Midnight Reynolds and the Agency of Spectral Protection

by Catherine Holt

  “Can you talk me through what happened?” Peter asked.

  “Of course.” Midnight faithfully recounted everything, this time not leaving out the part about spectral energy, the strange face, or her own involvement. “Have you come across this before?”

  “There have been rumors floating around for years about a device that draws on the Black Stream. Somehow it drags down spectral energy and turns it into a power source to attack the particles of an object, sending them to another location while simultaneously creating a replica. Unfortunately, the replicas aren’t designed to last.”

  “Wait? So you think that Sweet Wednesday was stolen before today and that what we saw was just a replica?” Midnight sucked in a sharp breath.

  “It seems the most obvious answer, and as the principle known as Occam’s razor proposes, the most obvious answer is usually the right one. However, we’ve never had definitive proof that such a weapon exists.”

  “I can’t believe someone would do that,” Midnight said, horrified. She’d fought so hard to help spectral energy travel safely across to the Afterglow. The idea of it being dragged back to earth and turned into something dark and dangerous was depressing.

  Then something else occurred to her.

  “Before I stopped Miss Appleby, no one even knew that Berry was a Black Stream. So, does that mean this is my fault?”

  “Absolutely not. Midnight, this isn’t anything you have done. I’m extraordinarily proud of how hard you’ve been working. Truly, it’s a credit. Evil people exist everywhere. Whoever this is, you didn’t put the notion of thieving into their head. But we need to find out who’s behind it before things get serious.”

  Midnight sat back down and rubbed her brow. “Serious? What will happen?”

  “The more energy that’s drained from the Black Stream, the more unstable the area will become. There might be small earthquakes and tremors, cyclones. Excessive rain.”

  “Rain?” Midnight gulped as she looked out of the window. The gray afternoon was broken only by the swaying arms of the water-sodden trees. Cars drove past, sluicing through the giant lakes that had formed on the sides of the streets. “All the rain is because of what happened at the museum?”

  “It’s because of what’s happening to the Black Stream. And if we don’t get to the source of it, things will get worse. Which is why I’m going to need your help to track down who’s behind it.”

  “You want me to find a gold thief? I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

  “I know it’s a lot to ask, but…” His voice was grim as it trailed off. “There’s something else. The reason the spectral energy you released at the museum was so intense is because the person responsible has been exposed to too much planodiume too quickly. The body gets overloaded and needs to get rid of it, like a snake sheds its skin. We call it a rupture.”

  “The horrible smell, the face in the mirror, and the intensity all happened because the villain drew spectral energy from the Black Stream to steal the gold?”

  “Correct. And that face in the mirror would’ve been the person who suffered the rupture. I don’t suppose you got a clear look at it?”

  “No.” Midnight shook her head. “It all happened so quickly.”

  “I understand. And I know it’s a lot to ask. But I really need your help. Otherwise I’ll have to pull Jimmy from the Bermuda business. Or Terrance from Loch Ness.”

  Midnight turned away from the window as the chaos of the day reran through her mind. It was already hard to keep things separate. Her colors were blurring.

  The answer had to be no. She was twelve, and her plate was already full. There was no room in her spreadsheet for crime. Or planodiume ruptures.

  But if she said yes, she could stop more spectral energy from being trapped and, at the same time, stop all the rain and give her mom the perfect wedding. Besides, she had the rules and her spreadsheets to ensure that she didn’t mess it up.

  “Okay, I’ll investigate,” Midnight said before making an excuse about dinner.

  Once again, she was dealing with something dangerous.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “He wants us to what?” Tabitha yelped the next morning as they huddled behind their devices, while their English teacher tried to stream a YouTube clip from her laptop The fact that she’d asked Brent Rider to help her meant it would take at least ten minutes.

  “Find the thief, or else this rain will never stop,” Midnight repeated. Not that she was surprised at Tabitha’s reaction. She was still getting used to the idea herself.

