Wildfire Run Read Online Free PDF Page B

said. “We met last year in Colorado. Iremember you make a mean enchilada.”
    That made Callie’s dad smile.
    â€œAnd you must be Callie.” The man held out his hand to her.
    Callie’s right hand was still in her pocket around the kitten, trying to hold the pocket far enough open so the kitten could get some air but not be seen. She eased her hand out, hoping the cat wouldn’t squeak. Little cat hairs stuck to her palm, which was all sweaty from the heat. She gave the agent’s hand one shake, drawing her own hand back as quickly as she could.
    â€œLet’s get your luggage in,” Agent Erickson said, opening up the back gate of the car. “It’s about a twenty-minute ride.”
    Callie kept the backpack with her and climbed into the backseat, adjusting her jacket and the seat belt so it wouldn’t press against the kitten, who was purring softly now.
    As they were driving out of town, Callie’s dad said, “Did you feel the earthquake? We were surprised.”
    â€œI just heard it was tremors spreading all the way from a big earthquake in Missouri,” the agent said. “It’s a major disaster there. As soonas we get back to Camp David, we’ll be able to get more details.”
    Callie hoped their cabin didn’t have a television. After anything horrible happened, it was scary to see it replayed over and over for days afterward.
    Her dad spoke up, and Callie knew he was trying to change the subject away from the earthquake, so she wouldn’t dwell on it. “Looks like this area hasn’t seen rain in months.”
    â€œWe’ve hardly seen a drop of rain all summer.” The agent turned up the air conditioner. Callie wasn’t surprised the talk had turned to weather, though she never understood why adults spent so much time jabbering about it. “I’m afraid we’re going to lose some trees. It’s way too dry. Have you ever been to Camp David, Chef Lansa?”
    â€œNo, I’ve never been there, so this will be a real treat, right, Callie?”
    â€œRight,” Callie said, knowing the expected answer.
    â€œThere’s a lot of history there. President Roosevelt used the camp first, and he called it Shangri La. President Eisenhower changed the name to Camp David in the 1950s. He named it for his grandson. Supposedly, any president canchange the name if they want, but no one has since then.”
    Great. Any day now, Callie thought, the newspapers would announce Camp David had been renamed Camp Luke.
    Agent Erickson gave a huge sneeze. “Excuse me,” he said. He sneezed again. “Callie, I know you have been on the ranch when the President is there, but I’d like to go over the rules again.”
    â€œI know the rules,” Callie said. “If a Secret Service agent tells me not to do something, I’m supposed to listen and obey, just like at the ranch.”
    â€œCallie,” her dad said, “you need to listen now.”
    â€œWe’ll arrange a tour later,” the agent continued, “but there’s a staff pool, and even a bowling alley. It’s easy to find everything. Most of the buildings are clustered together, either on the main road, or right off it on the smaller access drives. Any building with a guard in front of it is obviously off-limits.”
    Callie wanted to say, “Duh,” but she knew her dad would get mad. Agent Erickson must think she had the brains of a five-year-old.
    â€œGuests at Camp David can use the woodland trails inside the fence at certain times. If you areon the trails, you don’t want to wander off into the woods.” Agent Erickson looked back over his shoulder, probably to see if she was paying attention. “Believe me, you don’t want to startle a Marine guard in the woods. I understand you’re friends with Luke Brockett.”
    â€œUm, sort of.” The kitten was licking her finger again and Callie tried not