The letter read: "You must tell no one about the words you read here. All information is property of the American Office of Civil Justice under the classifications D-17 and A-45, as well as the Smothers Act of 2004."
Julia took a deep breath. Whatever this was, it was big.
"Your help is desperately needed. Two operatives of the AOCJ have already been captured. Agent 17749, Michael Vaughn, and Agent 16442, Irina Derevko, have been apprehended for their undercover work with the Society of the Closed Fist."
So her father and Irina were undercover! Her father wasn't really evil!
"If you agree to help with this operation, collectively known under the title Operation Dragon Fire, you need to report to the Rotunda no later than 4 p.m. today. Come alone. Bring this official letter and the ring as proof.
"Sincerely, Dan Keelman, Officiating Director of the AOCJ."
Julia looked up. Emilie was staring at her. Julia smiled, trying to offset the varied range of feelings stewing inside her. Gently she tipped the ring into her palm. It was heavy, and gold, and engraved with the symbol Julia had come to know as that of Rambaldi. She slid it onto her thumb. It fit, oddly enough.
The bell rang and the class emptied. "Where now?" Emilie asked Julia.
"Um… what? Sorry, I just… I have to go somewhere."
"You're really trying to get out of showing me around, aren't you?" Emilie quipped with a grin.
"No, I'm really sorry…" Julia paused. "Do you want to come with me?"
"You're asking me to skip school on my first day here?"
"I guess so."
"Well then, I guess I accept."