Quinn Morgendorffer returns to Lawndale after travelling with the Doctor in the TARDIS. However, she is drawn into another adventure when the Doctor picks up a strange energy reading in town. Team Possible investigate a portal that has appeared in Middleton that leads to Lawndale several years in the past.
fanfiction.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14486471/1/Convergence-on-Lawndale
Archive Of Our Own: https://archiveofourown.org/works/67097887/chapters/173246860
The third
of the previous applicants entered the bookstore.
“Let’s
see. Dani Moreno, a sophomore at Lawndale State,” Quinn said.
“That’s
right,” Dani said.
“I
looked over your CV again. You said that you study visual arts and also are
experienced with sound equipment.”
“Yes.
But I may ask.”
“You
can,” Quinn said.
“Is
the person you actually hired responsible for Jane Lane’s disappearance.”
“Possibility.”
“I
see,” Dani said with a frown.
“Do
you know Jane?”
“Yes,
my brother is in Mystik Spiral.”
“I
guess that’s some of your experience in sound equipment comes from,” Quinn
guessed.
Dani
nodded.
“Right.
I need to talk to more people, but I think you might be in.”
“I’ll
wait in the café.”
“Thanks.”
Dani
entered the café and saw that Scott Ashworth was there. ‘I didn’t think he was
interested in Shakespeare,’ she thought. She then went up to the counter.
“How
may I help you,” the pigtailed waitress asked.
“A
white tea, thanks.”
“Coming
right up.”
Scott
Ashworth listened to the gothic girl, Andrea, as she explained what the
vigilante, Ninja Talon, had asked for her. Despite the busyness of college
life, he had followed the news since SpiderGirl had appeared, especially after
Groundhog Day. It seemed that the situation in Lawndale was escalating. “So,
you want to try to find Jane Lane, or the critics, through the video
surveillance system?”
“Yes.
At least use Oscorp’s tentacles for good.”
Andrea
had told him about the large property footprint of Oscorp in Lawndale too. “I
could get in trouble if you’re caught,” he said.
“I
know. I will be careful,” Andrea responded.
“That’s
what I wanted to hear.”
“Huh?”
“I
will do it,” Scott said. “I mean I’ll let you.”
“Right
now?”
“Before
the play starts. I have a ticket for tomorrow night, but.”
“I
wasn’t seeing it tonight either,” Andrea responded. “Ninja Talon’s here,
somewhere, as her secret identity. I’ll let her know.”
“I’ll
wait.”
Andrea
found Brittany in an isolated area backstage. “It’s going ahead,” she said.
“I’ll
let Spidey know,” Brittany responded. “But when?”
“Right
now.”
“Right,
but we won’t be able to respond until after the play.”
“Is
SpiderGirl in the play?” Andrea asked.
“I’m
not answering that.”
Andrea
chuckled. “I know. And somehow, I’m sure Jane wouldn’t mind waiting a few hours.
But I know I won’t find something straight way. It will take time, such that
the play would likely be over first.”
As
Andrea left out the front with Scott, Quinn and Brittany emerged onto the roof.
“I still have a couple more interviews to conduct,” Quinn said.
“How
many is that?” Brittany asked.
“Seven,
Beck was the eighth.”
“Anyway,
Andrea has left with Tania’s brother.”
“So,
It’s going ahead?” Quinn asked.
“Yes,
but she said that it would take time.”
“I
knew that.”
“There’s
still an hour before the play,” Brittany said. “I’m going to patrol.”
Quinn
nodded. “With all that’s going on, the rest of Lawndale hasn’t been getting the
same attention this week.”
Dafoanairi
returned to the Historia after a quick patrol herself, and saw Ninja Talon
leave the roof. ‘Not surprising,’ she thought as she paused before re-entering.
One the ninja had gone out of sight, she re-entered the building.
Daria
entered the café and saw a large group of fellow Lawndale High students having
an early dinner. “I guess this takes their mind off things,” she commented to
Peterson.
“It
does.”
“Any
further news?”
“None,”
Peterson answered.
“It’s
still early yet.”
“Exactly.
It isn’t always dramatic rescue missions. Far from it. It’s a lot of legwork.”
