Chapter 10 I Spy

Ulrich sat crouched down on the floor of the car and he felt as if he were being pushed along by the car, rather than hiding in it. He was disoriented because he couldn't see where they were going, but it was necessary.
I know there's something strange about that girl. Why did she suddenly show up and help us like that? And when we were being chased by those monsters… How did they know to look for this car? Why didn't they attack when we drove under them? How did she know so much, if she's supposed to be a guard? And about that… they seemed to respect her too much at the factory. It just doesn't add up. his thoughts were interrupted by the car suddenly stopping and the car door opening.
We must be there already. Ulrich slowly rose and was surprised their location. The school? What is she doing here? Hey… her cell phone!
He made a grab for it and quickly returned to the back seat, just in case she had turned around. Ulrich turned it on and went to her last calls list.
"Hmm… some number with a country code. Probably from America," he said to himself. An idea popped into his head. He cleared his throat, calmed himself, and then pressed the TALK key.
"What," said a male voice on the other end. It didn't even sound like he was asking a question. Ulrich decided that he wasn't very polite.
"Who is this?" Ulrich asked, disguising his voice.
"Who wants to know?"
"This is Commander… Jerome, EMPIRE Division D."
The boy on the other end said nothing.
"Now tell me your name, soldier." Ulrich was beginning to have fun, acting like a military officer.
"James."
"Your FULL name, please."
He heard a sigh.
"General James Lawrence… Gibraltar, Commander."
Ulrich held back a gasp.
G-General! he thought. Wait. There's no way he could be a general. He must be testing me. To see if I'm really an EMPIRE official.
"I don't appreciate being lied to, Gibraltar." The pseudo-officer said with a sharp tone. No response. "Now tell me your REAL name."
"My name is James Lawrence Gibraltar, but I am only a private, sir. I apologize for lying to you. I suspected someone impersonating an officer and I wanted to see if I could expose them. What is your reason for contacting me, sir?"
Ulrich smiled in personal triumph. He'd actually fooled him into thinking he's a Commander!
"I wanted to ask you if you recently had a conversation with a guard from the Headquarters, Hope Johnson."
Silence again.
"I ASKED YOU A QUESTION, PRIVATE!"
"No, sir! I've never heard of a Hope Johnson, sir!"
Liar.
"Very well. One more question, private. Is your current post supposed to be in the United States?"
"…Of course not, sir! You know that the EMPIRE army has not yet spread out of Europe, sir!"
Ulrich smirked.
"Why are you lying to me again, soldier?"
This time the boy hung up. Ulrich wasn't sure what to think about this one. Hope said she was going to get transferred to America, yet EMPIRE didn't move out of Europe yet. Whoever she was talking to is a liar; he didn't even know if that was his real name. But then again, if they're supposed to be part of an underground resistance, of course he would lie. He hadn't accomplished anything. No… he had. He had done something terrible. If Hope was really telling the truth and this wasn't some fake scheme…Ulrich might've just jeopardized the whole thing!
Ugh! I'm such an idiot! he thought. He'd just told whoever that boy was that the bigwigs back home knew something about the resistance. They didn't, of course, but now that he thinks they do, he might shut down the entire operation! If that happens… then who can we go to? Hope can't do all this for us herself… what if she backs out, afraid for her life? No. No, I won't put everyone in danger like this. I won't let Yumi cry again… Ulrich knew what he had to do. He had to call the boy back, tell him that it was all a lie. But what if he didn't believe him? And then, surely he would question why Ulrich was so suspicious if he did believe him. What if he had reason to suspect them of something? What if it WAS a fake scheme? What if, what if, what if? Ulrich sat back in his seat, physically drained by his dilemma and confusion. Lucky he did, because he heard the car door open. Ulrich flew to the floor of the car. Wait… someone got in with her! He listened closely.
"… would. I'd do it in a heartbeat." said the stranger. He thought he recognized the voice.
"Do you know the kinds of trouble I could get in for this? That YOU could get in?" Hope said, shutting her door. Ulrich heard the sound of metal jingling. He thought it was the keys.
"I don't care! I want answers. But most of all, I want to see my—" the stranger began, and the rest of the sentence was cut off by Hope turning on the engine. The car began to drive off. "—again."
"Hey… where's my cell phone?" Hope asked.
"How am I supposed to know?" asked the stranger. The voice sounded feminine.
Oh, no! Ulrich thought, mentally smacking himself. He still had the phone in his hand! I'd better get rid of it before she looks back here.
So, when Hope turned to look at the road the next time, Ulrich utilized his quick reflexes and tossed the phone up front, and it landed silently. He cringed and waited for someone to comment and look back. No one did.
"Oh, there it is. Hmm. I could've sworn I left it in my seat…"
Ulrich was relieved. After a few minutes, he felt brave enough to slowly lift up his head to look. When he did, he was looking towards the back seat. He saw two eyes staring back at him. Ulrich resisted the urge to cry out in surprise. It was Kiwi! Thank god. …Kiwi!
Damn! Don't start barking! Don't start barking! he though frantically. Fortunately for him, Kiwi only licked his face and then jumped up to the front. And to think, I used to hate that dog.
Soon, they pulled up in the parking lot near the edge of the land before reaching the factory's island.
"You have to stay here. Make yourself invisible. If I get caught with you, everyone's toast. Got it?"
"Whatever. Just hurry up," said the stranger.
"If I were you," Hope said, narrowing her eyes. "I wouldn't rush me."
She went outside, changed the holographic cloaking of the car, and started towards the bridge.
"Hmph!" said the female voice. It struck horror through Ulrich like a bolt of lightning. He'd recognize that 'Hmph!' anywhere. It was Sissi.