Missus Davenhill says, “Don’t worry yourselves about the Marvella’s, Miss Brown. I visited their home the evening of the memorial. I explained everything to them, at least as much as I knew up to that point. I told them that someone might have influenced some in the audience to act the way that they did. Regrettably, I am not at liberty to share my suspicions with you at this time.
“As far as your questions are concerned, Miss Brown, they are excellent questions. That is why you and your Sextet teammates are the school-sanctioned investigative team. You have a charter, and you need to try and answer the questions no matter how difficult the process.”
Diana Jane says, “That is nice to hear you say that, Missus Davenhill.” She glances at the other members of the Sextet. “We thought you were going to tell us that you were going to terminate our investigative team. It is comforting to know that we are still good to go.”
Brenae noisily sips her strawberry milkshake. After swallowing loudly, she grins. “Sorry. This milkshake is delicious. Anyway, considering that you and Officer Bennett bought all this delicious food for us, naturally, we thought it was going to be the Sextet’s last supper or something like that.” She looks at Diana Jane. “Just like Diana Jane has said.” She flashes Missus Davenhill a brief, pretending smile. “What is more, ma’am, you need to know, that if you terminated our investigation that would tick me off royally because we still have work to do.”
Officer Bennett gives Brenae a dirty look. His look does not go unnoticed by the Sextet. He says in a sarcastic tone, “No, Miss Woodbine, unfortunately, your principal did not terminate your investigation. On the contrary, your principal thought she should reward you for your efforts. Since it would be inappropriate for us to pay for your lunch out of our own pockets, she used the hundred dollars Mister Cheaply so graciously gave to Miss Brown as payment for your meal. Thus, eat up because you still have forty-five dollars and some change left.”
Chloe pumps her fist in the air. She whispers, “Take that you creep, Mister Cheaply!”
Missus Davenhill gives Chloe a sharp look. She says, “Remember what I told you, okay?” Chloe nods her head and says, “Sorry, ma’am. I will mind my manners.”
Missus Davenhill glances around the table.
“Consider today’s lunch as an inducement. It is an incentive for your team to continue its stellar efforts to answer the questions that your team leader, Miss Brown, asked a few moments ago. I cannot reward you with anything tangible. Additionally, I cannot reward you academically until you have finished your investigation. As I said, this gathering is an incentive for you to do what you do best. Investigate and get results!”
Diana Jane says, “Thank you for having faith in us. It has been a very trying ordeal, to say the least.” She looks at her teammates one by one, and then she says, “At least it has been wearisome for me, and I’m confident it has been wearisome for my teammates as well.”
“Where do we go from here?” Chloe asks Missus Davenhill.
The Sextet’s principal replies, “We continue to meet at least once a week for lunch in my conference room.” She looks around the table. “As I said a few seconds ago, the six of you continue to do what you have been doing – investigate and get results!”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
FALL OF THE CARDS
“Yes, I will destroy you!”
Part I: Threats, Insults, and Partings
Mister Cheaply is nervously wringing his hands as he paces back and forth. He has wrapped up a lengthy, profanity-laden tirade directed at Puppet. His wandering around the room is a therapeutic attempt to calm his nerves and to squash his quick, fiery temper.
Doc O’Neil said I am going to suffer a heart attack or stroke if I do not figure out a way to calm my nerves. All the same, Reginald certainly knows how to get under my skin! He is accusing me of sucking up to Marie because I didn’t follow through with my threats to terminate support for her stupid extracurricular programs! Despite what Reginald said, I got my message across to her about stopping the worthless investigation. What more could he want out of me?
Puppet asks casually, “Do you know what your problem is, David?” Mister Cheaply does not reply. He continues his pacing and the wringing of his hands. “You do not have an iota of courage. You are a yellow belly coward.”
In an annoyed tone of voice, Mister Cheaply says, “What in the heck is that supposed to mean, that I don’t have any courage?” He angrily points his finger at Puppet.
