The ride turned torturous when Dustin insisted on obnoxiously singing along to every song at the top of his lungs. By the time we eventually made it to what I hoped was our final destination, I was practically on my knees begging for it to end. Since the driver had slid the screen down between us as soon as the singing started, I knew he wanted the same thing.
When we finally came to a stop, I threw open the door and gasped. Laid out in front of us was the most beautiful campus I had ever seen. My eyes swept over everything: the rolling hills, the charming glass-and-marble buildings, the tennis and basketball courts and multiple swimming pools. Heck, there was even a golf course.
I tore my eyes away to follow Dustin and our chauffeur to the main building, an old Victorian house about three stories high. Vines encircled the windows. They looked so perfectly placed and elegant that I wondered if they had been glued there as decoration.
The reception area appeared more like a hotel lobby than a school office building. The walls were a creamy pastel. A fireplace faced the entrance. Big vases of flowers stood in every corner, filling the room with a sweet scent. Right across from a plush couch stood a large marble desk. A young woman was stationed behind it, seemingly bored out of her mind. She studied her dark red nails. Once she noticed us, she immediately straightened up.
“Good morning, Dustin. How you doing, Henry?” she greeted. Then she laid her eyes on me. “This must be Lily. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
From the corner of my eye, I could see Dustin blush a little. “Casey, can I have the key and pass, please?”
With a wink, she handed them over. Dustin thanked her and then swiftly hurried away toward the staircase. Henry the chauffeur stayed with Casey. I lingered to marvel at everything that caught my eye, but Dustin soon turned back to tell me to hurry up. He ascended the winding stairs while I followed like a good little captive. They went up and up without stopping. Dustin remained unscathed, but I, on the other hand…let’s just say I was happy once the Stairs of Doom finally ended.
Dustin did not slow his pace one bit as he made his way to the door at the end of the hallway. He put the key in the keyhole and slowly turned the knob.
The door swung open to a fairly attractive room. Set against the opposite wall was a king-size canopy bed. A vase of pink and white roses had been placed on the nightstand beside it. The walls were a calming lavender. Over to the left was a bathroom and to the right was a rather large closet with three doors.
I stepped inside. The soft rug felt squishy under my Converse sneakers.
Dustin loudly cleared his throat. “This will be your room until the school year’s over. Father thought it best that you don’t attend the classes, since school ends in a few days. After that, you’ll be free to roam the campus, but not without me or Casey.”
Was it me, or did this little speech sound rehearsed? He turned to leave. Then paused. “Oh, and if you need anything, just press that button.”He pointed to a small red button on the headboard of the bed.
“Wait, so I can’t even leave this room?”
He shrugged. “Sure. Just not the building. If you get bored, I guess you can go talk to Casey.”
Again he turned to leave, but I had one more question.
“Where are you going?”
He stared at me like I was stupid. “I’m going to class.”
With that, he quickly left before I could open my mouth again, closing the door behind him.
The school pass had been left on my bed. It gave me access to just about anything on campus. I simply wasn’t allowed to use it until the school term ended. Perched on the edge of the bed, I let out a huge sigh. It was a cozy room, but I certainly didn’t want to stay cooped up in there for days on end.
However, this would give me time to get in contact with Agent Cooper. My eyes scoured the ceiling and walls. Now that I really thought about it, Dustin’s father could have planted hidden cameras in my room to watch my every move. This guy was no joke.
I hurried into the bathroom, praying that he at least had some set of boundaries. Using the mirror as a guide, I pressed the button on the side of my glasses frames. A light blinked off and on, followed by a soft whirring sound. As I watched, a small compartment hidden within the frames slid open with a click. A short, thin wire snaked its way out of the compartment, the small microphone attached to the end hovering a few inches from my lips.
“H-hello?” I spoke timidly, not sure what to expect. “Miss Mason.” I jumped, glancing around me to make sure I was the only one there. The voice had been so crisp, so clear. It was as if the agent was in the room with me. Of course, he wasn’t. The voice had come from the glasses frames.
