Spy School: Life After School

Chapter 16

Palm Heights
June 14, 2026
1400 hours

Erica's POV

We had made our way back to the hotel in the garbage uniforms. No one glanced our way, just assuming we were doing our job. When me and Ben were certain nobody was looking, we made our way into the hotel and up to Grandpa's room. Upon entering, Cyrus jumped up.

"Report," he said. "Now."

So I recounted the events that occurred. How the men had gone after Ben and how he had hid behind the hut, while I took out 2 of the agents. Then about how he had taken out the last one. Finally, I told him about our evasive action and the disguise.

"Brezinski, jack the cameras of the hotel and monitor them," Grandpa said.

"Catherine, please set up firewalls on the hotel's website. SPYDER could look through them and find our rooms. If they do that, we are done."

"Sir, I have jacked the cameras," Mike said. "I set up an alarm so that anyone that comes within a foot of our door and is facing it will make the laptop beep. It doesn't include us."

"Good work, kid. Alex, go to the front desk and ask for the manager. Make it very clear that they are not supposed to give out any information on guests staying here. Threaten them with a lawsuit if you must."

"On it, dad," then he left.

"Mike," my grandpa said. "Can you stream this to 2 other laptops, one for each room, and make sure that the same alarm is set up."

"On it." Cyrus finally turned to us.

"Well, did you guys figure out anything?"

"There wasn't any suspicious activity other than those agents," I said.

"What did you do with the agents?"

"Bound them, then gave them the memory wipe pills. On my way back, I also jacked nearby camera feeds and erased them."

"Good work honey," Cyrus then turned to Ben. "Do you have any idea what they are doing?"

"I'm working on it, sir," Ben said. "There's a thought about the crowd outside of the expo that keeps bugging me, but I can't make sense of it."

"That's just great," Grandpa mumbled.

"Sir, I have the feeds set up on the 2 other laptops," Mike said.

"Good." Cyrus went over, took one, and gave it to Ben. "Take this, and stay in your room unless I tell you otherwise."

"Ok, sir," Ben replied. Then Grandpa turned to me.

"Continue your surveillance."

Ben's POV

Just great. I had already blown our surprise attack on SPYDER, and maybe even the whole mission. I knew I shouldn't have gone on this mission. Just like before, I was still screwing things up.

But you always fixed them before.

That's not the point.

I surfed through the TV for a while, and then through my phone, but after a while, I went to take a shower to clear my thoughts.

The water felt amazing and it was nice and hot, and I lathered up my body and hair. I washed everything out and just stood in the shower, thinking.

I wonder what Erica is thinking about me.

BEN- Stop it.

But she didn't deny her feelings.

Stop getting hopeful, you'll never have her.