“The match is sitting right here.” Prière put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “Which of the others have prophesied before a council of believers? And who else has given you the identity of the First Twin?”
“I agree he’s our top choice, Agent Sloan,” Titus said. “We need to check all the paperwork, but for the sake of conversation, let’s operate on the assumption that Agent Garmond is the Profile Match and Agent Thomas is the First Twin. What next?”
“We wait and see,” Moreland said.
“No waiting,” I said. “Tell us the prophecies. Tell us what we’re supposed to do.”
“We don’t make prophecies public, Agent Garmond, as I’m sure you know,” Titus said. “Being aware tends to make people overly sensitive.”
“Because too many are forcing the prophecies to be happening earlier than they should,” Prière added.
Frustration curdled in my stomach. “What about Ving and Diane MacCormack?” I asked. “Can we arrest them?”
“For what?” Titus said. “Do you have evidence that they’ve committed a crime?”
“They kidnapped Grace,” I said.
“Who took you, Ms. Thomas?” Titus asked.
“The tattooed man,” she said.
“Tito,” I said. “Who I thought was in jail.”
“The men who abducted you two years ago did not go to jail,” Titus said.
“What?” I couldn’t believe this. “Why not?”
Titus tapped his fingers on my file. “It was complicated.”
“Complicated how?” I asked.
“I didn’t want you to have to testify,” Grandma said. “We filed restraining orders against both men.”
“Then arrest Tito,” I said. “He broke the restraining order.”
“He works for MacCormack,” Moreland said, “and you voluntarily entered the residence. We could try and get him to take a deal if he’ll give us information on MacCormack, but kidnapping charges aren’t likely enough to scare him. I’d rather get him on something bigger.”
“MacCormack is a drug pusher,” I said and reminded them that MacCormack had given Kip drugs for his Jolt Revolt party.
“The authorities were unable to press charges against Mr. MacCormack in that case,” Mr. S said. “We won’t have any luck there, either.”
“We need evidence, Agent Garmond,” Titus said. “On both MacCormack and his wife.”
“I’ll go back and get some,” I said.
“You will not,” Grandma said.
“I’m almost eighteen, Grandma,” I said. “And I’m the only one with an in.”
“It’s too dangerous, Spencer,” Mr. S said.
“I’m not afraid of him,” I said. “If he wanted to hurt me, he would have.”
“He might have if we hadn’t gotten you out in time,” Mr. S said.
“We have never doubted your courage, Spence,” Prière said. “But these people are not your friends. They want information. And if you cannot give it—they will have no use for you. And those they have no use for, they kill.”
I shook my head. “But MacCormack wants me to work with them, remember? To deal in prophecies.”
Titus cleared his throat. “I appreciate your willingness, Agent Garmond, but we are not in the habit of sending juvenile agents undercover in a situation like this. I’m sorry.”
I sighed and leaned back in my chair. I’d had enough of this. “I get it. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. But so do I. I’m tired of all the secrets surrounding my life. And I’m tired of people telling me what I can and can’t do. I’m done with it. I want answers. If you people won’t help me, that’s fine. But I’m going to help myself. I will contact MacCormack and continue my investigation. I’m going to find out what he wants from me. And I’m going to find out what he wants from Grace. I’m not asking permission.”
“Spencer!” Grandma said.
“I’m sorry, Grandma. I know you’re all trying to help, but your way isn’t working. So, I’m going to take care of this myself.” I pushed back my chair and stood.
“Trahir,” Prière said. “The English word for ‘betray’ is coming from the French, but the French word is having several meanings. Trahir is meaning ‘betray,’ oui, but it is also meaning ‘deceive,’ ‘abandon,’ ‘break with.’ How many times has this young man been going his own way? And of the other remaining potentials, how often have any of them been doing the same?”
Silence filled the room. Prière’s fierce gaze shifted from one person to the next as it made its way around the table. Titus, Moreland, Mr. S, Grandma . . . they all were looking at the table or their hands.
