Detective Hollywood Ford in: The Great Seed Heist

The Seeds of Truth

The last poignant note of Deacon's saxophone faded, leaving a stunned silence in its wake. Applause, polite at first, built into a thunderous roar. Guests, faces flushed and eyes glistening, seemed strangely energized by their emotional journey. Hali, hidden backstage, watched with a mix of unease and admiration. Deacon's music had enthralled them, perhaps even manipulated them, but to what end?

Suddenly, an idea sparked in her mind. The crowd, still buzzing from Deacon's performance, was a ripe target for influence. If she could position herself in the right place at the right time, maybe she could use the momentum to slip into the private reception.

With renewed purpose, Hali exited the wings, her manager persona back in full force. She found a particularly flustered party planner, her feathers ruffled with the unexpected success of the band.

"That was phenomenal!" Hali exclaimed, her voice dripping with forced enthusiasm. "Deacon's just beside herself, overwhelmed by the response! In fact," she leaned in conspiratorially, "she's feeling so inspired, she's itching to play another set. Just a short, private performance for the mayor and his inner circle, of course."

The planner, still dazed by the aftereffects of the music, blinked at her. "The mayor's reception? But that's a private affair..."

"All the more reason for a special performance, wouldn't you say?" Hali pressed, batting her eyelashes convincingly. "Think of it, a little after-party treat for the esteemed guests. Deacon would be honored."

The planner hesitated, then a flicker of desperation crossed her face. "The mayor's been... difficult tonight," she confessed in a hushed tone. "Anything to lift his spirits, anything at all."

Hali seized the opportunity. "Exactly! Deacon's blues are the perfect cure. Trust me, it'll be the talk of the party."

With a reluctant nod, the planner secured a coveted guest list pass for Hali, disguised as a "special guest" for Deacon's exclusive after-party performance. Hali's heart thumped with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. She was in. Now, all she had to do was use this opportunity to expose the mayor's secrets and find whatever was hidden within the Aviary of Wonders. The mission, however, had just taken a strange and unsettling turn.

What was that strange trance that everyone fell under? It couldn't have been from just the music, Dee's a heartbreaker but not like this. Maybe it has something to do with that seed she found...

Hali's mind whirred as she slipped away from the private reception, leaving Pippin to search for security vulnerabilities. The trance, the seeds, the strange gilded cages holding only the most exotic birds... pieces of the puzzle clattered together, forming a disturbing picture.

She needed more information, so she doubled back into the heart of the Aviary. The main room teemed with entranced guests, but Hali kept her eyes peeled for a hidden door, a passage that might lead to the source of the strange phenomenon.

She noticed something peculiar: the caterers, waiters, and even the stressed-out party planner were moved by the music, but they didn't fall into the same glazed-eyed state as the elite guests. A realization struck her—only those with the intricately gilded bird badges, the guestlist insignia, seemed completely ensnared by the music.

With newfound resolve, she focused her search. Underneath a towering fountain sculpted in the shape of a heron, a seam in the ornately patterned marble caught her eye. Disguised as a decorative motif, a hidden panel beckoned. With a cautious touch, it slid open, revealing a narrow, dimly lit passageway.

A thrill of apprehension mixed with excitement coursed through Hali. This was it. The answer, she knew, lay beyond this threshold. Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the shadows, her heart thumping a rhythm to match the faint, mournful strains of Deacon's saxophone drifting from the main hall.