Amanda Lester and the Black Shadow Terror

by Paula Berinstein

  When they got far enough into the wood that they couldn’t see anyone Simon backed Ivy up against a tree and leaned down to kiss her. Her lips were the softest he’d ever felt, and he’d felt a lot of lips. The previous year he’d gone through an experimental kissing phase and had managed to convince a lot of the girls to practice with him. They’d all been nice but Ivy’s were exceptional, and not just because he was in love with her. She was truly the most beautiful, silky, ethereal girl in the world.

  He still couldn’t believe she was his. Up to this point she’d always shied away, claiming she didn’t love or want him but liked him as a friend. If he had a pound for every time he’d made a pass and failed he’d be a rich man. But now she not only yielded to him, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him as if she loved him too.

  “God, you feel good,” he murmured into her hair.

  “So do you,” she said. “And you smell good. Peppermint.”

  He laughed. “So I’ve been told. It’s my toothpaste. I believe in practicing excellent oral hygiene.”

  “I like it,” she said. “It tickles my nose and tastes good.”

  He touched her nose. “Does this tickle too?”

  “Yes,” she breathed. “Don’t stop.”

  “You like me tickling your nose?”

  “Mmm.”

  “You’re weird but I love you,” he said, and kissed her again. He pulled her into his embrace and held her close. “Tell me something.”

  “Anything,” she said, kissing his hair.

  “What made you change your mind? I thought you were happy with Dreidel.”

  She kept kissing him. “It was my cousin Kevin.”

  Simon pulled back, astonished. “Your cousin Kevin? Who the hell is he?”

  Ivy laughed. “He’s my first cousin on my mum’s side. He graduated from Legatum a few years ago. A private detective.”

  “I didn’t know you had a cousin Kevin,” said Simon.

  “Yeah,” she said. “He’s my only cousin.”

  “But you’ve never mentioned him,” he said. “Anyway, what’s he got to do with this?”

  “Well,” she said, snuggling against his neck. “After Legatum was destroyed I went home for a couple of weeks and he came over.”

  “And?”

  “He’s great but he’s kind of a nosy Parker. He asked me about my love life. I told him I was seeing Dreidel and he told me I should be with you instead.”

  Simon pulled away from her lips. “Say what?”

  “He thinks you and I belong together.”

  “Obviously he’s a man of taste,” said Simon. “But what does he know about me?”

  “Oh, everything,” said Ivy. “We’re very close. I always talk about you. But it isn’t one-sided. I’m a nosy Parker to him too. We’re like that with each other.”

  “You’re very close to this cousin Kevin and you’ve never mentioned him?”

  “I forgot about him, to be honest.”

  Simon laughed. “You’re confusing me. First you tell me you’re very close and then you tell me you forgot about him.”

  “Temporarily,” she said. “There was a lot happening.”

  “Yes, there was. But tell me. What did he say?”

  She pulled him to her again. “He said I was a fool to let you go.”

  Simon practically jumped. “You? A fool to let me go? Why did he say that?”

  “Well, for one thing he knows I’ve always been in love with you,” she said, astonishing him.

  “You told him?”

  “Oh no. I didn’t know myself so how could I?”

  “Wait a minute. This bloke who doesn’t know me and never heard you say you love me decided you should be with me?”

  “Yep,” she said, moving toward his lips again. “Kiss me, Simon. I love it when you kiss me.”

  He gave her a peck. “Please stop teasing me. I want to know.”

  She sighed and rested her head on his skinny chest. “We talk. I tell him about Legatum, my friends, my life. He tells me about his job, his life, his airplane. He’s a private pilot and flies all around investigating cases. Isn’t that cool?”

  “I’ll say. Have you ever flown with him?”

  “Not yet but I want to. Want to come with me?”

  “Do I,” he said, feeling happier than he ever had.

  “He’s very cool—smart, talented. He’s got red hair just like mine. Anyway, about you he just put two and two together, something I should have done for myself. I guess sometimes when you’re in the middle of things you miss the obvious. It happened to Amanda with Nick too.”

