Finders Keepers

But Madame wasn’t finished. She spoke sternly. ‘Then you should have come directly here and told me! You put yourself in grave danger, not to mention Ken.’

‘And us,’ Jenna piped up. ‘ Me and Emily and Tracey.’

‘Why did you do that, Amanda?’ Madame wanted to know. ‘Why didn’t you tell us what was going on?’

Jenna jumped in again. ‘Because she was probably having too much fun being an adult. What did you do, Amanda? Shop till you dropped?’

That got a laugh from several classmates.

‘Now, Jenna,’ Madame reprimanded her, ‘let’s hear Amanda’s side of the story.’

But Amanda was no longer interested in telling them what she’d learned. They were making fun of her, criticizing her, treating her like a villain! And the way Ken was looking at her now, like she was scum! She was hurt, and she was furious. These people — they didn’t deserve to know what she knew.

She made a decision. She was not going to tell them about the conspiracy, about Mr Jackson — about anything. She’d keep it to herself. And they’d all be sorry for having picked on her like this.

Because with the information she had, she’d be the one who would save them all from whatever those bad people were planning. She’d be the biggest hero of all. She’d be worshipped and adored and respected. Which was what she deserved.

But for now.

‘My throat hurts,’ she announced. ‘Can I go to the infirmary and ask the nurse to call my mother? I think I should go home.’

Madame was immediately sympathetic. ‘Of course, Amanda. We can discuss this at another time, when you’re feeling better.’

And with her head high and her secret intact, Amanda left the room.

EPILOGUE

FROM THE FOLLOWING DAY’S newspaper:

FISHER FAMILY FLABBERGASTED!

The family of Melvin Fisher, who died suddenly in an accident two months ago, were finally able to claim the fortune left to them by the late Mr Fisher. Days before the accident that killed him Mr Fisher had purchased a ticket for the weekly lottery, which at that time was worth over two million dollars. While there was evidence that the winning ticket had been sold, no one came forward to claim the prize. Yesterday Mr Fisher’s widow Louise Fisher found the lottery ticket under a magnet on her refrigerator door.

Congratulations to Mrs Fisher and her children Stevie, Cindy and Dena, who have been confirmed by the lottery commission as the winners of two million dollars!