"But you got greatgrades! You covered nearly two semesters' worth of work. You—"

"Got four A's and threeB's," Macey finished for me.

"I know!" I cried.After all, I had personally tutored Macey in the finer points of macroeconomics,molecular regeneration, and conversational Swahili.

"And according to theSenator," Macey said, keeping up her unspoken vow never to call herfather by name, "there's no way I am capable of earning four A's and threeB's, so therefore I must be cheating."

"But …" I struggledto find the words. "But…Gallagher Girls don't cheat!" And it's true.Not to sound dramatic or anything, but a Gallagher Girl's real grades don'tcome in pass or fail—they're measured inlife or death. But Senator McHenry didn't know that. I looked at the gorgeousdebutante who had flunked out of every prep academy on the East Coast and wasnow earning A's and B's at spy school, and I realized the senator didn't know alot of things. Not even his own daughter.

The library was empty aroundus, but I still lowered my voice as I said, "Macey, you should tell mymom. She could call your dad. We could—"

"No way!" Maceysaid, as if I never let her have any fun. "Besides, I already know whatI'm going to do."

We'd reached the heavy doorsof the library, but I paused for the answer. "What?"

"Study." Maceycocked a perfectly plucked eyebrow. "Next time I'll get all A's."And then she smiled as if, after sixteen years of practice, she'd finally foundthe ultimate way to defy her parents.

I heard voices in the corridoroutside, which was strange because at that moment the entire Gallagher Academystudent body was waiting in the Grand Hall. Something made us freeze. And wait.And despite the heavy doors between us, I could clearly hear my mother say,"No, Cammie doesn't know anything."