{"id":353,"date":"2014-12-30T06:44:18","date_gmt":"2014-12-30T06:44:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/?page_id=353"},"modified":"2021-12-13T18:51:10","modified_gmt":"2021-12-14T00:51:10","slug":"part2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/episodes\/episode9\/part2\/","title":{"rendered":"Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Episode 9: \u00a0Wreckage in a Winter Wonderland<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 2<\/strong><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Despite the crime scene tape across Yuna\u2019s door, a flash of his credentials allowed Nick to compare notes with the police detectives who were there investigating. So far, they had found no evidence. Their subsequent tour of the small apartment revealed nothing substantial.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019re gonna find nothin\u2019 here,\u201d Styx spoke up dismissively. \u201cY\u2019all are right — we oughta start with the competition, anyone who would benefit from takin\u2019 her outta commission.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick arched an eyebrow, taken aback by the rookie\u2019s sudden assertiveness. \u201cSounds good\u2026\u201d he said slowly. \u201cYou heard the man, Lancy. Who should we talk to, and where would we find them?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lancy beamed. \u201cThe ladies short program is in two days. Any girl within medal contention will be practicing at the Coliseum.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen back to the Coliseum we go!\u201d announced Diamond, hooking her arm through Lancy\u2019s elbow as they led the way back out into the cold Canadian air.<\/p>\n

It was a short, four-mile ride to the Pacific Coliseum, where Lancy said all of the figure skating events were hosted. \u201cWe were just here Friday night for the ice dancing compulsory dance — and we have tickets tonight for the original dance!\u201d Lancy gibbered excitedly as they entered the building. \u201cThe free dance is tomorrow night — oh, I hope Tanith and Ben pull through! They got the silver in Torino, you know, but they really deserve gold!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLancy\u2019s favorite ice dancing pair,\u201d Diamond explained when Nick and Styx exchanged bewildered looks. \u201cIn pairs, it\u2019s Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett, and in men\u2019s singles, he lusts after Evan Lysacek.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTall, dark, and handsome\u2026 the Greek God of the ice,\u201d sighed Lancy.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Lancy tried to jump onto the ice to tackle him when he won the gold the other night,\u201d Diamond laughed.<\/p>\n

Styx gave them both a revolted look.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd for the ladies\u2026\u201d continued Diamond.<\/p>\n

Lancy whispered just two words: \u201cMy Queen.\u201d He bowed his head and pinched the bridge of his nose, sniffling back tears. \u201cMy ice queen. She\u2019s\u2026 so lovely. So much talent and grace\u2026 So much–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo much to be jealous of. Ain\u2019t that right?\u201d Styx interrupted. \u201cWho\u2019d be at the top of the jealousy list?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lancy shook his head regretfully. \u201cWell\u2026 of course, there\u2019s Mao Asada of Japan. She\u2019s the only one Yuna\u2019s lost to in the last two seasons, at the 2008 Worlds and Grand Prix finals. Not to mention, they\u2019re the same age — nineteen — and from neighboring countries. They\u2019re natural rivals.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen we should start with her. Who else?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s also Miki Ando, Mao\u2019s teammate. She was the 2007 World Champion and came in second at this year\u2019s Grand Prix — behind Yuna, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo if Yuna hadn\u2019t competed, she would have won.\u201d Styx smirked. \u201cThere\u2019s a motive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut South Korea\u2019s not just pointing fingers at Japan.\u201d Nick shook his head. \u201cWho are the top skaters from other countries?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoannie Rochette is the home favorite,\u201d Lancy replied immediately. \u201cShe\u2019s been the Canadian champ six years running.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about ours?\u201d Nick asked, crossing his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a toss-up between Rachael Flatt and Mirai Nagasu. They\u2019re both a long shot for the gold, but Rachael is consistent — she\u2019s medaled at Nationals the last three years, winning gold this year — and Mirai has the same \u2018it\u2019 factor her idol Michelle Kwan had.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKwan never won an Olympic gold, did she?\u201d asked Styx. Nick raised his eyebrows in surprise.<\/p>\n

