José’s father finds José and Anna before they can return to Gate B-16, angry at their disappearance and relieved to see them. Anna reveals that her mother is a member of the Silver Jaguar Society and that she knows José’s mother is, too. Mr. McGilligan admits he’s worried for his wife’s safety because the Serpentine Princes know who the members of the Society are—Vincent Goosen was one of them.

Though they’ve been warned not to investigate, the kids are trying to figure out their next steps when Snickerbottom comes looking for Anna’s dad. Anna and José decide they need to tell him what they’ve seen so he can help find Henry and Sinan. As they run to catch him, Anna loses patience with José carrying his backpack full of books, which she says won’t “magically help” them. He reminds her she said the same thing about shampoo and hairspray.

Snickerbottom is talking to Senator Hobbes about another tip for Anna’s mom. As they talk, Anna notices one of his aides jingling his pocket, and something falls out—the torn piece of flag, now stuck to a tuba. Snickerbottom says there is “cold, hard evidence connecting those artsy, all-over-the-world orchestra types to the missing flag” (152).