“I have just as much courage as you! Furthermore, I certainly am not a coward. I am also a heckuva lot smarter than you too. You are just ticked off because I told Marie I would continue my sponsorship of her programs, although I persuaded her to stop her dumb investigation. I have courage, darn you!”
“I seriously doubt that,” Mister Sorrie says. “You have the money. That is a given. I have the brains and technical know-how. Those are givens. My brother has the guts and magical abilities as do I.” He glances in Robert’s direction. “As far as my dear nephew is concerned, well, I have no clue what he has to offer, especially as of late.” He raises his voice. “Up until now all he has done is create chaos and show us that he is incompetent.”
Robert is sitting on the far side of the room. Mister Sorrie walks over to his nephew and snatches the book that is lying open on Robert’s lap.
“What is in this book that interests you so much, Robert? You are supposed to be contributing to this meeting.” Robert begins to reply to his uncle’s questions. Instead, he grabs the book from his uncle, reopens it and resumes processing its contents.
Robert is used to his uncle’s outbursts. His uncle’s occasional affronts certainly upset the central part of his being. Nevertheless, Robert recognizes that his uncle’s slights are nothing compared to being poked with sharp objects, punched and slapped, bullied continuously, and ordered to do things that he doesn’t want to do.
Puppet yells, “Leave my son alone! He has plenty of constructive factors to offer. Besides, he takes directions from me, not you.” He glares at his son. “He better do as I tell him, or I will slap him silly.”
Mister Sorrie says, “Whatever it is that you are telling Robert to do, he is screwing it up royally.” He glares at his step-brother. “Do you consider killing people and causing injuries on one street within an hour’s timeframe constructive? The police are suspicious. As far as Marie Davenhill is concerned, I think she is getting closer to the truth as well. I cannot stand the woman, although I have to admit she is brilliant. She picked highly competent teenagers to head up her investigation.” He glares at Mister Cheaply. “With any luck, David convinced Marie to terminate their investigation. If he was unsuccessful, we could be in trouble, serious trouble.”
Puppet says, “I have to believe they still are investigating. The teenagers’ ingenuity upsets me the most. Our latest attempt to scare them failed, and it failed miserably. I never expected them to go on the offensive to attack your students. I can only imagine one or more of your computer geeks squealed to high heaven and confessed everything to their principal. They could implicate you, Neville. What will you do if they connect you?”
“That will not happen,” Mister Sorrie says in a confident tone. “The subliminal messages I had inserted into their music tells them to deny knowing about my involvement.”
Mister Cheaply abruptly questions in a cross tone, “What in the world are you talking about?” He had stopped his pacing over a minute ago. “What killings? Are you three somehow related to those deaths and injuries on Grider Street? If you are, I want nothing further to do with any of you!” He points his finger at Mister Sorrie.
“Furthermore, to what subliminal messages are you referring? You never told me about using subliminal messages! Their use is illegal, not to mention immoral, especially when it comes to children, to teenagers. What have you done, Neville?” He glances at Robert and then at Puppet.
“My God, what have the three of you done? I didn’t buy into any of this to fur
ther my goals, to make lots of money. The three of you are criminals, immoral criminals!”
Mister Sorrie laughs. He says in an accusing tone, “You are lecturing me on the illegality of doing things to further my goals? Do you dare to lecture me on the immorality of doing things to make things right? Shame on you! You are the most scamming person I have ever had the dishonor of meeting.
“You cheat your customers. You even cheat your daughter, Claudia. You do not have her on the payroll. You pay her next to nothing to work long hours in your stupid store. Wouldn’t you call violating child labor laws illegal? You routinely bribe children as you did with the Brown girl. Wouldn’t you call that illegal? You make the girl’s brother, Jim, do illegal things, to cheat your vendors. Wouldn’t you call that immoral? How much lower can you go with your illegalities?
“You make your teenager employees hide in the back room and chip bottle tops. That way you can cheat your vendors and get free bottles of pop. I bet you pretend you do not know what your employees are doing. Therefore, if the authorities catch them, you can deny having any knowledge of their wrongdoings. Wouldn’t you say that is immoral? Wouldn’t you say that is illegal? I would say that it is a criminal activity. Think about it, David. You are corrupting the morals of innocent children. You are a criminal!”
