It seemed that Hunter was back to his cryptic warnings, and Alex had no idea how to interpret his words. But although she wasn’t sure what she was supposed to look out for, she would follow his advice and stay vigilant. And as for his comment about the backpack items, there was no way Alex would be able to hide the heavy book under her curve-hugging dress. Hunter’s words had to have meant something else.
She finished changing and stumbled back to her classmates, mentally cursing the inappropriate footwear.
Jordan wolf-whistled when she came into view and Alex was glad it was getting too dark for her blush to be easily seen. The attention her arrival brought—from everyone—made her feel beyond uncomfortable.
“So…” she said awkwardly. “Are we going or what?”
“Wait, I have to fix your makeup,” Skyla insisted, and Alex saw she was just finishing up with Pipsqueak.
Following orders, Alex sat down on the trunk of a fallen tree while Skyla removed her ‘ambushed princess’ look and reapplied the cosmetics. Then Skyla twisted Alex’s hair up and pinned it softly behind her head, letting a few errant wisps dangle free to frame her face.
While undergoing her makeover, Alex was aware of the others whispering amongst themselves, but she couldn’t hear what they were saying. She was relieved when Skyla said she was done, and Alex left her to pack up while she rejoined the others.
“What is it?” Alex asked, noting the hesitant, guilty and determined looks on their faces.
“We think it’s a good idea if some of us remain behind, just in case we need a backup plan,” Tom said. “Since the waiters are a good cover and I’m the only musician, we’ve decided that we can probably get away with sending just two guests in. We’re thinking Declan and Pipsqueak should go, while you and Skyla remain behind.”
“What?” Alex asked loudly. She indicated to herself and Skyla who had just joined them, “Don’t we get a say in this?”
“Alex, can I speak with you in private?” Jordan asked.
“Jordan—”
“Alex,” he said firmly, motioning for her to follow him.
Once they were out of hearing range, he looked apologetically at her. “It’s not you, it’s Skyla.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know what she’s like,” Jordan said. “Her head’s in the clouds ninety-eight percent of the time. She’s harmless but she’s also unreliable and we’re worried she’ll be a liability. We need someone to keep an eye on her, and since you’ve already had to do so much over the past two days, we figured you should be allowed to sit this one out.”
“I don’t want to sit it out.”
“Please, Alex,” Jordan begged. “You can see why we don’t want her in there, can’t you?”
Alex glanced over to where the others were standing and could just make out their silhouettes in the dark. Skyla was sitting on the tree trunk, polishing her nails in the limited light, while everyone else stood tense and ready. Her voice carried over to them, and Alex cringed when she heard her ask if they would get to dance at the party.
“I do understand,” Alex admitted. “But I just wish I didn’t have to be the one to babysit her.”
“I know,” Jordan said softly.
She followed him resignedly over to the others and listened while Tom explained to Skyla that she and Alex would be remaining behind.
“But that’s not fair!” Skyla exclaimed loud enough that they had to shush her. “I’m all dressed up and beautiful—I should be allowed to go! Don’t you trust me?”
The girl’s eyes were filling with tears and Alex realised that it was up to her to intervene. “Skyla, don’t you see? You and I have the most important mission tonight. If something goes wrong for these guys, it’ll be up to us to complete the task. They’re only leaving us behind because they trust us so much.”
“Really?” Skyla asked, sniffling quietly.
“Really,” Jordan said, playing along.
“I guess that’s okay, then,” Skyla said, standing taller. “Don’t worry, we’ll look after you if something goes wrong. We’ve got your backs.”
Alex released a breath and reached for Skyla’s sparkly pink ComTCD as Declan handed it over.
“I’ll keep you updated on what’s happening,” he promised.
“Thanks,” she said. “Now, you should all get out of here. And Tom, don’t forget your banjo-thing.”
He looked at her strangely. “My what?”
She pointed to his backpack. “You’re the musician, remember. I’m pretty sure you need something to play.”
“Right,” he said, shuffling over to his pack to retrieve the instrument. “I haven’t played in years.”
“Hopefully it’s just like riding a bike,” Alex said.
“What’s a bike?”
Alex gave a startled laugh at the absurd comment before she brushed his question off and told them all to leave.
“We’ll come get you once we have the performer guy we’re meant to find,” Jordan said.
“Sure,” she replied, trying to act okay about it all when really she was frustrated that she had to stay behind with Skyla. “Take all the time you need.”
Alex watched as they made their own path down the hill and crept along under the cover of the now completely dark sky. After a while it was difficult to see them, but she spotted them again once they were closer to the well-lit mansion. One by one they broke away from the group and entered the building.
“We’re in,” Declan’s voice whispered through the ComTCD. “The waiters are heading to the kitchen and Tom’s joining the band. Pip and I are going to introduce ourselves to the host.”
“Don’t forget to use your fake names,” Alex reminded.
“Oh, right. Thanks.”
It was another twenty minutes before Alex heard anything other than the indecipherable chatter of the various guests and the distorted music from the orchestra.
“Alex, we have a problem,” Declan said. “I overheard one of the guests talking about a performer who was in the middle of his juggling act two nights ago when he accidentally dropped a ball into Sir Oswald’s wineglass, spilling it all over him. No one has seen the performer since, but they think he’s locked somewhere underneath the mansion.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Alex cried. “Do you think he’s our guy?”
“Pretty certain, yeah,” Declan said. “It makes sense, considering Hunter’s instructions to retrieve the performer from his ‘accommodation’.”
“Do the others know?”
“No, I haven’t been able to talk with anyone. But I’ll try to get a message to them.”
“How will you bring the performer out if he’s a prisoner?”
“I’m still working on that,” Declan answered. “I’m hoping one of the others might have an idea. I’ll update you again in a few—”
His words were interrupted by a loud voice. “What are you doing in here? Who are you talking to?”
“Uh, I was just admiring the view,” Declan said.