“Latty killed Mom, Dexter!” Daphna cried. “She probably tried to kill Dad, too! Oh, my God!”
“No,” Dex said, “not Dad. We’d’ve been sent away to some foster home or something. She needed him alive so she could move into our house. She probably knocked him over the head and pushed Mom over the edge before the collapse ever happened! Or, for all we know, she used the First Tongue to cause that collapse, or give Dad amnesia about it. Dad gets better and she keeps him running all over the world on wild goose chases so he’ll never meet a new wife who might not want her around—”
“Which explains why she hates Evelyn!” Daphna said. “And then she stays at home and barely ever lets us out of her sight!” Daphna was reeling. “And that’s why she’s so freaked out about him remembering what happened in the caves! Dex, what are we going to do? I feel sick. I think I’m going to throw up.”
“We’ve got to think this through, Daphna,” Dex insisted, feeling a lot calmer than he would’ve expected. “We’ve got to figure out what she wants with us.”
Daphna, nearly hyperventilating now, tried to get a grip on herself. “She’s been waiting for us to turn thirteen, like everyone else!”
“That’s got to be true,” Dex agreed. “But what for? If she sent Dad to Turkey for the Book of Nonsense, why didn’t she get it from him right away when he got home?”
Daphna understood. “Dad got in early! Latty was shopping, and I made him take me to the ABC the second he got out of his cab. He never even went in the house! Rash got the book from him right away. Remember how she freaked out when Dad mentioned Rash’s name? She said it was just an awful name. She must’ve realized her plans had gotten screwed up!”
“Okay, but she didn’t seem to want Dad to get it back.”
“That’s true,” Daphna agreed. “In fact, I think she was avoiding Rash. I didn’t really think about it at the time, but she didn’t go into the ABC with Dad when they got there with that Latin book. With Dad halfway crazed, she said she was going to the toy store to buy us gifts!”
“She couldn’t go in,” Dex said, amazed at the obviousness. “She couldn’t risk Rash recognizing her.”
“What does she want? If she is Adem Tarik, what was all that about making Heaven on Earth?”
“Nice way of going about it,” Dex spat, “murdering people. She probably gave that book to Rash way back when and told him to start the War of Words. Hey! Maybe she wanted the book to get back to Rash so he could try again!”
Exhausted by all this speculation, the twins just breathed, letting the information sink in. They’d known Latty their whole lives! She was the closest thing to a mother they had.
After a while, Daphna said, “What should we do, Dex? How are we going to find out what she wants from us? I, for one, don’t want to wait around for her to—whatever.”
“Me neither,” Dex agreed. “We’ve got to flush her out.”
“Hey,” Daphna said, swelling with anger. “Let’s scare her. Let’s let her know she’s been found out and see what she does.”
“How?”
“I don’t know. Maybe we could write her a note or something.”
“Tonight?”
“I could do it.”
“It’s like, two in the morning or something, Daphna.” Dex could see his sister was serious, and after letting her deal with Emmet, he felt he had no choice but to offer to go himself. It wouldn’t be too difficult.
It was plain to Daphna that Dexter hated her idea, again, and that this time he was going to insist on doing it himself. “I’ll take care of it,” she said, not giving him time. She slipped past her brother and out of the room while he was still getting to his feet.
By the time Dex hurried into the lobby after his sister, she was gone. He looked around, confused. How could she have gotten out so quickly?
Dex paced to the entrance to see if she was just outside. It was too dark to see, but he did notice a little gray box on the wall next to the doors. It was a security panel with a blinking red light. The door was armed. Daphna must’ve headed for another exit. Dex chose the closest hall, his father’s, and hustled down it, looking for another way out. The place was difficult to navigate because halls crisscrossed one another. He hadn’t ever spent much time on the first floor, not that it would’ve made much difference. Daphna could’ve gone any which way.
Eventually, Dex found another door, but it was armed, too, as was the third and fourth he happened upon. By that time, he was too frustrated to care where Daphna was. He didn’t even know where he was. There were mounted signs of course, but they did him no good.
