ANOTHER CLUE

. Chapter Four .

The next hour or so in the tent was very frustrating. Riley had entered the tent only to see Sally helping Carolyn roll out her sleeping bag next to his, but Carolyn had reassured him that she was just as thrilled as hew was. Riley moaned; this was going to be a long night.

Not only this, but he was being forced to sit beside her during ghost stories. She interjected at the best parts to question him, and that led to a thick and uncomfortable atmosphere, especially with the kids in the tent watching this. Then Charlie and Sally had to remind them of the peace treaty they had written on the back of a napkin, and they finally shut up. Carolyn was getting annoyed by Riley’s lame ghost stories while the twins sat in great anticipation to hear more, however. Her life was now complete, she thought.

Halfway through the second story, all fifteen smores were gone and eyelids were drooping all around the tent; Charlie and Sally’s from exhaustion, and Carolyn’s from boredom. Riley was getting tired as well, but he was trying to stay awake as long as possible. He kept going on and on improvising ghost stories ignoring the twins’ yawns until they finally spoke up.

“Uncle Riley?”

“Uh – what?” he asked.

“I’m tired,” Sally whined.

“Yeah, can we go to bed?” Charlie asked before a long yawn escaped him yet again. Riley stared at them, still trying to create a diversion.

“You guys want to go to sleep?” he asked in astonishment. “But the story isn’t even over! It’s only… eleven-thirty…”

“Yeah,” Carolyn piped up lazily suddenly. “I thought we were going to bed at ten? Isn’t that what Abigail said?”

He forgot about them having to be asleep by ten. Crap. He shook his wristwatch nervously and then realized that he could do nothing else to save himself. He accepted defeat, though he was not happy about it. He wanted to glare over at Carolyn, but he was too tired to get into it now. He just looked at Charlie and Sally sadly.

“All right,” he finally said. “Time for bed.”

He reached over to move the empty smores platter and turned out the small lantern that hung motionless above their heads. Carolyn and the twins got into their sleeping bags as the darkness took over. Riley just lay on top of his sleeping bag after everyone was settled and his eyes had adjusted to the dark; it was a warm night. He was on his back looking up at the tent’s ceiling trying to fall asleep.
Tomorrow would be a long day. Setting up for the party and the party itself were to be huge events, but he had to get all dressed up in a suit and everything. He hated suits, even though he was somewhat accustomed to wearing them before Ben and Ian had come along, but he had laxed off in the past few years. And the twins would be at him all day again, and Carolyn would be the annoying thing that she was…

He looked over at her, still angry about the sleeping arrangements. He groaned a little as he looked at her, but her eyes opened suddenly. Riley didn’t move.

“It’s not nice to stare,” Carolyn said, her voice muffled by the pillow.

“I wasn’t staring,” Riley said with disgust, turning his attention back to the tent ceiling (if that’s what you want to call it). As far as he was concerned, the conversation was over, but Carolyn propped herself up on one elbow and continued talking. Riley wanted to shoot himself.

“Funny,” she said. “It looked like you were.”

“Would you just go to sleep?” he asked impatiently. “I’ve got a lot to do tomorrow minus your sarcasm.”

“Oh really? What will you be doing besides setting up a few lawn chairs?”

“Moving huge tables, setting out fireworks, putting on a suit-“

“Putting on a suit gets a whole spot in your agenda, huh?” she half-laughed. “That’s pathetic and amusing at the same time.”

“I’ve worn plenty of suits in my life thanks to my line of work, thank you very much,” Riley said.

“You mean bumming off your friends requires a suit?”

“No, but working at the local university during the school year does.”

Carolyn arched her eyebrows in surprise. “Wow, Bum Boy works at a college, does he? What? Are you the janitor?”

Riley shot her a look. “When was the last time you saw a janitor in a three piece suit?” he asked.

Carolyn shrugged as she played with her fingernails.

