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I gathered my belongings, along with both mine and Imogen’s suitcases, and started for the door.
As soon as I stepped outside, a voice message dinged on my device. The missed call had come from my mother.
It was too late to return her call. Had she finally remembered Cornelius Kurnbottom? Was she calling to tell me about his visit to Marshmallow? Or was she calling to tell me I’d been mistaken this entire time?
I played the voicemail.
“Happy birthday, Lily.” She sounded both excited and sad at the same time. “Selfishly I hate that we aren’t together to share a slice of cake like we usually do. Especially this year, your first year back since….”
She trailed off, and tears blurred my vision. My heart ached. It was my birthday, and somehow I’d forgotten again, but Mom hadn’t.
“I know I haven’t told you enough in the past, so I’m going to tell you now. This is our second chance. I love you so much, and I miss you. Since we’re not together right now, I’ll have to sing to you over the phone. We’ll do it right when you come home after your mission, with cake and pie.Happy birthday to you, happy—”
The message ended, likely because she’d rattled on for too long. It was the least-Molly-Fernsby-like thing ever, but she’d shared her feelings. And I’d missed her call digging through this barn trying to prove I could find a stupid amulet before Silas.
I said to my phone, “I love you too, Mom.” And I didn’t try to stop the tears as they fell.
CHAPTER 22
Iflopped about on the firm little mattress of my hostel cubby. No matter which way I turned, my body remained sore and rest eluded me. My mind refused to quiet.
Why hadn’t Silas returned to the barn? I’d thought we were on better terms. Had that all been a ploy? Had he already discovered the amulet, perhaps in the barn, a few feet from Noah’s body? Had he slipped it into his pocket and then portaled back to the library to claim all of the glory?
No. He wouldn’t do that…would he? Before we’d spent so much time together over the past few days, I would have definitely assumed that was the case. Now, I wasn’t so sure. I felt guilty for considering it.
My eyes began to drift again, a welcome reprieve for my tired body.
Then there was the whole key aspect of the missing amulet. If its greatest power wasn’t making objects larger, but opening something, what exactly did it open? For Edwina Aldea’s family to protect the amulet for generations, the amulet’s usehadto be significant.
If the amulet was precious to her, why would she lend it to Kurnbottom? Museums were great and all, but if my mother asked me to protect something, I wouldn’t let anyone touch it.
I finally had my head fully into this game. I had focus. I would hit the streets and find my answers…after a little sleep. No one would be awake at three in the morning anyway, right? They certainly wouldn’t open their doors to me and submit to my questioning. They’d need the sun up and breakfast in their bellies first.
Eventually, I was fairly certain sleep came for me, if only for a short reprieve.
A tickleon my leg pulled me from my sleep. I jolted upright, poised to punch the toe licker straight in his face. Again.
But Noah Darie was dead.
And the eye peering at me didn’t belong to a weirdo, it belonged to Fernando.
“Hi.” I grabbed him and pulled him into a hug.
He squeezed me back. “My Lily.”
After an appropriately long reunion embrace, I set Fernando back down on my knees.
“Where did you go last night?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Chase sheep. Get lost in hills. Take long time roll back to Lily.”
“I see,” I said. “I’m glad you’re here. Noah Darie’s dead, the amulet is still missing, and the clock is ticking for us to solve this case. This morning we will question the townsfolk, everyone we can talk to.”
“Kay.” Fernando’s stomach rumbled. He looked down and put his hand over it.
“Of course we’ll need breakfast first.”
A broad grin crossed his lips.“Yes.”
