Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy

  Chapter 36

  The Class Project Explained

  The sky was still dark and light drops of rain were beginning to fall when the boat pulled into the river patrol’s dock. The police who had rescued Amanda and her friends made ready to unload their injured passengers.

  “Wait a minute,” said Amanda. “My bag. My film is in there.”

  “Where is it?” said the dandruffy policeman who had been watching over her.

  “In the factory.”

  “Oh, no. No one goes in there. It’s too dangerous. Give me a description and we’ll see if the crime scene guys find it.” He whipped out a tablet and prepared to make notes.

  Amanda had her doubts. She’d seen the garage after it had exploded. It was extremely unlikely that her phone had survived. All her evidence gone. It was the most important film of her life and she’d blown it.

  “Amanda, are you okay?” It was Ivy, all wrapped up in a blanket nearby. Nigel was at her side.

  “Yes, Ivy. Are you all right?”

  “We’re fine. Your dad is going to be okay too.” Ivy sneezed a couple of times. That seemed to set Nigel off.

  “Gesundheit,” said Amanda. “Thank goodness. But how did you know where I was?”

  “Surely you underestimate our sleuthing skills,” said Ivy. “As you will remember, I knew you were in London and I knew you had got into the factory. I helped you, remember? I tracked your GPS. I wasn’t going to take any chances. I told Thrillkill. He didn’t want us to come but we insisted.”

  “Oh, Ivy,” said Amanda. She attempted to get up and hug her friend but fell back down. “I was so stupid not to tell you all what I was doing. I’ll never do that again. Can you forgive me?”

  “Of course, silly. I understand. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.” Amanda could hear the smile in her voice. Hear it! She was beginning to use her ears to deduce things, just like her friend. Hurray!

  “You sound very American when you say that.”

  “Horrors,” said Ivy, giggling.

  “But beyond that,” said Amanda, “I’ve been a complete idiot. Nick. I thought he was wonderful. Do you know that he was a Moriarty? He was spying on us.”

  “No!” said Ivy. “I don’t understand. How did he even get into the school? Simon is going to have fits.”

  “That,” said Amanda, “is a good question. We are going to have to look into that one. And yeah, Simon will never let this one go.”

  “I don’t know about that. Simon is pretty cool. I think he’ll give you a hard time for a while and then forget about it completely. Anyway, I’m adding your question to my list. First order of business after we’re all back in one piece: ‘How did Nick get into Legatum?’” She paused and sniffed. “By the way, you smell awful. What kinds of chemicals did they use in that factory anyway?”