The investigation has been stalled. Not because we’re out of leads but because Mom’s taken all technology from us so that we can ‘heal’. Our healing accelerated when we learned that Derek survived! He’s in the hospital. Ani and I wanted to pay him a visit to ask questions but Mom said a non-negotiable no. We got applauded by every adult who saw us – for saving Derek’s life. ‘They finally accept and respect the TUSC!’ Ani proclaimed later that day.
But lately there’s been lots of sad silence. Before, we were soaring through our investigation and then Mom made us fall via forced disconnection. It’s safe to say that parents fail to see the good intentions of their kids.
We’ve been in Leeds for the past three days and nights. After we discovered Derek, Mom decided that we needed to get away from Castlewick. Ani screamed and cried because she didn’t want to leave Dad but Mom assured us it would be temporary.
I watched the scream-fest that was Ani vs. Mom as it reached a crescendo. As usual, I saw points in both of their arguments so I didn’t say a word. Mom rang the hotel in Leeds to make arrangements. Within the hour, we had packed and left Castlewick.
Ani stretches with a groan then cracks her knuckles and twists her neck. ‘Hotel beds look comfortable. That’s a lie.’
‘Have you ever been in a hotel before?’
‘Nope. Never even been on an aeroplane either.’
I wish I’d known that before last night when I’d been happily reminiscing about me and Mom going to Disneyland Paris and Florida in one week for my birthday. I stupidly didn’t stop there – I went on about us going to Germany, Tunisia, Peru and Singapore for Mom’s work. In hindsight, that explains why Ani was silent. Since we’ve been banned from all technology, we’ve been exploring the city with Mom and playing loads of Cluedo (we call it “Clue” in America). Like loads. Instead of packing clean underwear, Ani packed Cluedo: Passport to Murder, Cluedo Party, Cluedo: Secrets & Spies, Scooby Doo Cluedo and Cluedo Junior: The Case of the Missing Cake. Neither me nor Mom expected anything less, which is why I packed extra of everything. So did Mom.
Ani yawns, which prompts me to ask her when she slept because I fell asleep before her.
She rubs her eyes. ‘Umm . . . I was getting some warm milk and – kinda – caught Mom crying.’ My eyes widen and she continues in a quiet voice, ‘So I had to hug her, obviously, and tell her it will all be all right. She admitted that it’s been hard for her to stay afloat or something. Said she hasn’t had enough time to process a lot of things. But she’s trying to be strong for us. And for Dad.’
I give Ani a small smile. ‘I think we’re all trying to be strong.’
‘Yep. “Fake it till you make it.” Mrs Kostas/Dimas used to tell me that. It works.’
Now, day four, and we’re heading back to Castlewick.
The air in The Skyscape greets us with its chilliness, like it’s sad we left. Other than that, it looks the same as it did when we left.
Well, apart from a weird burning smell.
‘Huh?’ Ani sniffs deeply. ‘Yeah, that’s only barbecues. It’s summer, Riri.’
‘Maybe but something feels weird, different.’
‘Nothing here has changed. As usual.’ Her words are moot because we’ve only gone from the car to The Skyscape; we haven’t explored all of Castlewick to see if anything has changed. Feeling something different in my bones today, I tell Ani that.
‘Look, you wouldn’t know about barbecues because you’re vegan.’
‘Ani, you said it yourself that I would develop feelings about certain things when I become a proper supersleuth and even though I’m a SIT – I can’t explain it but something is wrong. And that smell is getting stronger.’ She shakes her head at me.
I let my confusion nag me while we go into the apartment.
Dad greets us all and it’s nice to see him. The elephant is still in the room – everyone’s trying hard to not talk about Dad’s arrest. We’re all warily eyeing the tracking anklet that he still has to wear. It looks uncomfortable. ‘I missed you a lot,’ he says. ‘I’m glad you’re back.’
After settling in, Mom looks at Ani and then at me. Addressing both of us, she says, ‘I’ll give you your things back if you go and unpack. OK?’
She means my reading books and Ani’s phone and laptop. We both nod and speed-walk over to our room and set down our bags.
‘I’m only unpacking so I can get my phone and laptop back,’ Ani tells me. She makes absolutely no effort to tidy up. ‘Mom said nothing about tidying up.’
‘They’re one and the same.’ We dash out of The Skyscape, the sun shining down on us. ‘We’re gonna continue with our investigation as we left it, right?’
‘Uh-huh.’
That doesn’t convince me. ‘Are you sure? I mean, you put out that statement and I – well, no one, really – would blame you for not being able to return so soon.’
Ani steps closer, her face serious. ‘Thanks for the concern but I’m totally fine. Taking a break in Leeds was good for me. Honest. I have to solve this.’
Slowly I nod. ‘OK. I think I remember these streets . . . Mimi’s house is closest so let’s check in.’
‘Why?’
‘Her and Derek were friendly; she must be hurting about what happened to him,’ I say.
‘Fine.’
‘Good. Someone she cared about is critically ill, remember.’
Ani chews on her lips and squints at me. ‘Surprised you don’t wanna wander around Castlewick to find Frankie Chase.’ She smirks. ‘For condolences and kisses.’
I ignore her. When she’s being silly like this she doesn’t deserve my words.
She deserves a brief but feeble shove. So, I do just that.
Her retaliation is to chuckle. That’s all. I don’t know which one of us has won this round. But we soon laugh, in sync, and that’s that. We have an odd relationship but I can sense that we’re closer than ever before. I like her and she likes me. ‘Hey, are you happy I’m here?’ I blurt out, hopeful.
‘Yep,’ Ani admits then skips round the block that’ll lead us to Mimi’s house, always eager to get in front of me.
‘Me too!’ I squeak out after her.
I squint against sunlight as Ani circles back to me.
‘So, this might be the most serious bad news I’ve ever delivered. Before this, the worst news I’ve delivered is telling this tourist in The Case of the Runaway Squirrel that the runaway squirrel who’d shimmied into his bag had a rare case of leptospirosis.’
‘What? What are you talking about?’
Ani looks serious. It’s a scary kind of serious. ‘Mimi’s house is on fire.’