***
Carmen stared at the single page letter and the photograph that had come with it.

'Carmen, my dear, this game was far too amusing to be left so small, so I took the chance to invite an old friend of yours to play. Just remember, of course, that if I win ... you never get her back. Of course, it won't matter, then; just think, you won't even have a lonely funeral.

Cheerio - Nightingale'

The photograph was of a older woman, with striking silver hair, sitting on a chair in an empty room. The woman had been as close to a mother as Carmen could remember, back in the days she'd lived in the orphanage. There was fresh bruising on her face.

Carmen tossed the letter down and started reworking her plan. She needed to find out where he had her hidden, and find a way to get her out. Perhaps the Chief could talk Zack and Ivy into helping her with that.

***
The Chief watched as Carmen came on the screen. Her usually perfect hair had some strands out of place and underneath her eyes he thought he saw the evidence of a sleepless night. Nobody else would probably notice this slight difference, not even her closest employees. But she couldn't hide it from him. He wondered what was the matter.

"Hello, Carmen." The Chief greeted her with a mixture of warmth and caution.

"Hello Chief," Carmen spoke nervously. "I need to ask you for a favor."

"What kind of favor?"

Carmen rubbed her temples and closed her eyes. "Perhaps it's best if I start from the beginning."

"A very good place to start, Carmen."

"About a year ago an Englishman named Galagher Nightingale got involved in....." Carmen began.

"Galagher Nightingale!" The Chief excalimed. "THE Galagher Nightingale? The multi-BILLIONAIRE Gallagher Nightingale?"

"The same," Carmen muttered angrily.

"Carmen, he's one of the richest men in the world! He's got a technological empire bigger than Bill Gates! I mean, he invented the solar powered espresso machine! The man's a genius!"

Carmen shot him a look that said nothing short of "Can it, Chief."

"Well, he's certainly not of your caliber, Carmen," the Chief ammended nervously.

"Chief, this is serious! Nightingale and I got involved in a little technological competition that eventually escalated into a full fledged war. I was trying to get him back with this latest caper for ruining my lovely roses, but now..." Carmen stopped abruptly and put her head in her hands.

"What did he do?"

"He kidnapped Beverly D'Angelo, my teacher from back at the Golden Gate Girls' School and he's holding her hostage."

"Mrs. D'Angelo!" The Chief exclaimed.

"Chief, I am so afraid of what he might do to her. He's a dangerous, ruthless man. You have to put Zack and Ivy on his trail....we have to find her before it's too late!"

"Woah Carmen, slow down. Are you sure it was him? Galagher Nightingale has no criminal record. And if he is that dangerous, I don't think I want to send Zack and Ivy after him."

"I am absolutely positive, Chief. If you won't help me find her, I will do it myself....don't you even trust me, though?"

The Chief looked into Carmen's eyes that were full of hurt and pain. True, she had lied to them before, but she'd never lie about something like this. Taking one more look at her painful expression, he knew what he'd always known; he could never say no to her. He sighed. "Carmen, I aplogize for doubting you. I know how much you care for Mrs. D'Angelo. I'll C-5 you over here so you can brief Zack and Ivy about the situation, okay?"

"Thank you, Chief. I owe you one, but you'd better not try to arrest me," she smiled.

"Now it's your turn to trust me, Carmen. Are you ready?"

"Yes."

In a brief few seconds the glow of the C-5 had transported Carmen to ACME headquarters.

***
Carmen sat at the chair in front of the large screen that the Chief projected himself on and waited for Zack and Ivy to arrive at headquarters. "I'm sure Zack and Ivy will be shocked to see me here," Carmen thought out loud.

"Oh, you betcha! I'll have to calm those two down quick so you can explain what happened," the Chief replied.

"When are the detectives due to arrive?" Carmen asked.

"Any minute now. They're supposed to be here at 10am," the Chief replied. A clock appeared on the screen reading 9:57.

Carmen glared at the clock as it changed to 9:58. The minute seemed to drag by as she was nervously awaiting the detectives' arrival. She knew that she had lied to them in the past, and knew it was only fair of them not to believe her right away. She only hoped they'd understand her situation.

