“But you can’t tell your parents.” He was adamant about that point. “Well, at least not yet. Mikey and I want to see how far this takes us before we need to tell them.”
Catie nodded her head. She was a miniature version of her petite and pretty mother. At age eleven, she seemed older than her twin brother Alex, and Peter was glad it was she who had wanted to come along. She had told Peter, “We have four more puppies just like that at home,” when he asked why she wanted to go to the Park with them and not stay back to play with the pup. Thinking on what he had just told her, Catie could see the excitement in Peter’s green eyes. She nodded again and continued to speak in a whisper. “Yeah, Mom and Dad would never understand the excitement of finding something like that. They’re too old.”
“Okay, here’s what I think we need to get done today. We need to ride in the Lilly Belle to see if there is another capsule or something hidden somewhere in the car. I didn’t bring the clue to show you,” he explained, “but it mentions not getting poked. So, I’m thinking it has to be something down in one of the chairs. In the pictures they all looked really padded and soft.”
Knowing Disneyland almost as well as her mother, Catie frowned as she thought about his objective. “But, Peter, not just anybody gets to ride in that car. It’s pretty special and might not even be out today.”
A quick look of shock passed over the boy’s face. Peter’s mouth formed an O, and then shut. “I didn’t even think of that. What’ll we do? We have to get inside it.”
“You sure you don’t want to ask your dad? Mom says he can charm the scales off of a snake.”
“Really? Hmph, wonder why she would say that? No,” he decided, looking out the window as Harbor Boulevard whizzed by as they neared the Park. He knew Beth would veer over to Disney Drive soon and head for the huge parking structure. “No, we can’t tell my dad yet. Do you think your mom could do it? She’s worked there forever.”
Catie contemplated the suggestion. “She does get to work on whatever she wants to because of all those Disney artifacts she loaned to them. I don’t know. I don’t think she’d be able to pull that off.”
They were both silent as Beth ran her employee I.D. card into the parking lot scanner. The arm swung up and she steered through the structure, looking for a spot close to the elevators. Since it was Saturday and apparently busy already, she ended up two floors higher than she wanted. “Should have parked in the employee lot,” she grumbled to Kimberly as they piled out of the Jeep.
“No problem.” Always good-natured, Kimberly just smiled. “We aren’t in any hurry today. Are we, kids?”
Heads together again, Peter and Catie didn’t hear her. Their moms, seeing their preoccupation, gave each other an encouraging grin. They always hoped the two would remain close friends as they got older and more mature—a thought that would have produced an “Ewww,” from each of the ones under consideration at this point in time.
“Wolf!”
Peter exclamation was heard by both Beth and Kimberly. “Did you say wolf?”
“Um, Uncle Wolf. Is he working today? I just wanted to ask him something.” Peter turned a hopefully-innocent-looking smile on his mother.
Her green eyes narrowed, she shrugged. “I don’t know. If he is in the Park, I’m sure he’ll find us.”
Kimberly and Beth exchanged a mom-look as the two kids ran ahead to the escalator and they all headed down to the trams for a ride to the main entrance. “We’ll probably never know,” Beth sighed to her friend.
“Not if they don’t want to tell us, that’s for sure. And Wolf won’t be any help, either.”
“I haven’t seen him in quite a while.” They took their seats on the crowded tram. Once everyone was secure, Beth continued. “How is he, anyway? Any new girlfriend? He’s how old now? Thirty?”
Kimberly just smiled and kept silent as the tram whisked them through the winding turns of the private drive alongside Disney Drive. Wolf had been thirty for as long as she had known him. That was one of the mysteries of this particular Guardian.
“Wolf! What are you doing here?” Kimberly wondered why she was surprised when their friend suddenly showed up beside them at the door to Club 33 on Royal Street. She had just been ready to push the call button when she felt an unannounced presence beside her.
