The best way Albert could describe the next half an hour was a calculated scramble. Harriet, Marie’s dad, and Nik were in charge of the actual kidnapping of Mrs. Germain. They discussed strategies and the best ways to beat the security the ultra rich part of town would have. Billy and Sophie stood in their own separate corner, with Billy giving Sophie a crash course on her mother’s psychology. They were also testing out the earpiece and walkie talkie to make sure Sophie wouldn’t be in there alone. Poe was listening to them, giving his quiet feedback every so often. Charles, Albert, and Tom were going over the camera they would use in the shed to make sure it worked.

Eventually their conversations turned quiet as Charles retrieved his car. He was the only one who could afford one, and with everything they needed to transport, it was vital they used it. Tom remained behind, since he was still healing. And it was probably good he wasn’t going to be around Nik.

Billy and Sophie never stopped talking among each other. Another wave of adrenaline kept Albert’s exhaustion at bay. They had an insane plan, and if it was anyone other than Billy, he would be certain it would fail.

They parked by where the hobos lived. They didn’t want to get too close. The cool summer night was comfortable enough as the group followed Harriet toward the Germain’s house. She slyly stuck gum on a video camera before she helped everyone over the fence that separated the ultra rich from everyone else. Charles knew their address from work, and Harriet knew exactly where to go. They approached an elaborate house, complete with a fully fenced back yard. As they got closer, Harriet talked quietly with Nick and Marie’s dad, pointing out some things on the physical house. Billy was still talking to Sophie, who was looking pale and terrified.

“Harriet, can you get us in the backyard?” Charles asked.

“Piece of cake,” Harriet said. “Hoist me over.”

The group moved to the fence. Nik and Marie’s dad picked Harriet up and she nimbly crossed the fence. It was a dark night, but there were street lamps everywhere. Charles opened up his laptop, starting it up.

Harriet opened the fence door, and they moved into the backyard.

“It’s insane people have this kind of money,” Albert mumbled.

Charles left for the shed to set up a small camera, checking to make sure they got the feed on the laptop. The wires at least were long enough they could all stay a safe distance away from the shed. “We’ll keep an eye on you,” Charles said to Sophie as he set it up. “We’ll know what she’s saying.”

Sophie nodded, still too frightened to talk as Billy continued to whisper things in her ear.

“Come on, Vlad and Nik,” Harriet said as she popped more gum in her mouth. “We have an official to kidnap.”

The three of them headed for the back door. Harriet pulled out a bobby pin. Albert watched, curious, as Harriet picked the lock. Honestly, she couldn’t have gotten the door open faster with a key. He raised an eyebrow, impressed, as the three slipped inside the house.

Albert helped set up the camera as Charles continued to type some things. Billy was on the outside of the shed, testing the earpiece. Charles was quiet, his lips thin as he tapped in the computer, checking his watch every so often then glancing out the shed door to the back of the house.

Albert saw the flashlights coming back out the door. “They’re coming.” Charles grabbed his laptop and the two of them left the shed. Sophie combed through her blonde hair with her fingers, a sad, far away look in her eyes.

Harriet came out of the house, followed closely by Nik and Marie’s dad. They were holding Mrs. Germain between them. There was a pillowcase over her head. It was then that the full brunt of the situation fell upon Albert. If something went wrong, there would be no coming back from this.

Nik placed Mrs. Germain in a chair and began tying her hands behind her back. Billy peeked his head inside and gave Sophie a thumbs up before he joined the others. Charles was breathing deeply, rubbing one of his temples over and over again as he stared at the laptop. They moved far enough from the shed that they could talk quietly, but no one seemed interested in doing much else besides stare at the screen.

“Did everything go okay?” Charles asked, barely a whisper, as Marie’s dad joined their group.

“It was a bit of a struggle when we got the pillowcase over her, but as soon as Nik said Sophie wanted to talk to her, she stopped struggling,” Marie’s dad said.

“Did it wake Mr. Germain up?” Charles asked, glancing fearfully at the house.

Marie’s dad shook his head. “They’re sleeping in separate rooms. Billy might be right. Their marriage might be on the rocks.”

Billy nodded as though not surprised.

“Oh, this whole plan is contingent on Billy being right about things,” Charles said.

“I’m quite confident in Sophie’s abilities,” Billy said.

Albert watched on the screen as Nik finished tying Mrs. Germain to the chair. He left the chip blocker on the small card table. He patted Sophie on the back before leaving the shed and closing it quietly.

Sophie reached out and pulled the pillowcase off Mrs. Germain’s head. Mrs. Germain was glaring at Sophie. Then inextricably a tear fell out of her eyes. Albert winced before glancing at Billy. Billy didn’t seem disturbed by this revelation.

“Sophie, what have you done?” Mrs. Germain said.

