{"id":371,"date":"2014-12-30T07:10:12","date_gmt":"2014-12-30T07:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/?page_id=371"},"modified":"2022-01-01T19:51:15","modified_gmt":"2022-01-02T01:51:15","slug":"part5","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/episodes\/episode10\/part5\/","title":{"rendered":"Part 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

Episode 10: \u00a0Catch Her If You Can<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 5<\/strong><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Styx pushed the lobby button once they were all in the elevator, stiffening his shoulders as he stood in front of Nick and Diamond like a bodyguard. None of them said a word as the elevator descended, stopping with a soft ding on the ground floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cLadies first.\u201d Styx moved aside and motioned for Diamond to go first. She flashed him a flirtatious smile as she walked past.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we should head to Germany,\u201d Nick piped up thoughtfully, following her out of the elevator. \u201cJess Nelson took a flight there — that\u2019s strong enough evidence where the next crime will happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diamond scratched her head and threw her sleek, black hair over her shoulder. \u201cI don\u2019t know, Nick. I don\u2019t have any idea where we should go next.\u201d She sighed as her eyes wandered around the lobby. \u201cIt\u2019s like we\u2019re all blindfolded with a stick in our hands, trying to hit the pi\u00f1ata. We know we hit something whenever there\u2019s a clue, but it never explodes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know it\u2019s Germany this time,\u201d Nick insisted. \u201cThe girl left very clear evidence, named herself Jess Nelson, and took the flight to Munich. It\u2019s a lead we wouldn\u2019t want to miss. And we don\u2019t even know where else to go anyway, do we?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can you be so sure that it\u2019s an actual lead and not a trap? Maybe she just wants us to go to Munich when she\u2019s on the other side of the world?\u201d Styx argued. \u201cNo offense, man, but I think it\u2019s a very vague lead when you consider the enormity of this mission. She\u2019s traveling all over the world, dawg; it\u2019s ridiculous!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick shrugged. \u201cI just know it. We have to start somewhere, especially before the Feds bust our asses. What better place to start than the one with the stronger lead?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI still think it\u2019s hardly evidence–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m a Double-0, and you\u2019re a rookie, Styx,\u201d Nick replied curtly, looking annoyed at the young agent\u2019s forwardness. \u201cIt comes with experience and learning to trust your instincts, which you lack and I have plenty of. So watch closely and observe, rookie. Maybe you\u2019ll learn a thing or two from the master.\u201d<\/p>\n

Styx rolled his eyes significantly when Nick turned his back to walk out of the hotel. \u201cAnd that\u2019s coming from someone who\u2019s been on a six-month hiatus for blowing up an agent,\u201d he mumbled under his breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard that, Styx!\u201d Nick hissed over his shoulder. \u201cYou better watch your mouth unless you want K to read an extensive and probably not-very-positive report about your performance during this mission.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sending an apologetic smile to Styx, Diamond hurried ahead to catch Nick as he barreled through the door. \u201cDon\u2019t you think you\u2019re being a little harsh with Styx?\u201d she asked, following him to the car.<\/p>\n

Nick eyed the agent who was strolling behind them at a slower pace. \u201cI like the kid, but he\u2019s too arrogant and thinks he has it all figured out. He can\u2019t learn if he doesn\u2019t observe and listen. That\u2019s how I learned, and that\u2019s how I\u2019ll teach,\u201d Nick replied matter-of-factly. \u201cI\u2019m Obi-Wan to his Anakin. Jedi to his Padawan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKinda reminds me of someone in his early days.\u201d She poked Nick playfully in the side as they got into the car. \u201cThere you go,\u201d she said when a small smile appeared on his lips. \u201cJust give him time; he\u2019ll learn.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever,\u201d he mumbled, starting the engine as Styx took his place in the back seat.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Diamond glared up from the magazine she was reading. \u201cWould you please stop doing that? It\u2019s annoying.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick stopped in the midst of his tapping on the wooden table. \u201cStop what?\u201d he asked innocently, the melodies of the song still playing in his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop that.\u201d Diamond placed her hand on his. \u201cThe tapping. And humming \u2018Mambo No. 5.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick grinned. \u201cI\u2019m bored!\u201d<\/p>\n

They had been sitting at the airport pub for the past hour and a half, waiting to board their flight to Germany. It was a mystery to him why it took so long to fly from one European city to another, but unfortunately, the next available flight to Munich wasn\u2019t going to take off for another hour. And it didn\u2019t make the wait any easier when they knew a bunch of Feds were on their tails.<\/p>\n