  “But what about Dreidel? I thought you and he—”

  “He’s a good person,” she said. “But he’s not right for me. I got bored with him. He doesn’t have your brains.”

  Simon gulped. “My brains?”

  “Simon, you are the smartest and most exciting person I’ve ever known. You dazzle me. Even when you’re being a pain I’m still bewitched by what’s between your ears. And now that I’ve been able to get close, the rest of you too.”

  “You are?” he said, not believing what he was hearing.

  “Dreidel has a nice voice and he’s a good composer, very romantic, but he leaves me cold. You get my blood boiling.”

  “I-I do?” He felt as if he were walking on air. He’d never expected to hear words like this from anyone, let alone Ivy. Binnie had certainly never talked like that.

  “I’m madly in love with you,” she cooed. “You take my breath away.”

  He pulled her tighter than he ever had, leaned her backward, and kissed her like he’d never kissed anyone before. “You’re my everything, Ivy. Be mine.”

  She ran her fingers through his unruly hair and pulled his head toward hers. “I already am.”

  After Amanda had visited with Lestrade, Thrillkill called her and Nick into his office.

  “He’s going to be mad,” she said. “I should never have told my ancestor what was really going on. Maybe if I’d been more patient Simon would have been able to send him back and the timeline would have been preserved.”

  “You know whatever happens I’ll be right there with you,” said Nick. “And in case you’re wondering, I probably would have done the same thing. In fact I did.”

  “What do you mean?” she said.

  Nick sighed. “I had to tell Sherlock. Otherwise he wouldn’t have helped me.”

  “He knows we were from the future?”

  “He knew, yes. But he’d never say a word.”

  “No, of course not. I can’t believe you told him though.”

  “As I said. I had to make a deal with him. He insisted.”

  She kissed his stubbly cheek. “I understand. Anyway, I’m the last person to criticize.”

  “It’s okay, love,” he said.

  They stopped in front of Thrillkill’s door and took deep breaths. Amanda knocked.

  “Enter,” said the headmaster.

  When they opened the door they saw Thrillkill at his desk talking to a man sitting across from him. He motioned for them to take seats. Nick sat next to the man and Amanda sat on his right.

  The man, who had gorgeous long sandy hair and a well-trimmed beard, looked Nick up and down. “You’re very tall,” he said.

  Nick said nothing. People were always telling him that.

  “Amanda, Nick,” said Thrillkill.” I have some news that will shock you.”

  Amanda tried to see the man next to Nick to see if she could tell what was coming but Nick was in the way.

  “No reaction,” said Thrillkill. “Good. We’ve trained you well.” He paused for a moment. “Nick, the man sitting next to you is Wink Wiffle. Your father.”

  Amanda heard Nick inhale a bit louder than usual, but that was his only reaction. For her part, what Thrillkill was saying didn’t even register it was so out of the blue.

  “I said this is Wink Wiffle,” said Thrillkill.

  Nick glanced at the man next to him. “I do
n’t understand, sir. Wink is dead.”

  “That was what you were supposed to think,” said the man. He had a lovely deep voice reminiscent of Nick’s, but older. “But circumstances have forced me to reveal myself.”

  Amanda leaned forward and studied the man’s appearance. She could see David in his eyes, his nose. Not Nick though.

  “What about David?” she said haltingly.

  “David has been told,” said Thrillkill. “His mother has not.”

  “How did he take it?” said Amanda as if in a dream.

  “He’ s rather numb but happy,” said Wink. “That’s to be expected.”

  Amanda suddenly felt furious. She stood up and looked Nick’s father in the eye.

  “How could you do this to your family?” she demanded.

  Wink looked at his feet. “It was necessary. Torturous but necessary.”

  Amanda leaned over past Nick and began to pummel him with her fists.

  “How dare you?” she gasped. “You have no idea what your selfishness has done to David. And Nick.”

  Nick reached out and held her wrists, then wrapped his arms around her while she cried. “It’s all right. I’m all right.”

