t think Beck picked the lock,” she
said to Peterson. “And I don’t have Quinn’s key.”
“I’ll
ask Quinn, I saw her enter with Angie.”
“Sure.
But even if he picked the lock, he wouldn’t have done anything to Kalina here.”
“I
want to rule out the possibility,” Peterson said.
Daria
nodded.
Ten
minutes later, Xanthe and Daria were certain that Quentin and Kalina hadn’t
been there. “We know they haven’t been here,” the former said.
“That’s
true,” Daria said. “But she’s still missing.”
“I
wouldn’t suggest looking for her yourself,” Xanthe said.
“And
the Enigma’s powers are limited. If she’s no longer in Lawndale, she can’t find
her.”
“But
she could find her if Kalina’s still in Lawndale?”
“Yes,
but the risk is being knocked out by sensory overload by perceiving the whole
town at once,” Daria responded.
“And
that wouldn’t be pleasant. I won’t ask it of her.”
They
returned to the café to find that Quentin Beck was there. Peterson went up to
him. “Officer Xanthe Peterson, LDPD,” she said holding up her badge. “I would
like to ask you a few questions.”
“Am
I under arrest, officer?” Quentin asked.
“No,
but someone is missing and you were one of the last people who was seen with
her.”
“Who
was this?”
“Kalina
Ondrovick, here in the Historia, yesterday morning,” Peterson answered.
“I
did talk to her, but she left here by herself. If you excuse me, I have an
appointment with Ms. Morgendorffer and her sister shortly.”
Daria
had been waiting for Quinn to finish with Angie. ‘Oops,’ she thought as she
turned back to the counter. She also saw Brittany approach from up the street.
‘I guess she had been at the dojo.’
Xanthe
went back to Daria. “He’s hiding something, I’m certain of it. You and Quinn
are right to be wary. But I’m certain you can handle yourselves.”
“Thanks.”
“I
could stay while you talk to him.”
“You
don’t need to,” Daria said.
Xanthe
nodded. “I’ll stay a little while longer anyway, and talk to various patrons.”
Daria
nodded.
Quinn
and Angie exited the bookshop and found Daria waiting. “Something’s up?” Quinn
asked.
“Yes,
Kalina Ondrovick, the critic, has gone missing,” Daria answered and then
repeated what Peterson had told her and the fact that the Historia had been
searched.
‘Just
as well there’s nothing SpiderGirl related in my apartment,’ Quinn thought. She
could show it to Peterson without further suspicions being raised. “It’s not
good. I hope it isn’t Beck!”
“That
wouldn’t be your fault,” Daria said.
“I
know,” Quinn said. There wasn’t much more she could say.
Brittany
saw Peterson in the café. “Why is she here?” she asked herself while twirling a
pigtail. She then saw Angie ordering at the counter and then went over to her.
Daria
and Quinn lead Quentin into the office. “Now,” Daria said, “what are your plans
related to those measurements you were making yesterday?”
“I
was thinking, more mirrors would allow for more effects,” Quentin said.
“You
mean, a lot of mirrors?” Quinn asked. “Because mirrors don’t exactly
come cheap.”
“Of
course,” Quentin said. “Isn’t the Historia supported by Oscorp?”
Daria
crossed her arms. “In a way. But our agreement with them allows the Historia to
be run independently and separately.”
“We’re
legally separate,” Quinn clarified.
“We
want the Historia to stand on its own,” Daria said. “Which is why we want the
theatre, and therefore the play, to be successful.”
“And
part of the theatre being successful is for everyone to be open with each other
in what we’re doing in our jobs,” Quinn added.
“That’s
good. But I wasn’t sure what I was working with,” Quentin said.
“You
still should have come to us or Robert or Joey first,” Daria said. “That way
our suspicions wouldn’t be roused. Now with the critic missing, more have been
raised.”
“You
don’t suspect me in that?” Quentin asked.
“Not
yet,” Quinn said.
“No,”
Daria said.
Quentin
sighed and handed over a stack of papers. “My preliminary plans for the mirror
set up is there.”
“And
the mirrors would still probably be too expensive,” Daria said.
“But
we will look them over and get back to you anyway,” Quinn said.
“There
are other, more modest plans there,” Quentin added.
“We’ll
look at those too,” Quinn said.
“What
do you think?” Quinn asked after Quentin had left.
“It’s
still suspicious,” Daria admitted.
“I
agree. We need to keep an eye on him.”
“And
I hope the critic will be found soon.”
“Same
here,” Quinn said.
Soon,
the second rehearsal had started. Quinn and Joey watched as it got underway.
“My
brave spirit, who was so firm, so constant, that this coil would not infect her
reason?” Tom said as Prospero.
“But
felt a fever of the mad and played some tricks of desperation. All but mariners
plunged in the foaming brine and quit the vessel. Then all afire with me. The
King’s son, Ferdinand with hair upstaring – then like reeds, not hair – was the
first man that leapt; cried. ‘Hell is empty, and all the devil’s are here,”
Brittany said as Ariel.
“Why,
that’s my spirit! But was not this nigh shore.”
“I
have to duck out,” Quinn said to Joey quietly.
“But
what would Daria say?” Joey asked.
“She
understands that sometimes I need to duck out,” Quinn responded. ‘Although not
all of it, of course.’
At
the Griffin’s, Linda got home from work and went up to Sandi’s room.
“Mother?”
Sandi asked.
“I
suppose you have heard about the missing critic?” Linda asked.
“There’s
no guarantee she’s still in Lawndale,” Sandi responded.
