Fixit ran in.

"We've picked up a distress signal!"

Everyone stared at him, wide-eyed, mouths open. A small piece of toast dropped from Yiernoshi's wide-open mouth, to land on the tabletop with a soft splat.

Two seconds later, there was a frantic rush to get to the technical room. Victoria tripped over the chair, and knocked Christine down, in her hurry.

Christine stomped into the tech room grumpily, rubbing her head. She saw the rest crowded around a giant locator-like screen. A strong pulse was bleeping 20.4 east of the hideout.

Fixit pressed some keys desperately.

"The signal's getting weaker!"

The little red pulsing ring moved towards the east.

Until...

Fixit looked at the screen.

"It's gone! It stopped right at the Mangotree warehouse building."

"Hmm..."

Kah Yunn frowned thoughtfully.

"That signal frequency was awfully familiar...somehow, it reminds me of Claire..."

"But what would Claire be doing in an abandoned warehouse?"

"Beats me. It's just a hunch."

Sam sighed.

"It could have been a trap set up by enemies."

"Yeah..."

As they were all mulling this over in silence, Yiernoshi suddenly realised something.

"Where's Jeanine?"
-----
Running down the corridors, they finally reached Jeanine's room. Christine banged the door.

"Oi! Jeanine!"

No answer.

"Oi! Come out now, or I'll blast your door open!"

Still no answer.

Christine scowled, and was about to keep to her word and blast down the door, when Victoria pushed her aside, twisted the doorknob, and pushed.

It opened.

Yiernoshi ran in.

"She left a note!"

She brandished a piece of pink paper. Looking at it, she read it aloud.

"Dear everyone,

I'm going out for a while. Sorry to leave without prior notice, but I just heard that Gucci is having a sale, with up to 75% off. I just can't miss it, I really can't. Should be back around four.

Jeanine."

Christine smacked her forehead.

"Just the kind of thing she'd do."
-----
When this matter had been reported to Kah Yunn, Sam, and Fixit, Kah Yunn sighed.

"So reckless, really. I think that we should split into two groups. One group goes after Jeanine, the other follows the signal. What do you think, Yiernoshi?"

Yiernoshi looked surprised.

"Eh? Me?"

"Yes, you. Making decisions is the place of the boss. Duh."

"Then...I think...the signal and Jeanine, we'll go after each simountaneously. Victoria and Christine, go follow the signal. Kah Yunn and I will look for Jeanine."

They nodded.

"Let's go, then."
-----
Jeanine hid behind a lampost.

Geez! Those weird guys in black suits are everywhere, searching for me! I can't even go to my own house!

A hand reached over from behind, clamping firmly over her mouth.

"Don't scream."
-----
A figure in a heavy black jacket crouched down, looking at a tracking device on her wrist.

She pushed her spectacles up slightly.

"Hmm? Oh, this is just wonderful."

She grinned.

"When I bring back their heads, maybe I'll finally be respected..."