At End's Gate

PLAYING THE DETECTIVE

That night Paige couldn't sleep. She was still shocked by the way her father reacted. After a while she heard a knock at the door. She went and opened the door. It was her brothers.

"Why are you here?" Paige asked, " it's late.

"Dad is hiding something," James told his siblings.

"Hah?" Paige said with a confused look. She looked at Blake.

"Don't look at me. He's the one playing Sherlock Holmes," Blake commented.

"Okay listen. Dad never overreacts. He quickly brushed of the question you asked about the painting. That guy told you he didn't know the writer. Dad said the exact same thing."

"Yeah. What if it's true?" Blake asked.

"You're telling me that both of you aren't a bit curious?" James asked looking at his siblings.

"I am," Paige answered.

"Okay fine. Let's investigate," Blake said.

Paige took out her phone and looked at the picture again. Why would people make a painting such a big deal? "We're listening."

"Let's see the painting again," James said extending his hand to reach out to the phone.

"Look at the outline or the borders. The type of material used is different from the material usually used by our artists," James commented.

"So what are you implying?" Paige asked.

"I think the person who made this painting is not from here."

"How is that significant?" Blake asked.

"It brings us to our second and third questions. Who's the painter and why would they hide his or her identity?"

"Hmmm. Sherlock you are good," Blake commented.

"Still, even if the painter was not from here why would they hide his identity? We all know that beyond the wall there are many places why would they not talk about it," Paige commented.

"I know right," James said turning on his laptop. He took his sister's phone." Good the painting is now in my database."

"What are you going to do with it?" Blake asked.

"I'm going to go to the school library, the city library even the national archives if I have to, to learn more about this painting," James replied.

"Okay. That's a great idea. Tomorrow I'll go back to the Art Museum and just snoop around," Paige said.

"Yes, you should go. Blake I want you to observe mom and dad's actions very closely. Ask mom more about the painting and see how she'll react. It's easier for you to play it cool as if you're asking a general question," James instructed.

"I know how to play it cool as well," Paige said rolling her eyes.

"Says the girl who was agitated when she was asked where she was," Blake commented.

"Okay point taken," she agreed. " Fine. We will go through with this but if it blows over, I'm taking the blame.

"Why?" Blake asked.

"Because if it's something mom and dad are willing to hide it means it's probably serious," Paige answered.

"There's no need for negative thinking. We'll get away with it," James said boldly." We will all carry those microchips that the scientists invented so that we may see and hear each others progress."

"But won't mom and dad notice that we took them?" Blake asked.

"Yeah. I didn't think of that."

"Not to worry James. I might have a solution," Paige said opening her drawer. She took out three microchips.

"How? Did your steal them?" Blake asked.

"No silly. I duplicated them."

"Paige you're a genius," James said with a smile.

"I know," Paige responded with a grin.

"It's settled then we really are doing this," Blake remarked.

"Yes. Are you chickening out?" James asked.

"No. I'm actually proud of both of you. You barely do anything that might get you in trouble. It's good seeing you take risks. Let's do this," Blake said.

The boys went back to their room to sleep. Paige stayed in a state of deep thought as she slept. Was it worth it to get into trouble because of a painting? Her curiosity got the best of her and she eventually gave in to the temptation of finding out more. She slept with excitement of their future findings. This was actually good as it made her forget about the dream she had the previous night.

I loved writing this chapter. I hope you liked it.