“I
agree,” Linda said. “It’s too much of a risk.”
“But
I will investigate.”
“I
know you will. But I don’t think Oscorp is involved.”
“I
don’t think so either,” Sandi said.
Quinn
had gone to the roof, before changing to SpiderGirl. ‘With Brit in the play, I
need to fill in for her,’ she thought. ‘She has filled in for me before.’ The
superheroine looked over the town as the Sun set. Fifteen minutes later, she
heard something behind the Historia, in Dega Street. She then swung away.
She
stopped a mugging and found that the Shadow had also responded. “Evening,
Shadow,” she said.
“Hey,
Spidey.”
“Haven’t
seen you for a while.”
“It
took me time to respond to the returned brownouts,” the Shadow responded.
“That’s
understandable. But also, the recent news.”
“I
have met Dafoanairi. I’m not sure what to make of her.”
“I’m
not sure what to make of her either,” SpiderGirl admitted. “But there’s some
other news.”
“What
other news? You mean the missing critic?”
“Exactly.
The more people searching, the better.”
“That’s
a good point,” the Shadow said. “But what about Ninja Talon?”
“She
knows,” SpiderGirl said. ‘I’m sure Daria will tell Brit at some point.’
After
the rehearsal, Tania watched Brittany go up to Daria. ‘I’m guessing she’s
Daria’s favourite!’ she thought. ‘But then, Ariel is a major character.’
“You
did well, Brittany,” Daria said. “Better than on Sunday.”
“Thanks,”
Brittany said. “I saw the policewoman in the café before the rehearsal. Is
something happening?”
“Something
has happened,” Daria said. “The critic who disparaged the play has been missing
since yesterday morning.”
“That’s
not good.”
“No.”
“So,
why was she here?” Brittany asked.
“Because
she was last seen here.”
“Oh.”
“Talking
to Quentin Beck,” Daria added.
‘So,
Quinn’s suspicions…’
Brittany
thought about it more as she left the Historia. ‘But where shall I start in
searching?’
The
missing critic was still on Sandi’s mind when she went up to her room after
dinner. “I’m still not going to take the risk,” she murmured as she opened the
yearbook. “Anna Felicia Coultard, then Freya Daniels.” She remembered Jamie
White trying to impress Elly Aitkin the previous week. It seemed that Freya
didn’t make much of it. She shook her head and then downed the energy drink.
“Findu mann sem heiter: Freya Daniels!”
She
found Freya at her home playing some Nintendo game at her house in an area of
town close to the Creek.
“Twenty
down.”
After
midnight, Dafoanairi thought about the critic as she wandered along the laneway
towards the downtown. ‘There isn’t much I can do about it. It’s not likely that
she’s reachable, or still in Lawndale at all.’ She took out a map. ‘Oscorp
warehouse, a few more blocks,’ she thought as she turned a corner. She heard
something, but then saw that it was the Enigma.
“Dafoanairi,”
the Enigma said. “You heard, like, heard about the critic?”
“Peterson
informed me,” she said.
“My
mentor and I talked about it. We agreed that the risk of her not being in
Lawndale was too great.”
“I
knew it would be something like that,” Dafoanairi responded.
“So,
it would be the old fashioned way.”
“Of
course.”
“But
do you suspect Beck?” the Enigma asked.
“He’s
one major suspect.”
“And
others?”
“No others,
but Peterson searched the Historia and obviously found nothing,” Dafoanairi
answered.
“Maybe
she should search where he’s staying,”
“She
would need a warrant for that.”
“But
we don’t,” the Enigma said.
“But
you don’t know where he’s staying.”
“That’s
true. But I will find out.”
Dafoanairi
sighed. “I guess so.”
“Something
else?”
“I’m
sure he’s not linked to Oscorp.”
“Beresfield
was a one off,” the Enigma said. “At least I hope so.”
SpiderGirl
emerged at the usual time. As she listened to Lawndale, she wondered where the
critic was being held. ‘If I had some idea, Talon and I would be able to rescue
her.’ She then heard sirens somewhere to the west. “Responsibility calls,” she
said as she swung off in that direction.
Lawndale
Sun-Herald
Wednesday,
February 21, 2001
Local
Critic Reported Missing
Page
1
Kalina
Ondrovick, a local theatre critic, has gone missing. She was last seen at the
Historia on Monday Morning
…
Melinda
Parris
Page
2
Interview
with Officer Xanthe Peterson, LDPD, Regarding Ondrovick’s Disappearance
…
Penelope
Jericho
Quinn
read the article as she arrived at the Historia. She then went over to where
Daria, Joey and Robert were waiting.
“So,
Quentin Beck is acting suspiciously,” Robert said.
“Yes,”
Daria said. She then told Robert what she, Ben and Anna had seen on Monday.
Quinn
then shared their discussion the previous afternoon.
“And
how does this link with the disappearance of the critic?” Joey asked.
“No
idea yet,” Quinn said. “But it might color people’s perceptions. That people
might think that someone linked to the production might be responsible for the
disappearance.”
“And
we haven’t been shy about our suspicions of Beck,” Daria added.
“So,
it’s something to be concerned about?” Robert asked.
“Yes,”
Daria said.
“But
the rehearsals have gone well,” Joey pointed out. “And tickets have been
selling.”
“How
many?” Robert asked.
“About
220 so far for Friday night and 180 for Saturday,” Joey answered.
“That’s
good,” Daria said.
“But
not a full house yet,” Quinn pointed out.
“That’s
true,” Daria said.
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