the maze of bones - internet archive...the 39 clues book 01 rick riordan to haley and patrick, who...
TRANSCRIPT
THEMAZEOFBONESThe39CluesBook01RickRiordanToHaleyandPatrick,whoacceptedthechallenge
CHAPTER1
Fiveminutesbeforeshedied,GraceCahillchangedherwill.Her lawyer brought out the alternate version,which had been hermost guarded secret for seven
years.Whether or not shewould actuallybe crazy enough touse it,WilliamMcIntyrehadnever beencertain.
"Madam,"heasked,"areyousure?"Grace gazed out thewindow, across the sunlitmeadows other estate. Her cat, Saladin, snuggled
besideherashehadthroughoutherillness,buthispresencewasnotenoughtocomforthertoday.Shewasabouttosetinmotioneventsthatmightcausetheendofcivilization.
"Yes,William."Hereverybreathwaspainful."I'msure."Williambrokethesealonthebrownleatherfolder.Hewasatallcraggyman.Hisnosewaspointed
likea sundial so it alwayscasta shadowoveronesideofhis face.HehadbeenGrace'sadviser,herclosestconfidant,forhalfherlife.They'dsharedmanysecretsovertheyears,butnoneasperilousasthis.
6Heheldthedocumentforhertoreview.Afitofcoughingwrackedherbody.Saladinmeowedwith
concern.Oncethecoughingpassed,Williamhelpedhertakethepen.Shescrawledherweaksignatureacrossthepaper."They'resoyoung,"Williamlamented."Ifonlytheirparents--""Buttheirparentsdidn't,"Gracesaidbitterly."Andnowthechildrenmustbeoldenough.Theyare
ouronlychance.""Iftheydon'tsucceed--""Then fivehundredyearsofworkhavebeen fornothing,"Gracesaid. "Everythingcollapses.The
family,theworld--allofit."Williamnoddedgrimly.Hetookthefolderfromherhands.Gracesatback,strokingSaladin'ssilverfur.Thesceneoutsidethewindowmadehersad.Itwastoo
gorgeousadaytodie.Shewantedtohaveonelastpicnicwiththechildren.Shewantedtobeyoungandstrongandtraveltheworldagain.
But her eyesight was failing. Her lungs labored. She clutched her jade necklace -- a good-lucktalismanshe'dfoundinChinayearsago.Ithadseenherthroughmanyclosecallswithdeath,manyluckymisses.Butthetalismancouldn'thelpheranymore.
She'dworkedhardtoprepareforthisday.Still,therewassomuchshe'dleftundone...somuchshehadnevertoldthechildren.7"Itwillhavetobeenough,"shewhispered.Andwiththat,GraceCahillclosedhereyesforthelast
time.WhenhewassureGracehadpassedaway,WilliamMcIntyrewent to thewindowandclosed the
curtains.Williampreferreddarkness.Itseemedmoreproperforthebusinessathand.Thedooropenedbehindhim.Grace'scathissedanddisappearedunderthebed.Williamdidn'tlookback.HewasstaringatGraceCahill'ssignatureonhernewwill,whichhadjust
becomethemostimportantdocumentintheCahillfamily'shistory."Well?"abrusquevoicesaid.Williamturned.Amanstoodinthedoorway,hisfaceobscuredbyshadows,hissuitasblackasoil."It'stime,"Williamsaid."Makesuretheysuspectnothing."Williamcouldn'ttellforsure,buthethoughtthemaninblacksmiled.
"Don'tworry,"themanpromised."They'llneverhaveaclue."8
CHAPTER2
DanCahilthoughthehadthemostannoyingbigsisterontheplanet.Andthatwasbeforeshesetfiretotwomilliondollars.Itallstartedwhentheywent totheirgrandmother'sfuneral.Secretly,Danwasexcited,becausehe
washopingtomakearubbingofthetombstoneaftereveryoneelsewasgone.HefiguredGracewouldn'tcare.She'dbeenacoolgrandmother.
Danlovedcollectingthings.Hecollectedbaseballcards,autographsoffamousoutlaws,CivilWarweapons,rarecoins,andeverycasthe'deverhadsincekindergarten(alltwelveofthem).Atthemoment,whathelikedcollectingbestwerecharcoalrubbingsoftombstones.Hehadsomeawesomeonesbackattheapartment.
Hisfavoriteread:PRUELLAGOODE1891-1929I'MDEAD.LET'SHAVEAPARTY.9HefiguredifhehadarubbingofGrace'stombstoneinhiscollection,maybeitwouldn'tfeelquiteso
muchlikeshewasgoneforever.Anyway,thewholewayfromBostontothefuneralinWorcesterCounty,hisgreat-auntBeatricewas
driving like a very slow lunatic. Shewent twenty-fivemiles anhour on the highway andkept driftingacrosslanessotheothercarshonkedandswervedandranintoguardrailsandstuff.AuntBeatrice justkept clutching the wheel with her jeweled fingers. Her wrinkly face wasmade upwith Day-Glo redlipstickandrouge,whichmadeherbluehairlookevenbluer.Danwonderedifshegavetheotherdriversnightmaresaboutoldclowns.
"Amy!"shesnapped,asanotherSUVcareeneddowntheexitrampbecauseBeatricehadjustpulledinfrontofit."Stopreadinginthecar!It'snotsafe!"
"But,AuntBeatrice-""Younglady,closethatbook!"Amydid,whichwastypical.Sheneverputupafightwithadults.Amyhadlongreddish-brownhair,
unlike Dan's, which was dark blond. This helped Dan pretend his sister was an alien imposter, butunfortunatelytheyhadthesameeyes--greenlikejade,theirgrandmotherusedtosay.
AmywasthreeyearsolderandsixinchestallerthanDan,andsheneverlethimforgetit--likebeingfourteen
10wassuchabigdeal.Usually, shewore jeansandsomeoldT-shirtbecauseshedidn't likepeople
noticingher,buttodayshewaswearingablackdresssoshelookedlikeavampire'sbride.Danhopedheroutfitwasasuncomfortableashisstupidsuitandtie.AuntBeatricehadthrownafit
when he tried to go to the funeral in his ninja clothes. It wasn't as if Grace would care if he wascomfortable anddeadly, thewayhe feltwhenhepretended to be a ninja, but of courseAuntBeatricedidn'tunderstand.SometimesitwashardforhimtobelievesheandGraceweresisters.
"RemindmetofireyouraupairassoonaswereturntoBoston,"Beatricegrumbled."Youtwohavebeenentirelytoospoiled.""Nellie'snice!"Danprotested."Hmph!ThisNellie
almostletyouburndowntheneighbor'sapartmentbuilding!""Exactly!"Everycoupleofweeks,Beatricefiredtheiraupairandhiredanewone.Theonlygoodthingwas
thatAuntBeatricedidn'tlivewiththempersonally.Shelivedacrosstowninabuildingthatdidn'tallowkids,sosometimesittookherafewdaystohearaboutDan'slatestexploits.
Nelliehadlastedlongerthanmost.DanlikedherbecauseshemadeamazingwafflesandsheusuallycrankedheriPoduptobrain-damagelevel.Shedidn't
11evenhearwhenDan'sbottlerocketcollectionwentoffandstrafedthebuildingacrossthealley.Dan
wouldmissNelliewhenshegotfired.AuntBeatricekeptdrivingandmutteringaboutspoiledchildren.Amysecretlywentbacktoherhuge
book.Thelasttwodays,sincetheygotthenewsaboutGrace'sdeath,Amyhadbeenreadingevenmorethanusual.Danknewitwasherwayofhiding,buthekindofresenteditbecauseitshuthimout,too.
"Whatareyoureadingthistime?"heasked."MedievalEuropeanDoorknobs?BathTowelsThroughtheAges?"Amygavehimanuglyface--oranuglier-than-usualface."Noneofyourbusiness,dweeb.""Youcan'tcallaninjalorddweeb.Youhavedisgracedthefamily.Youmustcommitseppuku."Amyrolledhereyes.Afterafewmoremiles,thecitymeltedintofarmland.ItstartedtolooklikeGracecountry,andeven
thoughDanhadpromisedhimselfhewouldn'tgetsappy,hebegantofeelsad.Gracehadbeenthecoolestever.She'dtreatedhimandAmylikerealpeople,notkids.That'swhyshe'dinsistedtheysimplycallherGrace,notGrandmotherorGranorNanaoranysillynamelikethat.She'dbeenoneoftheonlypeoplewho'devercaredabout them.Nowshewasdead,andtheyhadtogoto thefuneralandseeabunchofrelativeswhohad
neverbeennicetothem....12Thefamilycemeterysatatthebottomofthehillfromthemansion.Danthoughtitwaskindofstupid
they'dhiredahearsetocarryGraceahundredyardsdownthedriveway.Theycould'veputwheelsonthecoffinliketheyhaveonsuitcasesandthatwould'veworkedjustaswell.
Summer stormclouds rumbledoverhead.The familymansion lookeddarkandgloomyon itshill,likealord'scastle.Danlovedtheplace,withitsbillionroomsandchimneysandstainedglasswindows.
Helovedthefamilygraveyardevenmore.Adozencrumblingtombstonesspreadoutacrossagreenmeadowringedintrees,rightnexttoalittlecreek.Someofthestonesweresooldthewritinghadfadedaway.Graceused to takeAmyandhimdown to themeadowon theirweekendvisits.GraceandAmywouldspendtheafternoononapicnicblanket,readingandtalking,whileDanexploredthegravesandthewoodsandthecreek.
Stopthat,Dantoldhimself.You'regettingsentimental."Somanypeople,"Amymurmured,astheywalkeddownthedriveway."You'renotgoingtofreakout,areyou?"Amyfiddledwiththecollarofherdress."I'm--I'mnotfreakingout.Ijust--""Youhatecrowds,"hefinished."Butyou
knewthere'dbeacrowd.Theycomeeveryyear."13Eachwinter,aslongasDancouldremember,Gracehadinvitedrelativesfromallovertheworldfor
aweeklongholiday.ThemansionfilledupwithChineseCahillsandBritishCahillsandSouthAfricanCahillsandVenezuelanCahills.Mostofthemdidn'tevengobythenameCahill,butGraceassuredhimtheywereallrelated.She'dexplainaboutcousinsandsecondcousinsandcousinsthreetimesremoveduntilDan'sbrainstartedtohurt.Amywouldusuallygohideinthelibrarywiththecat.
"Iknow,"shesaid."But...Imean,lookatthemall."Shehadapoint.Aboutfourhundredpeopleweregatheringatthegravesite."Theyjustwantherfortune,"Dandecided."Dan!""Well?It'strue."TheyhadjustjoinedtheprocessionwhenDansuddenlygotflippedupsidedown."Hey!"heyelled."Look,guys,"agirlsaid."Wecaughtarat!"Danwasn'tinagoodpositiontosee,buthecouldmakeouttheHoltsisters--MadisonandReagan-
-standingoneithersideofhim,holdinghimbyhisankles.Thetwinshadmatchingpurplerunningsuits,blondpigtails,andcrookedsmiles.Theywereonlyeleven,sameasDan,buttheyhadnotroubleholdinghim.Dansawmorepurplerunningsuitsbehindthem--therestoftheHoltfamily.Theirpitbull,14
Arnold,racedaroundtheirlegsandbarked."Let'sflinghimintothecreek,"Madisonsaid."Iwannaflinghimintothebushes!"Reagansaid."Weneverdomyideas!"Theirolderbrother,Hamilton, laughedlikeanidiot.Next tohim, theirdad,EisenhowerHolt,and
theirmom,Mary-Todd,grinnedlikethiswasallgoodfun."Now,girls,"Eisenhowersaid."Wecan'tgoflingingpeopleatafuneral.Thisisahappyoccasion!""Amy!"Dancalled."Alittlehelphere?"Herfacehadgonepale.Shemumbled,"Dr-dr-drop..."Dansighedinexasperation."She'stryingtosay'DROPME!'"MadisonandReagandid--onhishead."Ow!"Dansaid."M-M-Madison!"Amyprotested."Y-y-yes?"Madisonmimicked."Ithinkallthosebooksareturningyourbraintomush,weirdo."Ifithadbeenanybodyelse,Danwould'vehitback,butheknewbetterwiththeHolts.EvenMadisonandReagan,theyoungest,couldcreamhim.ThewholeHoltfamilywaswaytoobuff.
TheyhadmeatyhandsandthicknecksandfacesthatlookedlikeG.I.Joefigures.Eventhemomlookedlikesheshouldbeshavingandchewingonacigar."Ihopeyouloserstookagoodlast lookaroundthehouse,"Madisonsaid."You'renotgoingtobe
invitedbackhereanymore,nowthattheoldwitchisdead."15"Rawf!"saidArnoldthepitbull.DanlookedaroundforBeatrice,butasusualshewasn'tanywherenearthem.She'ddriftedofftotalk
totheotheroldpeople."Gracewasn'tawitch,"Dansaid."And
we'regoingtoinheritthisplace!"The big brother,Hamilton, laughed. "Yeah, right."His hairwas combed toward themiddle so it
stuckuplikeasharkfin."Waittilltheyreadthewill,runt.I'mgonnakickyououtmyself!""Allright,team,"thedadsaid."Enoughofthis.Formation!"Thefamilylinedupandstartedjoggingtowardthegravesite,knockingotherrelativesoutoftheir
wayasArnoldsnappedateveryone'sheels."Isyourheadokay?"Amyaskedguiltily.Dannodded.Hewasa littleannoyedAmyhadn'thelpedhim,but therewasnopointcomplaining
aboutit.Shealwaysgottongue-tiedaroundotherpeople."Man,IhatetheHolts.""We'vegotworseproblems."Amypointedtowardthegravesite,andDan'sheartsank."TheCobras,"hemuttered.Ian andNatalie Kabrawere standing byGrace's coffin, looking like perfect little angels as they
talkedtothepreacher.Theyworematchingdesignermourningoutfitsthatcomplementedtheirsilkyblackhairandcinnamon-coloredskin.Theycould'vebeenchildsupermodels.
16"They won't try anything during the funeral," Dan said hopefully. "They're just here for Grace's
moneyliketherestofthem.Buttheywon'tgetit."Amyfrowned."Dan...didyoureallybelievewhatyousaid,aboutusinheritingthemansion?""Ofcourse!YouknowGracelikedusbest.Wespentmoretimewithherthananybody."AmysighedlikeDanwastooyoungtounderstand,whichDanhated."Comeon,"shesaid."Wemightaswellgetthisoverwith."Andtogethertheywadedintothecrowd.Thefuneralwasablur toDan.Theministersaidsomestuffaboutashes.They lowered thecoffin
intotheground.Everybodytossedinashovelfulofdirt.Danthoughtthemournersenjoyedthisparttoomuch,especiallyIanandNatalie.
He recognized a fewmore relatives: Alistair Oh, the old Korean dude with the diamond-tippedwalkingstickwhoalwaysinsistedtheycallhimUncle;theRussianladyIrinaSpasky,whohadatwitchinoneeyesoeverybodycalledherSpazbehindherback;theStarlingtriplets--Ned,Ted,andSinead,wholooked likepartof a cloned IvyLeague lacrosse team.Even thatkid from televisionwas there: JonahWizard.He stood to one side, getting his picture takenwith a bunch of girls, and therewas a line ofpeople
17waiting to talk to him.Hewas dressed just like on TV,with lots of silver chains and bracelets,
rippedjeans,andablackmuscleshirt(whichwaskindofstupid,sincehedidn'thaveanymuscles).Anolder African-American guy in a business suit stood behind him, punching notes in a BlackBerry.ProbablyJonah'sdad.Danhadheard thatJonahWizardwasrelated to theCahills,buthe'dneverseenhiminpersonbefore.Hewonderedifheshouldgetanautographforhiscollection.
Aftertheservice,aguyinacharcoal-graysuitsteppedtothepodium.HelookedvaguelyfamiliartoDan.Themanhadalongpointednoseandabaldinghead.HeremindedDanofavulture.
"Thankyouallforcoming,"hesaidgravely."IamWilliamMcIntyre,MadameCahill'slawyerandexecutor."
"Executor?"DanwhisperedtoAmy."Hekilledher?""No,youidiot,"Amywhisperedback."Thatmeanshe'sinchargeofherwill.""Ifyouwilllookinsideyourprograms,"WilliamMcIntyrecontinued,"someofyouwillfindagold
invitationcard."Excitedmurmuringbrokeoutasfourhundredpeopleleafedthroughtheirprograms.Thenmostofthemcursedandshoutedcomplaintswhentheyfoundnothing.Danrippedthroughhis
program.Insidewasacardwithagold-leafedborder.Itread:18DanandAmyCahillareherebyinvitedtothereadingofthelastwillandtestamentofGraceCahillWhere:TheGreatHall,CahillManorWhen:Now"Iknewit!"Dansaid."Iassureyou,"Mr.McIntyresaid,raisinghisvoiceabovethecrowd,"theinvitationswerenotdone
randomly.Iapologizetothoseofyouwhowereexcluded.GraceCahillmeantyounodisrespect.OfallthemembersoftheCahillclan,onlyafewwerechosenasthemostlikely."
Thecrowdstartedyellingandarguing.Finally,Dancouldn'tstanditanymore.Hecalledout,"Mostlikelytowhat?"
"Inyourcase,Dan,"IanKabramutteredrightbehindhim,"tobeastupidAmericangit."Hissister,Natalie,giggled.Shewasholdinganinvitationandlookingverypleasedwithherself.19BeforeDancouldkickIaninasoftspot,thegray-suitedmananswered."Tobethebeneficiariesof
GraceCahill'swill.Now,ifyouplease,thosewithinvitationswillgatherintheGreatHall."Peoplewithinvitationshurriedtowardthehouselikesomebodyhadjustyelled"Freefood!"NatalieKabrawinkedatDan."Ciao,cousin.Mustruncollectourfortune."Thensheandherbrotherstrolledupthedrive."Forgetthem,"Amysaid."Dan,maybeyou'reright.Maybewe'llinheritsomething."ButDanfrowned.Ifthisinvitationwassuchagreatthing,whydidthelawyerguylooksogrim?And
whyhadGraceincludedtheKabras?Ashepassedthroughthemainentranceofthemansion,Danglancedupatthestonecrestabovethe
door--alargeCsurroundedbyfoursmallerdesigns--adragon,abear,awolf,andtwosnakesentwinedaround a sword. The crest had always fascinated Dan, though he didn't know what it meant. All theanimalsseemedtoglareathim,liketheywereabouttostrike.Hefollowedthecrowdinside,wonderingwhythoseanimalsweresomad.
TheGreatHallwasasbigasabasketballcourt,withtonsofarmorandswordsliningthewallsandhugewindowsthatlookedlikeBatmancouldcrashthroughthemanyminute.
20WilliamMcIntyrestoodatatableinfrontwithaprojectorscreenbehindhim,whileeverybodyelse
filedintorowsofseats.Therewereaboutfortypeopleinall,includingtheHoltsandtheKabrasandAuntBeatrice,wholookedcompletelydisgustedtobethere--ormaybeshewasjustdisgustedthateverybody
elsehadbeeninvitedtohersister'swillreading.Mr.McIntyreraisedhishandforquiet.Heslippedadocumentfromabrownleatherfolder,adjusted
hisbifocals,andbegan to read: '"I,GraceCahill,beingofsoundmindandbody,doherebydividemyentireestateamongthosewhoacceptthechallengeandthosewhodonot.'"
"Whoa,"EisenhowerHoltinterrupted."Whatchallenge?What'sshemean?""Iamgettingtothat,sir."Mr.McIntyreclearedhisthroatandcontinued:'"Youhavebeenchosenas
the most likely to succeed in the greatest, most perilous undertaking of all time -- a quest of vitalimportancetotheCahillfamilyandtheworldatlarge.'"
Fortypeoplestartedtalkingatonce,askingquestionsanddemandinganswers."'Perilousundertaking'?"CousinIngridshouted."Whatisshetalkingabout?""Ithoughtthiswasaboutmoney!"UncleJoseyelled."Aquest?Whodoesshethinkweare?We're
Cahills,notadventurers!"DannoticedIanandNatalieKabraexchangeameaningfullook.IrinaSpaskywhisperedsomething21inAlistairOh'sear,butmostoftheotherspectatorslookedasconfusedasDanfelt."Ladiesandgentlemen,please,"Mr.McIntyresaid."Ifyouwilldirectyourattentiontothescreen,
perhapsMadameCahillcanexplainthingsbetterthanI."Dan'sheartdida flip-flop.WhatwasMr.McIntyre talkingabout?Thenaprojectoron theceiling
hummedtolife.TheshoutingintheroomdieddownasGrace'simageflickeredonthescreen.ShewassittingupinbedwithSaladinonherlap.Sheworeablackdressinggown,likeshewasa
mourneratherownfuneral,butshelookedhealthierthanthelasttimeDanhadseenher.Hercomplexionwaspink.Herfaceandhandsdidn'tlookasthin.
Thevideomust'vebeenmademonthsago,beforehercancergotbad.Dangotalumpinhisthroat.Hehadacrazyurgetocalltoher:
Grace,it'sme!It'sDan!Butofcourseitwasjustanimage.HelookedatAmyandsawateartricklingdownthebaseofher
nose."FellowCahills,"Gracesaid."Ifyouarewatchingthis,itmeansIamdead,andIhavedecidedto
usemyalternatewill.NodoubtyouarearguingamongstyourselvesandgivingpoorMr.McIntyreahardtime about this contest I have instituted." Grace gave the camera a dry smile. "You always were astubbornbunch.Foronce,closeyourmouthsandlisten."
"Hey,waitaminute!"EisenhowerHoltprotested,buthiswifeshushedhim.22"Iassureyou,"Gracecontinued,"thiscontestisnotrick.Itisdeadlyseriousbusiness.Most of you know you belong to the Cahill family, but many of you may not realize just how
importantour family is. I tellyou theCahillshavehadagreater impactonhumancivilization thananyotherfamilyinhistory."
Moreconfusedshoutingbrokeout.IrinaSpaskystoodupandyelled,"Silence!Iwishtohear!""Myrelatives,"Grace'simagesaid,"youstandonthebrinkofourgreatestchallenge.Eachofyouhasthepotentialtosucceed.Someofyoumaydecidetoformateamwithotherpeople
inthisroomtopursuethechallenge.Someofyoumayprefertotakeupthechallengealone.Mostofyou,I'mafraid,willdeclinethechallengeandrunawaywithyourtailsbetweenyourlegs.Only
oneteamwillsucceed,andeachofyoumustsacrificeyourshareoftheinheritancetoparticipate."Sheheldupamanilaenvelopesealedwithredwax.Hereyeswereasbrightandhardassteel."If
youaccept,youshallbegiventhefirstofthirty-nineclues.Theseclueswillleadyoutoasecret,which,should you find it,willmake you themost powerful, influential humanbeings on the planet.YouwillrealizethedestinyoftheCahillfamily.InowbegyoualltolistentoMr.McIntyre.Allowhimtoexplaintherules.
Think long and hard before youmake your choice." She stared straight into the camera, andDanwantedhertosaysomethingspecialtothem:
DanandAmy,I'll23missyoumostofall.Nobodyelseinthisroomreallymatterstome.Somethinglikethat.Instead,Gracesaid,"I'mcountingonyouall.Goodluck,andgood-bye."The screenwent dark.Amy grippedDan's hand.Her fingerswere trembling. ToDan, it felt like
they'djustlostGracealloveragain.Theneveryonearoundthemstartedtalkingatonce.
"Greatestfamilyinhistory?"CousinIngridyelled."Isshecrazy?""Stubborn?"EisenhowerHoltshouted."Shecalledusstubborn?""William!"AlistairOh'svoice roseabove the rest. "Justamoment!Therearepeoplehere Idon't
evenrecognize,peoplewhomaynotevenbemembersofthefamily.Howdoweknow--""Ifyouareinthisroom,sir,"Mr.McIntyresaid,"youareaCahill.WhetheryoursurnameisCahill
ornotdoesn'tmatter.EveryoneherehasCahillblood.""Evenyou,Mr.McIntyre?"NatalieKabraaskedinhersilkyBritishaccent.Theoldlawyerflushed."That,miss,isbesidethepoint.Now,ifImightbeallowedtofinish--""Butwhat'sthisaboutsacrificingourinheritance?"AuntBeatricecomplained."Where'sthemoney?
It'sjustlikemysistertocomeupwithsomefoolishness!""Madam,"Mr.McIntyresaid,"youmaycertainlydeclinethechallenge.Ifyoudo,youwillreceive
whatisunderyourchair."24Immediately,fortypeoplefeltaroundundertheirchairs.EisenhowerHoltwassoanxioushepicked
upReagan'schairwithherstillinit.Dandiscoveredanenvelopeunderhis,stuckonwithtape.Whenheopened it, he found agreen slip of paperwith a bunchof numbers and thewordsROYALBANKOFSCOTLAND.Amyhadone,too.Sodideverybodyintheroom.
"Whatyounowholdisabankvoucher,"Mr.McIntyreexplained."Itshallonlybeactivatedifandwhenyourenounceyourclaimtothechallenge.Ifyousochoose,eachofyoumaywalkoutofthisroomwithonemilliondollarsandneverhavetothinkofGraceCahillorherlastwishesagain.Or...youmaychooseaclue--asinglecluethatwillbeyouronlyinheritance.Nomoney.Noproperty.Justacluethatmightleadyoutothemostimportanttreasureintheworldandmakeyoupowerfulbeyondbelief..."
William'sgrayeyesseemedtosettleonDanparticularly."...oritmightkillyou.Onemilliondollarsortheclue.Youhavefiveminutestodecide."
25
CHAPTER3
AmyCahillthoughtshehadthemostannoyinglittlebrotherontheplanet.Andthatwasbeforehealmostgotherkiled.ItallstartedwhenMr.McIntyrereadtheirgrandmother'swillandshowedthemthevideo.Amysatthereinshock.Shefoundherselfholdingagreenslipofpaperworthonemilliondollars.A
challenge?Adangeroussecret?Whatwasgoingon?Shestaredattheblankprojectorscreen.Shecouldn'tbelieve her grandmother would do something like this. The video must have been made months ago,judgingfromthewayGracehadlooked.SeeingheronthescreenlikethathadstungAmyworsethansaltinacut.
HowcouldGracehavebeenplanningsomethingthishugeandnothavewarnedtheminadvance?Amy never expected to inheritmuch.All shewantedwas something to rememberGrace by -- a
keepsake,maybeonepieceofherbeautifuljewelry.Nowthis...shefeltcompletelylost.26Itdidn'thelpthatDanwasjumpingaroundlikeheneededtogototherestroom."Onemilliondollars!"hesquealed."IcouldgetaMickeyMantlerookiecardandaBabeRuth1914!"Histiewascrooked,whichmatchedhiscrookedgrin.Hehadascarunderoneeyefromwhenhe'd
gonecommando-raidingatsevenandfallenonhisplasticAK-47.That'sjustthekindoflittledemonhewas.ButwhatAmyreallyresentedwashowcomfortablehe
seemed,likeallthesepeopledidn'tbotherhim.Amy hated crowds. She felt like everyone was watching her, waiting for her to make a fool of
herself.Sometimesinhernightmares,shedreamedshewasatthebottomofapit,andallthepeoplesheknewwerestaringdownather,laughing.She'dtrytoclimboutofthepit,butshecouldnevermakeit.
Rightnow,allshewanted todowasrunup toGrace's library,close thedoor,andcurlupwithabook.ShewantedtofindSaladin,Grace'sEgyptianMau,andcuddlewithhim.ButGracewasdead,andthepoorcat...whoknewwherehewasnow?Sheblinked tearsoutofhereyes, thinkingabout the lasttimeshe'dseenhergrandmother.
Youwillmakemeproud,Amy,Grace had said. They'd been sitting onGrace's big four-poster bed,with Saladin purring next to
them.Gracehadshownherahand-drawnmapofAfricaandtoldherstoriesabouttheadventuresshe'dhadwhenshewasayoungexplorer.Gracehadlookedthinandfrail,butthefireinhereyes
27wasasfierceasever.Thesunlightturnedherhairtopuresilver.Ihadmanyadventures,mydear,buttheywillpalenexttoyours.Amywantedtocry.HowcouldGracethinkthatAmywouldhavegreatadventures?Shecouldbarelymusterenoughcouragetogotoschooleverymorning."Icouldgetaninjasword,"Dankeptbabbling."OraCivilWarsaber!""Dan,shutup,"shesaid."Thisisserious.""Butthemoney--""Iknow,"shesaid."Butifwetookthemoney,we'dneedtokeepitforcollegeandstuff.Youknow
howAuntBeatriceis."Danfrownedlikehe'dforgotten.HeknewgoodandwellthatAuntBeatriceonlylookedafterthem
forGrace'ssake.AmyalwayswishedGracehadadoptedthemaftertheirparentsdied,butshehadn't.Forreasonssheneverexplained,she'dpressuredBeatriceintobeingtheirguardianinstead.
Forthelastsevenyears,DanandAmyhadbeenatBeatrice'smercy,livinginatinylittleapartmentwithaseriesofaupairs.Beatricepaidforeverything,butshedidn'tpaymuch.AmyandDangotenoughtoeatandanewsetofclotheseverysixmonths,butthatwasit.Nobirthdaypresents.Nospecialtreats.Noallowance.Theywent to regularpublic school andAmyneverhadextramoney tobuybooks.Sheusedthepubliclibrary,orsometimesshe'dhangoutatthesecond-handbookshoponBoylston,wherethestaff
28knewher.Danmadealittlemoneyonhisowntradingcollectiblecards,butitwasn'tmuch.Everyweekday for seven years,Amy had resentedGrace for not raising them herself, but every
weekendAmyjustcouldn'tstaymadather.Whentheycametothemansion,Gracegavethemundividedattention.Shetreatedthemlikethemostimportantpeopleintheworld.WheneverAmygotupthecouragetoaskwhytheycouldn'tstaywithGraceallthetime,Gracejustsmiledsadly.
Therearereasons,dear.Someday,youwillunderstand.NowGracewasgone.Amydidn'tknowwhatAuntBeatricewoulddo,buttheycoulddefinitelyuse
money.Itwouldmeanthey'dhavesomeindependence.Theycouldgetabiggerapartment,maybe.Theycouldbuybookswhenevertheywantedandevengotocollege.AmywasdesperatetogotoHarvard.Shewantedtostudyhistoryandarchaeology.Hermomwould'velikedthat.
Atleast...Amyhopedshewouldhave.Amyknewsolittleaboutherparents.Shedidn'tevenknowwhysheandDancarriedtheirmom'smaidenname--Cahill--whentheirdad'slastnamehadbeenTrent.She'daskedGraceaboutitonce,butGracehadonlysmiled."It'showyourparentswantedit,"shesaid.ButthestubbornprideinhervoicemadeAmywonderifithadreallybeenGrace'sideaforthemtocarrytheCahillname.
29Amyhadtroublerememberinghermother'sface,oranythingaboutherparentsbeforetheterriblenighttheydied.AndthatwassomethingAmytriedhardnotto
thinkabout."Okay,"Dansaidslowly."SoI'llspendmymilliononmycollection.Youcanspendyoursoncollege.Andeverybody'shappy."Amyfeltheartsick.Argumentswerebreakingoutallovertheroom.TheHoltslookedliketheywere
conducting a combat exercise. Sinead Starling was holding her brothers, Ned and Ted, apart so theywouldn'tstrangleeachother.IrinaSpaskywastalkinginrapid-fireRussiantothatkidfromtherealityTVshow, JonahWizard, andhisdad,but from theway theywere staringbackather, itwasobvious theydidn'tspeakRussian.
AngryvoicesfilledtheGreatHall.ItwasliketheyweretearingupGracebitbybit,squabblingoverherinheritance.Theydidn'tcareatallthatAmy'sgrandmotherhadjustpassedaway.
Thensomebodyrightbehindhersaid,"You'lldeclinethechallenge,ofcourse."ItwasIanKabra,withhisannoyingsister,Natalie,athisside.Despiteherself,Amy'sstomachdida
little somersault, because Ian was very good-looking. He had gorgeous dark skin, amber eyes, and aperfectsmile.Hewasfourteen,sameasher,buthedressedlikeagrown-up,inasilksuitandtie.Heevensmelledgood,likeclove.Amyhatedherselffornoticing.
30"Iwouldbesadifsomethinghappenedtoyou,"Ianpurred."Andyousoneedthemoney."Natalie put her hands to hermouth inmock surprise.She looked like a life-size doll in her satin
dress,herluxuriousblackhairsweptoveroneshoulder."That'sright,Ian!They'repoor.Ikeepforgetting.Itseemssooddwe'rerelated,doesn'tit?"Amyfeltherselfblush.Shewantedtosaysomethingscathinginreply,buthervoicewouldn'twork."Oh,yeah?"Dansaid."Well,maybewe'renotrelated!Maybeyou'remutantaliens,becauserealkidsdon'tdresslikebankersandflyaroundintheirdaddy'sprivatejet."Iansmiled."Youmisunderstandme,dearcousin.We'reveryhappyforyou.Wewantyoutotakethe
money,haveawonderfullife,andneverthinkaboutusagain.""G-G-Grace,"Amymanaged,hatingthathervoicewouldn'tcooperate."G-Gracewouldwant--""Wouldwantyoutoriskyourlives?"Iansupplied."Howdoyouknow?Didshetellyouaboutthis
contestshewasplanning?"NeitherAmynorDananswered."Isee,"Iansaid."Thatmustbeterrible--thinkingyouwereGrace'sfavoritesandthenbeingleftin
thedarklikethat.Perhapsyouweren'tasimportanttotheoldwomanasyouthought,eh?""Now,Ian,"Nataliechided."PerhapsGracejustknewtheyweren'tuptothechallenge.Itsoundsquite31dangerous."NataliesmiledatAmy."We'dhatetoseeyousufferapainfuldeath,wouldn'twe?Ta-
ta!"TheKabrasdriftedoffthroughthecrowd."Ta-ta,"Danmimicked."Whatlosers."PartofAmywantedtochasedowntheKabrasandhitthemwithachair.Butpartofherwantedto
crawlunderarockandhide.She'dwantedsobadlytotellthemoff,butshehadn'tevenbeenabletospeak."They'retakingthechallenge,"shemuttered."Well,duh!"Dansaid."What'sanothertwomilliondollarstothem?Theycanaffordtogiveitup.""Theywerethreateningus.Theydon'twantusinvolved.""Maybethey'lsufferapainfuldeath,"Danmused."Iwonderwhatthetreasureis,anyway.""Doesitmatter?"Amyaskedbitterly."Wecan'tlookforit.Webarelyhaveenoughmoneyforbuspasses."Butstillshefoundherselfwondering.Gracehadexploredallovertheworld.Couldthetreasurebe
alostEgyptiantomb...orpirates'gold?Mr.McIntyrehadsaidtheprizewouldmakethewinnersthemostpowerfulhumanbeingsonearth.Whatcoulddothat?Andwhywerethereexactlythirty-nineclues?
