"Look at you," said Sally Kimball, smiling. "Encyclopedia Brown, a teacher."

"Nobody's called me 'Encyclopedia' in a very long time," said Mr. Brown with a laugh.

"Don't tell me they call you Leroy. You always hated that," said Sally.

"Most people just call me Mr. Brown these days."

"Ooh, Mr. Brown. Fancy. I think I'll just call you E.B. That's what I used to call you, remember?"

"E.B. is fine," said E.B. "So, what are you doing here? How did you know where to find me?"

"Your mother told me this is where you were working last time I saw her. I actually live not too far from here now, in the city. So I thought I'd stop by and see an old friend."

"I see," said E.B, walking over to Sally. "So, how is everyone back home?"

"How about we go to lunch?" said Sally. "We can catch up while we eat."

"Well... I am free for about an hour and a half. Until my fourth period class starts," said E.B., hesitantly.

"Excellent, we'll take my car," said Sally, grabbing the teacher by the hand and leading him out of his own classroom.

Sally's car turned out to be a green 1969 Camaro SS 396 convertible, which she drove like she was in the indie 500. In the passenger seat E.B. held on for dear life as Sally took the turns in the country road they were on at breakneck speed.

"Nice car!" he called to her over the noise of the rushing wind.

"What?" Sally called back, turning her head towards him. Her hair whipped about her face.

"Nevermind, just watch the road!" E.B. yelled.

Sally shrugged and turned her attention back to the road. The two drove on together without speaking.

In no time at all they arrived at a small cafe not too far from the school and were seated by a waiter at a little table outside on the patio. Sally ordered a turkey sandwich and coffee, E.B. just ordered soup and a glass of water.

"So," said E.B., after they were settled. "What made you decide to move to the city?"

"My new job," said Sally. "I work for a private detective now, funnily enough."

"Really?" said E.B., intrigued. "What's his name?"

"Diedrich Thorn," said Sally.

"Never heard of him," said E.B., dismissively. "Is he good?"

"He is," said Sally.

There was a silence and then the waiter brought their drinks.

"So I guess you've been keeping pretty busy," said Sally after taking a sip of her coffee. "Lots of kids to teach and stuff."

E.B. looked down. He knew what she was getting at.

"I know I haven't been back home to see you in a while," he said, sheepishly.

"Or called, or written," said Sally. She said it teasingly, but there was a hint of real bitterness to her voice and E.B. noticed.

"Yeah," he said, and then stopped.

"In fact, last time we talked was that first Christmas after high school when you came home from college for winter break," said Sally.

"I remember," E.B. said in an even voice. "Look it's not like I've been trying to avoid you or anything. I haven't really kept in touch with anyone back home. it's just... I don't know. After I left Idaville I just... found a new life."

"And forgot all about your old one?" asked Sally.

They looked at each other for a second and then Sally went on, "You haven't even talked to your folks in over a year."

"Well, it's like you said. I have been busy. I've been busy with a lot. School, work, finding a new apartment..."

"I get it," said Sally, although it sounded like she didn't. "I've been pretty busy myself lately, now that I've decided to be a grown up too. Of course I still find time for friends and such."

"How is everyone back home, anyway," asked E.B., trying to steer things back to a topic that was less confrontational.

"Good and bad," said Sally. "Officer Carlson became the new chief of police after your dad retired last year. He's okay, but not as good at it. He doesn't have you there to help him."

"Dad told me that crime went up after I left," said E.B.

"It's still better than a lot of other towns," said Sally. "But let's see, Bugs Meany is in jail again. It'll probably be for life this time. He robbed a liquor store on Maple Drive at gun point."

"Not surprising," said E.B. without raising an eyebrow.

"Charlie Stewart became a dentist," said Sally.

"Also not surprising," said E.B.

"Wilford Wiggins died not too long ago. Does that surprise you?" said Sally, giving the former boy detective a steely-eyed look.

"Depends," E.B. said evenly. "How did it happen?"

"A con gone wrong, we assume. He was found stabbed to death in the alley behind the drugstore."

"Then no, that doesn't surprise me," said E.B. "Crime usually leads to an early death or incarceration, so Bugs' and Wilford's fates are only logical consequences of their own bad choices."

"I agree," said Sally. She sipped her coffee. Then their food arrived.

"What exactly do you do for this guy, Thorn?" asked E.B. after a spoonful of soup.

"I'm sort of his... gal Friday, I guess you'd say. Not quite a secretary, but not quite a partner either. I just do a lot of little things to assist him," said Sally.

"I think that's very fitting," said E.B. "You were always a big help to me. You have a naturally keen mind and the gumption to back it up. That's what I never had. I was never brave like you."

"You had your moments," said Sally. "You stood up to criminals."

"Criminals," E.B. scoffed. "Bike thieves, and school bullies are nothing. Once the crimes started to get actually dangerous that's when I realized it was the puzzles I enjoyed, not the action. That's why I majored in codes and psychology instead of criminology like Dad wanted me too. I do my best work behind a desk solving problems, not out in the world chasing people. That was your thing."

"Together we were unbeatable," Sally said with a tinge of sad nostalgia to her words.

E.B. nodded.

They ate the rest of their lunch together quietly making small talk about the weather, the economy, and old times, including how they first met competing against each other in a mystery solving contest. Before they knew it it was time for E.B. to get back to work. Sally dropped him off in the parking lot not too far from the little building his classroom was in and gave him a hug and a small kiss on the cheek goodbye.

"See you around, Encyclopedia Brown," she said. Then she handed him a business card. "If you ever need the services of a detective, give me a call."

He looked down at the card.

Thorn Detective Agency

1508 Oblong Avenue

Sally Kimball, Consultant

"No case too big."

"Gotcha," he said to her, quietly, and tried to smile.

He got out of the car and shut the door. As she drove off, Sally gave him a wave, and he lifted his hand and gave her a sad little wave back. He was starting to feel something he hadn't felt in a very long time. It was kind of annoying to him, actually; to feel rather than think. He turned around and began to walk towards his class. As he did, he went over the events that had just occured in his mind. He was so busy thinking along the way that he didn't even notice Miss Cross, a fellow teacher, waiting for him outside his classroom door until he was almost there. She looked extremely upset.

"Is everything okay?" asked Mr. Brown.

"No, I'm afraid it's not," said Miss Cross. "School has been canceled for the rest of the day and the children sent home early."

"Why?" asked Mr. Brown.

Miss Cross leaned forward and whispered even though there was no one around. "The headmaster's been murdered," she said.

"Oh... nuts," said Mr. Brown.

Miss Cross obviously expected a different reaction, because she frowned at that one.

Mr. Brown just blinked and then he became very aware that he was still holding Sally's business card in his hand.

Does Encyclopedia love Sally?

(Turn to page 104 to find out.)