Lenore and the Cops - Pt 1

Lenore: Um... excuse me. Are you next in line to be interviewed by the police?

Rhiannon: Oh, you startled me. No. I'm just here waiting for Bijou.

Rhiannon: She's up talking to them now, and Bijou can have some... difficulties when dealing with authority figures. I figured it would be good if I hung around. I think they're almost done, though.

Lenore: You're very pretty. Are you Bijou's mother?

Rhiannon: Well aren't you a sweet thing? No, no, I'm Bijou's Aunt Rhiannon.

Lenore: I'm Lenore. I'm glad to meet you, Miss Rhiannon.

Rhiannon: Are you one of Bijou's friends from school?

Lenore: Well, I know her from school...

Rhiannon: Yeah (sigh) she doesn't seem to have a lot of friends, except for that poor Ellie girl. Though she's more of a doormat than a friend...

Lenore: They must be done. Here comes Bijou now.

Bijou: Hello, Lenore.

Lenore: Hi, Bijou.

Rhiannon: Sweetie, how did it go?

Bijou: (quietly) You're up next. Be brave, soldier. They can't effectively use their mindtricks or torture with Miss Tegen sitting right there, so...

Rhiannon: BIJOU!

Lenore: (deep sigh)

Meeting with Ullrich

Wendy: Hi, Ullrich! I am so sorry I'm late.

Ullrich: (smile) No problem. I just got down here a little bit ago myself.

Wendy: So is everything okay? Feather's all right...?

Ullrich: Yeah, this isn't anything like that. Um... Tegen and I wanted to... well...

Wendy: (gently) It must be pretty important. You even put on a shirt. (smile)

Ullrich: Yeah... Tegen suggested dressing up a little bit. I said it probably wouldn't matter. Anyway, look...

Ullrich: Tegen and I wanted to ask you about bringing someone else into the house. My sister, Lorelei...
Wendy: Of course, Ullrich!

Ullrich: Well, it's a little complicated. Tegen says Lore is going to need some special help when she gets here and that you should know her history before you agree to anything... (sigh) Okay, so when I was a kid...

Ullrich: ... we lived on a farm. Mom, Dad, me and my little sister. Just the four of us, and a dog, some chickens, that kind of thing. It was nice. My parents weren't wealthy, but we did okay. Or, at least I thought we were doing okay.

Ullrich: When I was 13, the crops failed. We might have been okay, but we discovered dad had not only spent all the savings but that he'd run up some serious gambling debts too, and we ended up falling way behind on the mortgage. It was bad. Bad enough, that in the province where we lived, the landlord was entitled to kill my dad, for the debt.

Ullrich: In an act of "kindness" the landlord said that he would not kill my dad, but instead was willing to take one of us kids in payment. Figuring that a boy child would carry on the family name, my parents gave him my sister, Lorelei, and we moved away shortly after that.

Ullrich: I managed to keep track of where she was for a while, though obviously I couldn't have any communication with her. I lost her for a while, but I recently found out where she is again, and they're willing to sell her.

Ullrich: Well, not to me. Tegen said the kind of house she's in would be less likely to sell her to a family member, so she's done all the negotiating. I guess they think she wants her as some kind of maid servant or something. With all the odd jobs I've been doing for Emi around the house, I've put together enough money to buy her back.

Wendy: Ullrich, you only needed to tell me. I would've bought her back for you.

Ullrich: I know you would have, but I didn't want... I didn't want to just trade owners for her, I wanted her to be FREE.

Wendy: (nodding) I understand.

Ullrich: So Tegen says that Lore is going to need to be kept away from everyone for a while, while she settles in. Whatever that means. I don't think it's going to be a problem, but Tegen wants to keep her in the guest room away from everyone, including you and Trygve. I guess she's never been around humans before...

Wendy: Okay. Whatever you guys need. Just let me know. But she is absolutely 100% welcome here, Ullrich. And we'll do whatever we need to to get her all settled in. I'm really glad you found her again.

Ullrich: Me too. (smile) Thanks. And I'll let you know when she's expected to arrive... uh, I guess so we can make sure you don't answer the door or anything. It's all kind of weird.

Wendy: It's okay. Of course it's weird. It is the Treehouse, afterall. :)

Typical Treehouse Day

Wendy: Hey Emi! Good morning! What's the schedule for today?