“Looks can be deceiving,” she offered with a dark glare off in space as she thought about the façade she was putting on at that very moment. It had to stay convincing. She kept talking to Riley with mild sarcasm, shoving the thought away in the back of her mind. “So what do you do if you don’t clean windows and go deep-sea toilet plunging in a three piece suit at a college?” she asked.

Riley noted this as the first time her tone actually sounded normal, even though her remark was still smart. He didn’t think it possible for her to sound normal as in everyday normal; he thought sarcastic and pretty-oh-la-la stuff was her normal. But it was possible. He had just witnessed it. It’s about time, he thought.

“I work in the library,” he answered civilly. “Well, I help out. I sort books and pal around with the computer mechanics when books get boring. I just do whatever. Mainly help fix computers and stuff, too.”

“Great,” Carolyn said. “You’re rich and a member of the Geek Squad. Charlie and Sally told me you got excited around electronic things, but they failed to mention the severity of it.”

Riley’s face fell a little. “What else did they tell you?” he asked, half-afraid to. Carolyn had to smile; the look on his face was priceless. He obviously had some good embarrassing stories to his name.

“Not a lot,” she said. “Except that you love your computer and that you are the best uncle in the world.” She sighed with how stupid it sounded, but a smile crept onto Riley’s face. He turned on his should and craned his neck around to see the twins sleeping peacefully side by side.

“They’re attached,” he said. “Almost didn’t get to go to England a few weeks ago. They took all of my clothes out of my suitcases and filled them with toys… lucky I heard the monster truck rev up by accident before I loaded up in the car. I would’ve had a very interesting two weeks in England with just one outfit on.” Suddenly, Riley stopped and thought for a moment. He looked up at Carolyn who arched her brow.

“What?” she asked, getting snobbish almost instantly again.

“You didn’t say anything rude immediately after I spoke,” Riley said in amazement. “That was weird. I was almost expecting it.”

“I can be civilized,” Carolyn said quietly. “You just bother me.”

“You’ve told me.” Riley left out a sigh, rolling over onto his back again. For some reason part of him felt disappointed that their talk couldn’t have been more decent. He had only met her this morning; what was he thinking? She seemed so rotten, but it also seemed to Riley that part of her wanted to be nice. He smiled suddenly and turned to her. Carolyn’s eyes got big again.

“What?” Riley said nothing. “What, you freak? Say something!”

“You’re just a grumpy little thing aren’t you?” he asked amusingly.

“You don’t know anything about me,” she said quietly and honestly, her mission still nagging in her head.

“Well if you didn’t shut everyone out with your ‘shut up loser’ and your ‘get away from me’” – he did this in a high-pitched voice that made Carolyn scowl –“maybe people wouldn’t be so mean to you.”

“What are getting at?” she asked with narrow eyes.

“I’m trying to tell you to shut up,” he said, slightly loud and frustrated. “Eurgh! I just-! Goodnight!” With this, he rolled on his side away from Carolyn, slamming his shoulder into the ground. His thoughts were flustered and he hated her again. How could he possibly think that she was- Oh, it was just too frustrating! He was tense with anger as Carolyn sat beside him wide-eyed. She sighed as she lay down.

“Whatever…” she mumbled. “Moron…”

“Idiot,” she heard Riley mutter. She pouted and made a face to return again.

“Geek…”

“Princess…”

“Bum.”

“Cover Girl.”

“Jerk!”

“Barbie!”

Carolyn sat up, angry raging in her eyes now. “You did NOT just call me that,” she said dangerously, her hair going every which way from sitting up quickly. Then Riley did the same with a bright expression towards her. She wanted to slap him.
“Oh yes, I did,” he assured her.

Carolyn heaved angry breaths until she took her hand up in the air and went to struck Riley.

“Whoa!” He grabbed her wrist right before it met with his face. He sighed in relief that he didn’t get hit, but Carolyn just thrashed around even more. He finally threw her wrist away from him, and she fell back onto her side of the tent looking as if she was going to strike again.
“Okay,” he said. “That’s your side, this is my side.” He took his pillow and set it in between the sleeping bags as a barrier. Carolyn still looked murderous. Trying to ignore this fact, Riley elongated the barrier with her pillow. “Stay,” he said to her. “You stay over there.” Her silence was beginning to intimidate him, but he didn’t let his voice quiver just yet. He only nodded nervously as he got settled again. “Good girl,” he said. “You stay.”

