Zeda was quick enough to snap out of her thoughts about Kodak’s cryptic clue just before the spicy chicken stir-fry she was preparing for the bunch got burnt.

She tasted a small portion—it was delicious enough. She grabbed several large, deep dishes and began portioning the food, piling the steaming stir-fry high and garnishing each one with a sprinkle of scallions.

She knew there was no way on earth the guys would quit their video game and move to the dining room, so she decided to serve ...