Nikki Tesla and the Fellowship of the Bling by Jess Keating

Author:Jess Keating
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

I jumped to my feet, pointing an accusing finger at the screen. In an instant, all the doubts I’d had about my father rose up in my throat.

“You see?!” I shouted. “He is in on it!

Grace’s eyes were fierce, but she didn’t make a move. The others shifted in their chairs, waiting for her to respond. Meanwhile, I was eyeballing the door, ready to make a run for it.

Dad set the remote down. “I know how it looks,” he explained. “But you’re going to have to trust me here. I was the one who arranged for you to be here today, to break into my vault and steal the ring.”

Instantly, my thoughts shot back to the cave. It had been programmed to respond to the sound of my voice. And that Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland connection … How had he known I would remember him reading me that story?

“Why?” Grace’s voice dropped and her knuckles turned white as she gripped the side of her chair. She kept sneaking glances at Mary on the screen. “Why try to kill us?”

“I wasn’t trying to kill anyone. If I’d truly wanted any of you dead, I’ve had several chances.”

A quiet murmur circled the room as the others reluctantly conceded the point. I wasn’t so sure though. Dad was unpredictable.

He let that settle over us before continuing. “I had to see if my assumptions about you all were correct,” he said. “I’ve been following Nikki for years. From a distance, of course. I observed her strengths and her passions. And when she joined Genius Academy, I was happy to see she’d found some friends who would understand her.”

I glared at him. “So getting us to steal the ring was a test? One you concocted because you decided you wanted to have me in your life again, out of nowhere.”

“It’s been so hard watching from the sidelines,” he said. “I’ve seen you grow up without me, followed your progress at every school you attended or tutor you worked with. I know that I’ve caused you more trouble than I could ever apologize for. But it’s time, Nikki. Time for us to mend what’s broken between us.”

Everybody else remained silent.

“And why’s that, huh?” I demanded. My hands began to shake with anger. Pickles scurried down to them, checking my fingers. Poor thing probably thought I was turning into a ferret again. But this? There was no science involved at all.

Just anger.

“The man who kidnapped your friend wants that ring for himself,” Dad said. “And I need your help to stop him. I have a plan.” He lifted his head with a hint of pride. “But it’s going to take each of you for it to work.”

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