Puffing, he leaned back against his chair. \u201cMy bum went numb.\u201d He searched through the pub for Styx. \u201cHow long could it take a person to grab two beers?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGive the kid a break, Nick,\u201d Diamond mumbled without looking up from her magazine.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s slow!\u201d Nick hissed when he saw Styx coming out from the corner with two large glasses of beer. \u201cMay the Force be with us if he\u2019s that<\/em> slow in actual combat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s new, Nick. He\u2019s still learning.\u201d Diamond rolled her eyes. \u201cIf you let him, of course. Even K wasn\u2019t that harsh on you when you first started. You\u2019re just pushing him too hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick opened his mouth to argue when the ringing of his phone cut him short. At the same time, Styx placed the cold beer in front of him and plopped down onto the chair next to Nick.<\/p>\n

Nick groaned when he saw the caller ID flashing on the screen. Just what he needed.<\/p>\n

\u201c00Carter,\u201d he answered huskily, which took Diamond\u2019s attention away from what she was reading. She raised a questioning eyebrow at Nick, only to receive a shrug in return.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got the next clue solved, Carter,\u201d Leo\u2019s voice announced over the line. \u201cThe plane ticket to Germany is a set-up. The clue leads to France.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrance?\u201d Nick asked doubtfully. \u201cAre you sure about that, Di-Crapio?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook, dumbass, I really have no time to deal with you, alright? Just do as I say and go to France.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have stronger evidence, let me tell ya. I hardly think she\u2019d just plot the whole scheme and NOT go to Germany. How can we know that your clue isn\u2019t the trap and the lead we discovered is? Can you prove it?\u201d<\/p>\n

He heard Leo sigh exasperatedly on the other end. \u201cWe\u2019re working on the same side, Carter! Shocking news, huh? We\u2019ve been racking our brains here to figure out a bunch of fucking gibberish on a piece of paper that is encrypted in some old World War I code–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s he saying?\u201d Diamond wondered as Nick listened silently. Being silent and listening were not exactly his best skills. Especially not at the same time.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrance,\u201d Nick mouthed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs she going to France?\u201d Styx questioned.<\/p>\n

Nick gave his attention back to Leo, who was still explaining. \u201cYou remember the first clue that we found in the Library of Congress, a bunch of words encrypted in a weird code? Well, Opal cracked the code, which gave us another bunch of words in some unknown language. Thanks to Opal, we figured out it\u2019s Scottish Gaelic. We translated it into English, and voila, we finally got something meaningful: a passage from a famous piece of literature, the first Harry Potter book.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHarry Potter?!\u201d Nick cut him off in mid-sentence, only to confuse Diamond and Styx more.<\/p>\n

\u201cShut up and listen. Anyway, we figured out it was Harry Potter. The passage pointed to somewhere in London, so we went there, only to find a new piece of paper with another set of meaningless words written in another code. Like I said, we\u2019d been racking our brains all day to find out what it was\u2026 until the amazing Opal figured out it\u2019s \u00dcbchi — an old, World War I era cipher used by the Germans in the war. So next, we had to find out what was used as the keyword and whether the duplicates numbered forwards or backwards. And then Jay had the brilliant idea that since everything this woman does involves books, the keyword must be about books — or about literature, anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick let out a snort. \u201cWake me up when you start talking English again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWould you be serious for a minute?\u201d Leo sniped. \u201cThis may sound like a joke to you, but we actually take what we do seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t need a lecture from you on what to take seriously or not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever. You want to hear the rest or not? Because, seriously, I\u2019ve had enough with your crap.\u201d When Nick was silent, Leo continued. \u201cOkay, what was I saying? Yeah, about literature. Jay thought the key could somehow have a link to literature. But I also thought that it had something to do with World War I, so we started trying all the famous novelists that have written something about World War I. We tried Barbusse, Rebecca West, Rolland, Stallings\u2026 you name it. Finally, we found out Remarque — Eriche Maria Remarque, that is; of course you wouldn\u2019t know — was the key. He was a German author who wrote All Quiet on the Western Front<\/em>, the most popular anti-war book of the World War I period. Ring a bell?\u201d<\/p>\n

