‘Excuse me, Deandra,’ Cordelia said as she hurried away to greet them.
Max followed, but he had no idea what they were doing here.
‘Hey Max,’ Van Chalmers waved. ‘It’s really good to see you.’ He then gave the lad an unexpected hug. Ellery did the same. They both seemed tense, their eyes darting around like nervous birds.
‘Hi,’ Max said. ‘Wow, you’re here.’ He was doing his best to sound normal but this was completely unexpected.
‘Max, gorgeous boy.’ Tinsley embraced the lad. ‘Congratulations, Cordelia. What a wonderful honour and thank you so much for inviting us. It’s been a bit hard lately,’ Tinsley said, blinking back tears. ‘It’s lovely to finally get out with some civilised company.’
‘Things will be better soon,’ Cordelia said tightly and patted Tinsley’s hand. But her stomach was churning. Dash was a clever man – what if he realised that she’d set a trap? Using Tinsley and the children as bait didn’t sit well with her, but it had to be done.
On the other side of the room Anna was delighted to see that her special guests had arrived. She hastened to greet them and quickly steered the couple through the crowd to her mother-in-law.
‘Excuse me, Cordelia, I have a surprise for you,’ Anna said as she stepped aside.
Instantly the colour drained from Cordelia’s face.
Max thought his grandmother was about to faint. ‘Granny, are you all right?’ he asked, grabbing her hand.
‘Faye, Conrad,’ she gasped, steadying herself. ‘How perfect. I didn’t realise that you were well enough to travel again.’
‘Oh, darling.’ Faye hugged her friend. ‘We wouldn’t have missed this for the world. It’s your greatest honour yet. Who would have thought when we were girls that you’d one day be receiving a Myrtle.’
Conrad greeted the woman warmly too. The trio exchanged small talk when suddenly Faye realised that her grandchildren were hovering in the background.
‘Ellery, Donovan!’ The woman moved faster than she had in months, pursued by her husband right behind her. ‘What a wonderful surprise. Now where is your father? He must be here somewhere.’
‘What have you done?’ Cordelia glared at Anna, who immediately felt sick.
She thought inviting Cordelia’s best friend to one of the most important events of the woman’s life would have earned her brownie points for at least twenty years. Apparently not.
Max looked around. He wished Kensy would hurry up and get here. There were some very strange things at play and they needed to find out exactly what was going on. Finally, he spotted them in the crowd.
‘Max,’ Kensy said as she and Curtis ran towards the boy. ‘Have you seen him?’
‘Where were you?’ Max demanded.
‘No time to explain now. Have you seen Javier? We think he’s dressed as a waiter.’
Max shook his head.
‘No, but take a look at who else is here.’ The boy pointed at Tinsley and the children.
‘What?’ Kensy’s eyes were huge.
Van Chalmers noticed Kensy immediately and flashed her a grin. ‘Ew, not this again,’ she grumbled.
But the girl needn’t have worried. Van’s attention was about to be diverted by another guest.
It was Curtis who spotted Dash first. ‘Oh, my word,’ the boy said. ‘This can’t be happening.’
‘What are you talking about?’ Kensy asked, her eyes following the lad’s gaze. She grabbed her brother’s arm.
‘What’s he doing here?’ Max gulped. He looked at his grandmother with her beaming smile. This must be part of her plan, but why? Why bring Dash Chalmers here? To such a public place?
‘Granny’s up to something,’ Kensy whispered to her brother.
‘Absolutely,’ Max replied. ‘Something dangerous.’
Ellery’s eyes lit up and she ran. ‘Dad!’ she squealed and leapt into the man’s outstretched arms.
Tinsley Chalmers looked as if she’d seen a ghost. Kensy noticed her uncle Rupert reach inside his jacket, but Cordelia froze him with a stare and an almost imperceptible shake of her head.
‘Mother, Father, what a delightful surprise,’ Dash said, looking as handsome as ever in his tuxedo. He walked towards his parents, who embraced him warmly.
Van looked at his father, not knowing what to think after everything he and Ellery had been told about why they had left Australia. Why was his dad here? What on earth was going on?
