Andrew North Blows Up the World Read Online Free Page A

that if he lost the fight on purpose and let them simply capture him, Madam Mordre would lead him right into the chamber! As soon as she looked away, he would break free of the handcuffs.
    His suit was a bit messed up from the fight, but his hair was still perfect.
    Madam Mordre grinned as she led North through the door into the secret chamber, where Dr. Cringe was waiting.
    “Come on,” she said. “You’ll be spending your recess in here.”
    Mr. Summers was sitting at his desk, grading our worksheets and listening to music on headphones, and Ryan Kowalski was leaning his chair back and putting his feet up on his desk. Ryan had to eat his lunch in the classroom every day. No one knew what he’d called Mrs. Rademacher to get permanent indoor recess, and he wasn’t telling.
    “Got two more for you,” said Mrs. Rademacher.
    “Oh?” said Mr. Summers, looking up.
    “Yes,” said Mrs. Rademacher. “They’ll be spending the rest of lunch and recess indoors with Ryan. And Ryan, put your feet down!”
    “Sure thing, Mrs. R,” said Ryan.
    Mr. Summers nodded and gestured for us to have a seat. I sat down next to Ryan, and Tony sat down next to me.
    Ryan was dressed in a plain white T-shirt with the sleeves rolled up. His hair was slicked back, and he was chewing on a pencil.
    “What are you guys in for?” Ryan asked.
    “Throwing potato salad at Neil,” I said proudly.
    Ryan nodded. “Looks like Neil got you back, too.” He pointed at my chest.
    “Guess so,” I said. “Are we allowed to talk out loud in here?”
    “Sure,” said Ryan. He turned and started talking really loudly so Mr. Summers could hear him through his headphones.
“Mr. Summers doesn’t mind if we talk here. Do you, Mr. S?”
    “Knock yourselves out,” said Mr. Summers. “I’m not a jailer. I’m just here to make sure you don’t break the windows and write dirty words on the marker board.”
    And he went back to grading papers and listening to his headphones.
    “Hey, Ryan,” I said, quietly enough that Mr. Summers wouldn’t hear, “that insult you gave me about Neil’s name sounding like a toilet flush worked really well!”
    “I knew it would,” said Ryan. “Need any more?”
    “Not today,” I said, “but as soon as I get some cash, I’ll buy a whole bunch.”
    “Whenever you’re ready,” he said. “I’m having a sale this month—five insults for only two bucks.”
    I needed to do something to get some more money. I really did need more insults, but I didn’t know how much I could afford to spend, considering I had a monkey to save for. Of course, if I had managed to contact spy headquarters and they called me up to the pros, I’d be able to afford a monkey and a
ton
of insults!
    The whole time we talked, I kept a close eye on Mr. Summers. I knew he had to get up some time, which would give me a chance to get the calculator back. If he didn’t leave the room, I was going to have to find some way to get all of us out of the room, which was going to be a real trick.
    After lunchtime ended and everyone else was out on the playground, Mr. Summers gave us some drawing paper to keep us occupied during our indoor recess. I drew a blueprintfor the house where Jack and I would live after we had both gone pro as spies. It would have everything—giant TVs, a swimming pool the size of a football field, a video-game room, and maybe an indoor baseball stadium. It would even have private suites in the basement for Tony and Danny, my assistants. There would be secret passages all over and a telescope on the roof that we could use to look into windows all over town.
    Paul Hazuka could live there with us, too, even though he’d probably never believe we were spies. He’d probably think we made all our money from “good investments” or something and that I just dressed so sharply to impress the ladies (which would only be half true). But that would be okay—if anyone came snooping around, he could answer the door and say,