by Ron Roy
“Hello, I’m Darla Darling,” the woman said in a smooth, low voice. Her blue eyes gleamed like wet marbles.
KC had to tilt her head back to see the woman’s face. “I’m KC, and this is my friend Marshall,” KC said. “We want to talk to you about my mom’s wedding.”
“Wonderful!” Darla said. “Follow me.”
She spun around and strode back down the hallway. KC and Marshall had to practically run to keep up.
At the end of the hall, Darla Darling entered an open doorway. She sat in a swivel chair behind a messy desk. “Have a seat,” she said, waving a hand at a pair of purple chairs.
The kids sat. KC glanced around the cluttered office. She saw a computer, a fax machine, two telephones, a tape recorder, a small TV set, and a bunch of other stuff. Papers were scattered across the desk.
Along one wall was a small bed. It was neatly made up with pillows and a bright red cover. Next to the bed were a sink and mirror. Lined up on the sink counter were a toothbrush and toothpaste, a bottle of green mouthwash, and lots of small jars.
Cool, thought KC. She’s so busy she even sleeps here. Someday when I’m a reporter, I’ll do that, too!
Darla Darling flipped open a pad and picked up a pencil. “So, what did you want to tell me?” she asked KC and Marshall.
KC gulped. “I really wanted to ask you something,” she said.
Darla Darling leaned forward. “I’m listening.”
“How did you find out about my mom’s dress and where she was going on her honeymoon?” KC asked.
Ms. Darling’s eyes opened wide. “Surely you don’t expect me to tell you that?” she asked, smiling. Her teeth were big and white.
“That stuff was a secret,” Marshall said. “No one is supposed to know.”
Darla shrugged her wide shoulders. “My job is to report the news to my readers,” she said. “And when the president gets married, that’s news!”
“But their honeymoon and Mom’s dress were private!” KC said. “The president wants to know how you found out!”
Darla Darling sighed. “All right. Someone telephoned me with the information. I don’t know who it was, and even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”
She tapped one of the phones with her pencil. “If I revealed my sources, this phone would stop ringing. I’d be out of business just like that,” she said, snapping her fingers.
Darla stood up and walked toward the door. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a thousand things to do.”
KC and Marshall followed her to the door
“Isn’t there anything you can tell us about who called you?” asked KC. “The president really wants to know.”
Darla Darling looked down at the two kids. She closed her eyes as if she were trying to remember. Then she smiled.
“Well, I do remember one thing,” she said. “The caller had a scratchy voice.”
4
Two Suspects
KC and Marshall left the Star offices and headed back to the White House.
“That was a waste of time,” Marshall said. “We didn’t learn anything.”
“Yes, we did,” KC said. “We know how Darla Darling gets her information.”
“But we don’t know who’s calling her,” said Marshall.
“Right, but we do know it’s someone with a scratchy voice,” said KC.
“How does that help?” Marshall asked. “On TV, spies always try to disguise their voice. This guy probably sounded that way on purpose.”
“Okay, you’re right,” KC said. “But we do know something else. The caller has to be someone close to the president.”
“Hey, wait a minute!” Marshall cried. “How about Arnold? He’s always standing outside the president’s door! And he’s got a cold, so his voice is hoarse!”
“Arnold?” KC stopped walking. “Yeah, he could have overheard Mom and the president talking! But why would he tell Darla Darling?”
“For money!” Marshall said. “Maybe she pays him for information.”
“But she told us she doesn’t know who the caller is,” KC said. “How could she pay him?”
Marshall thought for a minute. “Maybe Arnold tells her where to leave the money, then he goes and gets it later. Darla wouldn’t have to know who she was leaving the money for.”
The kids kept walking. Soon they were at the White House. They walked to the rear parking lot. The private entrance was near some hedges.
“Look, there’s the vice president,” KC said to Marshall. “What’s she doing?”
They watched Vice President Kincaid. She had her hand cupped over her mouth and was speaking into a cell phone. She kept glancing around, as if she didn’t want to be overheard. KC tried to eavesdrop, but she was too far away.
The vice president snapped her phone shut, crossed the lot, and disappeared into the White House.
KC stared at the spot where the vice president had been standing. “You know, Arnold isn’t the only one who’s always near the president’s door,” she said after a minute. “The vice president walks in and out all the time.”
“Ms. Kincaid? Why would she spy on the president?” Marshall asked. “I don’t think she needs the money.”
“I don’t know, but Mom showed her the dress a few days ago,” KC said. “And the president must have told her where they were going on their honeymoon. Let’s keep an eye on her.”
The kids entered the White House through the private door. Arnold was stationed outside the president’s private rooms.
He sneezed and blew his nose. “Hi, kids,” he said.
“How’s your cold?” KC asked.
Arnold grinned and stuffed his handkerchief into a pocket. “I think it’s getting better,” he said.
KC listened to his raspy voice. “Do you know anyone named Darla?” she asked.
“I don’t think so. I know a Dora and a Denise, and my sister’s name is Debi,” he said. “But no Darlas.”