Dressed in his security uniform, Wolf nodded his greetings to Beth. They had met years ago when she was working on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, shortly after Adam’s and her hunt had concluded. Wolf had been looking for the missing Lance and wondered if she knew where he might be. Now, since all of them were friends again, he fell into the couple’s company often. “Lance called and told me you needed another person for your reservation. He grumbled something about a dog, but I really didn’t listen. If you don’t mind my joining you, that is.”
“Théhaŋ waŋčhíŋyaŋke šni, Uncle Wolf!” Peter was obviously happy by this turn of events.
“Long time, no see to you, too. Very good, Peter. Tókheškhe yaúŋ he?”
“I’m fine, thank you.” Peter was always pleased to show off his Lakota vocabulary to friends.
“All right, you two,” Kimberly smiled. “Let us in on the conversation, too.”
“Sorry, Mom.” Glancing over at Catie, he threw a look at Wolf using only his eyes and then smiled knowingly at her.
Realizing what he meant, she gave a small nod. Maybe now they would find out about the Lilly Belle.
It was now apparent that the lunch would turn into a pleasant two hour respite from the rest of the day. Beth and Kimberly, both members of the Club, enjoyed the unhurried meal. Peter and Catie enjoyed the elaborate dessert table. Wolf, as always, just ate whatever was put in front of him.
When Kimberly and Beth went off to the ladies room, Peter saw his chance. “Uncle Wolf, can we ask you something?”
Getting something of a grunt in response, the boy continued. “Do you think you can get us onto the Lilly Belle for a ride? We’ve never been on it.”
The corner of Wolf’s mouth turned up briefly. It was as close as he came to smiling. “Most of the millions of people who come to Disneyland have never been on it.” He tried another sip of the mint julep Kimberly had insisted he order. Just like the first time, he grimaced and set it aside, shaking his head.
“I know.” Peter looked down the long entryway to see if his mom was coming back yet. Wolf caught the look, but didn’t say anything. “But, it would mean a lot to us,” indicating Catie as if that would help, “to get to ride it. Do you think you can arrange it? Today?” He sounded so hopeful, his eyes wide.
Wolf gave an inward smile. Peter had unconsciously turned on the charm just like his father did. “Is it that important?” Wolf saw Peter glance down the hallway again.
“Yes!” Catie and Peter claimed at the same time. “We really need to go on it.”
Wolf gave a small shrug. All he had to do was make a call using the number on the Guardian’s private line. With its voice-scrambling technology, the person at Disneyland answering the call wouldn’t even know who it was who was calling. They would just know they had to do whatever was asked. Wolf rarely used the line. He left that to Lance or Kimberly as befitted the main ones who took over her father’s role. After another look at the eager faces and hearing Beth’s voice as the women came back toward the table, he gave a short nod. He held up a restraining hand so they didn’t start whooping in delight. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Catie looked so pleased Wolf was afraid she was going to try and hug him. He quickly got to his feet and said good-bye to the returning women. “Meet me at the Main Street train station at 4:30. I have a surprise for all of you.”
Used to his abrupt comings and goings, Kimberly just nodded. “Sounds good.” She looked warily at the two eager, young faces in front of her. “You know what this is about? You two look like you are about to burst.”
“You’re going to love it, Mom!” Peter promised. “Can I have another piece of cake, please?”
Kimberly let her son distract her. She would find out soon enough what this was about. “Sure, honey. Help yourself. Catie? You, too?”
Both of the kids walked quickly to the dessert table and picked up fresh plates, their heads together again in excited conversation.
Beth glanced over at Kimberly, who too, was watching them. “Great plans are in the making.”
“Yes, I can see that. Well, we’ll find out around 4:30, I’m sure. Want to tease them and say we have to be home by 4 o’clock?” Kimberly asked with a wicked grin.
“Oh, that would be so mean! I love it! But, no, let’s see how it plays out. I’m curious now. Especially with Wolf in on whatever it is.”
