Ruby Redfort - Any Last Words?

Part 6: To be or not to be (a Spectrum Agent)

Ruby was astounded that Froghorn was a benefactor at the event. Sure, it could be a different person, but just how many people were called Froghorn? Plus, that smarmy guy didn't exactly strike her as a beaming man in a suit donating to charity...

She rubbed her eyes and drearily sat up in bed to hear Mrs. Digby talking to her through the intercom. "Ruby, your mother thinks if you stay upstairs a minute longer Mrs. Drisco will permanently expel you to mark your tenth late - this month," Mrs Digby told her chirpily. Had Hitch told her to act like everything was normal?

Maybe...

Swinging her legs out of bed and grumbling, she dragged a new t-shirt from her wardrobe emblazoned with the words "keep it to yourself cos I don't care", pulled on her new black jeans, slid the spy barrette in her chocolate brown hair, and acceptingly popped a cube of cola Hubba Bubba in her mouth (her father had confiscated her usual Hubble-Yum one time too many) and hurled herself down the long laundry chute, whizzing through at a tremendous pace until her feet felt the floor.

Shoot! There was no time to meet Clancy at the diner now, or so it seemed, as she checked her watch and it was only half 7! Of course! Ruby thought. The clocks had just went back an hour and Mrs. Digby had most probably forgotten. Ruby rolled her eyes in annoyance.

Anyone who remotely knew her could tell you Ruby Redfort was not a morning person.

At the diner, Clancy, Del, Ruby and Mouse were all working their way through different flavoured donuts, all saying nothing for a moment as they sank their teeth into their breakfast. "So Rube," Mouse said with bulging cheeks. "Where have you been this time? You always go on great holidays."

"Mouse, I've told you twice, I actually went on a cruise with Clancy and his family," Ruby said exasperatedly.
"Wow, Crew, how did you survive that? I heard you were a little afraid of sharks. You could have fallen in the water, or one could have flopped on aboard the ship," Del snickered.

"Aah, lay off, will ya Lasco? You guys go ahead, I'm gonna quickly help Clance with his French homework, I kinda owe him one," Ruby said.
"Okay," Del and Mouse said in unison.

"Gee, thanks Ruby," said Clancy happily.
"That was just a cover, bozo. We're cutting class today," Ruby told him, masked by the noise in the diner. "Why?" Clancy asked, confused. "Wait, this isn't another one of your crazy schemes, is it?" he asked wearily. "Ok, Clancy, here's what happened yesterday," Ruby replied urgently. "To sum it all up, LB knows YOU know about Spectrum, and she threatened to permanently fire me if I tell anyone else, and she said I have 8 weeks to turn you into a ready-made Spectrum agent as a punishment for both of us because you were snooping and I told you, and if you fail... she said 'I would hope he passes'," Ruby gabbled in a rush.

Clancy automatically went into overdrive mode, flapping his arms furiously and gasping, staring at Ruby with terror marring his eyes, momentarily speechless. "Me- me a SPECTRUM agent... LB think-... thinks I have what... what it takes?!" he stammered nervously.
"Will you get a hold of yourself, buster? We're in public here," Ruby told Clancy, annoyed. "And no, she doesn't, it's just her way of getting back at us,"

Clancy furrowed his eyebrows. He clearly still didn't understand. Ruby huffed, exasperated. "You know, because I didn't keep Rule 1," she hissed pointedly. "Now," Ruby continued, "Hitch has recently discovered retired Spectrum agents have set up a training facility to help those agents who... need a bit of help. It's in Florida, so pack your bags, call your parents and tell them you're staying at mine for the weekend, and let's go."