"A Secret Worth Keeping" Part 4 Acme Headquarters Zack and Ivy walked down the corridor, leading to the computer control room, after returning from the Scotts' residence. It was 5:00 AM, 7 hours since Desiree had been abducted by Carmen's henchmen. They had spent six and a half hours, investigating the seen of the crime, but had had no luck in finding any clues that would tell them where, or why Carmen had taken Desiree. They entered the control room and went over to Zack's computer. "I just don't get it, Ive!" Zack said, sitting down in front of his computer. "What would make Carmen kidnap an Acme agent who's never even been one a case?" "I don't know Little Bro," Ivy replied. "Maybe Carmen learned something about Desiree that she didn't like, but what ever the reason, we've got to find Desiree and save her." "But how?" Zack enquired. "We don't have a single clue to go on. All we know is, there were screams heard coming from the house, and two of Carmen's henchmen were seen fleeing the scene of the crime." "Well, maybe it would help if we knew exactly what Desiree was doing before she was taken," Ivy suggested. Chief?" "What's up?" he asked, popping up on the screen. "Can you show us a list of the addresses of all the pages Desiree visited before 10:00 PM last night?" Ivy asked him. "Sure thing," the Chief answered. Then, in a flash, the screen was filled with a list of about fifteen sites that Desiree had been to. Zack quickly scanned down the list. "Nope," he said. "There's nothing here. They're all just ordinary case files." Ivy sighed. "I guess you're..." Suddenly, she paused. "Hey, wait! Look at the address of the last page Desiree went to." Zack looked. "It's just the "Project VILE" docu..., wait! You're right Ive! It's not the same address as the "Project VILE". It's a completely different page! Chief, open that page! "Sorry, Gumshoes," the Chief said, "but that page isn't located at that site anymore. I don't know where it went, but it's gone!" Ivy and Zack looked at eachother. They both had the same thought. "Carmen!" they cried out in unison. "That's it!" Zack exclaimed. "Whatever Desiree found in that file, must have been put there by Carmen, and she didn't want us to know about it!" "And when Desiree found it," Ivy added, "Carmen must have been alerted immediately, and sent her henchmen to kidnap Desiree so she couldn'ttell us what she'd found!" Both of them smiled, pleased that they'd figured out what had happened. But their smiles quickly faded as they realized their new crisis; if Carmen despert enough to kidnap Desiree, what else would she do to her to keep her silent! Carmen's Hideout, the next morning Carmen was seated at her desk, trying to go over her most recent criminal scheme, though it was really the last thing on her mind. She'd barely slept the night before, anxiously awaiting the expected call from Amanda Willis, to learn Desiree's fate. Though she already had an idea about what the CEO's had decided, she prayed she was wrong. Desiree seemed like the kind of person that could be trusted to keep a secret, and Carmen felt that Desiree understood the importance of keeping "Project VILE" a secret. She also felt Desiree would be willing to guard that secret, as the few who knew of it had. But what she thought didn't really make much of a difference to the CEO's in these matters. She would be forced to accept it. Still, she hoped that Miss Willis and the others would decide to send Desiree could be trusted, and let her go home, because she believed that each of them, did have compasion. It was around 10:30 AM when the phone finally rang. Carmen was quick to answer it. "Hello?" she said. "Hello, Carmen," Miss Willis answered. "Good work on your quick action last night. I trust Ms Scotts was brought to you unharmed?" "Yes," Carmen stated. "She was very shaken, though, she is doing better. She's still resting." "Good," Miss Willis replied. "A decision was reached last night, but I can't discuss it over the phone. Zack and Ivy were just here. They reported that they'd discovered a site where a document had been, but it was moved. It was the very same site. Lucky we moved it when we did. Anyway, I'm going to England tonight. I want you and Desiree to meet me at Stonehenge at about 8:00 PM, and I'll explain everything, okay?" "Desiree and I will be there, but I've got a pretty good idea that whatever you've decided won't go over big with Desiree, or me!" "I understand, Carmen," Miss Willis said, "We've tried to make the best decision possible, for everybody, including Desiree. Well, I'll see you tonight." Then she hung up. Carmen put the phone down with a sigh. She had been correct. The CEO council was planning on never letting Desiree return home again. Miss Willis's last comment had conformed her worst fears. But, there wasn't anything she could do. "Poor Desiree," Carmen whispered, shaking her head. "This is going to break her heart. If only I hadn't listened to them. I never should have sent my men to get you. If only I could do something to help you." She paused, as a thought crossed her mind. "Or, maybe there is!" she said with a sly smirk. If the council was so worried about their plan being discovered maybe she could use that against them. She would force them to change their minds, but for now, she needed to go awaken Desiree. With that, she stood, left the office, and headed upstairs. Desiree's room Desiree awoke, hearing a gentle knock at the door. It took her a moment to remember where she was. 