A/N: I'm sorry it took so long to get this up! I've been really busy lately. I'm also sorry it's so short!! If you can think of anyway to make this chapter longer, please let me know. And review review review!!! Let me know what you think. :)

Chapter 10

"Tell us again what it looked like."

I sighed heavily. I just wanted to go up to my room and take a long hot bath. But nooo, they wouldn't let me do that.

"It was a silver Viper. That's all I know."

"She's not really a car person," Iggy threw in helpfully. I shot him a wasted glare.

"You didn't catch the license number? Or a bumper sticker, or any other special markings?" Julia Rothman leaned over me expectantly.

"I'm sorry," I said, sarcasm dripping. "I was kind of busy being thrown into a tree." I pointed to my temple, the site of a gigantic cut which was already turning a lovely shade of lavender. After cleaning it they'd given me an icepack to hold over it, but it still throbbed like heck. I felt kind of bad for being so rude to Julia, though, because she was so nice to us and I really did like her.

Oh well. I'd get over it.

When I'd flown back, Fang had been standing on the roof of the white house keeping watch. We'd gone inside, and I'd explained everything to Julia and Agents Finn and Ginn. All three of the Grants had joined us, and now all of them plus Joe Smith, Chief of Staff, sat in the living room with me and the flock. Everyone was looking at me: Julia Rothman with mild disappointment; the flock with concern; Finn, Ginn, and Mrs. And Mrs. Grant with amazement and envy; and Jamie with…well, I wasn't sure what with. He was sitting quietly with his mom and dad, gazing at me. His expression was completely unfathomable. I found myself having to turn away from the intensity of his gaze.

"What did the intruder look like?" asked Julia.

"I don't know," I sighed. "I told you already, he was wearing a ski mask."

Julia threw down the notepad and pen she was holding, rubbing her temples in exasperation. Which irritated me further.

"News flash," I snapped at her, rising to my feet in my sudden anger. "I'm a genetic mistake, not a super hero. Sorry to disappoint you."

Fang put a hand on my shoulder. Keep cool, his eyes warned. Don't let her get to you like this. I scowled at him but sat back down. I did cross my arms over my chest, though. See, I could behave and be defiant at the same time!

"Is there anything at all that you can tell us, Max? Anything else you remember that might help?" Agent Finn spoke this time.

Everyone was silent as I thought.

"Well," I said slowly after a minute, "they were good. They knew what they were doing." I looked up, making sure to look every one of them in the eye. I wanted to put emphasis on this. "These people mean business. You don't want to mess with them."

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense. I saw Julia exchange a worried glance with Agent Finn, and then with the president.

I was starting to worry too, though of course I wasn't about to admit it. I may have kicked those jerks' butts in a snap, but that was only two of them, and I'd had the element of surprise on my side then. They'd be anticipating me next time. This whole security-thing was not going to be as easy as I'd expected.

There was danger ahead of us.