The I-Man characters have agreed to help any I-Maniacs in need of advice on any topic (though they request you keep it clean since this is a family publication). Following in Hobbes’ footsteps, this newsletter Darien has taken on the challenge.

Hey guys! Looks like it’s my turn to try out the “Dear Abby” thing. Hobbes bitched about it when he first got the assignment, but let me tell you guys, he was strutting his stuff after. Walking around like a proud peacock because of all the questions he got. I’m just glad I get to sit down and not get the crap kicked out of me! Okay, let’s see what we got here :

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Best-case scenario: You get the gland out of your head successfully. And the Fat Man doesn't throw you back into prison either because you're no longer of any use to him. What's the next step for you? Not any pie-in-the-sky answers or anything trite, like "I'm going to Disneyworld." Honestly and realistically, what would you do with the rest of your life?

Have you ever heard the saying “I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it”? Well, that kinda defines my position on this subject. I mean why torture myself wondering what I’m gonna do after I get this gland out when that day may be years away? Still I have thought about it a bit. Chances are I couldn’t go back to being a thief. Something tells me Hobbes, being the guy he is, isn’t gonna forget about me the instant I’m no longer the Invisible Man...and it’d be way to hard to start picking locks again with him still around. You know what? I’m a guy with a lot of talents...I’m sure I’ll find something to do.

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Dear Darien,
There is this girl that I work with who shows me no respect whatsoever. She is always either rude to me, ignores me, or cracks jokes about me. She tries to make me jealous every time she opens her mouth. It is not just me, either. She does this with almost every other person that works there. She is also very lazy and hardly does any work, yet the boss loves her. I try to be nice and respectful to her, but lately she has been unbearable. What should I do? dakFinv

Screw being nice and respectful! Why drive yourself nuts over what this chick is doing? I say give what you get. It keeps your ego intact, and lets this chick know she can’t just walk all over you. Plus it’s kinda fun.

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I know you're probably really busy with ALL the other letters you get, but I wanted to ask you a simple, plain question with a straight answer. Just how the FRELL do you pick locks? I've locked myself outside numerous times (maybe because I streaked my hair- but that's another story), and I was wondering if you could tell me how. I mean, it isn't fun at all to be stuck outside in 20 degree weather for a few hours before someone who has a key comes, now is it? Thanks for taking my question.
Jenn-scicle

You know I would be more then happy to pass on the hard won wisdom and knowledge of such a noble profession like lock picking. Trust me it’s a handy skill, even to people who aren’t thieves. You’re case in point. The problem is it’s kind of a visual art. Describing it to you would take forever, while I could probably show you in about 5 minutes. It’s actually a lot simpler then it looks, especially with run of the mill house door locks. My suggestion? Get yourself a spare key and stash it someplace outside where you can get it when you’re locked out. Oh...and streaked your hair? You know how dangerous that is? I’ve heard about people who put that crap in and ended up going bald! Look at Hobbes!

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Darien-
This isn't so much a personal question for me as it is for you. Although we know you go into robberies (I'm assuming as a teenager), we don't know much about your childhood. Since you seem to be a really good guy at heart, I tend to think you had a good home life. Is this true? What turned you to crime? Thank you for your time.
-SilverFawkes, Keeper of Darien's good heart under his criminal exterior

I didn’t know this was gonna be an interview, I thought I was doing some kind of Dear Abby thing. Fat Man will kill me if I give out too much personal info. Anyway, yea my home life was OK. I mean if you don’t count the whole parents dying and getting sent to live with Aunt and Uncle thing. That tends to mess with a kid. As for what turned me to crime...well everyone had a hobby in high school. Kevin kinda monopolized all the academic ones so I wasn’t to interested in doing the debate team. I worked out a bit, but the idea of doing professional sports and hanging out with those jocks was a laugh. And with the exception of trying out a friends guitar I’m not really musically inclined. I did date this one chick for a few months my junior year though, a trombone player in the marching band. She could do things with her tongue that... *ahem* ...but I digress. Anyway I picked up some tricks here and there from friends, and then learned how to jack a car after helping my friend rebuild his Fiero Firebird. Liz caught me one day trying to steal her car and...well...the rest is history.