“Don’t – talk – to me like that,” she spat. “I’m not inferior to you.” A sadness veiled over her expression for half a moment and her voice became softer; “I’m not inferior to anyone,” she said.

On the other side of his back, Riley was questioning what her last statement had meant. Was she implying something? He battled to keep out the twinge of guilt he felt for acting the way he just did, but she deserved it. Spoiled little brat… he just wished he could wake up and she would be gone, and none of this would have ever happened.

Even if she was pretty.

x x x

“And where have you been?”

Carolyn walked around her wardrobe to shut the heavy curtains to keep the sunrise out as Ian interrogated her from the computer monitor. She sighed and spun around, her nerves and patience still on edge.

“I was forced to camp out with the kids and Riley last night,” she half-shouted. She planted herself in the chair at her desk without looking at Ian. “It was a night of living hell.”

“I’d imagine so.” His remark was less than sympathetic. “Are you ready for tonight?” he questioned again.

“Yes,” she moaned for the thousandth time. “Get dressed, mingle, nab the portrait, and get out. I know what to do.”

“And where are you meeting Walt?”

“Walt’s coming?” she asked in confusion. “Well you failed to mention that.”

Ian sighed miserably fed up with her. “Dearest, the portrait is large, is it not?”

“Very,” she acknowledged, “but I think I can handle it without Walt’s help.” Now she realized why Walt was suddenly in on the plan, the big dumb idiot…

“No, I don’t think you can,” Ian said nonchalantly.

“Ian, you said that this was my part of the job, and I will do it without the assistance of a Neanderthal. Stop underestimating me.”

She stood up with tension physically hurting her body from being angry this past day or two. She was also mentally wiped out and was about to explode on the next person that critiqued her or corrected her. Chances are it would be Ian; he was an irritating sort of person, especially as a brother.

A silence followed in which neither said anything to one another out of sheer stubbornness. But then finally, Ian sighed and spoke up.

“Walt is assisting you. End of discussion.”

“Alright,” she said smartly. “How’s the guy getting in? Is he disguised as a guest or something?”

“Only for Plan A.”

“Oh, so now we’ve resorted to alphabetizing our plans, huh?” Carolyn rolled her eyes as he took a drink of water from the glass on the desk and sat it back down. Then she walked around her paintings to admire them as she listened to Ian.

“For the time being, yes,” he said. “I’ve explained to you what is to be done if tonight’s execution goes a little less than perfect.”

“With or without Walt there?”

“Walt will be there,” he said sternly. “And in that situation if you are spotted, you know what to do.”

“Aye aye, mon capitaine,” she said absentmindedly as she picked up her palette and touched up a few spots on an in-progress painting she had been working on. “Anything else you wish to let me know before tonight.”

“Nothing to the interest of you,” he said. “You’ll meet Walt in the library on the first floor and get out. Any questions as to why this is difficult?”

“I’m comprehending everything you say,” she said with a long brush stroke down the side of her canvas. She mixed some light brown and blue together before carefully fanning small sweeps of it on next. Ian frowned; she was beginning to let her stupid hobby distance her mind from their conversation.

“Would you pay attention?” he asked impatiently. “You can doodle some other time.”

“Don’t be jealous, Ian,” she laughed, still keeping to her painting. “Just because I’ve got talent and you don’t is no reason to get testy hours before we carry out one of your plans.”

“I’m done with you,” he said finally.

Suddenly, Carolyn’s computer monitor went black as the camera Ian was on shut off. She looked over at it, glad that he was gone for at least a little while. She sighed noisily and put her palette down, making for her wardrobe to change until later that evening. Her white capris now had dirt streaks on them, and her wine-colored shirt was terribly misshapen from what the mirror inside the wardrobe door showed her. She sighed and quickly changed into jeans which she rolled up to the middle of her calf, a flowy pink floral top that was roomy and light, and since her shoes were in just as bad as shape as her white pants, she took up a pair of sandals to continue the day’s work in.