  “But that’s crazy. Did you explain to him that we’re not some stupid television show where kids solve crime in a wild and wacky way?”

  “He sounded really worried and was going to send someone else to investigate.”

  “Better them than us.” Tabitha snorted. “I mean, it’s one thing to help the dead cross over. But finding a thief is just so mundane.”

  “Actually, I was thinking it was dangerous,” Midnight said. “The person’s been exposed to high levels of planodiume, and when the body tries to get rid of it, that causes ruptures. Which is why I had so much trouble releasing the spectral energy yesterday. It’s like they’re leaving a trail of evil behind them, and according to Peter, it will only get worse.”

  Like what happened with Miss Appleby.

  Once upon a time, Miss Appleby been normal, but the more planodiume she used, the more evil she became. First killing her husband and stepdaughter and then trying to kill Midnight and Tabitha. The most terrifying part was that she’d had no remorse about what she’d done.

  “I guess that makes it better.” Tabitha’s stubborn expression faded. “And I suppose it’s not the first time we’ve searched for a mysterious weapon.”

  Midnight nodded.

  The only way they’d been able to stop Miss Appleby had been to find a weapon that George Irongate had built way back in 1895. George had also been able to see spectral energy and he’d had invented the spectral transformer to turn the energy into a power source. Unfortunately, after he married Natasha Appleby, he discovered that spectral energy was only dangerous when it was clumped together. Feeling terrible at what he’d done, he invented a second weapon, the carbonic resonator, to reverse the damage he’d caused.

  But six months ago, the ghostly form of Eliza Irongate had helped them find the weapon. This time, they were on their own.

  Midnight pulled up a new spreadsheet so that they could start collecting data. “I did some research on Wikipedia last night. We need to look for someone who has motive, means, and opportunity. I have to go back to the museum to collect CARA, so I thought we could look for clues and ask around while we’re there.”

  “Surely the police would’ve found everything.” Tabitha didn’t sound convinced.

  “Yes, but they’re looking for clues like fingerprints. We’ll be looking for other things,” Midnight said before wrinkling her nose. “Plus, Peter told me that the face I saw in the mirror belonged to the thief. I’ve been researching ghost photography, and we could try to take a photograph to see if it will show up.”

  “I suppose I could try,” Tabitha said just as a familiar voice floated out from the back of the class.

  Savannah Hanson.

  Midnight froze. When she had first arrived in Berry, she’d been friends with Savannah and her sidekick, Lucy. Back then, all Midnight had cared about was fitting in. But she’d learned the hard way how dangerous that could be. Thankfully, these days Sav and Lucy ignored Midnight every chance they got.

  “And I swear it was as if my life went flashing before my eyes,” Sav said, holding court to an enraptured audience. She was wearing a white lace blouse and a pair of jeans that cost more than Midnight’s allowance for the entire year, and her arm was draped dramatically across her brow.

  “It was so intense.” Lucy shuddered in agreement. “Plus, Sav felt an eerie presence. Like she was being touched by the supernatural. I think she has the gift.”

  “I
don’t think I do,” Sav protested as she fiddled with her golden hair. “Though my grandmother did. Plus I always seem to know when something bad’s going to happen.”

  “Like when Lucas almost spilled soda on your favorite white shirt, but you moved just in time,” Malie Wheeler said, her dark eyes intense. She’d moved from Hawaii to Berry about the same time Midnight had arrived. Recently, Sav and Lucy had adopted her, changing her anime T-shirts and jeans, and tying back her glorious dark curls into a sleek ponytail. Much like what they’d done with Midnight, who’d been fool enough to go along with it. Then Malie seemed to notice Midnight was staring at them. “What you looking at, freak?”

  “Not you, that’s for sure,” Tabitha cut in before glancing back at Midnight. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. It’s just weird seeing what I used to be like.”

  “You were never that bad,” Tabitha said. “Plus, when Malie first arrived, she was always in the library researching, so Mrs. Crown introduced us, thinking we would have stuff in common. Not so much. She looked at me like I was something on the bottom of her shoe. She was destined to be friends with those two.”