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Dear Darien,
My boyfriend and I will go our seperate ways as soon as school starts this year. I don't want the relationship to fizzle out while we are away, but just in case, how do I make our last 2 weeks together really special? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

God Bless,
Scout

Gee, this is kind of a personal question! Look...if there’s one thing I’ve found out about relationships, it’s that each one is individual. What works for me ain’t gonna work for you. Just think about what makes the two of you so great together and try to do a lot of that in the last two weeks you got. Of course being able to do what Rachel did with that trombone doesn’t hurt either...

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Hi Darien,
Here is the thing, I need some advise on this and I wonder if you might be able to give me some :) There is this guy I dated in ninth grade. He looks just like the guy you hate... you know, the invisible guy :) We had a really good thing in HS. He moved to Europe half way through 11th grade (we were still together) I missed him alot... a really lot. See, I had feelings for him that I have never felt for any other guy... except the guy I am with now. Here is the thing... he's back and he wants to see if we can get back to where we were in HS. I havn't told my current boy friend about him yet. I am torn, On one hand there is this really great guy that I dated in high school and we had a lot of good times and stuff. On the other hand, there is the really great guy that I am with now and we have alot of good times and stuff. I still feel the same for the other guy as I did way back in HS. I have been thinking about getting back with him... but I feel the same for the guy I am with now. They are both great guys, and I love them both (or at least it feels like I do:) And I don't want to hurt one to be with the other, but I can't be with them both... I'm just not that kinda girl :) Any advise on my problem?
Thanks, Mandy AKA fawkesieladyandEd

So let me get this straight...you’ve got this great normal American you’re going out with now who you love. And you’re trying to decide between him and ARNAUD? I think you need to set up a meeting with him, and then give me and Hobbes a call so we can pound the crap out of him! Or his phone number, we’ll take that!

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Dear Darien,
This is a hair question...I figured, who else should I ask? Ok, my brother is 20 and always complains about his hair. It's curly, he hates it, but when he grows it out it looks flat. How can he keep his hair soft and managable without using TONS of Hair spray like he usually does? ~L.F

Well first stop using TONS of hair spray! I don’t know about you, but I haven’t come across one single hair spray that doesn’t turn my hair into a crusty mess. Yuck. Go for gel or mousse... something that will moisturize and condition while helping to hold and control. Best bet, there’s this little shop downtown...Mona’s Hair and Beauty Parlor. Best advice you could get will come from those guys.

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Darien, I have a 5 yrs old son who likes to pretend, as most little boys do, that he's a superhero. Lately he's pretending that he's a crime-fighting invisible secret government agent and that his baby brother is his shorter, balder (but just as cute) partner. He's a GREAT kid and, as other people will tell you, has a great personality. My problem is, he will be starting his very first day of Preschool soon and I am worried that this kind of pretending might not be completely understood by his teacher. Am I being an overanxious-mother or is there really cause for concern?
bookwor.I mean, Nervous Mom

Imagination is a wonderful thing. That’s what kids do, lots of pretending. I’m sure the preschool teacher will understand the kid’s just having fun. Anyway it sounds like he’s having fun. It’s your other son I’d worry about. Make sure he doesn’t start acting all paranoid, ‘cause you don’t want him taking Zoloft so young!

