Meh, short chapter here. I've rewritten this one five times trying to get it just right, and I'm not even sure that this was perfect. For some reason I really struggled with this one. I feel like this is the crucial part of the story where anything can change based on how I write it, so I wanted to get it right. I have a very definite endgame, but I'm debating how to get there.

So, to answer some questions from reviews, PMs, etc. Yes, Zach has a large part to play later, but just not right now. No, there won't be a whole ton of Zammie or Pacey because I suck at writing lovey dovey stuff, but I will do a little bit here and there. Yes, there is a reason for Preston being in the story. And the reason I have Cammie running away even though it's pretty cliche is because I'm trying to go as by the books as possible, and this is how Ally Carter writes Cammie. Ally Carter has made Cammie into the sort of person who runs when she has to, so that's why I'm doing it too. Plus, there's nothing really exciting to write about from inside the walls of school (at least not in this story.) So yeah, that was your little window into the thoughts of the writer.

So after this really long intro, please enjoy! -Tickgrey

Townsend pretty much spent the rest of the day on the phone. My best guess was that the other end was either MI6 or Professor Buckingham, but unless he decided to clue me in, I was never going to know. Finally, he hung up and turned to me, "It seems your friends also left your school."

"That figures," I shrugged.

"Should we be expecting them to show up here?" he asked suspiciously as if I had some sort of secret way to communicate with them.

I shook my head, "Nope. They've got no idea where I went after I left. They didn't even know I was leaving."

He nodded in approval. It looked like he was about to say something, but suddenly there was a knock on the door. I guess Townsend wasn't accustomed to getting visitors because he immediately pulled out his gun and edged to the door quickly and quietly. He carefully glanced through the peep-hole before sighing and opening the door.

And out of nowhere, there was my aunt and my CoveOps teacher both of whom were just standing there. Abby pushed through the door into the apartment either unaware of the unwelcoming expression on Townsend's face or just completely content to ignore it. Mr. Solomon patted Townsend on the back and said "Ed!" much more cheerily than I would have expected from a man who was hunted by Townsend for years.

Townsend replied, "Joe?" He was a little bewildered and noticeably perturbed.

Abby skipped the casualties and said, "So, what's the plan?"

"There isn't one yet," Townsend shook his head. "Currently we're keeping our heads low because someone thought it would be a good idea to try to draw out the Circle." He said glancing at me in an accusatory manner.

I shrugged. I couldn't tell if she was trying to make Townsend mad or actually agreeing with me, but Abby innocently said, "That what I would have done."

Mr. Solomon tried to restore the focus of the conversation. "So, what we know is that the Circle is holding Rachel at an unknown facility in an unknown location. We know that there are five students away from the Gallagher Academy, and we only know the whereabouts of one of them. And we know that the Circle is likely on its way to London to capture or kill Cameron."

Townsend nodded his head, "We also don't know any information on the whereabouts or activities of the splinter group. They could be the wild card in this."

"Wait-" I tried to get their attention.

Abby, ignoring me, turned to Townsend and quipped, "You say that as though they could be helpful to us!?"

Townsend shrugged, "They could be. They do want the Circle leadership dead, but they could very well have crucial information regarding likely holding places for Rachel. We don't really know anything about their headquarters or facilities."

"No, really, guys-" I was cut off again. I could tell that Townsend and Abby were about to start ripping each other a part any moment.

"Yes, but the Circle as we know it today is on its last breaths. If we help the splinter group, we're helping create a whole other terrorist organization," Mr. Solomon stepped in as if he also sensed the growing tension in the room.

"Look!" I tried to say, but was still ignored by the growing tempers.

"You would know something about that, wouldn't you?" snapped Townsend. His face was growing redder by the minute. I'd never seen three spies as highly trained as this get quite so worked up.

Mr. Solomon looked like he wanted to punch Townsend. All of the calmness from his voice that existed earlier was gone as he said, "Yes, I would!"

"Seriously-" I sighed hoping someone would notice me, but still no one even batted their eyes. They just kept shouting as though it would change anything.

"Oh come on! That's a cheap shot!" Abby yelled at Townsend.

Townsend, however, was having no part in it as he yelled back, "It's bloody well true!"

Finally, I stood up and shouted as loud as I possibly could, "Hey!"

Everyone turned in my direction with confused expressions and perhaps a little anger because I had broken up their merry argument. I breathed deeply and said, "Look out the window."

Everyone followed my glance to the street below. There was a woman sitting on a park bench across the street from the apartment. She was looking straight into the window with a blank expression. Her hair was completely different and her sunglasses covered most of her face, but I recognized her immediately. Abby said, "Catherine Goode?"