  “Still, I feel sorry for her,” Midnight said, but before Tabitha could respond, the movie came on, and their teacher called the class to attention.

  * * *

  “I don’t think the museum has been this busy, since…well, never,” Tabitha said later that afternoon as she and Tabitha climbed the steps to the redbrick building. Despite the pouring rain and the darkened skies, crowds were milling all around the building. A group of people nearby took selfies and spoke in hushed voices.

  “I take it they’re not all here for the new gold-mining exhibition.” Midnight shut her umbrella and tried to shake the rain from her coat.

  “No. It’s a sad reflection on our society that more people come to the museum to see something that isn’t there, as opposed to all the things that are there.” Tabitha lowered her own umbrella. Her black hair fluttered in the breeze as they elbowed their way through the crowds to the entrance.

  “Okay. We need to find out as much information as possible, while remembering to act natural and casual. Like it’s no big deal,” Midnight instructed, knowing that Tabitha’s direct approach wasn’t always appreciated.

  “Right. Act casual. Like it’s no big deal. I can do that.” Tabitha marched up to the woman in the ticket booth. She handed over her yearly pass, which let her get in for free and also made Midnight’s ticket cheaper.

  “That will be eight dollars,” the woman said as she swiped Tabitha’s museum card.

  “Thank you.” Tabitha paid the money for Midnight’s ticket, then leaned forward. “So, that was pretty crazy yesterday. Any new information on what happened?”

  “Nope.” The woman pointed to the notice taped to the window between them. It read: Please direct any inquiries about yesterday’s incident to the Media Department.

  “That’s it? You’re not even going to humor me with an update? Are you serious?” Tabitha said, two red spots forming on her cheeks.

  “Do I look like I’m a fan of jesting?” the woman dead-panned. “If you want to know what happened, read the paper like everyone else.”

  “Oh yes, because the newspapers never lie.” Tabitha’s blue eyes flashed. “In research, we’re always told to go to the original source, and yet you’re telling me that there’s nothing you can do to help me?” She probably would’ve said more, but Midnight grabbed her hand and dragged her away.

  “We might need to refine our interview techniques,” Midnight said as they threaded their way through to the main room where Sweet Wednesday had been. Everywhere they looked, people were taking photos and talking in scripted voices to whatever social media audience they were streaming too. The entrance fee didn’t seem to be deterring the gawkers.

  “Yeah, or find someone who hasn’t let the power go to their heads,” Tabitha muttered as she glanced around. “You know what annoys me the most? I come here all the time. You’d think it would give me some kind of inside connection. Actually, there’s Wendy from the archives. She was the one who helped me find out the history of that weird stone at the top of Merrick Hill. Do you want to wait here while I go and talk to her, or should we get CARA first?”

  “No, you should definitely talk to her. I’ll wait upstairs.”

  Tabitha made her way through the crowd, her black skirt billowing around her, and Midnight climbed the stairs to the second floor. Elbows jabbed her as she squeezed her way over to where a group of museum staff was standing. Perhaps she could catch something important?

  “Midnight, hey,” a voice called out, and she spun in surprise to see Logan and his three-year-old sister standing in front of her. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

  That would make two of them. She swallowed down her panic. Talking to Logan was stressful at the best of times. Especially when she was unprepared. But while she was on a secret mission to catch a gold thief, it was even worse.

  “Oh,” she said, wishing she’d come up with a cover story. “Er, you know what Tabitha’s like. She can’t keep away from this place. I wish it wasn’t so busy though.”

  “Tell me about it,” Logan said. “Bella saw it on the news last night and insisted on coming.”

  “Hey, Midnight,” Bella said with a toothy smile as she hung off her brother’s arms like a monkey. “We’re trying to find the missing gold. Do you want to help us? Though don’t tell anyone because it’s a secret.”

  “Remind me to go over what a secret means,” Logan said, smiling apologetically. “And we’re not really looking for it. That would be crazy, right?”