‘Tinsley, sweetheart, don’t you look ravishing. The new “do” suits you,’ Dash leaned in, placing a hand around the woman’s waist. He kissed her cheek then whispered. ‘Play nicely, darling, and this will all be over soon.’
The woman smiled, although it was all she could do not to be sick.
‘Hello Dash,’ Cordelia greeted the man. ‘How lovely to see you. Please join us for a glass of champagne.’ There was a waiter holding a drinks tray right by them.
Cordelia picked up a glass.
Rupert wondered what his mother was playing at and then he saw it. She squirted something from her bracelet as she passed Dash the flute.
‘Song, you must have one too,’ Cordelia insisted. ‘You work far too hard and tonight is not all about me – it’s about everyone I love.’
But the butler was momentarily distracted by a woman in a red dress. His eyes followed her across the floor and for a second everyone turned to see what he was looking at.
‘Song?’ Cordelia said again, more urgently, returning her attention to the tray.
‘Oh, thank you, ma’am,’ he took another flute of champagne and had a rather large gulp.
Kensy tugged on Max’s sleeve. ‘We need to split up and find Javier,’ the girl said. ‘Or they won’t be giving Granny a toast, because she will be toast.’
Max looked around. Rupert was watching Dash like a hawk and Max’s parents and Fitz had disappeared. There was no time to explain anything to anyone now.
Kensy quickly pulled the earpiece from the side of her watch and Max did the same. It was a pity Curtis didn’t have a watch of his own yet, but he’d just have to keep an eye on things.
The children made their escape, wandering through the crowd, scanning everyone, especially the waitstaff.
It was Max who sighted Javier first. He whispered into his wrist. ‘Main stairs.’
Kensy looked up. It was the USPS guy all right. She’d know that droopy eyelid anywhere. ‘He’s got the letter meant for Granny – it must be in one of his pockets. If he drops it in the basket and she opens it during dinner, that’s it.’
‘We need to get it off him – now!’ Max said.
The boy jogged up the stairs and deliberately brushed past the man. ‘Hello there,’ he whispered. In the blink of an eye Max had nabbed the envelope from inside Javier’s jacket.
‘Have I got something you want?’ Max taunted him as he waved the letter about, hoping that none of its contents escaped. Although according to the press, the virus was contained in some sort of pressurised ampoule that only affected the person immediately opening it.
‘Why, you little brat!’ the man roared and raced after the boy.
Max sprinted up several flights of stairs and then several more with Javier hot on his heels. Kensy gave chase and Curtis did too. They finally reached the statue’s pedestal observation deck. Max stopped to catch his breath, but Javier was right there.
‘Give that back,’ he said.
‘Or what?’ Max spat. ‘You’ll kill me. You were intending to kill my grandmother, weren’t you?’
Kensy and Curtis reached the platform.
‘You kids think that you’re so smart. Dash told me what you did. You ruined everything and now you’re all going to pay,’ Javier threatened.
‘I do not think so,’ a voice said. It was Song. He’d seen the children leave and decided to follow them, though he wasn’t quite feeling himself and was struggling to keep up. Song rubbed his cheeks and gave them a slap.
Kensy grinned. ‘So you are still a good
guy, Song.’
‘He always was,’ Max said. ‘All those mystery phone calls – you can ask him about his girlfriend later.’
Song’s face turned bright red and he shot Max a death stare. ‘That was supposed to be our secret, Master Maxim.’
‘Sorry,’ the boy said. ‘I had to tell her. It’s the only way Kensy will believe that you’re truly on our side.’
‘Enough!’ Javier shouted. ‘Give me the envelope.’
He lunged at Max, but Song flew across the room, landing a blow to the man’s shoulder. Trouble was no one anticipated Javier being quite so fast. He stood up and ran for Song, kicking him hard in the stomach then landing a stunning knockout blow to the chin. Curtis ran to Song’s aid.
Kensy squared up to Javier next, but he flung her away like a rag doll.
He turned to Max, his sinewy arms flexing beneath his tight white shirt. ‘Your turn now.’
Max took off up the spiral staircase towards the statue’s crown. Javier was right behind him.