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Alright, I'm sure you know what a gothic person looks like, right? (generally black/dark clothes on pale skin) Some people wear dog collars and chains or fish nets and boots. It varies. Okay, so looks shouldn't mean anything, but when someone sees a teenager in black makeup and a studded collar they think "Oh no, they're gonna kill me!" There's what my mom thinks. She won't let me wear this collar I have, and she always makes a point of saying "No Black" when we go somewhere. She doesn't understand that black clothes does *not* equal evil cult person. O_x Any suggestions to try and get her to drop the stereo type? --Janz

Man. I know just where you’re coming from. I have a habit of wearing mix-match clothing myself, sometimes the occasional T-shirt with jeans, whatever’s comfortable, but whenever people see me they think of me as a slob. Someone who’s not contributing to society. I contribute a lot, thank you very much. Take it from me, let your actions speak louder than your clothes. That’s what I’ve always done and now Hob – I, uh, mean .. others now realize that it’s not the clothes I wear that defines me. Just let your mom see that you’re not evil because of the black you wear, you probably got a golden heart.

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*Coughs and clears throat* Ask Darien for advice, eh? Ok, Dar... would it be too strait-forward for me to ask for advice on how to make you my love toy? *evil grin* Sorry, I just had to ask something really obnoxious and that one kept nagging at the back of my mind. heehee.
---Skwdgirl, the obnoxious and slightly insane

Uh …. Love toy? I’m not so sure I like the sound of that. Did Arnaud send you? True, I haven’t really had a lot of female companionship since my sudden, um, career change … but I’m not ready to be a love toy just jet. To be your friend, anything literature would probably do it.

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Hey there, Darien- or do you prefer being called Fawkes? Anyway, you're probably gonna get a lot of stuff about relationships- I know Hobbes did in the last newsletter- but I've got a question for you, and yes, it's about relationships. Hey, I figured I might as well throw in mine since everyone else was. :) So here's the deal, there's this guy that I've literally known since he was two. We were engaged. When we were two. Of course, we aren't exactly two anymore (I'm seventeen), but I still like him, although I'm not sure if he feels the same about me. We've never actually gone out; our relationship is strictly friendly right now. And, as if the situation weren't bad enough already, he ended up moving to Alabama and I ended up moving to Texas. So, even though my feelings may tend to be a little more than friendly, I'm not sure I want to try a long-distance relationship (we see each other once, maybe twice a year if we're lucky). And MAN, this sounds like a soap opera... Anyway, the question is, do you think I should tell him the way I feel? I'm not sure exactly how he'd take that, he has told me he values his freedom. But I've had these feelings for years, and... What do you think I should do? liz_Z

Only Hobbes calls me Fawkes, but it doesn’t matter. I respond to both. As for your situation, wow. If you guys only see each other once or twice a year, then a relationship would be really tough on you guys. Your best bet is to play it cool right now, keep being his friend. I know you’ve got all these feelings for him and you’d love to know how he feels, but why potentially ruin a great friendship? Wait and see what happens, you never know. He may say it first.

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Dear Darien,
A family member of mine keeps calling my house collect (from jail- I thought you're only allowed one phone call or something?). I don't accept the calls because I can't afford them, so I just hang up when I hear "this is a collect call". But, he calls right back. It's driving me and my roommate both insane! Is there anything I can do to get him to stop calling? Thanks!

PS- I think you're really hot! And I love your hair. Oh, and also, don't stop wearing orange just cuz others don't like it, it looks GREAT on you! :)

Sincerely,
OrangeAngel

Actually, you’re allowed one phone call a day. As for your situation, change your phone number and make it unlisted. That’s the easiest way out of your predicament. That will mean telling other friends and family about it, but if you want this person to stop … You can also try call blocking. Call your phone company and ask about it, the feature allows you to block calls from a certain number, that may also be an option for you. Uh … thanks! I personally like orange myself, that and my gas-station jacket.

