Get a Clue: Part 5-Tit for Tat
The night deepened, and the storm darkened. Lights at the Boddy Mansion flickered on and off. The power was failing, and everyone's courage was failing along with it.
In the basement, Dr Prune (aka Prof Plum) had Charlie cornered. But Charlie had a plan. With a flick of his hand, Charlie signaled to Tittle, and the sprite let out a string of high screeches at the top of his little digital lungs.
Tittle: CHITTER, CHITTER, CHIT, CHAT, CHAAAAT!!
Peter jumped out of his skin and turned quickly to face whatever fiendish monster stood behind him!
He was surprised to see a strange glowing creature in the corner of the bathroom. But before he could recover his calm, Charlie grabbed his toy car and whacked Peter across his temple. The doctor dropped to the floor with barely a moan.
Acting quickly, Charlie searched Dr Prune's pockets and found the dreaded syringe. He knew what it contained--all too well--a special drug concocted by the doctor himself. It served as a potent knockout medication, a tranquilizer, and a very effective truth serum. Charlie emptied the entire syringe into Peter's arm.
Charlie: Sorry I can't stay for our little chat. Busy schedule; much to do. But when you wake up, I'm sure the others will be happy to chat with you, Mr Plum-Prune!
Charlie yanked his clown costume off and redressed Peter in the outfit. He even took time to apply the makeup. The disguise would buy Charlie a little more time before his escape was discovered.
He grabbed some clothes from the bedroom's chest of drawers and dressed himself. Thankfully, Butler Didit had left Charlie a few basic items for comfort, toiletries and changes of clothes.
Tittle: Chitter chat.
Charlie: Yes, I do look better as a clown, no contest! Good thing the costume's made of latex. The doctor's put on a few pounds since our last ... session.
Charlie moved the chair away from the bedroom window and checked around the casing. The Colonel had eyed the window more than once. Charlie was good at watching people. He knew there was something important here.
And then he found it-- a secret latch that slid the window open. Charlie pulled the chair back in place, stepped through the opening, and closed the window shut again. It was time to do some exploring.
He could have used the doctor's room key, but if Colonel Mike was giving away hints, Charlie would take them!
The window didn't open to the outside, of course, but to a decorated hall behind the servants' rooms. The passageway was dark and narrow. Good thing Tittle made a perfect lantern. It was an extra feature of the sprite.
At the end of the passage, hidden in fake follage, Charlie found a ladder leading down to a lower level.
He descended into another narrow hallway, but this one was unfinished and smelled of damp earth and mold.
The tunnel led to turn after turn. Charlie found another ladder leading up to the back door of the house. But he followed the passageway further until he felt a cool breeze on his face. And the walls looked wet up ahead, trickles of water running down the old masonry. The rain was seeping inside.
Charlie: Tittle, this tunnel opens straight to the outside. It's a secret escape route!
Tittle: Chit chatter!
Charlie: No, no. We need to go back. We have a game to play. But if we run into trouble, this could be the best way out. I'm sure this passage will take us much further away from the manor. No matter what, we'll be safe, Tittle!
And here was John Green's laptop on the desk, sitting innocently in plain sight. Charlie knew the storm was playing havoc with cell and wireless connections, but he also knew the businessman would have encrypted files on the computer. Charlie was no computer whiz, but he had his own talents.
Charlie was an expert on cameras and recording devices. And this potted tree was the best place to hide his personal spyware.
Tittle: Chit, chitter!
Charlie: Hehe! They never suspected I had my equipment with me. What clown carries a camera like this!
Tittle: Chatter, chatter, chit chit chit.
Charlie: Don't worry, Tattle Bear will be completely safe. I'll pull the leaves down around him and no one will ever see him here. ... Now, don't be afraid, Tattle. Just sit very still, ok buddy?
Tattle Bear would have nodded his head and winked if he'd been alive, but Charlie knew he was listening. Tattle always listened to everything around him once his button was pushed.
Charlie and Tittle quickly left the room the way they came and headed upstairs. It was time for their next task.
It wasn't long before John Green sat down in front of his laptop, keyed in several passwords, and opened his private documents. Tattle Bear saw everything over John's shoulder and recorded it all.
