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"I have to go," I told them all

"No," Zach yelled "You don’t!"

"He’s right, Ms Morgan," Townsend said "We’ve come this far There are channels, operations--"

"The same channels that told the Circle they should send an assassin to stake out Joe Solomon’s cabin?" I asked, but Townsend seeh channels, I killed a man"

"The Circle could be here" Macey was beside"Did it ever occur to you that they have this place under surveillance just like the cabin was?"

"We’ve been staring down at that building for hours, Macey Of course it occurred to me"

"But did you think about why there’s no record of your having been there?" Bex said "Did you think about--"

"What if it’s still there?" I shouted "I ca for whatever is in there…And what if it’s still in there?"

"Ms Morgan" Townsend sounded like the cold, calculating operative he was

"Would you die to stop theent Townsend?"

"Yes" He didn’tthe fading slashes on my arms "Then think about what I would do"

"Ca closer

"You needat Townsend and then Zach and Abby "You never would have known about the embassy or Preston or the bank You won’t knohat I know until I get inside" I breathed deeply "You need me"

"Cam," Zach said "You don’t have to take this risk"

"Ronored him and turned to my aunt "A month before my father disappeared, he needed you in Rome Now I need you in Roile, and imhtened and turned to the bank "Where do we start?"

Chapter Twenty-seven

Covert Operations Report

At approxian was given a stern lecture by Agent Townsend, a tracking device by Agent Caot a tip that her bra strap was showing from Operative McHenry)

The Operative then undertook a basic reconnaissance mission inside a potentially hostile location (But it wasn’t as hostile as Operative Baxter was going to be if everything didn’t go according to plan)

Walking across the square that , I should have been afraid I looked down atto see them shake a little, but they were steady; ut telling me that I was prepared--I was ready Butto do with the voices inorders all the way

"Very good, Squirt," Aunt Abby said "Now, stop at that corner and let us--"

"Keep walking, Ms Morgan"

"Townsend," Abby snapped "The southwest security caot eyes on her from the southwest," Zach said "She’s clear" I could see hi through the reat"

"Okay, Squirt, you knohat to do," Abby said, and I walked on

Agent Townsend was at ood, Ca" So I did All the way across the square and through the bank’s heavy doors, into a lobby that I could have sworn I’d never seen before

The only thing that was familiar was the way Macey walked twenty feet in front of h Preston’s arh and lean to rest her head on his shoulder I wasn’t entirely sure if it was a part of her cover or her natural tendency for really effective flirting (or, perhaps, her cover as a really effective flirt?), but the effect couldn’t be denied

No one in the lobby was looking at me

"Okay, Cammie" Aunt Abby’s voice was clear in my ear, and I heard her draw a deep breath "What are you seeing?"

She didn’t just sound like a CoveOps teacher--she sounded like the CoveOps teacher So I took a casual turn around the floor and tried to do what Joe Solo

There were fresh flowers on a table, and the ceilings were at least thirty feet high The floors were made of stone and looked as old as the city itself It was the kind of place that was built on wealth and prestige and the ability to keep the masses out But whether or not I’dI couldn’t say

Across the room, Preston walked to one of the small tables and said, "I’d like to make a withdrawal, please" He pulled a wallet from his inner pocket and handed a card to the teller, while Macey leaned against hiirl in love Preston looked like a boy about to vo, scanning the room as casually as I could

"It’s okay, Ca a look around It’s just a recon"

"Focus, Ms Morgan," Townsend said

"I am!" I hissed in his direction

"Caed