The Paragon Prison, page 3
“Now, let’s get started. Where in the blazes have you been? You put the town, not to mention your parents, through the wringer.” As he spoke, he didn’t look sad and he didn’t look relieved. He looked suspicious. Max had seen that same look in Logan’s eyes the night before.
Max shared the story he told Logan, careful to leave out the Scotsman. The sheriff said nothing, then kicked back and picked up the handset of an old rotary phone.
“Jane? Where is that file I told you to bring me? Of course the one on the Griffins—who else do you… oh, all right. That’s fine. Oh, and get me a coffee while you’re over there. No. Black. See that it’s hot. There’s a good girl.”
“Well, now.” The sheriff set down the phone and stood up. “There’s a few people who will be very interested to ask you a few questions. So don’t you go nowhere.” He tipped his hat to them, then stepped out of the office, locking the door behind him.
“Well, aren’t we a nice little catch?” Natalia sighed in annoyance. “We didn’t last a day in this world without getting caught. How embarrassing. And can somebody tell me what a sheriff is doing working with clockworks?”
“Von Strife’s clockworks,” added Ernie. “I saw a stamp on their arms. This is too crazy. It’s nuts! Maybe this is all just a bad dream.”
“Okay, then whose dream is it?” asked Natalia.
“Shhh…” warned Harley, pointing at the sheriff’s telephone, which wasn’t quite hung up.
Just then, the Griffins heard a great commotion outside, and the door burst open. There, her face as white as chalk, stood Ms. Merical, their homeroom teacher. They were quickly scooped into loving arms. “Oh, it’s true. I couldn’t believe it!”
“Now wait just a minute, ma’am,” the sheriff protested as he pushed his way past her. “You can’t just barge in here. We’ve got an investigation on our hands. We’ve got a process to follow.”
Ms. Merical smiled back at him with a glittering glow in her eyes. “What you have here is a miracle.” As their gazes met, the sheriff’s own eyes glazed over. He reached for his chair and sat down. To Max, it appeared the man’s brain had just fallen into a cloud. A cozy cloud. But a cloud, nonetheless.
“Well, then,” Ms. Merical continued as she put her arm around Natalia, “your mom and dad are going to be over the moon to see you!”
The sheriff suddenly roused himself, his eyes refocusing. “Listen here, I don’t know how you found out about these kids, but this is as far as this information goes.” He tried to stand, but his heel broke on his cowboy boot. He sank back into his chair with a thud.
“I’m afraid it’s a little late for secrets, Sheriff,” Ms. Merical replied. “Their parents are already on their way.”
“What?”
“Well, I called them, naturally.” Her eyes intensified. “I am sure they will be especially thankful to you, Sheriff, for bringing these families back together. You’re a hero. Something you’ve always wanted to be. And towns don’t forget their heroes.” She smiled warmly at him. He smiled back dreamily.
“Well, I…” He paused. Then his eyes took on a similar glow as Ms. Merical’s. “How can I help?”
“By doing a little dusting and cleaning,” she replied, looking around the office thoughtfully. “It probably hasn’t had a thorough going-over in years. Not your fault, of course. You’re a busy man. But there’s no better time to begin than right now. After all, we’re about to have guests.” She turned to the Griffins. “I think it’s time for the four of you to get ready!”
“Ready for what?” asked Max.
“A welcome-home party like you’ve never seen!”
REUNION
Within five minutes, Ms. Merical had taken over the police station, assigning each Griffin to a private office as plans were made, while Sheriff Oxley took on the role of hero as if it had been his idea all along. Then the media swept in, setting up their wooden box cameras and snapping photos of everything, from Ernie’s flashy goggles to Max’s missing ring.
“Where’s the Codex, son?” asked a photographer. “Hate for that beauty to go missing. And what’s with the strange getup?” Max looked at him quizzically. “Your clothes, son. What do you call those?”
Max looked down. “Um, blue jeans and a polo shirt?” Judging by the clothes of everyone else in the room, Max concluded that what he considered normal was anything but. It was all about top hats, trousers, and waxed mustaches.