The last person Prière looked at was me. “You have been betraying the Mission League many times, Spence. And now you are telling us you will continue be to doing so.”
Gosh. He made me sound like a terrorist. “It’s nothing personal,” I said. “It’s just that you guys sometimes make it really hard to do my job.”
Mr. S chuckled. “All the extra investigating you do has never been an assignment, son. Don’t mistake me. I’ve had ambitious students before, but nothing like you.”
“It is my belief that Agent Spencer Garmond is being a complete match to the profile in question,” Prière said. “And as such, we should be supporting him.”
Titus took a deep breath and exhaled out his nose. “Agreed,” he said. “But our men can’t watch him inside MacCormack’s house.”
“He’d be wearing a wire,” Moreland said, fixing his gaze on me. “It’s not a real wire. Just a newfangled cell phone that does the job without raising suspicions.”
Yaasss. I wanted me a newfangled spy phone.
“I can’t condone this, Marvin,” Mr. S said. “He’s a minor.”
“I’m not asking you to agree,” Titus said. “But if Agent Garmond agrees, and if Lorraine agrees . . .”
“I do not agree,” Grandma said.
“Grandma,” I said.
“There is absolutely no way I’m letting you go undercover to spy on criminals. I can’t believe these men would even consider it, after all you’ve been through already.”
“Agent Garmond is no regular minor, Loraine,” Titus said. “He’s in his fourth year in the agent-in-training program.”
“I know very well what he’s capable of,” Grandma said. “That doesn’t mean I will send him into the lions’ den.”
“I want to do this, Grandma,” I said, meeting her eyes. “Please? The prophecies have been leading me here. There’s got to be a reason.”
“What about Agent Thomas?” Moreland asked. “The First Twin should be exposed to this investigation as well.”
“My daughter will not be investigating anyone,” Mrs. Thomas snapped. “In fact, she’s not having anything to do with this organization from now on.” She looked at me. “Or with you, Spencer. I’m sorry. You’ve done so much for our family, but I can’t risk Grace’s safety.”
That cut deep. Was she saying I couldn’t even be friends with Grace? “I never meant to put Grace at risk,” I said. “I can do this myself. But Grace is the First Twin. And that means she has a purpose in all this. You can’t keep her from that.”
“You wouldn’t be wanting to,” Prière said. “God will have his way.”
“Mrs. Thomas,” Titus said. “I understand your concerns, and it’s within your right to withdraw your daughter from the Agent Development Program. But could I ask you one favor?”
“You can ask,” she said.
“Would you allow your daughter to meet with Agent Stopplecamp and Agent Garmond once a week at the school to hear an update of the investigation and see if anything comes to her?”
Mrs. Thomas studied Grace, who eventually met her mom’s gaze. “If Grace is willing, I suppose I could allow that much,” she said. “If the meeting is at the school.”
And suddenly Grace was back in my life.
“Loraine,” Titus said, “will you reconsider and allow your grandson to work with this office?
”
Grandma frowned at me. It was her thinking face, so I tried to give her my most innocent, responsible expression.
“It can’t interfere with his school,” she said finally. “And I don’t want him doing anything illegal.”
“It can’t interfere with basketball, either,” I said. “And nothing that could get me arrested. My NCAA rep can’t take another blow like that. Also, I’m tired of working in the dark. I’ll need to be able to talk to someone in your Cults or New Cults department. I want access to this person on a regular basis. I want to work with them—as a team.”
Shockingly, Titus said, “That can be arranged.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“I’d actually like to talk about this without the children here,” Grandma said.
“That would be nice,” Grace’s mother added.
I shot Grandma a scowl. “I’ll be eighteen in four months.”
“Agents Garmond and Thomas,” Titus said, “give us a few minutes, please.”
So Grace and I went out into the hall. She took hold of my hand. This confused me. We were still going out? Her mother said she didn’t want me around her, so I figured we were broken up for good this time.
“Are we okay?” she asked, her eyes welling with tears.