Billy took this in and lifted the walkie-talkie to his mouth. “Emotional manipulation. She’s going to try and blame all this on you. Stop it now before it can take hold.”

Sophie dropped the pillowcase and folded her arms. “Oh, stop it, mom. I’m not falling for it.”

“Falling for what?” Mrs. Germain’s eyes fell on the earpiece in Sophie’s ear. “Who are you talking to? I’m not talking to you with that thing in. You allowed those horrible men to come into my room and kidnap me! Sophie, please. Take it out.”

“Yeah, don’t do that, Sophie. Mrs. Germain is laying on the guilt here. Cut through the emotion and get your point across,” Billy said.

“Stop it, mom. Stop trying to emotionally manipulate me. You’re not getting any answers from me,” Sophie said.

Mrs. Germain began sobbing. “Emotional…. What? You’re not making any sense! I am absolutely thrilled to see you! When I heard the underground kidnapped you, I was heartbroken.”

“What? No, they didn’t-”

“Don’t play into her fantasy,” Billy said.

Mrs. Germain continued to sob, and Albert winced. “Is this some ploy to wake up Mr. Germain?” Albert asked.

“He’s sleeping on the other side of the house,” Nik whispered, glancing at the mansion beside them. “She’d have to start screaming pretty loud to wake him up.”

“They took my only child from me. They’ve turned you against me. They’ve filled your vulnerable mind with lies about me,” Mrs. Germain said.

“No they didn’t,” Sophie snapped. “You and dad knew exactly where I was the entire time, and you never came for me. You left me out there to live as a hobo. You didn’t care at all.”

“How can you say that!” The tears kept coming. Albert was honestly super impressed and absolutely terrified at this woman’s ability to act. “How can you say I didn’t care! I did! I wanted you home!” Mrs. Germain looked around the room. “I don’t understand. Why aren’t I singing? Have you removed my chip, too? Unauthorized removal of my chip will land you in prison!”

“Oh, she was trying to get herself to sing,” Albert said.

“Use that. Cut her power,” Charles said.

“I did nothing of the sort. Everything I did was completely legal,” Sophie said.

“Kidnap your mother? You honestly think you’re free of guilt from that?” Mrs. Germain asked. Mrs. Germain was in a tanktop and shorts, tied to a chair, with tears glistening off her cheeks, and she was still the most powerful person in that shed.

To her credit, Sophie didn’t look too intimidated. “Yes. Kidnapped the woman who allowed my memories to be wiped so she could have a shell of myself to fill with whatever she wanted. I say we’re both guilty of serious crimes.”

Mrs. Germain gasped in shock. “What? You think I did this?”

“Yes, you did,” Sophie said.

Another fresh wave of tears fell down her cheeks. “Sophie.” Her voice was cracking. Albert shuddered at the absolute genius level acting that was going into this. If he didn’t know any better, he would have started to doubt himself too. “How could I?” Her voice was a whisper, yet it still made Albert double check his knowledge.

Sophie’s eyes got dark. “Fine. Then you wouldn’t mind getting me the syrophil to return my memories.”

“Sophie, dear, I would if I could, but President Arnold would never allow it. He’s the one that wiped your memories,” Mrs. Germain said.

“That’s a weak excuse, and you know it,” Sophie said. “If you really did love me like you claim, you would have given me the syrophil months ago.”

“You think it’s that easy? President Arnold would wipe my own memories if I so much as attempted to move anything from the lab,” Mrs. Germain said.

“Seems like a small price to pay for a love as deep as yours. To make sure things are right with your daughter,” Sophie said.

“Okay, you’re right,” Mrs. Germain said with another bout of tears. “Let’s go.”

“Do not, under any circumstances, untie your mother,” Billy said. “She’s going to turn you in the second she’s free.”

Sophie folded her arms. “Not doing it, mom. I’m not going to let you turn me over to President Arnold.”

Albert watched, horrified, as the once sympathetic and terrified face of Mrs. Germain turned unreadable. The tears turned off, and the frightened look turned frozen. Then it turned dark.

“Okay, good job, Sophie. You won this round,” Billy said quickly in the walkie talkie. “She’s changing tactics. Keep it up.”

“President Arnold is a good man,” Mrs. Germain said.

“How could you possibly believe that after he suppressed my memories?” Sophie asked.

“We warned you. Over and over, we told you to stop. This is the natural consequence of studying math.”

“Is it?” Sophie asked, laying on the sarcasm. “Or is it the consequences of being someone a horrible dictator doesn’t want you to be?”

Mrs. Germain’s nostrils flared. There were still the remnants of fallen tears on her cheeks, but Mrs. Germain looked as though she’d never shed a tear that didn’t give her the leverage she needed. Charles began to squirm in his spot, glancing at Billy, then glancing at his watch.

“Just get us the syrophil and we’ll be on our way.”

