Page 24 of The Mouse and the Maestro

He turned to face her again and saw her smiling and beckoning to him. He went forward, and she checked the time again. “It’s almost sundown. Are you ready?”

“For what?”

“Rest,” she said before turning to walk away from him again.

Blue trotted behind eagerly this time, curious to see where she would choose next. They wended their way through busy Manhattan streets and intersections, finally landing at a nearly hidden escalator in the middle of the sidewalk. They ascended the escalator, and Blue nearly gasped with shock and delight. At the top of the escalator was a paradise, a lush garden, so still and quiet it felt like an oasis. They selected a bench and watched the sun sink over the city, not speaking, merely enjoying the quiet beauty of the evening.

“This evening has been…” he couldn’t think of the word he wanted to say. Exciting? It hadn’t been. They hadn’t done much of anything, but it had been interesting and…restorative, maybe? They had connected with the past in a way he hadn’t imagined, first through the world’s bravest explorers and then the archaeological site and the architectural secret. And then they lost themselves in nature, in the middle of Manhattan. All in all, Jane Dunbar had taken Blue completely by surprise, and he loved it. It was like opening a cardboard box with no anticipation, only to reveal your dream present inside. Shelooked ordinary and unassuming, but Jane Dunbar was cool, probably way cooler than him, and he was at a bit of a loss as to know what to do with her.

“Did you think it was over?” Jane asked, smiling.

“It’s not?” he asked, his heart beating hard. They were isolated in the park, sheltered by a tree and the half-moonlight. She sat close beside him on the bench and, once again, he reached out and pushed her hair behind her ear, itching for more, wanting to touch her, to kiss her again.

“Everything so far has been something I enjoy. But you’re a gamer, so I thought we could do something for you,” she said.

“Internet café?” he guessed, unable to imagine what she might think would be for him.

“You’ll see,” she said. She did the thing where she stood up and began walking away again, beckoning him to follow without saying a word or lifting a finger. It was as if she had him on some kind of invisible tether, and he couldn’tnotgo with her.

They took a taxi again and stopped in front of an unassuming little building on a nothing side street. Blue got out and inspected the sign.

“It’s a Laundromat,” he announced. “This is what you think I enjoy?” He was only half joking. Unless it was some kind of speakeasy, he couldn’t imagine what might be inside that would hold his interest.

“You’ll see,” she repeated, stepping aside to allow him access. They took a few steps in, the scent of detergent and fabric softener rushing forth to greet them. Blue looked at Jane in question. She took his hand and began weaving through machines until they spilled into a back room filled to the brim with every conceivable pinball machine.

“Pinball,” he said stupidly.

“Pinball,” Jane agreed. “I have to warn you I spent so much time here when I was a kid that I got pretty good. No, I’m being modest. I’m kind of amazing.”

“I’m going to need you to prove it,” Blue said, withdrawing a ten from his wallet.

“One request: please don’t cry when I beat you,” Jane said.

“Care to make a little wager, doctor?” he asked.

“How much did you have in mind?” she said.

“If I win, you have to tell me why you have no virtual footprint, why you’re so off the grid.”

“Deal,” she said. “And if I win, you have to show me a picture of you from middle school.”

He groaned. “How did you know that would be my Achilles heel?”

“Lucky guess,” she said.

“Now I definitely have to win. There’s no coming back from my seventh grade school picture,” he said.

Jane hadn’t been exaggerating. The competition was fierce, lasting ninety minutes, until after midnight. In the end, she won.

“How does an anthropologist have such good hand/eye coordination?” he asked.

“Lots of dusting things with tiny brushes,” Jane said and, despite her best intentions, fought a yawn.

“I guess that’s a wrap,” Blue said.

“I have to confess I have no idea what happens in this city after midnight. I always had morning classes and conked out early,” Jane said. “It’s ten blocks back to our hotel. Walk or taxi?”

He stared down at her, wanting to do whatever was possible to prolong the mood of the evening. “Walk.”

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