"Holographic,radio-synthesized photo paper," mom said, when she saw my gaping mouth."Dr. Fibs whipped up a batch in his lab over the summer. Hungry?" Sheheld her cupped hand toward Bex and me. Amazingly, I'd forgotten all about myempty stomach, but I took a green piece for good luck. Something told me wewere going to need it.

"Girls, I need you to doa tour."

"But…we'resophomores!" Bex exclaimed, as if my mother had mysteriously forgotten.

Mom's mouth was full ofchocolate, so Buckingham explained, "The juniors are beginning theirsemester with interrogation tactics, so they are all under the influence of sodiumpentothal at the moment, and the seniors are being fitted with theirnight-vision contacts, and they won't un-dilate for at least two hours. This ismost unfortunate timing, but Code Reds are such for a reason. We don't knowwhen they'll happen and, well, one is happening now."

"What do you say?"Mom asked, smiling. "Can you help us out?"

There are three things aperson has to be before they show up uninvited on the doorstep of the GallagherAcademy for Exceptional Young Women: persistent, powerful, and completely outof other options. After all, most potential students never make it past the"We are not accepting applications at this time" speech they getwhenever they call or write; you have to be turned down by every prep school inthe country before you actually drive all the way to Roseville, hoping that anin-person visit will change our minds. But no amount of persistence ordesperation can get you through the gates. No, for that, it takes real power.