Thicker Than Water By: Becky Oberg Indianapolis, Indiana, USA The phone rang, and the groggy reporter reached over and answered it. “Whoever you are, this better be good,” she mumbled, as she slowly became coherent. “I know who you are, Carol Jackson,” said a voice. Carol sat up, now wide awake. “What? Who are you?” “I’m Deep Throat.” Carol couldn’t recognize the voice, but she knew a woman was speaking. There seemed to be a thick foreign accent, despite the obvious attempt to disguise the voice. “‘Deep Throat’, huh? There’s one I haven’t heard before,” muttered Carol, sarcastically. Every good reporter knew about Deep Throat and Watergate. The voice wasn’t amused. “Carmen Sandiego. First Presbyterian Church. You must go to learn the truth.” “Hey, wait, what...” The person hung up. Carol leapt out of bed, and hit the lights. After blinking and adjusting to the sudden brightness, Carol threw on her clothes. She put on a pair of khaki pants, and laced up her black boots. She donned a white, sailcloth shirt, and threw a brown bomber jacket over it. Carol opened her “Reporter’s Drawer,” where she kept various things, and began to prepare for a possible story. ACME Detective Agency, San Francisco, California, USA “This is big, big big big big!” said the Chief, as Zack and Ivy ran in. “Carmen Sandiego was sighted in Indianapolis near the First Presbyterian Church!” “Let’s get going!” said Ivy. “What would Carmen want with the church?” asked Zack. “We’ll find out later!” barked Ivy. “Player, C-5 us to Indianapolis!” The C-5 Corridor opened, and the two teenage detectives ran into it. Indianapolis, Indiana, USA Carol pocketed her reporter’s notebook, pen, and several tools from the “Reporter’s Spy Kit”. Then she grabbed her tan fedora, and pulled it low over her face. She smiled. It made her feel like a daring hero from the 1930’s. Mysteries from the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s were her favorites. “Macho men, mysterious women, good jazz and rhythm and blues music, impossible stunts and lots of fights,” she said to herself. “You never see that anymore.” She ran out the door, and leapt onto her motorcycle. As she headed toward the old stone church, she thought about the phone call. I know who you are. That line certainly got Carol’s attention. She’d spent almost all of her life trying to figure that out. She was orphaned while still young, and raised in an orphanage in Jacksonville, Florida. No one knew anything about her, so she adopted the last name “Jackson” in honor of the city. She was in her mid-twenties, with piercing blue eyes and jet black hair, which she kept cut short. A faint scar was by her right eye, giving her a tough look. That was the way she liked it. A maverick at heart, she was neither hero or villain. “Kind of like Carmen Sandiego,” muttered Carol. “Maybe I’ll finally get that exclusive after all.” First Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA Zack and Ivy stood where the church had once been located. Ivy shook her head. “The whole church ... and it was stone! How could she do it?” “And why the First Presbyterian Church?” asked Zack. “What would Carmen want with that? And the clue is strange... A box of eleven glazed donuts, a peach, a toy Sherman tank and a Confederate flag.” “Hmm...” said Ivy, stroking her chin. Zack thoughtfully munched a donut. “A Confederate flag would indicate one of the states that formed the Confederate States of America during the Civil War. A peach...” “Georgia!” said Zack. “Georgia is the ‘Peach State’.” “Of course!” said Ivy, as Zack finished the donut and started to eat another one. “These are good donuts, Iv,” he said. “Want one?” “Not now,” said Ivy. “The Sherman tank might indicate destruction... and General William Tecumseh Sherman burnt Atlanta on his March to the Sea!” “But what about the donuts?” Zack asked, between bites. He looked at the box. “Hey, look at the drawing on the box!” “The Olympic Rings!” exclaimed Ivy. “Centennial Park!” “But why would Carmen give us eleven donuts?” asked Zack. “Why one glazed donut short of