فصل چهل و چهارم

chapter-44

“You guys?” Kyle said to all the others assembled in Mr. Lemoncello’s dining room. “We need to head back to the library and find that shoebox.” “Plus some other very important papers,” added Akimi.

“You better do it soon,” said Elliott, gesturing toward the TV wall. The sound was muted, but Kyle could read the headlines: “Mayor O’Brady Suggests Renaming Former ‘Lemoncello’ Library After His Wife, Bernice. People in Bowling Green, Ohio, Laugh at the Suggestion.” “We’re doing it tonight,” said Kyle. “Where’s Andrew?” “He went home,” said Sierra. “He said he needed time to figure out what to wear at the gala tomorrow.” “Okay, then it’s up to you, Miguel.”

“Yo, that’s cool. What do I need to do?” “Help us find those cartons you and Andrew moved around in the stacks a couple weeks ago. The ones about the early years at the Imagination Factory.” “No problem. I remember where we put them. Kind of. Well, you know, sort of. There were a lot of boxes to reorganize.” “Just do your best,” said Sierra.

“Angus?” said Kyle. “Are you in?”

“Sure. What do I need to do?”

“Probably something wild and crazy and dangerous,” said Akimi.

“Awesome.”

“I would like to go as well,” said Abia.

“Great,” said Kyle. “Because I was just about to ask you to join the team. When it comes to doing research and finding junk, you’re the best.” “Thank you, Kyle Keeley.”

“We might need some research in Kansas City, too.” “I can handle that,” said Katherine. “After all, it’s my hometown.” “Great,” said Kyle. “We’ll have Mr. Lemoncello’s corporate jet fly you and Elliott out there. Be sure you both bring your permission slips. And tell your parents where you’re going.” “Um, we should probably do the same thing,” said Akimi.

“Already did,” said Kyle. “Sent them a text saying Mr. Lemoncello was feeling blue so we’re all watching The Sound of Music with him.” “Seriously?”

“Hey,” said Kyle, “whiskers on kittens can cheer up anybody! You guys might want to text the same thing.” Akimi, Miguel, Angus, Abia, Elliott, and Katherine all shrugged, then thumbed their phones.

Kyle turned to Katherine and Elliott. “While you’re in Missouri, see if you can grab a video interview with an actress named Beth Bennett. You already know her granddaughter Jessica.” “We’ll tell this Bennett dame that we know the truth,” said Elliott, still sounding like a TV detective. “Maybe that’ll make her spill the beans!” “Beth Bennett is an actress,” said Katherine. “She’ll loooove being in front of a camera again. Don’t worry. She’ll talk.” “Awesome,” said Kyle. “Send any media files to my phone.” “You got it!”

“What about the rest of us?” asked Jamal Davis. “We want to help, too.” “I know,” said Kyle. “But if too many of us try to sneak into the building tonight, they’ll catch us for sure.” “And,” added Akimi, “if we’re busted, you guys need to be plan B.” “Cool,” said Pranav. “And what will be plan B?” “Something besides what we just tried,” said Kyle. “Because if we need you to go to plan B, that means plan A totally tanked.” Pranav nodded. “We’ll be standing by.”

“Is Mad Dog still outside?” asked Kyle.

“Yeah,” said Jamal, peering out a window. “His bookmobile is parked in the driveway.” “Perfect. We have our ride back to the library.” “That’s not going to be too stealthy,” said Miguel. “A big honking bookmobile driving up to the library when everybody knows the place is closed.” “Mad Dog can tell whoever asks that he came back because he needed a new load of books. While he’s doing that, we’ll sneak up to the front door.” “And how are you guys going to open it?” asked Katherine. “Do you know the combination?” “No, but Mr. Raymo will help us with that,” said Kyle. “We hope.” “He’s still one of the good guys,” added Akimi. “In fact, he’s one of Mr. Lemoncello’s most loyal employees. He’s just pretending to work for the Krinkle brothers.” “That is so nice,” said Sierra.

“Here are some flashlights I found in the kitchen pantry,” said Diane Capriola, floating back into the room in Mr. Lemoncello’s drone slippers. “They were on one of the highest shelves. Figured you guys might need them.” Kyle’s eyes were focused on the floating footwear. “We might need those, too,” he said.

“For what?” asked Diane.

“I don’t know. We’re kind of making this up as we go.” The flashlights and slippers went into the bright yellow backpack Kyle and Abia used during the last leg of the Fabulous Fact-Finding Frenzy. Kyle looked around the dining room. He saw the portable Nonfictionator sitting on a table.

“We’ll take this, too.”

“Why?” asked Akimi.

“It’s a universal remote. Maybe it will work like a garage door opener on the bank vault lock.” “Seriously?”

“It’s worth a try.”

“Fine. Whatever. We need to hurry. The longer the Krinkle brothers are alone in the library, the more damage they can do.” “They’re probably looking for the exact same evidence,” said Sierra. “If they find it first…” Kyle nodded. Sierra was right.

If the Krinkles found Mr. Lemoncello’s patent and Family Frenzy shoebox before the undercover research team did, they’d probably toss it all into the trash!

Or burn it!