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Ok, you've learned that honesty is the best policy in regards to a relationship. I've always been a faithful, honest person in all of my relationships- although I wasn't treated the same in return. My present hubby (we've been together 4yrs, married 2) has also had a bad past and it is hard for him to trust me entirely, no matter what I say and do he just doesn't believe in me, and well, I don't trust him fully either (because of my past). How can we both get over this hurdle so we can have a normal relationship? How can I get my hubbie to realize that I'm NOT like other women he's known? SilverScorpion

Wow. Okay, I’ve never been married, and the one serious relationship I was in the chick ended up cheating on me … anyway. The best you guys can do right now is to constantly keep your word. Be honest and open with each other and communicate always. Don’t hide anything because if you do, even if it’s small, then the other person will think you’re always hiding stuff. Marriage is all about crossing hurdles together, don’t keep reminding each other about your hurts in the past. That’s over and done, time to focus on the future. A wise man once said “You can hold on to the past, just don’t leave your hands so full that you can’t grab onto the future”

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Hey!
After a few failed attempts, I have to know... how in the world do you get your hair the way you do?!
Confused,
Fox Wow, you guys really have a thing for my hair, huh? You want me to give away a trade secret? That’s like asking Colonel Sanders what the secret recipe is! Okay, I’ll tell you is it involves a little bit of gel so I can get it to hold it’s shape along with a little bit of mousse to give it that fluffy look. Good luck! Great hair is the secret to getting the chicks.

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Dear Darien:
Due to some unusual circumstances, I have been living a fairly isolated existence recently. However, I am contemplating a return to the social scene soon. I love to read and cook, enjoy intellectual discussions, have a funky sense of style and play a mean game of pool. Do you have any advice on how or where I can meet intelligent, sensitive, witty single men who have offbeat senses of humor?
--Pip's Lonely Hearts Club You got a gland in your head too? The good news is, you’re going to return to social life, that’s always a plus. Sounds like you got a lot of great things going for you. Some things you can do is join a cooking class, you can meet lots of great people in there, and not just guys either. I know lots of places that have book clubs that meet once a week or something like that, I’ve actually gone to a few, and they’re really great. Try those out for starters, you’re sure to meet some great people there, the rest is up to you!

I want to thank you guys for your questions. Just wait ‘till I tell Hobbes I got more than he did! It’ll drive him nuts! Oh, and if you guys ever want to reach me you can email me at darienfawkes@secret-agent.com. Just, uh, keep this under the chuppa, okay? If Hobbes or the Fat Man find out I gave out my work email, they’ll take the gland out as punishment.

Darien

In this section of the newsletter you get the chance to get your creative juices flowing and write the next part of an ongoing story. Below, you'll find the story so far. Your mission, should you choose to accept it (unlike The Official, we give you the choice :), is to write the next part of the story in about 125 words or less. It'll be a tough choice, but I will pick one submission and post it in the next newsletter and continue from there. Ready? Here goes!

The teaser:
Darien was a happy guy. He had just gotten a shot of counteragent and wouldn't need a new one for a while, things were quiet at the agency, and most importantly, he was going to spend a nice relaxing evening at home with a home-made meal and his favorite book "The Story of Philosophy: The Lives and Opinions of the World's Greatest Philosophers". "It doesn't get any better than this", he thought as he headed toward his apartment with a bag of groceries in one arm.
As he unlocked the door, the scene inside made him stop in his tracks. "Aw crap!" he said as the smile disappeared from his face and was replaced by a look of dismay. His apartment had been ransacked and very thoroughly at that. After taking a moment to digest the situation, he walked cautiously into the apartment careful not to step on anything breakable, which had not already been broken, and checked to make sure that whoever made the mess wasn't still there.

Part 2 by R2:
Glass crunched under Darien's feet as he made his way through his destroyed apartment. Nothing had been spared and Darien felt violated. Unknown hands had rifled through his possessions, going over his personal affects. The intruder, or intruders, had been quite thorough. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, his small abode abnormally quiet. With a deep breath, Darien allowed the quicksilver to coat his body, neatly rendering him invisible. If whoever had done this was still here, he saw no need to give them the advantage. There was a small noise from inside the bathroom, Darien's head snapped around at the sound as he began to make his way toward the closed door.