a... dozen...” Zack suddenly lost his appetite, set the box on the ground, and pushed it away with his foot. “Looks like Sara Bellum is back again,” said Ivy. “Hey, detectives!” Zack and Ivy turned to see a woman approaching them. She stopped, and picked up the donuts. “Man, that’s the only time I’ve seen law enforcers throw away donuts.” She bit into one, and looked at them. “Are you guys sure you don’t want these? They’re pretty good.” “Not when you’re chasing a crook one glazed donut short of a dozen,” said Zack, nervously. Carol shrugged. “I’ve had sources who are three glazed donuts short of a dozen. Like the one who said the city was stealing her front lawn--one blade of grass at a time.” Anyway, I’m being rude. I’m Carol Jackson. I’m a reporter. Mind if I ask you a few questions?” Zack and Ivy looked at Carol, suspiciously. There was something strange about her, something familiar. “Acme will give a briefing in the morning,” said Ivy. She eyed the reporter closer. “How did you hear that the church was stolen?” Carol hesitated for a few seconds, and then looked at the detectives. “Let me shadow you on this case and I’ll tell you what you want to know.” She looked at the church. “Lots of the city’s rich and powerful worship here. Guess that’s ‘worshipped’ now. At least until you guys get it back. Ryan White’s funeral was held there.” She finished the donut. “Real shame. He was a symbol of hope to a lot of people.” Zack and Ivy looked at each other. Maybe that was why Carmen was interested in the church. But this reporter seemed to know more than she was saying... “Nice of Carmen to leave breakfast,” said Carol. “These are good. Shame I don’t have any coffee. Reminds me of this little place in Atlanta...” Ivy frowned, but Zack seemed interested. “Where did you get that doohickey on your arm?” asked Zack. “My neighbor,” said Carol, shrugging. “It’s a grappling hook gun.” She chuckled. “Has its advantages in my line of work.” “What kind of reporting do you do?” asked Ivy, skeptically. There was something she didn’t like about Carol. She seemed somewhere between a vandal and a thief. “Freelance,” said Carol. “No deal,” said Ivy. “C’mon, sis...” said Zack. “I have seniority on this team, and I say no!” barked Ivy. “Player, C-5 us to Atlanta, Georgia!" She ran into the corridor. Zack looked at Ivy, and then at Carol, who was mounting her motorcycle. Suddenly, she revved it up. “I don’t take no for an answer!” she yelled. He screamed and ran into the C-5 Corridor, just as Carol rode into it. Atlanta, Georgia, USA The C-5 Corridor opened, dropping an irate Ivy, a frightened Zack, and a rather shaken-up Carol with a motorcycle into Centennial Park. “What the hell was that?” asked Carol, recovering. “What are you doing?” demanded Ivy. “I oughta arrest you...” “Chill, sis,” said Zack, still nervous about Carol’s stunt. “Give her a chance to explain.” Carol turned off the motorcycle, and looked at the two detectives. “I’ll level with you, I’m not after a story. I’m after Carmen.” “Well, join the club,” muttered Ivy. “Look, I’ll be blunt with you, I don’t know what I’m doing either.” Ivy glared at Carol, and started to reach for the experimental handcuffs Josha had recently invented. “Calm down, we can help each other out,” said Carol. “Carmen has some information I might need. You want to arrest Carmen. I have some information that might be able to help. Why not team up?” “You’ve already proven that you’re reckless, brash, and impulsive!” said Ivy. “Well, aren’t you one to talk, Ivy?” said Carol, sarcastically. “How do you know my name?” “I’ve followed Acme Crimenet for part of my beat,” said Carol. “I’m going after Carmen with or without your help. I can’t rest until I get what I need.” Carol looked Ivy in the eyes. “You know what that’s like.” Ivy looked Carol in the eyes. There was something to her that suggested she was searching for something. It reminded Ivy of herself. Both of them were searching for their identities... “Just stay out of our way,” said Ivy. Carol shrugged. “Of course. I’m Lois Lane, James Bond and