Up to No Goode

Chapter Fourteen

"Lies" Said Joe as he walked into the classroom "We tell them to our friends, we tell them to our enemies, and eventually... we tell them to ourselves." He turned to write on the board. "A lie is usually accompanied by which physical characteristic Ms. Lee?"

" Dilated pupils, increased pulse, and atypical mannerisms." she rattled

"Spies tell lies, ladies and gentlemen, but that's not what today's about." he said looking around the room "Today is about how to spot them. Now, a seasoned operative will know how to control their pulse and voice but for the purpose of today's lesson, I think these will come in handy."

He hands out these cheap rings. They're shiny and black. "Dr. Fibs has been kind enough to share the prototypes of a new voice-stress analyzer he's been working on. It's equipped with a microchip that will monitor a person voice, and if they are lying, will vibrate very softly, alerting the wearer to the lie. You have to be close to your subject." He explained as he walked towards Tina Walters desk. "And the rings can be fooled, with training. For example, ask me a question, Ms. Walters- any question."

Tina hesitated for a few moments before asking "Do you have a girlfriend?" I almost groaned out loud. What was it with Tina Walters and making a complete ass out of herself? All the girls in the class giggled.

But Joe Solomon was unfazed. He merely bit back a smile and said "No."

Tinas eyes were glued to her hand "Nothing, It didn't do anything. So it's true?" All the girls leaned in, trying to hear what Joe Solomon had to say.

"Ask me again"

"Do you have a girlfriend?" said Tina

"Yes." Tina started shaking her hand wildly. "It's not broken Ms. Walters, it's just not as good as detecting lies as I am telling them."

Cammie glance over at me and I raised my eyebrows at her. She turned her head away from me, blushing.

"Partner with the person across from you" Said Joe " Watch their eyes, pay attention to their voice. And see if you can guess whose lying."

"Oh," I said, with a quick raise of my eyebrows "This should be fun" I give a quick laugh.

Cammie does this cute little lip nibble thing when she's nervous. She doesn't hesitate to start asking questions.

"Whats your name?" she asks.

"Zach" I say simply.

"Whats your full name?" She says and I just look at her. Really? That's her question?

"That's a pretty boring question, Gallagher Girl." I say

"Zach!" she says and I grin, holding up my hand.

"Yes, that's correct. See, not lying."

"Where were you during the code black?" She rapid-fires at me and I can't help but smile.

"That's better" I say

"Answer the-"

"I was with you, remember?" I laugh, remembering the moment when the lights went out, how she grabbed my hand. I leaned toward her on the desk between us and I ask the question that's been on MY mind.

"Did you have fun last night?" I say, not expecting her to answer.

"Zach, I really don't think that's what Mr. Solomon's going for with this particular exercise. " She shakes her head at me, which makes me smile more.

"I'll take that as a yes" I say "We should really do it again sometime." She looks at me, then her eyes dart to her finger, and I realize she thinks I'm lying. That I was joking when I said that I had fun.

"Where are you from?" she says suddenly.

"The Blackthorne institute for boys!" I practically sing. These questions are so obvious. I wished she'd ask me something a little more obscure.

I'm going to take this moment to tell you to be careful what you wish for. Because you might just get it.

"What do your parents do?" she asks, her eyes searching for mine, but I couldn't meet them. The silence pulsed between us like a beat of a drum and I didn't know what to say. I straightened my notebook on my desk and said "What do you think they do?"

There were things I couldn't tell her. That my mom was a terrorist for starters. But also I couldn't bring myself to tell her that I never knew my father, that I went to a school where we learn to kill. That one day, I'd have to join the family business.

"Were they CIA?" she whispered

"Used to be." I said, looking away. She stayed quiet, and I couldn't help but think of what was going through her head. I read her CoveOps report, so I knew about her dad.

But like everyone else, she didn't ask for details.