“I
knew that,” Daria commented. “Intellectually. Now I’m getting a better
understanding.”
“Jane
will be found soon. I promise that.”
Twenty
minutes later, Quinn had made her decision. She went up to Dani. “Dani, you’re
hired.”
“Thanks,
Quinn,” Dani said.
“You
do realise that you have to start right away, right?”
“Of
course. The play starts in half an hour.”
“And
you may need to clean up any mess Beck left behind,” Quinn pointed out.
“Of
course.”
At
Lawndale State, Scott and Andrea entered one of the computer labs. “Thanks for
letting me do this,” Andrea said.
“Again,
I want whoever is abducting people to be caught.”
“Of
course, but there is a risk to you.”
“I will
deal with it,” Scott said as he lead Andrea to the back. “We should go
unnoticed. But there will be logs.”
“I’ll
deal with it.”
Scott
logged in. “There. As you can see, they’re still running Windows NT 4.0 on
these systems.”
“What
about the server?” Andrea asked.
“That
is Unix, but I’m not sure of the specifics.”
“That
is fine,” Andrea said as she sat.
Brittany
returned to the Historia to find that there was a line up. ‘Not surprising,’
she thought as she headed to the backstage area.
Dani
came up to Quinn and Daria.
“What’s
the situation?” Daria asked.
“The
effects seem to be normal projected effects,” Dani said. “Mostly the storm at
the beginning and some of Prospero’s magic.”
“That’s
what I expected,” Daria said.
“But
there might be unexpected ‘bugs’ that Beck left in,” Dani added. “It might
cause some hiccups.”
“I
knew that might happen,” Quinn said.
“But
I’m sure that it will go well,” Dani said. “Even if people have been comparing
it to another of the Bard’s plays.”
“I
can guess which one,” Daria grumbled.
“Huh?”
Quinn asked.
“One
of Shakespeare’s other plays is referred to as the ‘Scottish Play’ because it
involves a power struggle in Scotland and is rumored to include real magic, and
thus was cursed,” Daria explained.
“Got
it,” Quinn said.
“And
it involves swordplay, and therefore accidents can happen, including broken
legs,” Dani added.
“There’s
not much action in this one,” Quinn said.
Soon,
everyone was in their seats and the lights went down, and the curtain went up.
Agent
Leung joined Peterson out in the lobby. “The play has started?” he asked.
“Yes,”
Peterson answered. “There are plainclothes officers all around the building,
including in the café.”
“That’s
good planning.”
“But
it took last night to happen.”
“I’m
here and so is my partner,” Leung said.
“And
SpiderGIrl, as her secret identity.”
“You
sound uncertain.”
“That’s
because I’m not entirely sure, and I promised myself that I would protect her,”
Peterson said with annoyance.
“Then
keep it to yourself,” Leung said. “Between you and I, my wife has been ordered
by SHIELD to find out the identities of the vigilantes, but she has ignored
them so far.”
“Is
that wise?”
Leung
shrugged. “It’s up to her.” He looked at Peterson again. She seemed guarded.
‘Maybe SpiderGirl isn’t only one she suspects the identity of.’
Sandi
had overheard the two talking from inside the café. ‘So, Peterson suspects
someone is SpiderGIrl,’ she thought as she took a bite from her dinner.
“A
thought?” Harry asked.
“I
overheard something out there.”
“That
they’re going to find Jane?”
“More
about SpiderGirl,” Sandi answered. “The officer thinks she’s here but isn’t
sure.”
“I
see.”
“The
fourth vigilante and Dafoanairi might be here too.’
“How
do you figure that?” Harry asked.
“They
were here last night.”
Harry
thought about what Sandi said. ‘SpiderGirl didn’t show up, but Ninja Talon did.
The fourth vigilante and Dafoanairi did, but there was no mention of the
Shadow.
Tania
entered the stage as Ceres. “Hail, many colored messenger, that never disobeys
the wife of Jupiter.
Who
with your saffron wings upon my flowers diffuse honeydrops, refreshing showers.
And
with each end of the thy blue bow does crown my busy acres and my unshrubbed
down.
Rich
scarf to my proud Earth. Why has my queen summoned me hither to this
short-grassed green?”