Shecouldn'thelpbeingcurious.Shelovedmysteries.Whenshewasyounger,sheusedtopretendhermotherwasstillalive,andtheywouldtraveltogethertoarchaeologicaldigs.SometimesGracewouldgo,too,justthethreeofthemtogether,happilyexploringtheworld,butthatwasjustsillypretending.
32"Toobad,"Dangrumbled,"I'dlovetowipethesmilesofftheCobras'faces...."Justthen,AuntBeatricegrabbedtheirarms.Herfacewascontortedwithrageandherbreathsmelled
likemothballs."Youtwowilldonothingridiculous!Ifullyintendtotakemymilliondollars,andyouwilldothesame!Neverfear,I'llputitinanaccountforyouuntilyou'readults.I'llonlyspendtheinterest.In
return,Iwillallowyoutocontinueasmywards."Amychokedwithrage."You...you'llallowustobeyourwards?You'llallowustogiveyouourtwomilliondollars?"Assoonasshesaidit,shecouldn'tbelieveshe'dmanagedtogetthewordsout.Beatriceusuallyscaredhertodeath.EvenDanlookedimpressed."Watchyourplace,younglady!"Beatricewarned."Dotheresponsiblethingorelse!""Orelsewhat?"Danaskedinnocently.Beatrice's face turned bright red. "Or else, you little upstart, Iwill disownyou and leave you to
SocialServices.Youwillbepennilessorphans,andI'llmakesurenoCahilleverhelpsyouagain!Thiswholebusinessisabsurd.You'lltakethemoneyandwashyourhandsofmysister'sridiculousschemeforfindingthe--"
Shestoppedabruptly."Findingthewhat?"Danasked."Neveryoumind,"Beatricesaid.Withashock,AmyrealizedAuntBeatricewasscared."Justmaketheright33choice,oryouwillneverhavemysupportagain!"Shemarchedoff.AmylookedatDan,butbeforeshecouldsayanything,Mr.McIntyrerangalittle
bell.Slowly,thewranglingandarguingintheGreatHalldieddown.Theassemblytooktheirseats."It is time,"Mr.McIntyresaid."Imustwarnyou thatonce thechoice ismade, there isno turning
back.Nochangingminds.""Wait a moment,William," Alistair Oh said. "This isn't fair.We know almost nothing about the
challenge.Howarewetojudgewhetheritisworththegamble?"Mr.McIntyrepursedhislips."IamlimitedinwhatIcansay,sir.YouknowthattheCahillfamilyis
very large ... veryold. It hasmanybranches.Someof you, until today, did not even realize youwereCahills.But asMadameGrace said inhervideoaddress, this familyhasbeen instrumental in shapinghumancivilization.SomeofthemostimportantfiguresinhistoryhaveinfactbeenCahills."
Excitedmutteringfilledtheroom.Amy'smindwasracing.She'dalwaysknowntheCahillswereimportant.Alotofthemwererich.
Theylivedallovertheworld.Butshapinghumancivilization?Shewasn'tsurewhatMr.McIntyremeant."Historicalfigures?"Mr.Holtbellowed."Likewho?"Mr.McIntyreclearedhisthroat."Sir,youwouldbehard-pressedtonameamajorhistoricalfigurein34thelastfewcenturieswhowasnotamemberofthisfamily.""AbrahamLincoln,"CousinIngridshoutedout."EleanorRoosevelt.""Yes,"Mr.McIntyresaidsimply."Andyes."Astunnedsilencefellintheroom."HarryHoudini!"MadisonHoltshouted."LewisandClark!"hersister,Reagan,suggested."Yes,yes,andyes,"Mr.McIntyresaid."Oh,comeon!"Mr.Holtyelled."That'simpossible!""Iagree!"UncleJosesaid."You'reputtinguson,McIntyre."
"Iamcompletelyserious,"theoldlawyerassuredhim."Andyet,allthepreviousaccomplishmentsof theCahill clan are nothing compared to the challenge that now faces you. It is the time for you todiscoverthegreatestsecretoftheCahills,tobecomethemostpowerfulmembersofthefamilyinhistory--ortodietrying."
Amyfeltsomethingcoldandheavyinherstomach,likeshe'dswallowedacannonball.Howcouldsheberelatedtoallthosefamouspeople?HowcouldGracepossiblyhavethoughtAmy
couldbecomemorepowerfulthanthem?Shegotnervousjustthinkingaboutit.Therewasnowayshe'dhavethecourageforadangerousquest.
But if she andDan didn't accept the challenge ... She rememberedBeatrice clutching their arms,tellingthemtotakethemoney.Beatricewouldfindawayto35
stealtheirtwomilliondollars.Amywouldn'tbeabletostanduptoher.Theywouldgobacktotheirdrearylittleapartmentandnothingwouldchange,exceptGracewouldbegone.Noweekendtripstolookforward to, nothing to remember her by. Amy never thought anything could be worse than when herparentsdied,but
thiswas.SheandDanweretotallyalone.Theonlywayoutwasthiscrazyideathattheywerepartofa
greathistoricalfamily...partofsomemysteriouscontest.Amy'shandsstartedtosweat."Embarkingonthisquest,"Mr.McIntyrewassaying,"willleadyoutothetreasure.Butonlyoneofyouwillattainit.Oneindividual"--hiseyesflickeredacrossAmy'sface--"oroneteamwill
findthetreasure.Icantellyounomore.Idonot,myself,knowwherethechasewilllead.Icanonlystartyouonthepath,monitoryourprogress,andprovidesomesmallmeasureofguidance.Now--whowillchoosefirst?"
AuntBeatricestood."Thisisridiculous.Anyofyouwhoplaythissillygamearefools.I'lltakethemoney!"Mr.McIntyrenodded."Asyouwish,madam.Assoonasyouleavethisroom,thenumbersonyour
voucherwill becomeactive.Youmaywithdrawyourmoney from theRoyalBankofScotland at yourleisure.Who'snext?"
Severalmorestoodupandtookthemoney.UncleJose.CousinIngrid.AdozenotherpeopleAmydidn'trecognize.Eachtookthegreenvoucherandbecameaninstantmillionaire.
ThenIanandNatalieKabrarose.36"Weacceptthechallenge,"Ianannounced."Wewillworkasateamoftwo.Giveustheclue.""Verywell,"Mr.McIntyresaid."Yourvouchers,please."IanandNatalieapproachedthetable.Mr.McIntyretookoutasilvercigarettelighterandburnedthe
million-dollarpapers.Inreturn,hehandedIanandNatalieamanilaenvelopesealedwithredwax."Yourfirstclue.Youmaynotreadituntilinstructedtodoso.You,IanandNatalieKabra,willbeTeamOne."
"Hey!"Mr.Holtobjected."Ourwholefamily'stakingthechallenge!WewanttobeTeamOne!""We'renumberone!"theHoltkidsstartedchanting,andtheirpitbull,Arnold,leapedintotheairand
barkedalongwiththem.Mr.McIntyreraisedhishandforsilence."Verywell,Mr.Holt.Yourfamily'svouchers,please.You
shallbeTeam...uh,youshallalsobeateam."Theymade the trade -- fivemillion-dollar vouchers for one envelopewith a clue, and theHolts
didn'tevenbataneye.As theymarchedback to their seats,ReaganbumpedAmy in theshoulder. "No
pain,nogain,wimp!"Next,AlistairOhstruggledtohisfeet."Oh,verywell.Ican'tresistagoodriddle.Isupposeyoumay
callmeTeamThree."ThentheStarlingtripletsrushedforward.Theyputtheirvouchersonthetableandthreemillionmore
dollarswentupinflames.37"Da,"IrinaSpaskysaid."I,also,shallplaythisgame.Iworkalone.""Hey,yo,waitup."JonahWizardsaunteredforwardlikehewaspretendingtobeastreetpunk,the
wayhedidonWhoWantstoBeaGangsta?WhichwaskindofridiculoussincehewasworthaboutabilliondollarsandlivedinBeverlyHills.
"I'malloverthis."Heslappedhisvoucheronthetable."Handmetheclue,homes.""We'dliketofilmthecontest,"hisdadpipedup."No,"Mr.McIntyresaid.'"CauseitwouldmakegreatTV,"thedadsaid."Icouldtalktothestudiosaboutapercentagesplit--
""No,"Mr.McIntyreinsisted."Thisisnotforentertainment,sir.Thisisamatteroflifeanddeath."Mr.McIntyrelookedaroundtheroomandfocusedonAmy."Whoelse?"hecalled."Nowisthetimetochoose."Amy realized she andDanwere the last ones undecided.Most of the forty guests had taken the
money. Six teams had taken the challenge -- all of them older or richer or seemingly more likely tosucceed than Amy and Dan. Aunt Beatrice glared at them, warning them that they were about to getdisowned.Ianwassmilingsmugly.
Perhapsyouweren'tasimportanttotheoldwomanasyouthought,eh?Amyrememberedwhathisannoyingsister,Natalie,hadsaid:Gracejustknewtheyweren'tuptothechallenge.Amy's face felt hotwith shame.Maybe theKabraswere right.When theHolts turnedherbrother
upside38down,shehadn'tfoughtback.WhentheKabrasinsultedher,she'djuststoodtheretongue-tied.How
couldshehandleadangerousquest?Butthensheheardanothervoiceinherhead:Youwillmakemeproud,Amy.Andsuddenlysheknew:ThiswaswhatGracehadbeentalkingabout.ThiswastheadventureAmywassupposedtotake.Ifshe
didn't,shemightaswellcrawlunderarockandhidefortherestofherlife.Shelookedatherbrother.Despitehowannoyinghewas,theyhadalwaysbeenabletocommunicate
just by looking at each other. It wasn't telepathy or anything, but she could tell what her brotherwasthinking.
It'salotofmoney,Dantoldher.Alotofawesomebaseballcards.MomandDadwouldwantustotry,Amyrepliedwithhereyes.
ThisiswhatGracewantedustodo.Yeah,butaBabeRuthandaMickeyMantle...IanandNataliewillhateit,Amycoaxed.AndAuntBeatricewillprobablyblowagasket.Asmilecreptacrosshisface.IguessBabeRuthcanwait.Amytookhisvoucher.TheywalkedtothedesktogetherandshepickedupMr.McIntyre'slighter."We'rein,"shetoldhim,andshesenttwomilliondollarsupinsmoke.39
CHAPTER4
Danfeltadizzyrush, like the timeheate twentypacksofSkittles.Hecouldn'tbelievehowmuchmoneythey'djustthrownaway.
Eversincehewaslittle,he'ddreamedaboutdoingsomethingthatwouldmakehisparentsproud.Heknewtheyweredead,ofcourse.Hebarelyrememberedthem.
Still... he thought if he could just accomplish something amazing -- even cooler thanmaking theultimate basebal card collection or becoming a ninja lord -- his parents would somehow know. Andthey'dbeproud.ThiscompetitiontobecomethegreatestCahillsoundedliketheperfectchance.
Plushelikedtreasure.AnditwasarealbonusthatAuntBeatrice'sfaceturnedcompletelypurpleasshestormedoutoftheroom,slammingthedoorbehindher.
NowtheGreatHallwasemptyexceptfortheseventeamsandMr.McIntyre.Afteratensesilence,theoldlawyersaid,"Youmayopenyourenvelopes."RIP,RIP,RIP.40Thecluewaswritteninblackcalligraphyoncrèmepaper.Itread:RESOLUTION:Thefineprinttoguess,SeekoutRichardS___"That'sit?"Mary-ToddHoltscreeched."That'sallweget?""Tenwords,"EisenhowerHoltmuttered."That's--"Hestartedcountingonhisfingers."Roughly$500,000perword,"AlistairOhsupplied,"sinceyourfamilygaveupfivemilliondollars.
Igotabargain.Eachwordonlycostme$100,000.""That'sstupid!"MadisonHoltsaid."Weneedmoreclue!""RichardS--,"Ianmused."Nowwhocouldthatbe?"Helookedathissister,andtheybothsmiled
liketheyweresharingaprivatejoke.Danwantedtokickthem."Waitaminute."JonahWizard'sdadscowled."Dideveryonegetthesameclue?Becausemysoninsistsonexclusivematerial.It'sinhisstandardcontract.""Thethirty-nineclues,"Mr.McIntyresaid,"arethemajorsteppingstonestothefinalgoal.Theyare
the41sameforeachteam.Thefirstone,whichyouhavereceived,istheonlyonethatwillbesosimple.""Simple?"AlistairOhraisedhiseyebrows."I'dhatetoseethedifficultones.""However,"Mr.McIntyrecontinued,"therearemanypathstoeachclue.Hintsandsecretshavebeen
buriedforyoutofind--cluestotheclues,ifyouwill.""I'mgettingaheadache,"SineadStarlingsaid."Howyouproceedisentirelyuptoyou,"Mr.McIntyresaid."Butremember:Youallseekthesame
end,andonlyoneteamwillsucceed.Speedisoftheessence."IrinaSpaskyfoldedherclue,stuckinitherpurse,andwalkedoutthedoor.AlistairOhfrowned."ItseemsCousinIrinahasanidea."TheStarlingtripletsputtheirheadstogether.Then,asifthey'dgottenacollectivebrainflash,they
stoodupsofasttheyknockedovertheirchairsandranoutside.JonahWizard'sdadpulledhimintothecorner.Theyhadaheateddiscussionandhisdadtypedsome
stuffintohisBlackBerry."Gottajet,"Jonahsaid."Later,losers."Andofftheywent.Thatmadethreeteamsalreadyoutthedoor,andDanstillhadnoideawhatthecluemeant."Well."IanKabrastretchedlazily,likehehadallthetimeintheworld."Areyouready,dearsister?"42"TomakefoolsofourAmericancousins?"Nataliesmiled."Anytime."Dantriedtotripthemastheywalkedpast,buttheynimblysteppedoverhislegandkeptgoing."Allright!"Mr.Holtannounced."Team,formup!"TheHoltclanshottotheirfeet.Theirbufflittlepitbull,Arnold,barkedandleapedaroundthemlike
hewastryingtobitetheirnoses."Wherewegoing,Dad?"Hamiltonasked."Idon'tknow.Buteverybodyelseisleaving!Followthem!"Theymarcheddouble-timeoutoftheGreatHall,whichleftonlyAmy,Dan,AlistairOh,andWilliam
McIntyre."Dearme,"Alistairsighed.Withhisblacksuitandsilkcravat,heremindedDanofabutler.Abutler
withasecret.Hiseyesseemedtobesmiling,evenwhenhewasn't."IthinkI'llhaveastrollaroundthegroundsandthinkaboutthis."
Danwasthankfultoseehimleave.Alistairseemedlikethenicestoftheircompetition,buthewasstillcompetition.
Danstaredattheclueagain,morefrustratedthanever."Resolution.Fineprint.RichardS--.Idon'tgetit.""Icanofferyounohelpwiththeclue."Mr.McIntyremanagedafaintsmile."Butyourgrandmother
wouldbepleasedyouacceptedthechallenge."Amyshookherhead."Wedon'tstandachance,dowe?TheKabrasandtheStarlingsarerich.Jonah43Wizard'sfamous.TheHoltsarelikesteroidmonsters.AlistairandIrinaseemso--Idon'tknow--worldly.AndDanandI--""Haveothertalents,"Mr.McIntyrefinished."AsI'msureyou'llfindout."Danrereadtheclue.Hethoughtaboutbaseballcards,andletters,andautographs."We'resupposedtofindthisguyRichard,"hedecided."ButwhyishislastnamejustS___?"Amy'seyeswidened."Waitaminute.Irememberreadingthatbackinthe1700s,peopleusedtodo
that.Theywoulduseonlyoneletteriftheywantedtodisguisetheirnames.""Huh,"Dansaid."So,like,IcouldsayA--hasafacelikeababoonbutt,andyouwouldn'tknow
whoI'mtalkingabout?"Amyboxedhimontheear."Ow!""Children,"Mr.McIntyre interrupted. "Youwill have enough enemieswithout fighting eachother.
Besides"--hecheckedhisgoldpocketwatch--"wedon'thavemuchtime,andthereissomethingImusttellyou,somethingyourgrandmotherwantedyoutoknow.""Aninsidetip?"Danaskedhopefully."Awarning, youngmaster Dan. You see, all Cahills -- if they know themselves to be Cahills --
belongtooneoffourmajorbranches."Amystoodupstraight."Irememberthis!Gracetoldmeonce."44Danfrowned."Whendidshetellyouthat?"
"Inthelibraryoneafternoon.Weweretalking.""Shedidn'ttellme!""Maybeyouweren'tlistening!Therearefourbranches.TheEkaterina,theJanus,the...uh,Tomas,andtheLucian.""Whicharewe?"Danasked."Idon'tknow."AmylookedatMr.McIntyreforhelp."Shejustmentionedthenames.Shewouldn'ttellmewhatweare.""I'mafraidIcan'thelpyouthere,"Mr.McIntyresaid,butDancouldtellfromhistonethathewas
keepingsomethingback."However,children,thereisanother ... ah, interestedpartyyou shouldknowabout.Not oneof the fourCahill branches, but a
groupthatmaymakeyourquestmoredifficult.""Ninjas?"Danaskedexcitedly."Nothingquitethatsafe,"Mr.McIntyresaid."Icantellyouverylittleaboutthem.IconfessIknow
onlythenameandafewunsettlingstories.Butyoumustbewareofthem.Thiswasyourgrandmother'slastwarning,whichshemademepromisetotellyouifyouacceptedthechallenge:
BewaretheMadrigals."AchillwentdownDan'sback.Hewasn'tsurewhy.ThenameMadrigalsjustsoundedevil."But,Mr.
McIntyre,who--""Myboy,"theoldmansaid,"Icantellyounomore.I'vestretchedtherulesofthecompetitionsaying
as45muchasIhave.Justpromisemeyouwilltrustnoone.Please.Foryourownsafety.""Butwedon'tevenknowwhere tostart!"Amyprotested."Everyoneelse just rushedoff like they
knewwhattodo.Weneedanswers!"Mr.McIntyrestood.Heclosedhisleatherfolder."Imustgetbacktomyoffice.But,mydear,perhaps
yourwayof finding out is not the same as the other teams'.What do younormally dowhenyouneedanswers?"
"Ireadabook."Amygasped."Thelibrary!Grace'slibrary!"SheracedoutoftheGreatHall.Usually,Dandidnotrunwithexcitementwhenhissistersuggested
visitingalibrary.Thistime,hedid.ThelibrarywasnexttoGrace'sbedroom--abigsunkenparlorlinedwithbookshelves.DanthoughtitwascreepybeingbackherewithjustAmy,especiallysinceGracehaddiednextdoor
inherbigfour-posterbed.Heexpectedtheroomstobealldrapedinblack,withsheetsoverthefurniturelikeyousawinmovies,butthelibrarywasbrightandairyandcheerful,justlikeithadalwaysbeen.
Thatdidn'tseemrighttoDan.WithGracegone,themansionshouldbedarkanddreary--kindofthewayhefelt.Hestaredattheleatherchairbythewindowandrememberedonetimehe'dbeensittingthere,playingwithacoolstonedaggerhe'dbustedoutof
46alockeddisplaycase.Gracehadcomeupsoquietlyhedidn'tnoticeheruntilshewasstandingright
overhim.Insteadofgettingmad,she'dkneltnexttohim.ThatdaggerisfromTenochtitlán,she'dsaid.Aztecwarriorsusedtocarrytheseforritualsacrifice.Theywouldcutoffthepartsoftheirenemies
thattheybelievedheldtheirfightingspirit.She'dshowedhimhowsharpthebladewas,andthenshelefthimalone.Shehadn'ttoldhimtobe
careful.Shehadn'tgottenangrybecausehe'dbustedintohercabinet.She'dactedlikehiscuriositywastotallynormal--evenadmirable.NoadulthadeverunderstoodDanthatwell.Thinkingaboutitnow,Danfeltlikesomebodyhadcut
awaypartofhisspirit.Amystartedsearchingthelibrarybooks.Dantriedtohelp,buthehadnoideawhathewaslooking
for and quickly became bored.He spun the old globewith brown seas andweird-colored continents,wonderingifitwouldmakeagoodbowlingball.Thenhenoticedsomethinghe'dneverseenbeforeunderthePacificOcean--asignature.
GraceCahill,1964."WhydidGrace autograph theworld?"he asked.Amyglancedover. "Shewas a cartographer.A
map-makerandanexplorer.Shemadethatglobeherself.""Howdidyouknowthat?"Amyrolledhereyes."BecauseIlistenedtoherstories.""Huh."ThatideahadneveroccurredtoDan."Sowhere'dsheexplore?"47Aman'svoicesaid,"Everywhere."AlistairOhwas leaningonhiscane in thedoorway,smilingat them."Yourgrandmotherexplored
everycontinent,Dan.Bythetimeshewastwenty-five,shecouldspeaksixlanguagesfluently,handleaspearorboomerangorriflewithequalskill,andnavigatealmosteverymajorcityintheworld.SheknewmyhometownofSeoulbetterthanIdid.Then,forreasonsunknown,shecamebacktoMassachusettstosettledown.Awomanofmystery--thatwasGrace."
Danwanted tohearmoreaboutGrace'sboomerang skills.That sounded sweet!ButAmysteppedawayfromthebookcase.Herfacewasbrightred."A-Alistair.Uh...whatdoyouwant?"
"Oh,don'tletmestopyou.Iwon'tinterfere.""Um,but...there'snothinghere,"Amymumbled."Iwashopingfor...Idon'tknow.SomethingIhadn'tseenbefore,butI'vereadmostofthese.Therereallyaren'tthatmanybooks.And
there'snothingaboutRichards-.""Mydearchildren,mayIsuggestsomething?Weneedanalliance."Danwasimmediatelysuspicious."Whywouldyouwantanalliancewithacoupleofkids?"Theoldmanchuckled."Youhaveintelligenceandyouth,andafreshwayoflookingatthings.I,on
theotherhand,haveresourcesandage.ImaynotbeoneofthemostfamousCahills,butIdidchangetheworldinmyownsmallway.Youknowmyfortunecomesfrom
48inventions,eh?DidyouknowIinventedthemicrowavableburrito?""Wow,"Dansaid."Earth-shattering.""There's noneed to thankme.Thepoint is I have resources atmydisposal.Andyou can't travel
aroundtheworldonyourown,youknow.You'llneedanadultchaperone."Aroundtheworld?Danhadn't thought about that.Hehadn't evenbeenallowed togoon the fourthgrade field trip to
NewYorklastspringbecausehe'dputMentosinhisSpanishteacher'sDietCoke.Theideathatthiscluehuntmighttakethemanywhereintheworldmadehimfeelalittlelightheaded.
"But--butwecan'thelpeachother,"Amysaid."Eachteamisseparate."Alistairspreadhishands."Wecan'tbothwin.Butthischallengemaytakeweeks,perhapsmonths.Untiltheend,surelywecancollaborate?Weare
family,afterall.""Sogiveussomehelp,"Dandecided."There'snothinghereaboutRichardS___.Wheredowelook?"Alistair tapped his cane on the floor. "Gracewas a secretivewoman. But she loved books. She
lovedthemverymuch.Andyou'reright,Amy.Itdoesseemstrangetherearesofewofthemhere.""Youthinkshehadmorebooks?"Amycuppedherhandoverhermouth."A...asecretlibrary?"Alistairshrugged."It'salargehouse.Wecouldsplitupandsearch."49ButthenDannoticedsomething--oneofthoserandomlittledetailsthatoftencaughthiseye.Onthe
wall,attheverytopofthebookshelf,wasaplastercrestjustlikeabovethefrontdoorofthemansion,afancy C surrounded by four smaller coats of arms -- a dragon, a bear, a wolf, and a pair of snakeswrapped around a sword.Hemust've seen this before amillion times, but he'd never noticed that thesmallercrestseachhadalettercarvedinthemiddle--E,T,J,L.
"Getmealadder,"hesaid."What?"Alistairasked."Nevermind,"Dandecided.Hebegantoclimbtheshelf,knockingdownbooksandknickknacks."Dan,getdown!"Amyprotested."You'regoingtofallandbreakyourarmagain!"50Danhadreachedthecrest,andhesawwhattodo.Thelettersweresmudgeddarkerthantherestof
thestone,likethey'dbeentouchedmanytimes."Amy,"hecalleddown,"whatwerethosefourbranchesagain?""Ekaterina,"shecalled."Tomas,Janus,Lucian.""Ekaterina,"Danrepeated,ashepressedtheE."Tomas,Lucian,Janus."Ashepressedthelastletter,thewholeshelfswungoutward.Danhadtojumpawaytoavoidgetting
squishedintoabooksandwich.Wherethebookshelfhadbeenwasadarkstairwell,leadingdown."Asecretpassage,"saidUncleAlistair."Dan,I'mimpressed.""Itmightbedangerous!"Amysaid."You'reright,"Danagreed."Ladiesfirst."51
CHAPTER5
Amycould'velivedinthesecretlibrary.Instead,shealmostdiedthere.Sheledthewaydownthestepsandgaspedwhenshesawallthebooks.Theywentonforever.She
usedtothinkthemainpubliclibraryonCopleySquarewasthebestintheworld,butthiswasevenbetter.Itseemedmore
library-ish.Theshelvesweredarkwood,andthebookswereleather-boundandveryold,withgildedtitleson
thespines.Theylookedlikethey'dbeenwell-usedoverthecenturies.Oriental carpet covered the floor.Cushy chairswere spaced around the room so you could plop
downanywhereandstartreading.Mapsandoversizefolioswerespreadoutonbigtables.Againstonewallwasa lineofoak file cabinets andahugecomputerwith three separatemonitors, like somethingthey'duseatNASA.Glasschandeliershungfromthevaultedceilingandprovidedplentyoflight,eventhoughtheroomwasobviouslyunderground.They'ddescendedalongwaytogethere,andtherewerenowindows.
52"Thisplaceisamazing!"Amyranintotheroom."Books,"Dansaid."Yay."Hecheckedoutthecomputer,butitwasfrozenonthepasswordscreen.
Hejiggledafewfilecabinetdrawers,buttheywerealllocked.Uncle Alistair gingerly picked a red folio from the shelves. "Latin. Caesar's campaign in Gaul,
copiedonvellum.Lookslikeitwashandwrittenbyascribearound,oh,1500.""Itmustbeworthafortune,"Amysaid.Dansuddenlylookedmoreinterested."Wecouldsellthem?Like,oneBay?""Oh,shutup,Dan.Thesearepriceless."Sheranherfingersalongthespines--Machiavelli,Melville,Milton."They'realphabeticalbyauthor.FindtheSsection!"They did, but it was a disappointment. There were ten shelves packed with everything from
Shakespeare'sFirstFoliotoBruceSpringsteen'sCompleteLyrics,butnothingwithRichardforthefirstname."Somethingaboutthat..."Amymuttered.ThenameRichardS-,coupledwiththewordResolution,kept nagging at her. They went together, but she didn't know how. It drove her crazy when she
couldn'trememberthings.Shereadsomanybookssometimestheygotjumbledaroundinherhead.Thensheglanceddowntheaisle.Attheendoftheshelf,curleduponaboxonasmalltable,wasan
oldfriend.53"Saladin!"shecried.Thecatopenedhisgreeneyesandsaid,"Mrrp?"withoutmuchsurprise,likehewasasking,Oh,it'syou?Didyoubringmemyredsnapper?AmyandDanrantohim.SaladinhadthemostbeautifulfurAmyhadeverseen--silverwith spots, like aminiature snow leopard.Well ... not sominiature, actually, sincehewas
prettyenormous,withhugepawsandalongstripedtail."Saladin,whatareyoudoingdownhere?"Amystrokedhisback.Thecatclosedhiseyesandpurred.
Amyknewhewasjustacat,butshewassohappytoseehimshecould'vecried.ItwaslikepartofGracewasstillalive.
"Hey,Saladin,"Dansaid."What'sthatyou'resittingon,dude?""Mrrp,"SaladincomplainedasDanliftedhimup.Underneathwasapolishedmahoganyboxwiththegold
initialsGCengravedonthelid.Amy'sheartskippedabeat."It'sGrace'sjewelrybox!"Amyopened it up, and therewasGrace'spersonal jewelry,whichAmyhad loved since shewas
little.Graceusedtoletherplaywiththese--apearlbracelet,adiamondring,apairofemeraldearrings.Amyhadn'trealizeduntilmuchlaterthatthestuffwasreal
--worththousandsofdollars.Sheblinkedthetearsoutofhereyes.Nowthatshe'dfoundSaladinandthejewelrybox,shefeltlikeshereally54wasstanding inGrace'smost secretplace.Shemissedhergrandmother somuch ithurt.Thenshe
pulledaveryfamiliarpieceofjewelryoutofthebox...."Dearme,"Alistairsaid."That'sherfavoritenecklace,isn'tit?"Hewasright.Amyhadneverseenhergrandmotherwithoutthisnecklace--twelveintricatelycarved
squaresofjadewithagreendragonmedallioninthecenter.Gracehadcalledithergood-luckcharm.Amy touched the dragon in the center. She wondered why Grace hadn't been buried with this
necklace.Itdidn'tseemright."Hey!"Dancalled."Lookatthis!"Amy found him around the corner, holding Saladin and staring at a giant wall map covered in
pushpins.Thepinswereinfivedifferentcolors:red,blue,yellow,green,andwhite.Everymajorcityintheworldseemed tohaveat leastone.Someareaswerestuckwithonly redpins, somewithgreenorblue,somewithseveralcolors.
"She'sbeendoingvoodooontheworld!"Dansaid."No,dummy,"Amysaid."Thosemustbemarkers.Theytellwheresomethingis.""Likewhat?"Amyshookherhead.Shefoundthemapcreepy."MaybesomethingabouttheCahills?"Sheglanced
atAlistair.Hefrowned."Idon'tknow,mydear.Mostcurious."Buthewouldn'tmeethereyes,andAmygotthe
feelinghewashidingsomething.55"LookatEurope,"Dansaid."AndtheEastCoast."Thoseareaswereheavilypinnedinallfivecolors.Amycouldhardlyseethecitiesunderneath.If
these pins represented theCahills, then it looked like they'd started somewhere inEurope and spreadacrosstheworld,heavilycolonizingNorthAmerica.
Thenshethought:Europe.Colonies.NorthAmerica.ThenameRichardS--startednaggingathermindagain,tryingtoscratch
itswayout.Anamefromtheeighteenthcentury,someonewhohadwrittenresolutions...Suddenly,sheturnedandraceddowntherowofshelves."Hey!"Dancried,asSaladinwriggledoutofhisarms."Amy,whereareyougoing?"
"TheFs!"sheyelled."Whatfor-failure?"ShegottotheFsandfoundit immediately:atinybook,sotattereditwasfallingapart.Thecover
wasdecoratedwithared-and-whitewoodblockprintofColonialfarmers.Thetitlewasfaded,butshecouldstillmakeout:PoorRichard'sAlmanack
,FortheYear1739,byRichardSaunders."Ofcourse!"UncleAlistairsaid."Verygood,mydear.Verygood,indeed!"Despiteherself,Amyfeltflushwithpride."Waitasecond,"Dansaid."IfthiswaswrittenbyRichardSaunders,what'sitdoingunderF?"56"RichardSaunderswasapseudonym,"UncleAlistairexplained.Danknithiseyebrows."Afakefoot?"Amy wanted to strangle him, but Alistair said patiently, "No, my dear boy. You're thinking of a
pseudopod. A pseudonym is a fake name, a nom de plume, a disguise for the author. This bookwaswrittenbyaveryfamousperson."
"BenjaminFranklin,"Amysaid."Ididareportonhimlastyear."Sheopenedthebook.Thetextwasprintedinblockletterswithoutmuchpunctuation,soitwashard
toread,buttherewerecharts,illustrations,columnsofnumbers."ThisisthemostfamousthingFranklinever published. Poor Richardwas a character Franklin created.He had lots of pseudonyms like that.Whenhewrote,hewouldpretendhewasdifferentpeople."
"Sowe'rerelatedtoaguywithmultiplepersonalities,"Dansaid."That'sgreat.Aren'talmanacsforsports?"
"Not this kind," Amy said. "This has facts for farmers. It's like a yearbook with useful tips andarticles.Franklinputallhisfamousquotationsinthere,like'Earlytobed,earlytorise.'"
"Uh-huh.""And'Arollingstonegathersnomoss.'""Whywouldfarmerscareifstonesaremossyornot?"Amywastemptedtowhackhimwiththebook.Maybethatwouldloosenthestonesinhishead.But57shekepthercool."Dan,thepointishegotveryfamousforthis.Andhemadetonsofmoney.""Okay..."Danfishedoutthepieceofpaperwiththeirfirstclue.Hefrownedatit."SowefoundRichardS___.Howdoesthathelpusfindourtreasure?Andwhat'sRESOLUTIONmean?""Franklinusedtowriteresolutionsforhimself,"Amysaid,"ruleshewantedtofollowtoimprove
himself.""LikeNewYear'sresolutions?""Sortof,buthewrotethemallyearround.NotjustonNewYear's.""SowasthatpartofPoorRichard'sAlmanack?"Amyknithereyebrows."No,"shesaiduneasily."Hisresolutionswerefromadifferentbook.His
autobiography,Ithink.MaybethewordRESOLUTIONinthecluewasjusttohelpusthinkofBenjaminFranklin.I'mnotsure...."Sheturnedapagein
PoorRichard'sAlmanack.Noteswerescribbledinthemarginsinseveraldifferenthandwritingstyles.Shecaughtherbreath.
She recognizedone lineofelegant script,written inpurple inkat thebottomofapage.She'd seen thesamehandwritinginoldletters-- treasuresthatGracewouldshowherfromtimeto time.Thenotationsimplyread
FollowFranklin,firstclue.MazeofBones."Momwroteinhere!"shecried."Shealwaysusedpurplepen!""What?"Dansaid."Lemmesee!""MayI?"Alistairasked.58Amywantedtoholdthebookforever.Shewantedtodevoureverywordhermotherhadwritteninit.
Butreluctantly,shehandedittoAlistair."Iwantitrightback,"sheinsisted."Nofair!"Dansaid.Alistairputonhisglassesandexaminedafewpages."Interesting.Severalgenerationshaveheldthis
book.ThesenoteshereareinGrace'shand.Andhere,myfather'shandwriting,GordonOh.Andhere--JamesCahill,Grace'sfather.Theywerebrothers,youknow,althoughGordon'smother,mygrandmother,wasKorean."
"That'sgreat,"Dansaidimpatiently."ButwhywasourmomwritingaboutBenFranklin?"Alistairarchedhiseyebrows."Obviously,BenjaminFranklinwasaCahill.Thatdoesnotsurprise
me.Hewasaninventorlikeme,afterall.Iwouldimaginemostofthebooksinthislibrarywerewrittenbymembersofourfamily,whethertheyknewtheirtruebloodlineornot."
