The 39 Clues [Cahills vs. Vespers] 05 - Trust No One Read Online Free PDF

beside her.
    She held out her hand, palm outstretched. In it was the smallest gun either of them had ever seen.
    The barrel was still warm.

    Back at the car, Amy was relieved to find that while the hearing in her right ear was a little woolly, the ringing sound had faded. And the powder burn on her neck didn’t seem to be serious. She told the boys what had transpired, surprised by how calm her voice was. For now, she had to relate just the facts.
If I think about anything else, I’ll probably start crying.
    “Wow,” Dan said, examining the gun. “What do you bet it was an Ekat who came up with this?”
    “We found something under the dashboard,” Atticus said. He held out an electronic device. “It’s a signal blocker. She didn’t want us getting any messages.”
    Silence, while each of them considered the implications of having had a mole in their midst for so long.
    “She must know where the hostages are,” Amy said. The thought made her so angry that her voice shook.
    “And her brother is one of them!” Atticus said. “Do you think he’s in on it?”
    Amy shook her head. “He’s not. She told me.”
    “But she’s letting them keep him locked up!” Atticus was incredulous. He looked at Jake. “And I thought
you
were a pain sometimes.”
    “Gee, thanks, bro,” Jake said in mock gratitude.
    Just then Amy’s phone beeped with a text:
    I’m here at Yale — where are you?
    It was from Evan.

    Evan was hurrying toward them when he caught sight of Amy and stopped short, obviously aghast. For a moment, Amy was actually glad she looked so awful; she had been anxious about how he would greet her. With a hug, or even a kiss?
    So what? That’s what boyfriends do, and he’s my boyfriend. Why should I care what — what Jake thinks?
    “I’m fine,” she said to forestall his worry. “It was Sinead.”
    Evan looked startled, then miserable. He touched her arm hesitantly. “It’s my fault,” he said. “I didn’t catch on to her fast enough. And then I kept trying to text you —”
    “It was not your fault!” Amy snapped. “She almost talked us into giving up the serum formula — if it hadn’t been for you, we might have done it! The worst of it is, she got away.”
    “As long as you’re okay,” Evan said. “But you had her, four against one — how did you lose her?”
    “Look,” Jake said, his voice edged with annoyance. “You weren’t there — you didn’t see how it went down.”
    Evan bristled. “You’re right, I wasn’t there, so I want to know —”
    “Evan — I mean, um, Jake” — Amy felt the beginnings of a mild panic — “both of you — this is not helping!”
    Both of the older boys had the grace to look sheepish. Amy took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
    “Can we start over? Evan, this is Jake and Atticus. Jake and Atticus, meet Evan.”
    It was Atticus who broke the tension.
    “Hey, Evan, nice to finally meet you,” he said.
    Amy could have hugged him. “Let’s all find somewhere to sit down,” she suggested. “And then we’ll get you caught up, Jake — I mean, Evan.”
    She wanted to bite her tongue off.
    Dan snickered. “Oops,” he said. “Why don’t you just call them both Jakevan — wouldn’t that be easier?”
    If looks could kill, Dan would have been six feet under.

    What’s eating her?
    Evan wondered if it had anything to do with him. Then he felt ashamed.
Sheesh, give the girl a break.
    Amy had marched off to find a restroom. When she came back, she looked more herself — face washed, hair brushed, a fresh T-shirt. Evan’s spirits rose at the sight of her.
    They found a bench outside the library.
    “Okay, I’ve had a chance to think about this,” Amy said. “I’m going to lay it out now, and you can let me know what you think.”
    Nods all around.
    “First, we’ll need to send an urgent bulletin about Sinead. That’s you, Evan. A message to the entire Cahill network to keep their eyes peeled for her.”
    “What should they do