Emi: Good morning, Wendy. So far, you have an appointment with Ullrich in the music room at 10:30. Then, when Gage is done with his conference call with his agent, he will be having lunch with you and your parents, and then you're all taking a trip to the train museum at noon.

Wendy: You're handling Gage's appointments too?

Emi: Someone had to. Poor bunny is nearly as disorganized as you are.

Wendy: Harumph. An appointment with just Ullrich? Not Tegen? That's rather odd.

Emi: Tegen is teaching this morning, and then will be spending her afternoon keeping an eye on our police friends while they question her students. (shrug) Ullrich said it was a matter of great importance and he needed to see you right away.

Wendy: Hmm... I wonder what that means?

Emi: OTHER than that you're about to be late? I don't know.

Wendy: GAH!! (running to appointment with Ullrich)

Feed the Birds...

Saoirse: So I think it should go right up there, and the other one can go over there.

Andara: But the book said they shouldn't be too close to the door or it'll scare them.

Wendy: Hey you guys, whatcha doin'?

Saoirse: Hi Wendy! We're setting up birdfeeders!

Wendy: Uh... really? 'Cause I don't think there...

Saoirse: See? We got this one that looks just like yours! So I hope the birds will like it as much as they like the one you have. Neat, hu?

Wendy: It is neat, Saoirse, but I've never seen a...

Saoirse: And Andi got a book on how to attract birds, and we got some of their favorite flavored bird seed.

Andara: Yep, this is the kind the book said to get to attract LOTS of birds!

Wendy: But you guys, I don't think there ARE any...

Andara: And Xylia made a birdfeeder all by herself, just for us to put up here!

Xylia: Aww, it wasn't hard.

Saoirse: So I can't WAIT until the birds start coming. The book said it could take a few days for them to figure out there's food here, but we'll just keep an eye out and I'm sure they'll come!

Andara: So, Wendy, what was it you were saying about you "didn't think there were any..." what?

Wendy: Uh... (looking at eager, happy little, bird feeding pixies) uh... I didn't think there were any... REASONS, yeah! I didn't think there were any reasons for you not to put up birdfeeders! So back to it you guys! Good luck!

Saoirse: Thanks Wendy! We'll let you know how it goes! So, Andi what about putting them outside the upstairs windows? Would that work?

Andara: Well, I was thinking we could hang one off the tree, and maybe one over there...

Wendy: (to self) Awww... their little hearts are going to be broken. I don't think there ARE any birds small enough to eat from their feeders. Oh, the poor little things.

House Keeping

Miranda: Hey, Taelyn.

Taelyn: Hey Miri! What are you doing here?

Miranda: There was a puppy delivery for you, and while we were here, Vee got all inspired to clean.

Taelyn: Uh-oh. Oh, well, Syrinx gave me this letter for you. She said it came today.

Miranda: Nothing good ever came out of a letter Syrinx wanted me to have. (sigh)

Devika: TAELYN! This house is a DISASTER! How do you think you're going to raise a new puppy in...

Taelyn: I'm a working man now, Vee! I come home from a long day on the construction site, and I don't have time for this "women's work".

Devika: "WOMEN'S WORK"? Oh, I will show YOU "women's work" you little...

Miranda: Oh no...

Devika: Miri? What's wrong?

Taelyn: It was a letter Syrinx wanted her to have.

Devika: Oh... Miri, what does it say?

Miranda: It says that nature clearly abhors a vacuum.

Taelyn: Vee, what does "abhors" mean?

Devika: Um... "really dislikes" or "can't stand".

Taelyn: Oh... awww.....

Miranda: So apparently one of my freaky family leaves and must be replaced by another. My brother is coming.

Devika: Brother? I didn't know you had a brother.

Miranda: I had hoped you would never have to meet him, Vee...

Taelyn: It's okay little vacuum... I still like you, even if nature hates you.

Devika: It's that awful, Miri?

Miranda: Well, I guess there's one in every family...

Devika: Oh, horse thief?

Miranda: Nah, that's Uncle Jess.

Devika: Um.. bank robber?

Miranda: Are you kidding, that's Aunt Millie!

Devika: Gambler?

Miranda: No... that was cousin Freddie... no, my brother Sebastian... (deep breath) Sebastian is....

Miranda: ... a nerd.