To be honest, it didn\u2019t. Everything Leo was babbling on the phone was too detailed for Nick\u2019s taste, too much unnecessary information.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on, Nick?\u201d Diamond couldn\u2019t hold herself back anymore. \u201cI want to hear what he\u2019s saying; put him on speaker!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick ignored her request. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t, and I don\u2019t give a shitball,\u201d he said finally. \u201cWhile you bookworms have got your noses buried deep in the history of literature, we\u2019re the ones trying to catch a felon here and<\/em> run away from the FBI all at the same time! So I don\u2019t have time to dwell on the details. And frankly, nothing you just said made a damn bit of sense to me. I still can\u2019t see how this could be stronger evidence than a flat-out plane itinerary to Germany, where we know she flew!\u201d<\/p>\n

Leo\u2019s patience was growing thin. \u201cBecause it fucking makes sense! There\u2019s a pattern there! She steals books, she leaves clues from books, and she points out where she\u2019s gonna steal from next! Her first clue led to London, and she stole Beowulf<\/em>. Does your brain function at all, or did you lose it on a plane ride somewhere? The text we deciphered was in fucking French. Do you care at all what it says?!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine. What?\u201d Nick heard the rustling sound of the papers shifting in the background.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo here it goes: ‘Is a prison the fitting place to talk to me about power, grandeur, and even royalty? You wish to make me believe in splendor, and we are lying hidden in night; you boast of glory, and we are smothering our words in the curtains of this miserable bed; you give me glimpses of absolute power, and I hear the step of the jailer in the corridor – that step which, after all, makes you tremble more than it does me. To render me somewhat less incredulous, free me from the Bastille; give air to my lungs, spurs to my feet, a sword to my arm, and we shall begin to understand each other<\/em>.’\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, according to your theory, what book is that from?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Man In The Iron Mask<\/em>,\u201d Leo replied. \u201cIt was talking about the Bastille, the famous French prison. I read it a while ago, but I still remember it well. Do you know anything about the book?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen the movie.\u201d Nick shrugged and then snickered as his face lit up. \u201cSpeaking of which, that dude looks kinda like you with long hair. But he was better looking than you even with that iron mask on<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, do you have any idea what those two are talking about?\u201d Styx muttered to Diamond, who shook her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cFuck you, Carter. Just cancel the flight to Germany and go to France, alright? The next plane to Paris takes off in half an hour, so you better hurry. And that\u2019s a direct order coming from Jay, if you\u2019re interested to know.\u201d With that, Leo hung up.<\/p>\n

\u201cFinally!\u201d Diamond hissed as Nick put the phone down. \u201cWhat the hell is going on, Nick?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick got up from his seat, taking a big gulp from his now warm beer. \u201cI got a bad feeling about this. It doesn\u2019t feel right,\u201d he muttered. \u201cCome on, I\u2019ll tell you on the way. We have a plane to catch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fifteen minutes later, they were all buckled up in the comfortable first class of Air France.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still don\u2019t get why you have a bad feeling about going to France,\u201d Diamond wondered as she watched Nick tense up on her right, grabbing the sides of the seat tightly. She smiled and put her hand on his arm in hopes of soothing him. She\u2019d always found his fear of flying cute. \u201cI think Vitruvian has a very strong lead that could take us to the thief. We should follow that instead of Germany. Why don\u2019t you trust his clue?\u201d<\/p>\n

Because I hate his guts, and he\u2019s always trying to get his way around you, and you\u2019re falling for it, and it\u2019s just annoying to see that, to top it off, you believe him now,<\/em> Nick thought. \u201cI just don\u2019t,\u201d he replied dryly as the plane accelerated to full throttle.<\/p>\n

