"Truth and Trust"
Story idea by Kevin Farley
Written by Laurie LeBlanc
(The time frame of this story is post-"Trick or Treat.")
One evening in the Sandiego Manor, Carmen was at her desk with papers
and maps scattered about in frustration. She had a disgusted look on her
face and thought out loud as she buried her head in her hands, "Some
nagging...thing doesn't want me to plan tonight."
She sighed and suddenly a light blinked on her speaker phone. She
lifted her head and pressed a button while asking, "Yes? What is it?"
"Carmen," the henchman on the other end replied, "there's someone
here to see you, but you'll agree it's best I turn him away."
"Who is it?" Carmen asked.
"It's Lee Jordan," the henchman replied.
"What's HE doing here?" Carmen demanded.
"He says he wants to talk to you. He kept babbling about how he was
wrong in what he did and wants to ask if it would be possible to rejoin you."
Carmen burst out laughing. "Oh that's a good one! Bring him here- I
could sure use a good laugh!" She then cleared her throat and stopped
laughing. "But," she said with dead seriousness, "be sure you escort him
well. Don't let him out of your sight!"
"Understood," the henchman replied.
Moments later, the henchman stood before Carmen with another one to
assist him. Each of them had Lee by a shoulder.
"Carmen!" Lee exclaimed, "I'm so glad you let me speak with you!
I have-"
Carmen then shot him an amused look and Lee seemed to become rather
nervous. "I...I...I wanted to...that is....look, about what happened the
last time- I'm sorry. I have no idea what came over me, But, could you
give me another chance, please? I beg you, I won't disappoint you this time,
I swear!"
"You know Lee," Carmen replied, "I have only let one person who
betrayed me return. Her name is Sara Bellum and I could tell she wasn't
ever quite in her right mind and could easily snap. So, after a few trips
to the psychiatrist, she was doing much better. As for you, you didn't seem
to be out of your mind when I hired you- or should I say when you joined me."
"Well, I realize my arrogance blinded me and-" Lee began.
Carmen shook her head. "Oh really? So now after a couple of years,
you're ready to redeem yourself?"
Lee's eyes widened and he frantically nodded. "Yes! I...I...I am!
Please Carmen, just one more chance- you'll see I'm a different person!"
Carmen shot Lee an unimpressed look. "Men, take him away. I think
I've had my amusement for the evening."
The henchmen began to drag Lee off. As they did, Lee blurted out,
"Fine! But I should tell you I have information on a past enemy of yours!"
"Wait men!" Carmen exclaimed. The henchmen stopped at her command
and she began to speak again, "Go on Lee. Tell me what you know."
"Do you remember a thief in a black cloak named Marco Kane?"
Carmen gasped and her eyes widened.
"I'll take that as a yes," Lee replied with a sort of evil grin on
his face.
"What about him?" Carmen asked slowly.
Lee's expression became a bit more evil looking and he replied, "It
seems that he's escaped."
Carmen glared at him, "Where did you hear this?"
"On the news," Lee answered in a nonchalant voice.
"You're lying!" Carmen exclaimed. She shot up out of her chair
and stormed over to him. Then while glaring at him with a very angered
expression exclaimed, "I don't know what little stunt you're trying to pull-"
"Look, if you don't believe me, tap into Acme!" Lee angrily
interrupted. He didn't like the idea of being yelled at, but he was quite
surprised by Carmen's reaction.
"I will do just that," Carmen replied with a scowl. "Men, while I
go do that, make sure he doesn't try anything."
The henchmen nodded as Carmen walked down the hall into her computer
room. There was a huge computer that she was known to use to tap into
Crimenet. She pressed a few buttons and the screen became all fuzzy. She
pressed a couple more and she was able to get to Acme's frequency where she
was greeted by and annoyed looking Zack and Ivy.
"What now Carmen?" Ivy asked with annoyance.
"Good evening Ivy and Zack. I was wondering if I could ask you two
something," Carmen replied.
"And what would that be?" Zack asked with some curiosity.
"Well, it seems that there is a rumor that my old enemy, Marco
Kane is on the loose. Have you heard anything?" Carmen asked.
"Can't say we have, Carmen," Zack replied.
"I knew he was lying," Carmen muttered.
"Who?" Ivy asked.
"Lee Jordan," Carmen replied with a slight growl.
"He went to speak to you too?" Zack asked with wide eyes.
"Too? You mean-" Carmen began.
"Yup," Ivy replied, "He was here a little while ago trying to
weasel his way back to Acme. The little loser...escaping from prison and
trying to rejoin a law enforcement agency! But seeing he visited you too,
it seems he was trying to rejoin whomever would take him!"
Carmen began, "That deceitful little-"
"Hey wait, something's coming through on Crimenet," Zack interrupted.
He dashed off and returned a moment later with a computer printout in his
hand.
"What's it say?" Ivy asked.
"Uh-oh," Zack said after glancing at the paper.
"What?" both Ivy and Carmen asked.
"It says here that Marco guy you were talking about escaped!" Zack
exclaimed.
Carmen gasped. "Then Lee didn't...wait, how could he know Marco
escaped if you just got the news?"