Amywasstunned.Allofthesefamousauthors...Cahills?Wasitpossible,whenevershe'dsatinalibrary, lost inbooks, she'd actuallybeen reading thewordsofher relatives?She couldn't believe theCahillscouldbesopowerful,butMr.McIntyrehadtoldthemtheirfamilyhadshapedhumancivilization.Forthefirst time,shebegantounderstandwhatthatmightmean.Shefelt likeanenormouscanyonwasopeningupatherfeet.
Howhadhermotherknownaboutthefirstclue,yearsbeforethecontestbegan?Whyhadshechosen59towriteinthisbook?WhatdidshemeanbytheMazeofBones?Thereweretoomanyquestions.Meanwhile,Danwasbouncingaroundinhisusualannoyingway."I'mrelatedtoBenjaminFranklin?
You'rekidding!""Whydon'tyougoflyakiteinastormandseeifyougetelectrocuted?"Amysuggested."Comenow,children,"Alistair said. "Wehavemuchwork todowithoutbickering.We'llhave to
readthroughthesenotesand--""Wait."Amy'swholebodytensed.Anacridsmellfilledtheair."Issomeonesmoking?"UncleAlistairandDanlookedaroundinconfusion.ThenAmysawit.Whitesmokewasthickeningacrosstheceiling,driftingdowninadeadlyhaze."Fire!"Danyelled."Gettothestairs!"ButAmyfroze.Shewasmortallyafraidoffire.Itbroughtbackbadmemories.Verybadmemories."Comeon!"Dantuggedherhand."Saladin--wehavetofindhim!"ThatjoltedAmyintoaction.Shecouldn'tletanythinghappentothecat."There'snotime!"UncleAlistairinsisted."Wemustgetout!"Amy'seyesstung.Shecouldhardlybreathe.ShesearchedforSaladin,buthe'ddisappeared.Finally,
Dan dragged her up the stairs and shoved his shoulder against the secret bookshelf door. It wouldn'tbudge.
60"Alever."Dancoughed."There'sgottobealever."Danwasusuallygoodatfiguringoutmechanicalstuff,buttheygropedaroundforaswitchoralever
andfoundnothing.Thesmokewasgettingthicker.Amypushedonthewallandyelped."Thesurfaceisgettinghotter!Thefire'scomingfromtheotherside.We
can'topenit!""Wehaveto!"Daninsisted,butitwasAmy'sturntopullhimalong.Shedraggedhimbackdownthestairs.Thesmokewassobadnowtheycouldbarelyseeeach
other."Getaslowasyoucan!"Amysaid.SheandDancrawledthroughthelibrary,desperatelylookingfor
anotherexit.ShehadnoideawhereUncleAlistairhaddisappeared.Thebookshelveswerecombusting--olddrypaper,theperfectkindling.
Amypulledherselfuponatableandfoundthejewelrybox.Don'ttakevaluables.Sheknewthatwasoneofthefirstrulesforgettingoutofafirealive.Butshescoopeduptheboxand
keptgoing.The heatwas gettingworse. The air filledwith ash. It was like breathing in a poison fog.Amy
couldn'tevencrawlfastbecauseshewaswearingherstupidfuneraldress.SheheardDancoughingandwheezingbehindher.Hisasthma--hehadn'thadanattackinmonths,
butthissmokemightkillhimiftheheatdidn't.Think,sheorderedherself.IfshewereGrace,shewouldnevermakeasecretroomwithonlyoneexit.61Amysanktothefloor,coughingandchoking.Allshecouldseewastheorientalcarpet--aparadeofwovensilkdragons.Dragons...liketheoneonGrace'snecklace.Andtheywereallflyinginthesamedirection,likethey
wereleadingtheway.Itwasacrazyidea,butitwasallshehad."Followme!"Amysaid.Danwaswheezing toobadly toanswer.Amycrawledalong, lookingbacknowand then tomake
surehewasstillbehindher.Thedragonsledthembetweentwoburningbookshelvesanddead-endedinfrontofanairgrateaboutthreefeetsquare.Notverybig,butmaybebigenough.Amykickedatthegratewithherfeet.Onthethirdtryitrattledoff,revealingastoneshaftslantingup.
"Dan!"sheyelled."Go!"ShepushedhimthroughandrealizedwithastartthathewasholdingSaladin.Somehow,he'dfoundthecat,andthecatwasnothappyaboutit.Saladinclawedandgrowled,but
Danheldhim tight.Amy followed,gasping forbreath.Hereyes felt like theywerebeing sandblasted.Theyclimbedupthedarkshaft,andafterwhatseemedlikeages,Danstopped.
"What are you doing?" Amy demanded. The heat wasn't as bad now, but the smoke was stillthickeningaroundthem.
"Blocked!"Danwheezed."Pushit!"62Intotaldarkness,shecrawledupnexttohimandtogethertheypushedonaflatsmoothstonethatwas
blockingtheirpath.Ithadtoopen.Ithad
to.Andfinally,itdid--poppinguplikealid.Daylightblindedtheireyes.Theycrawledoutintofresh
airandcollapsedonthegrass.Saladingotfreewithanindignant"MRRRRP!"andshotoffintothetrees.Theywerelyinginthecemetery,notfiftyfeetfromGrace'snewlyfilled
grave.Theslabthey'dpushedasidewassomebody'stombstone."Dan,youokay?"sheasked.Dan'sfacewasstreakedwithsoot.Steamrosefromhishairandhisclotheswereevenblackerthan
theyhadbeenbefore.Hewasbreathingheavily.Hisarmsbledfromahundredcatscratches."Think..."Hewheezed."Don'twant...collecttombstones...afterall."Smokepoured out of the tunnel like a chimney, but thatwas nothing compared towhatAmy saw
whenshelookedupatthehill.Herthroatconstricted."Oh,no."Thefamilymansionwasaroaringinferno.Flameswinkedinthewindowsandlappedupthesidesof
thebuilding.AsAmywatched,onestonetowercollapsed.Thebeautifulstainedglasswindowsmelted.Thefamilycrestabovethemainentrance--thatoldstonecrestAmyhadalwaysloved--crasheddownandshatteredonthepavement.
63"Amy..."Dan'svoicesoundedlikeitwasabouttobreaktopieces."Thehouse...wecan'tletit...we
haveto..."Buthedidn't finish.Therewasnothing they coulddo.A sectionof the roof crumpled,belching a
fireballintothesky.DespaircrushedtheairrightoutofAmy'slungs,likethehousewascollapsingontopofher.ShereachedforDanandhuggedhim.Hedidn'tevenprotest.Hisnosewasrunny.Hislowerliptrembled.Shewantedtocomforthim,totellhimitwouldbeallright,butshedidn'tbelieveitherself.
Thenshenoticedsomethingthatjoltedheroutofherdaze.Inthedrivewaylayacollapsedfigure,amaninagraysuit."Mr.McIntyre!"Amycried.
Shewasabouttoruntohisaidwhenherbrothergasped,"Getdown!"Hewasn'tasstrongasshewas,buthemust'vebeendesperate,becausehetackledherwithsomuch
forceshejustaboutatethelawn.Hepointeduptheroadthatledthroughthehills--theonlyexitfromtheproperty.
Aboutfivehundredyardsaway,halfhiddeninthetrees,amaninablacksuitwasstandingverystill.HowDanhadspottedhimsofaraway,Amydidn'tknow.Shecouldn'tmakeouttheman'sface,buthewastallandthin,withgrayhair,andhewasholdingbinoculars.Withachill,Amyrealizedhewaswatching
them.64Amysaid,"Who--"Butshewasdistractedbythechirpingsoundofacaralarmbeingdeactivated.Alistair Oh, sooty and smoky, burst out of the mansion's main entrance and hobbled toward his
BMW,cradlingsomethingagainsthischest.Helookedterrible.Hispantswererippedandhisfacewaswhitewithash.Amyhadnoideahowhe'dmanagedtogetout.Shealmostcalledtohim,butsomethingheld her back.Alistair staggered pastWilliamMcIntyrewith hardly a glance, jumped in his car, andpeeledoutdownthedriveway.
Amylookedbacktowardthewoods,butthemanwiththebinocularshaddisappeared."Stayhere,"shetoldDan.She ran towardMr.McIntyre.Dan, of course, didn't obey orders.He followed her, coughing the
wholeway.BythetimetheygottoMr.McIntyre,theentiremansionwascollapsing.Theheatwaslikeanewsun.Amyknewtherewouldbenothinglefttosalvage--nothingexceptthejewelryboxshewasstillclutching.
ShesetdowntheboxandrolledMr.McIntyreover.Hegroaned,whichatleastmeanthewasalive.
Amywishedshehadacellphoneofherown,butAuntBeatricehadneverallowedthemtohaveone.ShefishedaroundinMr.McIntyre'spockets,foundhisphone,anddialed911.
"Hetookit,"Danwheezed."What?"Amywasn'treallylistening.Shesanktoherkneesandwatchedastheonlyplaceshe'dever
cared65about went up in flames. She pictured Grace telling her stories in the library. She remembered
runningdownthehalls,playingtagwithDanwhentheywerelittle.ShethoughtofthesecretnookinthebedroomwhereshelikedtoreadwithSaladinonherlap.Allgone.Herwholebodyshook.Tearswelledupinhereyes.Forthesecondtimeinherlife,firehadrobbedher.
"Amy."Dansoundedclosetotears,butheputahandonhershoulder."You'vegottolisten.Hetookit.Alistairdid."
Amywanted to tellDan toshutupand lethermourn inpeace,but thenshe realizedwhathewastalkingabout.Shegotunsteadilytoherfeetandstaredintothedistance,wheretheBMW'staillightsweredisappearingaroundahill.
AlistairOhhadtrickedthem.He'dstolenthePoorRichard'sAlmanackwiththeirmother'snotes--theironlyleadinthequest.66
CHAPTER6
Danhadalwayswantedtorideinapolicecar,butnotlikethis.Hischeststillhurtfromthesmoke.HesatinthebackseatofthepolicecarwithSaladinonhislap
andtriednottowheeze,buteverybreathwaslikeinhalingsand."If you'd just brought your inhaler..."Amy chided.But he hated his inhaler. Itmadehim feel like
DarthCahillorsomething.Besides,hehadn'thadanattackinforever,andhedidn'tknowtheyweregoingtogetcaughtinastupidfire.
Hecouldn'tbelievethefamilymansionwasgone.He'dwokenupthismorningsurethatAmyandhewouldinherittheplace.Nowtherewasnothingleft--justasmokingmountainofrubble.
Thepolicedetectiveshadn'tgiventhemmanyanswers.Itlookedlikearson,theysaid.The fire spread too quickly to be an accident. They said William McIntyre would be okay.
Amazingly,nooneelsehad67beenhurt.DanhadtoldthepoliceaboutAlistairOhleavingthemansioninabighurry.Hefiguredhemightaswelltrytogettheoldcreepintrouble.ButDanhadsaidnothingaboutthe
thirty-ninecluesorthesecretlibraryorthestrangeguywiththebinoculars."Whowasthemaninblack?"Amywhispered,likeshe'dbeenthinkingthesamething.ShehadGrace'sjewelry
boxonherlap,andshewastwistingherhairthewayshealwaysdidwhenshewasnervous."Don'tknow,"Dansaid."Alistair?""Hecouldn'thavebeenintwoplacesatonce.""Mr.Holt?""Mr.Holt'snotthatold,andhe'salotmorebuff.""AuntBeatricedressedasaman?"Personally,Danlikedthisidea,becauseBeatricedefinitelyhad
the"evil"factorgoingforher.Afterall,she'djustleftthematthemansionwithoutasecondthought.ButAmyrolledhereyes."Hewasn'tanybodyweknow,Dan.Atleast,I'mprettysure.Buthewaswatchingus,likehewantedtoseeifwegotout.Ithinkhesetthatfiretotrapus.""Mrrp,"Saladinsaid."Iagreewiththecat,"Dansaid."AfterthatmaninblackandUncleAlistair,Isaywemakeanew
RESOLUTION.Stayawayfromoldguys.""We'llhavetobemorecarefulabouteverybody."Amyloweredhervoiceevenmore."Dan,ourmotherwasinvolvedinthethirty-nineclues.Thatwriting--"68"Yeah,butthat'simpossible.Thecontestjuststarted!""ItwasMom'swriting.I'msure.Shesaid,FollowFranklin, first clue.MazeofBones.Wehave to findoutwhat thatmeans.This is just thekindof
mysteryMomwould'veloved!"Dan knew he shouldn't have felt annoyed, but he hated that Amy remembered more about their
parentsthanhedid.Hewouldneverhaverecognizedtheirmom'shandwriting.Hehadnoideawhatkindofpersonshe'dbeen.
"Welostthebook,"hegrumbled."Wekindoffailedalready,didn'twe?"Amy traced themonogramon top ofGrace's jewelry box. "Maybe not. I have an idea, butwe're
goingtoneedanadult.Alistairwasrightaboutthat.We'llneverbeabletotravelwithoutone.""Travel?"Dansaid."Wherearewegoing?"Amy glanced at the cop. She leaned closer to Dan and whispered, "First, we need to find a
chaperone.Andquickly.AuntBeatriceisgoingtocallSocialServicessoon.Weneedtogethome,getourstuff,andgetout.If
thepolicefindoutwe'vebeendisowned,they'lltakeustoafosterhomeorsomething.We'llneverbeabletofindthethirty-nineclues."
Danhadn'tthoughtaboutthis.Hedidn'tknowmuchaboutfosterhomes,buthefiguredhedidn'twanttoliveinone.Wouldafosterhomelethimtakehiscollection?
Probablynot."Sohowdowegetanadult?"heasked."Rentone?"69Amy twisted her hair into a noose. "We need somebodywho'll let us dowhat wewant without
asking too many questions. Somebody old enough to look like we're being chaperoned, but not strictenoughthatthey'lltrytostopus.Somebodykindofpliable."
"Does'pliable'meanwecanlietothem?""Mrrp,"Saladinsaid,likethatsoundedgoodtohimaslongashegotfreshfish.The police car turned ontoMelrose Street and pulled up in front of their weathered brownstone
apartmentbuilding."Thisistheaddress?"thecopasked.Shesoundedboredandannoyed."Yes,"Amysaid."Imean,yes,ma'am.""Yousurethere'ssomebodyhome?Yourguardianorwhatever?""NellieGomez,"Dansaid."She'souraupa--"Hiseyeswidened.HelookedatAmy,andhecouldtellshewasthinkingthesamething.Itwasso
obviousevenaHoltcould'veseenit."Nellie!" theysaid together.Theygotoutof thepolicecarwith theircatand the jewelryboxand
racedupthefrontsteps.NelliewasjustwhereDanfiguredshe'dbe--sackedoutonthesofawithherearbudsin,bobbing
herheadtowhateverweirdmusicshewaslisteningtowhileshepunchedtextmessagesintoherphone.Astackof
70cookbookssatnexttoheronthecouch.ThetoponereadExoticMandarinCuisine.DanletSaladindowntoexploretheapartment.ThenhenoticedtheemptycartonofBen&Jerry's
CherryGarcia--hisCherryGarcia--sittingonthecoffeetable."Hey!"Danprotested."Thatwasmine!"Ofcourse,Nelliedidn'thearhim.Shekeptjammingoutand
typingonherphoneuntilAmyandDanstoodrightoverher.
Nellie frowned likeshewasannoyedshehad toactuallywork.Shepulledoutoneearbud."Backalready?Whoa--whathappened?You'reallgrungy."
"Weneedtotalk,"Amysaid.Nellieblinked,whichwasprettycooltowatchsincehereyesweredoneinblueglittereyeshadow.
Shehadanewnoseringshapedlikeasilversnake.Danwonderedwhyshewantedasnakecurledinsidehernostril.
"Whatdoweneedtotalkabout,kiddo?"sheasked.AmylookedlikeshewantedtohitNelliewiththejewelrybox.DanknewshehateditwhenNellie
calledherkiddo,butshekepthervoicepolite."We--we'vegotadealforyou.Anewbabysittingdeal.Itpaysalotofmoney."Nelliepulledoutherotherearbud.Theyhadherattentionnow.Threewordsalwaysworkedwith
Nellie:guys,food,andmoney.Shestoodup.ShewaswearingherrippedBritishflagT-shirt,fadedjeans,andpinkplasticshoes.
Her71hairlookedlikeapileofwetstraw--halfblack,halfblond.ShefoldedherarmsandlookeddownatAmy."Okay.Whatkindofdeal?"DanwasafraidAmywouldfreezeup,butsheseemedtobekeepinghernervesprettywell.Nellie
wasn'tasintimidatingassomeoftheotheraupairsthey'dhad."Urn...it'satrip,"Amysaid."You'dbeourchaperone."Nelliefrowned."Whyisn'tyourauntaskingmeaboutthis?""Oh,shebrokeherneck,"Danblurtedout.AmygavehimalooklikeShutup!"Brokeherneck?"Nellieasked."It'snot serious,"Dan said. "Just a littlebreak.She's,uh,going tobe in thehospital for awhile,
though.Soshefiguredwe'dbettertakeatrip.WetalkedtoourUncleAlistair.Hesaidwe'dneedanadulttogowithus."
That last part, at least,was true.Dan didn't knowwhere hewas goingwith this, but he plungedahead.HefiguredifhecouldjustkeepNellieconfused,shecouldn'tcallhimaliar.
"It'sthisthingourfamilydoes,"hesaid."Kindoflikeascavengerhunt.Wevisitabunchofplacesandhavefun."
"Whatsortofplaces?"Nellieasked."Oh,allkinds."DanthoughtaboutthemapinGrace'ssecretlibrary--allthosepushpins."That'spart72ofthefun.Wedon'tknowalltheplacesatthebeginning.Wecouldgoallovertheworld."Nellie'seyebrowsshotup."Youmean,like,forfree?"Amynodded,asifshewerewarminguptoDan'smethods."Yeah,itcouldtakemonths!Travelingto
exoticplaceswherethere'slotsof...um,foodandguys.Butyouwouldn'tneedtobewithusthewholetime--justfortheadultstufflikebuyingairlineticketsandcheckingintohotelsandstuff.You'dhavealotoftimeonyourown."
Yes,please,Dan thought. Nellie was okay, but the last thing he wanted was her following them around too
closely."Howareyougoingtopayforit?"Nelliesaidsuspiciously.Amyopenedthejewelryboxanddumpeditonthetable.Thepearlbracelet,thediamondring,and
theemeraldearringsglittered.
Nellie'smouthdroppedopen."Oh--my--god.Didyoustealthat?""No!"Amysaid."It'sfromourgrandmother!Shewantedustotakethistrip.Shesaidsoinherwill."Danfeltimpressed.Thatwasn'texactlyalie,either.Nelliestaredatthejewelry.Thenshepickedupherphoneanddialed.Dantensed.HehadvisionsofSocialServices--whateverthatwas--swoopingin,guyswithwhite73coatsandnets,maybe,takingthemtoafosterhome."Hello?"Nelliesaidintothephone."Yeah,Dad,listen,I'vegotanewjobfortheCahills."Pause."Yeah,it'sreallygoodmoney.SoIcan'tmakedinnertonightlikeIpromised."Nelliepickedupthe
diamondring,butAmysnatcheditaway."Howlong?Um...we'retraveling.Soafewweeks.Maybe...months?"
Sheyankedthephoneawayfromherear.Ontheotherend,herdadwasyellinginrapidSpanish."Dad!"Nelliesaid."No,claw.Butthefallsemesterdoesn'tstartforamonth,andit'sall,like,boringcoursesanyway.Icouldjusttakemorehoursinthespringand--"AnotherburstofangrySpanish."Well,ifyou'dletmegotocookingschoolinsteadofstupidregularcollege--"Herdad'syellinggotslightlylouderthananuclearexplosion."Que,papa?"Nellieyelled."Losiento,you'rebreakingup.I'llcallyouwhenIgetabettersignal.Loveya!"Shehungup."He'sfinewithit,"sheannounced."I'min,kiddos."On Amy's orders, Dan was only supposed to pack one bag. That meant clothes, but Dan wasn't
interestedinclothes.Helookedaroundhisroom,tryingtofigureoutwhattotakefromhiscollections.74Hisbedroomwasalreadywaytoosmallforhisstuff.Againstonewallwerehistombstonerubbings.
He'dhavetoroll themuporfold themtopackthem,andthatwouldruinthem.Hisclosetwasstackedwithplasticbinsholdinghiscardcollectionandcoinportfolios-- toomanytochoosefrom.UnderhisbedwereboxesfullofoldCivilWarweapons,hiscasts,hisautographedcelebrityphotos,andatonofotherstuff.
Hepickeduphislaptop,whichhe'dboughtfromthecomputerscienceteacheratschoolfor$300.He'd
havetotakethat,becauseheusedittofindoutstuffandmakemoney.Heknewtheexactvalueofevery
tradingcardontheInternet.He'dlearnedtosellhisduplicatecardsatschoolandinthelocalcardshopsforalittlemorethanhe'dpaid.Itwasn'tmuch,buthecouldmakeabout$100amonthifhewaslucky.Andhe
waslucky.Unfortunately,hespentthemoneyonrarestuffasfastashemadeit.He slipped the computer into his black duffel bag. Then he added three extra shirts, pants,
underwear,atoothbrush,hisinhaler,and--finally--hispassport.Theirparentshadgottenthempassportsrightbeforetheydied,whenDanwasfour.Dandidn'trememberwhy.They'dneverusedthem.Gracehadinsistedonrenewingthemlastyear,
whichhadseemedkindofsilytoDanatthetime.Nowhewondered....Heshovedthepassporttothebottomofthebag.Therewashardlyanyroomleft.Nowaycouldhefitevenatenthofhisstuff.75Hedugunderhismattressandbroughtouthisphotoalbum. Itwasabigwhitebinderholdinghis
mostimportantcollection:photosofhisparents.Therewasonlyone.Itwasburnedaroundtheedges:theonlyphotographthathadsurvivedthefire.
Hismomanddadwerestandingonthesummitofamountainwiththeirarmsaroundeachother,smilingfor thecamera.TheybothworeGortexparkasand thermalclimbingpants,withharnessesaround theirwaists. Instead of helmets, theywore baseball caps, so their eyeswere hidden in shadows.His dad,Arthur,wastallandtanwithsalt-and-pepperhairandanicesmile.Danwonderedifhewouldlooklikethatwhenhegotolder.Hismom,Hope,hadreddish-brownhairlikeAmy's.Shewasalittleyoungerthantheirdad,andDanthoughtshewasverypretty.HerhatwasanOriolescap.Hisdad'swasaRedSox.Danwondered if thatwas random,or if thosewere their favorite teams, and if theyever fought aboutwhichonewasbetter.Hedidn'tknow.Hedidn'tevenknowiftheyhadgreeneyeslikehedid,becausethecapshidtheirfaces.
Hewantedtocollectotherphotosofthem.Hewantedtoknowwhereelsetheytraveledandwhattheywore.Hewantedtoseeapicturethathad
himinit.Buttherewasnothingtocollect.Everythingfromtheiroldhousehadburned,andGracealways
insistedshehadnophotographsofthem,thoughDanneverunderstoodwhy.76Hestaredatthephotoandgotasinkingfeelinginthepitofhisstomach.Hethoughtaboutthefireat
Grace'smansion,themaninblack,Mr.McIntyrelyingonthepavement,UncleAlistairdrivingawaylikeamadman,andhismom'shandwritinginthatBenjaminFranklinbook.
Whatcouldbesoimportantaboutabook?Danknewthevalueofalotofcollectibles,buthe'dneverheardofanythingworthburningdownahouse.
Gracemust'veknownwhatshewasdoing,settingupthiscontest.Shewouldn'thavelethimandAmydown.Dantoldhimselfthatoverandover,tryingtobelieveit.
Therewasaknockonhisdoor.Hetooktheplasticsleevewiththephotographoutofthealbumandslippeditinhisbag.Hezippeditshutjustasthedooropened.
"Hey,dweeb,"Amysaid,butshedidn'treallysoundmean."Youalmostdone?""Yeah.Yeah,I'mgood."She'd taken a shower and changed clothes -- back into her regular jeans and green T-shirt. She
frownedathisfullduffelbag,thenlookedatallthebinssittinginthecloset.Danguessedshecouldtellhehadn'tsortedthroughthem.
"Youcould,uh,takeabackpack,too,"sheoffered."Ifthathelps."ComingfromAmy,itwasaprettynicethingtosay.ButDanstaredathiscloset.Somehowheknewhe77wouldn't be comingback here ever again. "Amy, howmuchmoneydo you thinkwe'll get for the
jewelry?"Herhandwenttoherneck,andDanrealizedshewaswearingGrace'sjadenecklace."Um...Idon'tknow."Danunderstoodwhy she lookedguilty.Hewasn't an expert at jewelry prices, but he figured that
necklacewasoneofthemostexpensivepiecesinthebox.Ifshekeptit,theywouldn'tgetnearlyasmuch."They'llripusoff,"hewarned."Wedon'thavetimetodoitright.Andanyway,we'rejustkids.We'll
have to take the jewelry to somebody who can give us cash without asking a lot of questions.We'llprobablyonlygetafewthousand--afractionofwhatthestuffisworth."
"We'llneedtransportationforthreepeople,"Amysaiduncertainly."Andhotels.Andfood."Dantookadeepbreath."I'mgoingtosellmycardsandcoins.There'sashopdownonthesquare--""Dan!You'vespentyearscollectingthatstuff!""It'lldoubleourmoney.Thestorewillripmeoff,butIcangetthreethousandeasyforallofit."Amystaredathimlikehe'ddroppedinfromouterspace."Dan,I thinkthesmokemessedupyour
brain.Areyousure?"For some weird reason, he was. He wanted to go on this clue hunt more than he wanted his
collection.Hewanted to get back atwhoever had burned downGrace's house.Hewanted to find thesecretofthethirty-nineclues.Mostofall,hewantedtofinallyusethat
78stupid passport andmake his parents proud.Maybe along the way he'd find new photos for his
album."I'msure,"hesaid.Amydidsomethingcompletelydisgusting.Shehuggedhim."Gross!"Danprotested.Hepushedheraway.Amywassmiling,butshehadtearsinhereyes."Maybeyou'renotsuchadweeb,"shesaid."Yeah,well,stopcryingalready,andlet'sgetoutof--wait,wherearewegoing?""Tonightahotelintown,"shesaid."Thentomorrow...I'vegotanideaaboutBenFranklin.""Butyoudon'thavethebookanymore.""Ididn'tneedthebookforthis.Mom'snotesaid'FollowFranklin.'BenFranklinstartedasaprinterhereinBoston,whenhewasateenagerworkingforhis
brother.""Sowejustlookaroundtown?"Amyshookherhead."That'swhattheothersareprobablydoing.Butwe'regoingtofollowwherehe
wentnext,likefollowhislife.BenjaminFranklindidn'tstayinBoston.Whenhewasseventeen,heranawayfromhisbrother'sshopandstartedhisownprintingbusinessin
anothercity.""Sowerunaway,too!WefollowFranklin!""Exactly,"Amysaid."I justhopenobodyelsehas thoughtof thatyet.Weneed tobook three train
ticketstoPhiladelphia."79"Philadelphia,"Danrepeated.TheonlythingsheknewaboutPhiladelphiaweretheLibertyBelland
thePhillies."Sowhenwegetthere,whatdowelookfor?"Amy touched the jade necklace like itmight protect her. "I'm guessing a secret that could get us
killed."80
CHAPTER7
Amileaway inCopleySquare, IrinaSpasky -- codenameTeamFive --wasworryingaboutherpoison. She had loaded her fingernail injectorswith the usualmixture, but she feared itwould not beenoughforthismeeting.
Back in the Cold War, she and her KGB colleagues used poison-injecting umbrellas, or spraypaintedtoxinsontoiletseats.Thosewerethegoodolddays!NowIrinaworkedbyherself,soshehadtokeep things simple.The needles extendedwhen she bent back her fingers at the first joint.Theywerealmostimpossibletoseeandcausedonlyatinypinpricksensation.Thepoisonwouldleavehervictimsverysick,perhapsparalyzed,formanydays--enoughtogiveIrinaagoodheadstartinthesearch.Bestofall,thepoisonwascompletelyuntraceableandhadnoantidote.
Unfortunately,itwasslow-acting.Hervictimsmightnotshowsymptomsforeighthoursormore.Ifsheneededtoincapacitateherenemiesquickly,shewouldhavetorelyonothermeans.
81IanandNatalieKabrawerenottobeunderestimated.Backwhentheyweretenandseven,perhaps
Irinacould'veoverpoweredthem.Nowtheywerefourteenandeleven...averydifferentstoryindeed.ShewanderedCopleySquare,waiting tospot them.Theyhadagreedonstandardantisurveillance
tactics,onlysettingageneralareaandtimefortheirrendezvous.Thestormcloudshadcleared.Itwasabeautifulsummerafternoon,whichIrinahated.Allthissunshineandflowersandchildrenplaying--
bah.Shepreferredasteel-graywinterinSt.Petersburg,amuchbetterclimateforespionage.Sheboughtacoffee froma streetkiosk, then spotted IanandNatalieacross theplaza,walking in
frontofTrinityChurch.Theireyesmethersbrieflyandtheykeptwalking.Irina'smove.Shefollowedthematadistance,checkingtoseeiftheyhadgrowna"tail" -- any surveillance, any followers, any possible angles for photographers. After fifteen
minutes,shesawnothing.Shewaitedforthemtoturnandseeher.Assoonastheydid,Irinaturnedandwalkedoff.Thegamereversed.Sheledthemacrosstheplaza,
towardthelibrary,knowingtheywouldbewatchingfortailsonher.Iftheysawanything,IanandNataliewoulddisappear.Themeetingwouldbeaborted.Afterfifteenminutes,IrinachangedcourseandnoticedtheKabrasacrossBoylstonStreet,still82shadowingher.Thismeantshewasclean.Nosurveillance.ThechildrenturnedtowardtheCopley
PlazaHotel,andIrinafollowed.Theymetinthebusylobby,whereneitherpartycouldambushtheother.NatalieandIan lookedmuch too relaxed,sittingacross fromeachotheronoverstuffedsofas.The
littlebratshadchangedoutof their funeral suits -- Ianworea sky-bluepolo shirt,beige trousers, andtasseled loafers;Natalieworeawhite linendress thatshowedoffhercoffeeskin.Theireyesglitteredlikeamber.Theyweresolovelytheymadeheadsturn,whichwasnotagoodthingforasecretmeeting.
"Youattracttoomuchattention,"Irinascolded."Youshouldbeuglier."Natalielaughed."Isthatwhatkeepsyoualive,dearcousin?"Irinawanted to scratch theyoungwhelp's facewithherpoison fingernails, but shekepther cool.
"Insultmeasyouwill.Itgetsusnowhere.""True,"Iansaid."Wehaveamutualproblem.Please,sit."Irinaconsidered.ShewouldhavetositnexttoeitherIanorNatalie,andneitherwassafe.Shechose
theyounggirl.Perhaps shewouldbeeasier tooverwhelm if it came to that.Natalie smiledandmaderoomforheronthesofa.
"Haveyouconsideredourproposal?"Ianasked.83Irina had thought of nothing else since the text message came two hours ago on her cell phone,
encryptedinanalgorithmiccodeusedonlybytheLucians.Shenodded."YouhavecometothesameconclusionasI.ThesecondclueisnotinBoston.""Exactly,"Iansaid."We'vetoldourparentstocharterusaprivatejet.We'llbeoffwithinthehour."Charteringaprivatejet,Irinathoughtresentfully.SheknewtheKabras'parentsfromtheolddays.Theywereinternationally
knownartcollectors.Oncetheyhadbeendangerouspeople,importantpeoplewithintheLucianbranch.NowtheywereretiredinLondonanddidnothingbutdoteupontheirchildren.TheyletIanandNataliedoallthetraveling,writingthemblankchecksasneeded.
Whatdidthesebratscareaboutthethirty-nineclues?Thiswasjustanotheradventuretothem.Irinahadherownreasonsforhuntingthetreasure--muchmorepersonalreasons.TheKabrasweretoorich,toosmart,tooproud.Someday,Irinawouldchangethat.
"So,"Irinasaid,"wherewillyougo?"Iansatforwardandlacedhishands.Hedidn'tlookfourteenyearsold.Whenhesmiled,helooked
evilenoughtobeanadult."Youknowit'saboutBenjaminFranklin.""Yes.""Thenyouknowwherewe'regoing,andyouknowwhatwe'reafter."84"Youalsoknow,"Nataliepurred,"thatwecan'tallowthesecrettofallintoanyoneelse'shands.As
Lucians,weshouldworktogether.Youshouldsetthetrap."Irina'seyetwitched,thewayitdidwhenshewasnervous.Shehatedthatitdidthis,butshecouldnot
stopit."Youcouldsetthetrapyourselves,"shesaid.Natalieshookherhead."Theywouldsuspectus.You,ontheotherhand,canlurethemtotheirdoom."Irinahesitated,tryingtoseeaflawintheplan."Whatisinthisforme?""They'reourbiggestthreat,"Ianpointedout."Theymaynotrealizeityet,buttheywillintime.We
havetoeliminatethemquickly.It'llbenefitallofus.Besides,you'llhavetheLucianstrongholdatyourdisposal.Afterwards,therewillbetimetofighteachother.Now,wemustdestroyourcompetition."
"AndtheMadrigals?"Irinaasked.ShethoughtshesawarippleofnervousnesscrossIan'sface,butitpassedquickly."Oneenemyatatime,cousin."Irinahatedtoadmitit,buttheboyhadapoint.Sheexaminedherfingernails,casuallymakingsure
thateachofherpoisonneedleswasprimedandready."Does it seem odd to you," she asked slowly, "that the Lucian database contains so little about
Franklin?"Sheknewverywelltheywouldhaveloggedintothebranch'smainframe,justasshehaddone.85AnnoyanceflickeredinIan'seyes."Thereshouldhavebeenmore,it'strue.Apparently,Franklinwas
hidingsomething...evenfromhiskin."Nataliesmiledcoldlyatherbrother."ALucianwhodoesn'ttrusthiskin--imaginethat."Ianwavedhercommentaside."Complainingaboutitwillchangenothing.WeneedtodealwithAmy
andDan.CousinIrina,dowehaveadeal?"Thehoteldoorsopened.Aheavysetmaninabrownsuitstrodethrough,headingforthefrontdesk.
Heseemedoutofplace,possiblyasecurityguardoranundercoverpoliceman.Itmighthavenothingtodowiththem,butIrinacouldn'tbesure.Theyhadsatheretoolong.Meetinganylongerwouldbedangerous.
"Verywell,"Irinasaid."Ishallpreparethetrap."NatalieandIanrose.Irinafeltrelievedandperhapsflattered,too.TheKabrasneededherhelp.Shewas,afterall,much
olderandwiser."Iamgladwecametoanarrangement,"shesaid,feelinggenerous."Ididnotwishtohurtyou."
