Anne and Gertie

At noon, the streets were no longer empty. Airi walked down the street, catching snatches of conversation as she passed. Up ahead, two women appeared to be arguing.

“Why are you looking at my necklace like that? Because it’s better than yours?”

“Like I’d want your necklace! You’ve been eyeing my rings all day. I bet you’re thinking of how well they’d go with your necklace, aren’t you?”

“Hush. There’s an odd girl over there. She looks like a pickpocket.”

From what she’d heard, there was no way Airi or Mildred could get these people to trust them. They didn’t even trust each other.

Hmm.

Didn’t trust each other, huh?

“Excuse me.” Airi ran to catch up to the women.

“I haven’t got any money. Leave me alone,” the woman snapped.

“Oh, no. Nothing like that. I’m just looking for Jack’s daughter,” Airi said. “Have you seen her? Her mother sent me.”

The women exchanged exasperated looks. “You’re looking for Anne? Has she run off again?”

“She’s probably playing with Gertie by the pond again. Little rascals.”

They walked away, still talking to each other: “I pity their mothers.”

After a bit of pacing, Airi found the pond. She heard a shrill giggle and saw two little girls hunched behind the rocks.

The first girl wore a frayed sunhat and an abundance of necklaces draped over her arm. The other wore at least ten gold bracelets on each arm. Every few seconds, both girls removed a piece of jewelry and hurled it into the pool. The bottom of the pool was already littered with jewelry.

One of the first girl’s necklaces landed around a rock. “Ha ha! I win!”

“That’s not fair, Anne! Necklaces are easier,” complained the other girl.

“‘That’s not fair, Anne!’” Anne mimicked teasingly. “Fine, let’s switch then!” She passed a necklace to Gertie and reached for a bracelet. “Why don’t you ask you dad for some necklaces?”

“My dad says that necklaces are common and bracelets are better.” Gertie’s necklace splashed into the water.

“Necklaces are the best for throwing.” Anne smiled smugly.

“Well also, I’m grounded, remember?” Gertie whispered.

“Me too,” Anne grumbled. “I have to go soon, or my mom’s gonna look for me.”

Airi stepped out from behind the rocks, shading her eyes from the sun. “Anne! Is that you?”

Both girls jumped, looking guilty.

“Your mom sent me,” Airi said. “She says to tell you that, since you’ve been so good this week, you can play with Gertie until dinnertime.”

Anne scrunched up her forehead. “Did my mom really say that? She was so mad yesterday.”

“Of course!” Airi shook her head, feigning disbelief. “Trust me, I was also surprised. Maybe she had a change of heart.”

It wasn’t her best lie, but it worked on Anne and Gertie. They looked at each other excitedly. “That means—”

“We can keep playing!”

Airi smiled as she walked away. Now she just needed to go back to Fiona’s house and find Mildred.

“Who is it?” came Mildred’s voice from the other side of the door.

“Your best buddy!”

There was a muffled groan, and Mildred opened the door. Her neck was purplish by now. Fiona peeked out from behind her.

“So, what’d you discover?” Mildred asked.

“A lot. I have a plan.” Airi shut the door and turned to Fiona with a big smile. “We’re gonna need your help.”

“Oh, m-me?” Fiona trembled. “No, I can’t.”

“Do you trust me?” Airi cajoled.

“N-not really...”

“Well, neither do those guards at Gold’s Lair. But they trust you. They let you clean for them, right?”

“H-huh?”

“Listen, Felicia.” Airi sat Fiona down at the dining table.

“It’s Fiona...”

“You’re the only one who can do it. No one in Stonecliff thinks you’re gonna do anything suspicious. If Mildred or I go, they might not believe us. But they’ll believe you. So, here’s what I need you to do...”

The guards at the entrance to Gold’s Lair heard footsteps. They raised their pickaxes, but it was only gray-haired Fiona, scampering along with her broom in her hand.

“Fiona, there’s no need to clean this area,” Jack said.

Fiona looked up, trembling. “Um...”

“What is it?” Roger said impatiently.

“I... um... I just came from cleaning your houses,” Fiona said. “Jack, your wife sent me to t-tell you that... Anne still isn’t home...”

Jack huffed. “I knew it. She’s with that Gertie. I’ve told her a million times not to talk to—”

“Watch it,” Roger said.

Fiona turned to Roger. “Um, about Gertie... Roger, your wife told me... that I shouldn’t clean Gertie’s room until the girls are f-finished with their playdate.”

There was a moment of silence.

Then Jack and Roger exploded, “What do you mean, ‘playdate?’”

“I’m not letting my daughter play with—”

“I knew it! You sent your daughter to steal our family’s gold. Is that it? You planted a little spy and used her to get into my house!” Roger roared.

“Steal your family’s gold? You’re holding Anne hostage in your house! Is that the best excuse you can come up with?”

Fiona glanced nervously between them. “Um... is something...”

Before she could finish her sentence, both Jack and Roger ran past her, elbowing each other out of the way. The cave entrance lay unguarded.