1.
2.
3. What was such a big freaking dealthat no one wanted
The Operatives to know about it?
4. Why were The Operatives no longerallowed in the East
Wing? (A change that had added ten and a half
minutes to their average dailycommute between classes!) 3. Who or what was Black Thorn? Or maybeBlackthorne?
(Is it possible thatHeadmistress Morgan and Mr. Solomon were taking on a group ofterrorists-slash-florists?)
4. What does Mr.Solomon look like with his shirt off?
(Because, if you're going to set up an observation post,
you may as well be thorough.)
When I woke up the nextmorning I tried not to think about the night before, but it's kind of hard toforget covert and potentially dangerous missions when A) The dirty tower floorleft a stain on your best school skirt. B) At breakfast, your mother says, "Goodmorning, Cam. Did you girls have fun last night?" which everyone knowstranslates to I'm acting perfectly normal because I totally have something to hide. And C) Avoiding themysteriously off-limits East Wing means you have to find alternate routes to sixtypercent of your daily destinations.
On my way downstairs I walkedslowly past the door that opened into the East Wing. It was just another door—dark, solid wood, an old brass knob. There werehundreds of doors like it in the mansion, but this one was forbidden, so likeany good spy, I wanted to open that one.
I felt Kim Lee fall into stepbeside me as she glanced at the door and said, "Going around is such apain." Of course she didn't think about the fact that half of our teacherscould have been behind that very door at this very moment,planning an attack on some rogue florists!