HIDDEN MICKEY ADVENTURES 3

by Nancy Temple Rodrigue

  A moment later Peter was handed a pen. “He said it was the best he could do.”

  “Hope he doesn’t want it back in one piece.” Peter went at the small stuck box like an explorer hacking his way through the jungle.

  Alex and Catie stood back as blue paint chips and pieces of the pen rained down on them. “Gosh, Peter. Don’t break it.”

  Peter was too intent on his mission to ask if Alex meant the pen or the canister. “Got it!” Peter jumped down from the bench and handed the remains of the pen to Catie. A small canister was held up in the air in triumph. It was blue on one side and gray on the other. “Woo hoo!” He danced around the Monorail pillar as the other two high-fived each other with big grins on their faces.

  When it became obvious the search was over, Lance came to join them. He frowned at the shards of the pen Catie handed him. “Great. Thanks. Why don’t you guys put the bench back in place and let’s get out of here. We’re getting way too much attention since Peter started yelling and jumping around. Wolf! Let’s go.”

  With a shake to clear the water from his arm, Wolf stalked up to them. They knew not to ask if he found anything. It was clear the woman’s escape route was still a secret. “You want to take them home now, Lance?”

  A loud chorus of “Awwww” met his suggestion.

  Lance raised an eyebrow at the kid’s negative response. That was unexpected. ”I thought you’d want to get home and open the canister.”

  “Umm, I kinda promised the twins we’d go over to California Adventure and ride Screamin’.”

  Alex eagerly nodded his agreement with Peter. Ready to have some fun now that he felt the search was over, he wasn’t too interested in the contents of the small box.

  “I’d rather go on Ariel.” Not overly fond of the fast, twisting roller coaster, Catie’s face had fallen.

  Wolf heard her low mumble that had been ignored by everyone else. “I’ll go on Little Mermaid with you, Catie.”

  She looked up at him in surprise. “You will? I didn’t think you’d like rides like that.”

  He put an arm around her shoulder as they headed for Main Street and the main gate. He didn’t care about riding anything right then, but had seen the stricken look on her face. She shouldn’t be forced to ride something she wasn’t ready for yet. “I love the Little Mermaid. Plus, it fits your treasure hunt.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. We have a redhead mermaid and Ariel is redhead, too.” She warmed up to Wolf now that she felt he understood her fears and became chatty. “Peter and I talked about that in the Mansion when we found her. He thought the mermaid might be Ariel, but I didn’t think so. Her face was all different.”

  Wolf looked down when she stopped walking and saw the frown on her face. “What’s wrong?”

  “Hmm?” She looked up him, obviously trying to figure something out. “Oh, I was just thinking about the mermaid we found. She…she kinda looks like that woman chasing us. Do you think what she told Peter was true? That she was the model? Shouldn’t she be old like you or something?”

  Wolf thought back to what Peter had said about the woman’s ranting. “Yeah, or something. I don’t know, Catie. I need to talk to her myself.” And I plan on doing just that.

  Catie gave a little shudder. She didn’t want to be there when that interview took place.

  Omah paced her den. The more she paced, the angrier she became. Yellowed, water-stained newspapers were crushed underfoot as she strode back and forth, back and forth across the small, dimly lit room.

  “That meddling boy! Why did he have to be so…so stubborn! I poured my heart out and he didn’t believe me. Was I being unreasonable? Was I being demanding? No! Stupid, stupid boy. I just want the mermaid back.”

  A colorful brochure mixed in with the ragged papers caught her eye and she moved the sodden heap aside with her foot. It was a Disneyland guide map given to all the guests as they entered the main gate. This one announced the Park’s Tencennial Celebration in 1965, Disneyland’s ten year anniversary—and the year the mermaids came back to the Submarine Lagoon.

  Omah abruptly sat next to the brochure and stared at it. 1965. It had been such a good year, such a promising one. Her position with Walt was secure. Her decision to join the mermaids to fulfill her assignment was a stroke of genius. The fringe benefits of all the attention she received a decidedly delightful bonus. Everything had all fallen into place after so many years of wandering one place to another trying to fit in. And then those fun-loving, irresponsible Submarine captains got involved. They began to hide her mermaid as a game. A game! They destroyed her!