"Unless," Ivy began.
"Oh no," Carmen said worried.
"Lee is working for Marco!" Ivy finished.
"Detectives," Carmen replied, "This could be very dangerous for the
both of us. Both Marco and Lee want to get even with Acme and myself."
"Yeah," Zack began, "Lee wants to get even with all of us for
getting him busted-"
"And Marco would be after me for arresting him! I'll bet he'll try
something against Acme as well," Carmen finished with a slight quiver.
"Oh man," Ivy replied worried, "So what do you suggest we do
Carmen?"
"I suggest we have a sort of truce where-" Carmen began.
"Truce?" Zack and Ivy asked worried.
"Well, a sort of one so that we share information on the situation.
Whatever news either of us finds out should be passed on," Carmen finished.
"Sounds fair," Zack replied, "I mean, working that way may lead to
a quicker arrest."
"What's the catch?" Ivy asked with an annoyed expression.
"There isn't one," Carmen replied. "I assure you this isn't some
kind of cover for any caper of mine."
"Yeah right," Ivy replied. "First we thought you were dead, and
that was just a test. Then we thought you were kidnapped and that was just
part of your plan to steal the Magna Carta!"
"But-" Carmen began. She sighed and said, "Perhaps you're right
about not being so willing to trust me."
"Well," Zack said, "Your arrangement seems fair to me."
"Zack!" Ivy exclaimed.
"Ivy, I think Carmen's right. Both Lee and Marco are shared enemies.
If Lee's working for Marco, we could be in serious trouble," Zack replied.
"Fine," Ivy said reluctantly, "Carmen, you've got a deal."
"Thank you detectives, you can be assured that I will uphold my part
of the bargain. Now, I have a little question for you."
"What's that?" Ivy asked.
"What do I do with Lee? He's still in the Manor," Carmen asked.
"Hmm," Zack said, "It's kinda a Catch 22. If you let him go, he'll
most likely report to Marco-"
"But if you keep him, that may be part of Marco's plan to spy on you
or something," Ivy finished.
"Yes," Carmen replied while nodding, "Neither outcome is a pleasing
one."
"How about putting some kind of tracking device on him? Tell him to
leave and then we'll tail him to Marco so we can bust the both of 'em,"
Zack suggested.
"Or lock him away somewhere," Ivy suggested.
"I do like the tracking device idea. That way we can solve two
problems at once. Thanks detectives. I'll get back to you when I toss him
out." With that, Carmen pressed a button on the keyboard and ended
transmission to Acme. She then walked to the other end of the room where
there was a small box that resembled a jewelry box. Carmen opened it and
there inside was a collection of small metal objects about the size of a
computer chip. Carmen picked one up and placed it delicately in her right
hand. She then walked back down to the study where the henchmen were still
holding Lee.
"What did they say?" Lee asked.
"They said they hadn't heard anything, but would keep me informed of
further developments," Carmen replied.
"That can't be right! He said he'd-" Lee then stopped himself,
realizing he almost gave something away.
Carmen walked over to Lee and grabbed the collar of his jacket. "I
don't know what you're trying to pull, but I want you out of my sight!" As
she released her grip on him, the device caught on his coat.
"You'll be sorry about letting me go, Carmen! Trust me!" Lee
exclaimed.
"I'm sure," Carmen replied sarcastically, "Now men, show this creep
the door and be sure you keep your eyes on him while you take him out."
The henchmen nodded and began to drag Lee out of the Manor. As they
did so, Lee exclaimed, "You'll regret this, Carmen Sandiego!" He shouted a
few other things that became muffled by the distance.
Carmen ran back to her computer and re-established connection to
Acme. "Miss me?" she joked as the detectives appeared on the screen.
"Oh gee, it's been so long-" Zack began with a smirk.
"Yeah, yeah. Very funny. Now, is the device on Lee?" Ivy
interrupted.
"Sure is," Carmen replied. She pressed a button on the keyboard.
"There, I just uploaded the tracking program to your system. That way, we'll
all know where Lee is."
Suddenly, in the bottom right corner of the screen, a grid appeared
showing a blue dot moving across it. The grid was numbered in longitude and
latitude.
"Hmm," Ivy said, "Looks like Lee is heading for the airport."
Suddenly, the dot stopped moving. "We had better C-5 to that
location now, Ivy!" Zack exclaimed. "Player, C-5 us to these coordinates!"
The entrance to the corridor appeared. "Wait!" Carmen exclaimed,
"What if-" but she stopped herself, because at that moment, Zack, Ivy and
the corridor entrance disappeared.
The detectives reappeared in the cockpit of an airplane. The pilot
was there, ready to take off.
"Excuse me sir-" Ivy began.
The pilot whirled around and saw the detective, "What are you two
doing in here?" he demanded.
Flashing her badge, Ivy stated, "We're Acme detectives," and as she
said this, Zack flashed his badge. Ivy continued, "and we're looking for a
fugitive."
"I've got a criminal on MY plane?" the pilot nervously asked.
"Don't panic, dude!" Zack exclaimed, "Just let us do our job and
everything will be fine."
