Trail of Secrets by Brenda Chapman

Ambie’s got some heavy courses this term and she’s just preoccupied with the work,” I said. I knew that wasn’t the whole truth, but it wasn’t a lie either.
    Mrs. Guido gave a relieved sigh. “Well now, I guess that’s not the end of the world then.” She lifted her eyes and smiled at me. “Ambie’s our pride and joy, you know, and we probably worry about her more than we should.”
    â€œYou wouldn’t be a parent if you didn’t worry. My mom used to be pretty good at it too,” I said just as Mr. Guido strolled into the kitchen, whistling the theme from the
Simpsons
. He was tall—just over six feet—medium build, with curly black hair and a black beard laced with grey. He kissed Mrs. Guido on the forehead and rubbed a smear of flour from her cheek. Then he beamed at me. “Just in time, I see, for the bread-tasting. You girls having fun?” His black eyes twinkled.
    I nodded. “I’ve learned all your family secrets. I can’twait to try baking bread at home.”
    â€œI’m free any time to come sample. Don’t be shy about calling.” His wide smile disappeared as he turned towards Mrs. Guido. “Any sign of Ambie?”
    â€œShe’s still sleeping. I think she was up late again last night doing school work.”
    â€œI hope she’s not going at it too hard. She has to have some fun too, like our Jennifer here.” He patted me on the arm.
    That was me all right. If I knew how to have any more fun, they’d have to limit my access to household appliances. As I was trying to come up with something agreeable to say, the oven timer went off, and our attention happily shifted to the bread that Mrs. Guido was pulling from the oven. Mr. Guido and I grinned in anticipation, and by the time we’d eaten a whole loaf of herbed bread and a slice or two of whole wheat, my pathetically dull social life didn’t seem like such a big deal.
    Ambie was still in bed when I left the Guidos just before lunch with two loaves of bread to share with Dad. The fact that she hadn’t gotten up to see me seemed strange, and I decided to check in with her as soon as I could. Her mother’s worry was adding to my own feeling that all was not right with my best friend. I wouldn’t let Ambie face whatever she was going through alone. I’d ignored her for most of the summer and was not about to let that happen again.

    I phoned Ambie on Sunday night after supper, but shewas out. Mr. Guido said she’d gone to a movie with Cindy Vickers, but he’d have her call me when she got home. Dad left to work on a car in his shop that needed to be fixed by morning, so I pulled out my biology textbook. Mr. Williams hadn’t assigned the chapter on plants and photosynthesis, but I had time to kill. I lay on my stomach under a reading lamp in the living room and read for an hour or so. I snapped the book shut and rolled over onto my back. The material hadn’t been half as boring as I’d thought it would be. I checked my watch. Nearly ten o’clock, and Ambie hadn’t called. Well, I’d see her at school the next morning, so I’d find out what was going on then.
    I checked out the window for Dad’s car before I climbed the stairs for bed, but he was nowhere in sight. I was just dropping the curtain back into place when a car’s headlights pierced the darkness. I stood for a moment more, hoping Dad was finally home. I hated it when he worked in the evenings. It would be good to have him home and to give him a hug before I went to bed. The car slowed in front of our house but didn’t turn into the driveway. I kept watching. It was a small car that looked very familiar. It passed under the streetlight across from our driveway. In that instant, I saw Evan Quinn turn to look at our house from the white Lamborghini he’d sworn wasn’t his. Just as quickly, his face turned away from me, and