Disclaimer: All rights to Ally Carter.

Chapter 10

Townsend's POV

"It's not like I haven't walked in on you in here before, but in the past there have never been this many people," I say, my eyes gazing over the other people in the room. When I signed up to be Zach and Cammie's supervisor at Georgetown, I was not expecting to have to deal with them kidnapping seven 15 year-olds. But yet, here I stand in Cammie's dorm room, face to face with said 15 year olds and an annoyed looking Zach. It seems as if that is his only emotion around me.

"This is Kat, Hale, Gabrielle, Simon, Nick, Hamish, and Angus. They're con artists," Zach says by way of explanation.

"Oh, why thank you for that introduction Zachary, but why are these supposed child con artists here?" I inquire, patience wearing thin. Zach's stare goes cold, and I mentally curse myself. It seems that I can never say the right thing to him.

"They were hired to steal the painting," Zach says plainly. My eyes go wide, but Zach simply stands there, watching me, smirking. I can't believe he doesn't see the magnitude of this. Children.

"And why was I not called?" I ask, stress seeping into my voice. Well, I guess I wouldn't even be here right now if they had actually remembered to call in. "May I remind you, Zachary, that this painting is of great importance at the CIA. They need to be told of this."

"Calm down. There is more to the story," Zach says, crossing his arms. "They were hired to steal the painting by someone who claims that the painting originally belonged to them. They were also told to leave the painting at an abandoned warehouse. This ticked us off that something wasn't right. So we went and looked at the painting, and sure enough the paint over the spot with the microchip has been tampered with. Someone obviously messed with the message on the microchip, and sent in these 'child con artists' knowing we would catch them, and it would take suspicion off the painting. We can't tell the CIA because they would never believe us. And because the person who is doing all of this is supposed to be dead."

"Okay," I say, taking in all of this information. What he is saying does make sense, I'll give him that. "Who exactly is this someone?"

"You're going to love this," he says with a smirk. "Gregory Goode."

Oh bloody hell.

I've only met him once, but from my experience, Gregory makes Catherine look like the sane sibling. This is going to be one interesting job.

"So what's the plan?" I ask.

"Half of us will stay here and try to crack the code, the other half will go after Gregory in case we don't crack it in time. I've already called Bex, Liz, Macey, Grant and Jonas. I figured you'd like to be the one to call Abby," Zach says, smirking slightly.

"I will," I say pulling my phone out of my pocket. But right before I dial the number, the little brunette girl - I think Zach said her name was Kat - speaks up.

"Um, sorry to interupt, but who exactly are you?"

"Agent Edward Townsend," I say. "Zach and Cammie's supervisor. And Zach's father."

I catch Zach's icy stare before turning away and calling Abby.

She picks up on the first ring. "Abigail," I say smoothly.

"Edward. To what do I owe this early morning pleasure?" She sounds only slightly groggy, as if used to surprise phone calls at 3am. Which, I guess she must be.

"No need to be so flattered, Abigail. It's only me," I say, a smile somehow making it's way onto my face. I'm just glad that she can't see me right now, or I would never hear the end of it. "We have a job. And before you decline, this one has to do with your favourite person, Catherine. Well, more specifically her brother, Gregory, but they have always been 2 peas in pod, I'm sure you know that."

I quickly explain to her what is going on, trying not to leave anything out. Once I'm done I hear her exasperated sigh, and I can almost see that cute little crinkle that appears between her eyebrows whenever she is thinking.

"Some supervisor you are, Edward. May I ask what you were doing when this was all happening? Sleeping peacefully, dreaming about - never mind, scratch that. I know that you don't dream. Too cliche, right? No, too happy? That's probably it."

"First off, supervisor does not mean babysitter, Abigail. I am not supposed to be with them every second of the day. And they seem to have the situation pretty much under control. Your niece, my son. What did you expect? And secondly," I say, and I can hear Zach scoffing behind me, mumbling something that sounds like 'just get on with it'. "I do, of course, dream. I am not that drab. Usually my dreams consist of me having to save you time and time again from your reckless behaviour. Doesn't sound too different from reality, does it?"

"Will you please cast your mind back to Buenos Aires? Because I distinctly remember a certain british snob hanging off the side of a six story building with seven different weapons pointed at him from places he could not even see. And me having to come in to save the day," She quips back at me.

"First off, it was a four story building, and there were only six snipers. Embellishment only makes you look childish, Abigail."

"Did I not mention the part about the british snob not being able to see them all?" she pauses, and we lapse into silence. I would think she had hung up on me if it were not for her soft breathing on the other end of the line. Then, "I had fun the other night."

I can't help the smile this time. "So did I. I'll see you in twenty minutes."

I quickly hang up the phone and turn back around to see eight teenagers staring at me. Seven of which look very confused. The other is just smirking. Typical.

"She's coming," I say to Zach, folding my arms across my chest.

He just rolls his eyes at me and says, "I will never understand your flirting."

A/N: Hello! Sorry this chapter is late, we have exams this week and just totally forgot to post this! Please read and review!

Until next time!

-Canadianreaders