“Agent Cooper? Can you hear me?” I asked, speaking a little louder this time.
There was a soft crackling sound. The lenses of my new glasses flickered and crackled like static on a TV screen. Through it, an image began to form. I squinted. The FBI agent himself appeared right before my eyes. I gasped, trying to comprehend just what I was seeing. Technology was more advanced than I had realized.
He smirked. “Yes, Miss Mason. Loud and clear. Now, if I’m correct, you are currently alone in a bathroom?”
I blinked. “Yes, they have me in a room in the administration building. It’s just until school ends, though. After that…well, I guess that’s when the fun starts.”
He nodded, his eyes focused on something I couldn’t see. “They’ve taken you to a remote area of central California.”
I sighed. “Yeah, I know. When can you get me out of here?”
The agent turned his attention back to me. “After you acquire enough information for us. Then we pull you out. That’s the deal.”
“Is it really that simple? I’m all the way across the country!”
Agent Cooper didn’t even blink. “Must I remind you, Miss Mason, that we are the FBI? We have field offices all over the world. Reaching you will not be a problem.”
For some reason that didn’t really assure me. “Just be careful, stay alert, stay calm, and find out as much as you can. Keep in touch.”
There were still so many questions I had, but the lenses started to flicker again. Agent Cooper became increasingly unfocused until he was completely gone.
I frowned. At least one thing was clear. The sooner I gathered this information, the sooner I could get out of here. There was no way I could do that while staying in this room. So, despite Dustin’s orders to stay put, I decided to try to do a little investigating. Besides, if some kind of alarm went off or if someone was sent to get me the second my foot was out the door, I would know they had bugged my room.
The doorknob was normal this time, so I simply opened the door. I took a peek into the hallway. Completely deserted. Perfect. Quietly closing the door behind me, I tiptoed down the empty corridor. So far so good. I headed down the stairs.
When I arrived back on the main floor, Dustin was still there. He was talking to Casey, resting his arms on the desk. I ducked behind a vase that surpassed my head by at least four feet, straining to hear. He spoke in a hushed tone as if he somehow suspected I was listening.
“. . . please make sure she doesn’t leave without you. Otherwise she might get lost.”
“Sure thing,” Casey assured him.
“It’s not as easy as you think. She’s crafty. Just watch out for her. OK?”
Casey laughed.“Don’t worry, kid. Lily’s going to be fine.”
She paused. “You really like her, don’t you?” Her voice had taken on a teasing tone.
Dustin didn’t answer. He politely thanked her and left, muttering something about being late for class. I peeked out from my hiding space and saw Casey watching him for a minute, shaking her head. She turned back to the laptop stationed behind her desk.
Still crouched behind the giant vase, I took a second to think about the conversation I had just overheard. So Dustin didn’t want me to get lost. Yeah, right. He just didn’t want me sneaking around, possibly finding a way to escape
. OK, so I had to admit, he was probably trying to protect me too, but I didn’t need any protection. I could take care of myself.
Casey still had her back to me. It was now or never. I stepped out from behind the vase. She still did not turn.
Before she could see me, I turned on my heels and walked into another room. It appeared to be a sitting area, which wasn’t quite as nice as the lobby, but still luxurious. The windows were shut tight, of course.
I searched every room, trying to find another door or an open window. Nada. The only door leading to the outside world was at the entrance, where Casey’s desk was stationed. If there ever happened to be a fire in this place…There had to be some kind of fire escape.
Maybe if I tried the other floors, I would find it. So I quietly made my way back to the main staircase and began to climb. The second floor turned out to be full of offices and some supply rooms. Most of the doors were closed shut. There was no telling whether people were in there or not.
I decided to take a chance and knock on each one. If there was no response, then that would be my signal to go inside. I started with the door to my left. One soft knock, then waiting.
“Yes? Come in.”
