‘Like what?’ Ivy mumbled. ‘My brain? My observational skills? My –?’
‘No,’ Olivia said. ‘Your nose! Don’t you remember what Blue Skye said? Maxie wears a scent of patchouli oil and lavender. That can’t be a common combo on most of the guys shopping here today, can it? And with you and Reiko both sharing that heightened sense of smell . . .’ Her smile sounded in her voice. ‘All is not definitely lost!’
‘Of course.’ Ivy shook her head with a mixture of relief and fury. How could I not have thought of that? I can be such a useless vamp sometimes.
She looked to Reiko, who was tilting back her head to scent the air. Then the exchange student gave a worried grimace. ‘Actually,’ she said, ‘my nose isn’t working quite right in America. Everything smells the same to me here!’
Ivy turned to face the crowds below. It looked like it was all on her now. ‘Come on,’ she muttered to herself. ‘Focus!’
But every time she tried to follow the scents in the air, she found herself distracted by the movements of the people beneath her. ‘Why can’t I stop looking?’
‘I have an idea.’ Reiko pulled her backpack off her shoulder and rummaged inside.
Ivy frowned. ‘You want to play a game now?’
‘Better.’ Reiko pulled out a sweatband. ‘Ta-da!’
‘Um . . .’ Ivy’s eyes widened. ‘I really don’t think –’
But Reiko was already advancing purposefully. ‘I promise it’s totally clean,’ she said, as she yanked it down over Ivy’s eyes. ‘How’s that?’
‘How is it?’ Ivy almost laughed. ‘I’m blind, that’s how it is. Why in darkness – oh . . . Wait . . .’ Her nose gave an involuntary twitch. ‘I’m getting something!’
‘I knew it,’ Reiko said. ‘I got the idea from Blue Skye!’
Normally, Ivy might have rolled her eyes, but this time, she didn’t even say a snarky word. Because right there, floating in the middle of the riot of scents that filled the crowded mall, was . . .
Patchouli oil and lavender. ‘This way!’
She started forwards, but arms pulled her back.
‘Wait!’ Olivia was saying. ‘You were about to walk right into everyone getting off the escalator! Should I take this thing off you?’
‘No!’ Ivy slapped one protective hand against the sweatband, holding it tight. ‘I need it to keep my focus. Just get me on to the “down” escalator, back to the ground floor – and don’t let me knock into anything!’
Olivia and Reiko guided her through the crowd of people until Ivy felt her hand touch the rubber guide rail of the escalator. As the moving stairs carried her down towards the source of that “Maxie” scent, whispers rose – and her vampire hearing, strengthened by her blindness, caught them all.
‘Whoa! Look at that pale girl with the blindfold!’
‘What is she doing?’
‘Maybe it’s a dare.’
‘Maybe she’s got some kind of sickness.’
‘Or, maybe . . . she’s just really weird.’
Reiko must have heard the whispers too. ‘It’s a treasure hunt!’ she called out from behind Ivy. ‘She’s sniffing out prizes!’
‘Cool!’ The people in front of them on the escalator started peppering Reiko and Olivia with questions about the treasure hunt and some of them started sniffing the air curiously.
Ivy ignored them all, her attention focused on that single thread of scent. The moment her feet hit solid ground, she started to her right.
‘Uh-uh!’ Olivia tugged her left. ‘This way.’
‘No!’ Gritting her teeth, Ivy pulled to her right with all her strength.
It should have been no contest – and it would not have been, if Olivia was the only person pulling Ivy. But she was teamed up with a vampire and, together, the two girls yanked her hard, and Ivy staggered to her left, barely staying upright.
‘What are you doing?’ she hissed. ‘Maxie is this way!’
‘Well, so is a handbag stand,’ Olivia said sharply, ‘and you were about to walk straight into it!’
‘Oh.’ Ivy stopped resisting. ‘Thanks. But we need to go in the other direction!’
‘No worries.’ Reiko sounded as cheerful as ever. ‘Olivia and I can guide you around the stand.’
With both of their hands on her arms, Ivy shuffled in a half-circle, hanging on to Maxie’s scent with all her focus. The shifting crowd around her was full of other smells, from perfume to sweat, leather and fresh-baked cookies, but with every step, Maxie’s scent grew stronger. In fact, it was so strong and steady, Ivy was almost certain that the boy had stayed in one place for at least the last few minutes.
Excellent. For once, he might actually be easy to find!