She took a brush to her mangled and messy hair as the light from the sunrise fought to penetrate the thick curtains beside her. She went over the mission tonight quickly in her head again. As she did, she looked over on the other door of her wardrobe at the long dark blue dress hanging there. Ian had got that dress for her disguise that night after she had insisted a thousand times that she was not crazy about the color blue. She could stand it, but it still made her think very bad things about him.

After Carolyn was done and closed the doors of her wardrobe, she turned to see her bed inviting her to get the rest that she deserved after what she had been through that night. It was so tempting that she was afraid to lie down for she might not want to get back up. And there was still all the setting up to do for those nagging Gates’ party that evening. She was bound to be recruited to help since she was there for that purpose, so she sadly walked passed her bed with her eyes on the floor, trying to make it out of the room with different thoughts.

What else was there to think of though? She was desperately tired and had a thin line of patience Ian had just taken a good beating on. She had to help set up for tonight, and after making all that food yesterday, she would not get to taste most of it. She had to watch the twins for a few hours while Ben and Abigail went to pick up a few last minute things. As she walked down the staircase into the large kitchen/ living room/ library, she panicked a second.

Please don’t tell me I get to babysit with Super Geek, she thought. Please let him go with them or just die in his sleep…

As the heel of her sandal hit the floor at the base of the staircase, Ben and Abigail Gates looked up from their breakfasts. She paused and smiled, almost fearing that they had just heard her thoughts.

“Good morning,” she said politely as she crossed to the kitchen.

“Good morning, Carolyn,” Abigail said. “I thought you slept outside last night with Riley and the kids?”

“I did,” she answered. “I just woke up and came inside to change is all. I’d imagine we’d start getting ready early today and that you might need my help.”

“That would be great,” Ben said, standing up to get more tea. “We’ll move the tables outside in the yard right after breakfast, and then while we run out for a while, you, Riley, and the kids can set up some chairs or something.”

Carolyn’s face dropped a little. Inside of her mind, she was cursing like mad, however. Super Geek was not going with them as she had hoped and prayed for. She cursed more in her mind.

“Is that alright?” Abigail asked, seeing her eyes move to the floor.

Carolyn perked up immediately. “Fine,” she said, smiling. “Fine. I’m just still a little tired.”

“Speaking of which, are Riley, Charlie, or Sally up yet?” Ben asked, pouring his wife some more tea as well as himself.

“Not when I was last out there,” she said. “Would you like me to go wake them up?”

“If you could.”

Carolyn nodded and left through the back door. She wondered what on earth had just possessed her to voluntarily go near that excuse for a human being. The wet grass sprinkled onto her feet as she walked across the yard in long quick strides to reach the tent. She heard nothing as she approached the tent, which was surprising. She unzipped the doorway and looked inside.

It was so peaceful as she scanned the scene in front of her. Charlie was buried comfortably in a pile of sheets and his sleeping bag with his head resting on an oversized pillow. Sally was stretched out with her face lying on her arm, deforming it somewhat, even though it still brought a small smile to her face. Then, she looked over at Riley. He was lying across both his and Carolyn’s sleeping bags clutching a pillow close to him. His body rose and fell in silence as he took up half of the tent. Carolyn’s smile faded a little, but she unzipped the tent the rest of the way and kneeled on the inside a little. First, she nudged Riley.

“Hey,” she said, shaking his shoulder. “Get up.” He didn’t move, so she shook him harder. Finally, she gave up on him for the time being and turned to the children who awoke almost immediately.

“What’s for breakfast?” Sally asked as she sat up with her brother.

“I’m not so sure,” Carolyn said. “Why don’t you two go on in and find out.”

“Okay.” Then, Charlie went over to Riley and started talking to him. “Get up, Uncle Riley! Breakfast!”

“Um, I’ll wake him up,” Carolyn said to Charlie gently. “We’ll clean up the tent and be inside in a little while.”