Harry Houdini all rolled into one. Now, let’s find a clue.” Off by a fountain, Carmen Sandiego frowned. She looked at Sara Bellum. “Who is this person, Sara?” she asked. Sara smiled. “Someone who theesee dee-tech--teeves need to know,” she said, smiling. “It could raise theee ahdds of theee game.” “I hope you know what you’re doing, Sara,” said Carmen. They turned, and walked toward the safe house. Part Two Atlanta, Georgia, USA Carol sipped a hot cup of coffee, and examined the clue. Carmen had escaped with an Olympic flag, and left a note written in some language that Carol and Zack could not quite decipher. So Carol had taken Zack and Ivy to a small coffee house while they analyzed the clue. “It’s a confusing one,” she said. Zack nodded in agreement. “Yeah, there’s definitely a Romance language sound to it, but it’s not any of the Romance languages I know.” “And he knows them all,” Ivy said. Zack sipped his coffee. “I know about as many languages as Ivy knows martial arts.” Then, as an afterthought, he said “You’re right, this is good coffee. I like the Old World Blend.” “Bingo!” yelled Carol. Everyone in the coffee house looked at them. “What?” asked Ivy. “It’s a Romance language, but the reason it’s confusing is because it’s Ancient Latin!” “Can you understand the note?” asked Zack. “Didn’t grow up in a Catholic orphanage for nothing, kid. ‘Standing firm in a mad world, runaway, saint’s preserve us!” “Hmm...” said Ivy. “Player, cross-reference Catholic saints with madness.” A screen popped up, and a list of several names appeared. “This may be tougher than we thought,” said Zack. “Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, patron saint of insanity, mental illness, and mentally ill people.” “Same with Saint Bibiana, Saint Drago, Saint Dymphna, Saint Eustochium, Saint Giles, Saint Margaret of Cortona, Saint Maria Fortunata Vita, Saint Michelina, Saint Osmund, Saint Raphaela, Saint Romanus of Condat and Saint Veran,” said Carol. “Hmm...” said Ivy. “Cross-reference with runaways.” “Saint Dymphna,” said Carol. She picked up a medallion from her necklace. “She’s my patron saint. She’s not that well-known. Anyway, if I remember correctly she was from Ireland, but her shrine is near Antwerp, Belgium.” “Worth a look,” said Ivy. Suddenly, her communicator beeped. “Go ahead, Chief.” Carol took a sip of her coffee. “Hot tip, gumshoes!” Shocked by the sight of a disembodied head, Carol spit out her coffee, hitting the Chief right in the face. “Woah! Hot coffee, hot coffee!” he exclaimed. He rapidly shook his head in an attempt to get it off. Carol, still shocked, wiped his face with a napkin. “Uh... sorry,” she said. Zack smiled, amused. “Chief, Carol Jackson. Carol, the Chief.” Carol nodded in shock, but quickly recovered. “Now I’ve seen it all.” “What’s the tip, Chief?” asked Ivy. “Carmen Sandiego and Sara Bellum were sighted in Belgium!” “Let’s go!” yelled Ivy. “Player, C-5 us to Antwerp, Belgium.” “We’re going in that thing again?” said Carol. “You get used to it,” said Ivy. “And it’s easier without a motorcycle.” The trio leapt into the C-5 Corridor. Antwerp, Belgium The C-5 Corridor opened, dropping the trio near the shrine. Which wouldn’t have been so bad, if ‘near the shrine’ had been on land... Carol waded to land. “How do you guys stand this?” “It did it again, Ivy!” exclaimed Zack. “The C-5 did it again!” “I wish Josha would get it fixed,” said Ivy. “Holy Toledo!” exclaimed Carol. “Look!” Zack and Ivy turned to see several rockets fire, lifting the shrine off the ground. Carmen Sandiego stood on the roof of a building, smiled, and tipped her hat. Sara Bellum stood next to her and laughed maniacally--which came quite easily for her. She threw the trio a small package. Zack caught it and they watched her fly away. “Wow,” said Carol, awestruck. “Interviewing people is one thing, but actually seeing Carmen steal something is another.” Zack opened the package. “This is a tough one,” he said, examining the clue. It was a teddy bear, a drawing of a dove, and a note. “‘The only boundaries are the ones you set, consider the maple leaf and the stars.’” Carol examined the teddy bear. “There’s something strange here...” She handed it to Ivy. “What do you think, Ivy?” Ivy examined it. “Zack, remember when Carmen stole the teddy bear from Sagamore Hill? Remember what the Chief told us about teddy bears?” “The teddy bear was named after President Theodore Roosevelt, and it’s a children’s toy.” Carol smiled. “The dove is a symbol of peace. And a teddy bear is a symbol of love, hope, and security.” “‘Maple leaf and stars...’ said Ivy, thinking. “The US/Canada border is one place to find a maple leaf and stars.” “And Teddy Roosevelt had a ranch in North Dakota!” Zack said. “Where the International Peace Park is!” exclaimed Carol. “Player, C-5 us to International Peace Park, North Dakota side,” said Ivy. The C-5 opened with a hum, and Zack and Ivy jumped in. Carol hesitated. Carmen Sandiego stealing the shrine of Saint Dymphna was definitely news. But if she stayed in Belgium, she might never find out what the caller was talking about. She put her hand on the laptop, and looked at the C-5 Corridor. “I’m going to hate myself for this,” muttered Carol. With a last look at what was left of the shrine, she jumped into the C-5 Corridor. Part Three International Peace Park, US/Canada border, USA and Canada Carol leaned against a tree as she typed the story. Zack and Ivy interviewed a couple of park rangers. Carol wished she could’ve gotten a few quotes, but she knew she didn’t have the time. It would just have to do. With a sigh, she e-mailed the story to the wire services. Carol turned off the laptop, and put it back in her jacket. She waited for Zack and Ivy to finish questioning the rangers. Suddenly, she heard voices nearby. “Is everything ready?” asked a man. “Yes. All we need is the charge,” replied a woman. Carol grinned. “Some days you gotta work for it, and somedays it walks right up to you,” she muttered. She got to her feet, and ran down a path towards the noise. “Banzai!” she screamed. She ran into a clearing, and several floodlights burst on. Carol glanced around, expecting to see only two people. Instead, she saw Professor Sara Bellum and six henchmen. Several ropes were on the ground. Everything froze for a moment. Then, Sara pointed at Carol. “Get her!” Carol let her legs do the thinking, and sprinted through the woods. “Zack! Ivy! Help!” she cried. “Hi-ya!” yelled Ivy, doing a jump kick into a henchman. Carol grabbed another one in an aikido move and threw him into another henchman. Ivy did a leg sweep on another. Zack looked at a henchman, and waved his hand up and down. “Whoop whoop whoop whoop!” he said. He moved his hand side to side. “Nyuk nyuk nyuk nyuk.” He pointed at the henchman. “Hello, hello, hello... good-bye!” he sang, pulling the hat over the henchman’s face. “Look, Moe, a leaky faucet!” “What’s that?” asked Carol, uppercutting the last henchman and following with an elbow strike and a back fist. “Wise-guy-doe?” “Get Sara Bellum!” yelled Ivy, as she radioed for the rangers. Zack and Carol ran toward the professor. Ivy joined them after a few seconds. Sara laughed, and looked at the trio. “Catch me if you can, Carol, but you’ll never know who you are!” She started to run away. Zack and Ivy looked at Carol, who had a look of determination on her face. “No, you don’t,” muttered Carol. “I didn’t go to college in Texas for nothing.” She seized a rope and tied a slip knot. She looked at Sara and whirled the lariat. With a quick snap of her wrist, she threw the rope. The lasso fell over Sara’s chest, and Carol jerked the rope sharply. Sara fell to the ground, and Carol hog-tied her. Ivy smiled at Carol. “Nice move.” “Yee-haw,” said Carol, calmly. She looked over at the henchmen. Three rangers were escorting them away. “Looks lahk thuh lahwmen will take it from here,” she said in a mock Texas drawl. “How long were you in Texas?” asked Zack. “Five years.” She turned to Sara Bellum. “What do you know, Sara?” “Blood is thicker than water. The truth is staring you in the face.” “Is everything a mind game to