‘This way,’ she whispered, tugging the others with her. ‘This way, this way . . . stop!’
Ivy reached up and yanked her blindfold off.
Bright lights glowed above her, revealing rows and rows of comic books.
They were standing inside Tall Tony’s Comic Book Emporium . . .
And standing across the room from them, browsing one of the colourful displays, was Maxie Richards.
Chapter Ten
Ivy started forwards.
Before she could take a second step, a skinny, pink-haired man in a bright yellow anime T-shirt popped out from behind the front counter.
‘Hey, dudes! I’m Tall Tony. Can I help you find anything?’
‘Um . . .’ Ivy frowned, distracted by the big-eyed girl on his T-shirt. He’s a little too old to pull that off. ‘We’re just browsing, actu–’ She cringed as she caught herself too late.
Oh, no. I said the dreaded B-word!
Ivy gave herself a mental slap. Today’s encounter with the new-and-improved Blue Skye had lulled her into thinking browsing might actually be OK, but what if Tall Tony was of the Blue Skye 1.0 style of store owner? ‘Um . . .’ Quickly, Ivy gathered her wits. ‘When I said “browsing”,’ she began, ‘what I really meant was . . . was . . .’
‘Hey, it’s all cool, dude.’ Tony gave her a sleepy smile. ‘Browsing is how we make our greatest discoveries.’ Still smiling, he ambled back to his seat behind the counter and picked up a graphic novel. A moment later, he was laughing quietly to himself as he read, apparently oblivious to the world around him.
‘Wow,’ Olivia breathed into Ivy’s ear. ‘If Tony’s single, maybe we should see if we can match him with the new-and-improved Blue Skye. They seem like a perfect match!’
‘Hmm . . .’ Ivy tilted her head, seriously considering the question. ‘I’m not so sure about that one. Do you think they’d ever actually make it to a date?’
‘Good point.’ Olivia grinned mischievously. ‘Scheduling an exact date and time would be much too rigid for Blue Skye.’
‘Yup. They’d have to just happen to both end up in the same place at the same time by some kind of “cosmic accident”!’
Olivia burst into laughter, and Ivy couldn’t help but join in. After all the stress and exhaustion of the last week, the whole thing was too ridiculous to even think about with a straight face. But if a cosmically-ordered date ever did work out for the two store owners . . . what would they name their joint store? Blue Tony? Tall Skye? Or . . .
‘Ahem!’ Reiko cleared her throat, staring at them as if they’d both gone crazy. ‘Aren’t we here for a reason?’ She tipped her head meaningfully in the direction of the boy across the room, who was still engrossed in his comic book.
There’s no mistaking where he shops! Ivy thought. If his long, pale blue shirt made of knobbly hemp had not come from Blue Skye’s store it had to have come straight from a tropical island, just like the billowing cotton trousers he wore underneath it. His brown hair was long enough to curl at the bottom of his neck, and she thought that even Olivia would be able to smell the patchouli oil on his skin from the other side of Tall Tony’s.
‘Oops.’ Still grinning, Olivia stepped back. ‘Reiko’s right. It’s time for the Daring Detective Duo – well, Trio – to
take action!’
Ivy nodded, starting across the room with quiet, stealthy steps – like a tiger stalking her prey. Maxie’s back was still turned to them, even as he set down his comic book and moved over to the collectibles’ stand. From the way he was bent, he seemed to be studying the limited edition superhero figurines, along with spaceships in the shape of . . . bats.
Ivy winced. Well, that’s appropriate, anyway, she thought ruefully . . . but then she stopped.
Reiko and Olivia almost walked straight into her.
‘What’s wrong?’ Reiko hissed.
Ivy shook her head. ‘I was so determined to catch up with him, I didn’t even think about a plan! How are we going to strike up a conversation with a boy like this?’
‘Hmm.’ Olivia frowned. ‘I don’t know anything about comics . . . or figurines!’
‘Exactly,’ Ivy said. ‘None of us does! And how exactly are we supposed to broach the whole topic of the pashmina theft? We can’t just walk up and say, We know you stole it!’
‘No-o-o,’ Olivia said doubtfully. ‘But we have to do something. Maybe . . .’
Reiko heaved a loud sigh and adjusted her backpack. ‘Leave this to me.’