  “Right.” Midnight gulped as Bella tugged at Logan’s arm again. “Totally crazy.”

  “Okay, well, we’d better get going. But I’ll see you at school tomorrow,” Logan said.

  “Sure. Bye,” Midnight said as she watched Bella drag Logan away.

  Tabitha appeared at her side several seconds later. “What’s he doing here?”

  “Apparently, Bella wanted to see where the gold disappeared.”

  “Yeah, well, she’s not alone. I spoke to Wendy, but all she could tell me was the museum was having its busiest day ever, and if there had been any developments on the case, the staff didn’t know about it.”

  “I guess it was a long shot.” Midnight clutched at the swipe card as they reached the area with the OFF LIMITS sign. She just hoped the card still worked.

  Thanks to the throngs of people, no one noticed as they slipped past and Midnight swiped the key lock. A light flashed, and the door clicked open.

  The room was just as she’d left it, though without the swirling darkness, it was bigger than she’d first realized. There was a door at the far end that she hadn’t noticed before.

  “I wonder if this is the way the villain came in?”

  “It’s possible,” Tabitha said.

  “This mirror gives me the creeps,” Midnight said, staring at her reflection. Green eyes, straight brown hair, and a downturned mouth stared back at her. She shuddered and turned away.

  “Me too.” Tabitha held up her phone and took a photograph before studying the screen. “No sign of the villain’s face. Just us. But I’ll take some more shots that we can enlarge on the computer when we get home. Then we can search this place and leave.”

  “Finally, a plan that I agree with.” Midnight walked over to the trunk and lifted up the old museum posters to where CARA was still nestled.

  Thank goodness.

  She lifted the copper and brass weapon. The glass tank that ran along the nozzle was still steamed up from when Midnight had used it, and the dials were set to red as a reminder that it needed cleaning. She mentally added that to her to-do list and carefully packed CARA away.

  She was just closing the trunk when something bright caught her eye.

  It was a silver button. Thread was still dangling from it, as if it had snagged on the trunk when someone raced past.

  “Have y
ou found a clue?”

  “I’m not sure.” Midnight tucked the button into her pocket and searched the rest of the room. Unfortunately, the other doorway just proved to be a supply closet.

  They jumped at the sound of the loudspeaker, announcing that the museum would be closing in ten minutes, and decided it was time to leave. Midnight returned the swipe card at the information counter while no one was looking, and they walked outside. So far, the only thing they’d discovered was that finding the villain was going to be harder than they’d thought.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “Is there something you forgot to tell me?” her mom asked on Wednesday morning as Midnight came into the kitchen. Her mom was repositioning one of the tall lights that she used when she was filming her weekly cooking vlog. The air was laden with the heady scent of curry and the sharp tang of freshly diced onion. Midnight knew that in thirty minutes, anyone who was still in the kitchen would be roped into taking part in the video.

  “What are you talking about?” Midnight blinked, then spotted Tabitha sitting at the long table. Today’s black ensemble included a beret and a long, black coat. Her friend was also wearing a super-guilty expression, as she mouthed the word sorry.

  Midnight’s mind raced. Had Tabitha mentioned spectral energy? Or their new mission to hunt down thieves? Or that Midnight was secretly working for an organization in England with a list of rules as long as her arm? Or—

  “About your date with Logan on Saturday,” Midnight’s mom clarified as she walked over to the second light and moved it to the left.

  Oh. That.

  Midnight glanced at Tabitha, who was studiously examining the hem of her black shirt. In front of her was a plate with some brown crumbs. Midnight groaned. Tabitha was a sucker for vegan brownies.

  “Sorry. I was going to tell you, but then the whole thing with the disappearing gold nugget came up,” Midnight said. Not to mention the fact she now had to find it. “Do you mind? It’s the afternoon matinee, and his mom’s going to take us and then drop me home,” Midnight rambled. Hopefully her mom would think her blush was because of the heat of the stove.