The Key To the Kingdom (40 page)

“S
O IF YOU HADN’T KEPT TRYING
to solve the puzzle, you never would have found me?” Juliette smiled at Hawk.

“If I hadn’t been playing junior detective, you wouldn’t have been taken at all.” Hawk slowly shook his head.

“You didn’t create this mystery. Farren started the whole thing, but then something went wrong.”

“I’m just glad I found you,” he sighed. “And you’re safe.”

“I’m glad you didn’t quit looking.”

“Juliette, I just couldn’t.”

“I know, that’s what I was counting on.”

“I kept hoping if I could figure this whole thing out, I’d be able to find you and find Farren.”

“It sounds like you’re getting close.”

Hawk and Juliette sat opposite one another in Cinderella’s Castle Suite. Their escape from the Character Zoo had been easy and surprisingly uneventful. After a brisk walk along the utilidor they had accessed a stairwell and reentered Fantasyland behind Cinderella Castle. The three had made it to the castle undetected. Kiran’s card had given her access to the elevator that lifted them to the fourth floor of the castle. The opening of the elevator doors deposited them into a foyer adorned with original movie concept art created by the famed artist Mary Blair. It also featured a display case holding the legendary glass slipper of Cinderella herself.

The Renaissance-style suite combined old-style luxury with digital-age technology. The usual attention to detail by the Disney designers had turned this castle suite into a once-upon-a-dream experience for guests fortunate enough to be chosen to stay there. Bathroom sinks created to look like washbasins, faucets that looked like hand pumps, and a hand-cut stone floor made the bathroom a place of luxury. Hawk cleaned up, trying not to spread dirt and water over his pristine surroundings, and changed into the clothes Kiran had hidden in the suite earlier.

Immediately upon their arrival they’d found their elevated castle room allowed everyone to receive a clear cell phone signal, which rarely happened for guests in the theme park. In the midst of the madness of the night a clear cell signal was perhaps the best feature the suite had to offer, at least from their perspectives.

Juliette had gotten in touch with Tim for a tearful reunion over the phone. As she talked, Hawk and Kiran had moved into the foyer to allow her some privacy. Hawk then had the chance to talk to Tim, who promised he would take his pastor to any restaurant, anytime, for the rest of his life in appreciation for finding Juliette. Hawk admitted he really had found her by accident, but they all understood the preacher’s dogged determination had worked in their favor. Hawk also spoke with Al Gann, who would be entering the Disney tunnel system very soon, rounding up the man in the Big Bad Wolf head, also known as Jim. Gann had been in touch with Disney security, and the sheriff’s department was officially involved. Al was the lead person on the case, but Hawk was out of time. He was going to have to come in and answer some questions about the missing Imagineer Farren Rales. Hawk was not surprised by this but had been shocked when Al told him the rest of what he had to say. Gann promised the department that he personally would bring the preacher into the office for an interview. He had promised to have him there by 2:00 p.m. Al had managed to give Hawk a few more precious hours to solve the mystery. Juliette was safe, the person who had abducted her should be picked up momentarily; the Disney security force and the sheriff’s departments were now both involved, so everything was getting ready to change. Gann said the gift of a few hours and not giving a full disclosure to the Disney people quite yet were the best he could do for his friend. He urged Hawk to figure it out and wrap it up.

The strategy Hawk, Gann, Tim, Juliette, Jonathan, Shep, and Kiran had devised would have them hide out in the Cinderella Castle Suite until the Magic Kingdom opened in the morning. Once the park was open and the first wave of people had made it down Main Street USA, they would leave the castle. Juliette would exit the park and board a monorail to the Contemporary to be reunited with Tim and go home. Hawk and Kiran would follow as many leads as they could through the park, hoping they wouldn’t be stopped by Disney security. At 1:00 p.m. Hawk would head over to the Contemporary and rejoin Jonathan, Shep, and Al to let them know what he had found and what needed to happen next. From there Al Gann and Hawk would head to the interview at the sheriff’s office to unpack the entire story and hopefully find out what had happened to Farren Rales.

It was still shortly before daylight when everything had been decided. The Magic Kingdom was not scheduled to open until 9:00 a.m. There were snacks to eat for breakfast in the room and turns to be taken in the luxury bathing facilities, giving Juliette and Hawk time to talk privately. Standing up and walking near the bathroom door Juliette confirmed that Kiran was still bathing and she came back to join Hawk.

“So Kiran is good?” Juliette asked with a quizzical look on her face as she sat down.

“What do you mean good?” Hawk’s mind went uninvited to the shower, and his face flamed. Juliette laughed.

“I mean, she’s one of us—one of the good guys—and you trust her?”

“I didn’t have any choice. She rescued me when Cambridge was after me, she helped me solve clues, and she’s managed to get me out of more than a few jams over the past few hours.”

“And?”

“I probably wouldn’t have been able to survive the night in the park without her, and I wouldn’t have been able to find you.”

“So she’s good?”

“I guess . . .”

“And she’s gorgeous.”

“I hadn’t noticed.” Hawk replied, thinking Snow White’s stepmother would kill her in a heartbeat.

“You lie,” she teased.

“She is pretty,” Hawk yielded.