Dex raged up and down random halls, growing more and more aggravated until by sheer luck he found himself back in the lobby. After closing up the Records Room, he stalked back to his father’s room, fed up again with just about everything.
CHAPTER 12
departures and arrivals
Dex sat on his cot and sulked. But after what seemed like no more than fifteen minutes, Daphna walked in. He’d wandered the halls for a while, but long enough for her to run home, sneak into the house, leave a note and run back? She didn’t even look winded. Not stinking likely, Dex thought, but maybe she couldn’t get out of the building. “Did you already—?”
“Shhh!” Daphna warned. “I went through the service doors downstairs—I sprinted! It’s scary out there—I was afraid of running into those animals again.” Noting her brother’s disbelieving air, Daphna flushed with displeasure and said, “Do you want to know what happened or what?”
Dex did, so he pushed aside his rekindled distrust for the moment.
“Well,” Daphna whispered, “on my way over, I started thinking maybe the direct approach wasn’t the best plan. I mean, what do we think Latty’d do if we just came out and accused her of killing Mom? She’d deny it, obviously.”
“So what did you write?”
“Well, first I wrote she shouldn’t be alarmed that the note was delivered in the middle of the night. I said one of the nurses was getting off shift and lives right near us and didn’t mind dropping it off.”
“Okay, so what did it say?”
“I said we wanted to warn her about Dad before she came today.”
“Warn her? About what?”
“Well, I said Dad’s been talking more in his sleep and that he mumbled something like Mom didn’t really slip off that ledge in the cave, that she was pushed. I wrote he sat up and yelled that she was murdered and then started saying he thinks he might know who Adem Tarik is. See, this way, she’ll think she hasn’t quite been found out yet, but she’ll definitely think she’s going to be. I figure she’ll have to do something right away, and we’ll be watching. If we’re wrong, she’ll just blow it off as more kooky mumbling.
“So anyway, I put it on the mat, and made a lot of noise like by accident, then hid. When I saw the front light come on, I ran back. It all took, like, five minutes. She must’ve been up.”
“Not bad,” Dex said, but with little enthusiasm. It was a clever idea. He’d never have thought of all that. Still, Daphna was up to something, and it was starting to get under his skin.
“Not bad?”
Dex could see Daphna was fishing for a compliment, but she wasn’t going to get one. “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what it does to her,” was the best he could offer.
“I guess so!” Daphna snapped. Dexter was acting like he couldn’t care less that the person they’d spent the most time with in their lives murdered their mother.
Maybe he’s in shock about it, she thought. It was shocking news after all. Perhaps she’d overlooked that possibility because what she felt wasn’t shock, at least not anymore. She’d been lied to by the one person in her life she’d continually confided in, even if it had been a while since she and Latty had really talked. Not only had her supposed friends at school turned out to be frauds, her supposed best friend at home had, too.
What Daphna felt now was pure fury. If Latty really was Adem Tarik�
��if she really did kill their mother—she needed to pay. Dex could react however he wanted, Daphna decided, but if she had to lie, cheat or steal, she was going to do whatever she had to do to get revenge. And if that wasn’t the noblest way to react to these developments, well, she’d learn to take betrayal better next time around.
The words of Ruby Scharlach came back to Daphna just then. She’d told Dex that sometimes even those closest to you cannot be trusted. The irony of her remark was a bitter pill to swallow. Irate on several levels, Daphna climbed into her sleeping bag without offering her brother a goodnight.
Dex, having no intention of saying goodnight either, did the same. Both twins burrowed churlishly into their bags, so neither noticed the other’s flashlight come on, nor did either comment when, ten minutes later, their father started mumbling in what was now a Rash-like raspy voice, “Adem Tarik, Adem Tarik—I—am—I—not a bad man.”
“Kids! Kids! Up and at ’em! Kids!”