  She jerked to her feet and started to grumble and rant again. “All those years I worked. Cast aside when it looked like I failed! I didn’t fail. I didn’t! It was taken out of my hands. I was cast away. Sent to Florida. Florida. They didn’t need me there. A ticket-taker. A waitress. Traffic duty. Forty years! I worked for Walt! Not them.”

  The pacing took her to the side of the den where a small stack of photographs had been strewn about. Sides heaving from her raving, her crazed glare slowly came back into focus as she stared at the pictures that covered decades of her life. Clumsily the photos were pushed this way and that as she franticly searched the pile on the ground. Finally Catie and Peter stared back at her, their eyes wide and wary as they peeked at her from behind Lance’s back. “I know you now, boy.” Her voice had dropped to a mere whisper, her lips curled into a semblance of a smile. It would have chilled Peter if he could have seen it. “You led me to my mermaid and I do thank you for that. I knew she was somewhere in the Mansion, but I just couldn’t find her. You led me to the Attic. Asked you nicely for her, didn’t I? But you said no, didn’t you? That won’t do, boy. That won’t do.” The sharp blue eyes turned to study the girl’s face. She was obviously scared in the photograph. “And you, girl. Your name is Catie, but how are you connected with all this, hmmm? I don’t know now, but I will. I will. And it will take more than the security force to stop me.”

  Omah’s foot came down hard on the photograph. “I promised Walt I would fix it. I could see it in his eyes that he didn’t believe me.” Her head swung back to the brochure, bitterness and frustration evident in her every movement. “You’ll get your mermaid back, Walt. I’ll make sure you get it back.”

  Fullerton

  Kimberly had been out back with the boys and the gangly Dug. Still growing into her massive paws, the pup frequently used them to dig random holes around the yard. Kimberly and the boys had a secret ongoing pact to try and fill them in as soon as possible to keep Lance from finding out. So far they had been successful.

  Lance’s Jaguar roared to a stop outside the garage, and she came to see how it had gone in the Park. Lance’s eyes narrowed when he spied her quickly wiping some dirt from her hands. “Planting something? Kinda late in the season, isn’t it?”

  “Oh, just playing with the boys. Hi, Alex, Catie. How did it go?”

  Lance’s probable interrogation was stymied when Michael, Andrew and Dug tore around the side of the garage. Andrew wrapped himself around Lance’s legs and asked what his dad had brought him. Dug launched herself first at Alex and then at Peter.

  Kimberly took advantage of the diversion to brush the rest of the soil on her fingers onto the back of her pants. She flashed Lance a wide, innocent smile when he saw her movement. “So, tell me, what did you find? Did you solve the clue? You guys hungry?”

  Lance gave a wry smile at her subterfuge and joined the chorus of, “We’re starved!”

  “You’re always hungry.” Kimberly slipped her arm around Lance’s waist as they all trooped into the house.

  Lance let her have her diversion. He already knew about the holes out back. It didn’t take a genius to figure out they really didn’t have so much of a gopher problem as a Dug problem. “Say, Pete, show your mom the canister you found.”

  “Oh, you did find one! It’s so odd that this clue wasn’t on the….” She abruptly broke off when Alex and Catie turned to star
e at her, curiosity written all over their faces. They didn’t know about the War Room on the third floor of the Brentwood’s house or their roles as Guardians of Walt Disney. She and Lance had discussed the possible reasons this Hidden Mickey quest hadn’t been on the large holographic map of the Disney world. Whenever a clue was found, a green blinking light turned red to alert the Guardians on watch. They would then make sure everything was followed as it should be and that no harm came to Walt’s carefully-laid plans. Her father had been one of Walt’s right-hand men and was, with Wolf, the first of the Guardians to see that Walt’s legacy continued as Walt had wanted. Kimberly shot a pleading look at Lance to come to her assistance. It wasn’t up to them to tell Catie and Alex. The twin’s parents didn’t even know the whole story—and they had been in on the initial find that had started it all. She started to flounder. “Umm, the clue wasn’t on the….”

  “Wasn’t on the Mark Twain dock like I thought.” Lance winked at her as he took a bite of meat and cheese she had prepared for them.

