Free Trials in Walls of Ivy (Triskelion Trilogy Book 1) by Deborah Jayne Pye

thinking, that means a team.”
    I watched as the three of them stared silently at each other, then to me.
    “We’re in, of course,” Bree grinned, “what do you need?”
    I visibly sagged with relief. “I have to find something which is hidden on the roof of the castle. Consummate rules are on, so I can’t be seen, heard or discovered while I’m there. I have to get up there, find whatever it is and get back tonight.”
    A wash of stillness took the room. Each of my friends considered my problem silently. I watched as Jay leaned toward Owen, looking over his shoulder at the computer screen. Bree leaned back in her chair, balancing on two legs. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ash looking down to me. I didn’t dare break my concentration by looking at him directly.
    “Roz?” He asked, “does it have to be you?” He moved closer beside me so our arms were touching.
    I gave in and looked up to him, gritting my teeth against the wave of butterflies. “Yes, of course it does. It’s my task.”
    Owen waved my task sheet toward Ash. “She has to do what a Mole does best, get the info, by any means”
    Ash took the sheet and looked back at me with a grin. “It doesn’t have to be you.” He put his finger on a line and held it out toward me to read. “Role of a Mole agent, it says here. Isn’t being the leader of a team a role?”
    “Yes, but,” I thought about what he was saying and shook my head, “yes it does, but I can’t send someone else in. This is my task.”
    “Your task is to get the information with whatever means available to you? Well, I’m available.” He lowered his head as Bree giggled from what felt like a mile away. “You know what I mean,” he said, quietly so only I could hear.
    He didn’t meet my eyes as he looked down at the floor. My single butterfly suddenly turned into a kaleidoscope , my lips trembling as my breath caught.
    “Thank you, Ash,” my voice shook.
    “Ash is right,” Owen’s voice dragged me back to the moment, “you’re supposed to get the information the Mole way. You need to figure out how to get in and out of the castle, with us as your team.”
    I regained control by looking to each member of my new team. Every pair of eyes were wide, eager for the challenge. I couldn’t help but cringe. How could I be their leader? They were all so capable, so independent and strong. 
    Owen winked at me, like he knew what was going through my mind.
    “You really think we can do this? You all think I can come up with a way to get us in and out unseen?” I held my chin out, covering for the quiver in my voice.
    “We’re a team,” Jay leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs on the table, “no problem. This will be a breeze.”
     
    We spent the next three hours bent over a growing pile of notes, which spread across the table. Each sheet of paper depicted a different point of our plan. It didn’t take us long to deduce that the best time to carry it out would be the early hours of the morning, when it was still dark, but too early for passers-by. A nervous lump grew in my throat as supplies were gathered and jobs were divided. Finally, as the clock struck four, we got to work.
    The first part of our plan was for Jay and I to set up a surveillance system throughout the campus. Intent on looking natural, I dressed in my running clothes, which were practically new from lack of use, and pretended to go for a jog. At every corner and lamppost I stopped to stretch and discreetly placed a camera. By the time I ran back to the house every angle of the university campus was flickering to life on the multiple screens Jay had set up in the living room. Thankfully, I didn’t need to explain to Warwick why we were taking over the room, as he hadn’t returned home. Fern and Karissa came home just as we were finishing the set up. After a quick explanation they were happy for us to use the room. Fern even offered to help watch the monitors as Karissa loped up the stairs to