you?” growled Carol. “Is everything a search for truth to you?” Carol seized Sara by the collar. “Admit it! You’re ‘Deep Throat’, aren’t you? Aren’t you? Why are you doing this to me? Why are you playing with the most important thing in my life?” Ivy grabbed Carol in a full nelson and pulled her away. “Calm down,” she said. “Calm down...” “You don’t know how I feel, Ivy!” exclaimed Carol, fighting back tears. “You don’t know what it’s like!” “At least you receive recognition for what you do,” said Sara. “Go to hell, Sara!” screamed Carol. “I don’t play with your desire for recognition. Don’t play with my desire to know who I am!” Sara smiled wickedly, and Carol grew even more irate. The rangers hesitated for several seconds before picking up Sara Bellum and taking her away. The professor smiled and decided to throw some salt in the wound. “Start close to home, Carol. The answer’s close to your heart!” “Damn you, Sara!” screamed Carol. She struggled to break free from Ivy’s grasp and yelled a string of explicatives at the professor. Zack tapped his communicator. “Chief, C-5 us a psychologist.” Instantly, Carol quit struggling. “No need, Zack, I’m fine.” The Chief appeared, and smiled. “Well, I hear the professor’s a little ‘tied up’ at the moment. At least she’s ‘knot’ going to get out of this one for a while.” “Go bowling and spare us,” muttered Carol. “Aw...tsk tsk tsk,” said the Chief, with joking sympathy. “Not having a very merry Christmas, Carol?” “I’m not in the mood,” she said. “Anyway, I’ve got a grip, so tell Agent Ivy to release hers.” “Not until we know a little more about you,” said Ivy. “Actually,” said the Chief, “I’ve been expecting Miss Jackson to go after Carmen Sandiego for quite some time.” An article appeared on the screen. “You wrote an exclusive on Sara Bellum?” asked Zack. “Yeah, I’m a reporter,” said Carol. “That’s my job. That doesn’t make me a crook.” “How do you know Professor Sara Bellum?” asked Ivy. The Chief appeared on Sara’s mug shot. “You might be interested in her profile.” “I’ll tell them, Chief.” Ivy released Carol, who hung her head. “That’s not necessary. I’ll tell them.” They waited. Carol sighed. “Carmen sent Sara Bellum to Indianapolis to get therapy under the name ‘Nellie Bly.’ She joined a therapy group that I was in. Since I’m a reporter and the muckraker Nellie Bly was one of my favorites, I figured something was up. I did some research and found out she was Sara Bellum. She was always saying that Carmen and Acme were more involved in my life than I realized. As for why I was getting help and why I have a record with Acme, I ran into some trouble and had to get it.” “What kind of trouble?” asked Ivy. Carol hung her head, ashamed. “Legal problems. With Acme. You see, I grew up in an orphanage in Jacksonville, Florida. When I was fourteen I ran away, but an Acme agent caught me and took me back. I stowed away on a train when I was fifteen, and made it to Indianapolis. I was interviewing an Acme agent last year when he checked my files. It was either serve time in Florida or get counseling in Indiana.” She sighed. “My problems seem to follow me wherever I go.” Zack looked at Carol, sympathetically. Ivy put her hand on her shoulder. “It’s hard when you don’t have a family, Carol. But you can’t give up, and you can’t outrun everything. Only when you face the past can you hope to move on to the future.” The Chief looked at Carol. “If I had arms I’d give you a hug,” he said, gently. Carol smiled. Then her face lit up. “Chief, you’re a genius!” “What did I do?” he asked. “Sara Bellum said the answer’s close to my heart and close to home. My necklace!” She took off her necklace, which had three medallions. She set it on the ground, and examined it. The Chief looked at the medallions, and sang “One of these things does not belong here...” Carol nodded, and motioned for him to be quiet. She gently examined each one. The first medallion was one of the Virgin Mary. Everyone at the Catholic-run orphanage was given one. While not exactly a strong Catholic, Carol desperately yearned to