Spycraft Academy B. Miles (new ebook reader txt) 📖

didn't know that. For all he knew, Mattie was dead set on cutting him open. Unpredictable people were more dangerous, more frightening—people didn't like not knowing what somebody's motives were, how far they were willing to go,

"I never pegged the four of you for the breaking and entering type," Apelles said, his voice deceptively casual.

None of them responded. Sam's jaw ticked and he fought through his panic to focus on the fact that they needed a new plan. Contingencies B and C were reliant on Drina, but she had dissolved into a quivering, frightened little girl. Apelles' chokehold got a little tighter and Sam gagged.

"Alright, children," Apelles said. "I think I deserve an explanation."

"Release Sam and Drina first." Mattie snarled.

Apelles gave Sam a gentle shove. "Sure. As I've demonstrated, it would be stupid for any of you to try your luck with me, so I assume none of you will make any foolish decisions in the meantime."

He took five long strides toward Drina and placed his palm on the back of her head. She stiffened, sniffed, then turned around with wide, confused eyes.

"Don't worry, Drina, it was just a nightmare. You won't retain any permanent damage." Apelles said it so casually, like he was talking about the weather and not whatever horrors he'd inflicted on Sam's crew member

Drina looked at Sam, like she didn't know what Apelles was talking about. Sam nodded at her; it was fine, they'd talk about it later.

"Now," Apelles crossed his arms, "explain yourselves."

The four of them sat at Apelles' table, a small square thing situated beside the kitchen. The spymaster stood over Sam with his arms crossed, like the stern teacher he was, watching the rest of them as if they were misbehaved toddlers.

"So, which one of you would like to start?"

Sam swallowed the lump in his throat and looked at Mattie, who was glowering. She liked failing even less than he did.

He didn't know why Apelles hadn't called for assistance. The fact that the man was letting them explain themselves rather than simply sending them off to Mode's office—or worse—made him nervous. They couldn't beat him in a fight and it was clear that he wasn't going to let them leave without explaining themselves.

If Sam's theory was right, Apelles knew exactly why they were in his house, so why bother with this game?

A sliver of doubt formed in his mind. What if he'd been wrong about Apelles the whole time? What if it was somebody else who broke into the administrative building? What would happen to them if Apelles was the culprit and he was just buying time by making them sit there and explain themselves? What if he'd somehow sent a message to some of his associates and they were currently closing in on the cottage?

"Sam," Apelles said, "you seem to be the ringleader in all of this. Why don't you explain why you broke into my house and viciously attacked me?"

Just tell him. He'll know why either way.

Sam somehow managed to find his voice despite his uncertainty. "We thought you stole the Cipher," he blurted.

Apelles' eyebrows lifted high on his forehead. "Excuse me?"

"The Cipher," Sam said, "the one that decodes all the foreign messages. We heard that somebody broke into the administrative building and stole it. And that night, I saw somebody that looked like you going into the building. So, I thought..."

Apelles rubbed the bridge of his nose and huffed a humorless laugh. "The Cipher to decode all of our messages," he muttered. "Ridiculous."

He dropped his hand and looked at them. "While I commend your dedication to your country, not only does such a cipher not exist, but I definitely would not be the one to steal it."

Sam's face heated up.

"Somebody did break into the building, but they only stole some notes from a meeting from the beginning of the term. The culprit returned a few days ago, after you and I ran into each other, and although I will thank you for alerting me, again, he took nothing of import. If there was an important document, such as a cipher, I assure you that it wouldn't be sitting unguarded in a school administration building."

"I don't understand, then," Sam said. "Why would they take such a big risk to sneak in and grab meeting notes?"

"I suspect that they are probably idiots. There are some important documents there, but they aren't important for the security of the country. Headmaster Mode ordered wards to be set up in any case. Whatever the thief is after, he won't find it, and if he continues to try, he will be caught."

Sam eyed him suspiciously and Apelles rolled his eyes. "While your disbelief would usually be of no concern to me, I would rather you not try and pounce me again. Come, I'll show you a copy of the official report."

Sam walked outside, passing Apelles as the spymaster held the door open and shooed the lot of them from his home. It was strange, the weight that shed from his shoulders like snakeskin. The country wasn't in danger, the instructors had the situation well in hand. He’d pushed himself too hard for no good reason. He could stop now, he could rest.

Apelles had all but laughed at them, at the logic they held. When he'd broken everything down so simply and didn't kill them, it made Sam realize how ridiculous they sounded. Even though there was a thief, nothing pertinent had been taken. Apelles had shown Sam the copy of the report, signed and sealed by Mode himself. Every detail on the document matched exactly what Sam knew, exactly as Apelles had relayed the tale.

Sam had never been so happy about being wrong before.

And even after spying on Apelles and ambushing him in his own home, the spymaster still gave Sam the allowance to keep watching the culprit. 'For practice,' he'd said. Apelles had a way of making everything sound condescending, but Sam accepted the task without complaint. Apelles may not take