Chapter 11: Introspective Infiltration[]
No one expects me to have any good ideas. Compared to the others, I have just entered the world. I’m not supposed to understand things like they do. A reasonable assumption to make, but ultimately flawed. The world does make sense to me. I just see it in a different way.
Which is why following this round man home is a good idea. He has to know something. Why else would a man like him read something like Ace Savvy? And Lisa already proved that Lincoln going away has to do with Ace Savvy. I can’t wait for her to connect the dots. Linky needs us. We need him.
The round man’s big car finally stopped. We were in front of a large golden house with a beautiful garden. This man has a lot of money. I bet he’s also lonely. People with a lot of toys tend to be lonely, don’t you find? That’s why Lola has so many dolls, you know. But no matter how lonely she feels, she still has us. I don’t know if I can say the same for the round man.
A thin man got out of the car and opened the door for the round man. I guess the round man is lazy, too. Even Lola doesn’t demand us to open the door for her. Anyway, I should keep out of sight. The round man isn’t going to share his secrets with a young babe like me.
Once the round man left, I let go of the tire and crawled onto the ground. It was as hard as rock. Rocks can hurt, or so I am told. But for Lincoln, I will endure any pain. We need our brother back. I stood up and made my way to the round man’s big house. I traveled from the hard rock to the soft dirt in the garden. A perfect place to hide and sneak up to the house without being seen.
Hmm. The thin man has closed the door the the house. It’s a bit too high for me to reach, as is the doorbell. I’ll have to find another way inside. Let’s check the backyard first.
I feel kinda bad for running off without Lisa, though. We’re supposed to be a team, and I just left her. But she wasn’t going to let me chase the round man. We were just gonna go home and listen to the po-po. Why does she have to act like she knows what’s best for all of us? Why can’t she just listen to me and trust what I have to say? Eh, I can’t stay mad at her. She understands me better than anyone, after all. She knows that I can see the world the way older people do. Well, sometimes, anyway. But this is one of those times; make no mistake.
Uh-oh. I just spotted a problem in the backyard. There’s a mean-looking doggy sleeping in a fancy doghouse. I need to be extra quiet. I’m no good to Lincoln if I’m being torn apart by a doggie. Okay, let’s see…
Ah, a doggie flap in the backdoor! Perfect! I can just squeeze through there and get in. Just have to get past the mean doggie. Or maybe he isn’t mean, I dunno. Doesn’t matter. I’d rather not take my chances.
Alright, gotta be sneaky like Lucy. I’m right in front of the doggie now. Just a quick crawl over to the flap, and he won’t even know I’m…
Wait, is that a po-po sound I hear? And there are those flashing lights, too. Maybe I was right about the round man after all. Heh. Take that, Li—
…
Something’s breathing in my ear. And growling. Oh, poo-poo. And I do mean poo-poo. As in it’s in my diaper right now. I gotta…
Wait a second. The doggie is sniffing my diaper. Now he’s… licking me? Hehehe, that tickles~! Phew. I guess Lana was right. Doggies do like icky smells. Welp, better get going before he changes his mind. So long, doggie!
***
Okay, I’m in. Wow, this place is really shiny~. Such beauty hidden away in this big house. The round man must be selfish to hide this all for himself. And with that selfishness comes loneliness. Such is the way of the world, at least how I see it. Very sad.
No time to think about that now, though. I need to see what the round man is hiding. Hmm. This place looks like a kitchen. I don’t think there’d be anything in here. Let’s try somewhere else.
The next room is a big library with fancy chairs and a fireplace. I see the round man sitting in one the big chairs and reading his Ace Savvy book. I’d better keep my distance. Even if he can’t see me, he might be able to smell me if I get too close.
“Lord Tetherby, sir?”
The thin man walked in from another door. The round man didn’t even look up from his book.
“What is it, Bates?”
“The police are at the door, sir.”
That got Lord Tetherby’s attention. He gave Bates a look. “Send them away. I don’t know anything.”
“Very good, sir.”
I might just be a baby, but even I can tell he’s hiding something. It’s either that or he’s so lazy that he has other people do stuff for him. Or maybe he knows that Bates fellow’s secrets, just like Lola used our secrets against us that one time. Whatever the case is, I don’t like him.
Bates left, and I continued my sneaking. I must say, I’m not used to seeing a house this… clean. Lord Tetherby must be really lonely. He doesn’t have a big family like I do. But no mess also means things don’t get lost. So whatever he’s hiding, I should find it easily. Then again, this is a pretty big house. I don’t even know where to start looking. And if he has something hiding in one of those books, I won’t be able to read it.
…
I’m beginning to think I didn’t think this through. This happens to me a lot. Oh well. No use complaining about it now. Gotta keep looking for clues.
I managed to make it past the fireplace when Bates returned.
“Sir, they aren’t here to ask about Mr. O’Donnell,” he said. “Apparently, a baby managed to stow away on the limousine when we left the convenience store.”
Lord Tetherby snorted. “They have to be mistaken, Bates.”
“They have who they claim to be the baby’s sister with them, and she insists that the baby is on the premises, sir.”
That has to be Lisa. Did she get the po-po to follow me here?