“So you’ve been playing polo while you were away, eh?” The man whistled, lifting his bowler hat and scratching his head. “I don’t go in for the sport myself. Silly hats. Well, we’re all glad you’re back. And, if your obituary helped our circulation, just wait’ll your resurrection hits the presses.”
Max sat in the sheriff’s office, his legs dangling over the leather chair. He wrung his hands anxiously. He was about to see his family—the family he always wished he’d had. Yet now that they were on their way, he desperately wanted to disappear. What would they be like? Kind? Loving? Or stern and suspicious? After all, Max was a fraud, posing as their dead son. He was a rat, and he knew it.
He drummed his fingers on the desk. Not much longer now. He heard the station door burst open outside and heard the shouts of Ernie’s parents. His mom wept with joy, and Max’s worry that Ernie would blow the whole thing was unfounded. His friend played it all off as a big misunderstanding. The Griffins hadn’t had much time to rehearse their story, but it seemed to be working.
The doors opened again, and there were the sounds of Natalia’s parents and sister. More cries of joy and sobbing hugs. Soon, Harley’s parents arrived. Max peeked out the door to look at Harley’s dad. He looked like a kind man and as strong and handsome as Max’s own father, but in a more rugged-linebacker sort of way. He threw open the door to Harley’s room and wrapped a viselike hug around his son.
Max shuffled back to the chair and sat down. He swiveled it around twice and drummed his fingers again. Were his parents even coming?
“Max?” called a soft voice, startling him. Annika Sumner stood in the doorway. Dark mascara ran down her face as she looked at him in disbelief. She moved slowly toward him, then reached out and ran her hand through his hair so carefully it seemed as if she was afraid he might suddenly disappear.
“It’s okay, Mom. I’m, uh, sorry I gave you a scare,” he told her, readying his speech. But the words didn’t come. This wasn’t the mother he’d left behind, the cold, businesslike woman who knew entirely too much about pearls and not enough about jelly sandwiches.
As he looked up, he spotted Lord Sumner standing nearby. Max’s eyes met his father’s, and he felt an instant connection. His dad nodded at Max and smiled. Max knew what it meant: “Good to see you, champ. I never had a doubt.”
Sniffing and wiping her eyes, Annika stepped away. “Well, let me take a look at you.” Max did his best to straighten up and stick his chest out, but she only giggled. Smile lines appeared, unlike the grim frown lines his own mother had.
“I can explain everything,” Max offered.
Lord Sumner shook his head. “Ms. Merical told us enough and warned us not to rush you. You’ve been through a lot.”
“Not as much as you,” Max replied honestly. “Where is Hannah?” He quickly bit his tongue. What if his sister’s name wasn’t Hannah?
Annika took him by the hand and led him out of the office. “She’s with your grandmother. We had to be sure. It would have just broken her heart if you weren’t… well, you.” Max swallowed a lump.
Max climbed into the Land Rover. His mother sat in the back with him, not letting him out of her sight. She held his hand the entire way home. And Max liked it.
The ride back to the house was surreal, both in the way his parents were talking to him and in the landmarks they passed. It wasn’t only because the town had wrapped itself in brass, stone, and steam. The land itself was different. The streets were broader. The trees were taller. The hills rolled more. Then there was the lake. Before, a lazy rowboat could slide across Lake Avalon in twenty minutes. This new lake seemed to just stretch on and on. And the island, where Iron Bridge Academy lay, was now connected to land by an expansive stone bridge lined with ornate lamps. There was a city on its misty summit, and over its skies were dozens of airships, floating freighters, and strange dragon-sized birds. Yet, in the car, everything seemed normal enough. The air-conditioning hummed. The satellite radio played. In the cup holder next to him was a Big Gulp.
This world would take some getting used to.
They pulled into the driveway, and Max hopped out. His mother’s hand was on his shoulder all the way through the door into the house. Then she knelt down in front of him and looked him over, as if he might disappear at any moment. “Your grandfather’s dog tags from the war,” she said, looking at his throat in sudden disappointment. “The ones he gave you before he died. Did you lose them?” Max instinctively felt for the absent necklace, then tried to give a convincing nod. “That’s too bad. I know how much they mean to you. And to me.” She took in a resigned breath and offered a weary smile. “I’m sorry… I’m probably over-mothering you. I bet you’d like some time to yourself. Go on upstairs. Your room is just the way you left it. Rosa will call you for dinner.”
