Shadows on the Sand Read Online Free PDF Page A

grinned. “We could write anything about anyone, and they’d never know. When the teacher confiscated stuff, she couldn’t read it either. Neither could Becca.”
    “Becca?”
    Her face darkened. “My goody-goody older sister.”
    So there was a sister, and one who was resented. It was the first piece of personal information Andi had ever revealed beyond her age and socialsecurity number. A million new questions raced through my mind, but before I could ask one, Clooney spoke.
    “So solving a Sudoku is like decoding a note?” He was clearly skeptical about any redeeming value in the puzzle.
    Andi nodded, then seemed to remember she was miffed at her uncle for not liking Bill. She sniffed. “Only it’s more challenging because of the limitations of the form.” She spun away to wipe down all the tables.
    “ ‘The limitations of the form?’ ” He stared after her, as if she were as difficult to decipher as the codes written by the Navajo code talkers from World War II. “Where did she ever get that line?”
    “Not from me,” I assured him.
    He watched as I rubbed my eraser over a square to get rid of the three possible numbers and leave the one that was correct—I hoped. “Why do you like those things so much?”
    I shrugged. I had no idea. I’d never tried to analyze why.
    “Carrie likes unraveling things,” Greg said. “Fixing things. Being the one in charge. Proving she’s able. She likes to beat the puzzle just like she likes to beat life.”
    I stared at him, and he looked almost as surprised as I felt. He’d given what I thought was a very accurate read, and it was disconcerting to know he understood me that well. I thought he didn’t even see me.
    “Huh.” Clooney looked from Greg to me and back. “Impressive.”
    “Very,” I agreed.
    Greg colored. “You sit on a stool long enough, you notice things.”
    Clooney gave first Greg, then me his most charming smile, and I braced myself for a con. Clooney that personable meant he wanted something.
    “You two are obviously
very
smart.”
    I shook my head at the blatant flattery, and Greg raised an eyebrow.
    “How about I let you two homeschool Andi?” Again the very charming smile. “That should be challenging enough for both of you and have a beneficial purpose.” He glanced at my Sudoku book. Unspoken: which the number puzzles clearly hadn’t.
    “Is she a difficult student?” I asked.
    “She’s just had things so rough these last few years that she has a hard time with focus.” He took his hat off, and for a moment I had hope he’d leave it off. Then he slapped it back in place, pulling his ponytail through the back. “She needs to catch up with her class.”
    Clooney held out his cup for a refill.
    “I bet you’re a good teacher.” I filled his cup. “A great teacher.”
    “If you want her to be a beachcomber calculating the value of the things she digs out of the sand.” That was how Clooney spent much of his time when he wasn’t driving the town’s bright red trash truck.
    Ricky appeared at the serving window. “My afternoons are free.” The café only served breakfast and lunch. “I could tutor her. How much you paying?”
    “It’s all about helping a needy girl.” Clooney made
pro bono
sound a privilege.
    “Won’t buy groceries or pay the rent.”
    “You eat here, kid,” Clooney said. “You don’t need grocery money.”
    “Rent. I need rent.” Ricky started to turn back to the kitchen and lunch prep.
    “You good at math, especially algebra and geometry?” Clooney asked.
    “Even calculus,” Ricky said. “Math minor. I’m sure we can reach a price that’s agreeable to us both.”
    Clooney looked so deflated at the thought of paying, I couldn’t help laughing. I patted his hand.
    Greg slid off his stool. “Just be glad you’ve got her to worry about. You’re a fortunate man.”
    There was a short beat during which both Clooney and I were brought up hard against the fact that Greg no longer had his