Mrs. Germain let out a laugh. “And lose my job in the process?”

“Seems like a small matter to right this wrong, when you think about it,” Sophie said.

“No. I won’t risk it,” Mrs. Germain said.

Sophie glared, her chest heaving. “So you really would rather have your job than your daughter?”

Billy gave a soft groan. “Don’t get angry. Calm and cool. Calm and cool.”

Sophie looked like she tried to listen to Billy, but there was a lot of anger in her. Mrs. Germain struggled against the ropes holding her down. “No, I’m just being practical. If I give you the syrophil, you will remember how much you hate me, and I’ll lose both my job and my daughter. Everything. It’s not worth it.”

Billy cocked an eyebrow, muttering something to himself. Albert’s fingers kept drumming on his arms, and he was fighting the urge to start pacing.

Sophie stared at her mother. “I can’t believe you. I can’t believe you’ve gotten to where you are by being safe and not taking risks.”

“I am where I am because I know which risks are worth it,” Mrs. Germain said.

Sophie’s stare turned into a glare. “And I’m not a worthy, calculated risk? Seems pretty cold and scientific if you ask me.”

Mrs. Germain rolled her eyes. “Sophie dear, why do you always insist on science being the center of everything?”

That seemed to hit a nerve. “Science? As in the basic needs of a child? I thought that was the humanities side! You don’t think parents are supposed to put their children’s welfare first? Like maybe not messing with memories?”

“You got yourself into this, and now you are literally threatening me to get your way. If you had listened to us in the first place, if you had put math aside and studied something actually worthwhile to humanity at large, you wouldn’t be in this mess,” Mrs. Germain said, her voice had a chilled anger laced to it.

Sophie’s voice was dangerous. “I’m starting to realize why my anger feels so familiar.”

Billy placed his face in his hand, mumbling something. It was almost two thirty. They felt farther away from the syrophil now than thirty minutes ago. This was not going well.

“Calm, Sophie. She’s getting you angry so you’ll lose your head and start saying something you shouldn’t. Stay calm.”

Sophie let out a breath and rubbed her forehead with her palm.

Mrs. Germain straightened, shifting around. “Now then, Sophie, what’s the real reason you’re here. You wouldn’t possibly risk all this to simply get your memories back.”

Sophie was still glaring at her mother. “Oh really? How about I wipe your memories and see how desperate you become to remember who you are.”

Mrs. Germain had the audacity to roll her eyes. “Sophie, you had the opportunity to kidnap me the moment the underground manipulated you to join them. Why didn’t you do this sooner?”

Sophie’s hands were balled into fists. “I’d say you know plenty about manipulating parties.”

“Sophie, calm,” Billy said.

“I can’t, alright?” Sophie snapped.

“Macbeth,” Billy swore. Mrs. Germain smirked as she raised an accusing eyebrow.

“Care to tell me who your special friends are that you’re talking to?” Mrs. Germain asked.

Sophie glared at her mother.

“Tell her it’s me,” Billy said.

Charles’ eyes widened. He snatched the walkie-talkie out of Billy’s hand. “No, Sophie. Don’t.”

Billy tried to grab it back, but Charles moved it away from Billy’s reach. “We have to call her bluff,” Billy said. “Mrs. Germain is gaining all the power, and if we call her out, if we say it’s just me, it will cut it.”

“Then you’ll have to go into hiding, too,” Charles said. “Do you understand? We’ll have to hide you until it’s safe.”

“Unless it works, and Mrs. Germain turns,” Billy said as he grabbed the walkie-talkie from Charles. “Repeat, Sophie. Say it’s me. Call her bluff.”

“I-” Sophie started to say. Mrs. Germain was practically beside herself.

“She’s not turning,” Charles hissed. “Anyone can see that.”

“Come on, Sophie. You know this is ridiculous. The underground is only using you. They only let you kidnap me because I am of use to them. They could have done this months ago, but they didn’t.”

“She’s making a leap. Shut her down,” Billy said.

“We’ve been planning this for months,” Sophie said. “It’s hard to kidnap an official like yourself.”

“No, no, tell the truth. In any opportunity you can, tell the truth,” Billy said.

Charles grabbed the walkie talkie from him. “Enough, Billy, this plan is getting out of hand.”

“I guess I should be flattered,” Mrs. Germain said.

“She’s trying to rattle us, too. We cannot bend. This is a psychological game for her, one she’s played often. But we can beat her,” Billy said.

“It isn’t working,” Charles said. “And now we’ll have to leave her tied up in there while we make our escape.”

Billy looked horrified. “We’re so close.”

Charles gave him a crazy look. “Are we?”

Billy paused, staring at Charles, studying something out in his mind. Charles stared right back, waiting for him to say something. In the end, Billy didn’t say a word. Instead he spun around and ran right for the shed.