Kensy dusted herself off and checked on Song. He was still unconscious and there was a trickle of blood on his temple, but she couldn’t let Javier get her brother.
‘Stay with him!’ Kensy commanded.
Curtis nodded as she sped away. He pulled out his phone but there was no signal.
Max, Javier and Kensy wound their way up and up, the equivalent of almost twenty storeys until finally they reached the inside of Lady Liberty’s crown. It was like a viewing room with its row of rectangular windows that wrapped 270 degrees around the statue, giving a spectacular panorama over Manhattan.
‘Give that envelope to me,’ Javier demanded.
Kensy arrived, having barely raised a sweat. ‘Leave my brother alone,’ she ordered.
But it didn’t look likely. The man obviously hadn’t enjoyed being made a fool of on the carousel and he was determined not to be outsmarted by a bunch of kids for a second time.
‘I hoped it wouldn’t come to this.’ The man reached inside his jacket and pulled out a small pistol. ‘You are far too stubborn for your own good. Over there with your brother,’ Javier commanded, brandishing the weapon.
Kensy wanted just one kick but she didn’t dare. Who knew what sort of ricochet effect a bullet would have inside the metal statue.
‘Open the window,’ Javier directed.
Down below in the echo chamber, despite the great height, Curtis could hear snippets of the man’s demands. Song had begun to rouse, but he was far from conscious. Curtis hovered, trying to decide what he should do – stay with Song or help his friends. Song passed out again and Curtis made up his mind. He couldn’t leave Kensy and Max up there with that lunatic.
‘Sorry, Song. I’ll be back soon,’ the boy whispered and hotfooted it up the stairs.
Meanwhile Max looked at the rectangular panes of glass and realised with horror that they weren’t fixed. All of them were hinged and opened wide enough for a child to crawl through easily.
‘That one there!’ Javier motioned towards the middle window.
Max did as he was told, unlatching the pane and swinging it upwards.
Kensy peered outside, her heart pounding.
‘Now be good boys and girls and climb outside,’ he said. ‘But you will give me the letter first and maybe then I won’t kill you – just leave you dangling.’
Javier held out his left hand, with the gun still aimed at the children in his right.
‘You’re a murderer,’ Max spat as he passed the envelope over.
Javier stuffed it inside his jacket pocket as Curtis finally reached the landing. The boy was huffing and blowing. ‘Oh man, I need to get fitter,’ he panted then looked up and realised what he’d walked into.
‘Not you too.’ Javier rolled his eyes and spun around, waving the gun.
‘Oh, that’s not good,’ Curtis swallowed hard.
‘Out there with your friends – now!’ Javier ordered.
The twins had climbed through the window and were perched on the edge of Lady Liberty’s fringe. Curtis pushed himself through the pane to join them.
‘Javier, you really don’t want to do this,’ Max said.
‘Here, take these,’ Curtis breathed then passed something to each of the twins.
‘What about you?’ Kensy asked, feeling greatly relieved.
‘I’m sorted,’ Curtis replied.
‘You are three silly kids who could not help yourselves,’ the man said as he aimed the gun through the open pane.
‘You said you wouldn’t kill us,’ Max berated the man.
‘Sometimes people lie,’ he smirked.
Javier didn’t see the slim blue bands the twins and Curtis had attached to their wrists.
‘Which one of you will I shoot first?’ Javier said.
‘On my count,’ Max mouthed. ‘Three, two . . .’
He was about to say ‘one’ when Kensy leapt off the statue’s head. Curtis hesitated for a second then jumped. Max eyeballed Javier then flew into the abyss.
‘What are you doing?’ Javier screamed.
He poked his head through the window and leaned out as far as he could, but the children were gone. Javier turned and fled, hardly believing what he’d just seen. He was partway down the double-helix spiral staircase when the escapees pulled their chutes and drifted silently to the ground.
‘Curtis, you’re amazing!’ Kensy hit the button on her wrist and the chute folded back up to nothing. She ran and hugged the boy, her heart pounding.
Curtis patted his chest and tried to catch his breath. ‘That was amazing,’ he mumbled, still a little dazed. ‘We jumped off the Statue of Liberty.’