"Oh,we'reglad,too,"Ianpromised."Natalie,Ibelieveit'ssafenow."Irinafrowned,notunderstanding.ThenshelookedatNatalie--thatprettylittlegirlwhoseemedso
harmlessinherwhitedress--andrealizedtheyoungshe-devilhadatinysilverdartguncuppedinherhand,nottwoinchesfromIrina'schest.Irina'sheartskippedabeat.Shehadusedsuchgunsherself.The
86dartscouldcarrypoisonsfarworsethanshedaredkeepinherfingernails.Nataliesmiledprettily,keepingthedartgunaimedandready."Itwassogoodtoseeyou,Irina.""Indeed,"Iansaidsmugly."I'dshakeyourhand,cousin,butI'dhatetoruinyourspecialmanicure.Do
letusknowwhenAmyandDanareeliminated,won'tyou?"87
CHAPTER8
AmyknewsomethingwaswrongassoonasNelliecameoutoftherentalcarplace.Shewasfrowningandholdingathickbrownpaddedenvelope."Whatisthat?"Amyasked."It's for you guys." Nellie held out the package. "Somebody dropped it off at the counter this
morning.""That'simpossible!"Amysaid."Nobodyknewwe'dbehere."But as she said it, a chillwentdownherback.They'dbooked the train tickets and the rental car
onlinelastnightfromtheirhotel,usingNellie'sname.Wasitpossiblesomebodyhadtrackedthemdownsofast?
"Whatdoestheenvelopesay?"Danasked."'ForA.&D.Cahill,'"Nellieread.'"FromW.McIntyre.'""Mr.McIntyre!"Dangrabbedthepackage."Wait!"Amyyelled."Itcouldbeatrap."Danrolledhiseyes."C'mon.It'sfrom--""Itcouldbefromanybody,"Amyinsisted."Itcouldblowuporsomething."88"Okay,whoa,"Nelliesaid."Whywouldsomebodysendacoupleofkidsabomb?Andwhoisthis
McIntyredude?"Dangrinned."IsayweletNellieopenit.""Um,no!"Nelliesaid."You'retheaupair!Aren'tyousupposedtodefuseexplosivesforusandstuff?""I'mdrivingyou,kiddo.That'senough!"Amy sighed and snatched the package. She stepped into the parking lot, turned the flap of the
envelopeawayfromNellieandDan,andcarefullypeeleditopen.Nothinghappened.Insidewasametalcylinderlikeaflashlight,exceptthelightwasastripofpurple
glass runningdownoneside.Anotewasattached insloppyhandwriting, like thewriterhadbeen inahurry:
MeetmeatIndependenceHallthiseveningateight,butonlyifyoufindtheinformation--WM(P.S.Thankyouforcallingtheambulance.)"Findwhatinformation?"Danasked,readingoverhershoulder."Thenextclue,Iguess.""Whatclue?"Nelliedemanded.89"Nothing,"DanandAmysaid.Nellieblewatuftofblackandblondhairoutofhereyes."Whatever.Stayrighthere.I'llbringthecararound."She left them standingwith the bags and Saladin in his new cat carrier. Saladin hadn't been too
pleasedwiththecatcarrier--anymorethanNelliehadbeenwiththefreshredsnapperthey'dboughttokeephimhappy--butAmyhadn'thadthehearttoleavehimbehind.
"Mrrp?"Saladinasked.Amy reacheddownand scratchedhishead through thebars. "Dan,maybewe shouldn'tmake that
rendezvous.Mr.McIntyretoldusnottotrustanyone."
"Butthenoteisfromhim!""Itcouldbeatrick.""Thatmakesitevenbetter!We'vegottogo!"Amytwistedherhair.ShehateditwhenDandidn'ttakeherseriously.Andthiscouldbedangerous."Ifwego,itsayswehavetofindinformationfirst.""Butyouknowwheretolook,right?You'resmartandstuff."Smartandstuff.Like that's all they needed to track down a clue in a huge city. Before they'd left Boston, she'd
splurgedandboughtsomebooksaboutFranklinandPhiladelphiafromherfriendsattheusedbookshop.She'dspentthewholetraintripreading,butstill....
"I'vegotafewideas,"sheadmitted."ButIdon'tknowwherewe'regoinginthelongterm.Imean--haveyouthoughtaboutwhatthisultimatetreasurecouldbe?"
90"Somethingcool.""Oh,that'srealhelpful.Imean,whatcouldmakesomebodythemostpowerfulCahillinhistory?And
whythirty-nineclues?"Danshrugged."Thirty-nineisasweetnumber.It'sthirteentimesthree.It'salsothesumoffiveprime
numbersinarow--3,5,7,11,13.Andifyouaddthefirstthreepowersofthree,3(raisedtothefirstpower)plus3(raisedtothesecond
power)plus3(raisedtothethirdpower),yougetthirty-nine."Amystaredathim."Howdidyouknowthat?""Whatdoyoumean?It'sobvious."Amyshookherheadindismay.Danactedlikeadoofusmostofthetime.Thenhe'dpullsomething
likethat--addingprimenumbersorpowersofthreethatshe'dneverthoughtabout.Theirdadhadbeenamathematicsprofessor,andDanapparentlyhadinheritedallofhisnumbersense.Amyhadenoughtroublerememberingphonenumbers.
ShehelduptheweirdmetalcylinderMr.McIntyrehadsentthem.Sheswitcheditonandthelightglowedpurple.
"Whatisthatthing?"Danasked."Idon'tknow,"Amysaid."ButIhaveafeelingwe'dbetterfigureitoutbeforeeighto'clock."Amyhatedcarsalmostasmuchasshehatedcrowds.Shepromisedherselfthatwhenshegotolder
she'dlivesomewherewheresheneverhadtodrive.Partof91thatwasbecauseshe'dbeeninthecarwithNelliebefore.NelliehadrentedaToyotahybrid.Shesaiditwasmoreenvironmental,whichwasfinewithAmy,
butitcosttwohundredandfifty-eightdollarsaday,andthewayNellieracedaroundcornersandgunnedthegaswasn'texactly"green."
TheywereonInterstate95,headingintodowntown,whenAmyhappenedtolookbehindthem.Shewasn'tsurewhy--apricklingsensationonhernecklikeshewasbeingwatched.Infact,shewas.
"We'rebeingfollowed,"sheannounced."What?"Dansaid."Fivecarsback,"Amysaid."GrayMercedes.It'stheStarlings."
"AStarbucks?"Nelliesaidexcitedly."Where?""Starlings,"Amycorrected."Ourrelatives.Ned,Ted,andSinead."Nelliesnorted."That'snotreallytheirnames.""I'mnotjoking,"Amysaid."It's,um,partofthescavengerhunt.Nellie,wecan'tletthemfollowus.
Wehavetolosethem."Nelliedidn'tneedtobetoldtwice.SheyankedthewheeltotherightandtheToyotacareenedacross
three lanes of traffic. Saladin yowled. Just as theywere about to slam into the safety-impact barrels,Nellieslippedontoanexitramp.
ThelastviewAmygotoftheStarlingswasSinead'sfreckledfacepressedagainstthewindowofthe92Mercedes,herjawhangingopenasshewatchedAmyandDangetaway"Isthatlostenough?"Nellieasked."Mrrp!"Saladinprotested."Youcould'vekilledus!"Danhadabiggrinonhisface."Dothatagain!""No!"Amysaid."LocustStreet.Andhurry!"TheirfirststopwastheLibraryCompanyofPhiladelphia,abigredbrickbuildinginthemiddleof
downtown.AmyandDan askedNellie towait in the carwithSaladin.Then theywalkedup the frontsteps.
"Oh,boy,anotherlibrary,"Dansaid."Wehavesuchgreatluckwithlibraries.""Franklinfoundedthisplace,"Amytoldhim."It'sgotalotofbooksfromhispersonalcollection.If
wecanconvincethelibrarians--""What's the big dealwithBenjamin Franklin, anyway? Imean, so the guy invented electricity or
whatever.Thatwashundredsofyearsago.""Hedidn'tinventelectricity,"Amysaid,tryingnottosoundtooannoyed."Hediscoveredthatlightningwasthesame
stuffaselectricity.Heinventedlightningrodstoprotectbuildingsandexperimentedwithbatteriesand-""Idothat.Haveyoueverputoneonyourtongue?"93"You'reanidiot.ThethingisFranklinwasfamousforalotof reasons.He started out getting richwith his printing business.Then he became a scientist and
inventedabunchofstuff.LaterhehelpedwritetheDeclarationofIndependenceandtheConstitution.HewasevenanambassadortoEnglandandFrance.Hewasbrilliant.Worldfamous.Everybodylikedhim,andheliveduntilhewas,like,inhiseighties."
"Superman,"Dansaid."Prettymuch.""Sodoyouthinkheknewwhatitwas--thistreasurewe'relookingfor?"Amyhadn'tthoughtofthat.Franklinhadbeenoneofthemostinfluentialpeopleinhistory.Ifhewasa
Cahill,andheknewaboutthissecretfamilytreasure..."Ithink,"shesaid,"we'dbetterfindout."ShepushedopenthedoorsandledDaninside.Fortunately,thelibrarianswerehavingaslowday,andAmywasn'tshyaroundthematall.Sheloved
librarians. When she told them she was doing a summer research project on Benjamin Franklin and
neededtousehistoricaldocuments,theyfellalloverthemselvestohelpher.TheymadeAmyandDanwearlatexglovesandsitinaclimate-controlledreadingroomwhilethey
broughtoutoldbookstolookat.94ThelibrariansetthefirstonedownandAmygasped."ThisisFranklin'sfirstcartoon!"Dansquintedat it.Thepictureshowedasnake,cut intothirteenpieces,eachonelabeledwiththe
nameofanAmericancolony."Notveryfunnyforacartoon,"Dansaid."It'snotsupposedtobefunny,"Amysaid."Backthen,cartoonsmadeapoint.Like,he'ssayingifthe
coloniesdon'tgettogether,Britainwillcutthemapart.""Uh-huh."Danturnedhisattention tohiscomputer.They'dbeen in the librarymaybefiveminutes,
andherehewas,alreadylookingbored,clackingawayonhislaptopratherthanhelpingher.Amyporedover theotherartifacts:anewspaper thathadbeenprintedonFranklin'sownprinting
press,acopyofPilgrim'sProgressthatFranklinhadowned.Somuchamazingstuff...butwhatwasshelookingfor?Amyfeltpressured,andshedidn'tdowellunderpressure."Findwhatyouneed?"thelibrarianasked.Shehadfrizzyhairandbifocalsandlookedsortoflikea
friendlywitch."Um,maybesomemore,please.Anythingthatwas...importanttoFranklin."Thelibrarianthoughtforamoment."Franklin'sletterswereimportanttohim.Hewrotemany,many
letterstohisfriendsandfamilybecausehelivedinEuropesolong.I'llbringyousome."Sheadjustedherglassesandlefttheroom.95"Franklininventedthose,too,"Amysaidabsently.Danfrowned."Librarians?""No, bifocals!He cut up two sets of lenses and pasted them half-and-half, so he could see long
distanceandshortdistancewiththesamepair.""Oh." Dan didn't look impressed. He went back to playing on his laptop. He had the mystery
flashlightfromMr.McIntyreinfrontofhim,andhekeptswitchingitonandoff.The librarian brought them a stack of new stuff, including old letters preserved in plastic sheets.
Amyread through thembut feltmorehopeless thanever.Nothing jumpedoutather.Nothingscreamed"clue."
Suddenly,Dansatupstraight."Ifoundit!""Youfoundwhat?"She'dassumedDanwasplayinggames,butwhenheturnedthelaptoptofaceher,
therewasapictureofaflashlightjustliketheoneMr.McIntyrehadsentthem."It'sablacklightreader,"Danannounced."Oh!"thelibrariansaid."Veryingenious.Wehaveoneofthoseforourcollection."Amylookedup."Why?Whatdotheydo?""They reveal secretwriting," the librarian said. "During theRevolutionaryWar, spieswould use
invisible ink to send messages on documents that seemed harmless, like love letters or orders formerchants.Thereceiverwoulduseheatoraspecialchemicalwashtomakesecretwordsappearbetweenthelines.Ofcoursewecan'tdamageourdocumentsbysprayingchemicalsonthem,
96soweuseblacklighttocheckforsecretmessagesinstead."Amyhelduptheblacklightreader."Can
we--""Icansaveyoutime,mydear,"thelibrariansaid."We check all our colonial documents as a matter of course. There are no secret messages,
unfortunately."Amy'sheartsank.They'dwastedtheirtimehere,andshestilldidn'tknowwhatshewaslookingfor.
Shehadamentallistofotherplacestovisit,butitwasverylong.Therewasnowaytheycouldhitthemallbeforeeighttonight.Secretmessages.FranklinhadwrittenlotsofletterstohisfriendsandfamilywhilelivinginEurope.FollowFranklin.Acrazyideastartedtoforminherhead.Amylookedatthelibrarian."Yousaidhisletterswereimportanttohim.Isthereanyplaceelsethat
keepsFranklin'slettersondisplay?"Thelibrariansmiled."Funnyyoushouldask.Someofhismostfamoushandwrittendocumentsare
showingthismonthattheFranklinInstitutedownon--""Thesciencemuseum?"Amyshottoherfeet."On20thStreet?""Yes."Thelibrarianlookedstartled."Buthowdidyou--""Thanks!"AmyrushedoutoftheroomwithDanrightbehindher.ItwasaquickdrivetotheFranklinInstitute.Nelliewasn'ttoothrilledtositinthecarwiththecat
again,97butDanandAmyconvincedhertheywouldn'tbelong.Theyraninsideandfoundatwenty-foot-tall
whitemarblestatueofBenjaminFranklingazingdownatthemfromagiantchairintheentrychamber."Holyalmanacs,"Dansaid."That'sabigBen."Amynodded."Attheendofhislife,hewassoheavyhehadtobehauledaroundinasedanchair
carriedbyfourbigconvicts.""Sweet,"Dansaid."Iwantasedanchair.""Youweighninetypounds.""RESOLUTION:Starteatingmoreicecream.""Justcomeon!"Themuseumwashuge.Theywalkedpastthememorialandthroughtheticketarea,thenfollowedthe
mapintotheFranklinGallery.Itwasalreadylateintheafternoonandtheplacewasprettymuchdeserted."Checkthisout!"DanpickedupamechanicalarmandgrabbedAmy'swristwithit."Stop that!" she said. "Franklin made that for getting things off high shelves, not annoying your
sister.""Ibetifhehadasister--""Hedidhaveasister!Dan,weneedtofindhisletters.Stopmessingaround."Theykeptwalking.TheyfoundadisplayofFranklin'slightningrods,abunchofbifocals,andoneof
hisbatteriesforgeneratingelectricity--awoodencratefullofglassjars,allwiredtogether."Thatthingishuge,"Dansaid."Whatisthat,like,adoubleZbattery?Andwhoa,whatisthat?"98He ranover to another display. Insidewas amahoganyboxholding a rowof closely fittedglass
saucers,likeastackofcerealbowls."It'sanarmonica,"Amysaid,readingthedescription."Itmakesmusicbyrubbingwaterontherims
oftheglasses.""Awesome.Franklininventedthat?""Yeah.Sayshereitwasreallypopularforawhile.Lotsoffamouscomposerswrotemusicfor..."Amyfroze.Atallgray-hairedmanhadjustcrossedthehallwayinthenextgallery,headingtoward
theinformationdesk.Andhewaswearingablacksuit.
"What?"Danasked."Maninblack,"Amymurmured."Run!"Shegrabbedherbrother'shandandtheyfleddeeperintothegallery.Theydidn'tstopuntiltheywere
tworoomsaway,hidingbehindalargeglassspherethatshowedthesolarsystem."What'shedoinghere?"Amyfretted."Duh,"Dansaid."Thefiredidn'twork,sohe'sheretogetus!Wecan'tgooutthemainexit.He'llbe
waitingtojumpusassoonaswetry."Amylookedaroundnervouslyforanotherwayout.Thenshenoticedwhatwasonthewallrightnext
tothem.Documents.Casesfullofdocuments--allyellowingparchment,writteninspideryhandwriting."Franklin'sletters!"shesaid."Quick,theblacklightreader!"99Danfumbledinhisbackpackandbroughtoutthelight.Theyheldituptothefirstletterandshoneit
throughtheglass.Thedocumentseemedtobesomekindofrequestforsupplies.Itstarted:Sir,IwrotetoyoulatelyviaNewYork,whichIhopemaycometohand.Ihaveonlytimenowto
desireyoutosendmethefollowingitems,viz.1Doz.Cole'sEng.Dictionaries3Doz.MathersYoungMan'sCompan'n1Qty.IronSolute2QuarterWaggonersforAmericaPurplelightpassedoverthepaper,butnothinghappened."Next!"Amysaid.Shewassurethemaninblackwasgoingtoburstinonthemanysecond."Whoa!"Dansaid.Amygrippedhisarm."Youfoundit?""No,butlook!Thiswholeessay--'TotheRoyalAcademy.'Hewroteawholeessayonfarts!"Dan
grinnedwithdelight."He'sproposingascientificstudyofdifferent fartsmells.You'reright,Amy.Thisguywasagenius!"
"Dan,you'resuchadweeb!Keepsearching!"TheyscannedfourmoredocumentswrittenbyFranklin.Nothingshowedup.Then,onthefifthone,
Dansaid,"Here!"100Thankfully, itwasn't another fart essay.The letterwas somethingFranklinhadwritten inParis in
1785 to someonenamed Jay.Amydidn't knowwhat itwas about.Shedidn't have time to read it.Butglowing yellow in the black light beam were lines between the lines -- a secret message in thehandwritingofBenjaminFranklin:
SoonmustIleaveThisplaceofwonderButIleavebehindWhathathdrivenmyclanasunder.Below,drawnbyhand,wasacrestwithtwosnakescoiledaroundasword.Amygasped."That'soneofthecrestsfromGrace'slibrary--theonewiththeL.Franklinmust'vebeenaLucian!""Sothisisthesecondclue?"Danasked."Oracluetotheclue?"Acameraclicked."Eitherway,"agirl'svoicesaid."Nicejob."
Amy turnedand foundherself surroundedby theStarlings.Theywore identicalpreppyclothesasusual -- 12 khakis, button-downs, and loafers. Sinead's auburn hair was tied back in a ponytail. Herbrothers,TedandNed,stoodoneithersideofher,smilinginanunfriendlyway.Sineadwasholdinghercellphone,whichshe'd
101obviouslyjustusedtotakeaphotooftheirclue."You lostusprettywellon thehighway,"Sineadadmitted. "Fortunately, therewereonly somany
Franklinsitesyoucould'vebeenheadingto.Thanksfortheclue."ShesnatchedtheblacklightreaderawayfromDan."Now,listenclose.Youbratsaregoingtostayinthemuseumforhalfanhour.Giveusaheadstartorwe'llbeforcedtotieyouup.Ifyouleaveearly,IpromiseTedandNedwillfindoutaboutit.Andtheywon'tbehappy."Hertwobrothersgrinnedevily.Sineadturnedtoleave,butAmyblurtedout,"W-w-wait!"Sineadraisedaneyebrow."Th-there'saman..."Amytriedtosaymore,buttheStarlingswereallglaringather.Shefeltlikeshe'dbeensubmergedinicewater."Whatman?"Sineadasked."He'sbeenwatchingus!"Dansaid."Followingus!Itisn'tsafetogooutthemainentrance."Sineadsmiled."You'reconcernedforoursafety?That'sverycute,Dan,but thethingis"--Sinead
leanedinandpokedhiminthestomachwitheveryword--"IDON'TBELIEVEYOU."Sineadandherbrotherslaughed,thenturnedandjoggedtowardthemainexit.BeforeAmycouldeventhinkwhattodo,alowhorriblehumshookthefloor.Andthen:BOOOM!102Glassdisplaycasesshattered.Thewholebuildingshuddered.AmywasthrownagainstDanandthey
crumpledtothefloor.When she sat up, her vision was fuzzy. She wasn't sure how long she stayed there, dazed. She
staggeredtoherfeetandtuggedonDan'sarm."Getup!"shesaid,butshecouldn'thearherownvoice."What?"hemouthed.She hauled him to his feet. Together they ran toward the exit. Smoke and dust filled the air.
Emergencylightsflashedfromthefirealarms.ApileofrubbleblockedtheexitfromtheFranklinGallery,asifpartoftheceilinghadcollapsed.OnthefloornearAmy'sfeetlaytheshatteredblacklightreaderandSinead'scellphone.
AndtherewasnosignoftheStarlingsatall.103
CHAPTER9
Dandecidedthatexplosionswerecool,butnotifyouwereinone.The whole way to Independence Hall, Amy cradled Saladin's cat carrier like it was her life
preserver.Nellieyelledatthemforbeingsoreckless.Dan'shearingwassomessedupshesoundedlikeshewastalkingfromthebottomofafishtank.
"Ican'tbelievethis!"Nelliesaid."Arealbomb?Ithoughtyouwerejoking!"Amywipedhereyes."TheStarlings...theyjust--""Maybethey'reokay,"Dansaid,butitsoundedlameeventohim.Theyhadn'tstuckaroundforthe
policetoarrive.They'dbeensofreakedoutthey'dsimplyfled,soDanhadnoideawhathadhappenedtothetriplets.Hedidn'tfigureitwasagoodsignthatthey'dfoundSinead'sphonenexttoawholesectionofcollapsedroof.
NellieyankedthewheelandtheyturnedontoSixthStreet."Youguys,thisisserious.Somebodytriedtokillyou.Ican'tbabysityouif--"104"Aupairus,"Dancorrected,"--whatever!"ShepulledthecarinfrontofIndependenceHall.Thesunwasgoingdown,andintheeveninglight,
theplacelookedexactlylikeitdidinschoolvideos--atwo-storybrickbuildingwithabigwhiteclocktower, surroundedby treesand flowerbeds.Astatueof someRevolutionarydudestoodout front.Thehalldidn'tlookallthatimpressivecomparedtothehugemodernbuildingsaroundit,butbackintheday,Danguesseditwasprobablythebiggestplaceintown.HecouldimagineFranklinandallhisfriendswithpowdered wigs and three-cornered hats gathering on the steps to talk about the Declaration ofIndependence, or theConstitution, ormaybeBen's latest proposal for studying farts. Thewhole scenemadeDanthinkofAmericanhistorytests,whichwerealmostasscaryasexplodingmuseums.
"Look,guys,"Nelliesaid."Thedeal'soff.Whateveryou'vegottenyourselvesinto--thisiswaytoodangerousforacoupleofkids.I'mgoingtotakeyoubacktoyouraunt."
"No!"Dansaid."Nellie,youcan't.She'll-"Hestoppedhimself,butNellie'sblue-glitter-shadedeyesnarrowed."She'llwhat?"DanglancedatAmy,hopingforhelp,butshewasstillinshock,juststaringoutthewindow."Nothing,"Dansaid."Nellie,thisisimportant.Please.Justwaitforus."105Nelliefumed."I'vegot,like,sixmoresongsonmyplaylist,okay?Ifyou'renotbackinthecarwhen
thelastsongisover,andreadytoexplainthingstomehonestly,IamsocallingBeatrice.""Yougotit!"Danpromised.HetriedtopushAmyoutofthecar,butshemust'vestillbeeninshock,
becausesheheldontoSaladin'scatcarrier."Whatareyoudoing?"Danasked."Leavehimhere.""No."Amyfumbledtocoverthecarrierwithablanket."Weneedtotakehim."
Dandidn'tknowwhy,buthedecidednottoargue.Theyhurriedalongthesidewalk.TheywerehalfwayupthestepsofIndependenceHallwhenDanrealizedtheplacewasclosedfor
thenight."Howdowegetin?""Children!"avoicecalled."Overhere!"WilliamMcIntyrewasleaningagainstthebuilding,halfhiddenbehindarosebush.Amyranoverand
gavetheoldlawyerahug,whichseemedtoembarrasshim.Hehadabandageonhislefthandandacutbelow his right eye, but other than that he looked pretty good for a guy who'd just gotten out of thehospital.
"I'mgladyou'resafe,"hesaid."IheardabouttheFranklinInstituteonthenews.Iassumeyouwerethere?"
"Itwashorrible,"Amysaid.Shetoldhimeverything--fromthesecretlibraryinGrace'smansionrightuptothemaninblackinthemuseumandtheStarlingtripletsgoing
ka-boom.Mr. McIntyre frowned. "I called Jefferson University Hospital. The Starlings will survive, but
they'reinbad106shape.They'llberecoveringformonths,whichputsthemoutoftheracepermanently,Ifear.""Itwasthemaninblack,"Dansaid."Hesetthattrapforus."Mr.McIntyre's eye twitched.He took off his spectacles and polished themwith his tie, his nose
castingashadowacross thesideofhis face. "Thisexplosion... fromyourdescription, I'd say itwasasonicdetonator.Very sophisticated, designed to stun and causeonly localizeddamage.Someoneknewwhattheyweredoing."
"Howdoyouknowsomuchaboutexplosives?"Danasked.Theoldmanfocusedonhim,andDangotthesuddenfeelinghehadn'talwaysbeenalawyer.He'd
seenthingsinhislife--dangerousthings."Dan,youmustbecareful.Thisexplosionwasalmosttheendoftheraceforyou.Ihadhopedtostayoutofthecompetition.I
mustnotbeseenaspartialtoanyoneteam.Butwhenyourgrandmother'smansionburneddown...well,IrealizedjusthowmuchofapredicamentI'dputyouin."
"That'swhyyousentustheblacklightreader?"Mr.McIntyrenodded."I'mconcernedbyhowmuchtheotherteamsaretargetingyou.Theyseemdeterminedtoputyououtofcommission.""Buttheyfailed!"Dansaid."Wegotthesecondclue.Nobodyelsehasit,right?""Dan,whatyoufoundismerelyaleadtothesecondclue.Makenomistake,itisagoodlead,andI'mgladthe107blacklightreaderwasuseful.Butitisbynomeanstheonlylead.Otherteamsmayfinddifferentpathstowardthenextclue.Or,iftheybelieveyouhaveuseful
information,theycansimplyfollowyou,astheStarlingstriedtodo,andtaketheinformationfromyou."Danfeltlikekickingthewall.Everytimetheygotabreak,somethingbadhappened,oritturnedout
theyweren'tnearlyasclosetothenextclueashe'dthought."Sohowdoweknowwhenwefindtheactualsecondclue?Isitgoingtohaveabigsignonit--
CLUETWO?""You will know," Mr. McIntyre said. "It will be more ... substantial. An essential piece of the
puzzle.""Great,"Dangrumbled."Thatclearsitup.""WhatifNellie'sright?"Amy'svoicequavered."Whatifthisistoodangerousforacoupleofkids?"
"Don'tsaythat!"Dancried.Amyturnedtohim.Hereyesremindedhimofbrokenglass.Theyhadthatshimmering,kindof fragile look. "Dan,wealmostdied.TheStarlingsare in thehospital, and it's
onlytheseconddayofthecontest.Howcanwekeepuplikethis?"Histhroatfeltdry.Amyhadapoint.Butcouldtheyjustwalkaway?HeimaginedgoingtoBeatrice
andapologizing.Hecould reclaimhis collection,goback to school, haveanormal lifewherepeopleweren'ttryingtotraphiminfiresorblowhimupeveryfewhours.
108Mr.McIntyremust'veseenwhathewasthinkingbecausetheoldman'sfacepaled."Children,no.Youmustn'tconsiderit.""We--we'rejustkids,"Amystammered."Youcan'texpectus--""Mydear,it'stoolate!"Foramoment,Mr.McIntyresoundedreallypanicked...terrifiedthatthey'dbackout.Dandidn'tunderstandwhy.Thentheoldmantookadeepbreath.Heseemedto
collecthisnerves."Children,youcan'tgoback.YourAuntBeatricewasfuriouswhenyoudisappeared.She'stalkingofhiringadetectiveto
findyou.""Shedoesn'tevencareaboutus!"Dansaid."Bethatasitmay,untilsheofficiallyturnsyouovertoSocialServices,shewillgetinlegaltrouble
ifanythinghappenstoyou.IfyoureturntoBoston,you'llbesenttofosterhomes.Thetwoofyoumaynotevenbeputtogether.There'snoreturningtoyouroldlifenow."
"Couldn'tyouhelpus?"Amyasked."Imean,you'realawyer.""I'mhelpingtoomuchalready.OccasionalinformationisallIcangive."Dan'searsprickedup."Informationlikewhat?"Mr. McIntyre lowered his voice. "One of your competitors, Jonah Wizard, is preparing for an
overseasjourney.Ifearyouwillrunintohimquitesoon.HeandhisfathermadefirstclassreservationsinNewYorkthismorning."
109"Wherearetheygoing?"Danasked."Ifyouthinkabouttheinformationyoufound,Ithinkyou'llknow.""Yes,"Amysaid."Ido.Andwe'regoingtogettherefirst."Dandidn'tknowwhatshewastalkingabout,buthewasgladtoseeherlookingangryagain.Itwas
nofungivingAmyahardtimewhenshewascrying.Mr.McIntyrebreathedasighofrelief."Soyou'llcarryon.Youwon'tgiveup?"AmylookedatDan,andtheycametoasilentagreement."We'llkeepgoingfornow,"Amysaid."But,Mr.McIntyre,whyareyoureallyhelpingus?You'renothelpinganyoftheotherteams,areyou?"Theoldlawyerhesitated."IntheFranklinInstitute,yousaidyouwarnedtheStarlingstheywerein
danger.""Ofcoursewedid,"Amysaid."Theywouldn'thavedonethesameforyou.""Maybe,butitseemedliketherightthing."
"Interesting..."Heglancedtowardthestreet."Icansaynomore.Imust--""Please," Amy said. "One more favor." She uncovered Saladin's cat carrier, and suddenly Dan
realizedwhyshe'dbroughtit."Amy,no!""Dan,wehaveto,"shesaid."It isn'tsafeforhim."Hewasabout toargue,butsomethingstopped
him.Hethoughtaboutdraggingthepoorcatupthatairvent110inthefire,thenmakinghimsitthroughthetrainridestuffedinacatcarrier.WhatifSaladinhadbeen
in themuseumexplosionwith them? If the little dudegot hurt,Danwouldnever forgive himself. "Allright,"hesighed.
"IsthatMadameGrace'scat?"Mr.McIntyrescowled."Howdidyou--""Heescapedthefirewithus,"Amysaid."Wewerehopingtokeephim,but...wecan'twherewe're
going.Itwouldn'tbefairtodraghimalong.Couldyoukeephimforus?""Mrrp."SaladingaveDanalooklikeYoucan'tbeserious.Mr.McIntyrehadprettymuchthesameexpression."Idon'tknow,mydear.Iamnot,well,ananimalperson.Ihadadogonce,Oliver,but--""Please,"Amysaid."Hewasourgrandmother's.Ineedtoknowhe'ssafe."Theoldlawyerlookedlikehewantedtorun,buthetookadeepbreath."Verywell.Foralittlewhile.""Thankyou!"Amyhandedhimthecarrier."Heonlyeatsfreshfish.Redsnapperishisfavorite."Mr.McIntyreblinked."Redsnapper?Ah,well...I'llseewhatIcando.""Mrrp,"Saladinsaid,whichprobablymeantsomethinglikeIcan'tbelieveyou'releavingmewithanoldguywhodoesn'tknowIlikeredsnapper."Children,youshouldgo,"Mr.McIntyresaid."Yourbabysitter isgettingimpatient.Justremember
whatIsaidbefore.Trustnoone!"111Andwiththat,WilliamMcIntyreretreateddownthestreet,holdingSaladin'scatcarrierouttoone
sidelikeitwasaboxofradioactivematerial.Astheywalkedbacktothecar,Amysaid,"We'regoingtoParis."Danwas thinkingaboutSaladin,andhisearswerestill ringingfromthemuseumexplosion,sohe
wasn'tsurehe'dheardherright."DidyousayParis...likeinFrance?"AmybroughtoutSineadStarling'scellphone.ThephotooftheBenjaminFranklinletterwasstillon
thescreen--thesecretmessageafuzzyyellowscrawlinpurplelight."WhenFranklinwasreallyold,"Amysaid,"hewastheAmericanambassadorinParis.HewasworkingonapeacetreatytoendtheRevolutionaryWar.Hehadahouseinaplacecalled
Passy,andalltheFrenchthoughthewaslikearockstar.""TheytreatfatoldguyslikerockstarsinFrance?""Itoldyou,Franklinwasworldfamous.Hewasintophilosophyandhelikedpartiesandalsortsof
...Frenchstuff.Anyway,thesecretmessagesaidhewasleavingParis,right?Theletterwasdated1785.I'mprettysurethat'stheyearhecamebacktoAmerica.SohewasleavingsomethingbehindinParis."
"Somethingthatbrokeuphisclan,"Dansaid."That'swhatasundermeans,right?Youthinkhe112wastalkingaboutthebranchesoftheCahills?"
"It'spossible."Amytwistedherhair."Dan,whatIsaidearlier...Idon'treallywanttogiveup.I'mjustscared."
Dannodded.Hedidn'twanttoadmitit,butthemaninblackandtheexplosionhadkindoffreakedhimout,too."It'sokay.Wehavetokeepgoing,right?"
"Wedon'thaveachoice,"Amyagreed.Beforetheyreachedthecurb, thedooroftheToyotaflewopen.Nelliemarchedovertothem,one
earbudstilldanglingfromherear.Shehelduphercellphonelikeshewasgoingtothrowitatthem."Guesswhat?"shesaid."IjustgotavoicemailfromSocialServicesinBoston!"Amygasped."Whatdidyoutellthem?""Nothingyet.I'mwaitingforyourbigamazingexplanation!""Nellie,please,"Dansaid."Weneedyourhelp.""They'relookingforyou!"Nellieshrieked."Yourauntdoesn'tevenknowwhereyouare,doesshe?
DoyouknowhowmuchtroubleIcouldgetin?""Throwawayyourphone,"Dansuggested."What?"She sounded likehe'd just toldher to burnmoney --whichof courseAmyhad alreadydone that
week."Pretendyoudidn'tgetthemessage,"hepleaded,"justforafewdays.Please,Nellie,weneedtoget
toParisandwe'vegottohaveanadult.""IfyouthinkforoneminuteIwould--DidyousayParis?"113Dansawhischance.Heputonasadfaceandsighed."Yeah,weweregoingtobuyyouaticketto
Paris,plusyourpay,andafreehotelroomandgourmetmealsandeverything.But,oh,well...""Nellie,it'sjustforacouplemoredays,"Amysaid."Please!Weweren'tlyingaboutthescavenger
hunt.It'sreallyimportant to our family andwe promisewe'll be careful!Oncewe're done in Paris, you can do
whateveryouthinkisbest.We'llswearthatitwasn'tyourfault.ButifwegobacktoBostonnow,they'lltakeusawaytoafosterhome.We'llfailthescavengerhunt.Wemightevenbein
moredanger!""Andyouwon'tseeParis,"Danadded.Hewasn'tsurewhichargumentwasmosteffective,butNellieslippedherphoneintoherpocket.She
kneltsoshewaslookingthemintheeyes."Onemoretrip,"shesaid."Butthiscouldgetmeinhugetrouble,guys.Iwantyourpromise:Paris,
andthenwegetyouhome.Deal?"Danwasthinkingthattheyhadnohometoreturnto,buthecrossedhisfingersbehindhisbackand
said,"Deal.""Deal,"Amyagreed.
