Mystery of the Neolodge: Part Four

TigerWing jumped. Wiseguy gasped. Cali coughed. Tweetie’s eyes darted back to the Kyrii.

      “I…I didn’t know Sp-Spectre had a sister…” TigerWing stammered.

      “My name is Capara and he does have a sister. I don’t blame you for not recognizing me. I’m the one who should have had all of the fame and power! Spectre ignored me; he acts as if I’m not even around anymore. You wouldn’t know how it felt to be neglected by your own brother!”

      “Capara…” TigerWing thought about the name, “I know you! You play Cheat, don’t you?” She decided to change the subject.

      “Yes,” said Capara, sounding exasperated, “But I never win. Spectre does all of the winning in the family.”

      “Then… if you are Spectre’s sister,” Tweetie said, “How can Spectre be so rich, and you be so…” he stopped, “Not rich…” he finished. Capara’s jaw clenched and her brown eyes turned to flames,

      “Because he won’t share a smidge of his wealth with me!” She said, in a whiny voice, “I did everything for him when we were younger! I was the responsible big sister, always looking after him and entertaining him…” TigerWing tried not to laugh. It was funny to picture Spectre as a young Neopet, “And he has no sense for not paying me back for everything I’ve done. He’s nothing but a greedy, cheating, lying…”

      “He won’t do anything for you?” Cali asked.

      “Not one thing. He acts as though we aren’t even related. But sometimes I wonder how could we be? We’re so different. He’s the richest Neopet in Neopia and I’m just a waitress at the Pizzaroo.” TigerWing couldn’t tell if Capara was really hurt by her brother’s feelings towards her, or if she was just putting on an act to deceive them. “But one day,” said Capara, her voice growing so loud that other Neopets were staring,

      “One day I’m going to get him back for everything! He’ll see… they’ll all see!” TigerWing, as well as the others, did not know how to react to Capara’s sudden outburst. Capara brushed her mane out of her face and said, “I’ll tell you one thing. That amulet you were talking about? Yes, it is still in the Neolodge—hidden so well that it may be nearly impossible to find. I know that Spectre wants it… such an amulet as that is worth millions… and is very useful in the Battledome. He wants it more than anything. The Storm Amulet is so rare that not even his wealth can buy it for him.”

      “Is it really that rare?” Wiseguy asked in an undertone. “And what do you mean?”

      Capara nodded, “I mean that it never sells in the Battle Magic shop. It is probably the only one left in Neopia. When it belonged to the Founder, it was probably worth no more than a bottle of sand. But you know how volatile the price changes on Battledome items are.” She leaned in closer and whispered, “Someone is out to steal that amulet. Someone wants it very, very bad.” Capara shuffled off to tend to another table.

***

After finishing their Megapepper Pizza, (and their conversation with Capara), Wiseguy and Tweetie went to the 3rd floor with TigerWing and Cali. TigerWing sprawled out on her bed, letting the conversation with Capara soak in. Wiseguy and Cali were seated at the table and Tweetie was lying on the carpet, flexing his starry wings.

      “Do you think that Capara was hinting about Spectre when she said that he wanted the amulet very badly?” Wiseguy asked. TigerWing rolled over to look at him.

      “Maybe, but what if she was just putting on an act about Spectre hating her. Who knows? They could be plotting their scheme to steal the amulet and split the Neopoints when they sell it.”

      “What about Jack Kenton and his mysterious whereabouts?” Cali asked, pointing to the room next to them, “He’s been acting pretty suspicious lately.”

      “Anyone could be a suspect…” TigerWing said and she sighed, “Anyone in this building could be looking for the amulet.”

      “Well, I’m going to call it a night,” said Wiseguy, “Tweetie and I are going to the fitness room in the morning. Anyone want to come?” Cali said yes and TigerWing said no. Tweetie and Wiseguy exited the room. TigerWing climbed into bed as Cali was brushing her teeth. Knowing that thinking about the Storm Amulet would keep her up all night, TigerWing decided to think about Sam. She wondered what her owner was doing right now. After an hour passed, tiredness overcame her and she fell asleep.

