Page 20 (1/2)

Liz settled herself at the first computer she saw, pulled a disk fro a spyware file that the NSA has been trying to buy from her for years "One-hundred-and-sixteen-bit encryption?" she said, sounding shocked and a little disappointed when she reached the e you next time, sweetheart," Bex said as she ran to the first bathroom she saw, pulled a pair of tweezers fro bristles out of toothbrushes for DNA analysis (just in case the boys were really biologically engineered spying ) I stared at the e for fas that, erprints and DNA, would tell us who these boys really were

As I looked in the first closet, so dawned on me "These pants are brand new," I said "So are the shoes" I thought about my own closet--half of my school shirts had indiscreet stains somewhere on the white collars My sweaters were all comfy and orn I turned to Bex "What are the odds that fifteen boys--all different ages--got their unifored then fu for a pair of very tiny wires attached to slass orbs, exactly the size and shape of the plastic buttons present in the Gallagher Academy smoke detectors

"Bex," I cried, "we can't put cameras in their bedrooms"

"But a picture is worth a thousand words," she said, feigning innocence

"Bugs only," I warned, because while I overno that far forthe ca the teeny tiny htused by the Department of Homeland Security)

There really is an art to planting bugs Sadly, Mr Solomon hadn't covered it yet, but we did all the obvious stuff like put trackers in their shoes and dust for prints You know--the basics Not even Dr Steve's room--or shoes-- were immune froate Dr Steve's underwear drawer ever again!) Ten ht ere aleway and Bex fed h the electrical outlets

I started back down the long, dusty corridor, wires trailing behind me as I made my way to our new observation post (aka the secret roo break of our freshht actually pull it off undetected, but then … I heard it

"Oh, Ms McHenry, that is an excellent idea, simply excellent!"

Dr Steve I could hear Dr Steve's voice through the heating vents, whichto the boys' rooms The rooot to go, guys," I said "Abort!" Then I renals within the Gallagher grounds--that eren't wearing comms units and Bex and Liz couldn't hearunless they'd heard Dr Steve and Macey in the hallway

"But, Dr Steve," Macey practically yelled, "I was hoping I could talk to you for a few minutes"

"Not now, Ms McHenry," the ot a second to pop into et back to the boys"

I pressed against the bookshelf that serves as one of the entrances to the passageway and saw Dr Steve reach for the door while Macey tried to block his path

"But I only need alike the spoiled brat she's supposed to be

"Perhaps we can talk to her a pat on the shoulder

He was stepping toward the door He was getting closer

I couldn't take the chance, so I dropped ainst the bookshelf, and stepped into the hallway behind the teacher

"Hello, Dr Steve," I said When he turned, Macey instantly stopped whining and gave me a "Is the coast clear?" look, but of course it wasn't

"Oh, good," I said to Macey "You found hiet theforfor you"

"Yes," Macey said, catching on "Cammie really needs to talk"

"So this is soency?" Dr Steve nodded as if this confirical profile that he'd seen about me somewhere (Note to self: find out if there is a deep, dark psychological profile about me) "I see," he said, in the

The Operative was able to neutralize the i severe ht, since she was feeling both distressed and mental

Unfortunately, it's one of the basic laws of physics (as well as espionage) that every action will have an equal and opposite reaction, and I realized too late that Dr Steve was expecting soive hi to sound as Bex-like and drauess you know I have a broken heart"

Yes, it's true--I said that Call it nerves or inadequate prep time, but for some reason that's the part of my soul I chose to bear to a man who insists we call him "Dr Steve"

"Well, broken hearts are very co to worry about there, I'm sure" He h all the ways of stopping hirabbed my arm

"That's what I told her, Dr Steve" Macey stepped away from the doorway "Thank you"