'Why did I sleep so well?' she thought silently. She sat up and called out, "Who's there?" The door opened and Carmen entered. "It's just me, Desiree. Did you sleep well?" "Better than I thought I would," Desiree replied. "I'm glad," Carmen told her, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Miss Willis just called." "And I take it from your glum voice, that it's not good news, either for me, or for you," Desiree said sadly. "I can't say exactly," Carmen explained. "She couldn't say anything over the phone. She wants us to both meet her in England this evening." "Okay," Desiree answered. Carmen smiled, but then she became very serious. "Desiree, you have to know, that there is a chance that the CEO council won't let you return home. I am not certain that is what they'll do, but I felt that it was important for you to know what could happen." "Don't you mean, what will happen?" Desiree asked, standing and going to the window. Carmen stood, walked over to Desiree, and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I won't lie to you, Desiree," Carmen told her. "That is what's likely to happen. They'll probably say that you can't be trusted to keep "Project VILE" secret, so you'll probably have to stay here and become part of the project. But, just so you know, I don't want to have to keep you here against your will, and if I'd only would have thought of the consequences, I'd never have brought you here. But since the damage has already been done, I think I owe you my support. If there's anything I can do to get the council to change its mind, I'll do it. I promise!" "Thanks," Desiree told her. "You know, you're nothing like I was taught at Acme. You aren't so bad after all." "Thank you," Carmen replied, "I think! Now, I have some things I need to complete before we leave, so I'll take you downstairs and get you a bite to eat, and then I'll finish my work. Then, we'll get ready to go, okay?" Desiree nodded her approval. Then, she and Carmen left the room, and headed downstairs. Stonehenge, Salisbury Plains, England It was after 8:00 PM when Carmen and Desiree arrived at Stonehenge in a hovercraft. A black car was already there, waiting. As the hovercraft landed, a tall, brown-haired woman. exited the car. Desiree had never seen this woman before, but she could tell right away, that Carmen knew her. She and Carmen exited the hovercraft and approached the woman; the woman met them half way. "Hello, Amanda," Carmen said, extending her hand in greeting. "It's been a long time!" "Too long!" Amanda said, shaking Carmen's hand. Then, she looked at Desiree, who was staring glum-faced at her. "Hello, dear," Amanda said to her. "I'm one of the six Chief Executive Officers at Acme. My name is Amanda Willis." "I'm Desiree Scotts," Desiree replied, her expression not changing. Carmen placed a supportive hand on Desiree's shoulder. "I'm certain that Carmen has explained to you the possible conquences of your discovering the project, correct?" "Yes, ma'am," she answered. "Do you understand the importance of keeping this plan a secret?" Miss Willis asked. "Of course," Desiree told her. "It was an accident that I ended up on that page in the first place." "I'm sure it was, dear," Miss Willis stated. "Still, that doesn't change the fact that you know about "Project VILE", and that knowledge is too valuable to take any risks that the project will be exposed. Therefore, the council has decided that in the interests of all who are involved, that you will have to remain with Carmen, for the rest of your life." Desiree's eyes widened, and filled with tears. She shook her head. "No!" "I'm very sorry, my dear," Miss Willis appologized. "No!" Desiree shouted. "How could you? I didn't do it on purpose! I didn't!" Carmen grabbed her and pulled her close, gently stroking her head. Then she stared coldly at Miss Willis. "I kept telling myself, that you actually had a heart, but I stand corrected!" Carmen snarled coldly. "How could you do this? What gives you the right to ruin this little girl's life? What about her future, her family, her parents!" "Carmen, the project must be protected," Miss Willis tried to explain, but Carmen cut her off. "To HELL with that plan!" Carmen shouted harshly, hugging Desiree tighter. "What about this child. She made an honest mistake! How can you even think of punishing her for that?" "Carmen," Miss Willis said, surprized at Carmen's reaction. "It was felt that we couldn't garenty Desiree could keep the information to herself. What if it accidentally slipped out? Our plan would fall apart!" "So what?" Carmen told her. "This plan isn't worth destroying ths young girl's life. You either tell her parents what's going on and allow Desiree to return home, or I will. I'll also tell Acme and the media the truth, about you and the plan. I'm also, starting right now, halting all activities of VILE!" "You can't do that!" Miss Willis warned. "You're under contract! Besides, who'd believe you, with you reputation." "The Chief would, and so would Suhara, my old partner. And you're forgetting Amanda; I have my own original copy of the contract that you and the other CEO's drew up. Plus, I have my own copies of all the information on "Project VILE", including the signatures of all of you, plus over 100 of the world's leaders. Besides, long before I signed your contract, I signed another, where I swore to uphold the law and protect the innocent from justice. I may have stopped being a detective when I agreed to "Project VILE", but I never agreed to stop defending the innocent, and last I checked, children are considered the most innocent of humanity! Now you have a choice, Amanda, and I suggest you choose well. Otherwise, your precious plan will goup in smoke, and Desiree and I we'll make certain, that you go down for this!" Then, Carmen turned and led Desiree back to the hovercraft, leaving Miss Willis standing there in shock. To be continued...