What's The News? • Lemoxie

Chapter Nine

Once more, Lemony drove off towards God knows where to hide the penultimate sample of the fatal fungus. Lemony said "penultimate" is a word which here means "second to last."

"Same seating?" Ornette asked me.
"I suppose so. Kellar, Ellington, how are you two holding up squished together?"
"I like being close to him but this isn't what I meant." Ellington joked to lighten the mood.
"We'll be fine for another ride." Kellar told me. I nodded and slid into the passenger seat to type up more notes. I looked up once we passed the Lost Arms and saw an unfamiliar car parked in front of the building. I dismissed it as a tourist and turned my attention back to my typewriter.

The Thistle of the Valley train station was quite empty today and that's because of how there weren't any stops in Stain'd Station on that day.

"Perfect! That gives us all the time we need to look for it and not draw attention to the danger this town is secretly facing." Cleo beamed. Something about this whole day seemed too easy; as if we'd been conned somehow. The case had a ton of questions surrounding it, but all of the questions felt wrong. I have more thought to the mission as I mindlessly searched for the last sample of the Medusoid Mycelium. It felt like we'd been looking for hours! The five of us had looked in every possible location and double checked once Lemony joined us from coming back to the drop off point, wherever it was...  We didn't find it but thought that we could've just glossed over an area or something.

"I'm convinced it's not here," I told Lemony. "I feel like I failed! We can't find the last sample anywhere and this is the only place we can think of the last sample being at. The town's going to be doomed."
" You didn't fail, Moxie! We just know it's not here, that's all. " He replied comfortingly.
"That's not very helpful when there's a whole town to search."
" We'll save your town. I assure you that, Moxie Mallahan. "
I smiled very faintly. "I'll hold you to that, Lemony Snicket."

We flung open drawers to desks for what felt like the umpteenth time and there was still nothing! My suspicions about Number 4 not being at Stain'd Station were proven correct when Ornette began telling us about an important call she got a few moments ago...

"Everyone! Bouvard called from Black Cat Coffee and said Sample Number Four is there!" The sculptor called out.
"Of course!" Ellington said. "The French press makes coffee!"
" That must have been what Ethan's couplet was saying before it burnt. Come on let's go! "

Cleo continued driving my jeep and Ellington and Kellar got their own seats. Lemony and I rode on his motorcycle over there. Again, I put on the helmet and wrapped my arms around his waist, hat in hand. "This is so much better than watching him walk away." I couldn't help myself from thinking. Black Cat Coffee was a nice little place and I couldn't imagine a menace like Stewart Mitchum hiding a sample of volatile fungus in there. There's always something worse, though...

"Miss me, Lemon Drop?" Stew Mitchum sneered as my associates and I opened the door.
"You wish." Lemony said.
"Where's Bouvard Bellerophon?" Ornette asked our enemy angrily.
"He was never here, girly. You can't work under Hangfire without learning a thing or two from his work, say imitating voices. Anyway, I believe you're here for this." He said, producing the fourth sample from behind his back. I sensed a monologue coming on, so I discretely pulled my tape recorder out of my pocket.

"Quite a lovely specimen, isn't it?" He continued. "Something so small with the potential to destroy something so large? It's exhilarating. You foolish volunteers have fallen right into my trap. I can't believe I ever trusted Ethan to help me. I don't need a friend and I sure as hell don't need a partner. I can destroy Stain'd-by-the-Sea all by myself. That stupid idiot wasn't even on my side! Ethan Lost was one of Lemonade's VFD chums before I shot him with a harpoon gun. Not sure how I didn't see it before; such a tiring boy, I must say. I can only tolerate so much poetry and sugarless tea. Well, I've gathered all but three of you, but the Bellerophons and Hix should be quite easy to knock off the board. I guess you six will do."

With that, he took a messy bite of an apple that was sitting on the player piano and threw the sample at the ground, the glass shattering and releasing the fatal fungus before shoving past us and running out the door.