Broots sat in front of his computer like he usually did, trying to decipher Jarod's latest clue. He really didn't want to see Jarod get caught, but he would never voice that out loud where anyone could hear him. He had a daughter to raise, and he wanted to see her grow up. Naturally, thinking "traitorous" thoughts could definitely prevent that if anyone found out.
Broots rubbed his eyes wearily as he picked up the one item left at Jarod's last lair. It was a Dorothy doll from the Wizard of Oz. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary about the doll. She was wearing a basic yellow dress, and her brown hair was braided just like any other doll. A small green stone was hanging around her neck. Broots stared at the stone for a moment. He had researched the dolls earlier and hadn't thought about the necklace.
Broots again pulled up the pictures of the Dorothy dolls that could currently be bought and noticed that none of them were wearing a necklace. Broots thought it could be an emerald, but emeralds were not found in Kansas. So, what would be the tie to the Dorothy doll? Then he remembered a conversation he had recently and began typing rapidly into his computer. A smile slowly appeared on Broots' face. As much as he didn't want to see Jarod get caught, he also didn't want to have to go see Mrs. Parker empty handed. Luckily, he didn't have to now.
Broots hesitantly knocked on Ms. Parker's door. Even if he had good news for her, he wasn't about to go barging into her office without her knowing that he was there. "Ms. Parker?"
"Come in, Broots."
Broots did as he was told, carrying the Dorothy doll with him. "Oh, hi, Sydney," Broots greeted the older gentleman, pausing. "Did I interrupt anything?"
"No." Sydney gave Broots a smile to let him know it was okay for him to continue with whatever he came in to say.
"Broots, aren't you a little old to be playing with dolls?" Ms. Parker asked, a smirk lingering briefly on her lips.
Broots' blushed at the question. "Oh, this was found at Jarod's last lair. I think I figured out something about Jarod's whereabouts."
"Well, get on with it."
Broots started into his story. "Well, after researching these dolls – and you wouldn't believe how many of them there are - I found out that none of them come with this kind of necklace."
Sydney squinted at the doll, his confusion evident. "Yes, but how is that helpful? As far as I can recall, no emeralds are mined in Kansas, which, based on the doll, is where I would assume Jarod is."
"I know, I thought of that, too. And then I remembered a conversation I had with Bernie down in Maintenance. You know, the guy with the glass eye and the weird limp."
Sydney nodded his head in recognition. "That glass eye is so-"
"Broots!"
Broots stopped cold as he got the Parker death glare. "Get to the point already."
"Bernie is always talking about gems and meteorites and the stories that are out there. He was telling me about some weird ones that came down a few years ago. There's rumors about them doing mutations or something. But I remember him saying they were green just like this."
"And how does this enlightening conversation help us any?"
Broots gave a small smile as he answered. "They are only found in one place."
"So, what does Bernie say about these rocks?" Sydney asked as he walked out of the room with Broots.
"Well…."
Mrs. Parker shook her head before getting some aspirin. This was going to be a long flight.