"I'mgoingtoregretthis,"Nelliemuttered."ButImightaswellregretitinParis."Shemarchedbacktothecarandgotinthedriver'sside.Danlookedathissister."Urn...aboutmoney.Ifigurewe'vegotenoughforthreeone-waytickets.114WecangettoParisandhaveenoughleftforhotelsandfoodandstuffformaybeaweek.ButIdon't
knowifwe'llhaveenoughtogetback.IfNelliefindsout--""Let'sworry about thatwhenweget there,"Amy said.And she ran to the car, already takingher
passportoutofherbackpocket.115
CHAPTER10
AlistairOhwasjustleavingcustomswhenhisenemiesambushedhim."Bonjour,Uncle."IanKabraappearedonhisright."Haveagoodflight?"AlistairturnedtotheleftbutNatalieKabracutoffhisescape."Iwouldn'ttrytogetaway,UncleAlistair,"shesaidsweetly."It'samazinghowmanyweaponsIcan
carrythroughanairport."Sheheldupachinadollinabluesatindress.Nataliewastoooldtobecarryingsomethinglikethat,
butnodoubtshecouldcharmthesecurityguardsintothinkingotherwise."Whatisthat?"Alistairasked,tryingtostaycalm."Agun?Abomb?"Nataliesmiled."Ihopeyoudon'thavetofindout.Itwouldbequitemessy.""Keepwalking,Uncle."Ianputasmuchsarcasmintothewordaspossible."Wedon'twanttoarousesuspicion."116They strode through the terminal. Alistair's heart pounded. He could feel the Poor Richard's
Almanackinhisjacketpocket,slappingagainsthischestwitheverystep."So,"Alistairsaid."Whendidyougetin?""Oh,wetookourownjet,"Iansaid."Weuseaprivateairstripwherethesecurityismuchmore...
relaxed.Wejustthoughtwe'dcomewelcomeyou!""Hownice,"Alistairsaid."ButIdon'thaveanythingyouwant.""That'snotwhatwe'veheard,"Nataliesaid."Handoverthebook."Alistair'sthroatwentdry."How...howcouldyoupossiblyknow--""Newstravelsfast,"Nataliesaid."Wehaveinformants--""Natalie,"Iansnapped."I'lldothetalking,thankyouverymuch.Youholdthedoll."Shescowled,whichmadeherfacenotnearlyaspretty."IcantalkifIwantto,Ian!MotherandFathersaid--""Blastwhattheysaid!I'mincharge!"Natalie lookedreadytoyellbackathim,butsheswallowedherrage.Alistairdidn't likethetight
gripshewaskeepingonherdoll.He imagined the thingmusthavea trigger somewhere,andhedidn'twanttofindoutwhatitdid.
"Surelyyoudon'twantanotherwarbetweenourbranches,"Alistairsaid,tryingtosounddiplomatic.117"OnephonecallandIcanmobilizehelpfromTokyotoRiodeJaneiro.""Ascanwe,"Iansaid."AndI'vereadmyfamilyhistory,Alistair.Thelasttimeourbranchesfought,
itdidn'tgoverywellforyourlot,didit?"Alistairkeptwalking,thinkinghard.Agendarmewasstandingbyasecuritycheckpointupahead--
abouttwentymeters.IfAlistaircouldcreateadistraction..."The1908explosion inSiberia,"he said to Ian. "Yes, thatwas impressive.Butwehavemoreat
stakethistime.""Exactly,"Ianagreed."Sohandoverthebook,oldman,beforewehavetohurtyou."Natalielaughed."Ifyoucouldhearyourself,Ian.Honestly."Herbrotherfrowned."Excuseme?"Fivemeterstothegendarme,Alistairthought.Staycalm."Oh, nothing," Natalie told her brother airily. "Just that you're a terrible bore. Without me, you
couldn'tevenfrightenthispatheticoldman."Ian'sexpressionhardened."Imostcertainlycould,youuselesslittle--"NataliesteppedinfrontofAlistair,intentonconfrontingherbrother,andAlistairsawhischance.He
steppedbackwards,thensideways,andbeforetheKabrascouldregroup,Alistairwasstandingnexttothegendarme,talkingasloudlyashecouldinFrench.
118"Merci,nieceandnephew!"heshoutedattheKabras."Butyourparentswillbeworried.Runalongnow,and
tell them I'll be out in a fewmoments. I have some questions for this officer. Imay have forgotten todeclaremyfreshfruitsincustoms!"
"Freshfruits?"theofficersaid."Sir,that'sveryimportant.Comewithme,please!"AlistairshruggedapologeticallytotheKabras."Youmustexcuseme."Ian's eyeswere soangry they looked like theymight catch fire,buthemanageda stiff smile. "Of
course,Uncle.Don'tworry.Wewilldefinitelycatchyoulater.Come,Natalie."Hesaidhernamethroughclenchedteeth."Wehavetotalk.""Ow!"Sheyelpedashegrippedherarm,butheherdedherdownthehallwayandoutofsight.Alistairsighedwithrelief.Hefollowedthegendarmegratefullybacktocustoms,whereaftertwenty
minutesofquestionsandsearchingbags,Alistairrealized--quellesurprise!--hedidnothaveanyfreshfruitinhisluggageafterall.Hepretendedtobeaconfusedoldman,andthe
irritatedcustomsofficiallethimgo.Backintheterminal,Alistairallowedhimselfasmile.IanandNatalieKabramayhavebeendeadly
opponents,but theywerestillchildren.Alistairwouldneverlethimselfbeoutfoxedbyyoungsters likethem--notwhenhisownfutureandthefutureofhisbranchwereatstake.
119HepattedthePoorRichard'sAlmanack,stillsafeinhisjacketpocket.Alistairdoubtedanyotherteamknewmoreaboutthethirty-nineclues
thanhedid.Afterall,he'dbeenspyingonGraceforyears,learningherpurpose.Therewasstillalothe
didn'tunderstand--secretshehopedGracehadgiventohergrandchildren.Butsoonhewouldfindout.Hewasofftoanexcellentstart.Henowunderstoodthetruemeaningofthefirstclue:RichardS___'sRESOLUTION.Hehadtochuckleaboutthat.EvenAmyandDanhadfailedtoseewhatitreallymeant.Hemadehiswaythroughtheterminal,keepinghiseyesopenfortheKabras,buttheyseemedtohave
vanished.Hegotoutsideandwasdragginghisbagstowardthetaxistandwhenapurplevanpulleduptothecurb.
Thesidedoorrolledopen.Acheerfulmalevoicesaid,"Hey,there!"ThelastthingAlistairOhsawwasalargefisthurtlingtowardhisface.120
CHAPTER11
AftergettingthroughcustomsatCharlesdeGaulleAirport,Amyfeltlikeshe'djustlostafightwithatornado.
She'd endured eight hours on the plane, wedged between Dan and Nellie, who both kept theirheadphonevolume too loud.Danwatchedmovies.Nellie listened tomusicandflipped throughFrenchcookbookswith full-color pictures of snails and goose livers.Meanwhile,Amy tried tomake herselfsmallandreadherownbooks.She'dpickedupsixnewonesinPhiladelphia,butshe'donlymanagedtofinish one Benjamin Franklin biography and two Paris guidebooks. For her, that was terrible. Everymuscleinherbodyached.Herhairwasarat'snest.Herclothessmelledlikeairplanelasagna,whichDanhadspilledonhermid-flight.Worstofall, shehadn'tgottenanysleep,because themore she read, themoreanideahadstartedtoforminherheadaboutFranklinandParis--andtheideascaredher.
Inthecustomsline,shewassureshewasgoingtoloseitwhentheofficialaskedaboutherparents,but
121shemuttered the lieDan and shehad rehearsed -- that their parentswere comingover on a later
flight.Nellie's presence seemed to reassure the official, especiallywhenNellie started answering hisquestionsinFrench.Theofficialnodded,stampedtheirpassports,andletthemthrough.
"Nellie!"Dansaid."YouspeakFrench?""Duh.MymomtaughtFrench.Shewas,like,French.""IthoughtyourfamilywasfromMexicoCity.""That'smydad.Igrewuptrilingual.""That'samazing,"Amysaid.Shewasreallyjealous.Shewishedsheknewotherlanguages,butshe
was hopeless at learning them.She couldn't even remember the colors andnumbers fromkindergartenSpanish.
"It'snobigdeal,"Nellieassuredthem."Onceyouknowtwolanguages,learningthreeorfourorfiveiseasy."
Amywasn'tsureifshewasserious,buttheykeptgoingthroughcustoms.Theyreclaimedtheirbags,changedtheirdollarsintoeurosatakiosk,andstraggledontothemainconcourse.
Amy felt completely lost with all the French signs. Morning light slanted through the windows,thoughitfeltlikemidnighttoher.Downthehall,acrowdwasgathering.
PeoplewereflashingcamerasandshoutingquestionsatsomebodyAmycouldn'tsee."Oh,paparazzi!"Nelliesaid."Maybeit's,like,KanyeWest!"122"Wait!"Amysaid,butNelliewasn'tgoingtobediscouraged.Theypushedthroughthecrowdwitha
lotofexcusez-mois.Astheygotcloser,Amystoppedinhertracks."JonahWizard."Hewaswadingthroughthemob,signingautographs,whilehisdadtrailedbehindlikeabodyguard.
Jonahworebaggyjeans,ablackleatherjacketoverawhitetanktop,andhisstandardhalftonofsilverjewelry.Helookedfreshandwell-rested,likehisflighthadbeenalotbetterthanAmy's.
"LeWizard!"Thereporterspepperedhimwithquestions.ToAmy'ssurprise,JonahansweredtheminFrench.ThereweresomanypeopleAmywantedtomeltintothewalls,butJonahlookedrelaxed.Hegave
thecrowdabrilliantsmileandsaidsomethingthatmadethemlaugh,thenscannedthefacesandlockedeyeswithAmy.
"Yo!"hecalled."Mypeeps!"Amywasmortified.Jonahstartedpushinghiswaytowardthemandthewholecrowdturnedtofigure
outwhohewastalkingto."Oh,noway,"Nelliesaid."YouknowJonahWizard?""We'rerelatedtohim,"Dangrumbled."Distantly."Nellielookedlikeshewasgoingtofaint.Suddenly,Jonahwasrightinfrontofthem,shakingAmy's
handandpattingDanonthebackandsigningNellie'sT-shirt,andthecamerasstartedtakingpicturesofthem.Don'tlookatme!Amywantedtoscream.I'mcoveredwithlasagna!Hervoicedidn'twork.Shetriedtobackawaybutherlegswerefrozen.123"Jonah!"hisfathersaid."Weshouldgetgoing.""Yeah,sure."JonahwinkedatAmy."Comewith,cuz.Wegotstufftotalkabout."Jonah'sdadstartedtoprotest,butJonahputhisarmaroundAmyandsteeredherthroughtheterminal,
withDanandNellie andamobof franticpaparazzibehind them, flashingpictures.Amywas sure shewoulddiefromembarrassmentanysecond,butsomehowtheymadeitoutside.Thedaywaswarmandovercast.Stormcloudsweregatheringonthehorizon.Ablacklimousinewaitedatthecurb.
"We--weshouldn't,"Amystartedtoprotest.SherememberedMr.McIntyre'swarning:Trustnoone."Areyoukidding?"Nelliesaid."AlimoridewithJonahWizard?Comeon!"Shepracticallydove
intothelimo.Afewminuteslater,theywereglidingdownVautoroutedeVesttowardtheheartofParis."Man,Ilovethistown,"Jonahsaid.Hislimohadfacingbackseats.Jonahandhisdadsatononeside.Amy,Dan,andNelliesatonthe
other.Jonah'sdadtypednotesonhisBlackBerry,everyonceinawhilelookingupandscowlingatAmy,likehecouldn'tbelieveshewasstillthere.
Outside,rowsofgoldstonebuildingsglidedby,theirwindowsoverflowingwithflowerboxes.Thecaféswerecrowdedwithpeople,allthechairsfacingthestreetliketheywerewaitingforaparade.Theairsmelledlike
124coffeeandbakedbread.Thecloudyskiesgaveeverythingaweirdlight--asifthecityweren'tquite
real."YouknowmyTVratingshereareevenbetterthanintheStates?"Jonahsaid."Eighteenpointshigher,"hisdadpipedin."Andmynewalbum,GangstaLife,isnumberthreeontheFrenchcharts.""Numbertwo,"hisdadsaid."Andclimbing.""Oh,wow,Iloveyouralbum!"Nelliesaid."Thanks,"Jonahsaid."Nowshutup."Nellielookedlikeshe'dbeenslapped.
"Hey!"Dancried."That'snotcool!""What?"Jonahsaid."She'snotaCahill.I'mnottalkingtoher."Amywassoshockedshecouldn'trespond,butJonahjustkeptrightonbragging."LikeIwassaying,Iownthistown.MyartgalleryopenedlastweekonRuedelaPaix.Mywatercolorsaresellingforsix thousandeurosapiece.I'veevengotachildren'sbookcoming
out."Hisdadwhippedoutacopyandshowedthem.Dansquintedashereadthecover."Le...Li'lGangstaLivreInstantane?""Thatmeans'littlegangsterpop-upbook,'"Jonah'sdadsaidproudly.Jonahspreadhishands."SeewhatImean?I'mmorepopularthan"--hesmiledslyly--"BenjaminFranklin."SomethinginsideAmysnapped.She'dspentseveralhoursreadingaboutBenjaminFranklin,andshe125wasmoreconvincedthaneverthathewasthemostamazingpersonwhoeverlived.To thinkshemightbe related tohimmadeher soproud.Now tohear thisconceitedTVstar jerk
comparehimself...shewassoangrysheforgottobeshy."B-BenjaminFranklinwaswaymoreimportantthanyou,Jonah!HewasthemostfamousAmericantoevervisitParis.Whenhecamehere,peopleworehispictureonnecklaces--"
"Likethis?"JonahpulledoutaJonahWizardcommemorativephotonecklace."And...andtheyworeclotheslikehis!""Uh-huh.TheJonahWizardfashionlineisdoinggreatontheChamps-Élysées."Amygrittedherteeth."KingLouisXVIevenputFranklin'spictureonachamberpot!"Jonahlookedathisdad."Dowehavesouvenirchamberpots?""No."Hisdadwhippedouthisphone."I'llmakethecall."Jonahnodded."Soyousee,guys,IamthebiggestthingsinceFranklin,whichiswhyI'mthenaturalpersontofindhissecrets.""Ifyourheadwasanybigger,"Danmuttered,"wecoulduseitasahotairballoon."Jonahignoredhim."Look,Amy,you'reasmartgirl.Youknowthefamily'sgotbranches,right?Good
Cahills.BadCahills.I'm-""Jonah!"Hisfathercoveredhisphonewithhishand."Ithoughtwediscussed--"126"Dad,chill.AllI'msaying:Iusemytalentstocreateart.Whatever this final treasure is? I'll use it to bring more beauty to the world! I'm not like those
Lucians,man.They'revicious!"Amy'smindwasracing."But...BenjaminFranklinwasaLucian.Wesawthesnakecrest--""Okay, so occasionally a Lucian did something right." Jonah waved his hand dismissively. "But
todayI'mthegoodguy.Yougottaseethat,Amy."Dansnorted."Becauseyoumakegangsterpop-upbooks?"
"Exactly!Look,youthinkitwaseasyformegrowinguprichandfamousinBeverlyHills?"Jonahpaused."Actually,itwaseasy.ThepointisIworkhardtostaythatway.
Fameissomethingyougottakeepbuilding,baby.AmIright,dad?""You'reright,son!""IalreadygotalbumsandTVandfashionandbooks...sowheredoIgoforup?I'lltellyouwhere.Ineedtowinthiscontest.It'sasmartcareermove!Ifweworktogether,I'llcutyouinforapercentage.""UncleAlistairofferedtohelpus,too,"Amygrumbled."Thatdidn'tworkout."Jonahsnorted."AlistairOh?Thatoldfoolprobablytoldyouhowheinventedmicrowaveburritos,
huh?Bethedidn'ttellyouhelosthisfortuneonbadinvestments.He'snearlybroke,girl.Heshould've taken themillionbucksandwalked,buthe'sgotsomecrazy
idea127thethirty-ninecluesaregonnarestorehisreputation.Don'tlistentohim.Youjoinme,wecanbeat
everybody.We can even show those backstabbers, Ian andNatalie.You gotta be careful around here,Amy.ParisisaLucianstronghold,youknow.Hasbeenforcenturies."
"Jonah,"hisdadsaid,"youshouldnotbedealingwiththesepeople.Theyhavenostarpowerandthey'regoingtodragdownyourratings.""Chamberpots,Dad.I'llhandlethis."HegaveAmyhismostdazzlingsmile."Comeon,girl.Weboth
knowthenextclueisaboutBenFranklin.Wecouldhelpeachother."What bothered her wasn't that Jonah was an arrogant jerk.What bothered her was that she was
temptedbyhisoffer,anyway.TheideaofshowingupNatalieandIanwashardtoresist.Andshecouldn'thelp feeling flattered that somebody like Jonah Wizard was paying attention to her. Still... sherememberedthewayhe'dtalkedtoNellie,andhownicehe'dbeentothemat theairport,but ithadallbeenanact,liketheywerejuststagepropsforthecameras.
"Why...whydoyouwantadealwithus?"sheaskedhesitantly."Whatmakesussospecial?""Nothing!"Jonahlaughed."Isn'tthatawesome?You'repartoftheCahillclan,butyouhavenotalent
atall!Me,ifItrytosneakintosomeplacetocheckoutaclue,I'llhavethemediafollowingme,peopleshootingmypictureandaskingmeforinterviews.
128Ican'tdoanythinginsecret.You--you'resounimportant,youcangoplacesIcan't.Nobodycaresaboutyou.""Thanksalot,"Dangrumbled."What'dIsay?"Jonahlookedbaffled."Hey,ifit'smoney,Igotplentyofthat.Icaneventhrowina
dayonthesetofWhoWantstoBeaGangsta?Youcan'tdobetterthanthat.""Nothanks,"AmyandDansaidtogether."Aw,c'mon.Justthinkaboutit,willyou?Where'syourhotel?I'lldropyouoff."Amywasabout tomakesomethingupwhensheglancedout thewindow.Whatshesawmadeher
bloodturntoice.Itwasimpossible.Whatwasshedoinghere?Andwasshereallycarrying..."Righthere!"shesaid."Pullover,please!"Thedriverdid.Jonahlookedoutthewindowandfrowned.Theywereparkednexttoaseedy-lookinghotelcalled
theMaisondesGordons.Theawningwastatteredandthedoormanlookedlikeawino."Here,huh?"Jonahsaid."Man,youguysliketoroughit.Me,I'mstayingattheRitz.Ifyouchange
yourmind,youknowwheretofindme."AmydraggedNellieandDanoutofthecar.Thedrivertossedouttheirbags,andtheWizards'limo
glidedaway."Whatacreep!"Nelliesaid."Heisn'tlikethatonTV!"129DanlookedupattheMaisondesGordons."Don'ttellmewe'reactuallystayinghere.""Ihadtogethimtostopthecar,"Amysaid."Nellie,getusroomsforthenight.""Here?"sheprotested."But--""Itsays'gardens'inthetitle.Howbadcanitbe?""Urn,thatdoesn'tsay--""Justdoit,please!"Amyfeltweirdactingsobossy,butshedidn'thavetimetoargue."We'llmeetyoubackherein...Idon'tknow,twohours.""Why?"Dansaid."Wherearewegoing?""Ijustsawanoldfriend,"Amysaid."Comeon!"Shedraggedhimacross thestreet,hopingtheyweren't toolate.Withrelief,shespottedher target.
"There!"Shepointed."Inthered!"Halfablockdown,awomaninaredshawlwaswalkingbriskly.Somethingwastuckedunderher
arm--somethingthin,square,red,andwhite.Dan'seyeswidened."Isn'tthat--""IrinaSpasky,"Amysaid."Andshe'sgotourPoorRichard'sAlmanack.FollowthatRussian!"130
CHAPTER12
Danwas tempted tostopabout twenty timesas they trailedIrinaSpaskydowntheRuedeRivoli.(Hewonderedifthatmeant"theStreetofRavioli,"buthedecidedAmywouldlaughathimifheasked.)A few times he wanted to check stuff out -- like the cool glass pyramid at the Louvre and the streetperformerswhowerejugglingfireoutsidetheTuileriesgarden.Therewasalsoavendorsellingcrèmeglacée,andDanwasprettysurethatmeanticecream.Mostly,though,hewantedtostopbecausehisfeethurt.
"Issheevergoingtotakeabreak?"hecomplained.Amydidn'tseemtobegettingtiredatall."DoesitseemoddtoyouthatwehappenedtofindIrina
SpaskyoutoftenmillionpeopleinParis?""Maybetheother9.99millionaren'twearingbrightredscarves!""Shewaswalkingdownamajorstreet,likeshewantedtobespotted.""Youthinkit'satrap?"Danasked."Howcouldsheknowwe'dfindher?Andshehasn'tlooked131backonce.Shedoesn'tknowwe'rehere."Butashesaidthat,Danrememberedtelevisionshowshe'dseenaboutspies--howtheycouldtail
somebodywithouteverbeingseen,orappear"accidentally"inavictim'slineofsightandlurethemintoatrap.CouldIrinahavebeenwaitingforthemattheairport?CouldshehaveseenthemgetinthelimowithJonahandsomehowgottenaheadofthem?
"Look,"Amysaid,"she'sturning!"Irinacrossedtheavenueanddisappeareddownaflightofsteps."TheMétro,"Amysaid."She'stakingthesubway."Theylost timefiguringouthowtouseeurocoins in themachines toget tickets,butwhentheygot
downthestepsIrinawasstillthere--standingononeoftheplatformswiththetatteredalmanactuckedunderherarm.Thetrainwasjustarriving.DanwassureIrinawasgoingtotryoneofthoselast-minuteswitches, so theywaiteduntil the train's doorswere closing, but Irina stayedonboard.AmyandDanjumpedon,too,andthetrainpulledawayfromthestation.
Theychangedtrainstwiceinareallyshorttime.EvenwithIrinainabrightredshawl,itwashardtokeepupwithher.
"Idon'tgetit,"Amysaid."Nowshe'smovingfaster,likeshe'stryingtoloseus."Danwasdaydreamingaboutcrèmeglacée.Thelasagnahe'dhadontheplanewaslonggone,and132hisstomachfeltlikeitwastryingtochewthroughhisshirt.Finally,afterthethirdtrain,Irinaexitedontotheplatform.AmygrippedDan'sarmandpointedtoa
signonthestationwall."Passy,"shesaid."So?""ThisistheneighborhoodwhereBenjaminFranklinlived.""Well,comeon!"Dansaid."RedRidingHood'sgettingaway."Passydidn'tseemascrowdedasTuileries.Thestreetswerelinedwithfour-storybuildings.There
wereflowershopseverywhere,likeaMother'sDayexplosion--tulips,carnations,roses,everythingthatcouldpossiblymakeDansneeze.Inthedistance,theEiffelTowerroseagainstthegrayclouds,butDanwasmore interested in the smell of food.Thewhole city seemed tobemadeupofoutdoor cafés.He
couldsmellchocolate,fresh-bakedbread,meltingcheese--butDandidn'thavetimetogetanyofit.Irinawalkedlikeherdresswasonfire.Theyhadtojogtokeepup.Amytrippedoverabucketof
flowersandaParisiancursedather."Sorry!"Amycalledback.Theyturnedontoatree-linedstreetwithancient-lookingmansions.Halfwayuptheblock,apurple
van133wasparkedcrookedly.Itwaspaintedwithpicturesofballoonsandclownfaces,andthesignread
CrèmeGlacée.Dan'sspiritslifted.Maybehecouldjustgrabaquicktriple-scoopofcherryvanillatogo.Butastheygotcloser,hesawthatthevanwasshut.Thewindshieldwascoveredfromtheinsidewithasilverscreen.Itwasaconspiracy,Dandecided.TheentirecityofPariswastryingtostarvehim.
Attheendoftheblock,Irinacrossedthestreetandduckedinsideawrought-irongate.Shewalkeduptoa largemarblebuildingthat lookedlikeanembassyorsomething.DanhidbehindagatepostandwatchedasIrinapunchedasecuritycodeandwentinside.
"Lookatthegate,"Amysaid.Inthecenterwasagold-letteredsignthatread:INSTITUTDEDIPLOMATIEINTERNATIONALEINSTITUTEFORINTERNATIONALDIPLOMACY[proofreader'snote:theleftsideofthesignshowsaswordwithtwosnakescurledaroundit]"TheLuciancrest!"Dansaid."Butwhat'saninstitutefor,um,whateverthatmeans?""Iguessit'slikeaschoolforambassadors,"Amysaid."Butdon'tyougetit?That'sjustacover.You
rememberwhatJonahsaid?ParisisaLucianstronghold."Dan'seyeslitup."Thismustbetheirsecretbase!"Amynodded."Thequestioniswhatdowedo?""Wegoin,"Dansaid.134"Right.Withoutthesecuritycode?""5910.Iwatchedherpunchitin."Amy stared at him. "How did you -- never mind. Let's go. But be careful. They probably have
camerasandguarddogsandstuff."Theysqueezedinsidethegateandranupthefrontsteps.Danpunchedinthecode.Thedooropenedeasily.Noalarmswentoff.Noguarddogsbarked."Weird,"hemuttered.Butitwastoolateforsecond-guessing.TheyslippedinsidetheLucianbase.The entry hall was bigger than their whole apartment. The floor was polished marble and a
chandelierhungfromtheceiling.Asetofblackdoorsstoodinfrontofthem.Ontheleft,aspiralstaircaseleduptoabalcony.
"Look."Danpointedabovethedoors.Asurveillancecamerawassweepingtheroom.Itwasangledawayfromthem,butitwouldn'tbeforlong.Thenheheardvoicesfrombehindthedoubledoors--someonecomingintheirdirection."Quick!"He ran for the stairs.Amy looked like shewanted to argue, but therewas no time.She
followedhimup.Dan'sheartpounded.He'dalwaysthoughtitwouldbecooltoplayburglarandsneakintosomeone's
house,butnowthathewasdoingitforreal,hishandsweresweating.HewonderediftheFrenchstillthrewburglars135intorat-infesteddungeons.He'dseensomethinglikethatonceinamusicalGracetookthemto.Theysneakedalongasecond-floorhallway.
"Idon'tgetit,"Danwhispered."IrinamustbeaLucian.BenjaminFranklinwasaLucian.DoesthatmeanFranklinwasoneofthebadguys?"
"Maybeit'snotthatsimple,"Amysaid."Look."Paintedportraitshungalongthewalls--NapoleonBonaparte,IsaacNewton,WinstonChurchill,a
fewothersDandidn'trecognize."MorefamousLucians,"Amyguessed."Notnecessarilygoodorbad.Butdefinitelyalotofpowerful
people.""Andwejustinvadedtheirhouse,"Dansaid.Theypassedarowofheavyoakdoors,allofthemclosed.OnewaslabeledLOGISTIQUE.Another
readCARTOGRAPHIE.ThelastdoorontherightreadARSENAL."Sweet!""Dan,no!"Amywhispered,butshewastoolatetointercepthim.Danopenedthearsenaldoorand
slippedinside.Alittlelate,heconsideredthatitmightnotbeagoodideatoenteraroomfullofweaponsifthere
wasalreadysomeoneinthere.Fortunately,therewasn't.Thearsenalwasaboutthirtyfeetsquareandfullof amazingly cool stuff: crates of cannonballs, racks of knives, swords, canes, shields, andumbrellas.Danwasn'tsureabouttheumbrellas,buthefiguredtheydidsomethingbesidesjuststoptherain.
"Weshouldn'tbehere!"Amyhissed.136"Gee,youthink?"Danpickedupashoebox-sizewoodencratefullofglasstubeswithcopperwires
twinedaroundthetops."Hey,it'soneofthoseFranklinbatteries,likeinthemuseum."Amy'seyebrowsfurrowed."What'sitdoinginanarsenal?""Don'tknow,butI'mcollectingit!"DespiteAmy'sprotests,Danstuffedthebatteryinhisbackpack.It
fitbecausethepackwasprettymuchempty.Theonlyother thinghehadintherewasthepictureofhisparents,wrappedinitsplasticsleeve,whichhe'ddecidedtokeepwithhimforgoodluck.
AStyrofoameggcartoncaughthiseye.Heopeneditandfoundasinglesilverorbwithlittleblinkingredlights."Thisiscool,too!"Hedroppeditintohisbackpack.
"Dan,no!""What?They'vegotplentyofotherstuff,andweneedallthehelpwecanget!""Itcouldbedangerous.""Ihopeso."Hewasadmiringtheshurikensandthinkinghemight takesomeof those, too,whena
doorslammedsomewheredownthehall."Betterknowwhatshe'sdoing,"amansaidinEnglish."Ifshe'swrong--"AwomanrespondedinFrench.Bothvoicesfadeddownthecorridor."Comeon,"Amyinsisted."Now."137They poked their heads out tomake sure the hallwas clear, then sneaked out of the arsenal and
deeperintothebuilding.Attheendofthehallwaywasanotherbalcony,thisonelookingdownonabigcircularroom.WhatDansawbelowremindedhimofamilitarycommandcenter.Therewerecomputersalong thewalls,and in themiddleof the roomwasaconference table that seemed tobeonehuge flatscreenTV.IrinaSpaskywasalone,leaningoverthetabletop.Stacksofpapersandfolderssatnexttoher.She was punching commands on the tabletop, making images zoom or shrink. She was looking at asatellitemapofthecity.
Dandidn'tdarespeak,buthelockedeyeswithAmy.Iwantoneofthose,hetoldher.
Amy'sexpressionsaidShutup!They crouched behind the balcony rail andwatched as Irina commanded themap to zoom in on
differentlocations.ShecheckedthePoorRichard'sAlmanackbook,thengotoutapadofpaperandjottedsomethingdown.Shesnatchedupthebookandthepad
andhurriedoutoftheroom--backtowardthemainentrance."Amy,comeon!"Danstraddledtherailing."You'llbreakyourlegs!""Hangfromtheedgeandjustdrop.I'vedoneitofftheroofatschoolamilliontimes.It'seasy."Hedid.Anditwas.Asecondlater,theywerebothattheconferencetable,staringattheimagestill138flickering on the screen: a white targeting icon hovering over one particular spot in Paris. The
addressglowedinredletters:23RuedesJardins.Danpointedtoaribbonofbluesurroundingthedot."That'swater.Whichmeansthatlittleblobshe
wastargetingmustbeanisland.""TheÎleSt-Louis,"Amysaid."It'sontheSeineRiverrightinthemiddleofParis.Canyoumemorize
thataddress?""Alreadydone."ThenDannoticed somethingelse -- aphotograph sittingon topof IrinaSpasky's
files.Hepickeditupandfeltsicktohisstomach."It'shim."DanshowedAmythephoto--anoldermanwithgrayhairandablacksuit,crossingthe
street. The photowas fuzzy, but it must've been taken in Paris. Dan could tell from the yellow stonebuildingsandtheFrenchsigns."Themaninblackishere."
Amypaled."Butwhy--"Avoicecamefromsomewheredownthehall:"--j'entendsdesmouvements.Fouillezlebatiment."Dandidn'tneed to speakFrench toknow thatmeant trouble.HeandAmy ran theotherdirection,
downanotherhallway."Arretez!"amanyelledbehindthem.Immediately,alarmsstartedblaring."Oh,great!"Amysaid."Thisway!"Dan turned a corner.He didn't dare look behind them.He could hear their pursuers
gettingcloser--bootspoundingonthemarblefloor.139"Bars!"Amywarned.Thebuilding's automaticdefensesmusthavebeenactivated.Right in frontof them,a setofmetal
barswasdescendingfromtheceiling,cuttingoffthehallway."Slideintothird!"Danyelled."What?"Amydemanded,glancingbackat thesecurityguards.Danranforwardandhit theground
likeitwasawaterslide,slippingunderthebars."Comeon!"Amyhesitated.Thebarsweregettinglower--threefeetofftheground,twoandahalffeet.Behind
her,twoburlyguysinblacksecurityguardoutfitswereclosingfast,armedwithnightsticks."Amy,now!"
Shedroppedandstartedcrawlingunder thebars.Danpulledher through just as thebarsclangedagainst thefloor.Thesecurityguardsgrabbedat themthroughthebars,butDanandAmywerealreadyrunning.
Theyfoundanopendoorandduckedintoaparlor."Thewindow!"Dansaid.Ametalmeshcurtainwasclosingovertheglass.Itwasalreadyhalfwaydown.Therewasnotimeto
think.DanpickedupabustofNapoleonfromthecoffeetableandthrewitthroughtheglass.CRASH!Hecouldheartheguardsinthehallwayshoutingoverthewailofalarms.Dan kicked the remaining glass shards away. "Go!" he told Amy. She crawled through and he
followed,140pullinghisleftfootoutjustbeforethemetalcurtainclampedagainstthewindowsill.Theyranthroughthegarden,climbedtheirongates,andracedacrossthestreet.Theyduckedbehindthepurpleicecreamvanandslidtotheground,breathinghard.Danlookedback,buttherewerenosignsofpursuit--atleast,notyet."Let'snotdothatagain,"Amysaid.Dan'sbloodwasracing.Nowthathewasoutofdanger,herealizedhowmuchfunhe'djusthad."I
want an arsenal! And one of those computer-screen tables. Amy, we need to make our own secretheadquarters!"
"Oh,sure,"Amysaid,stillbreathinghard.Shepulledsomechangeandbillsoutofherpocket."I'vegotabouttwohundredandfifty-threeeurosleft.Youthinkthat'llbuyasecretheadquarters?"
Dan's heart sank. She didn't have to be somean about it, but she was right. They were burningthroughtheirmoneyfast.Hedidn'thavemuchmorethanshedid.
They'd givenmost of it to Nellie for travel expenses, but it still wasn't much. If they had to flysomewhereelseafterParis...Hedecidednottothinkaboutit.Onethingatatime.
