A couple months pass, and things are going quite smoothly. Everyone was caught off guard to see Xander back at the Tipton after school. But after Xander explained that Henry allowed him to walk home after school, their uncertainty melted away.

During the two months, Xander got to know some of the locals and employees a bit more, like Max & Tapeworm, Maddie, Esteban, and even Arwin, the repairman/inventor that stays in the service area within the basement. Xander notices the lack of sensory input from down there and even considers it quiet and dim enough to safely remove his headphones & sunglasses (along with the twin's bedroom).

Everyone also got to know Xander better as well, along with his predicament with him sneaking to the hotel each day. In the present, the trio is curious about what Zack hears through a wall, just outside the Martin suite.

🎧: ❌
🕶️: ✅
💭: None
😰: 0%

Zack: I'm telling you, I heard a goose honk.

Cody and Xander lean their heads against another wall of the same room.

Xander: ... I'm not sure... It definitely sounds like some type of bird, though.

Cody: Well, I can't hear a thing.

Zack: Let's break out the spy gear.

Cody and Xander walk over to him, while Zack picks up a red and white box and reads off what it says.

Zack: "These contain the same audio surveillance technology used by the CIA!" *Smiles*

Cody: Cool! Where'd you get them?

Zack: Burger Barn.

He sets it down and brings out some stethoscope toys from it.

Xander: ... Stethoscopes?

Zack: Not stethoscopes. *Smiles, waves his hands out* "Spy gear!"

Zack enunciated it to make it sound more exciting, but Xander simply rolled his eyes.

Xander: Whatever.

They each put it on and put the bells against the wall. Xander walks back to the part of the wall he was at before, but Cody stays with Zack.

Zack: Oh, my gosh! What a horrible noise!

Cody's jaw drops.

Xander: ... Well, now I can't hear anything.

Zack: We hear that something bad is going on in there! We've got to get Mom!

They all take off their stethoscopes, hanging onto them by the metal tubes.

Cody: Mom, get out here! It's an emergency!

Carey rushes out of the suite wearing a lime green face mask, a yellow bathrobe, and a towel on her head.

Carey: What?! What?! Drop and roll, duck and cover—what is it?

Zack: *Pointing at the wall* Something in that room is making terrifying, evil sounds.

Carey: I think they're torturing an animal!

The door next to them opens, and a Scottish man in a traditional beanie and kilt plays bagpipes for a few seconds. Xander covers his ears for a few seconds, and Carey becomes disappointed.

Cody: It's an honest mistake.

Carey: *Holds one of hands out* Spy gear.

She goes over to Xander next.

Carey: Can you give me the spy gear, Xander?

😰: ⬆ 20%

Xander complies, and the Scottish man closes his suite door, about to go somewhere, staring at them.

Carey: *Calmly* What are you staring at? You're the one wearing a dress.

A few minutes later, after Carey gets dressed, they leave the elevator, and Carey lectures the boys on why eavesdropping is wrong on the way to get ready for her next performance.

🎧: ✅
🕶️: ✅
💭: None
😰: 20%

Carey: I don't want you listening to other people's walls. It's rude, it's tacky, and I'm pretty sure it's illegal.

Mr. Moseby stops them near the entrance, next to the revolving door. He clasps his hands, with a little smile.

Mr. Moseby: Carey, please join us in the lounge for a staff meeting as soon as you're through parenting America's least wanted.

Carey: Why? What's going on?

Mr. Moseby waves his hands horizontally, saying, "Zzzz-ppppp-zzzzt-zhht!" Attempting to make them stay quiet. Xander steps back a bit.

😰: ⬆ 35%

Mr. Moseby: *Small whispering* Shh! It's a tip-top Tipton secret. *Revolves his finger* No one must know the subject of our meeting.

He allows Carey to pass through, with Zack putting his hands on his hips.

Zack: Well, don't worry, Mr. Moseby. We won't say a word.

The twins try to get by him, but he pulls them back to where they were with the backs of their shirts.

Mr. Moseby: Hmm. That's because you won't hear a word.

Xander: ... Is it like an... adults-only thing?

Mr. Moseby: Yes, yes, you could think of it like that.

Cody: But we want to help.

Mr. Moseby: Good. Go outside and stand guard.

Cody: Gotcha!

Mr. Moseby: Gotcha.

Mr. Moseby runs off as Cody spins around in the revolving door a few times, but then he realizes something.

Cody: Hey... He was trying to get rid of us, wasn't he?

Zack: *Puts his arms on his hips again* No, he really wants some 4-foot kids guarding his hotel.

Xander: ... But I'm 5 ft.

Zack glances up, shaking his head.

Zack: Boy, I'd love to know what's going on in there.

Cody: Yeah. How are we gonna get in there?

Xander: ... I do too, but remember what Carey and Mr. Moseby talked about earlier?

Two Tipton employees move a cart full of snacks in front of the boys, while one of them tries to persuade the other not to fill up on them.

Tipton employee 1: Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Who took a bite out of the coffee cake?

Tipton employee 2: *Mouth full, chewing, hands on his hips* I don't know.