“Sure,” I said. “We just need to lay low for a while.”
“You came into my life like a knight on a white horse.” Her voice cracked. “You got my dad in AA. You’re my hero.”
“God did it, Grace. He showed me the truth. But we have to take a break.” I released her hand. “At least until this is over.” Or until Grace convinced her mom to change her mind.
She sniffled. “But I’m your Shorty,” she said.
Something desperate flailed inside me. My chest felt tight and my eyes stung. Figs and jam I was not going to cry. But I couldn’t force Mrs. Thomas to let us date. And I wasn’t going to sneak around. “Not right now,” I said. “I can’t be.”
“Fine,” she whispered, wiping tears off her cheeks.
“Don’t make me sound like the bad guy,” I said. “It’s just until your mom—”
“I know,” she said. “It’s probably for the best.” Then she walked away.
“Grace.”
I watched her go, then walked away myself, back out the long hallway and out into the lobby. I stopped there, since I didn’t want to have to come through security again if they called me back in. I fell onto a leather couch, and that’s where I stayed until Grandma found me.
“We can go home now,” she said, pushing through the exit door.
I jumped up and followed her out to the elevator bank where she jabbed her hot pink-tipped thumb against the down button. “I’m giving you permission to do this but only if they agree to your terms and you agree with mine. They want to discuss it further with each other. They’ll call you and let you know what they decide. You have until then to get out of this thing.”
“I’m not going to change my mind, Grandma,” I said. “I’ve got to do this.”
Because the sooner I dealt with this, the sooner MacCormack and Diane and Anya and Tito would all be behind bars for good. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about anyone following me. Then I could have my life back. And then Grace and I could be together again.
REPORT NUMBER: 9
REPORT TITLE: I Get a Partner and a New Spy Gadget
SUBMITTED BY: Agent-in-Training Spencer Garmond
LOCATION: Grandma Alice’s House, Pilot Point, California, USA
DATE AND TIME: Monday, November 5, 12:38 p.m.
“What’s wrong?” Grandma asked as I was tearing the crust off the grilled cheese she’d made me. She’d let me stay home from school today, but I’d been going stir crazy in the house.
“What?” I popped a piece of crust into my mouth.
“You and Grace had a fight. I can tell.”
Ugh. Why did the woman insist upon using her radar on me? “So?”
“So tell me what happened.”
I didn’t see how that would help anything.
“Spencer.”
“Her mom doesn’t want me around her, so we broke up. It’s fine. I’m fine. I’ve got basketball and school and now this assignment. It’s better this way.”
“I’m sorry,” Grandma said. “I know how much you like her. If it’s meant to be, it will be.”
“Yeah.” Whatever.
My cell phone rang. I jumped at the sound, then instantly calmed when I saw the 310 area code.
“It’s them,” I said.
Grandma nodded, and I accepted the call. “Hello?”
“Hold for Director Jeff Moreland,” a guy said.
I raised my eyebrows. Must be nice to have minions.
“Agent Garmond?” Moreland said.
“Yeah, I’m here.”
“Our committee has consulted our intercessors and the prophecies on file and talked with Director Titus. We would like to offer you the assignment. On your terms.”
“Great,” I said, a little bit surprised they’d gone for it. “What do you need from me?”
“That’s up to you. We want to give you the freedom you need to do the job right. Whatever you need, just let us know.”
Wow. Whatever I needed? Like a Porsche? “Thanks,” I said.
“I will require a written report for each outing,” Moreland said. “And you will check in verbally with this office before and after you meet with Irving, Diane, or any of their associates. If need be, we’ll be able to track your necklace and the new phone we’ll be giving you, but we still want a head’s up each time you’ll be meeting with any of them.”
“You got it,” I said.
“Agent Stopplecamp will be contacting you separately. He has some stipulations of his own, and since he is your local superior, I insist you adhere to whatever orders he gives you.”
I sighed. “As long as he doesn’t hinder my investigation.”
“Ahh . . . Yes, well, I’m sure he won’t.”