  “No you’re not,” she screamed. “Look what he did to you. Blixus and Hugh and Stencil and being deaf and all of it. That’s down to him.”

  “He didn’t even know about me,” Nick said soothingly.

  “I don’t care,” she said. “He’s selfish and irresponsible. Poor Celerie. Why haven’t you told her? OMG, Sasha. What about her?”

  “All in good time,” said Thrillkill.

  “Good time?” she said. “It’s been two years! Can you even imagine the kind of pain David and Celerie have been experiencing? My God, he ran to Blixus. Blixus!”

  “I know,” said Thrillkill. “And you have every right to be angry.”

  “Angry doesn’t begin to describe it,” said Amanda. “And stop being so calm. It’s disrespectful.”

  “Where have you been all this time?” said Nick softly.

  “Under cover,” said Wink.

  “You knew about this?” said Nick, addressing Thrillkill.

  “Yes,” said the headmaster.

  “But if you’re alive, who was the skeleton?” said Amanda. “And why did Professor Hoxby say it was you?”

  “I’m afraid we can’t divulge that information right now,” said Thrillkill in his usual maddening way.

  “Where have you been all this time?” Nick repeated.

  “Literally underground,” said Wink. “I have a place in the tunnels near Penrith.”

  “But we went all through them,” said Amanda. “We never saw you.”

  “Neither did we when we were living there,” said Nick.

  “There’s another level,” said Wink. “Deeper.”

  “I don’t understand,” said Amanda. “You were living in those tunnels and you didn’t do anything about the Moriartys? They were right there.”

  “The Moriartys are small potatoes,” said Wink. “My assignment was much more important.”

  Amanda and Nick looked at each other. “More important than the Moriartys? There is no one more important,” she said.

  “There is,” said Thrillkill.

  “And you can’t tell us who that is,” said Amanda.

  “That’s correct,” said Thrillkill.

  “I don’t believe you,” she said. “You’re just trying to justify your terrible behavior.”

  “I wish that were true,” said Thrillkill. She hated when he was so unemotional. How could he not see Nick and David’s pain?

  “Does this have anything to do with the destruction of Legatum?” she asked.

  “No,” said Thrillkill. “Not that we’re aware of.”

  “Worse than the Moriartys and worse than the ninjas?” she said. “Who could that possibly be?”

  “I hope you never find out,” said Wink. He turned to Nick.

  “I’m sure you’re furious with me, son. You have every right to be. But I’d still like to get to know you.” Nick said nothing. Amanda couldn’t tell what he was thinking. “Take your time,” said Wink. “I’m here to stay.”

  “Why?” said Nick.

  “Why am I here to stay?” said Wink.

  “Yes,” said Nick. “Why now?”

  Wink looked at Amanda. “Your cousins Despina and Hillary Lester found me. They blew my cover.”

  “You’re here to see your sons only because your cover was blown?” said Amanda. “You’re despicable.”

  “It’s all right,” Nick said. “I’m sure he had his reasons.”

  Amanda turned to him. “How can you say that? He’s ruined how many lives?” She looked at Thrillkill. “And you, enabling him. You are a cold-hearted monster.”

  But rather than getting angry, the headmaster just looked at her sadly. “So I’ve been told.”

  “No wonder Professor Browning doesn’t love you,” Amanda said. Then, realizing what she’d said she gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. “I’m sorry, Professor,” she said, lowering them into her lap. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sure it isn’t true.”

  “I’m sure it is,” said Thrillkill with sadness in his eyes. “But not for the reasons you suppose.”

  “How does she know about that?” said Wink.

  “Never mind,” said Thrillkill.

  “Look,” said Nick. “I get it. You had to make a wrenching choice. Of course you’re angry, Amanda, and I love you for it. But we all know what a detective’s life is like. It’s not easy at the best of times. So I say there’s nothing to forgive.” He held his hand out to Wink. “I’d like to get to know you too. And I’d like you to come to London with me to see Mum.”