Then again, she thought to herself, she was able to convince them to work with side-by-side to capture Maelstrom.

She glanced at the clock again which just changed to 10:00 and she turned towards to door expecting the detectives to entering.

Suddenly, she saw the massive ACME door open and Zack and Ivy step into the room. They quickly began to charge towards Carmen and the Chief cried out, "Whoa, wait a second! There's no need for alarm!"

"What do you mean?" Ivy asked angrily.

"Look, I know it's natural for you to be all weird about this, but I think you should listen to her," the Chief replied.

"Ok Carmen," Zack replied, "We're listening. What's up?"

Carmen explained the whole story about Galagher Nightingale and how he was holding Beverly D'Angelo hostage. When she got to that part in her story, Zack stopped her saying, "Wait, wait. This guy has more money than anyone and he's holding someone hostage? What does he want?"

"I'm afraid he just wants to win this little war," Carmen replied with a sigh.

"All right, all right," Zack replied. "So, what do you want us to do?"

Carmen took the photograph that Nightingale had given her and handed it to Zack. "Look at the back," she told him.

He did. "It's an address in New York," he said, puzzled. "That's it? No clue?"

"This seems too easy..." Ivy muttered.

Carmen scowled. "I know. But I don't think he's interested in playing games. Whatever he wants, he wants it now."

***

Beverly D'Angelo tenderly touched the bruised side of her face. The swelling had gone down, but she still looked like she'd gotten in a fist-fight with a boxer.

She slumped back into her chair, looking with eyes clouded with age around the gray room that served as her prison, going over in her confused mind the unbelieveable things her captor had told her...

"I don't understand," she had said after being dragged, battered and bruised, in front of the man who identified himself as Galagher Nightengale. "Who are you and what do you want with me?"

Galagher held a cigarette between his fingers, its violet smoke curling around his head. "Are you not the woman who ran the Golden Gate Girl's School some years back?" he asked in a low throaty voice.

"Yes. What's it to you?"

Nightingale inhaled deeply and blew out a cloud of smoke. Eyes half-shut, he said calmly, "I have a minor quibble with one of those who was formerly in your care, that's all."

Despite the pain in her face and her aching bones, Beverly snapped, "That's your reason for beating up an old lady?"

He laughed softly. "I made sure nothing was broken. Dramatic effect, if you will. I'm pretty sure she'd come even if you were smiling in that picture we took. But you never know..."

"Who?" Beverly demanded.

"Well, I know you can't remember all the girls that were in your care, but I'm sure you'll remember this one. She's a bit...special."

"Who?" she demanded again.

"A very intelligent young lady," he began in an irritatingly slow, taunting voice. "Started out so promising, I'm sure you were proud of her...but oh, so sad, she disgraced herself." He gave Beverly a level look as he took another drag on his cigarette. "Well?"

"Well what?"

"Aren't you going to guess?"

"No."

"Don't remember? Getting old?"

"I'm already old," she told him with a flash of her eyes. "I don't care what happens to me. But if you try to hurt one of my girls..."

He gave her a look of evil amusement. "So compassionate! Then perhaps you'll be glad to see this visitor. If not, that makes things all the more pleasureable for me...but of course that's not my only intent..."

"Who is it?"

He ground out his cigarette. "Why, Carmen Sandiego, of course. I'm sure you remember her, even if dementia is setting in..."

"Carmen?" she demanded, startled, ignoring his last comment.

"Yes, you know...the one who was adopted by Acme, the one who's now a criminal? Of course, I'm sure that wasn't your fault...nobody knew she'd turn out that way..." he added with false empathy.

"Carmen's coming here?" Beverly asked in disbelief.

"Well, I'm fairly sure of it," Nightingale told her. "She seems to be quite the sentimental type. Hates to have an old acquantance hurt. Even if she doesn't particularly like the person."

Beverly had said nothing, her mind lost in confusion. She hadn't seen Carmen in years. Her mind brought up a mental image of a little girl, but Beverly knew that she looked quite different now. But why would Carmen come for her, she thought as she sat in her chair. She hadn't known her long. And Carmen had forsaken many of the Agency people she had known...
What should she think of Carmen? What would she say to her? Her clouded mind moved her thoughts slowly, and she shook her mind to clear them.

