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

eye. “Herman Hoffsteder.”
    â€œAre you a family member?”
    â€œYes.” I smiled sweetly. “My brothers and I are his family members.” I pointed to Ethan and Tyler, who were still standing next to the sing-along. Then I wished I hadn’t called Ethan and Tyler my brothers because we looked nothing alike. What if Sister Beatrice questioned me? Would I have to provide more details? Lying to a nun was one of the worst things I’d ever done. But lucky for me, Sister Beatrice got distracted by another phone call. She pushed a pen and a clipboard across the counter. “Sign in, please.”
    Out of pure habit, I started to sign, Jax Ma . . . but stopped. Oops. I shouldn’t use my real name. What should I use? I’d often thought that if I could choose a last name, I’d choose something from one of my travel guidebooks, like London, or Paris. So I finished the signature— Jax Madrid . That sounded like a famous writer or designer. “What room is Uncle Herman in?” I asked, trying not to bounce on my toes. I looked at the desk again, to see if there were any notes about Jane Doe. Maybe I’d find her room number. But I found nothing.
    â€œHerman’s not in his room right now. He’s over there.” She pointed to a man sitting in a wheelchair a little ways down the hall. “Herman!” she called. “You have visitors.” The old man rubbedhis bald head and frowned. Then Sister Beatrice’s phone rang again and she started talking to somebody about medical supplies.
    I walked over to Mr. Hofstedder. “Hello, Uncle Herman,” I said real loud.
    â€œDo I know you?” His eyes were so cloudy it looked like milk had been spilled on his eyeballs.
    â€œYes. I’m your niece, Jax.” Lying to a nun and a nice old man—yeesh. Maybe this is the part of me that I got from my father, the criminal. I smiled and waved at Sister Beatrice but she barely noticed since she was still on the phone. I grabbed the handles of the wheelchair and started wheeling my victim down the hall. Ethan and Tyler hurried after me.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Tyler asked.
    â€œWe’re taking Uncle Herman for a ride.”
    â€œI ain’t your uncle.” Herman grumbled. “I may be confused about what year this is, but I know I don’t got any nieces or nephews. And I don’t want to take no ride.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” I said. “Just act like you’re having fun.”
    â€œFun?” He snorted. “I haven’t had fun since they stuck me in this place.”
    â€œDo you have a plan?” Ethan asked as henervously looked around.
    â€œOpen every door until we find her,” I said. “That’s the plan.”
    Tyler and Ethan took one side of the hall, I took the other. I stopped at the first room and peeked in. The windowsill was decorated with porcelain figurines and doilies. The next room had lots of family photos and an orange crocheted blanket. Another nun greeted us as she pushed a cart up the hall. It was filled with medications. “Hello, Herman,” she said. “Nice to see you have visitors.” Her name tag read, Sister Agnes .
    â€œThey ain’t my visitors,” Herman complained. “I was minding my own business and they kidnapped me.”
    â€œThat’s nice,” Sister Agnes said, just before turning into a room. She probably heard stuff like that all day long. How could she know Herman was telling the truth and not just confused?
    A few rooms later, the hallway branched out on either side to form a T shape. I was about to tell Tyler and Ethan to take one hallway, and I’d take the other, when a door marked 19 opened. A large man stepped out. He was dressed in white pants and a white shirt. He looked like he worked there, maybe an orderly or a nurse. After closingthe door, he walked down the hall and joined Sister Agnes, who was pushing her