Location: Pasta La Vista, Melbourne – Time: 6:42 p.m.
The Bruce family entered Pasta La Vista dressed like food vloggers who'd won a reality show and lost all shame.
Ryan wore a shirt that read "PASTA-BILITIES ARE ENDLESS." Emily carried a ring light so bright it blinded a waiter. Holly had a clipboard labeled "Sauce Ratings." Faith held a giant plastic fork like a battle axe.
"Remember," Ryan whispered as they sat, "we're a wholesome, hungry family with a love for carbs. Not spies. Not agents. Just tourists with opinions."
Emily replied without looking up, "Then lose the comms earpiece before the waiter thinks you're ordering linguine via drone."
The restaurant was beautiful—brick walls, candlelit tables, and an aroma of oregano and secrets. Their waiter, Enzo, had the dead eyes of a man who had seen things... and possibly stuffed them into ravioli.
Faith pointed to the menu. "What's 'secret spaghetti'?"
Enzo blinked. "It's... spaghetti. That's secret."
Emily nodded. "We'll take four."
As they waited, Ryan discreetly scanned the room. Hidden cameras in the pepper shakers. Pressure sensors under chairs. And a suspicious statue of a chef making the 'okay' sign that definitely had a blinking eye.
"Paranoid much?" Emily asked.
Ryan held up his glass. "My wine is listening to me."
Time: 7:13 p.m. – The First Bite
The food arrived. Glorious. Smothered. Suspiciously perfect.
Ryan bit into a gnocchi and nearly choked. Inside was a microchip with a tiny blinking light.
Emily saw it too. "Tell me that's a caper."
"It's a tracker," Ryan whispered. "This place is tagging us. We're the entrée."
Holly jotted notes: "Sauce has... betrayal aftertaste."
Faith was coloring on a placemat. She accidentally pressed a hidden glyph. A panel in the wall shifted a centimeter.
Ryan didn't move. "Either this is the best-themed restaurant in Melbourne… or we just activated a secret entrance to hell."
Time: 7:40 p.m. – Bella Arrives
Bella Castini strolled to their table in a blood-red dress that somehow matched both the wine and the danger.
"Well, well," she purred. "If it isn't the Forks of Justice."
Emily gave her best "news anchor who isn't scared of terrorists" smile. "We're just humble foodies."
Bella leaned closer, eyes flicking to Ryan. "You chew like a spy."
"That's offensive," Ryan said. "I chew with patriotism."
Bella laughed, but her smile never reached her eyes.
Then she whispered: "You're not here for the food. But you will stay... for the family."
She turned and walked away.
Ryan turned to Emily. "Okay. We're made."
Emily sighed. "Please tell me you brought the exploding breadsticks."
"I brought two."
Holly held one. "Mine's already activated."
"WHAT?!"
[TO BE CONTINUED]