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happened?”
    Paris frowned. “I was finishing practice when Conrad came in. He didn’t even touch his own guitar. Just accused me of being a rich kid and then tried to take my money.”
    Kate’s nodded shrewdly. “I knew that leopard wouldn’t change his spots,” she said, her voice warming with anger. She turned back to Paris. “The guy is a total jerk, and extortion is no joke.”

    â€œI can handle it.” Paris swung his guitar case onto his shoulder. “I’m on to him now.”
    Kate shrugged as they walked out the door of the music room. “Lucky it’s history we’re late for,” she said with a grin. “Do you think Professor Tooth will be interested in our excuse?”
    Paris shook his head. “Hey, this is my problem and I’ll deal with it, okay?” He looked from Kate’s face to Darrell’s. “Don’t say anything to the principal. I’ll handle Conrad.”
    Darrell shrugged. “If you say so. I don’t think it’s going to help, though. Conrad’s just going to get worse.”
    â€œWe’ll see,” said Paris. He grabbed his backpack and led the way out the door.
    The following Saturday dawned clear and cool with signs in the sky of a beautiful late October day. Darrell lay in bed looking through the large, curved glass window that formed a part of the tower wall. It gently distorted the view outside, magnifying the sky into an unending plane of pale, clear blue.
    The door flung back on its hinges as Lily bounded into the room. Her wet hair was knotted into an untidy tangle on top of her head and she dropped a large pile of wet clothes and towels into a heap on the floor. “I can’t believe you guys are still asleep! I’ve already been swimming for an hour and I’m starving.”
    The smell of peppermint shampoo seeped through Darrell’s sleep-muddled brain. She frowned at Lily’sback and peeked over at Kate’s bed. A tousled red head emerged for a moment from under the covers and then disappeared under a pillow. Lily shook her head disapprovingly and glanced at her watch. “Kate Clancy, if you didn’t stay up so late playing computer games, you’d be able to enjoy this beautiful morning.”
    No response.
    â€œDid you hear me, Kate?” Lily persisted.
    A gentle snore was the only reply. Lily sighed and rolled her eyes. “Nothing’s changed from the summer term, I can see.”
    Darrell sat up in bed and mustered a weak smile.
    â€œOh, well. It’s her loss. I’m going down for breakfast.” Lily threw a wet sock at Darrell, her good humour restored. “Join me?”
    â€œNo thanks. I’m still a bit sleepy. I think I’ll wait for Kate.”
    â€œWhatever.” Lily scooped up her laundry and headed briskly for the hall, closing the door behind her with a shade more energy than was strictly required.
    â€œIs she gone?” The muffled words emerged from the tumbled pile of covers on Kate’s bed.
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œThank God. She is altogether too cheerful in the morning. At least you need to have coffee before you start being so loud.”
    â€œI’m never that loud!” Darrell replied indignantly. “And the good thing about Lily and her early mornings is she is always asleep before eight o’clock at night. Leaves us free to do other things.”
    Kate emerged, rubbing her eyes. “Such as?”

    â€œWell, the sun’s out. Feel like a hike?”
    Kate groaned. “First Lily, then you. Who’s responsible for all this energy around here?”
    Darrell swung her legs over the bed and reached for her prosthesis. “The truth is, Brodie suggested that we go back to the cave for a look around today. And it’s finally stopped raining.”
    Kate peered blearily through the window. “I should have known the fossil geek was behind this.” She glanced shrewdly