Spy School Secret Service by Stuart Gibbs

Author:Stuart Gibbs
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Washington, DC

February 12

1100 hours

“It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Hale,” I told Erica’s mother as we hurried through the Smithsonian employee parking garage.

“Please, call me Catherine.” When she wasn’t beating enemy agents senseless, Erica’s mother was the least spylike person I could possibly imagine. Instead, she came across as the world’s most chipper and enthusiastic soccer mom. As far as I could tell, it wasn’t an act. She was gracious, kind, charming—and unlike Erica’s father, she appeared to be extremely competent. Her lilting British accent was so delightful, she made Mary Poppins sound like a troll. “And it’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Benjamin. Erica has told me ever so much about you.”

I glanced at Erica, surprised by this. It was hard to tell in the dark garage, but it seemed as though her face might have had a tinge of embarrassment. “It was for the mission,” she informed me. “I told you I had to make additional arrangements? That was Mom. I couldn’t very well bring her in without briefing her about you.”

“Oh, that’s right,” Catherine said, in a way that merely seemed to be humoring Erica. “All our conversations about you were purely for work, Ben.”

We arrived at her car, a well-used, completely nondescript minivan that she’d somehow managed to procure an official Smithsonian parking pass for.

I started to ask one of the dozens of questions I had about Catherine, but she put a finger to her lips and cautioned, “I know there’s much to discuss, but at the moment we really ought to focus on our escape. I’m afraid I need both of you to keep mum for a bit.” Catherine clicked her key fob. The minivan side door slid open, and the rear seats tilted back, revealing a hidden compartment in the floor of the vehicle. “I’ll also need you to get in there.”

The compartment wasn’t very big. It would be a very tight, cramped fit for Erica and me.

Erica frowned. “No way. Ben’s the one who’s wanted.”

“Both of you are wanted now,” Catherine informed her. “You aided a known felon in broad daylight and you destroyed the entire Smithsonian gallery of ocean life.” She sighed. “I did so love that whale. I hope it isn’t too badly damaged. Now, no more chitchat. In you go.”

Erica disgruntledly climbed into the compartment and then I got in with her. The only way to fit was to lie on our sides, face-to-face. Except for the part about being fugitives from justice, I found myself quite excited about being in such close quarters with Erica. Despite all our exertion, she smelled fantastic, as usual: her customary heady aroma of lilacs and gunpowder, with only the tiniest hint of formaldehyde mixed in.

Meanwhile, Erica looked like she’d rather be locked in a medieval torture device.

“Now, no kissing in there, you two,” Catherine teased. “Our safety is at risk.”

“Mother!” Erica gasped, horrified. She flushed red as Catherine shut the compartment, casting us into darkness.

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