Tipton employee 1: The food is for the staff meeting.

Tipton employee 2: *Puts hands on himself* I'm part of the staff.

Tipton employee 1: So am I. You don't see me eating all the food, do you?

The twins exchange nods before sneaking into the bottom of the cart.

Tipton employee 2: I recommend the Danish.

Tipton employee 1: ... Don't mind if I do.

Xander looks around and scratches the back of his head.

Xander: Where'd they go?

Both Tipton employees clink a little piece of Danish before rolling the cart into the meeting. Mr. Moseby, Carey, Muriel, Maddie, Esteban, and a few more employees are present. Maddie is watching Ivana so that London can accept Mr. Tipton's invitation to Bermuda for a yacht fest; therefore, Ivana is currently sitting on Maddie's lap.

Mr. Moseby: All right. Let's begin. I need your full and undivided attention. It's time for our monthly meeting to talk about Xander. How's he doing?

Muriel: Are we really gonna harp on this kid every month?

Mr. Moseby: Well, he-

Muriel: He has a special situation; we all know that.

Maddie: *Smiles* Well, I'm happy that Xander still gets to come here to see us.

Mr. Moseby: Agreed, Madeline.

Maddie: *Frowns* Kind of wish we could do something about his father, though.

Mr. Moseby: ... Agreed, Madeline. *Moves his arms outward* But no freakouts or meltdowns from him?

Carey: *Smiles* Nope! Not this month, and I do feel like he can be a good influence on my boys. *Gradually loses her smile* Heh heh... sometimes...

Esteban: I agree; he does get along with the little blonde peoples very well, sir.

Zack: *Whispers* Ok, I know Xander's different, but is he "that" different? What does he mean when he talks about "meltdowns"?

Cody tries to shush him.

Mr. Moseby: *Clasping his hands together* Ok, good, good. Next, what I am about to say must be held in the strictest confidence. You may or may not know this, but-

Muriel: Is it about the jewel thieves?

Mr. Moseby: Ok, you know this. But what you don't know is-

Muriel: The police have no leads?

Mr. Moseby: Ok, you know that, too. Would you like to run this meeting?

Muriel: No. I'd have to stand.

Mr. Moseby: The police feel that the thieves might return. To date, they have pilfered...

The twins poke their heads out of the cart with a special blue tablecloth.

Zack: I bet if we had our spy gear, we'd be able to catch them.

Cody shushes Zack again.

They crawl back into the cart.

Mr. Moseby: ...if you see or hear anything suspicious, notify me immediately.

Esteban: *Raises his hand, obediently* Sir? The service cart is shushing.

Mr. Moseby: *Scoffs* Not now, Esteban.

Esteban decides to investigate and secretly tries to pull the tablecloth back.

Esteban: *Whispering* Hey, what are you doing?

Zack: *Whispering* We're eavesdropping-

Cody: *Whispering* But we're not supposed to-

Zack: *Whispering* So don't tell.

Esteban: *Whispering, slightly smiling* Your secret is safe with me.

Mr. Moseby: Esteban, who are you talking to?

Esteban immediately straightens his back and places his hands in his lap, losing his smile.

Esteban: Oh, no one. There is no one here except for me and an empty cart, except for some very shiny grapes and a half-eaten danish.

Esteban lowers his hand to Zack and discreetly gives him a high five, along with both of them fiddling with their fingers for a second.

Mr. Moseby: Thank you, people. *Waves his hand in a circular rotation* Return to your work.

Muriel: Well, I'm going back to my break. Unless this meeting was part of my break, in which case, I'm calling the union.

After all the employees leave, two police officers and a wealthy female victim dressed in a royal robe, black high heels, and some jewelry around her face come out from behind a dressing wall.

Officer: So, did you recognize anyone?

Victim: The bellhop who was talking to the fruit. He was the last one in my room before my jewels disappeared.

Officer: *Grips onto his tool belt* Well, one of the first rules of police work... Never trust anyone that talks to food. Lousy food talkers.

Mr. Moseby: I-If I must say, Esteban is a fine and trusted employee. Are you sure it wasn't the red-headed maid?

Victim: Positive.

Officer: And this... Xander guy? What about him? You described him as having a history of meltdowns in the past, right?

Mr. Moseby: Oh, no, no, no, he just comes here to play with a couple of kids during the week.

Officer: And... what does he look like?

Mr. Moseby: Oh boy, uh... he's pretty tall for a 12-year-old, around 5 ft 3; he usually wears noise-canceling headphones and sunglasses-

Victim: Oh, no one like that ever went into my room. My money's still on the bellhop.

Officer: ... Noted.

When they leave, the twins finally crawl out of the cart and discuss what to do next.

Zack: This is terrible. They think it's Esteban.

Cody: It can't be Esteban. He's the nicest guy in the world.

Zack: They suspected Xander, but luckily there's no evidence leading to him.

Cody nods in agreement again.

Zack: Well, Esteban always had our back, so now we have his.

Cody: We got to find the real thief and clear him.

Zack: Then we'll need to tell Xander about this and get some more spy gear.

Cody: Good, 'cause I could use a burger.