Spy School: British Invasion

Chapter 3: Surveillance

The Z Hotel Victoria

Floor 5

April 1

0100 hours

I woke up to something tapping my shoulder. I groaned slightly, and a hand was clamped over my mouth. I was suddenly wide awake, and sat up very quickly.

"Shhhhhhhh!" Erica said, but even so, Mike woke up.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing, Ben and I are going to do some surveillance," Erica whispered.

"Ok," Mike said.

"We are?" I asked.

"Yes. Now, get some other clothes on besides your shorts and t-shirt. Also, don't wear the Farkles shirt. In the closet, there are clothes. I'll wait outside," Erica said, and silently stood up, walked into the hallway, and closed the door.

I quickly stood up and opened the closet. As Erica said, there were sweaters in there. However, she forgot to mention that you had to pay for them. There a glass case around them, and there was a sign saying what you had to do to get a sweater.

Apparently, you had to pay in the lobby and a person from the hotel staff would come up with a key to open the glass door and take out the thing you wanted.

I didn't have a bobby pin to pick the lock.

"Mike!" I called.

"What's up buddy?" he asked, by my side in a second.

"You have a bobby pin? I need to open this to get clothes."

"Oh, sorry. I don't maybe you could pay for it?"

"Believe me, I want to. But it will upset Erica because it will take too much time, rise suspicion, plus we don't have any money,"

The door suddenly opened, and Erica closed the door behind her.

"Why is this taking so long?" she hissed.

"We can't get this thing open!" I hissed back.

"Oh my god," she said, walking over. Her shoulder brushed mine as I moved over. In a second, she had the door popped open and was picking out my clothes.

"Here. Put these on." she thrust a black and gray t-shirt into my hands, along with some dark blue jeans and a jet-black windbreaker. I went into the bathroom to change, and surprisingly, all the clothes fit perfectly, and went with my sneakers. I grabbed a comb from the shower and quickly ran it through my hair. At the last second, I grabbed a breath mint from a full bowl next to the sink.

It took me thirty seconds, tops, but Erica acted as if it were thirty seconds to late.

"Come on slowpoke," she said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

I was surprised, and so was Mike. He smiled at me, giving a thumbs up, and we bumped fists.

"Really guys?" Erica said, this time a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"Sorry," we said at the same time. Mike scampered back to bed, got under the covers, and the flashed his classic wolfish smile. I couldn't help but smile back.

Erica grabbed my arm and led me into the hallway. We silently got into the elevator, and I asked a burning question.

"Did you sleep in the bathtub?" I asked.

"No!" Erica said, very defensively.

"Right, sure you didn't," I said. "Your hair is a bit wet on the top. I think a few drops of water got on your head when you were sleeping,"