Charlie frowned a little as he looked at Riley. “All right,” he said, standing up. “Come on, Sally.” His sister got up and followed him out into the yard without a word. She suddenly heard them running for the house, and she turned back to Riley.

“Get up, you lazy bum,” she said, smacking his shoulder now. Riley emitted a small moan and shifted slightly, but he did not wake up. Carolyn groaned in frustration. “Fine,” she said to herself. “I’ll just tear down this stupid tent by myself.”

Riley was coming out of his motionless state as he heard a voice float around the tent. He saw the sunlight illuminating the walls of tent when he opened his eyes. He heard movement on the other side of him. Thinking it was just the twins, he rolled over to check on them. Instead he saw Carolyn with her back to him as she took up pillows and sheets somewhat viciously.

Oh yeah… she had spent the night.

He forgot…

“What time is it?” he asked groggily, rubbing his eyes with a great stretch.

“About seven-thirty,” she said testily. She turned around, taking the pillow out of his arms and began tugging on her own sleeping bag. “Could you get off please?” she asked.

Riley sat up with not a word as she gathered up her sleeping bag from where the upper half of him used to lay. He watched her carry on like this with the twins’ sleeping bags, too. He though back to what had happened that night, now feeling somewhat guilty.

“You can get your own crap,” she suddenly said to him. “I’m not in charge of keeping up after you.”

Riley watched her silently, now wide-awake. She was not a happy person, and he did not like her one bit, but he rethought some of the things he said an almost wanted to take them back if it hadn’t been for the way she was still acting.

“You’re not a morning person, either then, huh?” he asked, collecting his things.

“Why do you care?” she asked.

“Just talking,” he said, raising his hands to mean no offense to her. “Geez, you need to calm down.”

“If you were gone, my life would be easier.”

“Uh, you came here,” he reminded her.

“Oh, just shut up.”

She picked up a huge armload of stuff and attempted to get out of the tent, but Riley just smiled widely and began to laugh. He moved in to help her.

“Give me some of that,” he laughed. “You’re gonna be buried in it if you fall.”

“No!” she said stubbornly.

“Oh, stop it,” he said, taking some of her load from her.

“Let go! I can handle it.”

“Hardly.”

“You better let go.” Carolyn tugged the sleeping bag and sheet towards her.

“No.” Riley tugged back harder.

Their game of tug of war lasted about three more tugs until it was Riley’s turn again. He pulled the hardest, catching Carolyn off guard; her armful of things went flying and so did she. She hit the back wall of the tent and landed on Riley along with all of their things.

Carolyn lifted her head that was still covered in a large sheet. She looked under her and saw Riley with huge eyes of panic. Immediately, they began pushing each other away, but they only entangled themselves more in the sheets and sleeping bags. And as luck would have it, when their heads were finally out of the cocoon they had made for themselves, they were face to face. More struggling occurred for half a moment until a snap was heard. Carolyn and Riley looked up in fear as the tent collapsed on top of them.

Riley moaned in exhaustion as Carolyn’s head fell on his shoulder. Suddenly, he had found energy again.

“Get off!” he shouted.

“I can’t!” Carolyn tried to squirm free but couldn’t because of her restraints. “You got me all wrapped up in this stupid pile of blankets!”

“You started it!” he retorted.

“Just shut up!” She swung her head around to see if she could untangle her feet or body at all while poor Riley’s face got covered in her hair. He sputtered and tried to blow it away.

“Get your hair out of my face!”

“Well then move your knee!” she said, glaring at him. “It’s cutting off my circulation!”

Riley glared back inches from her and tried to move again. One of his wrists was tied in the sheet while his other arm was sort of free. He tried to sit up, but Carolyn screamed in protest.

“Ow! My leg doesn’t twist that way! Stop!”

Riley fell flat on his back again with absolutely no energy. Carolyn and the sleeping bags came with it, and he felt very miserable with a rock pinching him in between his shoulder blades. He was never going to get out of here.