Part 3 by R2
Slowly, Darien reached out and grasped the cold handle in his equally cold hand. Fear and anger were vying for attention, whoever had ransacked his home was still stupid enough to be here. Big mistake.
He flung the door open and blindly launched himself inside, grabbing a stunned individual around their waist. There was a startled shout as he and the intruder fell to the ground in a tangle of arms and legs, Darien could feel them struggling to get out from under him and he knew that he had the upper hand.
Darien gripped a flailing hand tightly as he glanced down at the person who had destroyed his apartment. His breath left him in a horrified gasp as he recognized the man, "Hobbes?"

Part 4 by Kathy Czechowski, a.k.a. Hei_Mao
Hobbes snorted, jerking from Darien's grip and standing. "Thanks for the hospitality. Love what
you've done with the place," he said, brushing broken glass from his sleeves.
"What do you mean by that? I didn't do this." Darien's brow furrowed as he let the quicksilver fall
away.
"What, and I did? You called me here."
"No, I didn't." His voice trailed off as he stared at the mess.
"Yeah, you did. You said you wanted to talk to me about something, the door would be unlocked, I
should just walk in. I walked in, and POW! I woke up in here. Then you came barreling in...."
Darien paused, shaking his head. "I didn't call you. This doesn't make sense."
"Right. If someone wanted to frame me for tossing your apartment, why call me here?" Hobbes rubbed the back of his head. A large bruise was rapidly purpling beneath a dozen small cuts. He winced, mumbling curses.
"Somebody wanted us here at the same time. The mess is just a distraction. Someone wanted us out of the
way," Darien declared.
Hobbes nodded, his expression grim. "I was thinking the same thing."

Part 5 by FawkesFox
Hobbes' cell phone began to ring. He took it out of his pocket and answered it, "Hobbes... What?... Where are you?... Stay there, we're on our way." He hung the phone up and turned to Darien. "There's trouble partner." Hobbes started for the door, Darien following closely behind him. Within minutes they arrived at the Agency. Once they got there, they knocked on the door of Charlie's office. There was no answer so Darien kicked the door in. Inside, Charlie was tied to the chair, a gag in his mouth.
"Hello, Darien." A familiar voice said from behind the door. Darien turned to see the man who was responsible for his brother's death.

Part 6 by Allison Riley
Darien's couldn't speak. He never, in his wildest dreams, thought that Arnaud would come back for a third time. Then, the memories of Kevin dying in his arms came back to him. His speechlessness disappeared. Darien tried to punch Arnaud, but he wasn't quick enough. Arnaud grabbed his fist and squeezed it tightly. Pain rushed through Darien's arm. Then he let go. The pain vanished. Darien ran to the center of the room and quicksilvered. Arnaud just laughed. Darien tried again to punch him, thinking that he couldn't stop his fist this time. But he did. Hobbes had been standing there staring. Now he could see Arnaud holding something in midair. Arnaud squeezed Darien's fist even harder than before. Forcing him to become visible again. Arnaud laughed. "How did he do that?" Darien, Hobbes, and Charlie all said quietly to themselves.

Part 8 by jakgirl
"Are you selling me out?" cried Darien.
Arnaud perched on the Official's desk. "I think we should tell him, don't you? Otherwise he will waste his time and my patience trying to discover the answers." He quirked an eyebrow at the Official and continued,
"The explanation is simple. Using nanotechnology, I've perfected special contact lenses with tiny viewers, which enable me to see quicksilver: a superior version of the Agency's viewers. I have proven to your employer that they work. Now he knows I can find and kill you anywhere, at any time, and he has agreed to let me…borrow you for a little job I have. Otherwise, I shoot you and harvest the gland. Don't think I won't do it."
"What's the job?" asked Darien warily.

Part 9 by FawkesFox
"My neice has been kidnapped by some very ruthless people." Arnaud said.
"More ruthless than you?" Darien quipped.
Arnaud ignored him and continued, "I can't stand seeing my sister so upset."
"Well, well... Never would have figured you for a softie." Darien said.

