JOE GARLINGTON’S DHI flickered occasionally, either the result of a weak signal or the projection limitations inherent in Version 1.6. He faced Mickey, Mulan, and Kristoff across a table inside Club 33 in New Orleans Square.
Young Nick Perkins sat next to Joe. The empty dining room’s rich wood furnishings, tile, and leaded glass windows lent it an old-world feel. The linen-covered tabletops held plates, silverware, and glass goblets.
Joe had listened to a recap of the events in the Tower of Terror the night before. “It doesn’t explain why Mattie stayed behind,” he said.
“She must have been captured for a second time,” Mickey said. “Poor thing.”
“She chose to stay,” Nick said. “She told us to leave her.”
Joe frowned and shook his head.
Mulan said, “It was so cold. She must not have been thinking clearly.”
“Ezekiel?” Joe addressed Mickey, his voice pleading. “Was Ezekiel with you?”
Mickey shook his head, deeply troubled. “He wanted a view of the group climbing the building. That’s all I know.”
A lot of head shaking followed. Nick raised his hand timidly, like an elementary school student. “I shouldn’t have let her stay.”
Joe waved him off. “You did as she asked.”
“Another raid?” said Mulan. “We know where we are going now. That makes us stronger.”
Joe studied the others, including Nick. “If the Fairlies have taken Ezekiel hostage, we can’t go barging in there.”
“Our numbers are many,” said Mickey, “our powers great.”
“So are theirs,” Joe reminded him. “The Fairlies must have abducted Zeke for a reason, part of a bigger plan. They need him for something. And—hear me out—if they’ve been keeping an eye on Zeke, they may know about him and Mattie. And she won’t know that.”
“Meaning she’s in even more trouble than we thought,” said Nick.
“She’s a woman,” said Mulan. “Have any of you considered the obvious?”
“There’s nothing obvious about Minnie,” said Mickey. “She’s always surprising me!”
“Exactly!” said Mulan. “Precisely my point! Mattie stayed behind on purpose! She has a plan of her own. We should be asking ourselves what that plan is, and then determine how we can help her.”
“If only we could cross her over again we could talk to her,” Joe said. “The question is, with Zeke captured, is her plan any good?”
Nick said what everyone was thinking. “Or did she just mess everything up?”