Charlie always kept a motion-activated video camera inside Tattle. It was surrounded by fluff and fur, not easily detected. The little clown bear would have many secrets to reveal before the Boddy game was through.
Meanwhile Charlie was sneaking around the top floor. All the personal quarters would need to be searched once the sleepers were elsewhere. But Charlie doubted he'd find much of anything in drawers or suitcases. The game players wouldn't be hiding secrets that close to themselves.
There was one bedroom, though, that Charlie needed to search while the sleeper was still in bed. Charlie didn't want to do this, but it had to be done. He had to play by the rules of the game, after all.
Tittle: Chatter, chitter ...
Charlie: I know, I don't like this part either.
Charlie: Josey looks so peaceful. I hate to disturb her, but we have no choice. Tittle, you better watch the door. ... And try to stay very, very quiet.
The night deepened, and the storm darkened. Lights at the Boddy Mansion flickered on and off. The power was failing, and everyone's courage was failing along with it.
Tittle: CHITTER, CHITTER, CHIT, CHAT, CHAAAAT!!
Peter jumped out of his skin and turned quickly to face whatever fiendish monster stood behind him!
Acting quickly, Charlie searched Dr Prune's pockets and found the dreaded syringe. He knew what it contained--all too well--a special drug concocted by the doctor himself. It served as a potent knockout medication, a tranquilizer, and a very effective truth serum. Charlie emptied the entire syringe into Peter's arm.
Charlie yanked his clown costume off and redressed Peter in the outfit. He even took time to apply the makeup. The disguise would buy Charlie a little more time before his escape was discovered.
He grabbed some clothes from the bedroom's chest of drawers and dressed himself. Thankfully, Butler Didit had left Charlie a few basic items for comfort, toiletries and changes of clothes.
Tittle: Chitter chat.
Charlie: Yes, I do look better as a clown, no contest! Good thing the costume's made of latex. The doctor's put on a few pounds since our last ... session.
And then he found it-- a secret latch that slid the window open. Charlie pulled the chair back in place, stepped through the opening, and closed the window shut again. It was time to do some exploring.
He could have used the doctor's room key, but if Colonel Mike was giving away hints, Charlie would take them!
Charlie: Tittle, this tunnel opens straight to the outside. It's a secret escape route!
Tittle: Chit chatter!
Charlie: No, no. We need to go back. We have a game to play. But if we run into trouble, this could be the best way out. I'm sure this passage will take us much further away from the manor. No matter what, we'll be safe, Tittle!
Charlie retraced his steps and once again climbed through the secret window of his prison room. Dr Prune was still sound asleep. No one had entered the room yet. Very good. He and Tittle would have to sneak through the house now. There were a few more things he needed to do before the others found out he'd tricked them!
The note Charlie had written and left on the dresser was still leaning against the syringe he'd placed there. This was Charlie's own clue for the game. He smiled as he thought about what they'd think after reading his note.
It simply said: "My name is Dr Peter Prune. I accidentally took my own truth drug. Oops! Ask me anything. I'll tell you everything."
Charlie kept to the hidden passages as much as possible. The manor had several concealed entrances into various rooms, but he was looking for the best place to find out more secrets.
Where could someone go to be alone and yet have access to files and documents? He decided the most private place in the mansion besides bedrooms would be the study.
After listening to see that the room was empty, Charlie opened the hidden bookcase door and stepped into the study. Yes, this was the perfect spot for what he had in mind!
Charlie: Hehe! They never suspected I had my equipment with me. What clown carries a camera like this!
Charlie: Don't worry, Tattle Bear will be completely safe. I'll pull the leaves down around him and no one will ever see him here. ... Now, don't be afraid, Tattle. Just sit very still, ok buddy?
Tattle Bear would have nodded his head and winked if he'd been alive, but Charlie knew he was listening. Tattle always listened to everything around him once his button was pushed.
It wasn't long before John Green sat down in front of his laptop, keyed in several passwords, and opened his private documents. Tattle Bear saw everything over John's shoulder and recorded it all.
There was one bedroom, though, that Charlie needed to search while the sleeper was still in bed. Charlie didn't want to do this, but it had to be done. He had to play by the rules of the game, after all.
Charlie: I know, I don't like this part either.