believe in something. The second one was of Saint Dymphna, one of Carol’s favorite saints. Carol had bought it when she ran away, hoping that the patron saint of runaways would intercede for her. Carol sighed. What would life be like if I hadn’t run away, she wondered. The third one was of Saint Maximillian Kolbe, the patron saint of journalists. Her college roommate gave it to her as a graduation present. Kolbe was imprisoned by the Nazis for his views. While in Auschwitz, he led Communion using smuggled bread and wine. When a prisoner escaped, the Nazis selected 10 prisoners for execution. Kolbe talked to the Nazis and traded places with one of them. Carol brushed a stubborn lock of hair back. I’m breaking every major rule of journalism, she said to herself, and I have no idea why. Conflict of interests, personal and professional lives intertwining, no chance for impartiality... Geez, I’m either crazy or extremely stupid. Carol tapped the medallion of St. Dymphna. “This is my patron saint, Saint Dymphna. She’s the patron saint of runaways. And close to home... I hope that doesn’t mean what I think it means. I hate it when people know more about my past than I do.” “So what do we do?” asked Zack. “You’re going to hate me,” said Carol. “No, we won’t,” said Zack. “What do we do now?” Carol looked very determined. “You keep working on this case. I’ve got to take care of this myself!” Carol ran toward the hover scooters. Zack leapt after her, and wrapped his arms tightly around a woman’s waist. “I’ve got her, Ivy! I’ve got her!” “Next edition, Zack!” yelled Carol, flying over him. “I promise I’ll make this up to you!” Zack looked at Ivy. “Sorry, sis...” “Let’s go!” barked Ivy, leaping on to a hover scooter. Zack followed. “We’ll never keep up with her with two of us on this hover scooter!” yelled Zack. Ivy aimed a small gun at Carol’s scooter, and fired. “We don’t have to!” she said. “We can track Carol’s scooter to her final destination.” “But where are they going? And what was Sara talking about?” Suddenly, Carol pressed a button on the scooter, and it turned into a small rocket. She disappeared into the night sky. “She’s out of range,” said Ivy. “But not for long!” She reached for the button. “Wait! Wait!” yelled the Chief, following the scooter. “There’s something you should know about Carol Jackson! I know where she’s going!” Ivy slowed down, and landed the scooter. “What can you tell us, Chief?” The Chief pulled up Carol’s profile, and appeared on Carol’s mug shot. “She’s going to Jacksonville, Florida,” said the Chief. “Here’s her profile. But the only way I can make heads or tails out of this caper is to write it on a quarter.” Name: Carol Jackson(assumed surname--real surname unknown) Sex: Female Race: Caucasian Age: 25 Eyes: Blue Hair: Black Height: 5’10” Weight: 150 lb. Occupation: Freelance reporter Known Relatives: None Features: Scar near her right eye Juvenile Record: Two counts of running away, violation of probation Adult Record: Violated probation by running away from an orphanage as a juvenile. Discovered by an Acme agent several years later. Agreed to get counseling to avoid prosecution. History: Carol Jackson was found abandoned after a car wreck in Jacksonville, Florida. The only clues to her identity were a note with “Carol” written on it and pieces of a car embedded in her face. Her face was severely cut, and she was losing weight rapidly. She was treated and made a ward of the state. She was raised in St.Anthony’s Haven, a small Catholic orphanage. While here she took the last name “Jackson” in honor of the city. She ran away at 14, but was captured by Acme Detective Andrew Milcox. She ran away again at age 15, and was found in Indianapolis nine years later. Jackson was interviewing Acme Detective Jacob Greenstone when a routine record check revealed her identity. Jackson has an intense desire to find out who she really is. She has shown great interest in Acme and V.I.L.E. Ivy shook her head. “Abandoned as a baby in Jacksonville. Our best bet is to start at St. Anthony’s Haven and check her