Sylvie shrugged. “It probably shouldn’t be, but don’t worry, Chenery’s specializes in communication. So there’s no way one of us will get sucked inside.”
“I suppose that’s reassuring,” said Georgia, taking a step back.
Sylvie eyed the instructions. She’d seen her mom use a cwtch before, but she’d never actually sent a message this way.
Chenery’s, communication at your fingertips! (Good for one use only.)
Speak clearly and slowly. We are not responsible for messages lost due to garbled or rapid speech.
Once your message is complete, press the small button on top to seal your voice inside.
State the recipient’s name and address. Once the cwtch begins to spin, let go.
To retrieve message, break open.
Sylvie cleared her throat and composed her thoughts. “Mom. It’s an emergency. Someone is planning to release aVindicti-au-ventat the competition. You’re probably wondering how I know this. Well, don’t be mad, or at least not too mad. I swiped a bit of Clarity Consommé.”
Sylvie could already hear her mom scolding her.Irresponsible! Dangerous!
“Anyway, I know what you’re going to say, and you can lecture me later. But it’s going to happen. Also, the person responsible may be an old friend—at least that’s what Julia said.” Sylvie hesitated. “I think it might be Guy Fabre. He never told anyone, but he had a copy of Eglantine Easton’s book with him during the competition. I saw it in Godard’s memory. So, watch your back!”
Sylvie pressed the button on top, sealing her message inside. The ball started to spin. Sylvie recited the address.
“Abby Jones.The Golden Whisk. Paris, France. 18th Arrondissement.”
The cwtch lifted into the air and drifted past them, bobbing like a dandelion in the wind.
Georgia paused to stare at it, scissors in hand.
Whoosh!The cwtch hurtled toward the window. Sylvie watched it vanish from sight, carrying her hopes and fears as if they were light as a feather.
She turned to Georgia. “Now that I’ve warned my mom, we need to focus on getting the anonymous letter to Godard before Bass arrives.”
Maybe Sylvie didn’t have the power to stop Bass, yet. But thanks to the information she’d uncovered, she could pull his legs out from under him. All she needed to do was expose Brindille’s rat.
Transparent Pie
“ARE YOU SURE THIS WILL WORK?” ASKEDGEORGIA THE NEXTafternoon.
They were now standing outside The Borrowed Spork. Class had just ended, and the entire school was heading to the cafeteria for an assembly.
Sylvie pulled out the letter they’d put together using bits of Georgia’s magazines and the tylose powder from their tool kits. A little water mixed into the powder, a paintbrush, andvoilà,Sylvie had created the perfect glue.
“What if the words fall off the page,” said Georgia, still wishing they’d used something more durable.
“Trust me,” said Sylvie. “My mom uses tylose to glue gumpaste figurines all the time. If it can hold a mermaid together, it can handle this. Besides, the sticking agent will also goop things up for Godard, making it hard for her to trace this back to us.”
Sylvie stared at the letter as they walked.
Despite its resemblance to a ransom note, Sylvie was still quite pleased.
They turned the corner and headed up the steps to the dining hall. The inside was swarming with activity. Sylvie folded the note and sealed it in an envelope.
“I’m telling you. This is the perfect plan. The entire school is here.” She stuffed it into her pocket. “Once the assembly is over, you distract Godard and I’ll slip it into her pocket.” Sylvie just hoped this went more smoothly than her last plan.
“Everyone! May I have your attention.” Madame Godard stood on a dais at the front of the room. She gestured to the rows of chairs that were now erected in tidy lines throughout the dining hall. “Please. Take a seat.”
A small table with two chairs had been placed at the foot of the podium where Madame Godard was speaking. To the right of it stood a group of Brindille teachers, dressed in starched chef’s coats and tall toques. Sylvie spotted Chef Jake laughing with Madame Pelletier. At the far end of the faculty line, Kitty and Madame Lopez were chatting with Flora and another girl who was holding a very large poster.