Lancy sighed and shook his head. \u201cAlas, no. She took silver in Nagano, bronze in Salt Lake City, and had to drop out due to an injury before the Torino games.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo this new girl\u2026 what was her name?\u201d Styx paused for confirmation.<\/p>\n

\u201cMirai Nagasu?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah\u2026 Nagasu — she Asian, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJapanese-American, yeah!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo maybe she wants to win for all the Asian-American skaters; maybe she wants to avenge Michelle Kwan\u2019s defeats,\u201d Styx theorized wildly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think??\u201d Lancy\u2019s eyes were like saucers; he was clearly enjoying the drama of all the speculation.<\/p>\n

Nick eyed his prot\u00e9g\u00e9 again, impressed that Styx considered all the possible motives — unlikely as some of them were. He had assumed the newbie had been recruited for his brawn more than his brains, but maybe that wasn\u2019t the case.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe gotta talk to them all,\u201d Styx crossed his arms, nodding to himself firmly. \u201cIt could be any of \u2018em. The Canadian has the home-field advantage; she could have gotten anyone to abduct Yuna. On the other hand, it easily could have been the Japanese or the Americans, maybe even trying to frame each other. I mean, no one\u2019s forgotten Pearl Harbor or Hiroshima, have they?\u201d<\/p>\n

Everyone stared at Styx.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose are all possibilities\u2026\u201d Diamond frowned. \u201c…if another skater was involved. But who knows, there\u2019s always a possibility it was random or planned to look like an extreme rivalry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA top skater disappears four days before the start of her event? That ain\u2019t no coincidence,\u201d Styx replied dismissively, shaking his head. \u201cIt\u2019s gotta be someone involved in the Games. Now we just gotta figure out who.\u201d<\/p>\n

As they pondered, they had come full circle, returning to the Pacific Coliseum. Once inside, they circled the arena, looking for any of the aforementioned skaters or members of their respective teams. They counted on Lancy to recognize these potential suspects as none of the others followed figure skating in the slightest.<\/p>\n

What they had not counted on — except for Diamond, who had already witnessed it — was Lancy\u2019s reaction when he spotted one of them. \u201cOHMYGOD! JOANNIE! JOANNIE ROCHETTE!!!\u201d<\/p>\n

A young woman with a blonde ponytail approached them in a red-and-white warm-up suit and offered a smile. \u201cHello.\u201d Nick could pick out the French accent in her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cJames Lancybassy,\u201d said Lancy, thrusting his hand out to take hers. \u201cI\u2019ve been following you since Torino. Congratulations on your sixth Canadian championship! You must be so excited to be going for gold in your home country, right?!\u201d<\/p>\n

Joannie smiled. \u201cIt\u2019s very exciting, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about Francois-Louis? He must be so excited for you too, right?! Are you guys just super-psyched to be competing together in another Olympics?!\u201d Before the skater could answer, Lancy turned to the others and added, \u201cHer boyfriend — he\u2019s a Canadian speed-skater, and they met at the 2006 Olympics in Torino! Isn\u2019t that just too precious?!\u201d<\/p>\n

Joannie looked quite taken aback, but she offered another polite smile and replied, \u201cYes, yes, Francois is very supportive. We support each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs he nervous about the 5000-meter relay finals? OHMYGOD!\u201d Lancy suddenly gasped. Nick, who had been marveling over Lancy\u2019s sudden interest in sports, raised his eyebrows. \u201cHis relay team took the silver in Torino, didn\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, that\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey lost to\u2026 the SOUTH KOREANS!!!\u201d Lancy\u2019s eyes bugged out of their sockets. He bounced up and down on the balls of his feet, flapping his hands, too discombobulated to speak.<\/p>\n