  She gave him a grateful look and took his lead. “Oh? Not on the Mark Twain dock? Then where was it?”

  Confused, Peter looked back and forth at his parents during this strange exchange. The possibility of the Mark Twain dock being the right answer had never even come up in discussion. That location wouldn’t even have been close to being right. He opened his mouth to correct them but caught Lance’s subtle shake of his head and his nod indicating Catie and Alex. “Oh, right. Yeah, NOT the Mark Twain. Yeah, wow, you were WAY off on that one, Dad!” Lance raised an eyebrow and Peter knew he’d better get off that track. “Mom, it was so cool! We found it at Fantasia Gardens. You know, the old Motor Boat Dock. It was wedged up under the awning where all the birds build their nests. Here, look at this!” He dug the small canister out of his backpack and handed it to his mom. “They actually painted over it! Nobody even knew it was there!”

  Kimberly eagerly examined the thick plastic container. It still thrilled her every time a new one was discovered. Walt Disney actually touched this and put it into place! How she wished she could have met the man. Her father had told her so many stories of the decades they had worked together, but it wasn’t the same. It wasn’t the same as meeting him for yourself.

  “You guys ready to open it?”

  The rousing cheers were somewhat muffled by cheese and crackers but still enthusiastic.

  With a strong desire to tear it open herself—with her teeth, if necessary—she quickly handed the case back to Peter. “Well, let’s get it open.”

  Peter experienced the same thrill as his mom. Hand on the end cap of the small, round canister, about ready to twist, he remembered he wasn’t alone on this search. Again his eagerness warred with fairness as he looked up at the eager faces around him. “Catie, I think it’s your turn to open one. Alex got the last one.” He even gave a small smile as he handed the treasure over to his friend.

  The quiet anticipation was broken when Kimberly slapped her forehead. “Gosh, I was so excited about all of this I forgot. We need to tell your parents you’re back from the Park.”

  “I’ll go do it, Aunt Kimberly.” All eyes turned to Alex at his volunteer. The unexpected attention caused him to take a step back. “What!?”

  “We just thought you’d like to see what’s inside, that’s all.”

  He could tell by the looks on everyone’s faces that they expected him to be as eager as they were over this treasure thing. “Oh, yeah. I do, but, uh, Michael said he was going to show me his new game console. I can call Dad from upstairs. Is that okay?”

  Surprised that Alex wasn’t interested in what might be another clue, Lance let the two boys go. He already knew Michael had no desire to be part of this quest just like he had opted out of the first one with Peter. Young Andrew, as expected, took off with the older boys and Dug bounded up the stairs behind the trio. “Well, I want to see what’s inside. Go ahead, Catie.”

  Catie slowly turned back from watching Alex leave the room. She had always known he wasn’t as keen on Disneyland as she was, but this…this was exciting! How could he not want to see what was inside? With a small, disappointed shrug, she got to work to open the half blue, half gray canister.

  “Mermaids seem to come in threes.

  Is yours a sister to one of these?

  With plenty of sparkles and hair of gold,

  There’s more of this Tale yet to be told.”

  “Small canister, small clue. What?” Lance handed the yellowed paper back to Peter’s eager hands as he questioned the unsure look that slowly spread over Kimberly’s face.

  So they couldn’t hear her, she turned away from the two kids who were busy examining the small golden screwdriver that had fallen out with the clue. With a lowered voice, she leaned closer to Lance. “I just don’t remember Walt being so…so poetic in any of the previous quests. It wasn’t like him. Do you really think he’s the one who set this up? Could that be why none of these locations showed up on the map in the War Room?”

  Lance gave a slow shake of his head while he thought about what her words implied. He hadn’t considered the possibility it might not be from Walt. “The handwriting looks right. We’d have to compare it with the clues we saved upstairs.” He stopped talking and turned to look out the kitchen window.

  “What?”

  Now his face mirrored her uncertainty. “Wolf didn’t know anything about this quest. He and your father had worked with Walt to set all the others in place. But this one is as much a puzzle to Wolf as it is to Peter and the twins.” Before Kimberly could comment, his face suddenly broke out in a wide smile. “Maybe Wolf isn’t as all-seeing, all knowing as we thought!”

