Chapter 2

Sure, summertime is great for barbecues, and I wouldn’t say no to shish kebabs, corn on the cob and marshmallows (halal of course). But in the Tariq family, barbecues are bad omens. And true, it’s unconventional to organise an entire barbecue for three people but it’s become a thing of ours. A thing that I hate. Should I feel betrayed by Mrs Kostas for luring me here? No, she means well.

That means it’s twofold. Twofold bad news. I’ve survived four barbecues in my life:

TUSC FILES

THE BARBECUES OF BAD NEWS (BBQoBN)

Note: sweet potatoes and mango juice are served each time

BBQoBN 1:

Age: 6 months old

Note: Ani Tariq has zero recollection of the foods and events of this BBQoBN. This is based on Dad’s account.

Savoury food: Hariyali chicken tikka skewers

Savoury bad news: Parents are getting divorced

Sweet food: Roasted pineapple

Sweet bad news: Mom and my evil twin are moving to America

BBQoBN 2:

Age: 6 years old

Savoury food: Lamb chops with spicy mango salad

Savoury bad news: I have to go to the doctor to officially be diagnosed with ADHD (doctors are intense)

Sweet food: Gulab jamun

Sweet bad news: I’ll be on medicine for life (update: this ended up being bittersweet because the medicine helps me but in the moment I felt bad).

BBQoBN 3:

Age: 7 years old

Savoury food: Paneer skewers

Savoury bad news: Chloe Li, the super-fun teaching assistant who was so helpful after my ADHD diagnosis, is enrolling in the College of Policing

Sweet food: Rasmalai

Sweet bad news: She’s moving to Manchester

BBQoBN 4:

Age: 9 years old

AKA the year Dad tried – and failed – to become vegan.

Savoury food: Plant-based ‘chicken’ kebab burgers with grilled avocados

Savoury bad news: It’s too hard for Dad to drop me off at my old school (the same as LaShawn and Helin)

Sweet food: Vegan jalebi

Sweet bad news: I have to move schools

As you can understand, barbecues and me don’t have a good history. But I’m more alarmed that it’s the start of summer and Dad has to deliver two pieces of bad news.

Oh, I know. His job with Ellextrus Tech is on the line. So, we’ll probably have to move. No problem there – I can still walk over to Cafe Vivlio to see Mrs Kostas.

Because I’m a supersleuth, I’m confident I’m right. Also, congratulations – you have stuck with me this far so you now have clearance to view my sleuth profile and portfolio overview while I eat my barbecued masala fish.

TUSC PROFILE

Name: Supersleuth Imani Tariq

Codename: Asdfghjkl

Gender: Female

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Age: 11 years old

Occupation: Director of the TUSC and school student (listed in order of priority)

Physical characteristics:

1. Chubby cheeks

2. Taller than the average 11‒year‒old

3. Has a few freckles on nose and cheeks

Observation: Never wears black socks

Successful cases:

‒ The Case of the Missing Tie

‒ The Case of the Ripped Trousers

‒ The Case of the Lost Cat

‒ The Case of the Runaway Squirrel

‒ The Case of the Spilled Milk

Unsuccessful cases:

‒ The Case of the Missing Tie

‒ The Case of the Ripped Trousers

For the first time ever at a BBQoBN, I feel good – I’ve figured out what the bad news is so I’m ahead of the game. I’m eating yummy food with no dread. And I’m so ready to eat kheer (South Asian rice pudding) after this.

TUSC PROFILE

Name: Abderrazzak Muhammad Tariq

Gender: Male

Pronouns: He/him/his

Age: 34 years old

Occupation: Computer scientist

Physical characteristics:

1. Dark hair is always in a bun and he has a short beard

2. Hazel eyes (that I didn’t inherit)

3. Wears shirts and ties but with jeans

Observation: In school, he used to be a bhangra dancer

Bonus observation: He never calls me by my nickname

‘Imani, you enjoying the fish, yeah?’ he asks. ‘I added harissa this time. New recipe.’

‘Nice.’ I lick the sauce off each finger. Pop. That gets me a glare from Mrs Kostas.

But before he gives it to me, he says, ‘Imani, this summer is going to be different.’

Yes, because we’re moving out of The Skyscape’s poshness. ‘That’s fine, Dad.’

I almost tut at his shock. I’m such a good sleuth that I tend to forget that other people can be shocked that I know so much without being told. ‘Well, it’s only –’

Everything goes silent. My mouth and eyes widen. ‘What? No!’ I don’t want to see either of them. The only family I want is Dad, Mrs Kostas, LaShawn and Helin.

Dad’s forehead wrinkles. ‘But I thought you’d found out already. You said –’

‘I got it wrong,’ I snap. I’m normally so good at bridging gaps with conclusions and evidence – that’s the job of a supersleuth. But this time, I’m off. Maybe it’s the hot weather getting to me.

‘Sweetheart –’ Mrs Kostas smiles – ‘you haven’t seen them in three years.’ She’s right – my parents divorced when I was six months old but it wasn’t until I was eight that things turned rocky. The visits stopped. We drifted apart. ‘It’ll be good to reconnect,’ Mrs Kostas adds.

‘Ani –’ Mrs Kostas says in a firmer tone – ‘take a few breaths. Remember what I always say – “the tongue has no bones but bones it crushes.”’ She gets lost in her own world for a moment, as if the words of that Greek proverb have triggered something.

I’m too overwhelmed to heed her words. ‘I don’t want to reconnect! I just want to solve mysteries and be with LaShawn, Helin and you.’

I see red. Not my proudest moment but I let out a loud grunt that turns into a roar. ‘Argh! Why didn’t you ask me about this?’

Dad gives me a look like I’ve crossed the line. ‘Because the parent here is me.’ He sighs. ‘I didn’t tell you because it was your last week of school, I didn’t want to disrupt it.’

‘Dad, I can disrupt my last week of school all by myself, thanks very much!’

‘I realise that now. Mx Henderson rang me, you know. You nearly got detention on your last day for saying something bad?’ He sounds so disappointed.

But I’m more disappointed. ‘Don’t change the subject! I don’t want Mom and her here!’

‘She, you know, is coming to Leeds to set up another UK office for her job. And it’s good for you and Noori to see each other.’

I don’t want to see my evil twin or Mom. My heartbeat is pounding at this new information. ‘Is she going to stay in Leeds to run the office?’ I don’t want Mom and my evil twin living nearby whether it’s a brief stay or forever. It’ll be worse if it’s forever, though.

I wish he could say that Mom and my evil twin are definitely not ever coming here. I grit my teeth in anger and give him a sidelong glare. ‘Do you want to make Mom your wife again?’

I shudder at the second mention of my evil twin. ‘I won’t visit them at the hotel.’

Mrs Kostas’s deck chair creaks as she stands up. She jumps at the sound, which isn’t like her. Takes the bowl of kheer out of Dad’s hands. Passes it to me with a small smile. ‘Have a spoon or two first,’ she encourages, softly.

I would decline it, but Mrs Kostas’s soft tone always comes with hard eyes. I take one spoon. Then two. The second spoonful is flaked with almonds. As usual, the kheer is delicious – perfectly milky and sugary – but I don’t change my expression. ‘What else, Dad?’ Here it comes, the sweet bad news. I brace myself.

He swallows. ‘Noori won’t be staying at the hotel.’ I raise my eyebrows and my eyes widen as I wait for him to elaborate. ‘She’ll be staying with us, you know.’

I inhale a calm breath. Not what I wanted to hear but I don’t think it can get any worse. ‘So will I be sleeping on the sofa? Or will you, Dad?’

2

ANI