Chapter 2
Eight days later…
Luke races to the C.S.C meeting in his Toyota.
He had finished performing with his band, the Port Macquarie Big Band, in Newcastle. He only has ten precious minutes to get to his committee’s next meeting, which he had foolishly booked with barely any time to get there. Lucas hates being
Three minutes left. He’ almost there. But unfortunately, there is a gargantuan automobile collision, or, as the post-millennial would say, car crash. Luke can’t wait any longer. So, without thinking, he drives around the round-about that he’s on, parks and sprints for the business complex.
Somehow, he makes the meeting just in time. “Alright, people. We have learnt about how to use the equipment and how to capture the crocodile Today we are having a run-through of how to capture a crocodile. I will now perform a demonstration.” Lucas prepares the equipment, which is basically a long, wooden stick about a metre long with a glass container with a bagel in it at the end. He then reaches out into his bag and pulls out a foot-long stuffed crocodile. He then places his companion on the floor. He shows the soft toy the sweet and (with the help of Luke) captures the animal’s jaw. He then takes out a cage and places it underneath.
“Are you completely sure this is actually going to get us ready?” says Emily. “I want to try!” She barges forward, grabbing the tool in Lucas’s hands. She waves it around. The crocodile lunges at the contraption. Emily tries to put the mask on. It doesn’t work. She tries again. It doesn't fit. Frustrated but determined, she shakes the bagel around, hides it quickly and gets the mask on. Then she puts the cage underneath by lifting the bagel in the air.
***
When everyone had finished the practice, Luke notices that there is an unusual piece of paper on the desk. “Guys,” he exclaims, “I found something weird.”
“Well then read it!” replies Emily.
Lucas obtains the document-like sheet and reads it.
“” Dear Mr. Reeder,
Although some of us admire your creative business approach, the Chief Funds Inspector, James Hudson O’ Marcus, has failed to provide reasons why the government should help you in your marketing or funds. Unfortunately, you have also failed to sign up for a referral, of which the deadline has recently expired. Mr. O’Marcus also suggested that you should discontinue your enterprise completely, as the CFI did, as mentioned previously, not approve in the slightest to your fairytale ideas.
Kind Regards,
The Government of New South Wales.”
The letter was very realistic and would gone through if not for one miniscule problem.
“Since when did we send a request to the government for funding?” asks Luke.
“We never did because that was never a thing!” frustrates Lucas. “Someone is trying to sabotage us, and I have a feeling that is Emily.”
“Excuse me! I would never do such a thing to my brother, despite this being a terrible scheme with no chance to work!” Emily is furious. “That’s it! I’m leaving this meeting!” On her way out, she hurls a mysterious book behind her back out of rage. Out of curiosity (and trying to figure out who committed the crime, which, although wasn’t harmful to the company in any way, could result in something more hazardous) they pick it up and start reading a random page. Unfortunately, some of it is been covered in drool.
Dear Diary,
Yesterday I Had A very weird dream. I saw an old man who told me to shut down the CSC. I said, “Why should I listen to you?” and he replied, “I you don’t do it, I will kidnap your sibling ___”. He told me to do it by ___________ _________ _______________ and making a fake document “sent from the government”. I decided to do the document today and save ______ for another time.
From _______.
Lucas looks around. Luke, Harold and Martha are all extremely sad (Harold was a bit less so as he didn’t really care but decided to blend in). Mia is daydreaming again, although it was a little bit shady considering she was fully awake two minutes ago, but Mia, as mentioned, is capable of extraordinary feats when it comes to wool-gathering. After a few minutes of discussion about who it could’ve been (which was mostly Luke and Lucas repeating it was Emily, as she was known for her persistent use of diaries, and Martha budging to say something,) the group’s time was up and they approached their homes.