"Where'd you go?" Zack asked.
"Just went to check things at home," Ivy said.
"I don't really like Kassandra," Zack said.
"And probably never will, little bro," Ivy replied.
"Why?"
"She's got a mean streak, she's a good opponent in martial arts, and
what she lacks, she makes it up somehow." Ivy sighed. "Zack, remember when we
were little someone moved away?"
"No."
"How about a certain Victorian house?"
"What Victorian house?" Zack had gotten some chips from the vending
machine.
Ivy gave another sigh. "Never mind."
**********
Pelican Bay State Prison
July 15, 2000
Natalie Morrow went to the office. "Excuse me, where's Lee Jordan's
cell?" she asked.
"Lee Jordan? He's in Cell 75," the officer answered.
"Thank you," Natalie replied.
A man with blue eyes and matted brown hair was reading the newspaper
when Natalie knocked at the door. "Lee Jordan," she said, entering.
"Natalie," the man said. "Where's Kassandra?"
"She joined Acme. She wants revenge on Zack and Ivy," Natalie
answered. "Dammit, Lee. Your stupid arrogance influenced her."
"What are you talking about?" Lee shouted.
"Ever since Greg died when Kassandra was three, you're the only
person she's associated as a father figure, aside from Dad, and Dad's not
here on this planet anymore. You're much closer to her as an uncle than I am
to Kassandra as a mother." Natalie paused. "Forget it. There's too big of an
age difference."
"You're right. You're 40, I'm 27. Your point is?"
"Kassandra's gonna turn 18 in November. There's a nine-year
difference on you and Kassandra compared to 13 on the two of us. You're
younger, you can easily influence someone when there's a smaller age
difference. I should've left you with Aunt Carol when Mom and Dad died in the
car accident 15 years ago instead of taking you in." Natalie ranted bitterly.
"Even if you did leave me with Aunt Carol it wouldn't matter. The
only difference is that since you mentioned Kassandra's gonna turn 18 in
November, she'll be an adult. She'll be old enough to make her own choices."
"You're right, little bro. Why did I even come talking to you?"
Natalie shut the door.
**********
Pasadena, California
Pacific Asian-American Musuem
July 27, 2000
"I've got a weird feeling about this case, Ivy." Zack whispered. "I'm
not sure if Kassandra's gonna blow this stakeout or not."
"Probably more likely." Ivy answered. "She's very determined, and if
she loses, she usually winds up using somebody as a scapegoat unless it was a
martial arts tournament."
Zack noticed something moving in. "Ivy! Carmen's goons are here!" he
hissed.
"Let's get it on!" Ivy answered. She and Zack snuck in through the
back door. "Where's Kassandra?" she wondered.
Carmen lifted a beautiful jade vase from its stand. 'It's beautiful,'
she thought.
Looking through a window, she saw someone going into one of her car.
'That's strange. Other than my lookout henchman I'm working solo tonight.'
she thought.
"Hold it, Carmen!" Ivy shouted.
"Sorry, but I have better things to do," Carmen answered. Putting the
vase back to its original place, she took a quick escape out to the emergency
exits and went to her car. By then whoever was there had disappeared.
'Huh, that's weird,' she thought. Getting into her car, she tossed a
package to Zack and Ivy and sped away.
"Aren't we gonna go after her?" Zack asked.
"Not when she gives us a bomb! Hit it!" Ivy threw the bomb into the
bushes and shoved Zack away.
"Ow!" Zack shouted as the bomb exploded, lighting up the parking lot.
"Where's Kassandra when we need her?"
"Screw Kassandra, why did Carmen give us a bomb?" Ivy asked. "What
happened to her clues?"
Neither detective saw that Kassandra was watching them from the
courtyard. 'When you don't seize the opportunity, you never realize how close
the enemy can get. If Zack or Ivy ever ask me if I ever got the clue, I'll
just plain deny. Why wait when you can swipe Carmen's clue that easily, let
alone break it so fast?' she asked silently, holding a few postcards of
Buddhist shrines and gardens.
Pressing a button on her communicator, she headed back to Acme. 'Time
to do a little mischief...'
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