“Trinity, you’re looking for a painting. There should be a ship on it. A big boat.”

Trinity nodded. “Got it,” she said. “Do I go in as two of me?”

“Uh, no, one of you stays here,” Emily said. “Everyone knows their part? Good, let’s go!”

Emily grabbed Athena under the armpits and raised her so she could grab onto the banister around the balcony. She scurried up and over the edge, landing with a light thump that still sounded far too loud.

“My other me’s going around,” Trinity said. “And the Hero’s asking questions.”

Emily nodded, then paused. She could hear something from just above. She glanced up and noticed the window Trinity had snuck into, still wide open.

Barely hesitating, she grabbed one of the rails and pulled herself up so she was closer to the window.

“—won’t tell me who you are?” an unfamiliar voice asked. It was muffled, a voice passing through a mask.

“I’m not telling you nothing!” was Trinity’s reply.

“If you won’t tell me, then perhaps you’ll squeal to the authorities. You do know that breaking and entering is a crime, right?”

“I wish being ugly was a crime. That way you’d be all arrested and stuff.”

“You’re one of the reasons I hate children,” the Hero said.

Athena leaned over next to the window, then pulled back. “I see her,” she whispered. “I can start?”

Emily gave her a thumbs-up. “Distract her away from Trinity,” she said.

The owl girl nodded, then frowned as she peeked back out again. Her power didn’t have much flashiness to it, so it didn’t surprise Emily that there wasn’t much to see. The Hero did pause, her questions to Trinity stopping.

Athena pulled back, not quickly, just a slow movement that wouldn’t draw attention. She gave a thumbs-up to Emily without looking back.

Footsteps in the house as the Hero moved around, slow, cautious steps.

Emily tried to think of a way to get the Hero to leave the house outright, but nothing came to mind.

“I’m almost there!” Trinity said. “Should I try to rescue the other me?”

Emily shook her head. It wouldn’t do to have the Hero turn around and see a missing Trinity. They weren’t exactly being subtle as it was. She was almost afraid that the Hero would hear her heart, pounding away in her chest like a war drum.

“I’m in,” Trinity whispered. “She didn’t see me.”

“Nice work,” Emily whispered back. “You, too, Athena.”

There was a crash in the house, a loud bang, and the crack and clatter of glass bursting apart. “Oops,” Trinity said. “I, uh, have good news and bad news,” she said.

“What is it?” Emily asked.

“Found the safe thing. And, uh, I got the painting off from in front of it,” Trinity said.