Diamond looked across the aisle. Styx had his eyes closed and his headphones on, tapping his feet along to whatever he was listening to.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be such a whiny baby,\u201d she teased Nick. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to catch this woman, and we\u2019re all doing our best here. I believe Vitruvian has the same intentions that you do. Give people more credit, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick shrugged and closed his eyes as he felt the plane\u2019s wheels leave the ground. He could use a nap.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Federal Agents Tom and Hank stood in the now-vacant hotel room in Beijing, looking around for any clues as to where the insufferable Carter and the felonious Ms. Desai were headed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need answers!\u201d Tom barked. \u201cC\u2019mon, gentlemen!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTom, give them a break. They knew agents were coming. Someone warned them, and–\u201d Hank was unable to finish his statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWarning, warning!\u201d Tom shouted. \u201cIf they\u2019d taken what I told them seriously, the field agents would have them in custody, and we would be taking them home.\u201d He glared at the two agents who had been sent out from the FBI\u2019s office at the American Embassy in Beijing to apprehend the culprits while they were still on the flight to China.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only thing going our way is the fact that that pompous Carter called us,\u201d Tom grumbled as he walked away and punched some numbers into his cell phone. \u201cCarl.\u201d His Boston accent was stronger than usual. \u201cThe only lead we have is that Desai is with Carter. Get this: he said he\u2019d call later.\u201d He paused for Carl to respond. \u201cYeah, I got it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom hung up the phone and punched more numbers into it. He looked over at Hank, who gave him a questioning look. \u201cLittrell!\u201d Tom barked into the phone. \u201cIt seems you might be holding out on us. Carter called us and told us they were together. We need to know what you know now, or else this is going to turn out very bad for you in the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hank watched as Tom listened, presumably, to Brian Littrell on the other end. Hank did not know what Brian said, but he could tell it was not what Tom wanted to hear.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wait for the Carter kid to call us,\u201d Tom growled and threw himself into the nearest chair.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201c00Prick better be on his way here,\u201d grumbled Leo as he stuffed his cell phone into his pocket. \u201cSo help me, if he takes the other team to Germany instead\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChill, dude; they\u2019ll come,\u201d Jay assured him. \u201cNick may not like you, but he\u2019s got enough respect for me to haul his ass here if I tell him to. And hey, if he doesn\u2019t, we can always get K on the line to chew him out.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two men chuckled knowingly.<\/p>\n

Opal didn\u2019t even smile. She stood apart from them, frowning down at the piece of paper in her hand, then looking up and around the square. She did this several times before she asked, \u201cAre you sure we\u2019re in the right place?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jay consulted the map of Paris he\u2019d picked up at the airport. \u201cI think so. This is Place de la Bastille.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, then, where\u2019s the Bastille? I mean, I know it\u2019s been demolished, but I thought there would be something here, some ruins or\u2026 something<\/em>.\u201d Her eyes scanned the modern buildings that surrounded them: an opera house, a subway station, numerous caf\u00e9s and bars. The only thing that looked historical was the monument in the center of the square, a tall column she\u2019d thought for sure would have something to do with the Bastille. It had stood out like a beacon, drawing her straight to it, but the plaque on its base revealed that it had been built to commemorate the July Revolution of 1830 instead. \u201cDo either of you see anything even related to the prison?\u201d<\/p>\n

They all looked around, puzzling for a few minutes. \u201cIt has to be somewhere in this square,\u201d Leo said assuredly. He was the one who had led them here. \u201cThis is where the Bastille used to stand.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe we should ask someone,\u201d Opal suggested.<\/p>\n

Jay scowled. \u201cWe don\u2019t need to ask for directions. It\u2019s a clue; it\u2019s for us to figure out. We can do it; we did with the last one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but the last one led to a pretty specific place\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re a Harry Potter nerd like Jay,\u201d Leo interjected, flashing him a teasing grin.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026This one just points us to the Bastille, which no longer exists,\u201d Opal continued smoothly. \u201cThe next clue has to be here somewhere, but look around — this square is huge! It\u2019s going to be like finding a needle in a haystack unless we know where to look. We need to ask someone who\u2019s familiar with the area where there might be some remnant or reference to the actual Bastille.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, fine. You\u2019re the woman; you go get the directions,\u201d said Jay flatly.<\/p>\n

Opal looked to Leo, who nodded in agreement, still grinning. \u201cFine,\u201d she sighed and set off to find someone who didn\u2019t look like a tourist. She spotted an old man leisurely sipping coffee outside a sidewalk caf\u00e9 and approached him hesitantly, self-conscious of her hot pink hair and crazy, Europunk outfit. She was too old to dress this way; she looked like a rebellious teenager. Then again, it was Jay who had picked out her new wardrobe, and he wore eyeliner and painted his fingernails black, so she shouldn\u2019t have been too surprised. \u201cExcusez-moi, monsieur?\u201d<\/em> she asked the man politely.<\/p>\n

He looked up from his drink. \u201cOui?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry to disturb you,\u201d<\/em> Opal said in French. \u201cI\u2019m here studying the Bastille, and I was hoping you could point me in the direction of any relics of it that might be preserved here.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The old man frowned, scratching his whiskery chin. Finally, he replied, \u201cAll that\u2019s left of the prison is a pile of stones from one of the towers. They were excavated from underneath the subway at the turn of the last century. They\u2019re in the Square Henri Galli now, down Boulevard Henri IV.\u201d<\/em> With his gnarled index finger, he pointed down a nearby street.<\/p>\n