Ivy leaped back just in time to avoid getting hit on the head by the handle of Reiko’s tennis racquet as the exchange student strode confidently across the room. She nudged Maxie in the arm. ‘Hey! What do you think of that X-5000 model? I don’t like it as much as last month’s version!’
Ivy’s mouth dropped open. She turned to stare at Olivia, and found her twin looking just as flabbergasted as Ivy felt.
Is this really happening?
Across the room, Maxie and Reiko were quickly engaged in a heated debate.
As Ivy listened in shock, Reiko’s voice rose. ‘. . . but the extra side-fins make all the difference! Just think: how would they have coped in Issue 512 if it hadn’t been for those?’
‘It’s like she’s speaking a different language,’ Ivy hissed to her twin. ‘I will never understand this girl!’
Olivia’s shoulders rose in a helpless shrug. ‘I guess . . . she’s sporty and a comic book fan. So? People can have multiple interests.’
‘Yeah, but . . .’ Ivy let out a frustrated breath. ‘Look, it’s not that I think a person can’t be into two different things. I would never think that made anyone fake or un-cool, or anything like that. It’s just . . . where does Reiko find the time to have all these interests? I barely even manage to watch Shadowtown these days!’
Olivia gave her a rueful smile. ‘Maybe Reiko doesn’t spend all her time solving mysteries!’
‘Hmmph.’ Ivy rolled her eyes at her twin. Trying to be discreet, she drifted closer to the collectibles’ stand, aware of Olivia following close behind. ‘Shh,’ she whispered.
She shouldn’t have worried. From the passion in the two fans’ voices, they wouldn’t have noticed if a herd of elephants had stampeded past them.
‘You’ve read that one too?’ Maxie’s voice shot up with delight. ‘I love the art in that issue!’
‘It’s really great, isn’t it?’ Reiko nodded so hard, her pink-and-black ponytail bobbed wildly behind her. ‘I just wish I could draw that well myself !’
‘I know what you mean . . .’ Maxie’s head ducked. He sounded shy as he mumbled. ‘Art is my big passion. I’d love to work in comics one day. It would be amazing – I just hope I’m good enough.’
‘That is so cool!’ Reiko paused, glancing past Maxie at Ivy and Olivia. ‘So . . .’ She cleared her throat. ‘I’m only here for another week, but even I know about Café Creative. That was a definite highlight of my trip. If you’re an artist, you must have been at the opening night, too. What did you think of it?’
Go, Reiko! Ivy cheered silently as Maxie’s head jerked up. Anticipation filled her as she saw the sudden panic on his face. Come on, she urged him silently, just admit you were at the scene of the crime!
‘Well . . . yeah . . . I mean, I heard it was pretty cool.’ He shifted nervously from one foot to another, looking like he might turn and run at any moment.
‘You heard it was cool?’ Ivy sidled up behind him. He jumped at the sudden new voice. ‘Are you saying that you didn’t go? I thought practically everyone in Franklin Grove and Lincoln Vale stopped by the opening of the café that night. The place was packed.’
‘It really was.’ Olivia stepped up on his other side, neatly boxing him in.
Maxie’s gaze darted from one girl to the next. ‘Um . . .’
Ivy studied him closely. This is no hardened thief.
Maybe Maxie had taken the pashmina – but now that she’d heard him talking so passionately about art with Reiko, Ivy was getting the feeling there was a more complicated explanation for what had happened. And after all her sleepless nights, she was ready to hear it now.
She forced her expression to harden as she put forward her best bluff. ‘I could have sworn I saw you there, at the launch . . .’
‘Oh, um, I couldn’t get a ticket.’ Maxie’s shoulders hunched as his gaze dropped. ‘They sold out so fast.’
‘Yeah?’ Ivy arched one eyebrow menacingly. ‘I’m sure I saw you around the place, though.’
Olivia’s eyes narrowed. ‘Maybe you were at the museum before the launch started?’
Wow, Ivy thought. Olivia’s really putting her acting skills to use! I’ve never seen her look so stern.
‘Um . . .’ Now Maxie’s skin looked chalk-white. He moistened his lips nervously.
A whirring noise sounded overhead, and cold air suddenly blasted down at them from the overhead air conditioner. Perfect, Ivy thought.
She rubbed her hands up and down her arms. ‘Oof, that’s cold. If only I had something I could use to get warm.’
‘Something you could drape over your shoulders, maybe?’ Olivia said pointedly.
Reiko crossed her arms. ‘Like a pashmina, you mean?’
