They got to Jaime’s building with no trouble, possibly because it was so hot that everything and everyone was at risk of melting. Jaime broke his private promise never to use the facilities in the building and took the twins to the pool on the roof. He had to admit it was nice to swim in the cool, clear water, no threat of monsters anywhere.

After they swam for a while, they claimed several deck chairs for themselves and let the sun dry them. Tess slathered herself in sunscreen and offered some to Jaime, who paid special attention to his nose and the tops of his feet. A bunch of teenagers crowded a couple of lounge chairs next to them; the teens were all shapes and sizes and colors, like a box of crayons or a clothing ad. But they seemed to be wearing as little as possible, and the boys in particular flexed their pecs and biceps so often that it appeared they had medical problems. One of the teens, a pale, red-headed boy with a pimple in the middle of his forehead so large it looked like a third eye, observed Jaime applying the sunscreen lotion. “I thought black people didn’t need sunscreen,” he said.

“Only if they want to get sunburned.” Jaime noted the boy’s reddening nose and cheeks. “You want some of this? You’re looking a little crispy already.”

“I’m getting a tan,” the boy announced.

“You’re getting skin cancer,” said one of his friends.

“No, he’s just trying to clear up that pimple,” said another.

“I am not,” the redhead said.

“You don’t want to clear up your pimple?” said a third teenager, this one dark-haired with so skin so white it was almost blue. “We should name it.”

“Stop it,” said the redhead, laughing.

“What about Percival?”

“Nah. How about Wilhelm? Willy for short.”

“That’s a name for a plant.”

“Yeah, like a cactus or whatever.”

“What are you talking about?”

The teens then got into a towel fight that ended up with all of them splashing around in the pool.

Theo said, “Since when is Wilhelm a name for a cactus?”

“Hormones must make you really dense,” said Tess. “I wouldn’t mind skipping that part.”

“Yes, you would,” Theo said.

“Not the growing taller and older part,” Tess said. “Just the dense part.”

“I’m not sure we can skip that,” Jaime said. “They might go together.” He had a sudden urge to flex his biceps, but fought it.

“I really don’t want to be dense,” said Theo. “Denser than I already am, anyway.”

“You’re one of the smartest people I know,” Jaime said.

“I used to be,” Theo said. “Now you might as well call me Wilhelm the plant.”

“Stop feeling sorry for yourself,” said Tess. “We do have a clue to figure out, don’t we?”