The Main Street Train Station was a charming building that had been designed to look like a depot in the early 1900’s. Inside the small station was an assortment of artifacts from the early days of train travel. On one of the walls was a large poster of the five steam engines that traveled around the Park.
Wolf was waiting for them at the left side of the loading area, near where the back of the train would stop. Peter and Catie had to restrain themselves from actually running toward him and jumping up and down. He wasn’t fooled by their slow walk in his direction.
“Are we on time?” Kimberly looked around at the other guests who waited patiently for the next train to arrive. It was pretty busy that late in the afternoon. She could see over the tracks to the main entrances of both Disneyland and California Adventure. There were still a lot people streaming into both parks.
The recorded announcer proclaimed that the next train was arriving. Right on cue, they could hear the bell ringing and the chug of the engine as the C. K. Holliday pulled past them, the engineer waving at the guests. With a screech of the wheels, the stately train came to a stop with an explosion of steam up in the front. The conductors immediately got to work and ushered departing guests toward the exit and opened the gates for the new passengers to board.
James, the conductor with the most seniority, came to greet Wolf and his party. Wolf hadn’t let the curious women enter beyond the gate. As they looked toward the back of the train wondering about the delay, Kimberly and Beth both let out a surprised gasp. The Lilly Belle was the last car on the train.
“If you will follow me, please.” James tipped his hat and led the party to the end of the platform. Reaching into his vest pocket, he pulled out a small brass key and fit it into the highly polished lock on the back of the bright red car. “After you, ladies.” He held out his hand and assisted Beth, Kimberly, and Catie into the plush interior. Peter and Wolf followed, all of them taking a moment to let it sink in that they were actually inside the most exclusive car in Disneyland. “Enjoy your journey.” James tipped his hat again and, reaching out an arm, signaled ‘all aboard’ to the next conductor. The signal was transferred up to the engineer, and the C. K. Holliday gave two short whistles to indicate she was ready.
As the party inside the mahogany car found seats, Kimberly finally found her voice. “How did you do this, Wolf? This is amazing. In all the years I’ve been coming to the Park, I never thought I’d get to ride in the Lilly Belle.” In the excitement of the moment, Kimberly forgot that she, too, as a Guardian, could have arranged a trip in the special car.
Beth was too stunned to say much of anything. She ran an unbelieving hand over the cool marble surface of the round table next to her claret mohair-covered couch. Ignoring the ‘Please remain seated at all time’ warning heard through the sound system, she wandered over to one of the walls to look at the picture of Walt and his family framed there. The lace curtains in the windows fluttered in the breeze that came in through the open windows. She glanced up at the twelve stained-glass panels that were lit overhead. “This is absolutely stunning,” she whispered to no one in particular.
Peter and Catie appeared to be too excited to sit still. They bounced from one of the seats to the next, not staying in any one chair too long. The thirty-seven-foot-long car had seating for fifteen people, so they had plenty of choices for seats. But, the two kids didn’t appear to like any of them.
Standing in the back of the car near the curved entry door, Wolf had been casually looking out the back window. But the actions of the two kids finally caught his attention. While it might look like they were too excited to sit still, he knew Peter better than that. There seemed to be a purpose in what he and Catie were doing. Every time they tried a new chair, he saw their hands slip behind them and disappear into the mohair cushion.
His mouth slightly fell open as he covertly watched them. They were searching for something. It became too obvious to him. When the train neared the ToonTown station, their movements stilled and they remained in one place. But, once the train got moving again, the previous actions were resumed. They were trying to appear random, but he could tell they were hitting every seat in the car. He chuckled to himself when Peter suggested his mom try a different chair to see how comfortable it was just so he could search the seat she had been sitting in. Catie tried the same thing with Beth. When Catie reached back into Beth’s vacated position, her face gave a momentary look of shock, which she managed to quickly cover over. Motioning for Peter, he came to sit next to her. Only Wolf saw the transfer of the gray capsule to Peter and it being dropped into his backpack.