‘Oh, no . . .’ Maxie let out a weary sigh as his shoulders slumped. ‘How could you have possibly found out?’
The look of defeat on his face was so pitiful, Ivy had to bite back the triumphant grin that wanted to break out on her face. ‘Sorry,’ she said lightly. ‘But we’re good at this kind of thing.’
She looked over his shoulders at Olivia and Reiko, and both of them grinned back at her.
The Daring Detective Trio has solved the mystery!
Ten minutes later, all four of them were gathered around a table in the mall food court. Not only had they wanted a more private place to talk, but Maxie had looked ready to faint with shock, so Olivia had declared food an urgent medical emergency.
For him anyway, Ivy thought, and sighed. Maxie and Olivia were both nibbling at pita pockets with hummus as they sat across the table from her, but she and Reiko had been left empty-handed. ‘Veggie Val’s’ was hardly a vampire-friendly foodstand.
She traded a rueful look with Reiko as Maxie finished his pita and let out a sigh of obvious satisfaction. Hunger growled in her own stomach, but she tried to ignore it.
‘OK,’ she said. ‘Now that you’ve eaten, it’s time to finally tell us the truth.’
Maxie took a deep breath and then sighed: ‘It’s all Penny Taylor’s fault.’
Olivia made a choking noise and Ivy stared at him. ‘What?’
Maxie blushed and stared at the table. ‘Well, not really,’ he said. ‘It’s my fault but I just . . . I just wanted her to notice me.’
‘You stole a pashmina because you wanted Penny to notice you?’ Ivy said slowly.
Olivia frowned. ‘Were you going to wear it?’
Reiko snorted and then burst out laughing. Even Maxie gave a small smile. ‘No, I wasn’t.’ He grimaced. ‘I guess I’d better tell you the whole story . . . no matter how embarrassing it is.’
Ivy couldn’t quite bring herself to give him one of her patented death-squints, but she folded her arms as firmly as she could. ‘I think that would be a good idea.’
‘OK.’ Maxie seemed to steel hi
mself. ‘Penny Taylor used to go to Lincoln Vale Middle School with me. We were friends, but I’ve always . . . liked her a lot.’
‘Penny is great,’ said Olivia warmly. She gave Maxie an encouraging smile and Ivy shot her a look. This is an interrogation, not a dating show!
‘I really want Penny to notice me,’ Maxie continued, ‘but we don’t see each other much any more. She goes to Franklin Grove High now and she’s busy with her art and fashion design.’
‘We heard that you are into art as well,’ said Olivia.
Ivy rolled her eyes. Why could her twin not focus on this?
Maxie was nodding. ‘That’s what Penny and I have in common. So I decided to come to the opening of Café Creative and talk to her. After the show, I followed you and Penny to the display room. I saw you with the pashmina and I thought it would be the perfect talking point. But then I panicked and I hid. I was just trying to work up the courage to come out from behind the display case and ask her about the pashmina and its designs, but she started to leave before I worked up the nerve.’
He ran a hand through his long hair, nervously tapping his knuckles on the table as he tried to continue his story.
‘I didn’t want to lose my chance. So I thought, maybe if I went over and made a big show of admiring the pashmina, she might hear me and turn around, and then . . .’ He drifted off, looking hopeless.
‘It might have worked,’ Reiko said thoughtfully. ‘If you’d said something really cool afterwards.’
‘I suck at “cool” conversation,’ Maxie said sadly. ‘I was so desperate, though, I would have tried anything. But before I could say a word, the lights went out.’
‘I remember.’ Ivy’s eyes narrowed. ‘So what happened then?’
Maxie shrugged. ‘It was so dark, I was . . . as blind as Blue Skye. I was just fumbling around, trying to find my way out, when I felt myself knock the pashmina off its stand. I freaked out. I mean, it’s probably priceless – what if I’d destroyed it? I was just scrambling to pick it up when the lights flashed back on.’
‘And then?’ Ivy prompted.
He looked miserable. ‘I panicked. I was about to be caught in a place I shouldn’t have been – and I still didn’t even know yet if I’d damaged the pashmina! I didn’t even think. I just ran.’ He sighed, setting his hands flat on the table. ‘It wasn’t until I was outside that I even realised I was actually still carrying it. I should have dropped it back in the museum, but by the time I noticed . . . it was too late. So I just kept running.’
Fashion Frightmare! (My Sister the Vampire) Page 9
