It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations if you live near him.
~J.R.R. Tolkien
***
"How did you know all this?" Michelle asked after Luis had finished telling them the story.
"My great grandparents were natives of this land, so the story kind of got passed on until it reached me," Luis explained.
"But I thought you were Spanish?" Jeff asked, confused.
"Yeah, I am," Luis replied. "My great grandparents came from Spain to trade here, and they made their permanent home right in Middlewood. The family has since been marrying from other Spanish families from around."
"So where do you think the ghost hid the necklace?" Jeff asked the others, plunging them into deep thought.
Marcus was the first to answer, "I don't think there was even a ghost."
"Wait, you think what I just told you was a lie?" Luis cried out.
"Just think about it like this; what if the king and queen lost the necklace, and they didn't know who took it, so they decided to come up with a stupid story about a girl who wanted to take it but instead ended up dead. Let's just be honest, who has ever heard of a place called Alberia?" Marcus justified himself.
"Maybe the name was changed," Michelle suggested.
"But even if they formulated the story, why would they want to lie about a necklace being stolen?" Luis questioned Marcus' theory.
"Maybe it belonged to someone else?" Jeff half-asked.
"You do realise that we are basing our theories on nonfactual stories," Michelle told them.
They were interrupted by the sudden cough of someone behind them. They turned their heads to find William looking at them, his eyebrows raised. They all hurriedly and clumsily stood up, standing like soldiers at a parade.
"May I know why you are still in school this late?" William ordered.
"Sorry, sir. We were discussing a Biology project for... you know... the upcoming Science Fair," Marcus answered, speaking too fast he was barely audible.
"Well, I want to close the school. You can go home, I'm sure the project can wait till tomorrow," William told them. The four hastily grabbed their bags and stumbled their way to the exit and ran off upon making it out, leaving William confused.
As they walked home together, each was suggesting their own ideas to each other as they rejected the ones that made the least sense to them. Michelle finally came up with an idea.
"Hey, guys. Won't either the library or the museum have something about the necklace, or at least what really happened at that time?" She asked them.
"Oh my God! You're right Michelle. Why didn't we think of that before?" Marcus exclaimed, realisation dawning on his face.
"How about we all go to the museum on Saturday and then to the library on Sunday?" He continued.
"No. Both are usually closed on Sundays," Michelle countered.
"Why don't we split up then? You and Marcus can go to the museum while Jeff and I go to the public library," Luis suggested.
"Uhhh... that's nice, good, perfect!" Marcus fumbled, surprised that Luis had paired him with Michelle. He turned his eyes to her and then noticed that they were both staring at each other. They smiled at each other awkwardly and looked down, red-faced.
"That's a plan then?" Jeff asked, also excited that he'd get to spend a day with Luis.
"Yeah," Marcus replied. "We'll all meet at the the town square at ten in the morning then go our separate ways. Then on Sunday, we'll meet for a debrief at my house, since it's the least occupied."
They all nodded and walked away, chatting and laughing.
A grey saloon car had been following the four since they departed the school. It stopped after seeing the first one take a detour and enter his house. The man inside then took out his phone and dialled a number.
"Hello, there was no activity today. Seems like they weren't even there when it happened. So far the going is good, I can say."
"Good," the voice at the other end answered. "That's enough for today, but I still want you to keep an eye on them- for reassurance purposes. Report to me if there is anything."
"Yes sir," the man replied and ended the call. He then did a U-turn and then sped off, ready to continue his work the next day.