\u201cMerci!\u201d<\/em> Opal thanked him and hurried back to Jay and Leo. \u201cThis way!\u201d she said excitedly, leading them in the direction the man had pointed. They clipped along Boulevard Henri IV at a brisk walk, not realizing how many blocks they\u2019d gone until they could see the Seine River up ahead. Just before it, they came to a small park, the square the old man had named. There, they found the circle of large, stone bricks that had been part of the Bastille.<\/p>\n

The small monument was unimpressive compared to the massive July Tower, but it was surrounded by beautiful flowers. Opal picked her way carefully through them, Leo on her heels, and squatted down to read a small plaque at the base of the stones.<\/p>\n

VESTIGES DES FONDATIONS<\/em><\/strong>
\nDE LA BASTILLE<\/em><\/strong>
\nLA TOUR DE LA LIBERT\u00c9<\/em><\/strong>
\nD\u00c9COUVERTS EN 1899<\/em><\/strong>
\nET TRANSPORT\u00c9S SUR CET EMPLACEMENT<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The plaque was in French, but she translated it into English as she read it out loud. \u201cRemains of the foundation of the Bastille, the Liberty Tower, discovered in 1899 and transported to this location.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is it,\u201d Leo said confidently. \u201cStart looking. Check all the cracks; it\u2019s probably wedged between two stones.\u201d<\/p>\n

They split apart, working their way slowly around the pile of rubble, running their hands over every stone, poking fingers into every crevice. Jay and Leo even had small flashlights, which they shined into the cracks too tiny to reach, but they found nothing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s gotta be around here somewhere!\u201d cried Jay in frustration, kicking at one of the stones. \u201cWhere else could it be?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe we were right the first time,\u201d said Leo. \u201cMaybe it is back in the other square, where the Bastille actually was.\u201d<\/p>\n

They\u2019d been so sure they would find the clue in the pile of stones, none of them wanted to admit they were wrong. They searched the monument one more time but still came up empty-handed. Admitting defeat, they turned and headed back to Place de la Bastille. The long walk took even longer than it had the first time; they trudged along slowly and silently, deep in thought.<\/p>\n

Opal stared down at her feet, watching the sidewalk give way to cobblestones as they entered the large square. She noticed large white paving stones set into the smaller, gray cobblestones, forming a sort of pattern — an almost-complete circle that veered off into perpendicular lines stretching off in two different directions. A corner<\/em>, she thought, and it was then that she noticed a small plaque on the wall of a nearby building. Leaving the men, she scurried over to read it.<\/p>\n

PLAN DE LA BASTILLE \u00b7 COMMENC\u00c9E EN 1370<\/em><\/strong>
\nPRISE PAR LE PEUPLE LE 14 JUILLET 1789<\/em><\/strong>
\nET D\u00c9MOLIE LA M\u00caME ANN\u00c9E.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

LE P\u00c9RIM\u00c8TRE DE LA FORTERESSE<\/em><\/strong>
\nEST TRAC\u00c9 SUR LE SOL DE CETTE PLACE<\/em><\/strong>
\n14 JUILLET 1880.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cGuys!\u201d she shouted, running back to Jay and Leo. \u201cThis could be it! Look down\u2026 these white stones, they mark the perimeter of the building; they show where the Bastille stood! Maybe the clue\u2019s under one of these!\u201d<\/p>\n

The two men glanced down skeptically. The flat stones seemed firmly embedded into the ground.<\/p>\n

But Opal was convinced she was right. \u201cWe just need to find one that looks like it\u2019s been disturbed.\u201d<\/p>\n

They set off, walking the \u201cwall\u201d of the Bastille as if it were a balance beam. They followed the perimeter across streets and around buildings that it seemed to cut right through. Even to the crowds of tourists, they must have looked odd — two grown men and a pink-haired woman walking in a single file line with their heads down, eyes fixed firmly on the ground.<\/p>\n

Even her careful attention did not prevent Opal, who was in the lead, from catching the toe of her Chuck Taylors on one of the stones and tripping. She stumbled forward, arms outstretched, and managed to catch her balance before she fell. Far from being embarrassed, she whipped around to look at the stone she\u2019d tripped on. Jay and Leo were already squatting on the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis one\u2019s been messed with,\u201d said Jay, his brown eyes large and gleaming. \u201cIt\u2019s uneven. Someone\u2019s pried it up and tried to wedge it back in again, but it\u2019s not a perfect fit. This is it, kids. Help me get it up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Opal stood back out of the way as Leo and Jay strained to pull the heavy stone out of the ground. With a lot of grunting, they finally managed to flip it over onto the cobblestone. Leo\u2019s hand shot out to snatch a small, plastic baggie that had been flattened beneath the stone. Opal\u2019s heart began to race with excitement when she saw the white piece of paper folded inside.<\/p>\n

