Keeping Fantasia: The Third Book of the Fantasia Series

Chapter 162: We...Talk...About Bruno

Chapter 162: We...Talk...About Bruno

"Don't think of this as an interrogation."

Agent Cobra Bubbles slapped electronic-key-cards before each member of the Madrigal family.

"Think of it," he continued, "As a conversation that will serve your king and country if you tell the truth, or result in a long, painful death if you lie."

He slapped the last key-card before Pepa Madrigal (Mirabel's aunt, and clearly the worry-wart of the group). As the card hit, a magical poof of rain smattered her ginger hair.

"Clear skies, mi vida." whispered her husband, Félix, lovingly wiping the raindrops. "Clear skies."

"But – " Pepa glanced skittishly at her mother, Alma Madrigal. "We don't talk about Bruno – "

"Nuff chit chat." Agent Bubbles motioned to a solid, steel door. "The cards grant you access to that interrogation room."

"I thought you said this wasn't an interrogation." said Mirabel.

"I said don't think of this as an interrogation. Anyway, the cards grant you access to the interrogation room. In there you will be questioned by Master Sergeant Jak Triton and the Lady Shadow Worker. The room is sound proof, bullet proof – "

"Bullet proof?" squeaked Pepa.

"—and equipped with a desk, chairs, and telephone. Everything is recorded for our analysts, so no funny business."

Camilo Madrigal raised his hand. "Is the room freaky dark with a single light hanging from the ceiling?"

"Yes," said Agent Bubbles. "It's unsettling."

"Legit. Is there a wall that looks like a wall, but is actually a two way mirror, so people on the other side can watch us during the interrogation."

"I thought he said this wasn't an interrogation!?" said Agustín Madrigal, Mirabel's father, his nose starting to bleed from stress. The blood magically receded as his wife, Julieta, took Tupperware from her purse and fed him an arepa. "Agent Bubbles, I'm very uncomfortable letting my children go in there alone!"

"They won't be alone." Agent Bubbles drew Mirabel to the door, and directed her inside. "They'll be with Master Sergeant Triton and the Lady Shadow Worker. Okay in you go. When one comes out, the next goes in. Move it people, we haven't got all day."

The door opened. The door closed. Mirabel disappeared.

"He didn't answer my question about the interrogation-wall." said Camilo.

"He said don't think of it as an interrogation!" yelled the family.

"Shhhh!" Alma scolded, speaking for the first time that morning. "Dolores, you have the gift of hearing. Can you hear inside?"

Dolores cocked her head. Frowning, she dug a finger in her ear. "Nothing, Abuela. I can't hear a thing. Sorry. It must be truly sound proof."

Ohhhh and it was truly sound proof. When King Arthur held an interrogation he didn't play around.

The interrogation room was fortified by more spells than a witches brew, including magical sound proofing. The only people who could hear the conversations were those on the opposite side of the interrogation wall -- which was a wall that looked like a wall, but was actually a two way mirror that gave a full display of the interrogation.