“A
contract of true love to celebrate,
And
some donation freely to estate
On
the blessed lovers,” Nadia said as Iris.
There
was a flicker, as of something.
“Uh
oh!” Dani said. “I’m on it. It seems minor.”
“It
doesn’t seem minor,” Quinn said.
“A
little more major,” Dani said as she changed to another screen. “He has left
some scripts running. But I can manage it. There.”
Quinn
saw that the flickering was over.
Neither
Tania, nor Nadia were flustered and thus continued their lines through the
disturbance.
“Honor,
riches, marriage blessing,” Cindy sang.
‘What
other surprises are waiting for us?’ Daria wondered.
However,
the rest of the play went by smoothly and when the curtain went down there was
a standing ovation.
At
Lawndale State, Andrea was slowly making progress. Scott asked for progress
when he came back from a vending machine.
“Slowly,”
Andrea answered. “There are a number of cameras along Main Street. It’s taking
time to locate the ones near the Historia. I’m sure the play is over now.”
“9:00,
I’,m sure it is.”
Daria,
Quinn, Joey, Robert, Brittany, Jennifer, Dani, Peterson and Leung met in the
café ten minutes after the play had ended.
“The
play went off a minimum of hitches,” Quinn said.
“True,”
Dani said. “But there is no telling what else Beck may have put into the
system.”
“And
it is lucky that Tania and Nadia stayed composed,” Brittany said. She twirled a
pigtail. “They are usually that way, but others may not have reacted that way.”
“I
agree,” Daria said. “We got lucky.” She turned to Leung. “Any thing you can say
about your investigation?”
“We
were still scouring the area within a mile downstream of the Jefferson Bridge
as of nightfall,” Leung said. “The search will resume as of first light.”
“I
see,” Quinn said.
“I
can also report that LDPD didn’t see any suspicious activity around the theater
during the play,” Peterson said.
“Like
it’s quiet,” Jennifer said.
They
all looked at the usually quiet blonde.
“Like
maybe this Quentin Beck is waiting for something,” Jennifer added.
“That
is likely,” Daria said. “But how to guard against someone who seems to use the
stormwater system with impunity.”
“We
can’t guard all the manholes around the theater,” Peterson said.
“We
need to stick to guarding the theater itself,” Joey said.
“That’s
obvious,” Daria said.
“We’ll
do what we do tonight,” Peterson said.
“But
what’s next?” Dani asked.
“Not
sure,” Quinn said. “We’ll meet here again tomorrow morning.”
“Good
idea,” Robert said.
Shortly
afterwards, Quinn and Brittany changed to SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon
respectively on the roof.
“I
haven’t heard back from Andrea yet,” the latter said. “But she did say that it
would take time. We can go to her place later, though.”
“I
knew it would take time.”
“I’m
happy the first performance went well, other than that hiccup.”
“You
did very well as Ariel, and Dani really was trying her best with the limited
time she had to prepare,” SpiderGirl said. “I’m sure she’ll be a great addition
to the Historia’s team.”
“Thanks.
Why pass her over the first time?”
“Because
she didn’t have much experience. I was looking for that last time. But this
time, after interviewing her again, I found that she had what I was looking
for. The willingness to learn and to just jump in.”
“That
makes sense.”
They
then heard sirens somewhere to the west.
“I’ll
go,” SpiderGirl said. “Responsibility calls.”
“Sure,”
Ninja Talon said, having decided to wait for Andrea a little while longer.
Andrea
glanced at the clock on the right side of the screen as she started downloading
more video. 9:23. She felt something, she knew it was time for a bathroom
break. “Mind it,” she said to Scott as she headed out.
Daria
got home at the same time and found that Sandi was waiting in her room.
“Sandi?” she asked.
“How
did the play go?” Sandi asked.
“Quite
well. There was only one hiccup, but Beck may have left more.”
“That’s
good. But I have a plan.”
“Going
to the Lake and trying to locate Jane again?” Daria asked.
“Exactly,
but we’ll take your car.”
“I
doubt Mom would let us.”
“Probably
not,” Sandi said. “Then we’ll take another one.”
Daria
sighed. “Dafoanairi isn’t as much as an antihero as the Enigma, but we’ll wait
until the usual time.”
