CHAPTER ONE The Vega kids were beginning to wonder if autumn would ever make its way to Somerville It was almost the end of September and the hot summer temperatures were sticking around Most people were happy about the unseasonably warm weather but not Rowan and Astrid Vega It has got to be a hundred degrees in that school complained 11-year-old Astrid as she sat down at the counter in Mick’s Diner the restaurant owned by her parents Amelia and Jason Vega Her older brother 12-year-old Rowan tossed his backpack on an open seat and sat down as well No kidding he said They say the school is air conditioned but the only breeze I’ve ever felt is
from the hand dryer in the bathroom Astrid and Rowan were typical siblings They got along well one minute and were at each other’s throats the next They spent a lot of time together though helping out at the diner or hanging out with their best friends Quinn and Jace Neither Astrid nor Rowan had been happy about going back to school and not just because of the warm temperatures Their eventful summer had brought Jace and his older sister Evie to town after their secret agent parents found themselves in trouble The town still thought Evie and Jace were mother and son but the Vegas Quinn and her parents and Police Captain Osgood knew the truth The Vegas had even hired Evie to work in their diner Jace had become fast friends with Rowan Astrid and Quinn The foursome had spent the rest of the summer looking for adventure and solving mysteries
Now that school had started they’d had little time for much else besides homework Astrid and Rowan sat glumly at the counter staring at their books It wasn’t long before Jace and Quinn joined them The four of them must have looked pretty pathetic When Mr Vega saw them sitting there he asked What’s going on here Is the Frowny Face Convention in town He shaped his mouth into an exaggerated frown and added Can I join your frown fest Astrid tried to contain the smile that crossed her face Not funny Dad Mrs Vega made her way over and asked How was your day kids Anything exciting happen at school About the most exciting thing that happened was when Tyler Shepard split his pants in math class and had to go home early Rowan snorted
Then he looked up as if he’d just had a great idea Hey Mom do you have any of my old pants from last year Mrs Vega smiled and shook her head Nice try How about you girls anything exciting as split pants happen to you today Mr Vega asked Astrid and Quinn I wish Astrid replied All we got was a huge assignment for school Oh yeah What’s it about asked Mrs Vega Thanks to that letter and everyone’s sudden interest in our town’s history we now have to write a report about our family and how we came to live in Somerville Astrid said Over the summer a letter of historic importance written by former President Abraham Lincoln had been found in the Somerville Museum After much debate about selling the letter the residents were
