We breezed over the platform earlier in our rush to find out what happened to the missing King card and… Anwar. But I shove all that aside now to try to focus on the image. Unfortunately, I don’t remember what the writing actually is; I just can see it’s there. I really believe the clues we need to solve this equation must be in that compartment, but how do I maneuver us back to the shack without drawing even more suspicion?

“What if we’re thinking about this the wrong way?” I begin. “You said this Carson guy thought of Pentacles as the suit of spellcraft in all its forms?”

Rosa stares me down, eager to hear more. I can’t tell if she is buying my little ruse or if she just sees right through me, but I press on anyway.

“Well, doesn’t all spellcasting require specific conditions, in addition to specific ingredients? Would it make sense that, to ‘cast this spell,’ we’d need to be in the right location?”

This idea only elicits thoughtful silence, so I keep going.

“Maybe you missed something in the shed you found this card hidden in? After all, to solve a case, you always have to return to the scene of the crime, right? And maybe if the lockbox is only meant to be opened there, then clues would exist in the physical space?”

Click here

Rosa’s probing gaze doesn’t let up. Even the three stepsisters seem a bit puzzled by her stretch of silence.

“Then again, this isn’t really our business,” I quickly add. “Sorry if we overstepped. This is all just super fascinating.”

“Are you kidding?” Rosa finally says, slapping her knees and smiling excitedly. “You’re in on the hunt now, if you want to be!”

I nod along with Chase and Cleo, none of us wanting to seem too eager. Cleo in particular has barely spoken a word. I know they consider themself a terrible liar, so Cleo probably doesn’t want to say anything that might give us away.

“Then it sounds like we have a field trip to attend,” Rosa exclaims. “And if it’s okay, I’d like to ride with our wise new friends?”

“Fine by us,” I answer, eliciting more nods from Chase and Cleo.

“Good. I’d love to get to know you all better,” Rosa adds. “And there’s nothing I love more than taking my Rosa Reads on the road.”

I smile, trying to hide my unease. Exactly what is a “Rosa Read”? And by keeping us “wise new friends” close, is she really just keeping potential enemies closer? Well, that’s certainly what we’re doing, so I’d better remember to keep my guard up around this utterly disarming Queen of Pentacles.