Chapter 12

8,000 words!!

Chapter 12

“Aah! I feel so rested,” said Nikki as she stretched and looked around the room. “This hotel has nice beds. We should come here more often, just not when there are people chasing us, and there’s a big mystery to solve.”
“Oh, hello. You’re awake!” came the creepy voice of the only person whose voice chilled Nikki to her bones. “Oh, not expecting me? That’s okay. I often drop by on unexpected visits to people. Looking for your friends?” Ms. Arachne said.
Nikki gaped. “Whoa! How did you get here? And what are you doing with Mrs. Pinebaum? Where’s Riley and Kylie?” she said, for now she noticed that they were not on their beds.
“Oh, I just followed your trail. It was easy actually. The man at the strange taco stand was actually a contact of mine, and he told me that you passed by there, and then headed into town. I’ve come to bring you back to the boss, and this time, you won’t get away!” Ms. Arachne screamed with a dangerous glint in her eye. “This lady and your friends will all be taking a little swim downtown if you don’t come now!”
Nikki pretended to faint. Maybe if I pretend to faint, she’ll carry me and then get tired, and run off. I hope it works, but it’s my only hope. Stay limp! She reminded herself.
“What? No! I can’t believe that she fainted! Ugh! Now I have to carry her. Not fair!” Ms. Arachne struggled to pick her up. “Oof! How come she weighs so much?” She walked to the elevator, pulled out her cell phone, and called Bub. “Hey Bub!” she spat over the phone. She really disliked that guy. “I need you to get yourself over here. I have a package for you to help me deliver.”
“Fine. I’ll be there,” Bub replied.
“What did I tell you about calling me ma’am?”
“Sorry, ma’am,” he said sullenly.
Bub drove over, but when he got there Ms. Arachne was spitting mad. “How come you didn’t get here sooner? When I put the ‘fainted’ Nikki down for a moment, she jumped and ran off! Now she’s in that taxi down there with meddling Mrs. Pinebaum and her two friends! After them!” she jumped into the car, and Bub sped off.
“Can you please speed up? There are people after us! Look, Mrs. Pinebaum, can you see that black sedan back there? That’s Bub’s and Ms. Arachne’s car.” Nikki said anxiously.
“Oh those two? They’re incompetent, if they couldn’t even keep track of you three. Not like that’s a too easy task.” She smirked. “I should know!”
“Very well, young miss,” said the taxi driver with an Italian accent. “I will speed up.” He stepped on the gas. The car accelerated to seventy miles an hour on the deserted old highway. “That better?”
“Yes,” replied Nikki. “Thank you...”
“Jacques, miss,” replied Jacques.
“Ah. Thank you Jacques.”
“You’re welcome. By the way, what are your names?”
“Oh. This is Mrs. Pinebaum, our guardian and good friend; this is Riley, and her twin Kylie. I’m Nikki.”
Jacques had a funny look on his face. “Is your last name Harleson?”
“Yeah,” Nikki replied testily.
“And your parents, were their names Linda and John?”
“Yes,” Nikki replied even more nervously.
Jacques stopped the car and turned and embraced her. “Nikki! I can’t believe it’s you! I have been looking for you since your parents disappeared, to keep you safe from the people who took your parents, who apparently are right behind us.”
“You knew my parents?” Nikki stammered. “So you know where they are, right?”
“Sadly, no. I’ve been looking for them, and you. Luckily I found you before those people behind us could.”
“Oh, that’s only Bub and Ms. Arachne. They’re so lame,” Kylie said, as harsh as ever. “They were hired to get us to their boss.”
“And that would be who?” asked Jacques.
“We don’t know. Look out!” cried Nikki as Jacques swerved to avoid an old tree stump. Pop! The wheel blew out as it struck a protruding root.
“Oh, no! Now what are we going to do?” cried Kylie as Jacques backed away from the wheel explaining loudly that he needed to change the tire, but he left his tools in his other car.
“Hey, Ms. Arachne and Bub are stopping! Now they’re getting out of their car. Hide!” Nikki whispered as Riley, Kylie and her dove into the bushes.
“No, come on out. Jacques and I will deal with those two.” Mrs. Pinebaum said, rolling up her sleeves like the people in cartoons who are about to fight.
Ms. Arachne stormed up to Nikki. “You! You ruined my career! But now I can save it, by brining you in!” Ms. Arachne screamed, and grabbed Nikki. Ms. Arachne stopped in her tracks when she noticed Jacques and Mrs. Pinebaum standing there with their arms crossed, looking not unlike a set of angry parents. Ms. Arachne trembled in their shadow.
“Let her go,” he said slowly and deliberately. “She has done nothing to you. Leave her be.”
“You again! “I thought I got rid of you a while ago!” she said, pointing at Mrs. Pinebaum. “And you,” she sputtered, her hand shaking as she suddenly pointed at Jacques. “I told you once already, stay away from me!”
“No. Once you leave her alone, you’ll never have to see me again,” said Jacques. Under his breath he muttered, “I’ll make sure of it.”