***

"Well, here's the address," Zack said, as he, Ivy, and Carmen arrived via C-5 to a run-down old building.

Carmen snorted. "How original. An abandoned warehouse."

"Even if it's cliched, it's still dangerous," Ivy pointed out.

Carmen nodded. "I'll go in first. Follow me, and be careful. This is one of those rare times when I don't know what to expect."

Zack and Ivy exchanged worried looks, then followed her lead.

Carmen, Zack and Ivy went into the building. They found the door unlocked.

"Looks like Nightingale was expecting us to show up, eh, Carmen?"

"Yeah. But there's still a few things up his sleeve. And he's also known for frequent playings of the trump card."

"Really? So let's not let him play the trump card. No mercy at all. He plays dirty, we play dirty. Got it?"

"Got it, sis."

The trio went further and further into the building. and finally, they reached a partly open door with lights coming out.

"Should we go in?" Zack asked quietly.

"No, wait...."

"I say we go in now."

"Ivy, I can't let Gallegher get away. He's a dangerous figure to society, and I can't let him run amok in the world."

"OK...On three, we charge in, and tackle Nightingale. One...Two...THREE!"

Ivy kicked down the door, and there was Gallagher, with Beverly D'Angelo tied up in a chair.

"Game's up, Nightingale! I'm gonna drag you all the way back to Folsom by your tounge, no matter if you like it or not!"

"Big words for an ACME weenie like you."

"Are you calling me a weenie?"

"Yeah!"

"You asked for it, Nightingale!"

"Try me."

Carmen and Ivy tackled Gallagher, and Zack freed Miss D'Angelo. After a while, Carmen and Ivy subdued Gallagher, and handcuffed him.

"Game Over."

"Not so fast, Carmen."

Gallagher slipped the cuffs off, and bolted for the window. But the NYPD had surrounded the building.

" Gallagher, no!"

Gallagher jumped out the window into the street when Zack went hurtleing after him to grab him when...'

"Zack?"

'...suddenly...'

"ZACK!"

"What!"

Ivy was staring at him. "You zoned out on us, little bro."

"I have this great idea! We just go around the back of the house, find like a cargo door, then rush Gallager so fast he won't know what hit him, then-" Zack was interupted by the a deep, velvety laugh that could only have been Carmen's.

"What are you laughing at?"

Carmen managed to get a hold of herself. "I'm sorry Zack, but..(small chuckle) don't you think that someone that ruthless, that rich, or that PARANOID would have better security than an unlocked door?"

"Leave him alone Carmen. He was just on another planet for a second, RIGHT, Zack?"

"Yeah, yeah..."

"So what do you suggest, Carmen, seeing as you're so smart?!"

Carmen sighed inwardly. How had it come to her ending up here for "HELP"? sure. She didn't exactly want the detectives involved because of this sort of behavior.
But now they knew too much, and unbeknownst to them, she wasn't here for help, she was here to try and lure them back with her to a safe house in the middle of the Philippines so she could protect THEM. D'Angelo had been an easier target than the two, and so instead of hitting his planed targets, who had both been out in China when he had wanted them, he took the easier to obtain D'Angelo. Still, that didn't guarantee that he wouldn't try for three. Also, if the detectives tried and failed, not only would it throw a wrench in her own plans of rescue, but her two young friends would be most certainly killed as well.
'They really need to learn to stay out of my deadly power wars. I have to get them to leave, now!'

Ivy and Zack were still spinning off ideas in the corner when Carmen reapproached them.

"Kids, you're Acme tech isn't going to get you all that far in this case."

"Oh really, Carmen. And how would you know what we have?" ,Ivy retorted.

Carmen smirked. "I know everything."

"Ha ha. Thank you for you for your lovely insight, but I think we will do just fine."

"It wasn't made to be an insult, Ivy. I just would like to mention that I have gear more suited for these sorts of crisises at my disposial. Would you like to go see what I have to offer?"

"Go? Go where?`Go where with you? No way!", Zack quipped.

"Oh for heavans sake..."