Part 10 by Sasscat
"Ordinarily no," Arnaud said smoothly, "but Jessica shows a lot of promise. Her mother is right to worry."
Darien froze, barely hearing Arnaud's next words. He knew he was being stupid - it wasn't exactly the most uncommon of names - but somehow he had a feeling, low in his gut, that he was about to hear some unpleasant news. "Your niece is called Jessica?"
"Jessica Semplar. She's in grade three at Heatherfield Elementary. If you'll come along I'll give you all the information you need."
"My god," Darien said softly. "Jess." He stumbled backwards until he found the wall, and clung to it for support. Jess had been kidnapped. Jess was related to *Arnaud*. And that was something even her
invisible best friend Ralph couldn't save her from.
But he could try. Darien lifted his eyes to Arnaud's, coldly determined. "I'll do it."

Part 11 by Mandy, a.k.a. fawkesielady
"Good" Arnaud said with a slight smile. They walked out of the building, guards on either side of Darien just incase he decided to change his mind, and got in Arnaud's car.
"So, what do these people want with Jessica?" Darien asked as the car pulled out on the street.
"That I am not sure of yet. She is a very bright girl, very bright for her age." Darien thought he saw a tinge of hurt behind Arnaud's hard exterior. He would have felt sorry for him if he wasn't Arnaud.
"Yeah, I know." He mumbled.
"What was that?"
"Nothing. Tell me what you want me to do. But understand one thing, I'm not doing any of this for you."
Arnaud chuckled, "I'd hope not. After this is over, we can go back to hating and wanting to kill each other. But for now, I'm afraid we have no choice, we must work together."

Part 12 by The_Mad_Fangirl
"You hate me?" Darien asked. The guards flanked him in the limo's back seat. "Why? I mean, I hate you because you killed Kevin, and," his voice hardened, "I will kill you for that, but what did I ever do to you?"
"You're in my way," Arnaud replied, leaning over the limo's back seat, gun sideways. "That's always been sufficient for me, but even if it weren't, there's the small matter of nine or ten invisible grenades."
"Oh, yeah," Darien replied, smiling slightly. "Yeah, that was a good one."
"Obviously not good enough. Story of your life, Fawkes, which is why you'll be dead and I'll have the gland, but not until after Jessica is safe." Arnaud turned forward again and looked out the front window. A few minutes later, "Ah. We're here."
Darien looked over a guard's shoulder. "Jessica's house."
Arnaud's head whipped around. "And you know that how?"

Part 13 by Maxdout
"Well, It's too small for a villain such as yourself," Darien remarked cautiously but slyly. Arnaud seemed unimpressed so Darien added, "and your oversized ego."
Arnaud still seemed unconvinced, "I suspect it was just a lucky guess."
The driver opened the door and Arnaud got out while staring at Darien probingly. Darien glanced at Arnaud's thugs as he pointed to the door and said, "Ladies first."
They were not amused. They grabbed Darien, one on either side, and pushed him out the door. It was apparent they were fighting the urge to throw him.
They all walked together up the drive to the door of Jessica's house and Arnaud rang the doorbell. Just then Darien became very afraid that Jessica's parents might recognize him from Jessica's painting of Ralph.

Part 14 by liz_Z
Mrs. Semplar opened the door, a curious expression on her face. "Arnaud, what are you doing here?"
Arnaud gave her a wan smile. "I'm here to help find Jessica."
Mrs. Semplar's lip trembled for a moment, and then she broke down into tears. Arnaud immediately pulled her up in a hug, whispering soothing words in her ear.
After a while Mrs. Semplar began to calm down. Darien watched in surprise. He had never thought that Arnaud was capable of anything like compassion.
Mrs. Semplar frowned and gestured at Darien. "Who is this?"
"Someone who can help us."
"He looks familiar... Oh well, it must be my imagination. His face just reminded me of... a painting Jessica made..." She broke down into tears again.
Arnaud frowned. "What painting?"
"The one of... her invisible friend..."
Arnaud pulled her up in another hug, but his eyes were filled with cold anger. "I see."

