Chapter 5
C’EST PRAQUTIQUE
1 :30
(PARIS LOCAL TIME)
The
Charles de Gaulle Airport, France
‘Ok,
Andy, you’re telling me that we’re stuck in Paris,
without any money, a desperate lack of any French-speaking capabilities, no
clothes, equipment or contacts that we know of since we lost ALL of our
luggage, all because of a certain young spy...’ Debbie broke off from her rant
to shoot a pointed glare at Mel, who shrugged, looked guilty and said, ‘I’m
sorry, ok? It’s not my fault that I can’t read French and instead of collecting
it, I sent it over to Russia! I thought that ‘Russie*’
meant ‘rush’, not ‘Russia’! I didn’t learn French at school!’
Mel was close to
crying now, but Carrie, ever the caring bestie, comforted her by wrapping her
arms around her and rubbing her back.
Mike and David knelt by the sobbing Mel,
glaring at Debbie, angry at her for hurting their friend. Debbie was a great friend,
but sometimes she lost focus of how sensitive Mel was and said things that the
others would take as a joke, but Mel took as an emotional attack.
Andy sighed
and turned to Debbie, ‘Look, Debbs. I’ll lay down the facts here: We’re broke,
but I remembered the ICC (International Currency Card) that my mom gave to me
before our first mission. We don’t have any contacts, but,’ Andy smirked at the
simmering Debbie, and continued. ‘My cousin, Olivia, is an agent for the
Diplomatic Association of France and, just before we left for the airport, I
called her. Cassie and I haven’t seen Olivia and Auntie Desiree since we all
were about six, so she was most happy to play as our old friend that we came to
‘visit’ in Paris as a cover. Essentially, that is correct, since we are old
friends and we are, in part, going to visit them. The sad thing is, along with
mom, Aunt Desiree was also kidnapped. We had been lied to this whole time. Mom
wasn’t on a solo mission. Mom AND Aunt Desiree were on that mission. A-and they
were both kidnapped. Together.’
By now, all the young spies had turned to Andy
and Debbie, watching the one-sided exchange in quiet awe. Carrie, who had obviously
heard this all before, Mike and David were watching Debbie’s face turn from
angry to shocked.
Andy was right. He had never let them down. And he wasn’t about
to start now.