“Sure,”
Sandi said with a smirk.
Andrea
returned refreshed. She looked at the video. “Yes!”
“Found
something?” Scott asked.
“It
covers the Historia, at least. But now to find the right time.”
Daria
shook her head as she watched Sandi walk to the laneway. ‘What am I getting
into?’ she wondered to herself yet again. ‘But it’s one way that Jane could be
rescued quickly. I have seen what she can do.’ She then went down to tell her
mother about the evening.
Helen
took in what Daria and Quinn said. “So, the night went well?” she asked. “And
the search for Jane continues?”
“Yes,”
Quinn answered.
“That’s
good news. But I hope Jane will be found soon,” Helen said.
“She
will, Mom,” Quinn said.
Helen
saw the determination in her daughter’s eyes. ‘That’s another way she has
changed,’ she thought. “But what happens now?”
“The
play goes on and we’ll talk again with the authorities tomorrow,” Daria said.
“I
think it’s wonderful that you’ve taken on so much responsibility, but you can
ask for help if you want,” Helen said.
“I’ll
keep that in mind,” Quinn said. “Besides, you already helped with the legal
stuff.”
“That’s
true,” Helen said. “But otherwise.”
“I
know,’ Quinn said.
At
Lawndale State, Andrea had found something. “Drat!”
“Drat?”
Scott asked.
“The
footage is blurry, but I can make out some figure leaving the Historia carrying
another one and then going down a manhole.”
“That’s
what the vigilantes found, wasn’t it?”
“Yes,
but it’s proof.”
“But
how does that show where they went?” Scott asked.
“It
doesn’t,” Andrea said. She changed the screen. “The map shows that the
municipal CCTV is focused around the downtown area and the various other
commercial zones in Lawndale. The School has their own. The Malls both have
their own and Oscorp has their own.” She took out a copy of the Oscorp map
SpiderGirl and Ninja Talon had given her and gave it to Scott.
“That
large a presence?” he asked after a moment.
“Yes,
which is why I helped them with the blueprints of the vehicle used on Groundhog
Day. Ninja Talon said that they destroyed it.”
“It
was a prototype?”
“Yes,”
Andrea answered “But anyway, I’m almost done. Sorry if you had plans this
evening.”
“No
big deal. I would have been gaming anyway.”
“What
sort of games?”
“Mostly
real time strategy, like Age of Empires. The second game is awesome.”
It
was 10:00 before Andrea had found more footage and burned it to a CD. “Done.”
“What
about your parents?” Scott asked.
“They
know I’m out and about. Usually I would be at the Zon or Zen on Fridays. I will
be home early for once. Ninja Talon will show up at some point in the night.”
It
was well after midnight, when Sandi returned to the Morgendorffers. Daria’s
light was on as usual. She saw that Quinn’s was off. ‘Hopefully she’s asleep,’
she thought as she climbed up the trellis.
Daria
was ready. “Let’s do this,” she said as she cloaked up as Dafoanairi.
“You’re
leaving that way?” Sandi said as she tied her hair back.
“This
house isn’t observed much,” Dafoanairi responded. “Tania was a one off.”
“I
guess so,” the Enigma said as she threw off her jacket, showing the purple
ensemble beneath.
“You’re
going to leave that here?”
“I’ll
be back.”
“That’s
true,” Dafoanairi said. “Let’s go.”
After
Dafoanairi and the Enigma had left, SpiderGirl left via the backyard hatch and
swung away to the east, heading towards the Hecuba-Crofts.
On LiveJournal: https://fardell24.livejournal.com/634659.html?newpost
On Dreamwidth: https://fardell24.dreamwidth.org/940644.html
29th
Acts 8:26 - 40
Acts 16:11 - 15
Baptism Sunday
A response to believing the Gospel
Ethiopian Eunuch
- A response to belief
- Declares a changed heart
Lydia
- The LORD opened her heart to respond to what Paul was teaching.
- A way of telling the world 'I'm following Jesus now!'
Why get baptised.
Because we believe in Jesus
Because we want to show that He has changed our hearts
Because we want to make a strong declaration that we we are taking after Him.
Deuteronomy 32:4
“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.