  “Sasha would see me?” said Wink with obvious pleasure.

  “She never stopped loving you,” said Nick.

  “I couldn’t promise her anything,” said Wink. “My place is with Celerie and David.”

  “She’s a very generous person,” said Nick. “You don’t have to worry. And you’ll get to meet my awesome sister, Basilica.”

  “Basilica, eh?” said Wink. “So Sasha married then.”

  “No,” said Nick. “Basilica’s father was Darius Plover. They never married. He died last year.”

  “Sasha was involved with Plover?” said Wink incredulously. “But he was—”

  “Never mind,” said Thrillkill, exchanging a look with him.

  Silence fell over the room. Finally Wink said, “I would love to see your mum, Nick. Just say the word.”

  Nick grinned. Seeing how happy he was, Amanda couldn’t stay angry. She took his hand and he held hers tight.

  “Excellent,” said Thrillkill. “Thank you for being so detectively, both of you.” He rose from his chair just as a knock came at the door. “Come in,” he said, and Despina and Hill appeared.

  “Amanda,” Despina cooed, and wrapped her cousin in her arms. Then she let her go and mouthed. “I’ll text you.”

  “Are you all right?” Amanda said when she and Nick had left Thrillkill’s office.

  “Never better,” he said.

  “Really? How is that possible?”

  He took her in his arms. “Oh, my love, you really don’t know, do you? A year ago I had less than nothing. I was living with a sadistic criminal—several of them, actually. I had no real friends, I was madly in love with a girl who’d never have me, and the odds were that I’d spend a good part of my life in prison, or die young. A few months after that I was also deaf. Do you see where I’m going?”

  “OMG yes,” she said. “I’m such an idiot. How could I be so blind? I’m sorry. Let me run back there and beg their forgiveness.”

  “There’s no need to do that,” he said. “I’m sure they understand.”

  “I’m not sure I would,” she said.

  “Well I am,” said Nick. “You’re generous and kind and absolutely gorgeous besides.” He kissed her and as always, she melted.

  “What would
I do without you?” she said. “And by the way, you can still hear!”

  “Cool, isn’t it?” he said.

  “I don’t get it,” she said.

  “I don’t either, but I’m not about to question it.”

  She pulled him to her. “I’m so glad.”

  “Mmm,” he murmured, his lips deep in her hair.

  “Say,” she said, her cheek against his chest. “Did you see how sad Thrillkill got when I mentioned Professor Browning?”

  “I did,” he said. “He really loves her.”

  “There’s something strange going on there,” she said. “But it’s not our business. Still, it’s awful to see him so sad.”

  “It is,” he said. “I wish he could be as happy as we are.”

  Her thoughts strayed back to Wink. “David is going to freak out,” she said.

  “I don’t know,” Nick mused. “He’s matured a lot.”

  “He has, but this is major,” she said. “Fortunately he has the world’s best brother to help him through it.”

  “I don’t know about that,” said Nick. “But I do know he has a good friend with wild hair who cares about him a lot, and she’ll be there for him.”

  “She will,” said Amanda. “Wild hair and all.”

  Nick had gone back and forth about whether to tell Sasha he was bringing Wink to see her. In the end he decided she was strong enough to weather the shock and decided to surprise her. Now, however, as he, Amanda, and Wink stood on her front porch he was having second thoughts.

  But there wasn’t time to backpedal. When Basilica saw him through the glass she shrieked, opened the door, and threw herself into his arms. Sasha was right behind her, smiling, her long black hair as shiny as a mountain lake. Then she saw Wink.

  “Dio mio,” she said clutching her chest. “I am seeing a ghost.”

  “No you’re not,” Wink said shyly, his eyes glued to Sasha’s beautiful face. He was obviously as much in shock as she was. “It’s really me. I’m alive.”

  “But how? Where? Why?” She could barely get the words out.

  “I’ve been away,” he said. “Under cover. I’m so sorry. I wish I could have explained.”

  She looked at him closely, studying his face. “But you do not come back to me. I see it in your eyes.”