Free The Hunt for the Missing Spy by Penny Warner Page B

was finished. The two EMTs gently lifted Mrs. Takeda onto a waiting gurney. “We’re going to take her to Washington Hospital.” She looked around. “Is there another adult coming for you kids?”
    â€œYeah,” Quinn said. “Our teacher is sending someone. We’ll be all right until he gets here.”
    The EMT frowned. “I don’t like leaving you here alone, but we’ve got to get her to the hospital. Stay here, stick together, and wait. Don’t go wandering off.”
    The kids nodded.
    The male EMT pushed the gurney into the back of the ambulance. Mika stepped over to him and asked, “Can I come with her? She’s my mother.”
    â€œOf course,” the man said.
    Mika looked at the Code Busters. “Will you guys be okay?”
    â€œSure,” Cody said, speaking for the group. “You need to be with your mom. I’ll tell Ms. Stad you’ve gone with her to the hospital. Thanks for all your help.”
    â€œSorry we didn’t find Matt,” Mika said. Then she climbed into the back of the ambulance to join her mother. Moments later they drove off.
    The Code Busters sat down on the steps again. Cody texted Ms. Stad that Mika had gone with her mother to the hospital. Quinn sighed loudly. “Well, I guess we just have to wait until Mr. Littlefield gets here, then go back to the Spy Museum and get on the bus.”
    They waited in silence for a few minutes, lost in their own thoughts. Suddenly, a strange movement caught Cody’s eye. She thought she saw someone duck behind one of the marble columns that flanked the Natural History Museum’s entrance. Leaning over to see better, she spotted the toe of a black shoe just peeking out.
    Why would someone be hiding behind that column?
    Cody froze. Her breath caught in her chest.
    Was it the stranger who’d been following them? Had he caught up to them? If so, they could be in real trouble.
    Slowly she turned to the others and made the sign for the number seven, followed by the number eleven. She kept her hand low so only the Code Busters could see her hand. Luke sat up and looked around. Quinn frowned. M.E.’s eyes widened.
    â€œWhere did you see him?” Luke whispered, his eyes darting around the area.
    Cody signed the number three, then tapped her wrist, indicating “Three o’clock” on a clock face.
    The kids looked to the side of Cody. Just at that moment, the figure peered out from behind the column. He wore a black baseball cap, khaki trench coat, black shoes, and was holding a newspaper over his face.
    The newspaper had a hole in the middle of it.
    Cody was right. It
was
the stranger who had been following the Code Busters!
    â€œI see him!” Luke whispered, excited.
    â€œYou were right!” Quinn said. “We
are
being followed!”
    â€œShould we call the police?” M.E. asked, scooting closer to Cody. She looked terrified.
    Before Cody could answer, the stranger threw down the newspaper, turned around, and fled.
    â€œDude, he’s getting away!” Luke said, bolting up.
    â€œWe need to follow him and find out who he is and what he’s up to,” Quinn said, rising to his feet.
    M.E. shook her head. “We’re supposed to stay here! That’s what Ms. Stad said. If we leave, we’ll really get in trouble.”
    Cody knew they had to think fast or they’d lose the opportunity to catch this guy. But M.E. was right. They’d be in big trouble for leaving without a chaperone.
    And what if the stranger turned out to be dangerous?
    â€œ
E Pluribus Unum
!” Luke called out.
    The others looked at him as if he were crazy.
    â€œWhat?” M.E. said.
    â€œ
E Pluribus Unum
,” Luke repeated. “Remember what it means?”
    â€œ
Out of many, one
,” M.E. answered. “So?”
    â€œListen, if we stick together as one, there’ssafety—and strength—in numbers,” Luke explained.