Shoot. Someone was in there. I looked for a good hiding place. Luckily, this place was full of exotic urns tall enough to hide behind. I stepped behind one and carefully watched the door.
“Hello?” A woman opened the door. She looked left and right, her eyes skimming over the urn I hid behind. After a minute, she shrugged and closed the door.
Time to try the next one. Feeling like a silly schoolgirl pulling a prank on her neighbors, I hoped I wouldn’t have to do this all day. I tried the next office. Again, there was a muffled response and again I was forced to hide as the occupant opened the door. This time it was a scarecrow of a man, appearing very uncomfortable in his business suit. Grumbling, he closed the door.
Third time’s the charm, I told myself. This time, when I knocked, there was no response. I waited a couple seconds before knocking again, a little louder. Still no response. I pressed my ear to the door. No voices, no sounds, no nothing. I tried the doorknob. Miraculously, it was unlocked. Bingo! Slowly, I turned the knob and let myself in.
The room was small and cozy. It resembled a normal, boring office. A large mahogany desk with a silver nameplate faced the door. Two empty chairs sat in front of it; a small shelf nearby held a few dusty books. Of course, there was a fancy vase of flowers in the corner.
I focused on the window to the far left of the desk, hurrying over to take a closer look. Sure enough, there was a steel platform outside, located a few feet below the window, followed by a short flight of stairs and yet another platform.
The window had been left open by just a smidgen, letting some air into the stuffy room.
Hmm. Maybe if I could lift it up a little bit more, I would be able to squeeze through without inflicting any damage to the recording device taped to my back. Placing both hands on the bottom frame, I pushed upward. It only budged an inch, but that would have to do. The last thing I needed was some kind of alarm going off.
I got one leg out, then squeezed my torso through. Then my head and the other leg. I stood on a very thin ledge, barely big enough to fit both of my feet. I stared down at the platform, which wasn’t too far below. I would have to jump.
Pulse quickening a little, I leaped into the air. I free-fell for only a few seconds before landing with a bang on the steel platform, sending an unpleasant jolt shooting up my legs. I grabbed the railing to steady myself before continuing down the short flight of stairs to the next platform. This one ended with a ladder.
After climbing down the few rungs, I let myself drop the rest of the way down. The landing wasn’t exactly comfortable, but my body hadn’t suffered any injuries, so I was good to go. With my senses on high alert, I dusted myself off and headed toward the cluster of buildings up ahead.
I slowed to a brisk walk once I reached the buildings. Class was in session, so the campus grounds were completely deserted. Well, almost deserted. I ducked behind a garbage can as soon as I saw a distant patrol car heading in my direction.
Once I was sure it had passed, I stood and continued to walk. In a matter of minutes, I had already passed five track courses and several large inground pools. The golf course went on for several acres. I had to admit that the campus was absolutely beautiful. But I really needed to find something, some kind of incriminating evidence that the FBI would love to get their hands on. Problem was, I had no idea how to find it.
“Miss Mason, what do you think you’re doing out here?” A heavy hand landed on my shoulder.
I slowly turned to meet the dark eyes of a very grim-faced man. He was dressed in a black suit. Although it was like ninety degrees outside, he didn’t seem to be bothered by the heat. There wasn’t a single hint of perspiration on the man. For some reason, he strongly reminded me of a certain FBI agent back home.
He frowned down at me. “You are supposed to stay in your room until school is no longer in session.”
I blinked, deciding to play the innocent child. “Just thought I’d step out for some fresh air.”
He raised an eyebrow, obviously seeing through my facade. “Well, your little trip is over.” Taking a firm hold of my arm, he began to lead me back down toward the administration building.
I hadn’t even heard him come up behind me. I should have been paying closer attention. I deserved to get caught. Eyeing his fingers curled around my arm, I tried hard to suppress a grimace. His hand was just a few inches below the tracking device. The area was still sore and his strong grip sure wasn’t making it feel any better. With the amount of pressure he was putting on my arm, it was clear that there would be no escape. This guy had been trained for this. He wasn’t going to let a teenage girl get the better of him. Well, maybe I’d at least be able to get some information out of him.