"Let'sgetbacktotheMétro,"hesaid."Yes,"Amysaid."BacktoNellie.She'llbegettingworried."Danshookhishead."Notime,sis.23RuedeJardins.Wehavetofindoutwhat'sonthatisland,and
wehavetogettherebeforeIrina!"141
CHAPTER13
Meanwhile,insidetheicecreamvan,theHoltswerestranglingeachother.MadisonwasonHamilton'sback,hittinghimovertheheadwithaboxofFudgesicles.Their mother, Mary-Todd, was trying to pull them apart. Reagan and Arnold, the pit bull, were
playingtug-of-warwithapackageofEskimoPies.Eisenhower,thewearyleaderofthefamily,bellowed,"Stopit!Company,FALLIN!"
HamiltonandMadisonseparatedandsnappedtoattention,droppingtheFudgesicles.Mary-Toddbrushedherselfoff,glaredatherchildren, thenfell into line.Reaganheld theEskimo
Piesinpresentarmsstance.Arnoldrolledoverandplayeddead."Right!" Eisenhower growled. "I will not have this family killing each other over frozen dairy
products!"Reagansaid,"But,Dad-""Silence!Isaidyou'dgeticecreamafterwefinishthemission.AndwearenotfinisheduntilIgetareport!"Madisonsaluted."Dad,permissiontoreport!""Goahead."142"Thesurveillancemicrophoneworked.""Excellent.Didthebratstakethebook?"Madisonshifteduncomfortably."Idon'tknow,sir.But they'regoing to23RuedesJardins, ÎleSt-
Louis.""Ifyougotthenumberrightthistime,"Hamiltongriped.Madison'sfaceturnedbrightred."Thatwasn'tmyfault!""WedrovetherentalcarintotheSeine!""Oh,andyouhaveallthegreatideas,Hammy.Likethatstupidexplosionthathitthewrongteamin
themuseum!OrburningdownGrace'smansion!""Stopyelling!"Mary-Toddyelled. "Children,wecan'tkeeparguingwitheachother. Ithurts team
morale.""Yourmotherisright,"Eisenhowersaid."Thefireatthemansionandthemuseumbombwereboth
badideas.Weshould'vepulverizedtheCahillbratsinperson!"ArnoldbarkedexcitedlyandtriedtobiteEisenhower'snose.Reaganknithereyebrows.Sheshifteduncomfortablyfromfoottofoot."But,um,Dad...""Problem,Reagan?""Well,theexplosion...Imean,itcould'vekilledthem,right?"Madisonrolledhereyes."Oh,herewegoagain!You'regoingsoft,Reagan!"Reagan'sfaceturnedbrightred."Amnot!"143"Aretoo!""Quiet!" Eisenhower bellowed. "Now look, everybody.We're going to have to use some drastic
measurestowinthiscontest.Ican'thaveanybodygoingsoft!Understood?"HeglaredatReagan,whostaredglumlyatthefloor."Yessir.""WeknowDanandAmywereGrace'sfavorites,"Eisenhowercontinued."OldMcIntyreisprobably
givingtheminsideinformation.Nowthey'vebeatusinsidetheLucianstrongholdwhileweweretryingtodosurveillance,whichwas
alsoabadidea!Arewegoingtotolerateanymorebadideas?""No,sir!"thekidsshouted."Theythinkwe'renotclever,"Eisenhowersaid."Theythinkallwecandoisflexourmuscles.Well,
they'reabouttofindoutwecandomorethanthat!"Eisenhowerflexedhismuscles."Teamwork!"Mary-Toddcried."Right,children?""Yessir!Teamwork!""Arff!"Arnoldsaid."Now,"Eisenhowersaid."Wehavetogetthatbook.We'vegottoassumethosebratshaveit,orthey
knowwhat'sinit.WeneedtogettotheÎleSt-Louis,withoutdrivingtheicecreamvanintotheriver!Who'swithme?"ThekidsandMary-Toddcheered.Thentheyrememberedtheicecream,andthekidswentbackto
stranglingeachother.144Eisenhowergrunted.Hedecidedhe'dletthemwrestleforawhile.Maybeitwouldbuildcharacter.Allhislife,peoplehadlaughedbehindEisenhower'sback.They'dlaughedwhenheflunkedoutof
WestPoint.They'dlaughedwhenhefailedtheentranceexamfortheFBI.They'devenlaughedthetimehewasworkingasasecurityguard,whenhe'dchasedashoplifterandaccidentallyTaseredhimselfintherearend.Asimplemistake.
Anyonecould'vemadeit.Oncehewonthiscontest,hewouldbecomethemostpowerfulCahillofalltime.Noonewouldever
laughathimagain.Hepoundedhisfistintothevan'scashregister.ThoseCahillkidswerestartingtogetonhisnerves.
Theyweretoomuchliketheirparents,ArthurandHope.Eisenhowerhadknownthemalltoowell.HehadanoldscoretosettlewiththeCahills.Soon,AmyandDanCahillwouldpay.145
CHAPTER14
AmywasallinfavorofrushingtotheÎleSt-Louis,butherstomachhadotherideas.Theypassedaboulangerie,whichmust'vemeantbakeryjudgingbytheyummysmells,andDanandsheexchangedlooks."Justonestop,"theysaidtogether.Afewminuteslatertheyweresittingonthequayoftheriver,sharingthebestmealthey'deverhad.It
wasonlyaloafofbread,butAmyhadnevertastedanythingsogood."Seethat?"Amypointedtothetopofanearbychurch,whereablackironspikerosefromthebell
tower."Lightningrod.""Umm,"Dansaidwithhismouthfull."The Frenchwere the first ones to test Franklin's theories about lightning rods. A lot of the old
buildingsstillhaveoriginalFranklinmodels.""Mmm!"Dansaidenthusiastically,butAmywasn'tsurewhetherhelikedthestoryorthebread.Thesunwasgoingdownbehindabulkheadofblackclouds.Thunderrumbledinthedistance,butthe146Parisiansdidn'tseemtooconcerned.Joggersandskaterscrowdedtheriverside.Asightseeingboat
loadedwithtouristshummedalongontheSeine.AmytriedtousetheStarlings'cellphonetocallNellie,butthephonewasdead.Apparently,itwasn'tsetuptogetasignalinFrance.Hernerveswerestillbuzzing from their raidon theLucianstronghold.Despiteall thesecurity, it
stillseemedlikethey'dgotteninandoutprettyeasily,andshewasn'tsurewhy.Shealsodidn't likethestuffDanhadtaken--theFranklinbatteryandthatweirdmetalsphere.Sheknewbetterthantoarguewithhimaboutit,though.Oncehegothishandsonsomething,hehardlyeverletitgo.
Shewonderedhow IrinaSpaskyhadgotten thebook fromUncleAlistair, andwhy shewouldbeinterestedintheÎleSt-Louis.Itfeltlikeatrap,butitwasAmy'sonlylead
-- or at least, the only lead she wanted to think about. Her mother's note in the Poor Richard'sAlmanack--theMazeofBones--
stillgaveherchills.ShetriedtoimaginewhathermotherorGracewoulddoinherplace.Theywouldbebraver.They'd
seewhattodomoreclearly.Hermotherhadoncesearchedforthesesameclues.Amywassureofthatnow.GracehadintendedAmytotakeupthechallenge,butwhatifAmywasn'tuptoit?
Sofarshefeltlikeshe'ddoneaterriblejob.Everytimeshe'dneededtospeakup,shefailed.Theotherteamsprobablythoughtshewasamumblingloser.
147Ifitwasn'tforDan,shewould'vebeenlost.Justthinkingaboutitmadealumpforminherthroat.Theyfinishedthebread.Amyknewtheyneededtogetmoving.Shestaredatthedarkeningskyand
triedtorememberdetailsfromherParisguidebooks."Therearen'tanyMétrolinestoÎleSt-Louis,"shesaid."We'llhavetowalk."
"Let'sdoit!"Danhoppedtohisfeet.Amy couldn't believe how quickly his spirits had rebounded. A few minutes ago, he'd been
complainingabouthisfeetandhisheavybackpack.Now,ahunkofbreadlater,hewasasgoodasnew.Amywishedshewaslikethat.Shefeltlikelyingdownandsleepingforacentury,butshewasn'tgoingto
tellthattoDan.ItwasfulldarkbythetimetheygottothePontLouis-Philippe.Theoldstonebridgewaslinedwith
streetlampsthatglowedagainstthewater.Ontheoppositesideroseaclusteroftreesandmansions--theÎleSt-Louis.Tothenorthwasalargerisland,withahugecathedrallitupyellowinthenight.
"That'stheÎledelaCitéoverthere,"Amysaidastheywalkedacross,mostlytokeepherselfcalm."Andthat'sNotreDameCathedral."
"Cool,"Dansaid."Youthinkwecanseethehunchback?""Urn ...maybe later."Amy decided not to tell him that the hunchback ofNotreDamewas just a
characterinabook."Anyway,thesmallerislandwe'regoingto--theÎleSt-Louis--thetourbookshardlysaid
148anythingaboutit.Mostlyoldhousesandshopsandstuff.Idon'tknowwhyIrinawouldbelooking
there.""NoBenFranklinhistory?"Amyshookherhead."ItusedtobecalledtheIslandoftheCows,becausethat'sallthatlivedthere.
Thentheyturneditintoaneighborhood.""Cows,"Dansaid."Exciting."AftertheotherpartsofParisthey'dseen,theÎleSt-Louisfeltlikeaghosttown.Thenarrowstreets
werelinedwithelegantoldapartments--fivestoriestallwithblackgabledroofs.Mostofthewindowsweredark.Alotoftheshopswereclosed.
Streetlamps castweird shadows through the branches of the trees,makingmonster shapes on thewalls.Amywastoooldtobelieveinmonsters,buttheshadowsstillmadeheruneasy.
Anelderlycouplecrossedthestreetinfrontofthem.Amywonderedifitwasherimagination,orifthecouplereallyglancedathersuspiciouslybeforetheydisappearedintoanalleyway.Onthenextblock,aguyinaberetwaswalkingaLabradorretriever.
HesmiledashepassedAmyandDan,buthisexpressionremindedAmyofIanKabra--likeheknewasecret.You'rejustgettingparanoid,shetoldherself.Orwasitpossibletherewereotherpeopleseekingtheclues,peoplethatweren't
evenpartoftheseventeams?SheglancedatDanbutdecidednottosayanythingaboutthis...notyet.Thecontestwasalreadyoverwhelmingenough.
149Afteranotherhundredyards,theyfoundtheRuedesJardins.Itwasnarrowerthanthestreetsaround
it,withcrumblingstonebuildingsthatmight'vestoodthereforcenturies.Amycountedthestreetnumbers.Shestoppedabruptly."Dan...23RuedesJardins.Areyousure?""Yeah.Why?"Amypointed.Therewasnobuildingat23RuedesJardins.Instead,ringedwitharustyironfence,
was a tiny cemetery. At the back stood amarblemausoleum. In front, a dozenweathered headstonesslantedeverydirectionlikecrookedteeth.
Thecemeterywassandwichedbytallbuildingsoneitherside.TheoneontherightsaidMUSÉE.Theoneon the leftmust'vebeensomekindofshoponce,but thewindowswerepaintedblackand thedoorboardedup.Theonly lightcamefromthedimorangeglowof thecitysky,whichmade theplaceseemevencreepier.
"Idon'tlikethis,"Amysaid."Therecan'tbeanyconnectiontoFranklinhere.""Howdoyouknow?"Danasked."Wehaven'tevensearched.Andthosetombstoneslookcool!""No,Dan.You
cannotdocharcoalrubbings.""Aw..."Hewalkedthroughthecemeterygates,andAmyhadnochoicebuttofollow.Thetombstonestoldthemnothing.Onceuponatime,theymight'vehadinscriptions,butthey'dbeen
wornsmoothoverthecenturies.Amy'spulsewasracing.Somethingwasn'tright.Sherackedherbrain,trying
150to figure out why this place might be important to Ben Franklin, but she couldn't come up with
anything.Cautiously, she approached themausoleum. She'd always hated aboveground burial places. They
madeherthinkofdollhousesfordeadpeople.The iron doors stood open.Amywas hesitant to get close. From ten feet away, she couldn't see
anythingspecialinside--justoldnameplatesliningthewalls--butaslabofmarblelayonthegroundinfront of the doorway.With a start, Amy realized the inscription was a lot newer than the rest of thecemetery.Itlookedfreshlycarved:SETROUVEICI
AmyetDanCahillILSONTCOLLÉLEURSNEZDANSLESAFFAIRESDESAUTRES"Whoa,"Dansaid."Whyareournames--""Somekindofmessage..."Amy desperately wished she could read French. If she ever got back to the hotel, she promised
herselfshewouldmakeNelliegiveherlessons.151"Inside,right?"Dansaid."No,it'satrap!"Buthesteppedforwardandthegroundcollapsed.Themarbleslabdroppedintonothingness,taking
Danwithit."Dan!"Sherantotheedgeofthehole,butthegroundhadn'tfinishedcrumbling.Stoneanddirtgavewaylike
clothunderherfeetandAmytumbledintodarkness.Forasecond,shewastoodazedtothink.Shecoughed,herlungsfillingwithdust.Shewassittingon
somethingsoftandwarm...."Dan!" In a panic, she scrambled off him and shook his arms, but it was too dark to see. "Dan,
please,bealive!""Ugh,"hegrunted."Areyouokay?""Mysisterjustsatonmewithherbonybutt.OfcourseI'mnotokay."Amybreathedasighofrelief.Ifhewasbeingannoying,hemustbefine.Shegotupunsteadily,dirt
andstonesshiftingbeneathherfeet.Lookingup,shecouldsee themouthof theraggedpit they'dfalleninto.Theywereinsomekindofasinkhole.
"The ground was hollowed out," she muttered. "The earth here is limestone. Lots of caves andtunnelsunderParis.Iguesswefellintooneaccidentally."
"Accidentally?"Dansaid."Irinaluredushereonpurpose!"152Amyknewhewasprobablyright,butshedidn'twanttothinkaboutit...orwhatmighthappennext.
Theyhadtogetout.Shesweptherarmsaroundtheedgesoftheirpit,butitwasjustthat--apit.Nosidetunnels,noexitsexceptforstraightup,andthey'dfallenovertenfeet.Itwasamiracletheyhadn'tbrokenanybones.
Suddenly,alightblindedherfromabove."Well,well,"saidaman'svoice."Arf!"adogyapped.WhenAmy'seyesadjusted,shesawfivefiguresinpurplewarm-upsuitssmilingdownatthem,and
oneveryexcitedpitbull."TheHolts!"Dansaid."Itfigures.YouhelpedIrinasetusup!""Oh,getoverit,runt,"Madisoncalleddown."Wedidn'tsetupanybody.""Yeah,"Reagansaid."Youfellinallbyyourselves."SheandMadisongaveeachotherhighfivesandstartedlaughing.Amy'shandsstartedtotremble.Thiswasjustlikehernightmares...stuckinapit,acrowdofpeople
laughingather.Butthiswasreal."So."EisenhowerHoltcalleddown."Is thiswhatyoubratswere lookingfor?Is this theMazeof
Bones?"Herheartfluttered."What--whatdoyoumean?""Oh,comeon,missy!WeknowallabouttheMazeofBones.WereadtheAlmanack."153"Youhavethebook?But,Irina--""Stoleitfromus,"Eisenhowergrowled."AfterwestoleitfromtheKoreandude.Sowestakedout
herheadquarters,butyougotinsidebeforewecouldlaunchanassault.Nowyou'vegotthebook,andyoucamehere,which
meansyouknowsomething.""Butwedon'thavethebook!"Amysaid."Wedidn'tevengetachanceto--""Oh,comeon,"Hamiltonsaid.Hisgreasedblondhairgleamedin thenight."Itwasright thereon
pagefifty-two--BF:MazeofBones,coordinatesinthebox.Itwasyourmom'shandwriting.Dadrecognizedit."Amy'swholebodywastrembling.Shehatedit,butshecouldn'tstop.TheHoltshadreadfartherin
thebookthanshehad.They'dfoundanothermessagefromhermother:MazeofBones,coordinatesinthebox.SheunderstoodtheMazeofBonespart,atleastshefearedthatshedid...butcoordinatesinabox?"I--Idon'tknowwhatitmeans,"shesaid."Wedon'thavethebook.Butifyouletusoutofhere,
maybeIcould--""Yeah,right!"Madisonsneered."Likewe'dhelpyou!"Theystartedlaughingagain--theentireHoltclan,makingfunofher."Please,stop,"shewhispered."Don't...""Aw,she'sgonnacry."Hamiltongrinned."Man,youtwoarepathetic.Ican'tbelieveyougotpastthe
fireandthebomb."154"What?"Danyelled."YouburnedGrace'smansion?Yousetoffthatbombinthemuseum?""Toslowyoudown,"Eisenhoweradmitted."Weshould'vebeatenyouupinperson.
Sorryaboutthat."Dan threw a rock, but it sailed harmlessly betweenReagan's legs. "Youmorons!Get usOUT of
here!"Reaganfrowned,butMadisonandHamiltonstartedyellingbackatDan.Arnoldbarked.Amyknewthiswasgetting themnowhere.Theyhad toconvince theHolts to let themout,butshe
couldn'tmakehervoicework.Shewantedtocurlintoaballandhide.Thenthegroundshook.Therewasarumblingsoundlikealargeengine.TheHoltsturnedtowardthe
streetandlookedastonishedbywhatevertheysaw."You--little--tricksters!"Eisenhowerglareddownatthem."Thiswasanambush,wasn'tit?""Whatareyoutalkingabout?"Danasked."Atruckisblockingthegates!"Mary-Toddsaid."Acementtruck.""Dad,look,"Reagansaidnervously."They'vegotshovels."Amy'sdangersensestartedtingling.Danturnedtowardher,andshecouldtellhewasthinkingthe
samething."They'regoingtofillthehole,"Dansaid."Aren'tthey?"Shenoddedweakly."Mr.Holt!"DanstartedjumpinglikeArnoldthedog,buthecouldn'treachthetopofthepit.155"Comeon,you'vegottogetusout!We'llhelpyou!"Mr.Holtsnorted."Youledusintothis!Besides,youruntscan'tfight.""Dad,"Reagansaid."Maybeweshould--""Shutup,sis,"Hamiltongrowled."Wecanhandlethis!""Reagan!"Danyelled."Comeon!Telthemtoletusout."Reaganjustknithereyebrowsandstaredattheground.DanlookedatAmydesperately."Yougottadosomething.Tellthemyoucanfigureoutthebook!"Butthewordswouldn'tcome.Amyfeltlikeshewasalreadybeingcoveredincement.Herbrotherneededher.Shehadtosaysomething.Butshejuststoodthere,frozenandhelplessand
hatingherselfforbeingsoscared."HEEEY!"Danyelledup."Amyknowswhatthecluemeans!She'lltellyouifyouletusout!"Mr.Holtscowled.Amyknewhewouldn'tgoforit.They'dbestuckdownhereforever,cementedin.
ThenMr.Holtstrippedoffhiswarm-upjacketandlowereditintothepit."Grabthesleeve."Withinseconds,AmyandDanwereoutofthepit.Sureenough,acementtruckhadblockedthegates
ofthecemetery.Sixthugsincoverallsandhardhatswerelinedupatthefence,heftingshovelsliketheywerereadytofight.
"Allright,team,"Mr.Holtsaidwithrelish."Let'sshow'emhowit'sdone--Holtstyle!"156Thewholefamilyrushedforward.Mr.Holtgrabbedthefirstthug'sshovelandswungit,withtheguy
stillattached,intothesideofthecementtruck.CLANG!Thegirls,MadisonandReagan,plowedintoonethugsohardheflewacrossthestreetandcrashed
throughthewindowofaflowershop.Arnoldbitthethirdthuginthelegandheldonwithjawsofiron.Mary-ToddandHamiltontackledafourththugagainstthechuteonthebackofthetruck.Hisheadhitaleverandcementstartedspillingalloverthestreet.
Unfortunately,twothugsremained,andtheyranstraightforAmyandDan.FearclosedaroundAmy'sthroat.Sherecognizedtheirfaces--theywerethesecurityguardsfromtheLucianstronghold.Beforeshecouldeventhinkofaplan,Danunzippedhisbackpackandtookouthisblinkingsilversphere.
"Dan,no!"Amysaid."Youcan't--"Buthedid.Asmuchashelovedbaseball,Danwastheworld'sworstpitcher.Thespheresailedrightpastthe
twoguyswhowerechargingthemandexplodedunderMr.Holt'sfeetwithablindingyellowflash.Thenoisewasliketheworld'slargestsnaredrumbeingsmashedwithasledgehammer.Amywentcross-eyed.Whensheregainedhersenses,shesawtheentireHoltfamilyandtheguysthey'dbeenbattlingflatontheground,knockedunconscious--exceptforthetwothugsDan
meanttohit.Theywereonlydazed,stumblingaroundandshakingtheirheads.AmyturnedtoDaninhorror."Whatdidyoudo?"157Danlookedsurprised."Um,concussivegrenade,Ithink.Liketheoneinthemuseum!Iknockedthem
out."The two thugswhowere still on their feetblinkeda few times, then refocusedonDanandAmy.
Theydidn'tlookhappy."Run!"Dan pulledAmy behind themausoleum, but therewas nowhere to go -- just another iron
fence,andafewyardsbehindthat,thebackofabuilding--brickwalls,thirtyfeethigh.Desperately,theyclimbedthefenceanyway.Amy'sshirtgotstuckonthetop,butDanpulledherfree.
Togethertheypressedagainstthebackwall.Therewasnoalley.Noexit.Theyweretrapped.Ifonlytheyhadaweapon...andthenAmyrealizedherbrainwasn'tparalyzedbyfearanymore.Theexplosionhadsnappedherbacktohersenses.
Sheknewwhattheyneeded."Dan,theFranklinbattery!""Whatgoodwilthatdo?"Sherippedopenhisbackpackandtookoutthebattery.Thetwothugsadvancedwarily--probably
wonderingwhetherDanhadanymoregrenades.Amyuncoiledthebattery'scopperwiresandmadesuretheendswerestripped."Ihopeithasacharge."
"Whatareyoudoing?"Danasked."Franklinusedtodothisforfun,"shesaid."Tostartlehisfriends.Maybeifit'sgotenoughjuice..."Themenwereat the fence.Oneof themsnarled something inFrench. It sounded likeanorder to
surrender.Amyshookherhead.158Themenbegantoclimb,andAmyleapedforward.Shetouchedthewiresagainstthefenceandthe
menyelpedinsurprise.Bluesparksflewoffthemetalbars.Smokecurledfromthemen'shandsandtheyfellbackwards,stunned.Amythrewdownthebattery.
"Comeon!"sheyelled.Inaheartbeat,theywereoverthefence.Theyracedoutofthegraveyard,pasttheunconsciousHolts,
thethugs,andtheoverturnedcementtruck.AmyfeltatwingeofguiltleavingtheHoltsbehindunconscious,buttheyhadnochoice.Theydidn'tstoprunninguntiltheywerehalfwayacrossthePontLouis-Philippe.Amydoubledover,
gaspingforbreath.Atlasttheyweresafe.They'dsurvivedthetrap.Butwhenshelookedback,shesawsomethingthatscaredherworsethanthegraveyard.Standingin
theshadowsatthefootofthebridge,ahundredyardsbackthewaythey'dcome,wasatallgray-hairedmaninablackovercoat.
AndAmywassurehewaswatchingthem.159
CHAPTER15
DanthoughtNelliewasgoingtokillthem.He'dneverseenherfacethatshadeofredbefore."Youdidwhat?"Shepacedtheirtinyhotelroom."Twohours,yousaid.Twohours.AndIwasstandingoutsidethehotelfor,like,ever,andyoudidn'tcome.Youdidn'tcall.Ithoughtyouweredead!"SheshookheriPodforemphasisand
thelooseearbudsdancedaround."Ourphonedidn'twork,"Amysaidsheepishly."Wegot sidetracked,"Danadded. "Therewas this concussivegrenade, andacement truck, anda
battery.Andaloafofbread."Dan was pretty sure that covered all the important details, but Nellie looked like she didn't
understand."Startfromthebeginning,"shesaid."Andnolies."Maybeitwasjustbecausehewastootiredtolie,butDantoldherthewholestory--evenaboutthethirty-nineclues--withAmyfillinginthestuffheforgot."Soyoualmostdied,"Nelliesaidinasmallvoice."Thosejerksweregoingtopourcementonyou."160"Maybealittlecement,"Dansaid."Whatdidtheinscriptionsay?"Nellieasked.Dandidn't knowanyFrench,buthe'd automaticallymemorized thewordson themarble slab.He
repeatedthemtoNellie."'Here lieAmy andDanCahill,'" she translated, '"who stuck their noses into thewrong people's
business.'""It was Irina Spasky's fault!"Dan said. "She tricked us into going there. Thewhole thingwas a
setup.""Andwe can't evenpayyou,"Amyaddedmiserably. "Wedon't have enoughmoney for the flight
home.I'm...I'mreallysorry,Nellie."Nellie stood very still. Her glitter eye shadow was red today, which made her eyes look even
angrier.HerarmswerecrossedoverherT-shirt,whichshowedapictureofascreamingpunkrocker.Allinall,shelookedprettyscary.ThenshegrabbedAmyandDanandhuggedthemfiercely.
Shekneltdownsoshewaslookingthemintheeyes."I'vegotsomecreditleftonmyMasterCard.We'llbefine."
Danwasconfused."But...you'renotgoingtokillus?""I'm going to help you, stupid." Nellie shook his shoulders gently. "Nobody messes with my
babysitees.""Aupairees,"Dancorrected."Whatever!Nowgetsomesleep.Tomorrowwe'regoingtoslapsomepeoplesenseless."161MaisondesGordonsdidnotmeanthehouseofgardens.Apparently,gardons
meant roaches.Danfound thisoutbecauseNellie toldhim,andbecauseheheardscuttlingsoundsalongthefloorallnightlong.HewishedSaladinwerethere.Thecatwould'vehadagreattimeplayingjunglestalker.
Inthemorning,everybodylookedbleary-eyed,buttheyshoweredandchangedclothes.Nelliecamebackfromthecornercaféwithcoffeeforherself,hotchocolateforDanandAmy,and
painauchocolatforalofthem.Danfiguredanycountrythatatechocolateforbreakfastcouldn'tbeallbad."So,"Dansaid,"canIgetsomemoregrenadestoday?""No!"Amysaid."Dan,you'reluckyitwasonlyconcussive.Youcould'vewipedoutthewholeHolt
family.""Andthatwould'vebeenbadbecause...?""Okay,knockitoff,"Nelliesaid."Theimportantthingisyouguysaresafe."Amypickedathercroissant.Shelookedpalethismorning.Herhairwasatangledmess."Dan...I'm
sorryaboutlastnight.I--Ipanicked.Ialmostgotuskilled."Danhadprettymuchforgottenthatpart.He'dbeenannoyedwithheratthetime,butitwashardto
staymadwhenAmylookedsomiserableandapologized.162Plusshe'ddonethatcoolthingwiththebattery,whichhadkindofmadeupforherfreakingout."Don'tworryaboutit,"hesaid."Butifithappensagain--""Hey,ifweletIrinalureusintoatrapagain,we'restupiderthantheHolts."Amydidn'tlookverycomforted."WhatIdon'tunderstandisthemaninblack.Whywashetherelast
night?AndiftheHoltsstartedthefireatthemansionandsetupthemuseumexplosion--""Thenwhatwasthemaninblackdoinginbothplaces?"Danfinished."AndwhydidIrinahavea
photoofhim?"HewaitedforAmytocomeupwithoneofher"oh-I-did-a-book-report-on-that-last-year"answers,butshejustkeptfrowningatherbreakfast."Maybeyouguysshouldconcentrateonwherewegonext,"Nellieadvised.Amytookadeepbreath."IthinkIknowwheretogo.Dan,canIuseyourlaptop?"Hestaredather,becauseAmydidn'tlikecomputers.ButfinallyhebroughtitoverandAmystarted
searchingtheInternet.Innotime,shegrimacedandturnedthescreenforthemtosee.Thepictureshowedapileofbonesin
adarkstoneroom."I'vesuspectedforawhile,"Amysaid,"butIwashopingIwaswrongbecauseit'srisky.TheMazeofBones.That'swhatMom'snotesaidinPoorRichard's163Almanack.WehavetoexploretheCatacombs.""Isthatwheretheykeepthecats?"Danasked.Itseemedlikeaperfectlyreasonablequestiontohim,butAmygavehima"you're-such-a-dummy"look."TheCatacombs are anundergroundmaze," she said. "I toldyouParis is riddledwith caves and
tunnels, right?Al the limestone they used to build the city, ever since theRoman days, they dug fromunderground,anditleftawholenetworkofemptyspaces.
Somearejustpits,liketheonewefellinlastnight."
"Andsomearenetworksoftunnels,"Nelliesaid."Yeah,Irememberhearingaboutthis.Andthey'refilledwithbones,right?"
"Iwantaroomdecoratedwithbones!"Dansaid."Where'dtheycomefrom?""Cemeteries," Amy said. "Back in the 1700s, the cemeteries were getting overcrowded, so they
decidedtodiguptonsofoldbodies--alltheirbones--andmovethemintotheCatacombs.Thethingis...lookatthedates.SeewhentheystartedmovingbonesintotheCatacombs?"
Dansquintedatthescreen.Hedidn'tseewhatshewastalkingabout."Isitmybirthday?""No,doofus.Look.1785.Theydidn'tofficiallydeclareitopenuntilthenextyear,buttheystartedplanningtheproject,
andmovingthebones,in1785.WhichwasalsothelastyearBenjaminFranklinwasinParis.""Whoa.Youmean--"164"Hehidsomethingdownthere."ItgotsoquietDancouldhearroachesscuttlinginthecloset."So,"Nelliesaid,"wehavetogounderground,intoamazefilledwithbones,andfind...whateveritis."Amynodded."ExcepttheCatacombsarehuge.Wedon'tknowwheretolook.TheonlythingIcan
think--there'sonepublicentrance.Itsayshereit'sacrossfromtheDenfert-RochereauMétrostation,inthe14tharrondissement."
"But if that's the only public entrance," Dan said, "then the other teams might head there, too.Everybody's been stealing that almanac from each other. They'll figure out the Maze of Bones thingeventually,iftheyhaven'talready."
"Goodenoughforme."Nelliebrushedthechocolateandbreadcrumbsoffhershirt."Let'sgomeetyourfamily."Dan'sbackpackwasalotlightertoday,butbeforetheylefthemadesurethephotoofhisparentswas
stillsafeinthesidepocket.Hismomanddadwererightwherehe'dleftthem:intheirplasticphotoalbumsheet,smilingfromthetopoftheirmountainliketheyhadn'tmindedsharingspacewithaFranklinbatteryandagrenadeatall.
He wondered if they'd be proud of him for getting out of that pit last night, or if they'd be allprotective
165likeAmy:Youalmostgotyourselfkilled,blah, blah, blah. He decided they would've been cooler than that. They'd probably had tons of
dangerousadventures.Maybetheirhousehadanarsenal,too,beforeitburneddown."Dan!"Amycalled."Getoutofthebathroomandlet'sgo!""Coming!"heshouted.Helookedathisparentsonemoretime."ThanksforthenoteabouttheMaze
ofBones,Mom.Iwon'tletyoudown!"HeslippedthephotobackintohispackandwenttojoinAmyandNellie.They weren't out of the Denfert-RochereauMétro station twominutes before they spotted Uncle
Alistair.Hewaskindofhardtomissinhischerry-redsuitandcanary-yellowascot,hisdiamond-tippedcane swinging in one hand.Theoldman sauntered toward them, smilingwith his armsout.As he gotcloser,Dannoticedhehadablackeye."Mydearchildren!"
Nelliewhoppedhimupsidetheheadwithherbackpack."Ow!"UncleAlistaircurledover,cuppinghishandoverhisgoodeye."Nellie!"Amysaid.
"Sorry,"Nelliemuttered."Ithoughthewasoneofthebadguys."166"Heis,"Danagreed."No,no."Alistairtriedtosmile,butallhecoulddowaswinceandblink.Danfiguredhisothereyewasgoingtobeblacknowthankstothatpop.Nellie'sbackpackwasnotlight."Children,please,youmustbelieveme,Iamnotyourenemy!""Youstolethebookfromus,"Dansaid,"andleftusfordead!""Children,Iadmitit.Ithoughtyouwerelostinthefire.Ibarelymadeitoutmyself.Fortunately, I found a latch that opened the door. I called for you, but youmust have discovered
anotherwayout.Ihadthealmanac,yes.Icouldn'tleaveitbehind.IadmitIpanickedwhenIgotoutside.Ifearedourenemieswerestillabout,orthatIwouldbeblamedfortheterriblefire.SoIfled.Forgiveme."
Amy'sscowlsoftened,butDandidn'tbelievethisguyatall."He'slying!"Dansaid."Trustnoone,'remember?""ShouldIhithimagain?"Nellieasked.UncleAlistairflinched."Please,listen.TheCatacombsarerightthere."Hepointedacrossthestreet
toasimplebuildingwithablackfacade.WhitelettersabovethedoorreadEntréedesCatacombes.Thestreetaround it looked likeanormalneighborhood-- townhouses,apartments,pedestrianson
theirwaytowork.Itwashardtobelieveamazeofdeadpeoplelayrightunderneath.167"Imustspeakwithyoubeforeyougoin,"Alistairinsisted."AllIaskistenminutes.Youareingravedanger.""Gravedanger,"Dangrumbled."Thatsupposedtobeajoke?""Dan..."Amyputherhandonhisarm."Maybeweshouldlistentohim.Tenminutes.Whatdowehavetolose?"Dancouldthinkofalotofthings,butAlistairsmiled."Thankyou,mydear.Thereisacaféjusthere.
Shallwe?"Alistairwasbuying,soDanorderedanearlylunch--aturkey-and-cheesesandwichwithchipsand
alargeCoke,whichforsomeweirdreasonwasdeliveredinaglasswithnoice.Nelliespokewiththewaiter inFrench fora long timeandorderedsomeexoticgourmet thing.Thewaiter looked impressedwithherchoice,butwhenitcameDancouldn'ttellwhatitwas.ItlookedlikegobsofSillyPuttyingarlicbutter.
Inasadvoice,AlistairexplainedhowtheHoltshadambushedhimoutsidedeGaulleAirportandtakenthe
PoorRichard'sAlmanack."Thebarbarianshitmeinthefaceandcrackedoneofmyribs.Ireallyamgettingtoooldforthissort
ofthing."Hetouchedhisbruisedeyes."But ...why iseveryone trying tokill eachotherover thatbook?"Amyasked. "Aren't thereother
ways168tofindtheclue?LiketheinvisiblemessagewefoundinPhiladelphia--""Amy!"Dansaid."Keepsecretsmuch?""It'sallright,myboy,"Alistairsaid."You'recorrect,ofcourse,Amy.Therearemanypossiblepaths
towardthenextclue.Forinstance,Ifoundamessageencodedinafamousportraitby--well,here,seeforyourself."
