After the twins called their parents and Jaime texted his grandmother, they walked to the Cipherist Society, Priya and Omar keeping up a steady stream of chatter. Delancey DeBrule had taken up Edgar Wellington’s role as president since Edgar’s retirement and relocation to Boca Raton, Florida. Imogen Sparks was their chief fundraiser and political liaison, which meant she spent a lot of time yelling about local politicians. Adrian Birch and Flo Harriman were planning for the annual Cipherist convention that would take place in a month. But Auguste Dupin, their resident mynah bird, seemed to have fallen into a bit of depression since Edgar’s retirement.

“He keeps reciting the poem ‘Annabel Lee,’” said Priya. “I love that bird but I do wish he would learn more uplifting verse.”

“When he’s not reciting the poem, he sings songs from the musical Hamilton,” Omar said.

“Only the sad ones,” said Priya.

Omar shook his head. “Auguste can’t rap.”

They entered the building. Omar punched in some codes on the keypad, and a huge metal door opened onto the vast collection of the society. Even now, Theo felt a thrill when he first glimpsed all those shelves full of books and manuscripts, when they looked down four floors onto a cozy circle of chairs in and among precious artifacts encased in glass.

Auguste the mynah flapped on his perch. He said:

“For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams

Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;

And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes

Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;

And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side

Of my darling—my darling—my life and my bride,

In her sepulchre there by the sea—

In her tomb by the sounding sea.”

“Mein Gott,” said Gunter Deiderich. “Don’t you know anything else, you daft old bird? Something by Taylor Swift, maybe?”

“Yes, Auguste,” called Priya Sharma. “I would very much like to hear ‘Shake It Off.’”

Everyone seated looked up. Imogen Sparks’s grin was wide and welcoming as her outstretched arms. “Get down here right now, you three!”

“Don’t squoosh them, Imogen,” Gunter said, once they’d climbed down the stairs and Imogen gathered Theo into a hug.

“I will squoosh them if they will accept squooshes,” said Imogen. “Will you allow me to squoosh you, Tess?”

“Squoosh away,” said Tess. Imogen hugged her, and then Jaime as well. “It’s been too long since you’ve visited.”

“Only about a month,” said Theo.

“Longer than that,” said Gunter.

“Besides, the whole world can change in a month.”

“Or a day,” said Omar. “I’m afraid the kids caught us spying on them.”

Imogen put her hands on her hips. “With those disguises? Shocking.”

“See?” said Priya to Omar.

“Enough of that,” said Gunter. “What’s for dinner? These kids are too skinny.”

“Gino is cooking up his pasta right now,” Imogen said. “What are you doing over there, Mr. Jaime?”