“When did you notice I was missing?” I asked.
He continued to look straight ahead, not bothering to answer.
“What’s your name?”
Still staring straight ahead, he answered, “Anderson.”
“How’d you find me?”
He glanced down at me. “It wasn’t hard.”
I frowned. “Well, then.”
A flicker of a smile crossed the man’s face, but only for a second. “No more questions.”
By then we had reached the building. Casey was stepping around the desk when she spotted us. Her eyes widened in surprise.
“Lily! I was just about to go check on you. How did you . . . ?”
I smiled sheepishly, suddenly feeling a little guilty for eluding her. “I got a little impatient.”
She blinked. “Well, all you had to do was ask. I would have shown you around.”
I opened my mouth to answer, but Anderson interjected. “Miss Mason is not to leave this building for any reason. Not even by request of Dustin Wackerson himself. Do we have an understanding?”
Casey nodded. “Yes, sir.” Before turning to go, he stared down at me with cold dark eyes, “I wouldn’t advise another stunt like this, Miss Mason. We’ll be watching you.”
Releasing my arm, he turned around and left, his movements almost robotic. I watched him go with a slight sense of wonder.
An Old Friend
WHEN I ENTERED my room for the second time, I plopped down on the bed with a sigh. My plans had been foiled yet again. Just what had the guy meant by “we’ll be watching you”? Had he gotten that from some sort of horror film? Talk about creepy. I guessed this confirmed my suspicions about the hidden cameras.
Glancing over at my backpack, I debated whether to start unpacking or not. Deciding to procrastinate for a while, I hopped up from the bed and opened the closet doors instead.
My eyes widened. Clothing in every color and style filled the closets. Mal and Asialie would have squealed with delight if they saw this. Since I had nothing else to do, I decided to go ahead and try some on. New clothes never
hurt anyone as far as I knew. I would have to find what I could wear to hide the wire anyway. I made a point out of changing in the bathroom.
The wide selection in tops ran in a range of frilly blouses to plain white T-shirts. Blue jeans, miniskirts, and leggings galore filled the majority of the walk-in closet. There were even a few ball gowns tucked away in the back. Accessories lined the oversized shelves. I tried on hats, bracelets, and necklaces. There seemed to be a different cute handbag for every outfit. I posed in front of the fancy mirror that hung in front of the closet. This was like having my very own department store. I have to say, it was the closest I came to enjoying myself since I arrived.
After a while I realized how childish I was being, playing dress-up while I could have been doing something to get myself out of this situation. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, realizing that the girl gazing back at me had absolutely no idea what she was doing. As I turned away, I noticed a sleek black laptop sitting on the nightstand next to the bed.
Immediately I ran to it, hoping that maybe it could give me some kind of clue as to what Dr. Wacko really had planned around here. The idea of emailing a friend just to let them know I was OK creeped into my thoughts as I turned the computer on, waiting in agitated silence as it booted. I was sure this would be “against protocol,” according to Agent Cooper. However, I really didn’t care at the moment. I hadn’t even been able to say goodbye to anyone before I left. Not even my best friend Malerie, or Chase.
My heart sank. The computer wasn’t letting me go to my email. In fact, it wasn’t letting me go to any website. Frantic now, I typed in every website address I could think of.
Anything that could possibly have helped me communicate with the outside world was blocked. The only websites that weren’t blocked were nonsensical game sites and the school directory. The directory painted the school as any other private boarding school with the “best education in the country” and an “outstanding teaching staff.” Pictures of smiling children headed the home page. I slammed the laptop shut in frustration. If only I was some kind of computer nerd, I thought. Then maybe I could have found a way to beat the system.
Camp Wacko: The Drones of Summer Page 4