UncleAlistairreachedintohiscoatandpulledoutapaper.Heunfoldedacolorprintofapainting.ItshowedBenjaminFranklinasanoldmaninaredflowingrobe,sittinginathunderstorm,whichseemedkindofdumb.Abunchofbabyangelshoveredaroundhim--twoathisfeet,workingonbatteries,andthreemorerightbehindhim,holdingupakitewithakeyonthestring.LightningzappedfromthekeyintoBen'supraisedhand.Bendidn'tlookupsetbythis.Hislonggrayhairwaswildandfrizzedout,somaybehewasusedtogettingshocked.
"Nowaydidithappenlikethat,"Dansaid."Withtheangelsandall.""No,Dan,"Alistairagreed."It'ssymbolic.Thepainter,BenjaminWest,meanttoshowFranklinasa
herofordrawinglightningoutofthesky.ButthereismoresymbolismthanIrealized--signshiddensodeeponlyaCahillcoulddiscoverthem.LookatFranklin'sknee."
Dandidn'tseeanythingexceptaknee,butAmygasped."Thatshapeinthefabric!"Dansquinted,andhesawwhatshemeant.PartofFranklin'skneewaspaintedinalightershadeof
red,169butitwasn'tjustarandomblotch.Itwasasilhouettehe'dseenmanytimesbefore."Whoa,"hesaid."TheLuciancrest."Nelliesquinted."That?Thatlookslikeoneofthoseladiesonatrucker'smudflaps.""No, it's two snakes around a sword,"Amy said. "Trustme, if you'd seen theLucian crest, you'd
recognizeit.""There'smore,"Alistairsaid."LookatthepaperFranklinisholding.Turnitupsidedown.There-
brushedoverwithwhitepaint,almostimpossibletoread."Danneverwould'venoticedifAlistairhadn'tsaidsomething,butwhenhelookedclosely,hecould
seethefaintshadowofwordsonthedocumentinFranklin'shand."'Paris,'"heread."'1785.'""Exactly,mydearboy:apaintingofFranklinwithakey,theCahillfamilycrest,andthewordsParis,1785.Asignificanthint.""Ineverwould'vefoundthis,"Amysaidinamazement.Alistairshrugged."Asyousaid,mydear,therearemanypossiblehints,allleadingusalongthepath
to thesecondclue.Unfortunately,weCahillswouldrather fighteachother,steal information,andkeepeachotherfromgettingahead"--heshiftedhisweightandwinced--"asmycrackedribandblackeyeswilltestify."
"Butwhoburiedallthesehintsinthefirstplace?"Amydemanded."Franklin?"170Alistairsippedhisespresso."Idon'tknow,mydear.IfIweretoguess,I'dsayitisahodgepodge,a
collectedeffortbymanyCahillsoverthecenturies.DearoldGraceseemstobetheonewhowovethemalltogether,thoughwhyorhow,Idon'tknow.
Whateverthefinaltreasureis,thegreatestCahillmindshavegonetoagooddealoftroubletohideit.Orperhaps,asinthecaseofBenjaminFranklin,someofthemaretryingtoleadus
towardit.Isupposewewillonlyknowforcertainwhenwefindthetreasure.""We?"Dansaid."Istillbelievewemusthaveanalliance,"Alistairsaid."Uh-uh."Nellieshookherhead."Don'ttrustthisguy,kiddos.He'stoosmooth."Alistairlaughed."Andyou'reanexpertonsmooth,
myteenagebabysitter?""Aupair!"Nelliecorrected.Alistair looked likehewanted tomakeanother jokeatherexpense.Thenheglancedather lethal
backpackandapparentlychangedhismind."Thepointis,children,ourcompetitorshavedecidedyouaretheteamtobeat.""Butwhyus?"Amydemanded.Alistairshrugged."You'vebeenaheadofthegamesofar.Youhaveescapedeverytrap.Youwere
alwaysGrace'sfavorites."Hiseyesglittered,likeastarvingmanlookingataBigMac."Let'sbehonest,eh?WeallbelieveGracegaveyouinsideinformation.
Shemusthave.Tellmewhatitis,andIcanhelpyou."171Dan clenched his fists. He remembered that video of Grace, how stunned he'd felt when she'd
announcedthecontest.Graceshouldhavegiven them inside information. If she'd really loved them, shewouldn't have left them in the
dark.Theother teamswereafter themnowbecause they thoughtAmyandDanwereGrace's favorites.ButapparentlyGracehadn'tcaredaboutthem.Theywerejustanotherteaminthisbigcruelgameshe'dcookedup.Themorehethoughtaboutit,themorebetrayedhefelt.HelookedatthejadenecklacearoundAmy'sneck.
Hewantedtoyankitoffandthrowitaway.Hiseyesstartedtoburn."Wedon'thaveinsideinformation,"hemumbled."Comenow,myboy,"Alistairsaid."Youareindanger.Icouldprotectyou.WecouldsearchtheCatacombstogether.""We'llsearchbyourselves,"Dansaid."Asyouwish,myboy.Butbe aware:TheCatacombsarehuge.There aremilesof tunnels.Most
aren'tevenmapped.Youcaneasilygetlostdownthere.Specialpolicepatrolittokeepouttrespassers.Someofthetunnelsareflooded.Otherscollapsefromtimetotime.SearchingforFranklin'sclueintheCatacombswillbedangerousandfutileunless"--heleanedforwardandraisedhiseyebrows--"unlessyoudo
knowsomethingyouhaven'ttoldme.Thealmanachadanoteinthemargin.Itmentionedcoordinatesinabox.Youwouldn'thappentoknowwhatthisboxmightbe?"
"Evenifweknew,"Dansaid,"wewouldn'ttellyou."172Amytouchedthejadenecklaceathercollar."Sorry,UncleAlistair.""Isee."Alistairsatback."Iadmireyourspirit.ButwhatifIwereto...tradeinformation?I'msure
you are wondering about those notes your mother made. I knew your parents. I could explain a fewthings."
Danfeltasiftheairhadturnedtoglass.Hewasafraidtomoveorhemightgetcut."Whatfewthings?"Alistair smiled, like he knewhe'd hooked them. "Yourmother's interest in the clues, perhaps.Or
whatyourfatherreallydidforaliving.""Hewasamathprofessor,"Amysaid."Mmm."Alistair's smilewas so irritatingDanwas tempted to tellNellie towhack himwith the
backpackagain."Maybeyou'dliketoknowaboutthenighttheydied?"
Theturkey-and-cheesesandwichchurnedinDan'sstomach."Whatdoyouknowaboutthat?""Manyyearsago,yourmother--"Alistairstoppedabruptly.Hiseyesfixedonsomethingacrossthe
street."Children,wemustcontinuethislater.IbelieveyoushouldlookintheCatacombsbyyourselves.I'llstaybehind,asashowofgoodfaith.""Whatdoyoumean?"Dandemanded.Alistairpointedwithhiscane.Ahundredyardsdownthestreet,IanandNatalieKabrawerepushing
throughthecrowd,hurryingtowardtheCatacombsentrance."I'llholdthemoffaslongasIcan,"Alistairpromised."Nowgetundergroundquickly!"173
CHAPTER16
Amy hated crowds, but the idea of plunging into themiddle of sevenmillion dead people didn'tbotherher.
Nellie,Dan,andshehurrieddownametalstaircase.Theyfoundthemselvesinalimestonecorridorwithmetalpipesrunningoverheadanddimelectriclights.Thewarmairsmelledofmildewandwetrock.
"Onlyoneexit,guys,"Nelliesaidnervously."Ifwegetcaughtdownhere--""Thetunnelshouldbranchoutsoon,"Amysaid,tryingtosoundmoreconfidentthanshefelt.Thestonewallswereetchedwithgraffiti.Somelookedrecent,someancient.Oneinscriptionwas
engravedonamarbleslabrightabovetheirheads."Stop,mortals,"Nellietranslated."Thisistheempireofdeath.""Cheerful,"Danmuttered.They kept walking. The floor under Amy's feet was slushy gravel. Amywas still thinking about
UncleAlistair.Hadhereallyknownsomethingabouttheir174parents,orwashejustmanipulatingthem?Shetriedtoputitoutofhermind."Wherearethebones?"Danasked.ThentheyturnedacornerintoalargeroomandDansaid,"Oh."Itwas the creepiestplaceAmyhadever seen.Against thewalls, humanboneswere stacked like
firewoodfromthefloortoaboveAmy'shead.Theremainswereyellowandbrown--mostlylegbones,butskullsstaredouthereandtherelikepatchesonaquilt.Alineofskullstoppedeachstack.
Amy walked in awed silence. The next room was the same as the first -- wall after wall ofmolderingremains.Dimelectriclightscasteerieshadowsoverthedead,makingtheiremptyeyesocketslookevenscarier.
"Gross,"Nelliemanaged."There's,like,thousands.""Millions,"Amysaid."Thisisonlyonesmallpart.""Theydugallthesepeopleup?"Danasked."Whowouldwantthatjob?"Amydidn'tknow,butshewasamazedhowtheworkershadmadepatternswithskullsinthestacksof
femurs--diagonals,stripes,connect-the-dotshapes.Inaweird,horribleway,itwasalmostbeautiful.Inthethirdroom,theyfoundastonealtarwithunlitcandles."Weneedtofindtheoldestsection,"Amysaid."Thesebonesaretoorecent.Lookattheplaque.It's
from1804."175Sheledtheway.Eyelesssocketsofthedeadseemedtostareatthemastheypassed."Thesearecool,"Dandecided."MaybeIcould--""No,Dan,"Amysaid."Youcan'tcollecthumanbones.""Awww."Nelliemumbled something that sounded likeaprayer inSpanish. "WhywouldBenjaminFranklin
wanttocomedownhere?""Hewasascientist."Amykeptwalking, reading thedateson thebrassplaques. "He likedpublic
worksprojects.Thiswould'vefascinatedhim.""Millionsofdeadpeople,"Nelliesaid."Realfascinating."Theyturneddownanarrowcorridorandfoundthemselvesfacingametalgate.Amyshookthebars.
Thegatecreakedopenlikeithadn'tbeenusedinhundredsofyears."Areyousureweshouldgodownthere?"Nellieasked.
Amy nodded. The dateswere getting older.On the other hand, therewere nometal pipes on theceilingupahead,whichmeantnoelectriclights.
"Anybodygotaflashlight?"sheasked."Yeah,"Nelliesaid."Onmykeychain."ShepulledoutherkeysandhandedthemtoAmy.Therewasalittlepush-buttonpinlight.Notmuch,
butbetterthannothing.Theykeptgoing.Afterahundredfeet,theyemergedinasmallroomwithonlyoneotherexit.
176Amyshonetheflashlightonanoldplaqueframedinskulls."1785!Thesehavetobethefirstbones
putdownhere."Thewalltheywerelookingatwasinbadshape.Theboneswerebrownandcrumbly,andsomehad
scatteredacrossthefloor.Theskullsalongthetophadbeencrushed,thoughtheonesquiltedintothewalllookedfairlyintact.Theyweredoneinasquarepattern--nothingexciting.
"Searcharound,"Amysaid."Ithastobehere."Danstuckhishandsintosomeofthegapsinthebonewall.Nelliecheckedthetopofthestack.Amy
lookedintotheskulls'eyesocketswiththeflashlight,butshesawnothing."It'shopeless,"shesaidatlast."Iftherewasanythinghere,anotherteammust'vefoundit."Danscratchedhishead.Thenhescratchedaskull'shead."Whyaretheynumbered?"Amywasn'tinthemoodforhisgames."Whatnumbers?""Hereontheforehead."Dantappedoneoftheskulls."Thisguywasnumberthree.Weretheyonafootballteamorsomething?"Amy leaned in closer. Dan was right. The number was very faint, but scratched into the skull's
forehead,likesomeonehadcarveditwithaknife,wastheRomannumeralIII.She examined the skull below it. XIX. A square pattern. Skulls with numbers. "Check them all.
Quick!"177Itdidn't take long.Thereweresixteenskullswoven into thepileofbones,done in four rowsand
fourcolumns.Threeoftheskullsdidn'thavenumbers.Therestdid.Theylookedlikethis:[proofreader'snote:thenumbersontheskullsareXVIIIIIIVIIVXIXXIIXVIXXVIIIVIIIXIIIAfewoftheskullshavenonumbersonthem.]AchillwentdownAmy'sback."Coordinatesinabox.Amagicbox!""What?"Dansaid."Whatmagic?""Dan,canyoumemorizethesenumbersandtheirplacement?""Ialreadyhave."
"Weneedtogetoutofhereandfindamap.Thisistheclue--well,thecluetotherealclue,whateverFranklinwashiding."178"Waitasec,"Nelliesaid."Franklinscratchednumbersonskulls.Why?""It'samagicbox,"Amysaid."Franklinusedtoplaywithnumberswhenhegotbored.Like when he was sitting in the Philadelphia Assembly and he didn't want to listen to the dull
speeches, he would create magic boxes, number problems for himself. He would fill in the missingnumbers.Thesumshadtomatch,horizontallyandvertically."
Nelliescowled."You'retellingmeBenjaminFranklininventedsudoku?""Well,yeah,inaway.Andthese--""Arecoordinates,"Dansupplied."Themissingsumsshowthelocationofthenextclue."Clappingechoedthroughtheroom."Bravo."Amyturned.StandingintheentrancewereIanandNatalieKabra."Itoldyoutheycoulddoit,"Iansaidtohissister."Oh,Isuppose,"Natalieconceded.Amyhatedthatevenundergroundinaroomfullofbones,Natalie
managed to look glamorous. She was wearing a black velour catsuit, so she looked eleven going ontwenty-three.Herhairhungloosearoundhershoulders.Theonlypartofheroutfitthatdidn'tmatchwasthetinysilverdartguninherhand."Perhapsitwasn't
albadthatIrinafailedus."179"You!"Dan yelled. "You convinced Irina to set us up at the Île St-Louis. You almost got us buried in
cement!""Ashameitdidn'twork,"Nataliesaid."Youwould'vemadeafinewelcomematforthemausoleum.""But--butwhy?"Amystammered.Iansmiled."Toputyououtofcommission,ofcourse.Andtogiveusextratimetofindthisplace.We
neededtomakesurethiswasn'tsomeclevermisdirectionbyourdearcousinIrina.Ishould'venoticedthemagicboxearlier.Thanksforyourhelp,Amy.
Now,ifyou'llmoveaside,we'lljustcopydownthosenumbersandbeoff."Amytookashakybreath."No."Ianlaughed."Isn'tshecute,Natalie?Actinglikeshehasachoice.""Yes."Nataliewrinkledhernose."Cute."Amyblushed.TheKabrasalwaysmadeherfeelsoawkwardandstupid,butshecouldn'tletthemget
the clue. She snatched up a leg bone. "Onemove and I'll -- I'll crush the skulls. You'll never get thenumbers."
It didn't sound like avery convincing threat, even toher, but Ianpaled. "Now let's notbe stupid,Amy.Iknowhownervousyouget,butwewon'thurtyou."
"Not at all,"Natalie agreed. She pointed her dart gun atAmy's face. "I think poison sixwill beadequate.Nothinglethal.Justadeep,deepsleep.I'msuresomeonewillfindyoudownhere...someday."
A shadow loomed up behind the Kabras. Suddenly, Uncle Alistair charged into the room andknocked
180Natalietotheground.HerdartgunskitteredawayandIandoveafterit."Run!"Alistairyelled.Amydidn'targue.She,Nellie,andDanracedthroughtheotherexit,intothedarkness--deeperintotheCatacombs.Theyranforwhatseemedlikehours,withnothingbutthepinlighttoguidethem.
Theyturneddownonecorridorandfounditblockedbyamoundofrubble.Theydoubledbackandfollowedanother tunneluntil it submergedcompletely inmurkyyellowwater.Soon,Amyhadno ideawhichdirectiontheywereheading.
"Alistairsaidtherearepolicedownhere,"shemurmured."Iwishonewouldfindus."Buttheysawnoone.Thelittleflashlightstartedtodim."No,"Amysaid."No,no,no!"Theyforgedahead.Fiftyfeet,sixtyfeet,andtheirlightwentoutcompletely.AmyfoundDan'shandandsqueezedittight."It'sgoingtobefine,kiddos,"Nelliesaid,buthervoicewasquavering."Wecan'tbelostdownhere
forever."Amydidn'tseewhynot.TheCatacombswentonformilesandhadneverbeenmappedcompletely.
Therewasnoreasonanyonewouldcomelookingforthem."Wecouldshoutforhelp,"Dansaid.181"Itwon'tdoanygood,"Amysaidgloomily."I'msorry,guys.ThisisnothowIwantedthingstoend.""It'snottheend!"Dansaid."Wecouldfollowonewalluntilwefindanotherexit.Wecould--""Shhh!"Amysaid."I'mjustsaying--""Dan,seriously!Bequiet!IthoughtIheardsomething."Thetunnelwassilentexceptforthedistantdripofwater.ThenAmyhearditagain--afaintrumbling
fromsomewhereinfrontofthem."Atrain?"Nellieasked.Amy'sspiritslifted."WemustbenearaMétrostation.Comeon!"Sheshuffledforwardwithherhandsoutstretched.Sheshudderedasshetouchedawallofbones,but
she followed the corridor as it twisted to the right.Gradually, the rumbling sounds grew louder.Amygropedtotheleft.Herhandtouchedmetal.
"Adoor!"shecried."Dan,there'ssomekindoflockmechanismhere.Comehereandfigurethisout.""Where?"Shefoundhiminthedarkandguidedhishandstothelock.Withinseconds,thehatchcreakedopen
andtheywereblindedbyelectriclight.IttookAmyafewmomentstocomprehendwhatshewasseeing.Thehatchwasmorelikeawindow
thanadoor--asquareopeningaboutfivefeetofftheground,justbigenoughtocrawlthroughifthey182climbeduptoit.Theywereeyelevelwiththesideofsomerailroadtracks--metalrailsonwooden
ties.Andsomethingbrownandfurrywasscamperingoverthegravelbed.Amyjumped."Arat!"Therodentregardedher,clearlyunimpressed,thenscurriedonitsway."It'sarailpit,"Dansaid."Wecanclimboutand-"The light got brighter. Thewhole tunnel rumbled.Amy fell back and cupped her ears against the
sound--likeaherdofdinosaurs.Atrainblastedpastinablurofmetalwheels.Itsuckedtheairrightoutoftheirtunnel,pullingherclothesandhairtowardthehatch.Then,justassuddenly,itwasgone.
Whenshewassurehervoicewouldworkagain,shesaid,"Wecan'tgooutthere!We'llgetkilled!""Look,"Dansaid."There'saserviceladderaboutfivefeetdown.We'llcrawluptotherails,runto
theladder,andclimbtotheplatform.Easy!""That'snoteasy!Whatifanothertraincomes?""Wecantimeit,"Nelliesuggested."I'vegotaclockonmyiPod...."Shepulleditoutofherpocket,butshe'dhardlypressedthewheelbeforeanothertrainroaredby.
Nellie'sglitteryeyeshadowmadeher face lookghostly in thedim light. "Thatwas less than fiveminutes.Therailsmustbeforexpresstrains.We'llhavetohurry."
183"Right!"Dansaid,andjustlikethathescrambledupandoutofthehatch."Dan!"Amyshouted.Heturned,crouchingonthetracks."Comeon!"Inadaze,AmyletNelliegiveheraboost.WithDan'shelp,shecrawledout."Nowhelpmewith
Nellie!"Dansaid."Butwatchthethirdrail."Amystiffened.Twofeetawaywastheblackelectricrailthatranthetrains.Sheknewenoughabout
subways to understand that one touchwould beworse than a thousand Franklin batteries. She helpedNellieoutof thehatch,but itwasa tightsqueeze.Theylost time.Therailshissedandclickedbeneaththem.
"I'mokay!"Nelliesaid,brushingoffherclothes."Let'sgettotheladder."Danstartedtofollow,buthelurchedwhenhetriedtostand,likehewascaughtonsomething."Dan?"Amysaid."It'smybackpack,"hesaid."It'swedged..."Hetuggedat ithelplessly.Somehow,onestraphadgottenloopedaroundametalrail,andtherail
hadshifted,clampingthepackintoplace."Leaveit!"Amycried.Nelliewasalreadyattheladder,yellingatthemtohurry.Passengersontheplatformwerestartingto
noticethem,too.Theywereyellinginalarm,shoutinginFrench.Danslippedthebackpackoffhisshoulder,butitwasstillstucktotherail.Hetuggedatit184andtriedtoopenit,buthewasn'thavinganyluck."Now!"Nellieyelled.Amycouldfeelafaintrumblinginthetracksatherfeet."Dan!"shepleaded."It'snotimportant!""Icangetit.Justanothersecond.""Dan,no.It'sjustabackpack!""Itwon'topen!"Thefarendofthetunnellitup.Nelliewasrightabovethemontheplatform,reachingoutherhand.A
lotofotherpassengersweredoingthesame,imploringthemtograbhold."Amy!"Nelliecried."Youfirst!"Shedidn'twantto,butmaybeifshewentfirst,Danwouldseereason.ShegrabbedNellie'shandand
Nelliehauledherfromtherailpit.Immediately,AmyturnedandstuckherhandouttoDan."Dan,please!"shecalled."Now!"Thetrain'sheadlightflashedintosight.Windrushedthroughthetunnel.Thegroundtrembled.Dangavethebackpackanothertug,butitwouldn'tbudge.Helookedatthetrain,andAmysawhe
wascrying.Shedidn'tunderstandwhy."Dan,take-MY-HAND!"She leanedout as far as shecould.The trainbarreleddownon them.Witha cryof anguish,Dan
grabbedherhand,andwithmorestrengththanAmyknewshehad,sheyankedhimoutofthepitsohardtheytumbledovereachother.
185Thetrainrushedon.Whenthenoisedied,thepassengersontheplatformallbrokelooseatonce--
scoldingtheminFrenchwhileNellietriedtoexplainandapologize.Amydidn't carewhat theywere saying.Sheheldherbrother,whowascryingharder thanhehad
sincehewaslittle.Shelookedovertheedgeofthepit,butthebackpackwasgone,sweptawayintothetunnelsbythe
force of the train. They sat for a long time while Dan shivered and wiped his eyes. Eventually, thepassengers lost interest in them. They drifted away or stepped onto other trains and disappeared. Nopolice came. Pretty soon it was just Nellie, Amy, and Dan, sitting in a corner of the platform like ahomelessfamily.
"Dan,"Amysaidgently."Whatwasinthere?Whatdidyouhaveinthebackpack?"Hesniffledandrubbedhisnose."Nothing."ItwastheworstlieAmyhadeverheard.Usually,shecouldtellwhathewasthinkingjustbylooking
athisface,buthewashidinghisthoughtsfromher.Shecouldonlytellthathewasmiserable."Forgetit,"hesaid."Wedon'thavetime.""Areyousure--""Isaidforgetit!WeneedtofigureoutthatnumberboxbeforetheKabras,don'twe?"Shedidn'tlikeit,buthewasright.Besides,somethingtoldherthatiftheystayedheremuchlonger,
thepolicewouldcomeandstartaskingquestions.She186took one last look at the rail pitwhereDan had almost died and the dark hatch that led into the
Catacombs.Fearstillcoursedthroughherbody,butthey'dbeenthroughtoomuchtogiveupnow."Let'sgo,then,"shesaid."We'vegotacluetofind."Outsideithadstartedtorain.By the time they found a café,Dan seemed back to normal -- or at least they'd come to a silent
agreementthattheywouldactlikeeverythingwasnormal.Theysatunder theawningtodryoffwhileNellieorderedfood.Amy
didn'tthinkshecouldeat,butshewashungrierthanshe'drealized.Itwasfiveintheafternoon.They'dbeenintheCatacombsalongtime.She shuddered as she thought about Ian and Natalie and the poison dart gun. She hoped Uncle
Alistair was all right. She still didn't trust him, but there was no denying he'd saved them in theCatacombs.Shehadterriblethoughtsoftheoldmanlyingaloneandunconsciousinthemaze.
Astheyatebrie-and-mushroomsandwiches,DandrewskullsandRomannumeralsonanapkin."Twelve,five,fourteen,"hesaid."Thosearethemissingnumbers."Amydidn'tbothercheckinghismath.Henevermesseduponnumberproblems."Maybeit'sanaddressandanarrondissement,"shesaid.187NelliewipedoffheriPod."Wouldn'ttheaddresshavechangedintwohundredyears?"Amy got a hollow feeling in her gut. Nellie was probably right. Paris might not have had the
arrondissementsystemwhenFranklinlivedhere.Andstreetaddressesdefinitelywould'vechanged--inwhichcaseFranklin'scluewasnogoodanymore.
WouldGracehavesentthemonasearchthatcouldn'tbefinished?Whynot?aresentfulvoicesaidinsideofher.Grace didn't care enough to tell you about the quest in person. IfDanhaddied in that rail pit, it
would'vebeenGrace'sfault.No,shedecided.Thatwasn'ttrue.Gracemust'vehadareason.Thenumbersmustrefertosomething
else. Amy could only think of one way to find out -- the same thing she did whenever she had anunsolvableproblem."Weneedtofindalibrary."
NellietalkedtothewaiterinFrench,andheseemedtounderstandwhattheywanted.
"Pasdeproblème,"hesaid.HedrewamaponafreshnapkinandscribbledthenameofaMétrostation:ÉcoleMilitaire."Wehavetohurry,"Nelliesaid."Hesaysthelibraryclosesatsix."Halfanhourlater,soggyandstillsmellingliketheCatacombs,theyarrivedattheAmericanLibrary
inParis.188"Perfect,"Amysaid.Theoldbuildinghadblackmetalsecuritybarsoverthedoorway,buttheywere
open.Peeringinside,Amysawstacksofbooksandplentyofcomfortableplacestoread."Whyshouldtheseguyshelpus?"Danasked."Imean,wedon'thavealibrarycardoranything."ButAmywasalreadyclimbingthesteps.Forthefirsttimeindays,shefeltabsolutelyconfident.This
washerworld.Sheknewwhattodo.The librarians came to their aid like soldiers responding to a battle cry.Amy told them shewas
researching Benjamin Franklin, andwithinminutes Amy, Dan, andNellie were sitting at a table in aconferenceroom,examiningreproductionsofFranklindocuments
--somesorare,thelibrarianstoldher,theonlycopiesexistedinParis."Yeah,here'sararegrocerylist,"Danmuttered."Wow."HewasabouttotossitasidewhenAmygrabbedhiswrist."Dan,youneverknowwhat'simportant.Backthenthereweren'tmanystores.Ifyouwantedtobuy
something,youhadtosendthemerchantanorderandhaveyourstuffshipped.WhatdidFranklinbuy?"Dansighed.'"Pleasetosendthefollowing:3--TreatiseonCyderMakingbyCave;2--NelsonontheGovernmentofChildren,8vol.,byDodsley;1Qty.--IronSolute;LettersfromaRussianOfficer--'"189"Holdit,"Amysaid.'"IronSolute.'WherehaveIheardthatbefore?""Itwasonthatotherlist,"Dansaidwithouthesitation,"inoneoftheletterswesawinPhiladelphia."Amyfrowned."Butironsoluteisn'tabook.Thiswholelistisbooksexceptforthat.""What'sironsolute,anyway?"Danasked."Oh,guys,Iknowthis!"Nelliechimedin.Sheheldupherhandsandclosedhereyeslikeshewas
rememberingtheanswerforatest."It'slikeachemicalsolution,right?Theyuseitformetalworkingandprintingandabunchofotherstuff."Amystaredather."Howdidyouknowthat?""Hey,I tookchemistrylastsemester.Iremember 'causetheprofessorwastalkingabout, like,how
theymake high-end cooking equipment. Franklin probably used iron solute for his inkwhen hewas aprinter."
"That'sgreat,"Danmuttered."Exceptforthefactthatit'scompletelyunimportant]Nowcanwegetbacktothemagicboxcoordinates?"Amystillfeltsomethingnagginginthebackofherhead,likeshewasmissingaconnection,butshe
rifledthroughtherestofthepapers.Finally,sheunfoldedahugeyellowingdocumentthatturnedouttobeanold-fashionedmapofParis.Hereyeswidened.
"Thisisit."Amyputherfingerproudlyoveraspotonthemap."Achurch.St-PierredeMontmartre.
That'swhereweneedtogo.""Howcanyoubesure?"Nellieasked.190"Thenumbersformagrid, see?" She pointed to the margins. "This is an old surveyor's map by a couple of French
scientists,ComptedeBuffonandThomas-FrancoisD'Alibard.Irememberreadingaboutthem.Theywerethe first to test Franklin's lightning rod theories. After they proved the rods worked, King Louis XVIorderedthemtodrawupaplantooutfitallthemajorbuildingsinParis.Thatchurchwasthefourteenthinstallation,atcoordinatesfivebytwelve.Franklinwould'veknownaboutthework.HewasreallyproudofhowtheFrenchtooktohisideas.That
hastobeit.I'llbetyouaboxofFrenchchocolatewe'llfindanentrancetotheCatacombsatthechurch."Danlookeddoubtful.Outside,therainwasreallycomingdown.Thundershookthewindowsofthe
library."WhatiftheKabrasgettherefirst?""Wehavetomakesurethatdoesn'thappen,"Amysaid."Comeon!"191
CHAPTER17
DanfeltlikeoneoftheCatacombskulls--hollowedoutinside.Hewasdeterminednottoshowit.Hewasembarrassedenoughthathe'dcriedonthetrainplatform.
But he kept reaching for his backpack and itwasn't there.He couldn't stop thinking about his parents'picture,whiskedawayandlostintheMétrotunnels.
Maybeithadbeenrippedtoshreds,ormaybehisparentswouldbesmilinginthedarknessforeverwithnocompanybut the rats.Allhe'dwanted todowasmake themproud.Nowhedidn'tknowifhisparentswouldeverforgivehim.
The rain was still coming down. Thunder boomed across the sky. Every fewminutes a flash oflightningwouldilluminatetheParisskyline.
IfDanhadbeeninabettermood,hewould'vewantedtoexploreMontmartre.Itlookedlikeacoolneighborhood.Thewholeareawasonebighill,toppedwithamassivewhite-domedchurchthatglowedintherain.
192"That'swherewe'regoing?"Danasked.Amyshookherhead."That'stheSacré-CoeurBasilica.Thesmallerchurch,St-Pierre,isjustbelow
it.Youcan'tseeitfromhere.""Twochurchesrighttogether?""Yeah.""Whywouldn'tFranklinchoosethebigfancyone?"Amyshrugged. "Wasn't his style.He liked simple architecture.Hewould've thought it amusing to
chooseasmallplainchurchintheshadowofabigfancyone."Thatdidn'tmakemuchsensetoDan,buthewastoowetandtiredtoargue.Theyhikedupthenarrow
streets,passingnightclubswithmusicblaringandneonsignsthatgleamedagainstthewetpavement."Iusedtohaveanightlife,"Nelliesighed.Astheyclimbedtowardthetopofthehill,Amytoldthemwhatsheknewabouttheneighborhood--
howfamousartistsusedtoliveherelikePicasso,VincentvanGogh,andSalvadorDali.Nelliepulledherraincoattighter."Mymomtoldmeanotherstory--whyit'scalledMontmartre,the
HilloftheMartyr.ShesaidSaintDeniswasbeheadedatthesummit,rightwherewe'regoing."Thatdidn'tsoundlikeaverygoodomen.Danwonderediftheystillkepttheheadinthechurch,and
whethersaints'headsreallyhadhaloes.Afewminuteslatertheystoodinamuddygraveyard,lookingupatthedarksilhouetteofSt-Pierre193deMontmartre.Thechurchwasprobablytallerthanitseemed,butwiththewhitebasilicatowering
onthehillbehindit,St-Pierrelookedshort.Itwasmadeofgraystoneslabs.Asinglesquarebelltowerrosefromtheleft-handside,toppedwithalightningrodandcross.Danthoughtthebuildinglookedangryandresentful.Ifchurchescouldfrown,thisonewould.
"Howdoweknowwheretolook?"heasked."Insidethesanctuary?"Nellieaskedhopefully."Atleastwe'dbeoutoftherain."BOOM!Thunderrolledacrosstherooftops.Lightningflashed,andinthatsecond,Dansawsomething."There,"hesaid."Thattombstone.""Dan,"Amycomplained,"thisisnotimeforyourcollection!"Butherantoamarblemarker.Ifhehadn'tbeenatombstoneadmirer,heneverwould'venoticedit.
Therewerenodates.Noname.At first,Dan thought the figurecarvedat the topwasanangel,but theshapewaswrong.Itwasweatheredandworn,buthecouldstilltell-
"Entwinedserpents,"Amygasped."TheLuciancrest.Andthere--"Shekneltandtracedanarrowcarvedatthebaseofthemarker--anarrowpointingdownintothe
earth.AmyandDanlookedateachotherandnodded."Oh,you'rekidding,"Nelliesaid."You'renotreallygoingto--""Digupagrave,"Dansaid.194Theyfoundatoolshedaroundthesideofthechurch.Theyborrowedashovel,acoupleofgardening
spades,andaflashlightthatactuallyworked.Soontheywerebackatthegraveside,digginginthemud.Therainmadeithardgoing.Innotime,theywerecompletelyfilthy.ItremindedDanofthegoodolddayswhenAmyandhewereyoung.Theyusedtohavemudbattlesandtheiraupairwouldshriekinhorrorandmakethemspendtheeveninginabubblebath,gettingcleanedup.
Dandidn'tthinkNelliewasgoingtomakethemabubblebathtonight.Slowly, the hole got deeper. It kept filling with water, but finally Dan's shovel struck stone. He
scrapedawaythemudandfoundamarbleslababoutfourfeetlongbythreefeetwide."Toosmallforacoffin,"Amysaid."Unlessit'sforakid,"Dansaid."Icouldfitinthere.""Don'tsaythat!"Danwipedthemudoffhisface,whichjustmadeitmuddier."Onlyonewaytofindout."Heworked
thespadeundertheedgeoftheslabuntilhefoundacrackandthenstartedtopry."Ineedhelp."Amyjoinedhim.Nelliegottheshovelintothecrackandtogethertheyheavedtheslabaside.Beneath
wasasquarehole,butitwasn'tagrave.Stairsleddown,intothedarknessoftheCatacombs.195As soon as they reached the bottom, Dan swept the flashlight around the room. It was a square
chamberhewnfromlimestone,withatunnelexitingtotheleftandtheright.Therewerenostacksofbones,butthewallswerepaintedwithfadedmurals.Inthecenterwasan
ornatelycarvedstonepedestalaboutthreefeethigh.Onthetopsataporcelainvase."Don'ttouchit!"Amysaid."Itmightbebooby-trapped."Danedgedclosertothevase."It'sdecoratedwithlittleFranklins."HecouldmakeoutBenholdingakiteinastorm,Beninafurcap,Benwavingacaneovertheocean
likehewasdoingsomekindofmagictrick."It'sasouvenirvase,"Amysaid."Thekindtheymadeinthe1700stocelebrateFranklin'sarrivalin
Paris.""Twentybuckssayssomething'sinside,"Danoffered."Nobet,"Amysaid."Guys,"Nelliesaid."Lookatthis."Shewasstandingatthebackwall.Dancameoverandshonethelightonthemural.Thecolorswerefaded,butDancouldmakeoutfourfigures:twomenandtwowomen,dressedin
old-fashioned clothes -- even older than from Franklin's time, like from the Middle Ages or theRenaissanceorsomething.