He took out a box of lozenges and put one on his tongue. “Want one?” he asked. “They’re cough drops, but they taste pretty good. They’re called Minti-Meds. I take ’em for my sore throat.” Arnold held out the box as he opened the door.
“No thanks,” KC said.
When KC and Marshall walked into the president’s rooms, they got a shock. KC’s mom was crying. The president stood next to her, holding a newspaper.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” KC asked. She hurried over to her
The president held out the paper so KC and Marshall could see Darla Darlings column. The headline was at least five inches tall. It said:
PRESIDENT MAY
CANCEL WEDDING!
Someone is spying on us!” Lois said, wiping her eyes. “They’re hearing our private conversations.”
“This has gotten serious,” the president said. “No one but us was part of that conversation.” He dropped into a chair. “I can’t believe someone on my staff is a spy, but if I have to, I’ll fire everyone.”
“Um, Marsh and I have an idea who it might be,” KC said. She told her mother and the president what Darla Darling had said about her secret caller
“Someone is giving Darla information over the phone?” Lois said.
“Someone with a scratchy voice!” Marshall went on.
“Yeah, and guess who has a cold?” KC whispered. She pointed to the door through which they’d walked. “Arnold!”
Four pairs of eyes looked at the door.
“Arnold?” the president said. “Well, he is always just outside that door, so he could have overheard, I suppose.”
“Someone else knows all your secrets,” KC said.
“I’m not sure I want to hear this,” the president said. “Okay, who?”
“The vice president,” KC whispered.
5
The Truth
“Mary?” the president said. “But she wouldn’t … I mean, I trust her!”
“Zachary, she has seen my dress, and I know we told her where we were going for our honeymo
on,” KC’s mom said.
The president shook his head. “No. I’ve known Mary for years,” he said.
“Could she have told someone without meaning to?” Marshall asked. “Maybe she was just talking, and she accidentally blabbed everything. It happens!”
“I find that hard to believe,” Lois said. “I think someone is spying on us. We have to find out who!”
“I have an idea,” KC said.
The president rubbed his temples, as if he had a headache. “Tell me. I’ll try anything to get to the bottom of this.”
KC explained her idea.
“I like it,” the president said a minute later. He stood up, crossed the room, and opened his door. “Arnold, may I speak to you in here, please?”
“Yes, sir!” Arnold said with a hoarse voice. He stepped smartly into the room and stood at attention. George the cat followed Arnold inside and flopped on the rug under the president’s chair.
“Relax, Arnold,” the president said. “I just wanted to tell you something so you’re not taken by surprise. Because of all this unwanted publicity, Ms. Corcoran and I have decided to elope. After we’re married, we’ll just disappear for a short honeymoon.”
Arnolds eyes widened, but he didn’t say a word.
“Please keep this to yourself, Arnold,” the president said. “It’s absolutely top-secret! You may go now, and I hope you’re taking something for your cold.”
“Yes, sir, I am,” Arnold said. Then he snapped off a salute, about-faced, and marched out of the room.
“How did I do?” the president asked.
“You did great,” Lois said.
“One down, one to go,” the president said. He picked up his telephone and pressed a button. “Mary, would you come in for a minute, please?”
The vice president walked into the office through another door. She smiled at Lois and the kids. “Yes, Mr. President?”
“I have some news about our wedding,” the president said.
KC was sitting behind the president. She saw him cross his fingers behind his back.
“I hope this Darla Darling business hasn’t made you change your plans,” Mary Kincaid said.
“Actually, we have made new plans,” the president said. “Lois and I are going to elope. We’ll be gone for a few days.”
Mary Kincaid raised her eyebrows at the news.
“We are the only five who know,” the president said. He grinned at his vice president. “And we don’t want Darla Darling to be the sixth.”
“Of course, sir,” Mary Kincaid said. She closed an imaginary zipper over her lips.
“Fine,” the president said. “I’ll let you know more as we work out the details.”
“Thank you for confiding in me,” Mary said. She nodded and left the room. George walked out with the vice president, rubbing against her ankles.
“I feel like a lying skunk,” the president said when the door closed.
“Nobody likes to lie,” Lois said. “But if this information makes it into Ms. Darling’s column, at least we’ll know either Arnold or Mary is our spy.”
“Yeah,” the president grumbled. “My personal guard or my vice president. Great!”
The next morning, still in her slippers, KC took the elevator down to the lobby of her building. She hoped the newspapers had arrived.
They had! A small stack sat on a table outside the elevator doors. KC snatched the top one and jumped back in before the doors closed. She found Darla Darling’s column and grinned.
Instead of going back up to her apartment, KC got off on Marshall’s floor. She rang his bell as she looked at what Darla had written.
Marshall came to the door barefoot, wearing Spider-Man pajamas.
“Good morning, Spider-Man,” KC said. “Read this and get dressed!”
“Can I finish my breakfast first?” Marshall asked.
“Sure, but hurry up, okay?”
Marshall padded to his kitchen with KC behind him, rattling the newspaper.
