Page 43 of Sins of Leo

“Because it must have deemed him unworthy, Buttercup. You and me, we are totally what that door is waiting for.”

“You have a lot of faith.”

“So should you. Sage was right when she claimed I needed your help.”

“I can’t believe you’re making me do this,” she groaned.

“Haven’t you ever wanted to save the world?”

“Not really,” she sighed. “But I guess I can’t exactly bail. When do we fly out?”

“Fly?” He chuckled. “We are starbeaming there, Buttercup, and I say the sooner, the better. How’s after lunch?”

“That fast?” she squeaked.

“Not point in waiting. I just need the coordinates of your dad’s last known location so I can do the math.”

She pursed her lips. “That might be an issue.” She pointed to a pair of brackets with the message in italics sayingBlank section. Unable to translate.

“Guess it got erased,” he grumbled.

“Don’t be so sure. Can you get me my dad’s journal?”

“Why? It’s not like it will be any more readable.”

“Remember how Sage said something about the daughter figuring out a father’s clues. I think I know how to read what it says.”

“Gonna do some magic?”

“Science actually.” Her lips curved. “My dad used to love secrets, and when I was young, he showed me how to read invisible ink. He would leave me messages that I’d have to decipher.”

“And he never thought to use that to communicate with you?” Leo almost bit his tongue for saying it.

“He did, until Mom caught on. She always opened my mail from him. Once she knew about the invisible ink, she made sureto scribble out with a black marker those sections when she bothered to give me his letters at all.”

“What do you need other than the journal?”

“A heat source, like a lamp with a working bulb. Even a candle will do.”

“On it! You stay here while I get the book.”

Leo ran to get the journal, and by the time he returned, Ruth had a burning candle sitting on the table.

He handed her the leatherbound tome, and her expression turned sad.

“What’s wrong?”

“I can’t believe I refused to read it all these years.”

“Would it have made a difference?”

“No. After all, my mother didn’t give it to me when she got it with his things. I only found it after she died and emptied her home.”

“At least you know the truth now.”

“I do.” She offered him a brief smile. “And maybe this trip will give me answers about his disappearance.” She took a deep breath. “Okay, let’s see if the invisible ink will still react.”

She flipped to the page with the blank section, a few lines at most. She held the backside of it above the candle flame, and Leo held himself ready to stomp it out if it caught on fire.

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