She and Jay crowded around Leo as he opened the bag and pulled out the next clue.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

When Nick, Diamond, and Styx arrived in Paris, they took a cab straight to the location where they\u2019d been asked to meet, a little sidewalk caf\u00e9 that overlooked a marina. Nick eyed the boats wistfully, but there was no time to dawdle; Leo, Jay, and Opal were waiting for them. As the two teams greeted each other and gathered around a pair of tables they\u2019d pushed together, Nick noticed Leo being quiet, avoiding the new arrivals\u2019 gazes. Something was up. Nick could feel it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, pretty boy,\u201d Nick shot out to Leo. \u201cWhat\u2019s next?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, the good news,\u201d Opal started, \u201cis that we found another clue. The clue is written in a pictogram language that I am sure I can crack.\u201d She whipped out a piece of paper to show the second team the new clue.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Everyone looked at the most recent clue. \u201cLooks like the little men are dancing to me,\u201d Styx chuckled to himself.<\/p>\n

Opal stared at Styx for a moment, lost in thought. \u201cDancing men,\u201d she repeated. \u201cThere is a code that uses…\u201d She got up and wandered away from the group, concentrating on the page with the encrypted clue in her hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe said that was the good news. That means there\u2019s bad news?\u201d Nick asked, glaring at Leo. Whatever it was, he was sure it was his fault.<\/p>\n

Jay slid into Opal\u2019s seat, putting himself between Nick and Leo, and turned towards Carter. \u201cThere\u2019s been some news,\u201d he started. Jay looked serious, and Nick knew he wasn\u2019t going to like the news.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave the Feds caught up to us?\u201d Nick scowled. He saw the group shake their heads. \u201cBrian isn\u2019t in any more trouble?\u201d He was just starting to like that guy; he didn\u2019t want to see him lose his job or, worse, end up in a federal prison.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, according to our sources, the Feds are still running around like chickens with their heads cut off back in China.\u201d Jay looked from Leo back to Nick. \u201cWe just got word that another book was stolen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom France? Do you think there\u2019s still some time to catch her here?\u201d Nick looked around, half-expecting to see the woman standing around watching them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe book was not stolen from here,\u201d Leo interjected. \u201cIt was stolen from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe what?\u201d Nick, Diamond, and Styx said at once.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Bavarian State Library, sometimes referred to as BSB,\u201d Leo continued. \u201cIt\u2019s one of the best research libraries in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the forty-eight remaining copies of the Gutenberg Bible was stolen from the library. It was a perfect copy on paper and one of the only two copies with an index of rubices,\u201d Opal explained, dropping back into an empty chair across the table from Nick.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo we were on our way to Germany, and this \u2018agent\u2019–\u201d Nick sarcastically emphasized the last word. \u201c–tells us to come to France, that we were wasting our time going to Germany, and\u2026\u201d Nick finished his statement by yelling in aggravation, \u201cYou know what, Di-Craprio, it seems to me that you\u2019re sabotaging us on purpose!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe, sabotaging? And where exactly is Drums right now?\u201d Leo shot back.<\/p>\n

The two agents rose from their seats and stood almost nose to nose, staring each other down. \u201cDon\u2019t test me,\u201d growled Nick. \u201cYou question my skills, and this is what you get! A chance to catch the thief, ruined<\/em> by this growing pain!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChill,\u201d Jay interjected, moving between them again.<\/p>\n

\u201cNick, take it easy. It was an honest mistake.\u201d Diamond stood up beside Nick and placed her hand on his shoulder, attempting to calm him down.<\/p>\n

Leo smirked briefly at Nick, giving him a look that seemed to say, \u201cHa, she\u2019s defending me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Still glaring at Leo, Nick slipped his arm around Diamond\u2019s waist and smiled broadly. \u201cCome on, sexy. We have a plane to catch.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Part 6<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Episode 10: \u00a0Catch Her If You Can Part 5   Styx pushed the lobby button once they were all in the elevator, stiffening his shoulders as he stood in front of Nick and Diamond like a bodyguard. None of them said a word as the elevator descended, stopping with a\u2026<\/p>\n

Read more<\/span><\/i><\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":145,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"templates\/template-onecolumn.php","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-371","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P5xaHX-5Z","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/371","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=371"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/371\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":993,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/371\/revisions\/993"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}