North headed back to her room after making sure that the others were doing as they were assigned. She needed to get something before she headed out to hers. Walking quickly down the hallway she had her hand on the doorknob before noticing the envelope on the door.
Gabbing it and carefully ripping it open she read what was written. 'Well better get this down to Walter too.' she thought to herself. Without even entering her room she made her way back downstairs.
"Hey Rita, Walter. I have another one for analysis."
"What?? Another one???" Rita queried. "This is getting ridiculous."
"Yeah well, I found it stuck to my door and brought it right down. Any luck with the others?" North asked.
"Well give it here North. I can't very well do anything while it is still in your grubby little hands." Walter motioned as he held his hand out for the envelope.
"Oh. Sorry Walter. You're right. Oh and watch it. There was a strand of hair stuck to the gluey part of the flap."
"Great. Maybe now we'll get somewhere." Rita said. "Hey North, I'll stay here and wait for this. If you want you can get going."
"Good. I'll meet you back in the common room as soon as I check out something. I don't like where this is going but something tells me that someone is playing a game with us."
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Part Eighteen - Sherry
Sherry paced back and forth in her dank dungeon until she thought she would go stir crazy. "Man, I hope they soon find me! I'll lose my mind in here with nothing to do. No books, no TV, no ... anything.
Finally tired of pacing, Sherry flopped down on the cot. Then her captor spoke. "Getting bored are we? I'm sorry. I really thought your cohorts would pick up on that last clue a little faster. Maybe they need a further incentive."
Sherry looked up towards the black window high above her. "And just what type of incentive did you have in mind?"
The voice chuckled. "Oh, don't worry. I'm not going to lop off a finger or ear or anything. I may just have to borrow a little blood though."
"Borrow? You want to borrow my blood? And how do you plan on returning it?"
The voice chuckled again. "My, my ... so picky. Okay, I'm going to take some blood. Is that better?"
Sherry sighed. "Well, at least your word choice is better. What are you going to do with my blood?"
"Oh, I haven't decided yet. I could leave a bloody little trail in front of Michael's room. I would love to see his reaction to that. Or, I could simply smear your blood on a piece of your clothing and leave it for someone to find. Or maybe both. Do you think that would perk them up? I'm getting bored as well."
"I don't think I'll volunteer my blood, thank you all the same."
The voice chuckled again. "Ever the comedienne. I see why Michael adores you ... so many moods ... Besides, who said you had a choice?"
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Part Nineteen - Sophie
"Did I hear you right!, another note." Sophie entered Walter's domain with Roy trailing behind. "It was attached to my door." replied North.
Without skipping a beat, Sophie called Michael, "Michael, we got another note, we need to post at all access points at Headquarters, got it,....Michael"
"Yeah I got it" and the other end went dead.
"There's a space case if I ever saw one, so Rita, what's the gist on the notes, anything to go on!"...
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Part Twenty - Rita
Rita was pondering the message of the last note. She began to think a cat and a stranger when finally she hit upon what she believed to be the solution. When finally Walter spoke.
"Rita, some of the results are in." Walter said.
Rita looked at him anxious for him to continue.
"The hair samples found although the same color of Sherry's hair are synthetic. From a wig I would imagine. We are having the salvia from the envelope DNA crossmatched but that would take a little longer. The paper though is only made in Paris by special order."
"Great send that report to North." Rita said as she flipped open her cell phone and dialed.
"Sophie. I need you ad Roy to go check out a stationary store in Paris. It seems the paper came from there. Do what you have to get the information."
" Of course no problem. What are you going to do?" Sophie inquired.
"I think I know the answer to the clue. I'll let you know if I am right. Bye." With that she snapped the cell phone shut.
"Thanks Walter. I'll call in to check on the other results." She turned to walk away.
"Rita, maybe you had better take this with you just in case things aren't safe." He held out a sig sauer gun with holster.
She took it out of his hands and put on the holster. "Thanks Walter." Then she walked out. As she walked down the hallway she bumped into Michael who was making a beeline for Walter's.
She called out his name to get his attention. He looked determined and slightly ruffled but only someone who knew him well enough would know that.
"Rita, what do you know?" He asked abruptly.
Rita filled him in about the results and the second note.
"I have posted operatives at all the entrances to CLHQ. We will catch this person." He said.
"Come with me I think I know where the next clue is."
He nodded his assent and they walked out together. Michael was silent the whole way. When they arrived on the grounds of CLHQ, she began leading him towards the gazebo where Cat had first met Gray. When they climbed the steps of the gazebo they found.....
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Part Twenty-One - Black Clad Figure
"Well, that Rita is certainly one intelligent operative. Of course, we knew that, didn't we? Yes, she's turning into quite the opponent."
The figure watched as Rita and Michael found another envelope. Only this time there was more. The envelope was attached to something. It was attached to a little replica of the Eiffel Tower.
"What in the world does this mean?" Rita looked to Michael.
Michael shook his head and opened the envelope.
Michael dropped the note and flew out of the gazebo.
"Michael! Michael! What is it?"
Michael stopped at looked at her. "Did you pick up the note?"
Rita nodded. "Read it." Rita complied and turned pale. "A part of her ... Michael ... you don't think ..."
"I don't know, but I'm not taking any chances. Let's get moving."
The figure in black smiled. "Well, Mikey is finally joining in the fun. Now the game will really begin." He turned to the monitor and looked at Sherry. She was stretched out on the cot staring at the ceiling. "Well, it seems your boyfriend has decided to look for you. Took him long enough. I wouldn't have waited that long."
Sherry sat up and turned to the dark window. "So, what did you do with all that blood?"
"Oh, I took one of your hiking boots and covered it with the blood. It shouldn't be long before they figure out that clue and find it."
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Part Twenty-Two - Sophie
With the info gathered by Rita, Sophie and Roy headed off to the little shop on the Rue Du Lac in a small corner of Paris.
Entering the venue, the smell of pot-pourri, intense cinnamon, filled the limited air space. The shop was filled to the rafters with cards, gifts and novelties.
A little man shuffled from the back as he heard the tiny bell chime as his patrons entered.
"Oh, vhat a pretty lady!! Come, come I show you many good things!!!"
"I am actually looking for the paper your shop deals in exclusively." Sophie began hedging into her detective work. Roy, on the other hand had stopped near the front of the store and was now entranced in the small note card sets. Sophie made a mental note to kill him if she received another one for Christmas.
"Is famous non!! Very strong, very pretty, look at dis, zee color of your eyes." The man took Sophie by the hand and began his shuffle into a far corner. "I actually received, uh, a gift of your wonderful paper and am trying to track down who uh, gave it to me."
"A secret beau!!!, preeety lady, perhaps they want to be secret admirer, non!" The old man preened knowing, a sale was coming, since she wanted information. "The paper was fairly plain, no scent or decoration......