“Who in the world told you those lies?” Mister Cheaply scolds. “I warn you. Leave my daughter out of it.”
“My brother knows things,” Puppet says, “things that would shock you if he told them to you. Besides, David, your daughter is involved whether you like it or not.”
“What?” Mister Cheaply says in a disbelieving tone. He places his hands on his hips as he stares at the two men. The look on his face is shockingly hostile.
“What do you mean my daughter is involved? Are you accusing her of being involved in something illegal, something that could cause her harm or get her into trouble?”
Mister Sorrie says, “We inserted all the subliminal messages I alluded to into the flash drives we handed out for free.” He chuckles. “That includes the couple hundred drives that we gave to you. The messages are designed to haunt those who listen to the horrible music of that popular band, Ramen Noodles and Soup.
“The messages tell whoever listens to the music to deny they know me or even heard my name.” He smiles at his brother-in-law. “They repeatedly tell the listeners to be scared of Puppet, to be scared of twine, to be scared of coils of twine, and yes, to imagine things they would rather not – things like monsters, clowns, or even being shunned and bullied by their friends. In next to no time, most of the youngsters of Claymore will be under our influence. Then we will work on the adults. Soon, the adults will be under our control along with their stupid offspring.”
Puppet says in an indifferent tone, “Your precious daughter may be under our influence as we speak. What's more, there is nothing you can do about it, David.” He grins a nasty smirk. “I assume Claudia, like hundreds of other youngsters in town, enjoys the music of Ramen Noodles and Soup, in addition to the band’s humorous, enticing commentaries. After all, local teenagers make up the band, and a few of them attend her school.
“Does she like the band, David? Did you give her one of the free flash drives, or did you make her pay for it, probably like you did with hundreds of others? Whether you gave it to her or sold it to her, she is toast. Your sweet Claudia no longer is the daughter that you know and love. She, along with hundreds like her, belongs to us. She is ours, David, not yours.”
Mister Cheaply does not reply. He stares at Puppet, Mister Sorrie, and Robert, one after the other. When Mister Cheaply finally responds, his tone of voice is hostile and accusing. He points his finger threateningly.
“I cannot believe the three of you have done this! Sure, some of my business practices may be less than ethical. I am getting back at the cheating and conniving vendors. Besides, the vendors represent companies that can afford it. The companies continuously overcharge my customers and me. The vendors are obliging members of monopolies that go against everything that serves controlled Capitalism. Yes, I am punishing customers that rat on me to the Better Business Bureau. They tell lies after lies after lies! Somebody has to punish them!
“What the three of you are doing, what you have done, is criminal, unethical, and immoral. One of you is a murderer, and two of you are accomplices!” Mister Cheaply raises his voice markedly. “You are manipulating my daughter’s mind as well. How could you? She listens to that stupid band’s music twenty-four-seven! How could the two of you stoop so low? Parents like me will soon discover your depraved scheme. When they do, you will regret everything that you have done!”
“Oh, I doubt that will happen,” Puppet replies uncaringly. He glances at Neville. “You see, David, Neville’s subliminal messages are pervading the airways as we speak. We even have hidden some of the subliminal words in the Gazette. The written messages are pervasive. Folks that read the paper won’t even know that we are manipulating them.”
Mister Sorrie says, “Let me tell you something exciting, David. I guarantee what I have to say will rattle your brain. It concerns the upcoming Claymore High School play, Peter Pan. The picturesque scenes that appear on the huge screen throughout the play contain a slew of subliminal messages. As a result, nearly the entire cast, and supporting crew as well, is already under our influence. The messages repeatedly flash throughout the play, and the subconsciousness of viewers’ minds absorb what the words are saying. We are slowly but surely holding the drama club members and their teacher captive. Soon, like your daughter, we will own everyone that is involved in the play!