Devika: GASP! OH Miri!! I am so sorry.

Miranda: Yes... so you see....

Devika: Oh Miri... how did a family that produced you and Ariel ever end up with a.... a....

Miranda: No one knows... oh, Mom and Dad were always proud of him. He was always inventing weird stuff. But me and Ariel... we.... hey.

Miranda: Hey Taelyn, where IS my beloved sister?

Taelyn: I don't know anything about your "beloved" sister, but Ariel told me the night of the portrait that she had to go out of town to take care of your Uncle Tex. I guess he's real sick.

Devika: Awww, Miri. I wonder why YOU weren't called to help take care of him?

Miranda: Hmm, could have something to do with the fact that we don't HAVE an Uncle Tex.

Devika: Oh! Well then, I wonder where she went?

Miranda: Dunno... the cops show up... Ariel mysteriously dissapears to take care of a sick uncle we don't have. Hmmm.

Little Pitchers, Little Lies

Nessa: Hey, you're home early. Second week of class and Tegen is already giving you half days?

Lenore: No, it wasn't her idea really.

Lenore: Mr. Azrael and Miss Jade are interviewing half of the students this afternoon and the other half tomorrow afternoon. I'm in the tomorrow half.

Nessa: Oh, I don't like the sound of that at ALL.

Lenore: No, neither does Miss Tegen. She fought with Mr. Azrael, but Miss Emi said there's nothing she can do, and they can interview anyone they want, because they're the law.

Nessa: They can't think you children know anything about the murder, though?

Lenore: That's what Miss Tegen said, and Mr. Azrael said something about little pitchers having big ears.

Nessa: Oh, I don't like the sound of this at all, Little Wren. Not one bit.

Lenore: Well, Ama, Miss Tegen is staying with all of the students while they're interviewed. She said she wouldn't have them bullying her defenseless students.

Nessa: Good for Tegen!What did they say to that?

Lenore: Jade suggested she'd watched too many police dramas, but they did agree to let her stay for the interviews. And, honestly Ama, mightn't we know SOMETHING about, well... not the murder... but about the break-in?

Nessa: Of course not! Or... what do you mean, Wren?

Lenore: The night of the break-in was the night Marius left, Ama...

Nessa: Oh Gods, I saw him with a briefcase on the stairs! It didn't SEEM like something he would carry. Oh! That thieving rat! I KNEW we never should've let him in this house. I TOLD Thorne nothing good could come of it.

Lenore: But we can't talk about him, Ama... you said, if his people knew he was ever here... and now he's flown away, so...

Nessa: So... oh, Little Wren. So, you can't tell Azrael and Jade about him.

Lenore: So I have to lie, Ama.

Nessa: Oh Wren, yes. I guess you do. They can't know he was here. It will endanger everyone if they find out. Sometimes, Wren, you HAVE to lie because the truth is too dangerous, or sometimes too upsetting.... Wren, you DON'T know where he is now, do you?

Lenore: (quietly) No, Ama, I don't know where he is now.

Nessa: Oh, thank goodness. Well, the break-in couldn't be related to the murder, because Marius was gone when it happened. So anything we could tell them wouldn't help anyway, right, Wren?

Lenore: Right, Ama.

Nessa: Well, once the police are satisfied that no one in this house knows anything, and they've left, this whole Marius mess will be behind us. (deep sigh)

Nessa: I'm sorry that I have to leave, Wren. I thought you'd be in school this afternoon, so I scheduled to give Wendy her first piano lesson today.

Lenore: It's okay, Ama. I can play with Spot and practice my violin while you're away.

Nessa: Good girl. You might give a thought to cleaning your room too.

Lenore: Yes, Ama. (smile)

(sounds of Nessa leaving... Lenore is alone in the house, with Spot and her thoughts)

Lenore: I didn't want to lie to her, Spot. But it was just like she said. She would be so upset if she knew... Lies are confusing things, Spot. Sometimes they're okay, and sometimes they're not, but that isn't what I've ever read before. Alice didn't ever lie in Wonderland, I don't think. (sigh) But I suppose it is the way things must be.

Lenore: And now I think we have to write to Hawk and tell him what's going on here, Spot. And figure out how to forget he was here for the interview tomorrow. (sigh) It is all rather tricky, Spot. You're lucky you're just a fox and you don't have to worry about lies and such things.