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phone number to program into our phones. Then Black and Stark huddled at the other side of the room, going over their plans to flush out the mole or whatever.
    Finally, it was just Ben and me. And I wanted to clock the guy but knew I had to take the high road, like Mom always tells me to do when I get into it with someone at school.
    Ben had his arms crossed and pretty much looked like I felt. Fuming mad.
    â€œWell, I’m going to see Henry and get some gear,” I said. “But you’re too good for that.”
    Ben squinted. “All I need is my training. A real secret agent doesn’t require a Double Determinator , or whatever your little friend came up with.”
    â€œFor your information, it’s called a Double Detector . And it saved our mission the last time, if you remember.” I pointed at his cargo pocket, where I knew he stuck his little book. “So you think that manual there will help you find George Washington’s coat?”
    â€œAffirmative.”
    â€œ Affirmative? What are you—a robot?” We’d only been around each other for a couple of hours and I was already sick of the guy. “Nobody uses words like that, you know.”
    â€œYou just don’t like that I’m a real secret agent.”
    â€œ Junior secret agent.” So much for taking the high road. I forced myself to step back.
    He squinted again. “This is impossible. They teamed me up with an amateur.” He glanced over my shoulder, looking for a way out. Like he was waiting for Black or Stark to tell him I was off the case so he could be the superhero.
    â€œYou think you’re better than me,” I said. My blood was pumping through my veins like hot motor oil.
    He looked at me with fire in his eyes. “Yes, I do. While you were riding your skateboard in Cowpoke, California, I was undercover in Cameroon, hunting down a—never mind, that is top secret.”
    â€œIt’s Lompoc, for your information. No cows there.”
    â€œThis is not going to work,” Ben said. He straightened and puffed out his chest to declare, “I cannot work with a civilian.”
    â€œWell, we agree there.” I give him an icy smile. “I can’t work with you either.” Let’s face it: I’d probably make the guy eat his junior agent training manual or something. “And you’re wrong, you know. I can do this, and I’ll be better at it than you.”
    Ben took a step forward and another. Until our noses were just inches apart. “Is that a challenge?”
    â€œAbsolutely.” And I had a brilliant idea. A way for us to go our separate ways but still get the mission done. “Let’s make it a bet. Whoever brings the Dangerous Double back here first wins.”
    Ben stepped back and laughed at that. “Fine.”
    â€œAnd that person gets to claim the title of best junior secret agent ever.”
    Ben clenched his teeth. “Let’s up the ante. If I win—no, when I win, you’ll give me your Presidential Medal of Freedom. You’ll walk away empty-handed.”
    That made me pause. I really wanted that medal—Mom and Dad would be so proud. But I was confident I could beat Ben.
    â€œAre you in, Baker?”
    I nodded. “Game on, Agent Green.”

9
TUESDAY, 12:15 P.M.
    BEN AND I PUSHED THROUGH THE conference room doorway at the same time. I watched him get on the elevator before I went back to ask Stark where I could find Henry. Turns out he was just down the hall in room 418.
    I took a deep breath as I made my way over there. Why did I let Ben get under my skin like that?
    Henry lit up when I knocked on the open door.
    I instantly felt better. “Hey, Henry.”
    â€œLinc!” Henry called from behind the desk. There was a table between us, with a cardboard box and a tool kit on it. “Come in.”
    I wasn’t sure how you were supposed to greet your gadget guy who is also your friend, so I