The Secret of Othello Read online

  Steven came by a half hour later, sweaty and smelling like car wax. He plopped down in the armchair and said, “I hope that delicious smell is bunuelos.”

  Aunt Riza beamed. “For my favorite nephews.”

  “You’ve got to help me escape,” Denny whispered.

  Dad overheard and wagged his finger. “You’re both staying here tonight, where we can keep an eye on you.”

  Steven asked. “Where? There’s no beds.”

  “I’ve got some air mattresses on the way,” Dad said.

  “So not fair,” Steven replied. “It’s not like we asked for trouble.”

  Mom kissed the top of Steven’s head. “But it finds you anyway.”

  Denny didn’t want to stay overnight in the apartment. He wanted to go find Brian, and maybe they could go to sleep in that big comfy bed in Brian’s room—though just that, sleep, because even if the calendar in his head were to start blinking 1 DAY LEFT with klaxon alarms and a whooping siren, he was too tired to even think about milestones tonight.

  “In the morning we’re all going up to Miami for Aunt Riza’s party,” Dad said. “And now that Steven’s got his vision test all sorted out, it’s going to be an even better party than it was before.”

  Denny was glad about Steven’s test. More glad than he could even express, because now Steven wouldn’t be flipping out about it every day. But the reminder of the party was like salt in a wound because of Brian. Brian, who’d driven down to Key West with them in the middle of the night and stayed in the dojo for the test and come to the hospital, too.

  Mom said, “What’s wrong, Denny?”

  Everyone looked at him.

  “Nothing,” he said. But then, because it really wasn’t nothing, he said, “I don’t feel right going without Brian. He’s my boyfriend and I want him to be there.”

  Mom shifted her gaze to Aunt Riza, who was standing at the kitchen counter with a spatula in hand while dinner sizzled in the pan in front of her.

  “He and Sean did save your lives,” Dad pointed out from the tiny card table. “If they hadn’t figured out and told me that Larry’s boat was gone, I wouldn’t have been able to put out that alert that Ed and Irma heard.”

  Aunt Riza stirred dinner. “I don’t approve of boys kissing boys.”

  “I know,” Denny said. “I’m not asking you to.”

  She made a humming noise. “Then again, he is a nice young man. And it is your party.”

  He waited a minute, but she said nothing more. “Does that mean yes, he can come?”

  “It means dinner is ready,” she said, with a small smile. “Come and eat.”

  Denny rose and gave her a hug. She was short enough to fit under his chin and light enough to pick up and squeeze.

  “Put me down!” she squeaked.

  “Thanks,” he said.

  “You’re still sleeping here tonight,” Dad said.

  Steven asked, “If he gets to bring his boyfriend, can I bring my girlfriend?”

  “Is there a girl on this island who isn’t mad at you?” Denny asked.

  Steven reached for his phone. “Let’s find out.”

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Brian woke Monday morning to a ringing phone. He ignored it. If it was Denny, he’d call Brian’s cell. If it was Sean, saying that another tree had fallen on Denny (or some other improbable disaster), it would also be on the cell phone. The sun was shining and the air-conditioning was glorious and Brian was perfectly content to lay in bed, dozing, thinking of Denny and the day they’d had yesterday in Miami: beautiful weather, a great going-away party, kissing under a blazing red sunset sky.

  And today they were supposed to go out on Denny’s boat, just the two of them, out to Bardet Key. Overnight. Alone. No kidnappers, spies, missing satellites, or any other kind of trouble.

  Brian smiled into his pillow.

  Mom knocked on his door. “Honey, you awake?” she asked, and cracked it open.

  “Yeah, sure,” he said, and rolled over to face her.

  “That’s the financial aid office on the line,” she said. “They want to talk to us both about your tuition package.”

  Brian instantly sat up. “Is it good news or bad news?”

  “I don’t know yet,” she said.

  Brian stood up, grabbed a shirt to pull on, and tried to quell the uneasy roll of his stomach.

  “It’s okay,” Mom said, squeezing his shoulder. “We’ll figure it out, right?”

  “Sure,” he said. They’d figure it out. His whole future, waiting on the other end of the phone line. He took a deep breath and followed her down the hall, hoping his dreams weren’t about to come crashing down around him.

  Don’t miss Sam Cameron’s next Fisher Keys Adventure

  The Missing Juliet

  Coming from Soliloquy,

  a division of Bold Strokes Books

  Turn the page to read a preview…

  The Missing Juliet

  “I hope you realize we’re trespassing on federal property,” Sean whispered, pushing a palm frond away from his face. “The Truman House is a historic landmark!”

  “Shut up,” Robin suggested as she kept crawling through the bushes. She didn’t care if they got arrested. A stint in jail was nothing compared to meeting Juliet Francine for just one minute. Those perfect blue eyes, crystal bright. That strawberry-blond hair and long, loose curls, perfect for running fingers through. Sweet pink lips that would probably taste like summer strawberries—

  Not for the first time, Robin realized how ridiculous it was to daydream about someone she’d only seen in movies and on TV. This was all nothing but a silly teenage crush. She should be home, editing new YouTube videos protesting cyberbullying and gender discrimination. Someone had to speak up against the injustices of the world. Instead, she was getting her favorite lesbian pride T-shirt all dirty and risking a permanent arrest record if they charged her as an adult.

  Love was crazy.

  Sean complained, “I think this is poison ivy. If I get a rash, you’re paying for the cream.”

  Robin elbowed him in the side to shut him up and then dropped to the ground. Sean followed. There, through the ferns, they could see cast and crew members standing under a green tent about forty feet away. Sulking in a chair with his name on it was Liam Norcott, Hollywood’s favorite bad boy. He had tousled blond hair and pouty red lips and a reputation for trouble.

