AFTER RETURNING FROM THE CARWASH, Inspector Caroline Walker bought 2 boxes of pizza at 'Uncle Gino's' on her way back. She entered the front door...and saw blank eyes staring at her, an odd silence...

"Where is Peter?"

Inspector-mother exclaimed, looking straight at Paul, as she DEMANDED TO KNOW ABOUT HES TWIN. Her cripple son was speechless, his Adam's apple gulped-hard. Even Ms King was tongue-tied quiet...

... then, the blind Jane Wilson replied back.

"Hi Mrs Wilson – we just finished our session a minute ago, and Peter went to his room. He said to me HE IS BORED, and would rather watch Netflix instead."

Paul noticed Jane had just lied, effortlessly to COVERUP FOR Peter.

"Okay kids, let's eat."

... Caroline then said – walking away to the kitchen, with the 2 boxes of pizza. The 3 tweens followed her.

The Inspector-mother placed an open box on the kitchen table and dropped the other at the marble-top counter. She took the brewed coffee pot and pastries and left the kitchen to be with Ms King, in the living room.

Paul bad-mouthed...

"That egoistic and arrogant twin-brother of mine – he is so bloody self-centred and selfish! He gets BAD-THINGS DONE, at the expense of others."

... Paul sighed deep-frustrated.

The girls listened in silence. Jane was quiet and was THINKING HARD, 'WATCHING' the-emotional-Paul... glowing purple.

<>

PETER WAS ALONE, in his bed.

He was TRYING HARD TO PROCESS 'what' went on downstairs, just minutes ago – especially, of 'what' he'd just now had seen of – THIS SEEIN...

... the green, and tall old-entity monk projection...

... after he dabbled, with the credible knowledge, of-insight of Jane's SIMY lately, he wanted to 'sum-up' his belief... that it was just another, genius Made-in-China technology, that projected a 3D hologram image of 'virtual-reality' – that was beamed through, Ms King's contact lenses, that she wore...

... that 'cunning' con-woman had also-admitted earlier, that she had studied medieval Middle Eastern occults, in some half-baked university – now, she used 'those' narratives... as her storytelling by pulling off, a smoke and mirror 'scam,' TO DECEIVE STUDENTS whom she counselled.

It was just a masterminded ploy, to make Stamford High students 'TO-BE' DOCILE and submissive to her work as a counsellor – by manipulating the tech, to GIVE MORAL-LESSONS...

'The be-good-bla-bla-bla bullshit.'

Peter singled out Principle Harris, to be 'BEHIND' THE CON – as the 'main' mastermind, who employed Ms King, to execute his manipulative-scammed plans.

The one-armed boy was now breathing easy – and WAS 'NOT' AFRAID of any adults' illusion trickery. He wanted to play it 'cool,' to find out where this 'ploy' was leading to – and later unravel the mystery behind it, by pulling the wool-out of his inspector-mother's eyes, to 'SEE' THE SCAM...

... and make her trust, and 'believe' in him more.

He then heard Caroline Walker's voice, calling him from downstairs...

"Peter, come out here, now and eat your pizza."

"Okay, Mom."

Peter smiled to himself – it ALL MADE 'SENSE,' to him now.

<>

JANE WAS WASHING HER HANDS, away in the sink. Paul and Alicia were seated at the table, with empty plates, and an open box of a pepperoni-pizza with 4-cheeses, in the middle.

Caroline had stepped out from the kitchen to the living room, to have coffee and pastries with Ms King. The 60 inched television, was switched 'on,' with the local news.

Back in the IKEA kitchen, Alicia looked over at Jane washing her hands... and she went and grabbed Paul's hand – and whispered...

"... looks like Janey had made her 'own' choice, of being 'interested' in-Peter – Pauly-you BACK OFF, AND DON'T rock the boat...okay...?"

... Paul 'finally' understood the unfavourable 'situation,' and nodded back slowly, with heavy-heart.

<>

PETER STEPPED OUT OF HIS BEDROOM – and walked downstairs. Below, in the living room, his mother was in conversation with Ms King – they both hushed-up when they saw the one-armed boy descending the stairs. Peter did 'not' make eye contact.

He walked into the kitchen, and he noticed the 3 tweens eating pizza at the table. Jane saw the 'red' glow coming – and acknowledged in excitement.

"Hi, Champ! Glad you came."

... Peter coolly took the extra box of pizza, from the kitchen counter, and he left, 'without' saying a word. Both Alicia and Paul saw THE DISAPPOINTMENT, in the blind girl's 'face.'

Back in the living room, Caroline saw her son walking out, with a box of pizza.

"Hey Peter, where are you going?"

"Back to my room."

"Your friends are here – you sit here, and eat your pizza with them."

"Nah, they are POE'S FRIENDS – 'not' mine."

Before his mother could make any further argument, they heard a Toyota horn outside – it was Lily Wang, who came to collect the girls back. Peter was already, on his way upstairs.

The girls left the kitchen, and were on their way out with Paul behind, lagging on his wheelchair, wanting to send them off. All 3 of them halted – by THE BREAKING NEWS, on the big television screen...

Apparently... a black panther had escaped from its enclosure in the South Perth Zoo – and a MASSIVE HUNT was in progress, to capture the wild-cat – and there was a high alert, for nearby residents to stay indoors.

... Paul joked when he saw that. "T'Challa is on the loose where would he head to – Wakanda...?

In the living room, Ms King too excused herself, joking herself out, that baked pastries were her past addiction, that she was 'now' overweight. Caroline Walker laughed after receiving a compliment, that she had slim and athletic figure-fitting for the police-work, that she does.

Smiling, Ms King then whispered in a low tone, seeing the tweens at the front door. "Caroline, he is having 'TRUST' ISSUES with adults. So, let's cut some slack, and let him enjoy his holiday for now – but come 'next' term, I will BE ON HIS-TAIL, with the cooperation's with some of his class-teachers."

"Thank you so much, Diane for the longest moment, I JUST 'LOST' IT with him."

The student counsellor walked to the front door she passed-by Paul, saying his goodbyes to the girls, who were heading to the main gate. Paul thanked Ms King for coming-by.

Ms King caught-up with them, walking to Toyota.

"Jane, Alicia – call me if there is anything, 'here' is my card."

Alicia reached out and took the contact card – but Ms King held and 'pressed' the card into Alicia's palm. Surprised... Alicia noticed the odd action, holding a crushed card.

The Chinese girl looked at the crumpled card, in her palm – it had a handwritten message...

We should talk alone.

Alicia nodded back to THE 'SECRET' MESSAGE – then seeing...

... Ms King walking away, to her Volvo.