Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia

6: Win, lose, or Draal

"What kind of nerd breaks into a museum?" an officer asked when they were taking Toby's mug shot. "Move to the middle."

Toby moved to the middle.

"Pose."

He held up his board and smiled. Another one was taken of him pointing at it. Ten another one of him holding it up on the left side. Another one of him close to the camera with a fighting face. "Oh, come on," The officer said. "No, stop. Next!"

Jim went in and held up his board. Toby appeared next to him. The officer groaned and they were let out of the station. Barbara and Strickler walked out with Toby and Jim in Barbara's car. "I can't thank you enough for coming to the station," Barbara said. "They are so lucky she didn't press any charges."

"Miss. Nomura is a personal friend," Strickler said. "She agrees with me that this was nothing more than reckless youth run amok."

"I mean, who else do you think is hiding an evil troll face?" Toby asked Jim inside the car. "Coach Lawrence? Steve?" He gasped. "What if Strickler's one of them?"

"Strickler's been teaching history at Arcadia Oaks High since the dawn of history," Jim said. "If he's one, I'm one."

He took Toby's phone and looked at the blurry picture of a bridge. "I know where I've seen this bridge," he said. "It's the same one Blinky was talking about."

"What?" Toby asked. "The Killa-thingy Bridge? That's like ancient history, right?"

"They're trying to break Gunmar out. This is bad, Tobes. Like 'goodbye Arcadia' bad. As soon as we get home, we're going to Blinky."

Barbara got into the car. "You really didn't have to go through all this trouble, Mr. Strickler," she said.

"Please," Strickler said, leaning in through the passenger window. "Walter. I'm sorry we had to meet under this unfortunate circumstance."

"There must be some way I can repay you," Barbara said. "Coffee? Dinner? Appendix removal?" she laughed.

"Coffee would be a delight," He said. "And a rain check on the appendectomy."

"Looking forward to it, Walter."

Strickler looked at Jim. "Watch yourself, young Atlas. Next time, the consequences could be more severe."

Strickler walked away and Jim turned to Barbara. "Did you actually just ask my teacher out on a date?"

"Don't you make this about me. You guys broke into a museum! And for this?" she held up Toby's Chubby Tracker. "You are grounded until you apologize to that woman. You got me?"

"Yes, mom."

"Yes, Dr. Lake."

***

Jim climbed out of the window after Barbara sent him to his room. "Sorry, mom,"

He ran all the way to Trollmarket, where Toby was already waiting for him. They showed the picture to Blinky. "Are you certain?" he asked. "Are you unquestionably, unequivocally-"

"I'm certain," Jim said.

"Could be anything," Aaarrrgghh said.

"I concur," Blinky said. "Tobias's photographic skills are less than exemplary."

"Okay, so it's a little blurry!" Toby said. "You try taking a picture while hauling butt, mister!"

"Okay, well what about the curator?" Jim asked. "How could a person just change like that?"