Free Boiling Point by Diane Muldrow Page B

taken any subway rides lately?”
    “No, said Molly with a little laugh. “No. I’ve, uh, been home a lot lately.”
    “So has Peichi,” said Mr. Cheng. His eyes were twinkling.
    “Oh, Dad!” cried Peichi. “Quit teasing us!”
    Peichi introduced the twins to her Aunt Doreen and Uncle Hillman, and her grandparents.
    “Ah-yeh and Ah-mah, you remember Molly. Well, this is her twin sister, Amanda!” said Peichi.
    Mr. and Mrs. Cheng smiled and nodded.
    “Hello,” said the twins. Just then, the doorbell rang.
    “I’ll get it!” cried Peichi. “Come on, you guys.” All three girls hurried inside.
    Peichi opened the door. “Hello-o-o!” she cried before the door was completely open.
    It was Mr. McElroy.
    “Oh, hi, Mr. McElroy!” said Peichi. She didn’t know what to say. “I thought you were going to be my cousin!”
    “Is your family having a party?” said Mr. McElroy. “I’m sorry, I’ll come back on Monday.”
    Just then, Mr. Cheng came to the door. “Hello. Scott,” he said. “Come on in. How can I help you? Would you care for a grilled vegetable wrap?

    “No, thanks,” said Mr. McElroy. “Forgive me for interrupting your party. But I will need to speak with you very soon. Why don’t you give me a call at the office on Monday?”
    “Is everything all right?” asked Mr. Cheng, looking concerned.
    “Well, it’s—” began Mr. McElroy. He looked around.
    “Please come in,” said Mr. Cheng. “We can go in my study.”
    The two men walked down the hallway, and the girls went back outside.
    “I wonder why Mr. McElroy’s here?” asked Peichi. “Especially since the McElroys have already moved out of the apartment we rented to them, and back into their own house. They’ve been settled for a few weeks already!”
    “I don’t know,” Molly said with a shrug. “It sounds kind of serious. Maybe Amanda can send Justin another e-mail and ask him!”
    “Oh wow! You sent Justin an e-mail? What did you say? Did he write back? I can’t believe you sent him an e-mail!” Peichi cried. Molly and Peichi began to giggle. Amanda blushed.
    “It was no big deal,” Amanda said. “I just wanted him to know I was still trying to get the money from Ms. Brenda Barlow. There wasn’t any reason for him to write back or anything.”
    “That’s too bad he didn’t e-mail you back!” excalimed Peichi. “Come on, let’s go put on our suits. I want to go swimming!”
    Fifteen minutes later, the girls were playing “Marco Polo” in the pool when Mr. Cheng came to get Peichi.
    “Peichi, come into the house, please,” he said. His eyes weren’t twinkling anymore. “Molly, would you please come in also?”
    “O-kay,” said Molly, confused.
    Peichi, for once, didn’t say a word.
    Peichi and Molly got out of the water, wrapped towels around themselves, and followed Mr. Cheng into the house. For some reason, Ah-mah had gone inside, too.
    What’s going on? wondered Amanda. Why wasn’t I asked to go in? She felt a little funny being in the pool by herself. She looked around. All the adults were speaking in lower tones and had serious expressions.
    Mrs. Cheng, standing near the grill, gave everyone a big smile. “Come on over, everybody. There’s lots of food here!” she called in a cheerful voice.

    Amanda wasn’t hungry, but she got out and went over to Mrs. Cheng, who gave her a grateful smile. But her smile didn’t hide how worried she looked.
    “Hello, girls,” said Mr. McElroy when Peichi and Molly went into the study. Peichi’s grandmother was already seated.
    “Peichi, is there something you haven’t told us about? Something you may have found?” Mr. Cheng asked.
    Peichi suddenly went pale.
    This must be about the necklace! thought Molly. What else could it be about?
    Peichi nodded slowly. “Uh-huh. I found something.”
    “What was it, sweetheart?” asked Mr. Cheng.
    “Um, a pendant. It looks like jade, but I don’t know if it’s real.”
    “And were did you find it,