The pilot nodded and replied, "Well, check with the flight attendants
and ask them about the person you're looking for. Maybe one of them has
seen him...or her."
"It's a him," Zack replied. "Name's Lee Jordan...well, anyway,
we'll just go ask the flight attendants. Thanks for you cooperation." As
he said that, he and Ivy headed to first class.
As they entered, Zack spotted Lee in the right corner of the area.
Lee was reading a newspaper and didn't notice the detectives right away.
"Ivy!" Zack exclaimed in a whisper, "There he is!" He then pointed to Lee.
Suddenly, Lee glanced up and noticed the two detectives. Zack and
Ivy dashed towards him, but Lee has already dashed towards the door. The
detectives managed to stay fairly close behind him through the boarding
gate, but as they turned a corner and entered the terminal, Lee seemed to
disappear in the crowd.
"Where did-" Ivy began.
"Ivy, just contact Acme and have them show us his location," Zack
suggested.
"Oh, right!" Ivy exclaimed. She pressed a button on her wrist
communicator and the Chief appeared.
"Hiya Ivy, what's up?" The Chief replied, smiling pleasantly.
"Chief, we need to know where Lee ran to," Ivy explained.
"No problem!" The Chief happily exclaimed. The screen he was
projecting himself on changed to reveal a little moving dot.
"He's heading for the exit!" Zack exclaimed.
The detectives dashed around the mob of people and caught a glimpse
of Lee as he dashed into a car.
"Player, quick! Access the C-5 car!" Ivy commanded.
There was a quick flash of blue light and the entrance to the C-5
corridor appeared. Out of the entrance came a light blue sports car which
Ivy leaped in the driver's seat of. The corridor entrance vanished, but the
car remained. Zack then leaped into the passenger seat. Both detectives then
fastened their safety belts. Zack then pushed a button on the dashboard and
a grid appeared with a moving blue dot. "We're not too far behind," he
stated.
The detectives then sped forward until they were right behind Lee who
was now heading onto the highway. The detectives followed him in close
pursuit down the exit ramp and were still very close behind when both cars
got on the highway. Lee then glanced in his rear view mirror and saw the
C-5 car so close behind him. "Impossible!" he exclaimed, "They couldn't
possibly-" Suddenly he noticed a small metal item in the fibers of his
jacket. He screamed in rage and with a quick motion, he removed his jacket
and threw it right at the windshield of the C-5 car.
Ivy gasped and began to drive with her head tilted over the car
door. "Zack! Get that thing off the window! Now!" she commanded.
Zack unfastened his safety belt, stood up and removed the jacket from
the windshield and sat back down. He then re-fastened his seat belt and Ivy
returned to driving normally. Zack glanced at the grid and realized the dot
had moved back to their position. "Ivy, look!" he exclaimed, "We can't
track Lee now!"
"What are-" Ivy began.
"The device! It must have been on his jacket," Zack finished.
"Great!" Ivy exclaimed in frustration, "Well, at least he's still in
sight. We just better keep 'im there!"
Moments later, Lee glanced behind him again and began to drive
faster. Suddenly, he took a sharp left turn that made him cut across a lane
of traffic and break through the road's guardrail. He then sped across the
median and made it to the other side where he reversed his direction and
headed northbound.
"Doesn't Lee know you're not supposed to make a U-turn on the
highway?" Zack joked as Ivy sped towards the broken guardrail.
"Yeah, well, I doubt my driver's ed. teacher would approve of me
doing the same, but we gotta catch that little weasel!" Ivy answered as she
drove through the broken guardrail onto the northbound highway.
Lee then noticed the detectives were still hot on his trail, so he
weaved in and out of the three lanes causing three cars to swerve out of his
way and collide into each other. Suddenly, the cars behind those three cars
began to slam on their brakes and traffic was halted in front of the
detectives.
"Blast it!" Ivy exclaimed.
* * *
A short while later, the detectives contacted Carmen to tell her what
happened. After hearing their story, Carmen replied, "So you lost him and
you can no longer track him you say?"
The detectives nodded sadly and Carmen bowed her head slightly and
shook it in displeasure.
"Carmen, do you think you could tell us something about Marco?" Zack
asked.
"Yeah, the Chief doesn't like to talk about him either," Ivy said.
"Let's just say it's not a pleasant topic for either of us," Carmen
replied. She then quickly added, "Just fill me in with the latest news on
Lee or Marco," as she pushed a button and ended transmission.
The detectives stood there staring at the blank screen for a moment
before switching off transmission. "Man, I really wonder what's up here. I
mean, why would Carmen be so scared of this guy?" Zack asked. Ivy's only
reply was a shrug.
* * *
It was nearly midnight Mountain time when Lee arrived in Marco's
secret lair in the Rocky Mountains. He walked through the house and finally
reached a dimly lit study where a figure was seated at a desk. The figure's
chair was turned backwards and he seemed to be staring out the large window
he was facing.
Lee flipped a light switch at the opposite end of the room and began
to walk towards the desk.
"You're late," the figure said without turning around.
To be continued...
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