file. Maybe we can find out who she is.” “Player, C-5 us to Jacksonville,” said Zack, “And see if you can get us some Jaguars tickets.” Ivy glared at him, and they leapt into the C-5 Corridor. St. Anthony’s Haven, Jacksonville, Florida, USA Carol opened the window to the sister’s office, and quietly slipped through. “Pathetic,” she muttered. “You’d think they’d improve the security around here after ten years.” Carol looked around the dark office, and turned on a small flashlight. The beam quickly searched the room before settling on a filing cabinet. “Bingo,” muttered Carol. She opened the cabinet drawer. “This is too easy,” she muttered, searching for her file. Knowing that Zack and Ivy would be looking for her, she opened her notebook and wrote a note. Then she took the contents of the file, and stuffed them inside her jacket. “I’ll get somewhere safe before I open this.” She leapt out the window, and flew away in the rocket. Five minutes later... Zack and Ivy sat in the sister’s office. The elderly nun shook her head as she looked at the manila envelope. “So sad...” she said. “But I guess I saw it coming.” “What can you tell us about Carol Jackson?” said Ivy. “A doctor from Jacksonville General Hospital brought her to us,” said the nun. “She was just a baby. She had several injuries on her face. A car wreck, they said. She was barely able to eat the first few days, but her strength returned and she made a full recovery. Except for the scar by her right eye. She was cut very badly there--the doctor said it was amazing she could see out of that eye. That scar was always noticeable, although it grew faint with time. “Carol never really had a sense of peace. No one ever told her who she was, but I suspect she figured it out. She was very bright and very strong. She ran away when she was fourteen. She made it to Valdosta, Georgia, before an Acme agent caught her and brought her back. She ran away about a year later. We didn’t hear anything else about her until her articles started appearing in magazines and newspapers.” “Acme’ll file temporary charges.” “Oh, no,” said the nun. “Please, no charges...” “Temporary,” said Ivy. “Long enough to detain her until we can determine a course of action. What was in her file?” “Notes on her past and the note they found her with and some information about the car.” “That probably could’ve told us a lot,” said Zack. “We have a duplicate file,” said the nun. “The Jacksonville Police Department has us keep duplicate files for runaways.” The nun opened a safe, and put the contents on the table. She motioned for them to look through it. Zack looked at the note, and began to thumb through the notes. Ivy picked up the car info. “It was rented, but the address was a P.O. Box. The renter’s name... Oh, no...” she whispered, softly. “What’d you find, sis?” She showed him the paper. He was too shocked to speak. After a few minutes, Ivy spoke. “What’s Carol’s note say?” “It’s written in French,” Zack said. “Dear Zack and Ivy, Looking for something? I’ve always loved a good riddle. Try this one: Make a wish on the lone star, That’s where the file and I are. Dr Pepper, Baylor pride, The home of both is where I hide. There’s your clue, detectives. Come and find me! Cross the bridge into the world of suspense. Carol.” “The ‘lone star’...” said Zack. “Texas.” “Dr Pepper was invented in Waco, and that’s where Baylor University’s main campus is!” said Ivy. “But what about ‘cross the bridge into the world of suspense’?” said Zack. “Remember when we chased Carmen down the Brazos River?” asked Ivy. Zack’s face lit up. “We had to stop her from stealing the Waco Suspension Bridge!” The nun nodded. “Carol always loved rivers.” “Player, C-5 us to Waco, Texas!” said Ivy. The C-5 opened. “God bless,” said the nun. Zack and Ivy leapt into the corridor. Suspension Bridge, Waco, Texas, USA Carol stood on the bridge, watching the Brazos River flow. She sighed. The lack of sleep, the travel, and the frustration of the day were slowly catching up with her. Still, this was one of her favorite places to be. How long