***

TigerWing woke up early and stretched her wings. She yawned and considered sleeping for another hour, but decided not to. She forced herself out of bed and found that Cali was missing.

      Wait a second… she went to the fitness room with Wiseguy and Tweetie, TigerWing thought. She washed her face in the sink and was about to go downstairs to order some breakfast when she heard two voices coming from the room next to her. She pressed her ear to the wall, intrigued by their hushed voices.

      “…Been trying to get it all week…too many Neopets around… I need some more time…” TigerWing could only hear bits and pieces of their discussion. That was Jack Kenton talking! She stopped abruptly, jerking her head away from the wall. She was eavesdropping! TigerWing knew that she shouldn’t be deliberately listening, but she couldn’t help it,

      “…How much longer do you need?” a new voice said.

      “I’m not sure, Sir, do you realize how big this building is?” Jack was speaking again, “To search for something that small is like looking for a grain of sand in the sea!”

      TigerWing gasped. They were talking about the Storm Amulet!

      “…We need to find it…” the voice said.

      “I understand that, but I need to wait for the right time to search!” TigerWing could see the blue Eyrie’s face twisted with frustration.

      “You do your job, and I’ll do mine,” the voice said. They were whispering now and TigerWing couldn’t hear. She listened so intently that she was able to hear the last part.

      “…Don’t worry. I’ll find it…” Jack Kenton assured the other Neopet. TigerWing heard footsteps and then Jack Kenton’s door opening and closing. The other Neopet must have left. TigerWing poked her head out of the room and saw nothing. She went downstairs to get something from the restaurant, going over what she just heard.

      Someone is using Jack Kenton to get the amulet for them! But who is that Neopet? Is he a resident at the Neolodge? Why is he using Jack and not finding it himself?Questions raced in her mind. TigerWing decided that breakfast could wait and she hurried over to the fitness room. Inside, Cali, Tweetie and Wiseguy were sitting in a corner, taking a break. TigerWing waved them over and seeing her excited face, they came running. She pulled them out of the room and told them about Jack Kenton and the other Neopet. When she was finished, Wiseguy asked,

      “Do you think that the Neopet was using Jack to get the amulet for him?”

      “Well, that’s what I was thinking,” said TigerWing, “All of the suspicion is pointing to him.”

      “But we can’t count out Spectre and Capara,” Cali whispered, “They could be working together on this.”

      “Wait a second!” Tweetie yelled, “I don’t even think that Capara is staying in the Neolodge!”

      “So?”

      “You can’t use anything unless you have a room here. There would be no way for her to get in and snoop around.”

      “Capara may have connections with the Neolodge since Spectre comes here so often,” said TigerWing, “If she doesn’t, then I’m sure she could just fake it. She seems sly enough, it would probably be easy for her to say that she had a room here.”

      “If that was just an act in the Pizzaroo, then I’m sure she could pull off saying she resided here,” Cali said.

      Wiseguy sighed, “All that we can do now is keep our eyes peeled for more clues and discussions with our three main suspects. We should start splitting up if we’re doing a bit of investigating. We would remain more…uh, inconspicuous that way.”

      That was agreed. Wiseguy and Cali went back in the fitness room, while Tweetie went upstairs to take a shower. TigerWing traversed through the huge dining room to get to the restaurant.

      Just as she was walking down the hall she paused to look at a portrait of an old yellow Chia. He was wearing a nice suit and standing in the front of the Neolodge. In the portrait, he had the Storm Amulet around his neck. The blue gem sparkled in the sunlight. A wooden plaque was attached to the wall underneath the picture. Inscribed in gold were the words: ‘Martin Hughes’ and under that ‘Founder of the Neolodge’. TigerWing looked into the yellow Chia’s eyes and whispered,

      “Someone’s after your amulet, Mr. Hughes. But don’t worry. My siblings and I are going to find out who.”

To be continued...