Midnight seemed like a century away.

A part of Tom felt a little guilty for lying to their father. They'd promised to stay asleep and let him handle everything, but the curiousity and the urge to be involved in the crook's capture were too much to resist. Especially after their most obvious suspects had been eliminated...who could have possibly done it? And how?

"Tom?" A small voice piped up, interrupting his train of thought. Nancy, whom he'd been assigned to bunk with that night, was standing on her tiptoes to poke him. Tom rolled over onto his side to face her.

"What's wrong, Nancy?"

"Can you sit with me?"

"Why? Are you feeling sick?" he asked.

"No, I just can't sleep," she said, even as she stifled a yawn. Tom stifled a laugh.

"We're only pretending to be asleep, remember?"

"Well, I can't pretend either," she said. "You know I have trouble getting comfortable in beds that aren't mine, especially on a ship." It was true, Nancy was known to acquire insomnia during vacations, she'd toss and turn for hours unless someone else was nearby. Usually Anne, Mimi or their father. "Please?"

Tom shook his head. Unlike Mimi, she didn't make use of the puppy-dog eyes, but something about that innocent, round face struck what he liked to call the Pity Chord within him.

"Get back into bed." She did as he told her, and he crawled under the covers beside her. "Is that better?"

Nancy smiled, snuggling up close to him.

"Much." She yawned. "You know something, Tom? You're a great big brother even if you don't speak English."

Tom laughed softly, ruffling the back of her hair.

"Thank you." He kissed her forehead, and together they lay comfortably in bed, waiting for midnight.