With an awkward good-bye, Max made his way up the stairs. The stairs even squeaked in the same place as back home.
He closed the door to his room and threw himself onto the bed, noting that the pillow smelled the same and had the same lumps in it he knew so well. For a long while, he just stared at the ceiling. Then he realized he was smiling. He sprang up and walked over to the mirror—his mirror! There was his smile, looking back at him.
“I’m happy,” he said quietly. Max couldn’t remember the last time he felt like this. Every cell in his body seemed to be jumping with joy. It had been so long since he’d had a family—a normal family.
He scanned his room, a near twin of his own. There were different posters on the wall. Same comics, though. Same aquarium—different fish. Then Max walked over to the computer. It wasn’t his home computer. It was a DE Tablet from Iron Bridge, a clockwork computer so elegant and refined it could have been hung on a museum wall.
“I wonder if we use the same password….” Max fired up the computer and typed in his password. It worked!
You have four hundred thirty-six unread messages.
Max cringed. Probably the friends of the dead Max…
Then a chat window popped up. It was Natalia.
Natalia: What in the world took you so long?
Max: Sry. Just got home. R ur parents cool?
Natalia: OMG, you wouldn’t believe it. Everything has changed. The house. The cars. Thankfully my room is still pink. But more on that later. You have to know something. My dad. He’s some sort of expert on magical relics. And he works for you know who….
Max: Von Strife?
Natalia: Surprise, huh? By the way, VS is also the director of our school. NOT the Baron. How’s that for a shocker?
Max: O… M… G
Natalia: You can bet VS knows we’re here already. Anyway, how did it go with your dad?
Max: weird. Is your chat session encrypted?
Natalia: duh…
Max: Well, my dad asked about the Codex. He knows I lost it.
Natalia: What did you tell him?
Max: I said Sprig was looking for it. ;-)
Natalia: Good cover. And maybe she will. Lord knows she could stand to do some work around here. So anyway, Rosa just called my mom. Your folks are throwing a big party for all of us. Tomorrow night. I guess keeping a low profile is a little out of the question now.
Max: what are you going to do in the meantime?
Natalia: Detective work. To get the lay of the land. You should, too.
Max: k. I will.
Natalia: gotta go. L8er g8er.
Max: k. Good luck.
That evening, Max sat on the same couch he had looked at the night before. His parents were with him, eating buttered popcorn as they watched one of Max’s favorite movies. As Max sat there quietly, he felt a tingle on the back of his neck. He turned quickly and looked out the window. Someone had been there. Maybe the person wasn’t visible, but Max could sense someone. Even without his magic ring, he wasn’t completely without talent. He got up and walked over to the glass. He couldn’t see anyone. But he knew. He knew who had been watching him.
And Logan knew he knew.
THE PARTY
Max rolled out of bed the next morning and was halfway to the bathroom when he remembered that this wasn’t his house. He stood quietly, his hands on the banister, and looked out over the expansive marble foyer below. Even though it looked nearly identical to his house, this one actually felt like a home.
“Hey, Max,” called his father from downstairs. “How do you want your pancakes?”
A simple question. Even this could be Max’s undoing. “Oh, uh, the usual, I guess.”
“Paper-thin pancakes coming up!”
Max quickly disappeared into the bathroom. Paper-thin? Max had no idea what that meant, and it didn’t sound good. He brushed his teeth and studied his face closely. Then he considered something else: scars. Max had several on his arm. Chances were that the other Max had scars in different places. Annika would know. A little camouflage would do the trick. Max returned to the bedroom and pulled on a long-sleeve shirt. Sprig was waiting for him, peering out of the sock drawer nervously.
“Where have you been?” asked Max.
Sprig wrung her paws. “Max is in danger. Max is being followed. Something. It moves fast. But Sprig is clever. Sprig will find it. Sprig will make it stop. Do not worry.”