‘Yes, we did,’ Max embraced his friend. ‘And you saved our lives.’
‘It was nothing,’ the boy grinned. ‘Doesn’t everyone carry mini parachutes around in their backpacks in case of emergencies?’
Kensy smiled. ‘Gotta love that backpack.’
Max looked up towards the marquee. He could see the guests sitting down at their tables. ‘Dinner’s about to be served and we don’t want Granny thinking we’ve skived off.’
‘Umm, isn’t that the least of her worries? I can’t believe you gave Javier the letter,’ Kensy said. ‘Though I suppose he didn’t give you a lot of choice.’
‘Ah, but which one?’ Max said mysteriously as he pulled an envelope from the inside pocket of his jacket.
‘What? How?’ Kensy gasped.
‘It’s not only Curtis who comes prepared,’ the boy said.
He’d swiped another letter from the basket Song had been carrying around and made sure that was the one he’d given back to Javier. He’d kept the poisoned letter for himself. ‘But Javier has to be caught and I’m at a bit of a loss as to how that’s going to happen now.’
Kensy raised her eyebrows at Curtis, but neither of them said a thing.
‘Come on,’ Max urged and the children sped to the marquee where the crowd was now seated for dinner. They hovered outside the entrance, taking note of where their family was sitting and where Dash was too.
‘You’d better get inside,’ Curtis said. ‘I’ll check on Song and see that he’s all right. Javier knocked him out cold.’
‘He’s usually tougher than that,’ Kensy said. ‘Maybe try and delay him a little if you can, Curtis. If Javier is still here, we don’t want Song going after him in the middle of dinner. Granny would be mortified.’
Curtis nodded and raced away. Max was about to head in when Kensy pulled on his sleeve.
‘What are you going to do with that letter?’ she asked. ‘It’s not safe.’
‘Where have you two been?’ Rupert Spencer asked as he approached them from behind. The children spun around. ‘And what’s this letter you’re talking about?’
Kensy and Max looked at one another. A minute later, at a rate of knots, they’d told their uncle everything.
‘Give it to me, Max,’ the man said. ‘It seems your grandmother’s plan, which has gone quite pear shaped, might j
ust work out after all. If only she hadn’t been so selfish, wanting to bring Dash down on her own, I suspect things could have gone far more smoothly.’
The twins had been thinking the exact same thing, but there was no time for more talk. The dinner gong had rung and they needed to get inside quick smart.
As the twins sat down between their parents they spotted Javier lurking behind a huge floral arrangement. He followed another waiter towards their table and dropped an envelope into the basket beside their grandmother’s chair. She had already begun to open the mountain of cards and was smiling and laughing at the messages inside, although there was something else in her eyes. Panic. She was looking for someone.
‘Where’s Curtis?’ Anna asked, glancing at his empty seat on the other side of Ed. Max told her he’d run to the loo and would be back soon.
‘I cannot believe that scoundrel is ’ere tonight,’ Hector breathed, eyeing the Chalmers family who were seated at the table to the left of them.
It was all he could do not to jump up and throttle Dash. But he trusted Cordelia and knew there was more to this than met the eye. There had to be. She would never have invited Dash here without a plan.
A bald man dressed in a dinner suit and a floral bow tie stood on a small platform at the end of the room and cleared his throat.
‘Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys and our honoured guest, Dame Cordelia Spencer. Welcome to tonight’s gala. My name is William Van Tol and I am the great grandson of Beauregard Myrtle for whom this award is named. We are gathered to celebrate the lifetime achievements of a formidable woman. A woman who has made her mark in the world of media for over fifty years now and whose generosity and kindness has allowed many to lead lives much greater than they had ever dreamed. Appetisers are about to be served, after which we will hear from some of Dame Spencer’s nearest and dearest. So to kick off the festivities, could you please be upstanding as we raise a toast to Dame Spencer.’
‘Dame Spencer.’ The words echoed around the marquee.
Cordelia’s eyes were everywhere as she smiled and waved at her guests, but there was someone missing.
‘Has anyone seen Song?’ she asked.
Kensy & Max: Freefall Page 18