Marshall sat and spooned up his cereal. “Is it in there?” he asked, pointing his spoon at the paper.
KC nodded and slid the paper in front of Marshall. There was Darla’s smiling face. Beneath her picture a bold headline read:
PRESIDENT AND FIANCÉE
PLAN TO ELOPE!
WATCH MY COLUMN FOR MORE!
“Oh my gosh!” Marshall said. “We were right. It is Arnold or Vice President Kincaid! The president is going to flip!”
“That’s why you have to hurry up,” KC said. “We have to find the snitch before he or she ruins my wedding!”
6
Spying on Spies
Marshall grinned as he slurped up the last spoonful. “Your wedding?”
“You know what I mean,” KC said. She began pacing back and forth. “We still don’t know which one is the spy. We have to catch him or her with the goods.”
Marshall put his bowl and spoon in the sink. “What goods?”
“The money, Marshall. Maybe we can catch Arnold or the vice president taking money from Darla.”
“KC, we can’t follow Arnold. He drives a fast motorcycle, and we don’t even know where he lives.”
“Okay, but we can spy on the vice president,” KC said.
Marshall grinned. “Spying on a spy? I like that.”
“Will you get dressed and help?” KC asked. “I don’t want Mom to cancel her wedding.”
Marshall closed one eye and stared at KC out of the other. “Okay. But promise me we’ll go to the park after they’re married.” He stuck out his pinkie.
KC put out her pinkie. “Promise!” she said. They shook pinkies, and Marshall went to change.
They rushed to the White House and hurried toward the president’s private rooms. A marine stood guard at the door, but it wasn’t Arnold.
The guard clicked his heels together when he saw KC and Marshall. “Good morning,” he said. “Can I help you?”
“Hi,” KC said, surprised to see this short marine instead of tall Arnold. “Have you seen the vice president?”
“No, miss. I just relieved Arnold, and I haven’t seen anyone yet but you two.” The guard held the door open for them.
In the kitchen, Yvonne was cleaning up. “Good morning. I have a note for you,” she told KC. She pulled a folded piece of paper from her uniform pocket.
KC read it out loud to Marshall. Honey—Zachary and I need some time alone to talk about the wedding. We may be back late. Love, Mom.
“I left your lunch in the fridge,” Yvonne said. “And there’s a bowl of fruit on the table.”
“Thanks, Yvonne,” KC said. “Did they say where they were going?”
“No, miss,” Yvonne said. “But I know they took a private car.” She hesitated. “They looked pretty unhappy, miss!”
“Um, have you seen the vice president yet this morning?” KC asked.
“No, miss,” Yvonne said. She left KC and Marshall in the sunny kitchen. George slipped into the room behind the maid’s heels.
As soon as Yvonne was gone, KC grabbed Marshall by the arm. “Now’s our chance!” she hissed.
“For what?” he sighed.
“Now’s our chance to snoop!” KC said.
“You’ve been snooping your whole life!” Marshall said. “What’s so different today?” He reached for a banana.
“We don’t have time to eat,” KC said. “If the vice president isn’t here yet, we can check out her office!”
“For what?” Marshall said again, dropping the banana.
“I don’t know, but if she’s selling information to Darla Darling, we might see some evidence,” KC said.
The kids walked down the hall toward the vice president’s office. A large statue of a Native American family stood next to her door, which was partly open.
KC stuck her nose around the corner and nearly fainted. The vice president was standing with her back to the door, talking on a cell phone.
KC grabbed Marshall, and they both hid behind t
he statue.
Just then the vice president came through the door. She walked toward the Oval Office, still talking into her phone.
“I know that,” Mary Kincaid was saying. “But this has to be kept secret….”
When she was a few yards away, KC whispered, “Let’s try to find out who she’s talking to!”
Tiptoeing, they followed the vice president. She passed the Oval Office, still quietly speaking into her phone.
Then she stopped and started to turn around.
Panicking, KC looked for someplace to hide. The closest doorway led to the Oval Office. She knew it would be empty, because the president had left with her mom.
KC poked Marshall, and they both scooted into the Oval Office. There was a big desk, a few chairs, and a long sofa. A tall plant stood in front of the window.
“This is spooking me out,” Marshall whispered. “There has to be a federal law about breaking into the presidents office.”
“We didn’t break in, Marsh,” KC said. “Besides, next week, I’ll be living in this place.”
“Yeah, if we’re both not living in jail!” Marshall said.
Suddenly Marshall grabbed KC’s hand and yanked her down behind the president’s desk.
KC started to protest, but Marshall’s hand was across her mouth. She looked at him, trying to figure out what was going on. Marshall’s eyes were as big as pancakes.
Then KC understood. She heard footsteps whisper across the carpet. She saw a shadow fall on the wall behind her.
Someone else was checking out the Oval Office!
7
Motorcycle Meeting
KC and Marshall froze behind the desk. They hardly breathed as they heard papers being moved above their heads. Then the shadow moved away.
KC heard the office door open, then close. She crawled from behind the desk and raced for the door.
“What’re you doing?” Marshall asked.