Part 15 by IMFreak
After a moment Mrs. Semplar took a deep breath, pulled away from Arnaud enough to wipe her eyes briskly, and said in a voice that sounded as though she were trying to be cheerful, "Well, where are my manners? Come in, come in."
Arnaud kept an arm around his sister and after a quick glare backward at Darien they walked into the house together. Darien was practically hustled inside by the two bodyguards behind him. Once they were in the living room, Mrs. Semplar sat down on a couch, Arnaud beside her. She gestured toward the other chairs arranged in a semi circle around the room for the others to sit in. Subtly, the two muscle men pushed Darien toward one that was pretty much between the other two. Just enough nudging so that Mrs. Semplar wouldn't notice.
"Thanks. How are you holding up Mrs. Semplar?" Darien asked once he had sat down, a look of sincere concern on his face.
Mrs. Semplar, who had been looking more at the beige rug than anything else, brought her head up sharply to look at him. "Fine, thank you." Her voice was a bit tight.
"It's alright, Dear, I told you. He's here to try and help."
She looked earnestly into Arnaud's face, "But why? What makes you think some stranger can find Jessica when the police can't? I mean, how well do you know this man?"
"Trust me. He will do his best to find her." Arnaud looked at Darien with stern eyes that seemed to add "or he will be very, very sorry" to his last statement.

Part 16 by Mandy AKA fawkesieladyandEd
"I'm sorry." Mrs. Semplar said to Darien. "I just can't get over how much you look like Ralph."
"Ralph?" Darien asked trying to sound confused.
"Yes. Jess's invisible friend." She said as she stood up. Mrs. Semplar left the room and returned a moment later with the painting. "See, this is a painting of Ralph."
"Wow." Was all Darien could force out of his mouth.
Mrs. Semplar sat down wiping away fresh tears. "It's alright dear." Arnaud said as he put his arm around her shoulders. "We'll bring her home safe."
He looked at Darien with angry eyes. "May I speak with you a moment?" He said through clenched teeth. He had tried to sound friendly, but his sister flinched at his tone.
"Sure." Darien said and left the house with Arnaud.
"Do you want to tell me why Jessica painted a picture of you?" Arnaud asked when the front door was closed behind them.

Part 17 by bookwormgirl
Darien stepped up to Arnaud real close and said, “Do you want to find Jessica or do you want to waste time with a history lesson?”
Arnaud stared back at Darien. “We’ll talk later, after Jessica is safe. But trust me, Ralph,” he said with venom in his voice, “we will talk.” With that, Arnaud opened the door and the two reentered the house.
“Is there a problem?” asked Mrs. Sempler.
“Not at all, my dear. We were just discussing the best place to start our investigation. Mr. Fawkes and I have different,” Arnaud paused, “techniques.”
“Mrs. Sempler,” asked Darien, “did the kidnappers leave a note? A clue of any kind as to who they are or what they would want with Jess?”

Part 18 by Veronica aka Scout
Mrs. Semplar ran into the kitchen and returned with a piece of paper and something else in her hand. "Here is what we found on the front stoop yesterday morning. A letter and a dead butterfly.
What does it mean?" Arnaud shrugged his shoulders and looked confused.
Darien knew exactly what the butterfly meant, "Crysalis."
Arnaud grabbed Darien's arm, "What?"
Darien repeated, "Crysalis is behind this and I know why they went after Jessica."

Part 19 by RGtwilight
Arnaud's grip on Darien's arm tightened even more and Arnaud seemed to turn purple. Darien turned away from Mrs. Semplar and quicksilvered his arm. Arnaud quickly released his grip and said “Merde!”
“What is Crysalis?” asked Arnaud’s sister. She wondered why both men seemed to be so agitated with each other.
Darien shook off his quicksilvered arm and studied Arnaud—he seemed to recognize the name Crysalis! Darien then said “Look I am sure these people won’t hurt Jessica but I think we should stay calm and look at the note to see what they want.”
Arnaud, still agitated grabbed the note from his sister and began to read it. But before he finished he looked up at Darien and hissed, “What do you know about Crysalis?”
Darien asked Mrs. Semplar “Can I use your phone?” Then he dialed a number and looked at Arnaud and said, “I really think I am going to need help with this. I need Bobby Hobbes. He will know the best way to infiltrate Crysalis. Now what does the note say?”