has it been since I’ve stayed out here to watch the sun rise, wondered Carol. She looked at the file again. It didn’t make sense. Why would her parents abandon her after a car wreck? Why did they not try to find her? The questions pounded into Carol’s soul like nails. An electric hum announced the C-5 Corridor, but Carol didn’t care. Zack and Ivy walked out. She put her hands behind her back, and waited for them to handcuff her. “Go ahead, detectives,” she said. “It doesn’t matter. Nothing matters anymore.” “Please don’t say that,” said Ivy. Carol threw the contents of the file down, enraged. “They abandoned me! Why? How could they have done that?” Ivy hesitated, and then spoke. “Why don’t you ask them?” “I’m not sure I could, even if they were still alive,” said Carol. “They’ve probably been dead for years.” “They’re not dead, Carol,” said Ivy. “Do you know them?” she asked. Ivy nodded. “They’re our mom and dad.” Part Four Carol’s face grew pale as she stared at the two detectives. “You’re joking,” she said, in shock. “We wouldn’t do that to you,” said Ivy. Carol looked at the river, and then at them. “I don’t know what to say,” she said. “I mean... all my life I didn’t think I had any relatives... then I find out I’ve got a brother and a sister and that my parents abandoned me all in the same night.” “I don’t know what to say,” said Zack. “You don’t know what to say?” said Carol, laughing nervously. “How do you think I feel?” “It’s a shock for all three of us,” said Ivy. “Carol... give what I said some thought. I’m not going to ask you to decide tonight.” Ivy handed her a card. “This is where you can reach us at any time. We’ll leave you alone, if you want. Or if you want, you can continue on the case with us. It’s up to you.” Carol pocketed the card. “C-5 my motorcycle,” she said. “I just need to be alone for a while.” The C-5 Corridor opened, and Carol’s motorcycle appeared. She started it, took a last sad glance at Zack and Ivy, and then rode away. Zack and Ivy stood on the bridge, not saying a word. Suddenly, Ivy’s communicator beeped. “Go ahead, Chief,” she said. “Howdy, Cluebusters!” he said. Noticing their downcast looks, he instantly became serious. “Why do I feel like my sensitivity level has more zeros in it than the old Japanese Air Force?” “Carol found what she wanted,” said Zack. “Any word from Carmen?” “Wait,” said Ivy. “So far Carmen’s stolen a church, an Olympic flag, a shrine, and she tried to steal a plaque from the International Peace Park. Carol said the church was a symbol of hope. The Olympics are a symbol of friendship. The shrine honors faithfulness. The plaque is a symbol of peace and friendship. Think: what else symbolizes hope, friendship, faithfulness and peace?” The Chief spoke. “Carmen sent us a clue from the botched heist. I’ll C-5 it to you.” A portal opened, and a small box with Carmen’s logo appeared. Ivy picked it up, and opened it. A note and a bail bondsman’s card were inside. “This is Greek to me,” said Ivy, handing the note to Zack. “You’re right, sis,” he said. “It says ‘Only a few things are worth dying for.’” “‘Only a few things are worth dying for...’,” repeated Ivy. “What has to do with hope, friendship, faithfulness, peace, bond and Greek?” “The college Greek system?” asked the Chief. “Major brainwave, Chief!” exclaimed Zack. “What’s the most famous Greek story about friendship?” “Pythias and Damon!” exclaimed Ivy. “They were such close friends that one posted bail--his life--for the other!” “Player, C-5 us to Athens!” said Zack. Cameron Park, Waco, Texas, USA Carol looked out over the river, and sighed. She’d always loved the view of the Brazos River from the cliffs. However, a strange emptiness gnawed at her soul.. She’d found what she wanted... or had she? She had a family, but her parents had rejected her. Carol shook her head, and started the motorcycle. She turned onto I-35, and started to head to Dallas. But she didn’t feel right about it. I’ll hate myself for this later, she said to herself. Then she turned onto another interstate, and headed toward Abeline.