Spy School Oneshot Collection

Worth the Risk

What Erica did the night before meeting Ben at the Smithsonian during Spy School Secret Service.

Erica's POV 

Of course I believed Ben. I didn't know exactly what he had done or where he was, but Ben didn't seem like the kind of person to turn against his country like this. Then again, neither had Joshua.

But Ben wasn't Josh. I had to remember that. Most people weren't like Joshua. Most people went about their normal, boring lives trying to do the right thing without ever even considering turning evil.

I called Mom and told her where to show up, and then I went to contact Ben. My guess was that he didn't think I was on his side, but it was hard to tell. He did have a crush on me, and that could make boys do all sorts of strange things.

I got in touch with Ben by first finding Zoe, who, predictably, was on the phone with him. I could tell from their conversation that Zoe had openly taken Ben's side in all this, which to anyone else would have been a huge and unnecessary risk, but no one would have ever suspected that Zoe would go against Ben. She was going to be under careful surveillance, no matter what.

Zoe hadn't noticed me at first, having not suspected anyone would secretly be in her dorm room at night, so I spoke, revealing my presence.

Zoe was, understandably, a little freaked out, but I stayed in my usual cold persona and took the phone from her.

Ben began pleading his case to me, and as much as I wanted to say outright that I would help, I knew the line was being tapped, so I had to ignore what he was saying and just keep going.

I had my coded message already worked out, but I still hesitated before saying it. "You're the one who needs to find hope." I then said some stuff to sound threatening to anyone who happened to be listening in and hung up.

I felt that my code had been obvious, but there was still a decent chance Ben wouldn't get it. There was also a pretty good chance that both the CIA and SPYDER would get it, which was why I now needed to focus on tomorrow's escape.

It never hurt to be prepared, so, using her cover as a museum curator, Mom and I snuck in to rehearse.

Mom had gone in and disabled the security cameras, but there were still a number of guards wandering around. In a way, that was good, though. Having people to avoid would just make practice more like the real thing.

I ran through the escape a couple of different ways, so I would know what to do regardless of what things might be blocked off by enemy agents and the CIA, memorizing the routes through the basement tunnels to where Mom was waiting.

After five runs, we left, and Mom unfroze the security cameras.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked as we left.

"Yes," I said. "Ben's innocent. I'm sure of it."

"But are you sure helping him is worth risking your whole career?"

"Yes, Mom," I said, exasperated.

"I'm just trying to be sure. I don't want you to do something rash just because you have a crush on this boy."

"I don't have a crush on Ben," I said. Sure, this was a lie, but I wasn't about to admit anything. Of course I had a crush on Ben. The stakes were huge here. I wasn't willing to put my career and my reputation on the line for just anyone.

"You do remember what happened with Joshua?"

"Ben is different. He wouldn't do that," I said, mostly to Mom, but partly to myself.

"Just be careful."

"I will," I said. "I've learned my lesson with that."