“So that you know, a good portion of the admiring audience during the four performances of the play will consist of adults. They, too, will come under our influence.” Mister Sorrie loudly laughs as he says excitedly, “That is not the best part, David! Yes, it even gets better! Channel 6 is going to broadcast the final performance of the play! Millions in the Channel 6 viewing area will see the play. Then Channel 6 will broadcast seven reruns of the play over the next several months. Before you know it, David, we will have all of Middle Tennessee, from Nashville to Alabama, and a hundred miles to the east and west, under our influence! Yes, soon the four of us will realize the rewards of our hard work!”
Mister Sorrie glances at his brother-in-law. He says, “Do you have anything to add?”
Puppet says, “Given what you know, David, we must warn you. Do not do anything rash. Do not do anything stupid. Do not go to the police or tell anyone what you know. Do you understand what I am telling you?”
Mister Cheaply does not reply. He stands motionless with his fists clenched by his side. He is fuming mad, and he knows that he can no longer control his temper. He quickly sizes up Puppet and Mister Sorrie in turn. He reckons the small-statured, bespectacled vice principal is nothing more than a cowardly wimp. Mister Cheaply figures the smaller man probably weighs half of what he weighs. He is confident he can tear the smaller man to pieces. Mister Cheaply is sure that Puppet will not go to his brother-in-law’s defense. He suspects that Robert will not react as well. The boy appears to weigh less than his uncle.
I was the boxing champ in my senior year at college, so if the others want to join in the fray and struggle, so be it! The more, the merrier!
Mister Cheaply suddenly lets out a horrifyingly loud, guttural growl and rushes at Mister Sorrie.
Before Mister Cheaply closes in on Mister Sorrie, Robert is on his feet. He has his hands spread before him. A strange-looking film of translucent, gray-colored air is exploding from his fingertips. He is grinning evilly as his mysterious dark blue eyes gradually enlarge into fearsome, opaque, black orbs.
Mister Cheaply is in a confused stupor as he stares at Robert’s eyes. He is powerless to move as the strange film gushing from Robert’s fingertips rapidly envelop his body. He lets out a muted shout as the mysterious, dark blue pupils of Robert’s eyes narrow into slits like those of a snake.
Robert is encircli
ng Mister Cheaply in a whirlwind. The whirlwind strengthens bit by bit until Mister Cheaply is spinning so fast his arms leave his sides. Then his cellphone, keys, notepad, and pen are thrown from his pockets. All the while, Robert is laughing with a shrieking, high-pitched, deafening snigger.
Puppet suddenly shouts, “Okay, Robert, that is enough. Let the swindling cheapskate go. We need his money.”
Robert glares at his father. He reluctantly lowers his hands to his side. The whirlwind slowly dissipates. Mister Cheaply is gently dropped to the ground onto his backside.
Robert’s whirlwind, from its inception to its end, had lasted less than twenty seconds. In spite of this, Mister Cheaply must have spun in place at least forty times during that relatively short period! He had undergone vertigo that was far worse than any humanmade amusement ride could create. Mister Cheaply was close to losing consciousness when Puppet told Robert to end his whirlwind.
As soon as Mister Cheaply can sit-up, he stares wide-eyed at Robert. His face is pure white, and he is trembling. Despite his frightened state, he manages to hiss accusing words.
“You murdered the Marvella boy, didn’t you, Robert? You murdered the four extended members of the Marvella family, didn’t you? You injured over twenty-five others as well, didn’t you? Why, Robert, why did you murder them? They didn’t harm you. Please tell me why you did it!”
Robert does not look at Mister Cheaply when he replies. Instead, he glowers at his father.
Robert says, “I arrived into your world as a puppet, Mister Cheaply. I sense by your thoughts that you believe what I am saying. I am no ordinary, average puppet. That is due to the fact an average man did not make me. The man who made me, Harold Hall, was a magician, a conjurer of toys. His gifted creativity and skillful artistry carefully molded me into what you see before you. His creativity was affected by love because I was to be a loving gift for his unborn child.
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