Free Double Vision by F. T. Bradley

shrug off the bad vibe as we raced through the tunnel and to the clubhouse beyond the metal door. I was nervous, clutching my dad’s compass on my backpack. Therewas no excitement at all this time around—we knew that bad news was waiting for us.
    Black and Stark greeted us and passed several copies of a printed email. It took me a second to scan the page:
    TO: Mustang
    FROM: Dagger
    Babushka has been obtained. Artifact in sight.
    Move forward with plan as scheduled.
    I raised my hand like I was in class. “Um, what’s a Babushka?”
    Stark glanced at President Griffin, who still had her eyes glued to the paper.
    Ben looked confused, too—the guy didn’t know everything after all.
    Stark took a breath before she said, “A Babushka is an extremely dangerous explosive device.”
    The bad guy had a bomb.

17
TUESDAY, 8:30 P.M .
    â€œTHIS BABUSHKA IS BAD NEWS,” AGENT Stark said with a quiver in her voice. “It’s a Russian-made bomb, and when it is triggered—”
    â€œCan we just focus on a solution here?” President Griffin said, interrupting Stark. She folded the printout, and I saw that her hands were trembling. “We’re talking about my daughter’s safety. Do we know that this bomb threat is even valid?”
    Stark nodded. “We checked the inventory, ma’am. A Babushka went missing from one of our military installations a few days ago.”
    President Griffin nodded, looking defeated.
    â€œBut the bad guy still doesn’t have the Dangerous Double,right?” I said, trying to look on the bright side. “So if we find it first, he won’t be able to go forward with his plan.” I was about to add “and blow up the White House,” but stopped myself.
    â€œHow is the search for the coat going, kids?” Black asked.
    â€œI’m waiting on something, but I have a plan,” Ben said.
    â€œI have a solid lead, too,” I added, hoping I sounded confident. “Two leads, actually.” I was counting Ben’s package and the spy contact.
    â€œHow about the search for the mole?” President Griffin asked Black and Stark. “Are you any closer to uncovering the traitor’s identity?”
    Stark looked flustered, which I took as a bad sign. “This Dagger person used staff computers to send the emails. So far, it’s proving hard to find a trail.” Her voice faded
    â€œWe’re working on it, Madam President,” Black said. “But in light of this escalated threat, you may want to reconsider canceling the ball.”
    â€œNo,” President Griffin said resolutely. “Celebrating America’s History has been planned for months—there are events at the Smithsonian, Mount Vernon. I’m scheduled to give a speech at the Lincoln Memorial for festivities on Friday.” She handed her printout to Stark. “I won’t be terrorized—and what’s to say this Dagger person won’t strike next week, or next month?”
    We were all silent, because everyone knew she was right. We had to catch the bad guy, and that meant going ahead with the ball.
    President Griffin looked at Black, then to Stark. “Find themole and the Dangerous Double.” She looked at her watch. “You have just over forty-six hours.”
    Ben, President Griffin, Wilson, Stark, and I went back down the tunnel to the White House after Albert Black assured the president we were on the case.
    â€œHow’s your search for the Dangerous Double coming?” Ben asked behind me as we walked. I tried hard not to seem like we were together. Stark, President Griffin, and Wilson were in deep conversation about the hunt for the mole.
    â€œGood. Great, actually,” I said, thinking of his package. “How about you? Any new clues get delivered yet?”
    Ben squinted. “I’ll have the artifact secured by the end of the day tomorrow, latest. I’m the top secret agent