***
Carmen landed her aircraft on a small island, dominated by a massive building that could only be INL headquarters. The sun was just rising, casting bright shades of red, orange, pink, peach, yellow and more onto the darkening evening sky like fishing nets on to the sea.
A sigh escaped between her lips.
She turned around to look at the locked door that imprisoned the two detectives. 'I hope they can forgive me for lying to them...again. But it's for their own good.'

The whole five hour trip had been a quiet one. Carmen hoped they had slept, and were not aware that she had locked them in. She slowly entered in the code, unlocking the heavy door. Inside, Zack and Ivy were sleeping on opposite sides of the room.

"We have arrived, detectives," she announced. They didn't stir. She moved in to the room, towards Zack to wake him up.

A second later she found herself on the ground. A pair of strong hands pressed her arms to the floor. A familiar voice said, "Zack! Get the cuffs, they're probably in the cockpit."

She heard Zack's footsteps as he ran in the direction of the cockpit, then ran back. The metal of the cuffs felt cold on her wrists.

"She managed to steal our communicators, too, Iv'," Zack said. Carmen was then pulled to her feet by two furious teenagers.

"You have no honor, do you Carmen?" Ivy demanded. "We agree to help you, and you play us for fools!" Her words were full of spite, but Carmen thought she heard an ever so faint trace of tears in her voice. Of course, Carmen couldn't have known that Ivy was thinking of a dusty old scrap book in her attic. "Admit it; Beverly D'Angelo was never kidnapped, was she? You made the whole thing up just to capture us!"

Ivy's words cut Carmen like so many knives. "That's not true, Ivy," she said, her voice soft and level, "I only lied to you to protect you. Nightingale would do anything if he thought it would hurt me, and if he thought hurting you and Zack would hurt me too, well..." The words wouldn't leave her throat.

Ivy snickered and turned away, wrapping her arms around herself.

"Sis, I think she's telling the truth. Remember how upset she looked when she asked us for help? This Galagher Nightingale dude really is holding Beverly D'Angelo hostage."

Ivy whirled around to face her brother. "What about that time she faked her own kidnapping? She set up a court, and pretended to put herself *on trial*, all to steal the Magna Carta..." Ivy shook her head scornfully. "She has proven she can't be trusted."

Carmen bowed her head in sorrow, wishing she had planned that theft differently.

Zack motioned to Ivy, and they took a few steps back and whispered amongst themselves, 'Deciding what to do with me, no doubt, 'Carmen speculated.

At last they came to an agreement. Zack removed the handcuffs from Carmen's wrists. Carmen was suprised to say the least. "Go, Carmen. Save Beverly, or outwitt Nightingale, whatever. You're on your own - or should I say: we won't bother you anymore. At least until your next heist," Ivy said bitterly.

"Ivy...Zack, I don't under-estimate your abilities as detectives. I don't want..." Before she could finish they were alreadly immersed in the blue light of the C-5 corridor.

***
Back at the abandoned warehouse, Zack and Ivy prepared themselves to be unprepared. "Sis, do you think we should have told Carmen that we were going back to the warehouse?"

Ivy shook her head sadly. "I don't think we can trust Carmen, lil' bro. She doesn't know when to stop playing games. But we have to make sure an innocent woman really isn't trapped in here."

Zack inhaled deeply. "Well, let's go." Ivy nodded solemnly in reply.

Suprisingly enough, there were no traps, henchmen. After walking through the dark building for fifteen minutes, they found themselves at another door. Ivy put her ear to it, listening for sounds, but the door was strong and thick - nothing could be heard. Brother and sister looked at each, silently asking if they were ready. Zack nodded, and they charged the door. It was unlocked. Inside was Beverly D'Angelo, slightly bruised and tied to a chair.

"Ms. D'Angelo!" Ivy cried out. Zack untied her. "ACME detectives, ma'am," Ivy explained, flashing her badge.

An arrogant voice echoed throughout the room. "ACME? I see my dear Carmen went to the authorities. Well, the more the marrier, I say."A short man emerged from the shadows. His brown hair was balding and combed over. He looked like anyone else. He could have been your next door neighbor or your math teacher. He didn't look insane, and that made him all the more dangerous.

As if proving this, he pulled out a little black gun. "I believe it's time to make the game a little more interesting." A sickening smile spread over his face. "Hmm...ah, yes, the old woman should be the first to go!" He pointed his gun at D'Angelo. Ivy jumped in front of her. Ivy closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, ready to face death if she had to...

She heard glass breaking. Ivy opened her eyes to see Carmen dropping through a skylight. She looked as suprised to see Zack and Ivy as they were relieved to see her. While Nightingale stood in shock, temporarily unable to move, Carmen delivered a brutal puch to his jaw. He was knocked senseless. Zack rushed to handcuff an unconscious Nightingale. Ivy sighed her relief, feeling weak in the knees.

"ACME, this is Detective Zackary Smithwood. We have just apprehended one Galagher Nightingale, holding a woman hostage. Send back up immediately," Zack said into his communicator.

Beverly walked over to Carmen. "My how you have grown, Carmen." She smiled when she said this. Carmen smiled too, but a tear rolled down her cheek. Quickly brushing it away, she said "I never forgot you, Ms. D'Angelo, and I never will."

Sirens pierced the air, fanishing the tender moment. The police had arrived, and it was time for Carmen to make one of her famous getaways. Carmen tossed a small box high in the air. It went through the hole Carmen made entering the skylight, attaching to the roof; a rope shoot out of the box. Ivy heard her name called, and turned around. There was Carmen, a soft look in her keen blue eyes. "Thank you, Ivy. Thank you for saving the closest thing I ever had to a mother."

Ivy looked away, but a small smile crept across her face. "You're welcome...Dr. Sandiego."

Carmen laughed. The formality sounded strange, even to her, and it seemed like ages since she had earned her doctorate. She sobered as her next words formed in her mind. "Also...I'm sorry."

Ivy looked up in amazement. That was the last thing she'd ever expect Carmen to say.

"I'm sorry for lying to you and Zack."

The police entered the room just then. Carmen smiled mischieviously. Tipping her hat, she ran toward the rope. "Til next time," she said as she activated the line, dashing to the ceiling, out of sight.

Ivy realized Zack was at her side. "Why do suppose she said 'time' and not 'crime,' like she usually does?"

"I don't know, sis. I don't know."

Just then, warm golden rays of sunlight poured through the skylight. Ivy checked her watch, and discovered it was indeed morning.

"C'mon Zack, let's go get some breakfast."

She put her arm around his shoulders as they walked out of the old building, into the new day.

You made it!
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