“What is this world coming to, Bates?” Lord Tetherby complained. “First O’Donnell, now this. Why must I be dragged into the messes of the common folk, I ask you?”
Oh, boo-hoo. You have to get off your lazy butt and talk to people. Maybe you deserve to be lonely if you’re gonna treat everyone like that. Especially the po-po.
“Shall I let them in, sir?” asked Bates.
“And have them leave their riffraff stink all over my estate? Absolutely not,” Lord Tetherby huffed. “I’ll see to them. You find that baby, if there really is one here.”
“Yes, sir.”
The two of them left the room. Alright, while Lisa is distracting Lord Tetherby, I’d better find some clues. Now, where should I start looking?
Wait. I just spotted something in the fireplace. It looks like a piece of paper. Was Lord Tetherby trying to get rid of something? Well, if he doesn’t want it, I’m sure he won’t mind if I take it.
Nngh~! I-it’s all dusty! Oh no. I-I’m gonna sneeze!
“Ah-ah…”
…
Phew. That was a close one. I should—
“Ah-choo~!”
Dannit. Don’t you hate it when that happens? Time for me to make my exit before Bates finds me. I’ll just put this paper into my diaper for later. I’m sure Lisa can read whatever’s on it when I meet up with her later.
I crawled as fast as I could into a large game room. Lots of fancy tables and rackets and balls and stuff. Lynn would love it here. But I don’t think Lord Tetherby is the kind of fellow who would share his toys. Especially since Lynn might end up breaking them.
Ooh~. I spy with my little eye something small and shiny. It’s by that ping-pong table. Let’s see what it is.
I crawled over and picked it up. It was a small silver ring with two letters written on it. D and O. I don’t know what that means, but maybe Lisa can figure it out. I put the ring in my diaper with the paper.
…
Yes, I know there’s already poo-poo in there, too. But one, how else am I gonna carry this stuff? I don’t have pockets. And two, this way, Lisa can find my evidence when she changes me. I’m sure she has some extra diapers in that bag she took with her.
Anyway, I should keep moving. Don’t want that Bates guy to catch me too soon. What’s in this next room?
Huh. Looks like a museum room. Y’know, with a lot of pretty pictures and statues and stuff? Why would Lord Tetherby have a museum in his house if he doesn’t let anyone else see it? Oh, wait. There are a lot of pictures of him in here. I see what’s going on. The only person Lord Tetherby cares about is Lord Tetherby. He’s not lonely; he’s just a jerk.
Hang on. There’s something in here that’s not a picture or statue of Lord Tetherby. It looks like an Ace Savvy comic inside a glass case. At least, I think it is. I recognize Ace Savvy, but I don’t remember him being that big and strong. And I’m pretty sure he throws cards at people. Why does he need all those guns? There’s also some writing on it, but of course, I can’t read it. I’m gonna need to get that comic out of that case so I can give it to Lisa later. But how?
Maybe if I tip it over, the case will break open. I’ll have to be super-duper careful. Lisa would be so upset if I got hurt. But I have to take the risk. For Linky.
Oof~! This thing is heavy. I wish Lynn was here. She could push it over no problem. I’d bet Lynn would want to be here, too. She looked so sad when she had to go away. C’mon, Lily. Put your back into it. You can do it. Just a little more—
“Lily!”
Dannit. I was just about to get it open, too. I turned around to see Lord Tetherby, along with two po-po and Lisa. Lisa ran over to me and gave me a hug.
“Oh, Lily. You had me so worried,” she said.
The po-po gave Lord Tetherby a look. “I thought you said there wasn’t a baby in here,” one of them said.
Lord Tetherby grunted. “I’m just as surprised as you are, frankly. Now, if you have no other business, clear off.”
I told Lisa about the stuff I was carrying. Luckily, no one else could understand what I was saying. Lisa nodded before smelling me and making a face.
“Um, before we go, do you mind if we use your facilities?” she asked. “Lily’s diaper needs to be changed.”
“Are you joshing me right now?!” Lord Tetherby roared. “Get out! Out out out! And take that smelly baby with you!”
I may be smelly, but at least I’m not a meanie-pants like you. Of course, I can’t actually say that yet, so sticking my tongue out at him will have to do.
“Lily, don’t be rude,” Lisa scolded. She then whispered; “I don’t like him, either. This man caused Lincoln to forget his virtues back when he had that limousine.”
…
Oh. Yeah, I think I remember that now. No wonder I don’t like him.
“Still, we are trespassing in his home. Two wrong don’t make a right,” Lisa continued. She turned back to Lord Tetherby. “We’ll only be a few minutes. I promise, once I’m done, you won’t have to see us again.”
“I don’t think she’s asking for much, Mr. Tetherby,” said one of the po-po.
Lord Tetherby let out a groan. “Fine. But if you take too long, I’m having Bates kick you out.”
Lisa sighed. “There will be no need for that, I assure you. Come, Lily. Let’s get you cleaned up.”
I can tell Lisa’s very mad at me right now. Actually, I’m mad at myself, too. I can’t make sense of any of the stuff I found. I should’ve done this with her. Well, nothing to do now but show her what I got. Hopefully, it’ll all be worth it…