“And you trust her?” Juliette pressed the last question between them, instantly serious. Hawk hesitated and thought of Kiran dressing behind the bathroom door before looking back at Juliette. She asked again slowly, “And you trust her?”

“I want to . . .”

“But?”

“You heard the DVD when Farren told me to be careful about whom to trust. Like any classic Disney story, there will be heroes and villains.”

“From what you’ve told me she sounds fairly heroic.”

“She has been pretty terrific,” he admitted.

“Look, Hawk,” She leaned forward and lowered her voice to a whisper. “A lot has happened over the past twenty-four hours. It sounds like she’s risked a lot to help get you this far. The problem is, you’re starting to really like her. Be wise, trust her with as much as you can, but in the end remember this is your quest, your puzzle, your mystery to solve. The people who really love you understand that and want you to figure it out . . . because they love and trust you. Kiran sounds like she is one of those people. So figure this thing out—”

The bathroom door clicked open and Kiran walked out looking refreshed and radiant. At least those were the adjectives that crossed Hawk’s mind when he saw her. Stepping into the room she stopped and playfully stepped back as though sensing she may have interrupted a deep conversation between the two old friends.

“I’m sorry, I could come back later, but I don’t have anywhere to go.” She flashed a smile.

“Come over.” Juliette motioned for her to join them. “Hawk is trying to catch me up on his escapades. I’m sure he’s forgetting some of the details.”

Over the next hour they relived and retold the events of the previous night. Hawk would tell a portion of the story and Kiran would take over and fill in the gaps. Juliette laughed with them as they recounted the events that, although serious, seemed a little less intense in the safety of the castle. They ended up with the final clue Pal Mickey had offered at Sir Mickey’s.

I knew you could do it, pal! Let’s fly to where it is always past my bedtime. Gosh, even though it’s late and I should be asleep I’m sure Mr. Disney wouldn’t mind. Oh, ha-ha, I almost forgot . . . remember the pixie dust!

“So that’s your next clue?” Juliette tilted her head.

“There are a number of attractions in the Magic Kingdom you can fly on,” Kiran offered.

“The secret may be in the next part of the clue,” Hawk thought aloud. “‘Even though it’s late and I should be asleep I’m sure Mr. Disney wouldn’t mind.’ That seemed to make sense in the middle of the night. But in the light of day it’s tougher.”

“What do you mean?” Kiran asked.

“Well, we need to find a place where it’s past Mickey’s bedtime.”

“And don’t forget the pixie dust!” Juliette said.

“So we fly, it’s late, and we need pixie dust,” Kiran recapped.

“Of course! We head to Peter Pan’s Flight,” Hawk announced triumphantly.

“Are you sure?” Kiran slid forward in her seat.

“Positive, it makes sense,” Hawk reasoned. “Think about it, the ride takes place at night after the children are supposed to be asleep. They fly out the window after they get sprinkled with pixie dust, and they follow Peter Pan.”

“After all good kids should be in bed,” Juliette pulled the line of reasoning together.

“And after all good little mice should be in bed as well,” Kiran playfully added. “Mickey was always portrayed as Walt Disney’s creation, almost like a child; Walt was a good parent, Mickey would have an early bedtime.”

“It’s just around the corner.” Hawk began tapping his foot. “We can be there as soon as the park opens.”

“Not to be a party pooper, but I’m going to let you two go fly with Peter Pan.” Juliette yawned. “I am going home to my family, and my own bed. After all, I had a long day and didn’t get to play in the park all night.”

C
HAPTER
F
ORTY
-T
WO

Day Seven Morning

G
RAYSON
H
AWKES STOOD LOOKING
through the window of the Cinderella Suite and saw the first strands of sunlight push against the twinkle of nighttime illumination. Chasing the darkness, a new day burst into dawn over Walt Disney World. Juliette stepped next to him as the brilliant scene unfolded. This moment was a once-in-a-lifetime event and Hawk silently allowed the daylight to flutter across his eyes as the two friends watched the beginning of a new day.

“Wow,” Juliette said after a few silent minutes.

“Pretty spectacular.” Hawk felt almost sad that the moment had ended.

“Are you ready to finish this?”

“I hope so. I have to. I’m out of time.”

“How much more can there be to find, Hawk?”

“I’m not sure.” He resigned himself to the reality of how little he knew. “I’m not sure what any of the pieces I have found mean—if they mean anything.”

“I think”—she paused, measuring her words carefully—“I think when you find the last piece, everything will fall into place. I also think you have to be getting close to the end.”

“I want to believe you’re right.” Hawk shook his head. “All I know to do is keep looking.”

“You’ll figure it out.” She grabbed him by the arm and steered him toward the table. “Come get something to eat, this place is stocked with goodies.”

A short while later the gates to the Magic Kingdom opened and the crowds flooded Main Street USA. Guests ran down Main Street and funneled through the interior of the castle, filling up Fantasyland. Others strolled more leisurely, content to let the eager attraction seekers move ahead. It was now time for Hawk, Kiran, and Juliette to exit the castle. The three took a deep breath as they pushed open the door and reentered Fantasyland. Juliette wished them luck and was off through the castle headed toward the exit. Kiran and Hawk used the corner of the castle as cover as they surveyed any obstacles that would block their path toward Peter Pan’s Flight. Assured the coast was clear they briskly stepped out, mingling with a crowd of wide-eyed tourists.