  His smile broke the tension and she visibly relaxed. “And maybe Walt had a few secrets up his sleeve.”

  Lance pulled his wife in for an impromptu hug. “There’s that possibility, too. It does add an aura of mystery to this quest.”

  “Dad! Eww. We have company.”

  “Lance, did you just use the word aura?”

  Lance gave Kimberly a quick kiss before she could pull loose. “Never you mind, son. So, what do you think the clue means? Where do you go next?”

  Peter’s answer was interrupted when Alex bounded down the stairs, Dug barking at his feet. “Catie, Mom says we need to come home! You forgot to do your homework.”

  “Aww, I was going to do it tomorrow! We have all day Sunday. Hey, we got the box thing open, Alex! Do you want to see the clue?”

  “Oh. More mermaids. Great.” Alex abruptly handed the paper back to his sister. “Yeah, that’s…uh…cute. Uncle Lance, do you want Dad to come get us? I’m supposed to call him right back.”

  If they hadn’t known for sure by his actions before, it was now completely obvious that Alex wasn’t into this whole quest thing. Lance recalled how excited Adam had gotten with each new discovery during their search. Well, to each his own, he thought. People have to follow their own path. “Why don’t we all drive you home? We need to let your mom and dad know the latest, anyway. It’ll be a good chance to catch up.”

  Kimberly looked at him with narrowed eyes. “Catch up, huh? You just talked to Adam this morning.”

  Lance chose to ignore her reminder. “Michael, go get your little brother. Peter, put a leash on that mongrel and get her in the van. I’ll put the Jag in the garage and we’ll be all set.”

  “What are you up to?”

  Lance gave his wife the charming smile that had gotten him out of scrapes for decades. It didn’t work. “Nothing, sweetheart. Just paying a friendly visit to old friends.”

  “Lance, its dinnertime. It isn’t right for the whole family to just show up like that.”

  His face was all innocence. “It is? Hadn’t noticed. Besides, Adam owes me a meal. He missed the last putt on the eighteenth hole.”

  “Owes you a meal. We are five, in case you forgot how to count.”

  With a regal wave of his hand, Lance dismissed her objections. “Five. One. It’s
all the same. You guys ready? Let’s get going! I hear a steak calling me!”

  Adam had to stand back from his doorway as more people than he expected trooped into his house. Typically unfazed by most events, he did raise an eyebrow when Dug gave an excited, high-pitched yip and bounded through his legs to reach her mother Sunnee. “This is a surprise.” The dry remark was aimed at Lance who had grabbed his un-offered hand for a shake.

  “Yeah, isn’t it, though? Just like old times.” Lance didn’t wait for any return comment but headed over to give Beth a warm hug. “Hey there, Slave Driver. What’s for dinner?”

  “Nice to see you, too, Bottomless Pit. And all the family….” She stifled a giggle at Kimberly’s apologetic gestures behind Lance’s back that it was all his fault. “Yeah, I figured that.”

  “Figured what, Captain?” The nickname game had started years ago when they first met. She had been Adam’s girlfriend at the time and had never fallen for Lance’s smooth, easy-going charm. ‘Captain Obvious’ was one of Lance’s favorites for her as she had a penchant for always stating what everyone else clearly saw.

  Beth gave him a bright smile. “Nothing, Stretch. Hey, Adam, why don’t you fire up the grill out back. I’ll grab the hotdogs and buns I got from the store today.”

  “Hotdogs?” Disdain dripped from Lance’s lips. He had to hold himself back from actually shuddering. When Adam brushed past him to head for the kitchen, Lance could see the smirk on his face. “You owe me a steak, buddy. You double bogeyed, if you remember.”

  “Gosh. Don’t have a clue to what you’re talking about, Brentwood.”

  After dinner, they all watched as the two Golden Retrievers raced down the hill toward the manmade river. Beth’s keelboat, the Gullywhumper, gently bobbed in the water. Adam had built a replica of the beloved boat she used to pilot in Disneyland as a surprise for her—and to propose to her on it. Now it was a great conversation piece and something the kids all waited anxiously to pilot when they reached the magical age of thirteen.