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Norbert smiled, a barely noticeable crack in his still-panicked face "Those are soood questions indeed I reckon they’re in the same boat as you and your daddy, here Back at the house, I’d just noticed a suspicious car pull onto the road to follow you folks when this fancyfor the saestured to the destroyed car "Gazing down there won’t fix a thing What’s done is done Come on"

They walked back to the car and to the people who had saved their lives The driver’s side door popped open when they were still a few feet away; a tall, nicely dressed reased blond hair back as he did so

He bowed slightly as they approached, closing his eyes for a long second "Good evening, sirs" His accent was thick, ize that we have not formally made acquaintance--if you’ll excuse me"

Tick’s dad had moved forward to shake the er hurriedly walked around the car and opened the passenger-side door, bowing in deference to the person inside Baffled, Tick stared as a girl about his age got out of the car and waved at the the few crazy seconds it took to save his dad, Tick had not gotten a good look at the girl until now, thanks to the car’s headlights that were still shining brightly in the darkness

She had an olive co her brown eyes and thin face She was maybe an inch or two shorter than Tick and wore clothes that see special--he’d almost expected a princess the way her blond coaze focused on Tick

She also had an accent, but very subtle "Hi," he answered "Uh, thanks for saving us--to you and yourdad"

The girl laughed "Oh, he’s not my dad He’s my butler"

The man jerked his head stiffly in another bow "It is a pleasure My naer, but you may call me Frupey"

It took every ounce of willpower for Tick not to laugh Frupey?

His dad lus obviously sore froorously shook the hands of Frupey and the girl "Thank you, thank you so much I still can’t believe how all this happened Thank you for saving us"

Frupey answered in his formal voice "It was our pleasure, so that Miss Pacini may receive the sixth clue"

Tick felt his stoe itself in his throat "What?" he croaked "Did you just say" He looked at the dark-haired girl, as s like she’d just been crowned Miss Universe

"Hello, A her hand out "It’s about time we finally met face to face, huh?"

Tick couldn’t believe it

Sofia

Chapter

26

Time Constraints

It took only a few seconds for Tick and Sofia to break past the thin wall of aardness; they did, after all, know each other very well froes They sat in the back of the car and talked nonstop during the drive back to Norbert’s ho in every now and then to ask a question or two