Chapter Three
ANGEL SINCLAIR
Slash dropped me off at our apartment complex since I’d missed the bus. I clutched the manila envelope in my hand so tightly I crushed one corner. To my surprise, my older sister, Gwen, was sitting at the dining room table working on a laptop when I walked into the apartment. Her presence was surprising because she usually spent most of her free time with her boyfriend, who lived in Jessup, Maryland. She didn’t typically drop in on Mom and me during the week unless something was up.
Our little dog, Mr. Toodles, leaped from her lap and rushed to greet me, yapping excitedly. I bent down and petted him as he licked my hand, then I scooped him up with one arm and walked over to my sister.
“Hey, Gwen, what are you doing here?” I asked.
She glanced up from her laptop. “I needed to pick up some papers from Mom, so I swung by. Thought I’d stick around to have dinner with you guys, unless you have plans for tonight.”
I shrugged out of my backpack, dropping it on the couch, and put the manila envelope on the table. “Like my social calendar is ever full.”
She smiled. She has the same color red hair and blue eyes like I do, but she’s better with people. In school, she was popular, funny, and had a lot of friends—the polar opposite of me. While I do have two friends, it’s a recent development and something I’m still getting used to.
I deposited Mr. Toodles on the couch and slid into a chair at the table across from Gwen. Taking a deep breath, I pulled the manila envelope toward me and opened it.
I scanned through the documents. There were several registration and information forms and one small brochure for the academy. The brochure for the GW Training Academy showed pictures of colonial-style buildings, trees, the inside of a dormitory, and a nice gym. There was no address, phone number, or mention of UTOP anywhere. I guess by accepting the nomination, I’d start down that slippery path of not exactly lying to the people around me, but not necessarily providing all the information at hand, either.
The life of a spy.
“What’s that?” Gwen pointed at the papers now spread across the table.
“I’ve been invited to attend a special school, a college/training academy for students interested in working for the government.”
“What?” That got Gwen’s attention. She pushed her laptop aside and put her elbows on the table, her full attention on me. “Are you kidding? After you graduate?”
“Actually, starting now. They think I’m ready. It’s a free ride for four years with a four-year commitment to work for the government after that. Then it’s a clean slate. I can either continue to work for the government or leave for the private sector.”
Her eyes widened. “Four years of school for free and a guaranteed job? And you’ve been accepted?”
“Well, not exactly. They have to see how I do at first. If I do well, I’m in. If not, I return to Excalibur.”
“When did you apply for this? I thought you wanted to go to Georgetown.”
“I do. I did. I mean, I didn’t exactly apply for this. Slash nominated me after that thing with the Iraqi hacker.”
She sat back in her chair, watching me. “So, the government is recruiting you.”
“You could put it like that.”
“Is it going to be dangerous?”
I hadn’t thought about that part. I guess it was possible. It was a spy school, after all, so what did I know? Still, I didn’t want to raise the danger factor, because Mom would never let me go. I shrugged it off. “It’s college, Gwen, not Afghanistan.”
“Hmmm…” She wasn’t buying my nonchalance. “Where exactly is this academy located?”
“Virginia. I bet you can come and visit sometime.”
“So, you’re seriously considering it?”
“Of course I’m seriously considering it. My endgame has always been to work for the government. That’s where the action is.”
“That’s where the danger is.”
I pursed my lips at her. “Don’t pull the big-sister card. You’re overreacting. I’m going to work behind a computer.”
“Yes, and look what just happened with that hacker guy. You could have gotten hurt.”
“That was…not the norm.” I pushed the brochure over to her. “See for yourself. It’s totally tame. There are dorms, cafeterias, a gym, and classrooms. It probably has extracurricular activities, too. And, just so you know, I won’t be alone. Wally and Frankie are invited, too.”
“Really?” She looked up from the brochure, surprise on her face.
“Really. So, I’ll even know people there. It should be fine. Trust me, if there were danger, Wally would be out. He’s afraid to clip his toenails. Besides, I’ll know after four weeks if I’m in. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll come back to Excalibur and hope the scholarship to Georgetown works out.”
She resumed looking over the brochure. “There’s not much information here.” She passed it back to me. “But since Slash is involved, I feel better about it. He really nominated you for this academy?”
It was still hard for me to believe—like somehow I’d hit the jackpot. “He did. Me, Wally, and Frankie. He thinks we have what it takes to succeed there.”
“Does this mean your mind is made up?”
I considered. Weird, but I’d already made my decision by the time Slash handed me the manila envelope. “Yes. I want to give it a shot.”
She still looked doubtful. “You won’t be disappointed if it doesn’t work out?”
“Of course I’ll be disappointed. But I’m not going to fail. If Slash thinks I can do this, I can.”
I tried not to feel insulted that she looked so doubtful. “Okay, let’s just hope Mom feels the same way.”