Storm Warning

by Linda Sue Park

  "Yeah, Nellie," Dan said, his voice anxious. "Everything's cool now, so you can quit bawling, okay?"

  The snuffling noises grew quieter.

  Fiske cleared his throat. "Miss Gomez was not always as cooperative as we would have liked," he said. "There were a number of times when she acted against our wishes. Helping you with Isabel Kabra earlier, for example. And just now with the box."

  Nellie sat up, sniffed loudly, and scrubbed at her tears, leaving mascara tracks in interesting designs all over her cheeks.

  "What you gonna do," she said, and managed a watery wink at Amy.

  Amy winked back.

  It was amazing how the tiny twitch of an eyelid could give her such a huge feeling of relief.

  "Indeed." Fiske seemed almost amused. Then he went on again. "After the designated trial period, those who are deemed worthy are notified of their active Madrigal status, and the secrets of the Madrigal line are revealed to them."

  Amy drew in a sharp breath. "So if you're telling us all this now--"

  188

  Fiske Cahill nodded.

  "Yes. I have been authorized to tell you both, Amy and Dan, that you have been granted active Madrigal status." He paused. "I might add, you are by far the youngest candidates ever to have achieved this."

  Amy was pretty sure his eyes were watering again.

  "Your grandmother would be so proud of you," he said. "As am I."

  Dan bounced in his chair. "Is there, like, a certificate? Or a pin or a badge or something?"

  Fiske smiled and inclined his head. "Sorry, nothing like that. But there is a reward of a different sort--"

  He stopped and glanced around furtively. "As of today, seven Madrigal clues have been discovered," he said. "Mace, of course, thanks to your good selves. Also--" he leaned toward them and whispered the other Clues quickly but clearly.

  I should try to remember them all, Amy thought. Just then, Dan elbowed her gently and nodded. She knew what that meant. He's already got them memorized.

  "With this knowledge comes a great responsibility," Fiske said. "The Cahill clan must be reunited. It was Grace's greatest desire; she spent her lifetime preparing for it. It's why she wrote her will the way she did: to trigger the hunt for the thirty-nine clues. She hoped the hunt would prove so difficult that the clans would band together to complete it."

  He paused and looked at each of them in turn.

  189

  "As you well know, that hasn't happened. The hunt is nearly over now. England will be our last chance. Your focus there will be twofold: to win the clue hunt for the Madrigal branch, and even more important, to bring the family together."

  "The family?" Amy said, confused. Who was he talking about--him and Aunt Beatrice?

  "Yes," Fiske said. "The other Cahill branches. You must work with them, get them to cooperate, and trust you and one another. It will be the most difficult challenge you have ever faced."

  Amy could hardly believe what she was hearing. Winning the Clue race would be hard enough, but to get all four branches to cooperate?

  The feuding, lying, treacherous Wizards and Ohs and Holts?

  And worst of all ...

  "Isabel?" Dan screeched in alarm. "You expect us to work with her? No way--never in a million years!"

  "We c-couldn't," Amy stuttered. "Our parents, she--they--we--"

  Fiske lowered his head. "I knew your mother as a girl," he said softly. "A terrible loss, for one so bright to die so young. And the same for your father."

  Another silence. Then Fiske cleared his throat.

  "Tell me," he said, "what do you think they would want you to do?"

  How many times had Amy wondered that herself? Would her parents want her to stay out of trouble--to

  189

  190

  be safe and to keep Dan safe? Maybe ... but how safe could they ever be in a world run by someone like Isabel? How safe would anyone be?

  Dan pushed back his chair and stood up. Amy could see that his mind was made up, and she knew he was right.

  Not revenge, she thought again. Justice. And not just for us and our parents, but for the whole world.

  "We better get going," Dan said. "England! But first we pick up Saladin, and then"--his voice grew quieter--"then we have to go see Miss Alice."

  They were all quiet for a few moments.

  Amy felt her heart breaking when she thought of Miss Alice, how lonely she would be without Lester.

  "The Madrigals will help her, financially and otherwise," Fiske said. "Now, and for the rest of her life."

  Lester would like that, Amy thought. If only we could do more for her somehow. ...

  "And," Fiske said, "they have made another decision. For the first time in their history, the Madrigals are granting active status to someone not born to the bloodline."

  He turned to Nellie.

  "Miss Gomez? Welcome to the Madrigals."

  Amy watched as the expression on Nellie's face went from confusion to astonishment to pleasure. Then she blushed a very rosy pink.

  "Dude," she said.

  190