Page 39 (1/2)

Once they got back to Norbert’s, Tick’s dad called Aunt Mabel and told her they wouldn’t be back until the next day, then he called the police and began the long process of dealing with the car accident Frupey and Norbert scrounged around in the kitchen, trying to find food for everyone Car chases evidently ht as his own stoether on the pitiful couch in the front roo the latest clue they’d received They had to use Sofia’s copy because Tick’s bit the bullet along with the rental car--he’d failed to slip it back into his journal during the frantic rush of exciteht in the rooht bulb blinding if you looked at it directly

"Well, it’s obviously just like the first clue," Tick said as Sofia scanned the words again "Except this one tells us the time instead of the day"

"You Aure that out?"

"Man, you sure are sirl"

"Girl?" she asked, her eyes narrowing "Do I look like a little baby doll to you?"

Tick laughed "I never would’ve guessed you’d actually be scarier in real life than in the e-mail"

Sofia elbowed him hard in the stomach "Just remember what I told you--I beat up seventeen boys last summer No one o around picking fights with gi--, I hetti coure this out, huh?"

"Sounds good, ItalianeseWoman" Tick didn’t understand why she could call hiain--for some odd reason, he felt really comfortable around her--but he didn’t particularly want another jab to the stoh it again while she stared into space for a ic words at exactly seventeenthe six-hour ht plus one hundred and sixty-six minutes minus seven quarter-hours plus a minute times seven, rounded to the nearest half-hour plus three Neither a second before nor three seconds after

(Yes, I’ic words, but I’in to say it Quit being so snooty)

Once again, MG’s sense of huer to meet the man Norbert had already e Sounds like soure out the first clue?" Tick asked

"How long it take you?" Sofia responded Every once in a while, she lish, but for the most part, she knew it perfectly

"Once I sat down to do it, ht"

Sofia gave hirin and raised her eyebrows "Should we race on this one? Like aMaster George Olyether to solve it, but her idea suddenly sounded very fun If I was a nerd before, I’ve hit rock-bottoht

"You’re on," he said, ready for the challenge

"I’lish, please"

Tick rolled his eyes "Here, we’ll put the clue on this little coffee table, where we can both see it, okay? Neither one of us are allowed to touch it I’ll run and get so to write on" He stood up

"What about you?" she asked

Tick held his journal out "I’ll write in this--why didn’t you bring yours?"

Sofia shrugged "I got tired of carrying it around Who needs it?" She tapped her head with a finger "It’s all stored up here anyway So, what about a prize? What does the winner get?"