"Cammie," Bex whispered,eyeing me and then Macey. "Something's going on with you two. Isn'tit?"

Before I could answer, mymother continued, "I'd like to begin with the very exciting news that thissemester we will be offering a new course, History of Espionage, taught by ProfessorBuckingham." Light applause filled the Grand Hall as our most senior staffmember gave a small wave.

"And also," mymother said slowly, "as many of you have no doubt noticed, the East Wingwill be off-limits for the time being, since recent work to the mansionrevealed that it has been contaminated by fumes from the chemistry labs."

"Cammie," Liz said,scooting closer, "you look kind of… pukey."

Well I felt kind of pukey.

"And most of all,"my mother said, "I want to wish everyone a great semester."

The silence that had filledthe hall a moment before evaporated into a chorus of talking girls and passingplates. I tried to turn the volume down, to listen to the thoughts that swirledinside my mind like the snow that blew outside. I closed my eyes tightly,forcing the room to dissolve away, until suddenly, everything became clear.

And I whispered the fact thatI'd known for years but only just remembered.

"There is no ventilationaccess from the chem labs to the East Wing."

Chapter Three

There are many pros and consto living in a two-hundred-year-old mansion. For example: having about a dozenhighly secluded and yet perfectly inbounds places where you can sit and discussclassified information: PRO.

The fact that none of theseplaces are well heated and/or insulated when you are discussing saidinformation in the middle of the winter: CON.

Two hours after ourwelcome-back dinner, Macey was leaning against the stone wall at the top of oneof the mansion's tallest towers, drawing her initials on the window's frostypanes. Liz paced, Bex shivered, and I sat on the floor with my arms around myknees, too tired to get my blood flowing despite the chill that had seepedthrough my uniform and settled in my bones.