Read Online The Secret Cipher by Whitaker Ringwald - Free Book Online

stepped inside. That was a funny comment coming from Tyler, whose bedroom smelled like a skunk’s butt. Even though I’d never smelled a skunk’s butt, I imagined it was pretty disgusting. I usually stayed as far away from Tyler’s room as possible.
    The Sisters of Mercy hallway was lined on both sides with old people in wheelchairs. Some were asleep, others were tapping their feet to music that streamed out of an open door. The sign on the door read, Sing-along with Betty . I peeked inside.The room was super crowded. Warbly voices sang a Frank Sinatra song called “That Old Black Magic.” I recognized it because my mom is a big Frank Sinatra fan. I assumed Betty was the woman at the piano, leading the sing-along.
    â€œEveryone in here looks like they’re about to croak,” Tyler said. He hadn’t even bothered to whisper.
    â€œThat’s mean,” I told him. “One day you’re gonna be old.”
    â€œI don’t think so.” A bunch of pastry crumbs had gotten caught in his stubble. “I’m going to grow clones and transplant my brain as soon as my body starts to wear out.” He was serious.
    â€œDo you see Juniper?” Ethan asked, peering over my shoulder.
    â€œNo.” I scanned again, just to make sure there were no long white braids or red bandanas in the crowd. “She’s not in here. Let’s ask someone.” The reception desk was across the way. A sign read, Visitor Check-In .
    Even though Tyler was the oldest, I’m the one who marched up to the counter. I wanted to do the talking because Ethan was a terrible liar and because Tyler was . . . well, Tyler.
    â€œHello,” I said. “We’re here to see someone.” The lady behind the counter was dressed in a plain white blouse and black skirt. Her name tag read, Sister Beatrice .
    â€œHello.” Before she said another word, her phone rang. “Excuse me for a moment.”
    I tapped my fingers on the counter as she answered the phone. She forwarded the call to someone else, then got distracted by two police officers who walked down the hall and stopped next to me.
    â€œWe just finished checking on Jane Doe, so we’re headin’ back to the station house now,” the tall one told Sister Beatrice. “We’ve got a bit of paperwork to write up.”
    The other officer, a woman with a mole on her cheek, leaned on the counter. “If someone comes to identify her, give us a call. We don’t want anyone talking to her unless there’s an officer present.”
    I looked over at Tyler and Ethan. They’d both heard the comment. How were we supposed to talk about the urn if there was a police officer in Juniper’s room?
    â€œWhy?” Sister Beatrice asked. “Is she in trouble?”
    The female officer answered. “It appears thatshe’d been tampering with the museum’s security system just before she had her stroke. The only reason to tamper with a security system is to steal something. The museum might press charges against her. We want to monitor all her conversations, for evidence.”
    The other officer handed a card to Sister Beatrice. “Call us immediately if anyone comes in to see her.” Then he frowned. “What’s her prognosis? Is she gonna make it?”
    â€œHer condition is not terminal,” the sister replied. “But her memory is damaged. It will take time for her to recover.” The officers said good-bye, then headed out the front door.
    Of course she wasn’t going to die. This whole thing was a big act so she could have a place to hide out.
    â€œSorry for the interruption,” Sister Beatrice said to me. She set the card next to the phone. “Who are you visiting today?”
    I glanced at the card. If I said I’d come to see Jane Doe, the police would come back. So I quickly scanned the files that were spread across the desk. One of the names caught my