“Who? A monster? A person?” Max looked out the window. Everything seemed bright and cheery. Kids were skateboarding down the street and laughing. “You don’t mean Logan, do you?”
Sprig hissed. “No. Something else. Something with yellow eyes…”
Yellow eyes? Suddenly, Sprig fled out the window. As he watched her go, Max felt a creeping tingle on the back of his neck. He turned in time to see a swirl of smoke near his aquarium. As he moved toward it, it faded from view. There was no smell of smoke, no sign of fire. Max rubbed his eyes. “Man, I need to get some sleep.” He grabbed his ball cap and ran downstairs.
“Hey, sport,” Max’s dad called as he wound up for another pitch later that afternoon. “How’s that old glove of yours feel? Just like old times?” Max grinned and smacked the baseball glove with his left hand. His lucky glove.
Max hadn’t played catch with his own father in two years. Or was it three? As they passed the ball back and forth, Max found himself wondering about the difference between this Lord Sumner and his own father. They were the same man. They talked the same. Threw the same knuckleball. They’d gone to the same schools, married the same woman, bought the same house, and had the same kids. But somewhere along the line, his own father had made a different choice.
When Max returned to his bedroom, he flipped on the DE Tablet. Natalia was already there.
Natalia: Where have u been?
Max: Finding out what my life would have been like if my dad hadn’t screwed it up. How is your family?
Natalia: I can’t believe I finally have COOL parents. My sister’s still a BR@T, but what do you expect? They’re giving me space and all that. Which is fine because it’s weird, and I’m afraid I might say something stupid. Anyway, more about that later. Are u alone? I’ve been a busy bee.
Max: YES. Tell me.
Natalia: First things first. The Templar are a superpower in this world. They’ve practically eliminated war, hunger… everything is hunky-dory. And they are all dripping with money. Oh, and as for Iron Bridge Academy—it’s only the most famous school in the world. It’s like Harvard for kids with swords.
Max: Well, at least we don’t have to keep who we are a secret anymore.
Natalia: You’re missing the point. You’re a Templar. All the Griffins are. Your life may look and feel the same because you were already rich. But you should see my house. Brick drive. Dad drives a Jaguar. A carriage house with an actual carriage! Not to mention the horses. Everything! U can bet Harley’s not living in a trailer anymore.
Max: Have you talked to him?
Natalia: No. But Ernie’s going to visit him later this afternoon.
Max: What else did you find out?
Natalia: Well, Iron Bridge, for one. The kids there are already planning parties for our big return. Which, BTW, is Monday. Get ready. I wonder if Von Strife will show up, or if he plans to kill us before Monday. I hope not.
Max: Good point.
Natalia: And one more for the papers. Natalia Romanov is among the ADMIRED and FASHIONABLE, thank you very much. In this world, I was never a geek. I was cool. Cool! I can’t stand it. So bizarre. All those girls I always hated in school for being witless, inane, and self-absorbed? They’re my buddies now—HA—well, not all of them. Can u just imagine me as one of the popular girls? Chattering on the phone like crazy chickens? Wow. Blows my mind. Oh. My sister is banging on my door. What a pest! Why couldn’t I have had a sensitive, older sister in this world. AGH! L8er.
“Welcome home!” the crowd cheered.
The Sumner mansion was decorated from floor to chandelier, and the party soon spilled out onto the back patio. For nearly an hour, Max was paraded up and down a line of people he’d never seen before. He’d never been hugged so much in his life.
His old friends from King’s Elementary were there, as was his favorite aunt, Audrey, who had died of cancer back in his world. Max felt like he was walking through a dream. There were some other shockers, too, like Ray Fisher. Apparently, the evil creep had never turned into a monster with blue skin, horns, and a taste for the end of the world. In fact, the worst this Ray had done was slip a frog into someone’s soup at the state fair.
As for Ms. Merical, she’d personally planned the whole party, enlisting the help of Sheriff Oxley. Apparently the suspicious sheriff had slipped and hit his head shortly after the Grey Griffins left the police station. His memory of the whole day was erased. Now he was just one more smiling face at the party. Lucky break for Max—a little too lucky. He wondered if Ms. Merical has something to do with it.
