Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo Page B

next?”
    She followed me into the kitchen and I opened the boxes. Finding her dinner, she took a fork from the drawer and headed over to the couch.
    â€œAren’t we going to eat in the dining room, with the china?”
    Meg looked at me defiantly. “I’m watching Judge Judy while I eat.”
    â€œWe have to attract a sophisticated man who’s dined with world leaders and the ultra rich. Even with our new talents, we might not get past the front door if we act like pigs. Learn some manners. After we get rid of Arkady, you can go back to eating off trays.”
    Grumbling, she clicked off the TV, plopped her veggies into a bowl, and slumped at the table.
    â€œThank you,” I replied primly, my back straight. We ate in silence for a bit before Meg grew restless.
    â€œI can’t just sit here and eat.”
    I put my fork down. “I know. I want to be done with this too. I’ll Google Arkady’s name and see what comes up. You check the iPhone apps. See if you can find one for portals. Hopefully there’ll be at least one or two places close to where he works or parties. But you’re not excused until you eat your vegetables.” I caught her trying to suppress a smile.
    After dinner, we hit the electronics.
    I couldn’t find much on Arkady. There were barely any records of him appearing in public at all. I clicked through my meager list hoping Meg would have more luck. But she wasn’t saying much. I knew that whenever Meg was quiet, it either meant it wasn’t good, or it was worse than I thought.
    â€œWell, I found an app for the portals … ” Her fingers ski mmed over the iPhone. “And a bunch of other stuff too. Listen to this: Abacus. Sundial. Don’t be a Creten ”—she peered over the iPhone at me—“for those who want to know about godly etiquette. But wait, there’s more: Lost? Try the Go Homer GPS.” She paused, and curled her lip into a disgusted sneer. “ Feeling Illiad ? At least he has Pandora.”
    â€œMeg, the portals? Where are they?”
    â€œThe men’s room in Madison Square Garden, near level G,” she said finally.
    â€œGross.”
    â€œThe locker room at the 34th Precinct.”
    â€œNot going there.”
    â€œThe Wonder Wheel at Coney Island.”
    â€œUseless.”
    â€œThe Botanical Gardens, next to the huge cactus.”
    â€œUnlikely.”
    â€œThe city morgue.”
    â€œNo way.”
    â€œI’ll take the men’s room over the morgue any day,” she volunteered, to my surprise. “This list doesn’t get any better. What have you found so far?”
    â€œHardly anything. Arkady’s boutique and executive offices are on Fifth Avenue. That’s basically it. He’s become a recluse. Never seems to go anywhere public anymore.”
    â€œNot surprising.” Meg nibbled an almond biscuit. “But we don’t have to know his life story. What does he look like?”
    â€œI couldn’t find any pics of him online except this. Look.”
    She leaned over my shoulder. “He’s wearing gloves and a hat pulled down to his chin. You can’t see anything! We won’t know him even if we’re standing next to him!” Walking over to the counter to the food bag, she rummaged around inside. “Here, catch!”
    She threw a fortune cookie to me. I caught it midair. If only I was this coordinated in gym. I snapped the cookie open, pulled out the message, and choked.
    â€œYou okay?” Meg asked, alarmed.
    â€œIt says, He’s hiring interns. Go apply. XOXOXOX Hades .”
    Meg looked fearfully at her cookie.
    I frowned. “Open it. Apparently he’s giving us help.”
    â€œThat’s what I’m afraid of. Look at all the help he’s given us so far.” With great reluctance, she crumbled her cookie and read the message. Her face turned bright red. “ Wear a turtleneck sweater and keep