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"I’ it restored--which is about ashere," Kennedy says "But it’ll be worth it My Aunt Edna left it to me"

My head turns sharply "Aunt Edna died? Shit, she was cool Why didn’t anyone telltrip--I overheard soot to mention it when you calad she left it to you" Then I grin, easily i old house with its cobwebs and secrets "I bet you had a blast going through the attic"

Her eyes widen "I did, yeah" Bull’s-eye

Because people really don’t change when it comes to qualities like that A love of adventure, of exploration, even if it’s of the past She hasn’t changed

"Maybe you can give me a tour sometime?"

She still looks a little wary, distrustful of o down screa

She unlocks the front door, then turns "Good-bye, Brent"

I run my hand down her arht, Kennedy I’lad we talked Cleared the air And if I didn’t say it before, I’lad you’re hoive her arentle squeeze, then walk down the front steps toward the gate Halfway there she calls, "Brent?"

I turn around

"This doesn’t change anything About the case, Iyou have If you go easy on me it’ll mean you don’t respect ive you for that"

I give her a quick nod and she goes inside, closing the door behind her

My eleven-year-old self was right: girls are weird

• • •

I wake up earlier than usual on Saturday, with the echo of Kennedy’s words in ed sticks sparking a fire So I skiponline research

It’s a, howaround out there, and how siet the info I wanted--an address just an hour outside of DC--I tap the address into Google Maps, then I head out

When I knock on the door, I hearfeet

And then the door opens