  “Michael, if she’s not here in the next sixty seconds, I’m going back to my trailer,” he said angrily as he texted on his phone. “This is ridiculous.”

  Not as ridiculous as his diesel-belching double-decker trailer parked in the street nearby, Robin thought. Liam Norcott was all looks and no talent.

  “I’m going to die,” Sean said into Robin’s ear. “I’ve had a crush on him since I was twelve years old.”

  “He’s an idiot,” Robin whispered back. “Look for Juliet.”

  The director, Michael Lake, turned away and spoke hurriedly into his cell phone. A makeup girl tried to dust Liam’s nose, but he shooed her away. Some actresses wearing clothing from the 1940s rehearsed their lines. A movie set was sort of like high school, Robin realized—a lot of people waiting around for the interesting parts to happen. A mosquito dug into her arm, but she swatted it away. She could wait all day if she had to, and she wasn’t going to let the heat or bugs or anything else get in the way.

  “Michael!” a voice called out, and there she was far down the path—Juliet Francine, tall and pretty and clutching a note in her hands. Robin’s heart started beating thunderously fast. She was going to do it. She was going to step out of hiding and come face-to-face with the girl of her dreams, and not be a creepy stalker fan but someone Juliet would think was cool, and maybe she’d give her an autograph, and then maybe they’d have iced coffee and talk a lot—

  But wait. That wasn’t Juliet at all. It was her older sister Karen, also strawberry-blond and slender, but not quite as pretty. Karen rushed to the director and thrust a p
iece of paper into his hands.

  “What?” Michael Lake asked as he scanned it. “Is this a joke?”

  “Is what a joke?” Liam demanded. He snatched the paper away and read it quickly. “Oh, come on! It’s the oldest publicity stunt in Hollywood!”

  Karen Francine turned on him, her face pale and hands shaking. “It’s no joke!” she said. “Juliet’s been kidnapped!”

  About the Author

  A Navy veteran, Sam Cameron spent several years serving in the Pacific and along the Atlantic coast. Her transgender, romance, and science fiction novels have been recognized for their wit, inventiveness, and passion. She holds an MFA in creative writing and currently teaches college in Florida.

  Soliloquy Titles From Bold Strokes Books

  The Secret of Othello by Sam Cameron. Florida teen detectives Steven and Denny risk their lives to search for a sunken NASA satellite—but under the waves, no one can hear you scream… (978-1-60282-742-4)

  Andy Squared by Jennifer Lavoie. Andrew never thought anyone could come between him and his twin sister, Andrea… until Ryder rode into town. (978-1-60282-743-1)

  Sara by Greg Herren. A mysterious and beautiful new student at Southern Heights High School stirs things up when students start dying. (978-1-60282-674-8)

  Boys of Summer, edited by Steve Berman. Stories of young love and adventure, when the sky’s ceiling is a bright blue marvel, when another boy’s laughter at the beach can distract from dull summer jobs. (978-1-60282-663-2)

  Street Dreams by Tama Wise. Tyson Rua has more than his fair share of problems growing up in New Zealand—he’s gay, he’s falling in love, and he’s run afoul of the local hip-hop crew leader just as he’s trying to make it as a graffiti artist. (978-1- 60282-650-2)

  [email protected] by K.E. Payne. Is it possible to fall in love with someone you’ve never met? Imogen Summers thinks so because it’s happened to her. (978-1-60282-592-5)

  Swimming to Chicago by David-Matthew Barnes. As the lives of the adults around them unravel, high school students Alex and Robby form an unbreakable bond, vowing to do anything to stay together—even if it means leaving everything behind. (978-1-60282-572-7)

  Speaking Out edited by Steve Berman. Inspiring stories written for and about LGBT and Q teens of overcoming adversity (against intolerance and homophobia) and experiencing life after “coming out.” (978-1-60282-566-6)

  365 Days by K.E. Payne. Life sucks when you’re seventeen years old and confused about your sexuality, and the girl of your dreams doesn’t even know you exist. Then in walks sexy new emo girl, Hannah Harrison. Clemmie Atkins has exactly 365 days to discover herself, and she’s going to have a blast doing it! (978-1-60282-540-6)

  Cursebusters! by Julie Smith. Budding psychic Reeno is the most accomplished teenage burglar in California, but one tiny screw-up and poof!—she’s sentenced to Bad Girl School. And that isn’t even her worst problem. Her sister Haley’s dying of an illness no one can diagnose, and now she can’t even help. (978-1-60282-559-8)

  Who I Am by M.L. Rice. Devin Kelly’s senior year is a disaster. She’s in a new school in a new town, and the school bully is making her life miserable—but then she meets his sister Melanie and realizes her feelings for her are more than platonic. (978-1-60282-231-3)

  Sleeping Angel by Greg Herren. Eric Matthews survives a terrible car accident only to find out everyone in town thinks he’s a murderer—and he has to clear his name even though he has no memories of what happened. (978-1-60282-214-6)

  Mesmerized by David-Matthew Barnes. Through her close friendship with Brodie and Lance, Serena Albright learns about the many forms of love and finds comfort for the grief and guilt she feels over the brutal death of her older brother, the victim of a hate crime. (978-1-60282-191-0)

  The Perfect Family by Kathryn Shay. A mother and her gay son stand hand in hand as the storms of change engulf their perfect family and the life they knew. (978-1-60282-181-1)

  Father Knows Best by Lynda Sandoval. High school juniors and best friends Lila Moreno, Meryl Morganstern, and Caressa Thibodoux plan to make the most of the summer before senior year. What they discover that amazing summer about girl power, growing up, and trusting friends and family more than prepares them to tackle that all-important senior year! (978-1-60282-147-7)