Dex and Daphna both jerked to woozy attention and flipped their lights off. Neither had slept a wink.
“Rise and shine! Hello?” It was Milton, sounding like he was gargling steel wool.
Dex freed his head from his bag and blinked groggily at his wide-eyed father, sitting up in bed. A moment later, Daphna’s head emerged. She had dark circles under her eyes.
“What gives?” Milton asked, noting the twins’ equally bleary looks. “Are those cots that bad? I wanted to let you sleep, but it’s already eleven, and I’m wondering where Latty is. She should’ve been here an hour ago, and there’s no answer at home. I’m hoping one of you wouldn’t mind running over to see what’s what. I almost feel good enough to do it myself, but Evelyn would have my head if she knew I was even thinking about—”
Both Dex and Daphna were on their feet. “We’ll both go,” they said.
Daphna rushed into the bathroom before Milton could get another word out. He looked quizzically at Dex.
“I think she just really wants her own shower,” Dex offered by way of explanation. “I just want some more sleep. The cot was a little lumpy.” Dex noticed a tray of bagels and apples had appeared in the room. He grabbed one of each.
“I’m sorry about that, Dex. I could talk to Evelyn. But to tell you the truth, I don’t think I’ll be in here much longer.”
“That’s okay,” Dex said. Daphna rushed back out just then, so he hurried into the bathroom behind her.
“Sorry to bolt out of here, Dad,” Daphna said, grabbing her own bagel and apple.
“That’s fine. I’m going to be doing some heavy duty walking today.”
Dex reappeared, so the twins put on their backpacks, said good-bye to their father and hurried straight outside. They walked home eating ravenously, anxious to learn what Latty’s absence meant.
The moment their house came into view, it was obvious something was amiss. Every light was on, and the front door was standing open. The car was also gone, which meant Latty was, too.
The twins dashed inside ready for—they didn’t know what they were ready for. What they found was about the only thing they hadn’t expected: that is, nothing. Nothing seemed wrong. Dex and Daphna looked around the living room and then walked into the kitchen. They came back out, shrugging. Both had a sense they were missing something.
“Something’s weird,” Daphna concluded. “I just can’t figure out what.”
“Yeah,” Dex concurred. “It’s different in here.” The twins remained standing where they were, looking at everything as if for the first time.
“What is it?” whispered Daphna, turning about, scanning the bookshelves and coffee table and couch.
Dex was doing the same. He turned himself in a full circle before his eyes settled on the mantle above the fireplace.
“Look,” he said, pointing to the blank space on the wall above it.
“Mom’s picture!” Daphna hurried over and put her hand on the wall. She had no idea what it meant that it was gone. It was strange not to have noticed right away.
Dex turned to look at the collection of small, framed photos on the shelves and coffee table. They weren’t there.
Daphna, certain what she’d find, rushed to the built-in cabinet below the shelves and threw open the doors. “All our photo albums!” she cried. “They’re gone!”
Dex hurried into Milton’s room and immediately called out, “They’re all gone in here, too—even the giant one of Mom over his bed!”
Daphna noted the same in the kitchen and in the office. Then, at the same moment, both of them ran to Latty’s room.
It was deserted.
There was a stripped mattress, an empty closet and barren dressers. It was as if it were an unused spare room. The twins, stunned by the sight, backed into the living room and sat down on the couch. Whatever they thought the letter might make Latty do, this wasn’t it.
“It’s like our past just got stolen,” Daphna muttered, staring dumbly at the front door, still ajar.
“Why’d she take the pictures?” Dex asked. He was so tired, it came out as a whine. “Why’d she have to do that? Those pictures of Mom were all we had of her.” Dex hadn’t allowed himself time to think much about Latty’s treachery. He hadn’t entirely decided to believe it. But now—
“She’s evil,” Daphna snarled, feeling prickles on the back of her neck. “She wanted to hurt us on her way out. We were right, Dex. We’ve been living with Adem Tarik for thirteen years! We’ve been living with the person who killed our mother our entire lives. She took Mom’s body once, and now she’s taken her memory!”