Peter was one of the boys who found the clues! Wolf had to keep from staring at the boy—who would have surely noticed—while his mind started to spin. Two boys had been in the Tiki Room. I’d bet anything it was Peter and Michael. There had been one boy reported sliding down the banister in the Golden Horseshoe. Probably Michael covering for Peter while he retrieved the first plastic canister. Still silent, Wolf worked out the likely series of events up to this point.
Putting a thoughtful hand to his chin, Wolf continued to stare out the back window as the last white spires of It’s a Small World disappeared around a carefully-trimmed topiary hedge. He had never thought it would be a child who found Walt’s trail of clues. He gave an amused grunt. Peter wouldn’t like being called a child—and he certainly showed maturity in a lot of things. But, this? What would his parents think?
Glancing at the boy who was finally content to sit in one chair, Wolf figured Lance—and Kimberly, for that matter—more than likely didn’t know about this find. Peter had been too secretive, both in Club 33 and here in the Lilly Belle. What an interesting turn of events. The sons of the current Guardians found the next set of clues. Wolf almost smiled at the thought.
Wolf liked the boy. He had always wanted to take him back to meet his family, but knew Peter’s parents wouldn’t allow such a journey.
Thinking back on the chain of events up to now, Wolf remembered that the family had been in Disneyland each time the War Room system had been triggered. Why hadn’t he seen the evidence right in front of him? Apparently Lance and Kimberly didn’t notice the incongruity either. Something would’ve been said. So, who was the mysterious man that Anne in the Tiki Room said had come to the boys’ rescue when they stuck their hand in the tiki mouth? Anne assumed it had been their father. But, based on the evidence in front of him, it couldn’t have been Lance. He was too well known in Disneyland and didn’t fit the description. Should he ask Peter about it? Would Peter figure out Wolf knew all about the Hidden Mickey trails? Would he eventually conclude that Wolf was the one who had placed the clue back into the train car each time it was restored?
As the train pulled into the sparse Tomorrowland station, Monorail Blue was just pulling out with a double blast of its loud air horn. Peter and Catie rushed to the back window next to Wolf just in time to see the sleek body slip by overhead and out of sight on its way through California Adventure and over to the Downtown Disney station.
So many questions and no easy answers. “Back to your seats, guys.” Wolf gave Peter a small nudge as the train lurched forward to start on her journey through the Grand Canyon and Primeval World.
“You’re standing.” Peter started to argue until he saw the look o
n Wolf’s face. “Sorry,” he muttered as he took a place on the sofa next to Catie.
When Peter started to explain to Catie how the Lilly Belle used to be known as the Grand Canyon, Wolf knew the boy had been doing his homework and was in this for the duration.
On the alert now, Wolf would step back and observe—just as he had done in the years past.
Wolf wasn’t the only one who closely watched Peter’s actions. Earpiece in place, seated in the last row of seats in the next car, Todd Raven watched as best he could through the narrow windows of the Lilly Belle. He could see that the girl had finally stopped bouncing from one seat to the next. When Peter came to sit next to her, only he had heard her muffled voice. “I found it, Peter! I found it!”
There had been silence, and then the capsule actually hit the bug hidden in the bottom of the backpack, making a loud scraping noise against the microphone. Todd couldn’t see Wolf at the far end of the train car. But, he knew he was there and, thanks to the kids’ whispers, he knew Wolf had somehow arranged this special trip. What role did Wolf play in all this? He didn’t know Wolf all that well on a personal level, but he knew enough to be wary of this particular security guard. He also knew Wolf and the Brentwood family were close friends. All of this meant he would have to tread very carefully from now on.
Todd smiled a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes when he turned back in his seat. The train just entered the tunnel that connected Tomorrowland to Main Street and it quickly got darker and darker. When the opening strains of Ferde Grofé’s “On the Trail” started to play, he didn’t even look over at the vivid colors and beautiful artwork that made up the Grand Canyon diorama. He had more important things to think about.
He had some artifacts to steal.
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