Ivy pulled Zack away for a momnent.

"Zack, maybe Carmen may have a point here."

"It's CARMEN, Ive'!"

"Yeah, so I've noticed."

"We can't just GO somewhere with her, without handcuffs!"

"Then we'll cuff her."

Carmen rolled her eyes. 'Once they're on the plane...' "Well..all right."

The two walked back.

"All right Carmen, but first, where are you taking us?"

"Hawaii.", she lied.'The less they know...'

"Yehaw! Hawaii! You here that Ive?"

"Yes, Zack, I heard. Number two, if we go, you have to be cuffed."

"Cuffed? Don't you even try."

"Then no deal."

Carmen feigned defeat. "All right fine. Here." She thrust out her wrists, which were promptly cuffed.

"Now doesn't that feel better,Carmen?"

"Yes!" Carmen exclaimed over-enthusiastically.

Ivy gave her a look. "Well then, lets go!"
* * *

"This sure is a set-up, you have here."

"Yes, Zack, us multi-billionaires have a bit of fun know and then. You two sit back in this room, here.The bathroom and utilities are over there. You will stay here for the whole fight."

Ivy looked at her. "Why?", She asked levelly.

"This is where the crew sits, and that is what the crew does. Now, I don't want any loud noise or any disruptions until we get there. You might just want to sleep."

"Why not use the C-5?"

"And give you my coordinates? Ach never!"

"Hey! There are no windows here!"

"I'm not going to let you chart by land, either."

"I don't like this..."

"Oh stop it you two! Just enjoy having 11 hours to sleep uninterrupted!"

"That is kind of a good point.", said Zack.

Ivy just stood there as Carmen closed the door. And silently code locked it from the outside. Ivy looked at Zack."Does she seem a bit more cagey than usual to you?"

Her question went unanswered. Zack was asleep. ------

Carmen was quite happy to get rid of those handcuffs now that her presicious cargo had been safetly stowed. As she leveled out at 30,000 ft' she let her mind drift. 'D'Angelo. I bet you don't even remember who I am. Best you don't. How old must you be now? If Gallahger thinks for one moment that I'm walking right into his trap...I expected better than this from him, its almost... too simple. He must have something else planned. And where was the ransom note? Surely he wanted something. Probably just to play with me. I hate the reputation I'm getting for being the "soft-hearted criminal." I've been getting too much of this funny buisness of people trying to own me with my feelings. Ach! It's going to end up killing someone, probably them. For heaven sakes! I'm a criminal mastermind of thousands of people and am worth billions of dollars! Do they all really think I got here by being an emotional fool? Ach! Yes I'm not evil per say,but really, Gallhager, to you think this stunt of yours is going to drive me so insane with rage that I'll just run right into the fire? Save me some dignity!' Carmen sighed. 'I really need to get away from all these descisions for a while.'
Not that the kidnapping didn't bother Carmen. In fact, she felt like she had just been crippled by the blow. But what worried her was that Gallhager and other kingpins seemed to know this, and more-over, beleive she had no backbone nor intelligence when her heart was on the line. Well they will soon see what the INL is capable of. She had a fool proof plan.
'I always have to prove something....Those detectives are not going to be happy to learn that I've kidnapped them.' She smiled a small sad smile.'I do stupid things when my heart is on the line...'

***

"Zack, do you notice it's taking longer than usual to get to Hawaii?"

Zack barely raised an eyelid and groaned,"What? Are we there yet?"

Ivy shook her head and continued to survey the room and turned with her back to the door.

"We're locked in here! Carmen double-crossed us!"

Zack sat up and yawned, only half aware of the impact of his obviously annoyed sibling's last statement.

"Okay, so we're locked in a room about, oh, let's say...a mile and a half from the ground? Any suggestions as to how we're supposed to get out?"

"You're right. There really isn't much we can do right now. Say, you didn't really think we were going to Hawaii..."

He smiled for an instant and replied, "No, but it wasn't the worst thing to imagine. Say, how long have we been in here?"

" Almost five hours..." There was a sudden movement that shifted both of them off balance. "...Did you feel that? I think we're landing. Come on, I have an idea..." ***

One more Chapter...