Chapter 35

DOUBLE AGENT, DOUBLE DANGER

John’s Electronics Repair Shop, West Hollywood, California, United States

For a long moment, Gen sat, simply speechless. Alicia had just finished explaining what she’d learned going undercover at MystTech Creations. It was much bigger than Gen could have ever imagined. And Emperor was absolutely correct—this was something dangerous.

“I can’t believe this,” Gen said, looking at Sherlock and King Rudolf.

“I know, we just sniffed out a mole in Alchemy Bakeries.” The fae pointed at Alicia. “And now she’s a mole at MystTech Creations. That’s so ironic.”

“No, did you hear the part about how the company has the capability to use mind control?” Gen asked, shaking her head.

Alicia had been able to easily infiltrate MystTech Creations using her incredible credentials. Apparently, they needed the best of the best for the projects they were working on. Since Alicia had the reputation as one of the foremost magitech scientists in the world, she easily got a job. Now, she was allowed to recruit her own team, which would be Sherlock Holmes and King Rudolf, of course.

“Specifically, the technology can be sent to billboards,” Alicia explained. “Chip created the idea for a marketing company, but they’ve since run out of funds to pay for the project. He was shelving the idea until he got a buyer.”

“That’s really wrong,” Gen stated, shaking her head. “They are going to use mind control to make people buy things?”

“Subliminal messages in advertising have been around for a long time,” Sherlock explained. “And although it’s wrong, it’s actually not illegal.”

“But this is more serious,” Alicia stated. “Chip didn’t want to do the project but his company and passion project was failing, so he took the job and developed the technology. The mind control can be transmitted to billboards, it seems. There aren’t any out there, but it’s only a matter of time.”

“What’s his passion project?” Sherlock asked.

“A virtual reality device,” Alicia stated. “It is so real that users can’t tell the difference between the false reality and their own.”

“Oh, so like a video game,” Rudolf stated.

“Yes, but I fear that in the wrong hands, it could be really dangerous,” Alicia stated.

“Just like the mind control messages sent to billboards,” Gen stated.

“And something tells me that it will fall into the wrong hands,” Alicia explained. “There are some security issues happening at MystTech Creations. It was a domino effect after the supposed robbery.”

“That’s odd timing,” Gen mused, giving Sherlock and Rudolf curious looks. “Do you think that if Alicia gets you in there, you can figure out what’s going on?”

“Is my middle name Jonathan?” Rudolf stated.

“Huh?” Gen asked.

“He means ‘yes,’” Sherlock explained. “It’s a modern way of saying that.”

Rudolf shook his head. “No, seriously, what’s my middle name? It’s a security question I set up for my bank accounts and I can’t answer it because I forgot. Papa can’t access his funds and I need liquor money.”

Sherlock shook his head at his assistant before glancing at Gen. “And yes. We’ll help you to figure out what’s going on, who framed you and more about MystTech Creations.”

Gen sighed with relief. “Thank you. That would be great. And in the meantime, I’m going to try and hunt down clues on the Commissioner of Los Angeles. The council for the House of Fourteen says I need a way to tie him to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art heist and Federal Reserve bank robbery.”

“That sounds complicated,” Alicia offered.

Gen agreed with a nod. “I’ve got one lead that might pan out, but I think what I really need is to break into Charlie Sloane’s office. Can any of you help with that? I’ve snuck into the LA Police Department before, but I can’t do it the way I did before. And honestly, I need to do it after hours when he’s not there. I’m certain he’s had to leave a clue behind linking him to one of the attempted robberies.”

“And it’s definitely not a portal zone, is it?” Sherlock asked.

Gen shook her head. “No, because of the criminals.”

“Okay, I’ve got it,” Rudolf began, slapping his hands together. “Sherlock, you go with Alicia and help her to find out what’s going on at MystTech Creations. I’ll work with Gen, getting her into the LA Police Department.”

“How are you going to do that?” the great detective inquired.

“I absolutely don’t know yet,” Rudolf said with an eager grin. “But that’s what’s going to make it so fun.” He glanced at Gen. “Go check your other lead and then I’ll be ready with a plan to break into Charlie’s office. We’ll be like two cat burglars, sniffing out the truth on this corrupt Commissioner.”

Gen smiled with gratitude, so relieved and happy that she had such helpful friends. It also didn’t hurt that they were the best of the best.