These last words exploded out of Daphna. The guilt she’d already felt for being ashamed of her mother’s old-looking face in those pictures hit her like a wrecking ball. Now they were gone. But Daphna was too crushed to rage for long. She suddenly felt empty and frail, and she wished she’d slept at least a little bit last night.
“What are we going to do, now, Dex?” she asked, whining herself. “I didn’t think this far ahead. We’ve got to find her. We’ve got to find her and make her pay.”
Dexter got up and paced around the living room. He’d never seen such a savage look on his sister’s face before. He was angry, too, but she looked downright murderous. He did suppose Daphna was a lot closer to Latty than he was, though it didn’t seem like it recently.
He had no idea what they could do now. What were they going to tell their father? Could they stall his coming home? Could they make a new effort to get him to remember everything so he’d understand, once and for all? Did they really want to make him remember seeing his wife get murdered?
“Hey, what’s this?” Dex asked. He’d just crossed to the door and was about to close it when a long delivery truck pulled into their driveway. Daphna got up and hurried over.
The truck stopped alongside the house, and a muscular deliveryman hopped out with a clipboard in his hand. He approached the twins, who’d come out on the porch, and asked if a Milton Wax lived there. A pin on his work shirt said ‘Ireneo Funes.’
“Ah, yeah,” said Dex. “But he’s in the hospital.”
Ireneo looked disappointed. “Either of you eighteen?” The twins shook their heads, but he looked like he knew they weren’t anyway. “Anyone home who is?”
“No, but we can sign,” Daphna offered. “We’re responsible.”
“No can do. Could lose my job.” Ireneo tore a card from a pad and handed it to Daphna. “Have your father give us a call to arrange another time for delivery.”
“Really, we’re very respons—” Daphna insisted, but Ireneo was already heading back to his truck.
“Do something, Dexter!” Daphna whispered. There was no possible way she was going to flirt with a grown man, but she was too worn out to think of anything else. “It’s gotta be from that guy in Turkey! The stuff he said was on the way!”
Dexter hurried after Ireneo, who’d climbed back into his seat. Daphna heard him say something, then he came running by her and back into the house.
�
��I’ll be one second!” he shouted.
Daphna was pleasantly surprised at her brother’s lack of hesitation and extremely curious to know what he was doing. She walked casually over to the far side of the truck to see if Ireneo might say anything to her, but she found him sitting in his seat, staring through the windshield with a dull, slightly misty look in his eyes. She cleared her throat, but he didn’t respond. He had that expression some kids get in school when they’re so bored they have no idea where they are anymore.
“Ah, sir?” Daphna tried, growing concerned. She was about to lean in to get a closer look at Ireneo’s eyes, but Dex called out from the house that he was coming. When he appeared at the driver’s side door, Ireneo turned and blinked at him.
“I was hoping you could make an exception?” Dex said, holding out a bulging envelope.
“Huh? I’ve got to get go—”
“An exception,” Dex repeated, putting the envelope into Ireneo’s puzzled hands. “I’m sure they let you make exceptions sometimes. You know, about the age requirement.”
Ireneo opened the envelope, but immediately squeezed it shut again. Daphna had seen enough to understand, a fat flash of green. Suddenly, Ireneo was climbing back out of the truck.
“You’re right,” he said, shoving the envelope into a long pocket on the side of his pants. He strode around behind the truck and the twins followed after. “They do make exceptions for minors, like, for times when the only adult is ill. You can go ahead and sign your father’s name.” Ireneo handed his clipboard to Dex, then began unlatching the cargo door.
“No problem,” said Dex, scribbling away with relish. “We really appreciate—” Dex stopped short when the door rolled up. Both twins stared, transfixed, into the truck. Inside were boxes, hundreds and hundreds of boxes, all the size of milk crates, all with their father’s name and address on them.
Book of Knowledge Page 9
