The Hollywood Mission by Deborah Abela Page B

Baron Von Jenkins, what do you have to say for yourself?’
    The Baron adjusted his monocle and straightened his gold-embroidered waistcoat as the wind outside his ancient castle headquarters blew softly against them.
    â€˜That I’m innocent and have been set up.’
    Max laughed as she snapped a pair of handcuffs around Von Jenkins’s wrists. ‘Set up? Come on, now. You’re one of the most evilly cunning people in the world, how would you let yourself be set up?’
    â€˜You laugh now, Ms Remy, but even the most clever of us sometimes find we haven’t been clever enough.’
    This was unlike Von Jenkins. Max felt herself starting to believe him and was furious that he would try to fool her. It had taken her a long time to track down his hideout and she wasn’t about to let him get away now.
    â€˜I’ve had enough talk.’ She placed a chainaround his ankles and waited for the Invisible Jet to arrive that would transport them both to Spyforce HQ. ‘I suggest instead of talking you enjoy your last moments of freedom, because when we’re done with you, you’ll be going to prison for a very long time.
    â€˜Wait!’
    Max turned to see agent Linden Franklin climbing the rocky cliff behind her.
    â€˜We were wrong. The Baron was set up. He’s really a good guy.’
    Max baulked. Could this be true? Could the Baron really be innocent? She stared at his cool stance as a sinister smile rose up his face. Had she really let herself be duped? Was she

    The plane jolted in the air. Max grabbed the armrest so tightly she expected there’d be finger indentations if she ever decided to let go. Her father reached over, slowly prised her fingers away, and held her hand.
    â€˜Look out there.’ He nodded at the window next to Max. ‘It’s beautiful, isn’t it?’
    Outside were snow-covered mountainsjumbled together like giant tenpins in some freakishly big bowling alley. The sun sluiced over the landscape in a blinding glow as the plane dipped its wings and began a wide sweeping arc towards the runway.
    â€˜This part might be a bit bumpy but the guy at the front’s been flying these planes longer than you’ve been alive.’
    Max’s dad had the kind of voice that made you feel calm. That people paid attention to. At the studio, his directions were always given in a relaxed, gentle way and everyone listened and did what he said.
    Max smiled and looked at Linden who was staring out his window and chatting with Mee Lin. She thought back to the night before. She felt bad about what had happened with Toby, and even though Linden hadn’t said anything, she could tell he thought she’d overdone it.
    After a few more bumpy turns and silent mini freak-outs from Max, the plane touched down. They stepped onto the tarmac and the cold wind hit their faces as if they’d been slapped with frozen towels. Max pulled her jacket around her as they made their way to a swish car.
    â€˜How many of these cars does your dad have?’Linden asked as they stepped into a warm interior the size of a small lounge room.
    â€˜Not sure,’ Max answered, happy that Linden was still talking to her.
    The car made its way up a snaking mountain path, past snow-filled trees and frozen waterfalls. A white blanket of powdered snow covered everything and when they reached their hotel, there were cosy fireplaces, thick fluffy rugs and as many hot chocolates as they could drink. Their rooms were the size of a small street and when Max pulled aside her curtain, the shiny white slope of one of the tenpins swooped in front of her like her own private ski run.
    â€˜Mee Lin has something for you both,’ Max’s dad announced. Mee Lin handed two sets of snow clothes to Linden and Max.
    â€˜I hope you like them.’
    Linden held out aqua blue pants with a white stripe on the side and a straight cut jacket with a waving white stripe across his chest.