Read Online Get Smart-ish by Gitty Daneshvari - Free Book Online Page B

Shelley suggested. “Sometimes, honesty really is the only policy.”
    â€œUndercover informants do not tell people they are undercover informants!”
    Shelley paused. “You might be right about that,” she accepted, rubbing her chin.
    â€œPlus, my guidebook says the guards are forbidden to speak to anyone.”
    â€œWell, my guidebook says the guards are part of a cult who are waiting for their leader’s return, hence the furry hats. Their leader is an intergalactic bear. Okay, I made that up. I just really wanted a fact that could outdo your fact.”

    Jonathan rolled his eyes and then sighed, “I think it’s time to call Randolph and admit that we forgot what he told us and that we should have written down his instructions instead of pretending to have good memories.”
    â€œI would rather swim back to America than admit we can’t even remember a few simple things!”
    â€œI hate to point fingers, but you were the one who said your brain was better than a computer’s hard drive, that nothing could be erased from your mind,” Jonathan recalled, much to Shelley’s aggravation.
    â€œExcuse me, kiddos, but would you mind taking a photo of me and the missus?” a man asked, prompting Jonathan and Shelley to look up.
    Standing before them, dressed in jeans and sweatshirts with cameras dangling around their necks, were none other than Hammett and Nurse Maidenkirk.
    â€œHere’s our camera, kid,” Hammett instructed Jonathan. “All you need to do is look through the lens.”
    â€œI’m actually not a very good photographer. I have a tendency to cut off people’s heads or feet,” Jonathan conceded.
    â€œJust look through the lens, kid,” Hammett insisted.
    And when Jonathan finally did, he found a message. THIRD FROM THE LEFT .
    â€œBut how could you possibly know?”
    â€œHe’s the only one who noticed the two of you standing here arguing,” Hammett said quietly before raising his voice. “Thanks for the picture. Enjoy the rest of your vacation.”
    â€œIt’s the third guard from the left,” Jonathan informed Shelley as she watched Hammett and Nurse Maidenkirk disappear into the crowd.
    â€œI don’t want to say I’m psychic…but I had a feeling it was the third guy from the left.”
    â€œAnd yet you said nothing while we were standing here, searching our brains for some small detail to help us figure out who was the informant,” Jonathan responded.
    â€œYou are what is known as a psychic hater.”
    â€œGreat,” Jonathan said. “You can add it to the list after fun killer, Negative Ned, sunshine sponge…”
    Shelley snapped her fingers. “Get it together, Johno. We have work to do,” she said, then started toward the informant.
    â€œHey there, furry-hat man,” Shelley whispered. “Seen anything fishy? And by
fishy
, I don’t mean an aquarium.”
    The guard stared straight ahead, seemingly unaware of Shelley.
    â€œIs he ignoring me? Or does he just not hear me?”
    â€œLet me try,” Jonathan said, leaning into the guard. “Seen anything?”
    â€œNegative,” the man replied, most impressively, without even moving his lips.
    â€œCome on, Shells, we have two more stops to make,” Jonathan said as he turned to leave.
    â€œJust one thing,” Shelley said before grabbing the guard’s arm. “I hope no bears were killed or injured in the making of that hat.”
    Jonathan sighed. “The part-time vegetarian strikes again.”
    OCTOBER 23, 4:36 P.M. THE LONDON ZOO. LONDON, ENGLAND
    The zoo was crowded. Children as far as the eye could see. Jonathan and Shelley navigated the strollers like land mines, stealthily moving out of the way every time a double-wide, titanium-plated beast barreled toward them.
    â€œThere should be a law against double-wide strollers,” Jonathan griped.