196Eachwaspaintedlargerthanlife.Onthefarleftwasathin,cruel-lookingmanwithdarkhair.He
heldadaggerthatwasalmosthiddeninhissleeve.FadedblacklettersathisfeetreadL.CAHILL.Nexttohimstoodayoungladywithshortblondhairandintelligenteyes.Sheheldanold-fashionedmechanismwithbronzegears--likeanavigationinstrumentoraclock.Theinscriptionunderthehemofherbrown
dressreadK.CAHILL.Toherrightwasahugedudewithathickneckandbushyeyebrows.Hehadaswordathisside.Hisjawandhisfistswereclenched,likehewasgettingreadytoslam
hisheadintoabrickwall.TheinscriptionreadT.CAHILL.Finally,onthefarright,wasawomaninagolddress.Herredhairwasgatheredinabraidoveroneshoulder.Sheheldasmallharp--likeoneofthose IrishharpsDanhadseen in theSaintPatrick'sDayparadebackhome inBoston.Her inscriptionreadJ.CAHILL.
Dan got the strangest feeling all four were watching him. They seemed angry, like he'd justinterrupted them in themiddleofa fight...but thatwasstupid.Howcouldhe tell that just fromawallpainting?
"Whoarethey?"Nellieasked.AmytouchedthefigureofL.Cahill,themanwiththeknife."L...forLucian?""Yeah,"Dansaid.Hewasn'tsurehow,butheknewimmediatelythatAmywasright.Itwaslikehe
couldreadtheexpressionsofthepaintedfigures,thewayhe197couldsometimesdowithAmy."Lucianbranch.Thatguywasthefirst.""AndK.Cahill..."Amymovedtotheladywiththemechanicaldevice."MaybeKstoodforKatrina
orKatherine?LikeEkaterinabranch?""Maybe."Danlookedattheguywiththesword."ThenTforTomas?Hey,helooksliketheHolts."ThepictureofT.Cahillseemedtoglareathim.Dancouldtotallyseehiminapurplerunningsuit.
ThenDanturnedhisattentiontothelastpicture--theladywiththeharp."And...JforJanus.YouthinkhernamewasJane?"
Amynodded."Couldbe.ThefirstoftheJanus.Look,she'sgot--""JonahWizard'seyes,"Dansaid.Theresemblancewaseerie."Thesefour,"Amysaid."Theylookalmostlike--""Brothers and sisters," Dan said. It wasn't just their similar features. It was their postures, their
expressions.Danhadbeen inenough fightswithAmy to recognize the look:Theseguyswere siblingswho'd spent years annoying each other. The way they were standing -- like they knew each otherintimatelybutwerealsotryingreallyhardnottothrottleeachother.
"Somethingmust'vehappenedbetweenthem,"Amysaid."Something..."Hereyeswidened.Shemovedtothemiddleofthemuralandbrushedawaysomecobwebsbetween
K.andT.Cahill.There,smallbutclearonthepainted198horizon,wasaburninghouseandadarkfigurerunningawayfromit--someoneshroudedinablack
cloak."A fire." Amy clutched her jade necklace. "Like Grace's mansion. Like what happened to our
parents.Wehaven'tchangedinallthesecenturies.We'restilltryingtodestroyeachother."Danranhisfingersacrossthemural.Itmadenosensethattheycouldknowwhothesepeoplewere,
buthewassureAmywasright.Hejustknewit,somewhereinside.Hewaslookingatfoursiblings--thebeginningsoftheCahillbranches.Hestudiedtheirfacesthe
wayheusedtodowithhisparents'photograph,wonderingwhoheresembledmost."Butwhathappened?"Nelliesaid."Whatwasinthathouse?"Danturnedtowardthestonepedestal."Idon'tknow,butI'mthinkingit'stimetoopenthatvase."Danvolunteered.AmyandNelliestoodbackasheslowlyliftedthevaseoffthepedestal.Nopoison
arrowsflewout.Nospikesshotfromtheceilingandnosnakepitsopenedup,whichDanfoundkindofdisappointing.
HewasabouttoopenthelidwhenAmysaid,"Wait."Shepointedtothebaseofthepedestal.Danhadnoticedthecarvings,buthehadn'trealizedexactly
whattheywere.
199"Isthat...sheetmusic?"heasked.Amynodded.Notes, lines, and stanzas were etched in the rock -- a complicated song. It brought back bad
memoriesofDan'spianoteacher,Mrs.Harsh,who'dquitgivinghimlessonslastyearafterhepaintedherminorkeyswithCrazyGlue.
"Whatdoesitmean?"heasked."Idon'tknow,"Amysaid."Franklinlikedmusic--""Probablyjustdecoration,"Dansaidimpatiently.Somethingwasrattlingaroundinsidethevase,and
hewasitchingtoopenit.Heputhishandonthelid."Dan,no!"Amysaid.Butheopenedit.Nothingbadhappened.Danreachedinsideandpulledoutacorkedglasscylinder
wrappedinpaper."Whatisthat?"Amyasked."Liquid,"Dansaid."Avialofsomething."Heuntiedthepaperandtosseditaside."Hey!"Amysaid."Thatcouldbeimportant.""It'sjustawrapper."Shepickeditupandunfoldedit.Shescannedwhateverwasonitandquicklytuckeditinhershirt
pocket.Dandidn'tcareaboutthat.Hewastryingtodecipherthewordsetchedontheglassvial.Insidewasathickgreenliquid,liketheslimeheusedtoplaywithandthrowathisfriends.Theinscriptionread:
200[proofreader'snote:printedonthevial is"Saothugearchsith,osIgearchethe.Sueyhtslslkihet
urthtotefre."]"Whatisthat?"Nelliesaid."German?"Amyasked."Uh-uh,"Nelliesaid."That'snolanguageI'veeverseen."Suddenly,Dan'swholebodytingled.Thelettersstartedrearrangingthemselvesinhishead."It'sone
ofthosewordpuzzles,"heannounced."Wheretheyscrambletheletters.""Ananagram?"Amysaid."Howcanyoutell?"Dancouldn'texplain.Itjustmadesensetohim,thesamewaynumbersdid,orlocks,orbaseballcardstats."Givemeapieceofpaperanda
pen."Amyfishedaroundinherbag.Theonlypapershecouldfindwasapieceofcrèmecardstock--their
originalclueaboutPoorRichard --butDandidn'tcare.HegaveAmy thevialand took thepaper.Heturneditoverandwroteontheback,unscramblingtheanagramwordbyword:
Asthouchargethis,soIchargethee.Usethyskillsthetruthtofree.201Nelliewhistled."Okay,I'mimpressed.""It'sthesecondclue,"Dansaid."Thesecond
bigone.Thishastobeit."Amyfrowneddoubtfully."Maybe.Butwhatdoesitmean--Asthouchargethis?"Suddenly,lightfloodedtheroom."Goodjob,cuz!"Atthefootofthestairs,drippingwetbutlookingquitepleasedwithhimself,was
JonahWizard.Hisfatherstoodbehindhimwithavideocamera."Man, this'llmakegreatTV."Jonahsmiledwickedly."This is thepartwhere I swoop in,bust the
lightweights,andganktheclue!"202
CHAPTER18
ArushofdesperateenergyfilledAmy'sbody,likeithadwhenshe'dpulledDanoutoftherailpit.Shehadn'tcomealthiswaytodealwithaconceitedjerklikeJonahWizard.SheimaginedGrace'svoiceinherhead,speakingwithtotalconfidence:Youwillmakemeproud,Amy.
Sheraisedthevial."Backoff,Jonah,or...orI'llsmashit!"Helaughed."Youwouldn't."Buthesoundednervous."Awesomefootage!"Jonah'sdadsaid."Keepitrolling,son.Greatchemistry.""Andputdownthatcamera!"Amyshouted.DanandNelliestaredather inamazement,butAmydidn'tcare.Shedidn'tcarehowvaluable the
vialmightbe,either.She'dhadenoughoftheCahillfamily'sbackstabbing.Shewassoangryshedidfeellikethrowingtheglasscylinderagainstthefloor.Apparently,Jonahsensedit,too."Allright,cuz.Takeiteasy.We'reallfriendshere,right?"203"Thecamera!"Amysteppedforwardlikeshewasgoingtochargehim.Jonahflinched."Dad,stopthecamera.""But,son-""Justdoit!"Reluctantly,Jonah'sdadstoppedfilming."Okay,Amy."Jonahputonhisdazzlingsmile."We'regoodnow,right?Youknowthat'sthesecond
clue.Ifyoudestroyit,thewholequestends.Nobodygetsanything.Thatwhatyouwant?""Backup,"sheordered,"intothecorner.GostandbyJane."Jonahfurrowedhiseyebrows."Who?""Themural.Gostandbytheladyintheyellow--yourgreat-great-great-great-great-grandmother."Jonahclearlydidn'tknowwhatshewastalkingabout,buthewentalong.Heandhisdadbackedinto
thecorner.Danwhistled."Nicejob,sis.""Getupthestairs,"shetoldhim."Youtoo,Nellie.Hurry!"Assoonastheywereup,Amyfolowed,butsheknewJonahandhisdadwouldn'tstayputforlong."Thatwasawesome!"Danwasbouncingupanddownwithexcitement. "Canweseal themdown
there?""Dan,listen,"shesaid."TheinscriptionAsthouchargethis.Ithinkthestuffinthisvialisinert.""What'sanert?"204"Inert!Likeinactive.Itneedsenergytocatalyzeit.Franklinmessedaroundwithchemistry.Whenhe
saysa'charge'..."Dangrinned."Ofcourse!""It'sdangerous.""Nochoice.""Whatareyouguystalking--"Nellieglancedtowardthestreet."Oh,poop.Look!"
A purple ice cream truckwas barreling toward them. It swerved to a stop in front of the gates.EisenhowerHoltscowledbehindthewheel.
"Insidethechurch!"Amysaid."Quick!"Theyracedupthepath.Amytuggedopenthesanctuarydoorsandcrashedstraightintoacherry-red
suit."Hello,mydearchildren."UncleAlistairsmileddownatthem.Helookedlikearaccoonwithhis
twoblackeyes.StandingnexttohimwasIrinaSpasky.Amy'sheartcrawledintoherthroat."You...youandher?""Now, now," the old man said. "I saved your life in the Catacombs. I told you alliances are
important.I'msimplymakingfriendswhereIcan.Isuggestyouhandoverthatvial,mydear.IwouldhateforCousinIrinatouseherpersuasivetechniques."
Irinaextendedherfingernails.Atinyneedlesproutedfromeachone.Amy turned to run, but her eyeswidened.Somethingwashurtling towardher from the street -- a
largewhitecube.205"Duck!"sheyelled.Nellie,Dan,andshehitthefloorasacrateoficecreamsailedovertheirheads.
Thecratemust'vebeenfromthebackofthefreezer,becauseitcrashedintoAlistairandIrinalikeablockofcementandknockedthembothflat.
"Revengetime!"EisenhowerHoltyelled,pullingmorefrozenammunitionfromthebackofhisvan.Arnoldthepitbullbarkedexcitedly.ThewholeHoltfamilychargedupthesidewalk,eachholdingacrateofcrèmeglacée.
"Amy,"Dansaidnervously."Areyou..."Hedidn'tfinish,butsheknewwhathewasasking.Thelasttimethey'dencounteredtheHolts,Amy
had panicked. This time she couldn't afford to. That Cahill mural in the secret room had steeled herwillpower.
"Nellie,getoutofhere,"sheordered."Theydon'twantyou.Gocallthepolice!""But-""That's the bestway you can help us.Go!"Amy didn'twait for an answer. She andDan dashed
insidethechurch,leapingoverthegroaningformsofAlistairandIrina.Theyrantowardthebackofthesanctuary.Amydidn'thavetimetoadmirethechurch,butshefeltlikeshe'dplungedintotheMiddleAges.Gray
stonecolumnssoareduptoavaultedceiling.Endlessrowsofwoodenpewsfacedthealtar,andstainedglasswindowsglintedinthedimlightofprayercandles.Theirfootstepsechoedonthestonetiles.
206"There!" Dan yelled. A door stood open on their left -- a steep flight of stairs leading up. Amy
latchedthedoorbehindthem,butsheknewitwouldn'tholdtheHoltsforlong.Theyscrambledupthestairs.Danstartedwheezing.Amyputherarmaroundhimandhalfcarried
him.Up,up,up.Shehadn't realized thebell towercouldbesohigh.Finally, she founda trapdoorand
threwitopen.Rainpoureddownonherface.Theyclimbedintothebelfry,whichwasopentothestormonallsides.Abronzebellthesizeofafilecabinetsatinonecorner.Itlookedlikeithadn'tbeenrungincenturies.
"Helpme!"Amycried.Shecouldhardlymovethebell,buttogether,theymanagedtodragitontopofthetrapdoor.
"That-should-hold,"Danwheezed."Little-while."Amyleanedoutthesideofthetower,intotherainanddarkness.Thegraveyardlookedimpossibly
farbelow.ThecarsonthestreetlookedliketheMatchboxtoysDanusedtoplaywith.Amygropedalongthestonewalloutsidethewindow.Herfingersclosedaroundacoldmetalbar.Atinysetofrungswasembeddedinthesideofthetower,leadinguptothesteeple,abouttenfeetaboveher.Ifshefell...
"Stayhere,"sheorderedDan."No!Sis,youcan't--"207"Ihaveto.Here,takethis."Shegavehimthepaperthathadbeenwrappedaroundthevial."Keep
thatdryandhidden."Danstuffeditintohispants."Sis..."Helookedterrified.Amyrealizedmorethaneverhowalonetheywereintheworld.All theyhad
waseachother.Shesqueezedhisshoulder."I'llmakeitback,Dan.Don'tworry."BOOM!Thebellshudderedassomeoneunderneath,someoneverystrong,slammedintothetrapdoor.BOOM!Amyslippedtheglassvialintoherpocketandswungonelegoutthewindow,intoopendarkness.Shecouldbarelyhangon.Rainstunghereyes.Shedidn'tdarelookdown.Sheconcentratedonthe
nextrungoftheladder,andslowly,shepulledherselfupontotheslantedtileroof.Finally,shewasatthepeak.Anoldironlightningrodpointedintothesky.Atitsbasewasametal
ringlikeatinybasketballhoop,andbelowthatagroundingwire,justlikeFranklinhadrecommendedinhisearlyexperiments.Amylashedthewirearoundherwrist,thentookoutthevial.Itwassoslipperyshealmostlostit.Carefully,sheslippeditintotheironring--aperfectfit.
Sheinchedbackdowntheroof."Please,"shethought,holdingontighttotherungs.208Shedidn'thavetowaitlong.Thehairstooduponthebackofherneck.Shesmelledsomethinglike
burningaluminumfoil,andthen,CRACCCCK!Theskyexploded.Sparksraineddownallaroundher,hissingonthewettiles.Dazed,shelosther
balanceandskittereddowntheroof.Shegrabbedfranticallyandcaughtarungsohardpainshotupherwrist.Butsheheldonandbegantoclimbbacktothetop.
Theglassvialwasglowing.Thegreenliquidinsidewasnolongermurkyandslimy.Itseemedtobemadeofpuregreenlight,trappedinglass.Carefully,Amytouchedit.
Therewasnoshock.Itwasn'tevenwarm.Sheslippedthevialoutofitsbraceandputitbackinherpocket.
Asthouchargethis,soIchargethee.Thehardestpartwasstilltocome.Shehadtogetawaysafelyandfigureoutwhatshe'djustcreated."Dan! Idid it!"Sheclimbedback into thebell tower,buthersmilemelted.Danwas lyingon the
floor,boundandgagged.Standingoverhim,inblackcombatfatigues,wasIanKabra."Hello,cousin."Ianheldoutaplasticsyringe."I'lltradeyou.""MMMM!"Danstruggledandtriedtosaysomething."MMMM!MMMM!""Let--lethimgo!"Amystammered.Shewassureherfacewasbrightred.Shehatedthatshewas
stuttering209again.WhydidIanKabraturnhertonguetolead?The bronze bell shuddered. TheHoltswere still pounding away below, trying to get through the
trapdoor."Youonlyhaveafewsecondsbeforetheycomeup,"Ianwarned."Besides,yourbrotherneedsthe
antidote."Amy'sstomachclenched."Wh-whathaveyoudonetohim?""Nothingthatcan'tbereversedifyouactinthenextminuteorso."Iandangledtheantidote."Give
meFranklin'svial.It'safairtrade.""MMM!"Danshookhisheadviolently,butAmycouldn'trisklosinghim.Nothingwasworththat.Notaclue.
Notatreasure.Nothing.Sheheldout theglowinggreenvial. Ian took itandshesnatched theantidoteoutofhishand.She
kneltnexttoDanandstartedtuggingatthegaginhismouth.Ianchuckled."Nicedoingbusinesswithyou,cousin.""You'll--you'llnevermakeitoutofthetower.You'retrappedupherethesameas--"Thensomethingoccurred toher.HowhadIangottenuphere in thefirstplace?Shenoticedstraps
runningacrosshischest,likeaclimbingharness.Athisfeetlayabundleofmetalpolesandblacksilk."Another thingFranklin loved." Ianpickeduphisbundleandbegan fastening theblacksilk to the
metalframe."Kites.HepulledhimselfacrosstheCharlesRiverwithone,didyouknow?"210"Youcouldn'thave--""Oh,yesIdid."Hepointedtotheglowingdomeofthelargerchurchatthetopofthehill."Isailed
rightdownfromSacré-Coeur.AndnowI'mgoingtosailrightoutagain.""You'reathief,"Amysaid.Ianhookedhisharnesstothehugeblackkite."Notathief,Amy.ALucian,thesameasBenjaminFranklin.Whatever is in thisvial, itbelongs to theLucians. I thinkoldBen
wouldappreciatetheironyofthis!"Andjustlikethat,Ianjumpedoutofthebelfry.Thewindtookhim.Thekitemust'vebeenspecially
designed tosupportahuman'sweight,becauseIansailedsmoothlydownover thegraveyardandfenceandlandedatacontrolledrunonthesidewalk.
Somewhereoutinthestorm,policesirensscreamed.ThebellshudderedastheHoltfamilypoundedagainstthetrapdoor.
"MMMM!""Dan!"Amyhadcompletelyforgottenhim.Sherippedoffhisgag."Ow!"hecomplained."Justholdstill.I'vegottheantidote.""Ianwasbluffing!"Dangroaned."Iwastryingtotellyou.Hedidn'tgivemeanything!I'mnotpoisoned.""Areyousure?"211"Positive!Thatstuffhegaveyouisuseless.Ormaybeit'spoison."Disgustedwithherselfforbeingsostupid,Amythrewdownthesyringe.SheuntiedDanandhelped
himstand.Thebronzebellshudderedoncemoreandlurchedaside.Thetrapdoorburstopen.EisenhowerHoltclimbedintothebelfry."You'retoolate,"Dantoldhim."Iantookit."Hepointedtowardthestreet.AcabhadjustpulledupwithNatalieKabrainback.Ianclimbedin
andtheytookoffthroughthestreetsofMontmartre.Mr.Holtgrowled."I'llmakeyoubothpayforthis.I'll-"Sirenswailedlouder.Thefirstpolicecarappearedaroundthecorner,bluelightsflashing."Dad!"Reagan'svoicecalledupfromthestairs."What'sgoingon?"Asecondpolicecarappeared,racingtowardthechurch."We'releaving,"Eisenhowerdecided.Heshouteddowntohisfamily:"Everybody,aboutface!"He
tookonelastlookatAmyandDan."Nexttime..."HeletthethreathangintheairandleftAmyandDanaloneinthetower.Amy looked out into the rain. She spotted Uncle Alistair hobbling away down a side street, a
Fudgesiclestucktothebackofhischerry-redsuit.IrinaSpasky212staggeredoutthefrontofthechurch,sawthepolice,andbrokeintoarun."Arretez!"apolicemancried,andtwoofthemstartedafterher.Nelliewasstandingonthesidewalkwithafew
moreofficers.ShewasyellingfranticallyinFrench,pointingtothechurch.Despiteallthechaos,Amyfeltstrangelycalm.Danwasalive.They'dsurvivedthenight.She'ddone
exactlywhatsheneededtodo.Asmilecreptoverherface."Whyareyousohappy?"Dancomplained."Welostthesecondbigclue.We'vefailed!""No,"Amysaid."Wehaven't."Danstaredather."Didthatlightningfryyourbrain?""Dan,thevialwasn'ttheclue,"shesaid."Thatwasjust...well,I'mnotsurewhatitwas.Agiftfrom
BenjaminFranklin.Somethingtohelpinthesearch.Buttherealclueisthatpieceofpaperyoustuffedinyourpants."
213
CHAPTER19
Danwasthrilledthatthesecondcluehadbeensafelysmuggledoutofthechurchinhispants."So,really,Isavedtheday,"hedecided."Waitaminute,"Amysaid."Iclimbedontotheroofinthemiddleofathunderstorm.""Yeah,butthecluewasinmypants."Amyrolledhereyes."You'reright,Dan.Youaretherealhero."Nelliecrackedasmile."Youbothdidprettygood,ifyouaskme."TheyweresittingtogetheratacaféontheChamps-Élysées,watchingthepedestriansandenjoying
morepainauchocolat.Itwasthemorningafterthestorm.Theskywasblue.They'dalreadypackedtheirbagsandchecked
outoftheMaisondesGordons.Allthingsconsidered,Danfeltlucky.He still had somedoubts aboutwhat they'dgone through. Inparticular, hedidn't like that Ian and
Nataliehadgottenaway.He'dhatedbeingtiedup,andhewantedtogetbackatIan.Butitcould'vebeen214worse.Atleasttheyhadn'tgottenlostforeverintheCatacombsorslammedinthefacewithaboxof
icecream."Istillwanttoknowwhatwasinthatvial,though,"hesaid.Amy twirled her hair thoughtfully. "Whatever it is, it's supposed to give one team an advantage
freeingthetruth--thathastomeanthefinaltreasureofthecontest.SinceIanandNataliehavethevial...well,I'vegotabadfeelingwe'llfindoutwhatitdoesprettyquick."
"If these Lucian dudes created it," Nellie said, chewing on her croissant, "maybe it's like somespecialkindofpoison.Theyseemtolovepoisons."
"Maybe,"Dansaid,thoughtheanswerfeltwrong.Hestilldidn'tliketheideathatBenFranklinwasrelatedtoIanandNatalie.He'dstartedtoadmireFranklin--whatwiththefartessaysandthelightningandall.Nowhewasn'tsureifoldBenwasagoodguyorabadguy."Butwhatwouldpoisonhavetodowithapieceofsheetmusic?"
Amytooktheparchmentoutofherbackpackandspreaditonthetable.Danhadalreadystudieditadozentimes.Heknewitwasanexactcopyofthesongthey'dseenengravedonthestonepedestalinthesecret room, but he didn't know why it was important. When he'd woken up that morning, Amy hadalreadybeenresearchingonhislaptop.Usuallyshedidn'tliketheInternet.Forsomeweirdreason,shesaidbookswere
215better,soDanknewshemust'vebeenreallydesperateforinformation."Ifounditonline,"Amysaid."How?"Dansaid."IdidasearchforBenjaminFranklinplusmusic.Itcameuprightaway.That'sanadagioforarmonica.""BenFranklin'sinstrument,"Danremembered."Thewaterontheglassrimsthing."
"Yeah, but I have a feeling this ismore than amusical score."Amy sat forward.Her eyeswerebright,likesheknewasecret."Wefoundthesonganddownloadedit.
Listen."NelliehandedoverheriPod."Notmykindofmusic.Butwhatever."Danlistened.Hefeltlikehewasbeingfilledwithhelium.Themusicwassofamiliarandbeautifulit
madehimwant to floatacrossParis,but it alsoconfusedhim.Usuallyhehadno trouble rememberingthings,buthecouldnotrecallwherehe'dheardthismusicbefore."Iknowthissong..."
"Dadusedtoplayit,"Amysaid."Inhisstudy,whenhewasworking.Heplayeditallthetime."DanwantedtorememberwhatAmywastalkingabout.Hewantedtolistentothesongoverandover
untilhecouldseetheirdadinhisstudy.ButNellietookbacktheiPod."Sorry,kiddo.You'vestillgot,like,mudinyour
ears.""Thenotesareacode,"Amysaid."Thewholepieceofmusicissomekindofmessage."216"Andourparentsknewaboutit,"Dansaidinamazement."Butwhatdoesitmean?""Idon'tknow,"Amyadmitted."But,Dan,yourememberhowMr.McIntyresaidthethirty-nineclues
arepiecesofapuzzle?""Yeah.""Istartedthinkingaboutthatlastnight,afteryoudecodedthatmessageonthevial.Istartedwondering...whywasn'tthefirstcluelikethat?"Shebroughtoutthecrèmepaperthey'dpaidtwomilliondollarsfor.Dan'sscrawlednotesfilledthe
backside.Onthefrontsidewastheirfirstclue:RESOLUTION:Thefineprinttoguess,SeekoutRichardS___Nelliefrowned."ThatledyoutoFranklin,right?Wasn'tthattheanswer?""Onlypartly,"Amysaid."It'salsothefirstpieceofthepuzzle.It'sacluetoanactualthing.Thatclickedformelastnightwhenyoumentionedanagrams,Dan."217Heshookhishead."Idon'tgetit."ShetookoutapenandwroteRESOLUTION."Youaskedmewhythiswordwaspartoftheclue.I
didn'tunderstanduntilnow.We'resupposedtoguessthefineprint."ShepassedthepaperandpentoDan."Solvetheanagram."
Danstaredattheletters.Suddenly,hefeltlikehe'dbeenzappedbyaFrankinbattery.Thelettersrearrangedthemselvesinhismind.Hepickedupthepenandwrote:IRONSOLUTE"Idon'tbelieveit,"Nelliesaid."Thiswholethingwasaboutironsolute?""It's thefirstpieceofthepuzzle,"Amysaid."It'saningredient,oracomponent,orsomethinglike
that.""Forwhat?"Danasked.Amypursedher lips. "Ironsolutecouldbeused forchemistry,ormetalworking,orevenprinting.
There'snoway to tell,yet.Andwedon'tknowhowmuchwe'resupposed touse.Every timeFranklinmentionedironsolute,hejustwrote'1quantity.'"
"We'vegottofindout!"
"Wewill,"Amypromised."Andthesheetmusic..."Shespreadherhandsovertheadagioscore."It'saningredient,too,"Nellieguessed."Ithinkso,"Amysaid."That'showyoucantellthebigclues.Theygiveyouanactualingredient.Wejustdon'tknowhowtoreadthisoneyet.""Buthowdowefindout?"Danprotested.218"ThesamewaywedidwithFranklin.Wefindoutaboutthepersonwhowroteit.Thecomposerwas
--"Amystoppedabruptly.Comingdownthestreetwasafamiliarfigure--athinbaldingmaninagraysuit,carryingacloth
suitcase."Mr.McIntyre!"Dancried."Ah,thereyouare,children!"Theoldlawyersmiled."MayI?"Amyquicklyfoldedthefirstandsecondcluesandputthemaway.Mr.McIntyresatwiththemand
orderedacoffee.He insistedonpaying for theirbreakfast,whichwasokaybyDan,butMr.McIntyreseemed nervous.His eyeswere bloodshot.He kept glancing across theChamps-Élysées as if hewasafraidhewasbeingwatched.
"Iheardaboutlastnight,"hesaid."I'msosorry.""It'snobigdeal,"Dansaid."Indeed.I'msureyou'llbeabletobacktrack.Butisittrue?DidtheKabrasreallystealthesecond
cluefromunderyournoses?"Dangotannoyedalloveragain.Hewantedtobragaboutthesheetmusicthey'dfoundandtheiron
solutething,butAmycutin."It'strue,"shesaid."Wehavenoideawheretogonext.""Alas."Mr.McIntyresighed."Ifearyoucan'tgohome.SocialServicesarestillonalert.Your aunt has hired a private detective to find you. And you cannot stay here. Paris is such an
expensivecity."219HiseyesfixedonAmy'snecklace."Mydear,Idohavefriendsinthecity.Iknowthiswouldbea
desperatemeasure,butIcouldpossiblyarrangeasaleforyourgrandmother's--""No,thankyou,"Amysaid."We'llgetbyjustfine.""Asyouwish."Mr.McIntyre's tonemadeitclearhedidn'tbelieveher."Well, if there'sanythingI
cando.Ifyouneedadvice--""Thanks,Mr.McIntyre,"Dansaid."Butwe'llfigureitout."Theoldlawyerstudiedthemboth."Verygood.Verygood.Ifearthere'sonemorethingImustaskof
you."Hereacheddownforhisclothbag,andDannoticedtheclawmarksonhishands."Whoa,whathappenedtoyou?"Theoldmanwinced."Yes,well..."Heploppedthebagonthetable.Somethinginsidesaid,"Mrrrp!""Saladin!"Amy andDan cried together.Dan grabbed the bag and unzipped it. The big silver cat
slinkedout,lookingindignant."I'mafraidwedidn'tgetalong."Mr.McIntyrerubbedhisscarredhands."Hewasnothappywhenyoulefthimwithme.HeandI...well,hemadehisfeelingsquiteclearthathewantedto
bereturnedtoyou.Itwasquiteataskgettinghimthroughcustoms,Idon'tmindtellingyou,butIreallyfeltIhadnochoice.Ihopeyou'llforgiveme."
220Dancouldn'thelpgrinning.Hehadn'trealizedjusthowmuchhe'dmissedtheoldcat.Somehow,havinghimheremadeupfor losing thevial. Itevenmadehimfeela littlebetterabout
losinghisparents'photograph.WithSaladinaround,he felt likehis familywascomplete.For the firsttimeindays,hethoughtmaybe,justmaybe,Gracewasstilllookingoutforthem."He'sgottocomewithus.Hecanbeourattackcat!"
Saladinstaredathimasiftosay,Showmesomeredsnapper,kid,andI'llthinkaboutit.Dan expected Amy to argue, but she was smiling as much as he was. "You're right, Dan. Mr.
McIntyre,thankyou!""Yes,er,ofcourse.Nowifyou'llexcuseme,children.Iwishyougoodhunting!"Heleftafifty-eurobillonthetableandhurriedoutofthecafé,stilllookingaroundlikeheexpected
anambush.ThewaiterbroughtmilkinasaucerandsomefreshfishforSaladin.Nobodyatthecaféseemedto
thinktherewasanythingstrangeaboutsharingbreakfastwithanEgyptianMau."Youdidn'ttellMr.McIntyreaboutthemusic,"Nelliesaid."Ithoughthewasyourfriend.""Mr.McIntyretoldustotrustnoone,"Amysaid."Yeah,"Dansaid."Andthatincludeshim!"221Nelliecrossedherarms."Doesthatincludeme,too,kiddo?Whataboutouragreement?"Danwasstunned.He'dcompletelyforgottenthatNelliehadonlypromisedtocomewiththemonone
trip.Hisheartsank.He'dstarted takingNellie forgranted.Hewasn'tsurewhat theywoulddowithouther.
"I...Itrustyou,Nellie,"hesaid."Idon'twantyoutoleave."Nelliesippedhercoffee."Butyou'renotgoingbacktoBoston.WhichmeansifIgoback,I'llgetin
hugetrouble."Danhadn'tthoughtofthat,either.Amystaredguiltilyatherbreakfast.Nellieinsertedherearbuds.Shewatchedacoupleofcollege-ageguyswalkingdowntheroad."This
hasn'tbeenabadjob,Iguess--Imean,ifIhavetoworkwithtwoannoyingkids.Maybewecouldmakeadifferentdeal."Danshifteduncomfortably."Adifferentdeal?""Somedaywhenyoufindyourtreasure,"Nelliesaid,"youcanreimburseme.Fornow,I'llworkfor
free.BecauseifyoukiddosthinkI'dletyouflyaroundtheworldandhavefunwithoutme,you'recrazy."AmythrewherarmsaroundNellie'sneck.Dangrinned."Nellie,you'rethebest.""Iknowthat,"shesaid."C'mon,Amy,you'remessingupmystreetcred.""Sorry,"Amysaid,stillgrinning.Shesatdownagainandbroughtoutthemusicscore."Now,asIwassaying--"222"Oh,right,thecomposer,"Danremembered.Amypointedatthebottomofthepaper."Look."Intheright-handcornerbelowthelaststanza,Danmadeoutthreescrawledlettersinfaded
blackink:W.A.M."Wam,"Dansaid."Wasn'tthataband?""No,dummy!Thoseareinitials.ItoldyousomefamouspeoplemademusicforBenjaminFranklin's
armonica.Thisguywasoneofthem.TowardtheendofFranklin'slife,hemust'vemetthiscomposer.I
thinktheywerebothCahills.Theymust'vesharedsecrets.Anyway,Ilookeditup.Thiswasthecomposer'slastpieceof
chambermusic.ItsofficialnameisKV617.""Catchytitle,"Nelliemuttered."Thethingis,"Amysaid,"therearelotsofcopiesofthisadagio.Andthere'sstilltheversioncarved
instoneonthatpedestal.Theotherteamswillfigureouttheclueeventually.WehavetohurryandgettoVienna."
"Whoa,holdon,"Dansaid."Vienna,Austria?Whythere?"Amy'seyestwinkledwithexcitement."Becausethat'swhereWolfgangAmadeusMozartlived.And
that'swherewe'llfindthenextclue."223
CHAPTER20
WilliamMcIntyremadehisappointmentjustintime.HesteppedoutontotheobservationdeckoftheEiffelTower.Thedayafteraheavyrain,theairwas
cleanandfresh.Parisglistenedbelowasifallitsdarksecretshadbeenwashedaway."Theydidn'ttrustyou,"themaninblacksaid."No,"Williamadmitted.Hiscolleaguesmiled."Theylearnquickly."WilliamMcIntyrekepthisannoyanceincheck."Thingscouldhavegoneworse.""Theycouldhavegonemuchbetter.Wewillhavetowatchthemmoreclosely,don'tyouthink?""Already taken care of."WilliamMcIntyre took out his cell phone.He showed his colleague the
screen--thelastnumberhehaddialedinVienna,Austria.Themaninblackmadealowwhistle."Areyousurethat'swise?""No,"Williamadmitted."Butnecessary.Nexttime,therecanbenomistakes."224"Nomistakes," theman in black agreed.And together, theywatched the city of Paris spread out
belowthem,tenmillionpeoplecompletelyunawarethatthefateoftheworldhunginthebalance.