Klaus knocked back onto the sofa, sweating profusely. "Duncan's dad, is...is this much training really necessary?" Quinten wiped his brow. "I should think so, Klaus. Now they have Cassie on their side it'll be a lot harder. Why don't we go downstairs to the ice-cream parlour? I hear Lemony's gotten Sunny a part-time thing there! It'll be nice to talk to her, what do you think?"

"What? Vi?"

Beatrice nodded. "Sunny, it's true, sweetie. And Isadora as well. And-" Lemont ran into the room and grabbed Karen and Duncan by the wrists. "Wha-slow down, Lem! What's the problem?" A crazed look hung in his eyes. "Isa-, she's escaped."

That was all they needed to hear.

Isadora-bloodied, scratched, but alive-flung herself into Klaus's arms and sobbed. "Violet-, they have Violet. and C-Cassie-" She continued hugging everyone. Sunny wrapped her arms around her legs. "What did they do to Violet?" Duncan, Beatrice and Bertrand asked, then looked at each other incredulously. "Okay...continue, Isadora." Isadora drew in a trembling breath. "Tortured, beaten and bruised, Quigley and Cass are enthused. Cassie kept a secret, hoping no one would hear it. But I did." Karen leaned in further. "What secret, darling?" Isadora stood up and turned to face the window so no one could see the hatred for Cassie clouding on her face. "There's another Quagmire."

"Who?"

Isadora turned. "The Quagmire's my niece."

"WHO?"

"Val Quagmire." Quinten pulled back. "Who? No Quagmire is named Val." Isadora pulled out a photo. "Well, this fell out of Cassie's pocket."

Quinten fingered the photograph. "How old is she?" Isadora thought for a moment. "Ten, I believe. Incredibly kindhearted, innocent and sweet. Her mother turned her to the wrong side. She's actually the one who helped me escape." Duncan turned the photo over. "There's something written here."

And so it was.

"Someday I'll tell him. Or he'll find out himself." Sunny read the text. Karen nodded. "This is definitely Cassie's handwriting. But what does it mean? Bertrand?" The Baudelaire father sat thinking. Born with a knack for decoding items, he was trained to do so. "I've got it!" They turned to face him. "It means that one of them-Quigley or Duncan-is...."

Duncan pressed forward. "What?"

"A parent."

Karen and Quinten leaned back in their chairs. "What do you mean?" Beatrice took Duncan's hand. "What he's saying is that Val Quagmire is either Quigley's daughter or yours." Isadora nodded. "Correct. Though, if I might add, I think that she's Duncan's." She trailed her finger all over the paper. "You see, everything-her hair, her skin, eyebrows, everything looks like Duncan's. Especially her character and mannerisms. Except for the eyes. Those are Cassie's."

"We have to find her."

Everyone nodded. Klaus nudged Isadora. "Should we leave?"

Minutes later, the two shared a passionate kiss under the stars. "That felt good." Isadora whispered, and laid her head on his shoulder. Klaus hugged her and they both let themselves melt into the warmth of the other. "I'm just happy you're back. I know this is kinda bad timing now, but will you be my girlfriend?" Isadora quickly kissed his cheek. "Why not?" The door swung open and they froze. Karen squealed. "I KNEW IT! I always shipped you two, you know. It's kinda obvious."

They announced their dating status with the family, who congratulated them both. "Okay, tomorrow we will rescue Violet. Or, she will be rescued by Val."