Nick understood. That only solidified a motive. Not only was Joannie the underdog to the missing South Korean skating phenom, but her boyfriend had lost to the South Korean team four years ago. Perhaps they both held a grudge. Perhaps they\u2019d teamed up to make sure they weren\u2019t thwarted by a South Korean athlete again.<\/p>\n

He stepped forward, whipping out his badge. \u201cThe name\u2019s Carter. Nick Carter. I\u2019d like to ask you a few questions, Miss Rochette\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing,\u201d grumbled Nick after a full day at the skating rink, during which Lancy had tracked down and interviewed every skater he\u2019d mentioned, as well as their coaches and Joannie Rochette\u2019s boyfriend, the speed-skater. While Lancy had acted more like an overexcited E! red carpet host than an interrogator, Nick, Diamond, and Styx had managed to get the important questions in.<\/p>\n

They still had alibis to confirm, but none of their suspects had raised any red flags. There was no evidence to prove that the rival skaters had anything to do with Kim Yuna\u2019s disappearance. They seemed equally disturbed by her vanishing and concerned about her whereabouts, leaving the HimTak agents with no real leads.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s gotta be one of them!\u201d Styx insisted as they made their way back to the arena\u2019s entrance. People were already lining up for the ice dancing event that would take place that evening. Lancy fished out his and Diamond\u2019s tickets, eager to join the other spectators.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut which one?\u201d countered Nick. \u201cWe\u2019ve got nothing to go off of, no leads in any direction, no\u2026 um, what the fuck is that?\u201d He pointed, distracted by the sight of a large, black-and-white costumed creature with an immense head dancing around in front of a merchandise stand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, that\u2019s Miga!\u201d Lancy exclaimed. \u201cHe\u2019s one of the Olympic mascots!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s it supposed to be?\u201d Nick asked, squinting. The costumed figure looked sort of like a skinny, anime-style panda.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a mythical sea bear: part orca and part Kermode bear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick nodded slowly. \u201cUh-huh\u2026\u201d He watched the mascot making jazz hands with his puffy red mittens.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe other mascot is Quatchi, a Sasquatch,\u201d Lancy went on. \u201cAnd then there\u2019s Sumi, the Paralympics mascot. He\u2019s part orca, part black bear, and part thunderbird.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the fuck\u2019s a thunderbird?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA supernatural bird of Native American legend,\u201d Lancy answered promptly.<\/p>\n

Nick gave him an odd look. \u201cSince when did you turn into a walking encyclopedia, Lancy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you think I do all day while you\u2019re out saving the world, 00Carter?\u201d Lancy grinned. \u201cI surf Wikipedia! Well, someone has to make sure all of HimTak\u2019s secrets stay off there!\u201d he added defensively when Nick smirked.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, I\u2019m not sayin\u2019 nothin\u2019. K\u2019s the one paying your salary.\u201d Nick snickered.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd thank goodness he does, or I wouldn\u2019t have been able to afford these fabulous tickets!\u201d gushed Lancy, waving them about. He presented Diamond hers with a flourish. \u201cExcuse us, gentlemen, but we\u2019d best be getting in line. Tanith and Ben await! Meet you back at the hotel?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d said Nick. \u201cWhat\u2019s your room number?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c269.\u201d Lancy reached into his man-purse with a sly smile and withdrew a key card. Slipping it into Nick\u2019s hand, he murmured, \u201cJust let yourself in. I\u2019ll be waiting\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh\u2026 \u2018kay. See ya later.\u201d Shooting Diamond a bewildered glance, Nick turned to Styx. \u201cDude\u2026 let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Part 3<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Episode 9: \u00a0Wreckage in a Winter Wonderland Part 2   Despite the crime scene tape across Yuna\u2019s door, a flash of his credentials allowed Nick to compare notes with the police detectives who were there investigating. So far, they had found no evidence. Their subsequent tour of the small apartment\u2026<\/p>\n

Read more<\/span><\/i><\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":143,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"templates\/template-onecolumn.php","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-353","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P5xaHX-5H","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=353"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/353\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":930,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/353\/revisions\/930"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}