Part 20 by Sasscat
Arnaud pressed his lips together for a moment, then handed the note over.
"Very well, but warn Mister Hobbes not to come armed. I don't think he'd like the consequences."
"Armed?" Jessica's mother looked worried. "Arnaud, is this man dangerous?"
"Of course not, _ma chere_," Arnaud said soothingly. "You know I would never do anything to put you at risk." He looked daggers at Darien, as if daring him to argue.
Darien managed to keep his mouth shut, barely. He turned his attention back to the phone, rattling instructions off to Bobby as he held the note up to the light.
_In lieu of promised payment, the girl is ours. Consider your debt discharged. J.S._
Stark. Darien scowled and resisted the urge to crumple the note up into a ball. It looked like Arnaud and Chrysalis had had some business dealings. But Arnaud had double-crossed them, and they'd trumped his double-cross.
If Jessica weren't caught in the middle of it, Darien would have been inclined to sit back and watch them fight it out. Instead... well, he could only imagine the things Chrysalis could do with an impressionable kid.

Part 21 by fawkesieladyandEd
"Story?" What the hell does that mean?" Darien asked as he looked at Arnaud.
"You are the one that knows Chrysalis so well, you tell me." Arnaud returned.
Darien thought for a moment, "I don't know." He said finally.
"Hello boys, good morning Mrs. Semplar." A voice called from behind them.
Darien turned, "Hobbes? What are you doing here?"
"You called Darien."
"Yeah, but you never answered the phone."
"Let me see that." Hobbes said as he took the note from Arnaud. He read the note then looked up at Darien. "It was Chrysalis, and they want a story."
"We figured that part out Hobbes, but what kind of story?" Darien asked.
"This is a clue Darien. Chrysalis wants us to have a little treasure hunt. The next clue is in the children’s section of the library."
"Alright then," Arnaud said, "Let's go."

Part 22 by KAT_bboard_lurker
Apparently, the local library didn't realize a girl's life was on the line. They had yet to open the massive, locked doors, when Darien, Bobby, and Arnaud arrived. Arnaud thought it best if his sister stay behind and his thugs guard her.
"Go find a way in, Fawkes," he barked.
"Yes, my Swiss Miss," Darien said under his breath. Bobby started to follow, but Arnaud stopped him dead in his tracks by firing his gun so close to Bobby's face, he could feel it pass by.
"Oops, I missed," Arnaud said innocently enough. "I wonder if I will next time."
"I think I'll stay here with him, Darien," Bobby squeaked out.
Darien walked behind the building. There was a small window, towards the ground, perhaps to a basement. He climbed down into the black abyss. What's that moving? He couldn't see… "Oh my…" he thought. "HEY YOU GUYS!!! YOU BETTER COME LOOK AT THIS RIGHT NOW!!!"

Part 23 by dakFinv
Arnaud and Hobbes ran to where Fawkes had entered the library. "What is it Fawkes?" questioned Hobbes.
"It's one of Stark's guys. He looks pretty beat up," answered Darien Darien helped Arnaud and Hobbes into the library. Fumbling around in the dark Hobbes found a light switch and lit up the dark room. The room was completely trashed.
"Whoa. It looks like a wrestling match took place down here," said Hobbes. "You. What happened here?" Arnaud snarled as he shook the already half-conscious Chrysallis agent.
"I...I...I can't...a struggle...gunshots...other people...other than Chrysallis," stammered the man. He slowly started to create more understandable sentences. "My partner and I were supposed to wait here and watch you while you were at the library, but there were other men here other than us. I don't know who they were, but they took my partner."
"You have no idea who they were?" asked Darien.
"No, but they left this. Maybe it will help."