Melodie Campbell - Crime Club

I have a secret. Not even Mom knows this one.

Im still talking to my dad. We found a way.

After Dad was charged, Mom and I were hounded by journalists. They parked in front of our house, with vans and cameras. They followed me to school. You can imagine the headlines they were after. Interview with the Killers Daughter. It was awful. If this is what rock stars go through, I never want to be one.

I dropped out of school in June to avoid them. Mom had to leave work. It was like we were prisoners ourselves. So when she said we were moving to Canada, I couldnt wait. But heres the thing.

Dads lawyer was worried about people tracing our correspondence and figuring out where we lived. The tabloids were annoying, but this was more about the Mob. The lawyer said we couldnt have any contact with Dad at all. That was the only way we could drop off the radar. Be safe.

So Dad and I dont send emails. But we do write them.

Im particularly proud of the system weve been using, because I thought of it myself. I created a new email account. I gave Dad the password before he was hauled off to jail. Every few days, I go in and leave a message in the Drafts file. Dad logs in from his end and reads the draft message. Then he deletes it and writes his own.

No emails sent. Nothing to trace.

This is what he wrote last night:

Hi, Bugs. Thanks for letting me know where youre going. All okay here. Its tough inside, but Im used to tough. Dont worry about me. Let me know how you settle in. Love you.

When I was little, I couldnt say my own name, Penny. It came out Bunny. So Dad started calling me Bugs, as in Bugs Bunny.

It made me feel good when he called me that in the email. It also made me sad. I miss him so much.

Dad accepted a plea in order to get a lighter sentence. Thats what the lawyer told us. But I know better. He pleaded guilty to avoid a trial. In a trial, everything comes out.

I dont know why he killed that man. No one would tell me. They said it was safer for me not to know.

But one day Ill find out.

Everything went according to plan. Mom drove me to the border. Aunt Stella was waiting there, ready to drive me and my stuff (and Ollie) to Mudville. She even got me a new cell phone. One with a Canadian phone number.

Mom would join us a week later. We wouldnt communicate again before then, just to be safe. I hugged her tightly as we said our goodbyes.

It was a beautiful summer day. Aunt Stella and I arrived in Mudville just after lunch. She parked the car around back. As we walked up the sidewalk, Ollie bounding around us like a maniac, Aunt Stella gave me a side hug. Welcome to the Big Dill. Everyone around here calls it the Dilly. It will be great having you here. Ive been pretty lonely since Phil died.

I hugged her back. Maybe this would be a good thing for her too.

Aunt Stella looks a lot like Mom, only older and a bit slimmer. Her shoulder-length brown hair was pulled back with clips. Her great big smile was irresistible.

The door to the pub looked freshly painted. The top half was all screen. The bottom half had a picture of a smiling green pickle wearing sunglasses. Not kidding. The door swung inward easily.

Ollie beat me in the door. I stepped across the threshold. It wasnt as dark inside as I had expected it to be. My eyes easily adjusted. Lots of light poured in from windows on three sides. A man with gray hair sat at a round wooden table by one of the windows. He looked up and squinted.

Jeez Louise, Stella. Theyve finally gone and done it. Crossed a poodle with a grizzly bear.

Aunt Stella darted ahead of me. Now you behave yourself, Vern.

Or is it a woolly mammoth? said Vern.

Aunt Stella gave Vern a playful swat. Thanks for looking after the place this morning. This is my niece, Penny. And this gorgeous boy is Ollie. She reached down to scratch Ollie behind the ear. She didnt have to reach down very far, of course. Never mind the grumpy old man, Ollie. Good boy. Arent you a handsome fellow.

Ollie started to whimper. He wanted more scratches. Some guard dog he was.

Vern stood up. He was much taller than I had expected. Close on six feet. He shuffled up to us and peered at me with surprisingly blue eyes.

He put out a large, knobby hand. Im Vern.

Ollie growled.

Ollie, stand down, I commanded. Friend. Ollie relaxed. He wagged his bushy tail and yipped. Nice to meet you.

Wait until you meet Wolfgang, Aunt Stella said, still rubbing the pooch.

Whos Wolfgang? I asked.

Taras dog. Youll meet them both soon. In fact Aunt Stella turned to look at the back door. That will be Simon now, she said. He and his friends wanted to be here to welcome you.

Thats nice, I said. Simon is my cousin. From Uncle Phils first marriage. Aunt Stella and Uncle Phil used to bring him down to Cape Cod most summers. I like Simon, although he is sort of nerdy. He likes old movies and things.

Simon is a year older than me. I am counting on him to help me adjust to the new school in the fall.

I looked up at the sound of a motorcycle. I heard it roar, then putt, putt, then come to a stop somewhere close by. I peered out the back window and stared in amazement.