“And you’re going to assign me an agent from New Cults to talk to?” I asked.
“Yes, one will contact you shortly. God bless your mission, Agent Garmond.”
“Thank you, sir,” I said.
The line went dead.
I took a deep breath and smiled at Grandma. “I’m in.”
She just stared at me.
“I’ll be fine,” I said, then to distract her, I asked about my mom’s death. “I know some of it. And I found a picture of her once, hidden in your room.”
“You searched my room?”
I flashed a cheesy grin. “Whenever I asked about her, you never wanted to talk about it.”
She stared at me a minute, then got up and walked away.
“Grandma. I’m sorry, okay?” Nuts. I followed her down the hall. “I just wanted to know what she looked like.” I stepped through the open door to her room just as she walked away from her dresser, back toward me. Behind her, her jewelry box had been turned halfway around and she was carrying the hidden drawer this way.
“I’m sorry, Spencer,” she said. “It was wrong of me to be so closed off about this. I never meant to hide it from you. And I should have showed you pictures of your mom before now. It’s not been easy, deciding what to say and what to keep secret. The field office advised me, of course, but I don’t always do everything they want, despite what you might think.”
She sat on the edge of her bed and opened one of the envelopes of pictures. I sat beside her. She went through the pictures, frowning deeper with each one. “It’s not here.”
“The wedding picture?” I asked. “I kept that one. Hold on. I’ll go get it.”
I ran into my room, opened my desk drawer, and grabbed the “parents” folder I’d started. I brought it back to Grandma’s room and sat beside her, opened the file. The picture I’d taken from her jewelry box was on the top.
Grandma picked it up. “Wasn’t she beautiful?”
“Yeah,” I said, my chest tight.
“Stuff I learned about my parents. Well, there’s MacCormack stuff in here, too. I don’t know why I ever believed him. Even for a second.”
Grandma picked up a printout of the first email MacCormack had sent me. She shook her head, smiling faintly. “Your father’s name is not Alex. It’s Aleksander, with a ‘k,’ not an ‘x,’ and he never went by Alek. His friends called him Sander.”
I stared at the name Alex that MacCormack had used, wondering if the man knew my dad or not. “Mr. Titus said Dad’s last name wasn’t Wright. Was it Garmond?”
“Nooo,” she said. “It was Halvorsen. It’s Norwegian.”
Hence my red hair.
“What happened?” I asked. “To mom?”
“She was working undercover with your father,” Grandma said. “They were both field agents at the time, assigned to the L. A. office.”
“While Grandpa was director?”
“No, he’d already passed on by then. I still don’t know all the details surrounding her death, since I was retired and didn’t have as many connections as I used to. Your parents didn’t always work the same cases, but this time they were. They’d followed a suspicious person to a building in downtown L. A. The rest is unknown except that one of the security cameras recorded footage of your dad tying up your mom and leaving her. Then someone set fire to the building. Three were killed, including my Lisa.”
I’d never heard Grandma say my mom’s name before. “Did Dad set the fire?”
Grandma shook her head. “No one knows. The only witnesses, besides your dad, are dead.”
“If my dad was a spy, I’m sure he knew the camera was there.”
“Maybe he was too stressed to notice. If he knew he was going to kill her . . .”
I didn’t like that thought. “Did Mom know he was a traitor? I mean, did she suspect?”
“Not that I know of, but the field office had been watching your dad for a while. They suspected he was working for both sides.”
“How so?”
“Stealing information and passing it on to nefarious groups. The kind of groups that end up on the L.O.C. List.”
“Like the Free Light Foundation?”
“Or something like it,” Grandma said. “Prière said the Free Light Foundation only started ten years ago. The case your parents were working was connected to your father’s suspicious activity. So while it was a legitimate investigation, it was also a bit of a set-up. The field office didn’t think your mother was involved, but since she was your father’s wife, she was a person of interest. Then after the fire, your father disappeared. He either went into hiding, or he’s probably still working for them.”
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