Carolyn’s hair was still tickling his face as she tried to get out somehow yet again, but nothing was working. All of this was making Riley tired and weak. He couldn’t move.

“Stop it,” he moaned finally. “Just quit.”

“I’m not going to be stuck to you all day in this stupid ball of sheets,” she said. “I’m… getting out!”

“You’re gonna choke yourself if you keep thrashing around like that!” She ignored him, but Riley saw her try to remove a blanket from her head that was only getting tighter around her neck as she kicked her legs around.

“Stop!” he instructed. Suddenly, the sheet was tight enough to make her choke, and she struggled even more. Her face turned red. “Carolyn!”

Riley took his free arm and grabbed her waist to hold her down against him until she quit moving so much. Then, he reached up to her neck and loosened it, allowing her to breathe again. Her head fell on his shoulder painfully for a third time as she coughed.

“Are you crazy!” he asked.

“No,” she coughed. “Just desperate to get away from you.”

“Oh yes, I’m such a bad person,” he said. “I just saved your life is all.”

“Stop trying to sound so noble and brave,” she spat.

“I see you’re still ungrateful for when someone tries to save you from unsuspecting stupid deaths on your part,” he said heatedly. “You fall in a pool, it’s my fault. You almost strangle yourself, it’s my fault.”

Riley looked away angrily as Carolyn turned her head to him. As arrogant and as annoying as he was, he did help her even though he hated her as much as she did him. She sighed, realizing that she was doomed to stay here forever unless they helped each other to get out. How cruel the fates were.

“Fine,” she said quietly. “I’m… sorry. And… thank you.”

The words came out of her mouth with much force, but Riley smiled and accepted them anyways.

“See, it didn’t hurt that much,” he teased.

Carolyn sighed. “Please just get me out of this stupid cocoon.”

Riley sat up a little, but Carolyn winced again. “Oh, your leg.” He looked for the lower half of her leg down near his feet, but he could see nothing. Charlie’s sleeping bag was blocking everything from his waist down. He mumbled something before addressing Carolyn.

“Can you see anything?” he asked her.

“Just your shoulder, your neck, and a pink sheet around our heads,” she said. “Not much else.”

“Crap.” He tried to see anything that he might be able to loosen, but there was nothing. “Which arm do you have free?” he asked Carolyn.

“My right,” she said, bringing it up to his chest and then lifting it to show him. Riley nodded as she put it back down.

“Okay, try to get you head out of that loop, but only if it’s big enough,” he said. He watched her carefully as she buried her face in his shoulder and undid the sheet loop from around her neck. She then brought her head up quickly for a breath with her hair falling in her face. She looked at Riley for what to do next. “Now what?” she inquired.

“Um… does the sheet around your leg feel looser?” he asked.

She tried to move her leg, but shook her head. “No.”

Riley grumbled again, laying his head back down. “We are never getting out of here.”

“But we have to,” Carolyn said.

“I know that, but it’s a little hard while both of us are tangled up like this in a –“

“Hey guys.”

Riley and Carolyn looked up nervously as the pink sheet enveloping their heads was removed in one quick motion. Above them stood Ben with an amused smile peering down at their heads that were sticking out of the hole in the top of the tent. His smile grew even though he was doing a miserable job of trying not to laugh.

“You two still aren’t getting along, are you?” he asked.

Riley and Carolyn opened their mouths, but no words came out as Charlie came up beside his father with a quirked eyebrow.

“I think they just wanted to be alone,” Charlie said.

“The tent collapsed on us!” Riley protested as Ben chuckled. “We were-“

“Riley, just… stop,” Ben said with a smile. He turned away to laugh, but Riley shouted in frustration.

“Just get us out!”

“Please!” Carolyn insisted.

“Fine,” Ben said, his laughter subsiding for now. “Charlie, go get your mom and your sister,” he told his son. “This is going to take a while.” Ben let the smile creep back on his face as Carolyn and Riley rolled their eyes.

“We’re never gonna live this down,” Riley moaned as he shut his eyes and rubbed them with his free hand.

“No, not really.”

“BEN!”

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