Page 64 of Mission: Possible

Lily bit back a smile. "She's in disguise."

"As what? The first baby with facial hair?"

"Maybe I just didn't want anyone identifying her later."

"Which explains the blue outfit." I leaned back and removed the moustache and tickled her chin. Poppy giggled. "She's not even coming with us," I pointed out.

"Not for lack of trying," said Lily.

Once Poppy was safely distracted at daycare, Lily said. "I knew you'd need my help. What's the plan?"

I explained that we were heading to the museum to ask a few questions and she beamed a huge smile. "I never used to look forward to our field trips to any museums," she said. "How my life has changed! Do you remember that time we went to the silent rave at a museum and had to wear those headphones and everyone was dancing the night away?"

"Was that the same night you stole a fossil from one of the exhibits?"

"Still have it." Lily beamed proudly.

"You should probably give it back. It's probably millions of years old."

"And yet I'm taking better care of it than they did."

I fixed her with a frown. "How so?"

Lily shrugged. "No one stole it from me!"

I considered debating my contrasting point of view with her but realized it was probably fruitless. Plus, Lily had a good point. She totally got away with the crime. What if she returned the fossil, only to be arrested? Since no one seemed to be missing it, did that mean the crime never really happened? That philosophy was one I couldn't ponder without my synapses exploding.

"So, is this a day out too?" asked Lily. "Are we exposing ourselves to more culture? We hardly ever get cultured. Perhaps we should do it more often. Serena signed Victoria up to art appreciation classes on Sunday morning."

"That poor kid gets enrolled in everything."

"True. So what are we doing?"

"We're investigating a former employee."

"For what?"

"So far, for nothing."

"Thrilling!"

"But they might have done something," I said, adding the highlights of the case as Lily's eyebrows rose in growing curiosity.

"So are we good cop, bad cop? I want to be the bad cop." Lily's happy demeanor dropped and she fixed me with a stern look. Then a curl shot loose from her ponytail and bounced around her face, quickly followed by a second one. I bit my cheek to keep from laughing as she merely blinked in surprise.

"We're not interrogating anyone. Just asking questions, politely."

"We could have lunch there. The café on the second floor is quite pretty."

I brightened. "Good plan."

"We can ask the employees that work at the café too. Multi-tasking," added Lily with a knowing nod. "Sandwichesandanswers."

I had to agree that they were two of my favorite things but that devolved into a heated discussion about other foods before concurring in general, didn’t everything taste better when encased between two slices of bread? By the time we parked and walked up the museum's steps, we were both hungry. Unfortunately, it was long before any reasonable lunch hour.

As I reached for the heavy door, Lily put her hand on my forearm and whispered, "What are you going to tell them about the investigation?" she asked.

"Nothing," I decided. "I'll just say I'm a friend of hers with a get-well card that I would like all of Sophie's friends to sign."