ANGUS’S BIRTHDAY WAS OVER. AMANDA HAD CHANGED INTO HER WHITE LOUNGE PANTS AND SWEATER. She descended the stairs to the Wolfes’ family room in the basement, closing the door behind her.
The decor had changed little in four years. A plastic bucket filled with foam baseball bats and swords occupied a corner. She’d had many a joust with the Wolfe brothers. She stared at shelves laden with board games that were surely destined for a garage sale. Battling Tops. Monopoly. Pig Goes Pop! And infernal stacks of Thomas the Frigging Tank Engine and Bob the Goddamned Builder DVDs. She had a daily diet of those with her five-year-old brother.
Amanda sat down beside Angus on a blue loveseat. The two sections of the recliner behaved independently. They had traditional sides, with the dividing crevice acting like a property line between landowners. Hopefully, that practice would change. She turned off a lamp, leaving the gas fireplace as the only illumination. Someone creaked the springs of a rocking chair on the floor overhead. Amanda had run trials in preparation for kissing Angus. It took four seconds to walk from the kitchen and down the stairs, then open the door.
Angus sniffed the air. “You put on perfume.”
Flicking her hair away, Amanda exposed her neck. “You like?”
“It tempts me to cross our property line.”
“It’s your birthday. Break any rule you like.” Amanda watched Angus, hoping he’d take the hint. There wasn’t a hint of a flush in his clear complexion. He didn’t get it. “Or, let me.” She lay sideways across his lap and closed her eyes.
“This is nice, sitting like this.” Angus touched Amanda’s hair. “How come we’ve never done it before?”
Opening her eyes, Amanda hissed. “It’s not for lack of hints from me.” She softened her voice. “Do you worry about digging up a family skeleton with this King’s Puzzle business?”
“It’s crossed my mind.”
“I wonder if the coyotes were an omen.”
Angus looked away. “I knew my grandmother would be against me searching for the King’s Puzzle. But I didn’t expect her to freak out like she did at dinner tonight.”
“It got tense when Granddad chimed in.”
“He’s in an awkward spot.” Angus squeezed Amanda’s hand. “He wants to be on my side, but can’t alienate my grandmother. That might jeopardize his chances to redevelop the Riverview.”
“I wish he wasn’t doing that.” Amanda sighed. “Demolition alone is a quarter million dollars. He doesn’t have that kind of money. He’ll have to mortgage his fishing and hunting camp.”
“That’s a whole other issue. On the King’s Puzzle, maybe my grandmother’s afraid some painful truth will emerge about Duncan.”
“That’s weird, hearing you call your grandpa by his first name.”
“He was only ten in 1939. No point calling him ‘Grandpa’.”
“Did your grandma let you keep the letter?”
Angus pointed to a table. “For now. I look at it this way. Suppose I didn’t tackle the mystery. The next thing you know a British publicist will be over here doing it himself.” He sat in silence for a few moments, then squinted and rubbed his eyebrows. “Too much cake and ice cream.”
“Your stomach?”
“No, my head. It feels like an ice pick got me right here.” He pressed his palm to his temple.
Sitting up, Amanda turned cross-legged against one end of the loveseat. “Lie back on my chest.” As Angus edged against her, Amanda cradled his head. “Relax.” She massaged his temples with her fingers, inducing him to close his eyes. She heard his breathing slowing, felt his shoulders and arms going limp. She blew gently on the top of his head and planted a kiss on his brown hair. “You were brave today, Wolfie.”
“Nah. My master plan was to feed you to some coyotes. I only changed my mind at the last minute.”
“I’m not sure about rewarding you for that.” Amanda leaned down and looked into Angus’s face. “You have a bit of grey in those brown eyes, you know. I’m afraid I’d fall into them, they’re so deep and penetrating.” She puckered her lips, closed her eyes, and moved closer.
Angus flinched. He pointed to a shelf. “Is that a present over there?”
Amanda rolled her eyes and drew back. “It is indeed.” She padded across the room and retrieved a wrapped box, small enough to carry in one hand. She stopped in front of Angus. He reached out, but she stepped backwards, holding the present behind her. He arose and came toward her. She lunged at him, lips first. He scampered away, laughing. She trapped him against some shelves. His strained features made him look panic-stricken and she didn’t have the heart to move in for the kill. “Here, take the present. It’s a small one, about the size of your courage at the moment.”
They sat back down on the loveseat. Angus unwrapped the gift. It was a miniature steam locomotive. “It’s beautiful.”
“You needed a steam engine for your model railway.”
“Talk about omens. This is a Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson. The class of engine that pulled the 1939 Royal Train.”
Amanda sighed. “I guess you’ve roped me into the King’s Puzzle now.” She heard footsteps coming down the stairs, then a knock on the door.
Big Jim cleared his throat and leaned into the room, addressing Angus. “Time for me to drive Amanda and your grandmother home. I’ll drop your coyote off at the taxidermist’s on the way.” He headed back up the stairs.
Squeezing Angus’s hand, Amanda stood up. “Wolfie.” She inhaled and pulled him to his feet. “I need to know if you want to be with me.”
“Why, does someone else want to be with you? Like the creep from summer camp?”
Placing her fingers on Angus’s shoulders, Amanda looked into his eyes. “That doesn’t matter. I’m almost 17. I want a boy in my life who’s more than a buddy or a best friend. Do you want me to be your girlfriend?”
Angus reddened. “What might that involve?”
“Maybe a whole pile of things.” Amanda giggled. “Like on the loveseat just now. Did you enjoy that?”
“Sure, my headache’s gone.”
“Lock your fingers together behind my back.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No, I’m not.” Amanda put Angus’s hands there for him. “Now pull me in.”
Angus edged Amanda a bit nearer.
“You could pass a brick between us. Keep going.”
Angus drew Amanda closer. She brushed against him. “So far, so good.”
“You’re as menacing as the coyote.”
“Thanks. I’ll try not to spook you.” Amanda extended her arms, wrapped them around Angus’s neck, and eased him against her. She felt his heart racing. “That’s a start. Now, close your eyes and relax.” He did. She kissed him on the lips. He didn’t push her away. She rested her head on his shoulder, burying her face in his neck. “I’m glad the coyote thing happened.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re my hero. And I can repay you like this.” Amanda closed her eyes and embraced Angus for a prolonged kiss. He clung to her, under the fluorescent bulb that always hummed. Having Angus as a childhood friend had been a blessing and a curse. It wasn’t easy to leap to romantic companions. But now that she’d kissed him, she felt more feminine. She sensed an elevated status. She had a boyfriend. Tingling all the way to her furry slippers, she felt giddy. Her body seemed more fluid. She wriggled against Angus, nuzzling her contours into his. Drawing back, she looked into his eyes. “How was that for you?”
Angus pinched the side of her hip.
Amanda yelped. “I’ll take that as a good sign.”
“Now, what about helping me solve the mystery of why Duncan didn’t meet The King?”
“Mr. Wolfe”— Amanda shook Angus’s hand, while detecting a sensuality in her voice—“I would be delighted.” She looked from one of his eyes to the other. “This Sharol Smythe. She’s keen on you. Are you going to call her?”
“Absolutely.”