Read Online Enemy Spy by Wendelin Van Draanen - Free Book Online Page B

listen,”I whispered.
    “We
listen
?”Bubba whispered back.
    “Shhhhh!”
I warned. “I've got to find out what's going on.”
    “Good evening,”the man in the suit and tie said, holding on to the podium with both hands while Sarge stood off to one side. “As many of you know, I'm Scott Yardland, Cedar Valley's chief of police. Unfortunately, our bucolic community—”
    “Bucolic? What's that?”Bubba whispered.
    “Lots of trees,”I whispered back.
    “—has apparently been home to the maneu-verings of an international spy ring.”
    “Have you apprehended the spies?”Chatty Adams shouted.
    “If you'll
please
be patient,”Chief Yardlandsaid, giving her a hard look, “we'll get to that.”He went back to his speech. “Please understand that we're in the middle of a very complex and delicate situation. There are things we are not yet at liberty to disclose—”
    “Disclose?”Bubba whispered.
    “Tell us about,”I whispered back. “There are things he can't tell us about.”
    “—but what I
can
tell you is that we have arrested one individual and have detained three others, all connected to a cash-for-secrets exchange that we believe took place under the Blackstone Way Bridge. Unfortunately,
none
of the individuals in custody is cooperating with authorities. I can also tell you that the arrested man has been positively ID'd as the individual we suspect of selling the highly sensitive classified documents.”
    “What is the nature of the documents?”a lady with a notepad called out.
    Chief Yardland gave her a friendly little smirk.
    “That they're classified. Top-secret.”
    “Military?”another reporter asked.
    “The FBI has asked me not to discuss specifics. I am not at liberty to say anything more about the documents at this time.”
    All of a sudden, there was a big commotion across the crowd from us. Chatty's arms were flying in the air as she yelled at her cameraman. Then she started yelling at Roy!
    I grinned at Bubba.
    Bubba grinned at me.
    We slapped a sly-five on each other and watched as Chatty zoomed around, trying to bum a battery off other cameramen.
    “How about the other people you've detained?”a reporter shouted at the chief. “You've got a woman, her husband, and a teacher in custody, is that right?”
    “Yes. They have not been charged with anything yet. Our initial impression was that they were only involved peripherally—”
    “Peripherally?”Bubba whispered.
    “On the edge. Only a little,”I whispered back, wishing Chief Yardland would stop using such big words.
    “—but it's clear that they are holding back information. We'll see what transpires over the next few hours.”
    “Transpires?”Bubba whispered.
    “Happens,”I whispered back.
    “Why doesn't he just
say
that?”
    I shrugged. “Good question.”
    “What's the Shredderman connection?”Harry Kane called out.
    The chief sighed. “Shredderman is the one who brought the money-for-secrets situation to our attention. At first we thought he was assisting law enforcement. We now believe he—or
she,
or
they
—may be someone with an axe to grind. Someone who was once part of the spy ring and is now on the outs.”
    “You're crazy!”I shouted.
    People nearby stared at me.
    Oops!
    Bubba whispered, “Stay cool, dude, remember?”
    But how could they think that? How could they possibly think that?
    The chief went on. “Regardless, our three detainees will either be released if they answer questions to the FBI's satisfaction or be arrested on charges of conspiracy and obstruction of justice.”
    Arrested for conspiracy!
    Obstruction of justice!
    No!
    “No, no, no, no!”I didn't even know I was shouting it out loud. Bubba tried to hold me back, but I twisted free and pushed through the crowd. These were my parents! My teacher! They were the best friends I'd ever had.
    How could I let them be arrested for obstruction of
justice
?
    They weren't answering questions because they were protecting my secret