Chapter Nine

The sun was peeking out from behind the hills, and Helga thought it must have been five o'clock in the morning when Brainy shook her and woke her up. She had dozed off and was dreaming about floating on a cloud with Arnold when she heard a voice in her ear. Finding a puddle of saliva just below her chin, she looked up and saw Brainy beside her, suddenly remembering what was going on. That's when Helga got a good look at the place. It was the most enormous room she had ever seen, with spyware on the shelves, a refrigerator, a plasma screen TV, and a stereo system. The bed, which was to the left of her, she estimated had to be double a king-sized bed. And the room led to other rooms, such as a kitchen and an office. Helga hadn't realized the boarding house was that big. Geez, she thought, why doesn't he just buy a house? But then she remembered his mission: spying on Arnold.

Brainy pointed and they both watched Mr. Smith yawn and climb out of bed. Still in his pajamas, he put his overcoat on and brushed his teeth and combed his hair. Then, silent as a mouse, he left the room, and then Brainy scurried after, holding his breath. He was so secretive, and yet his darn breathing always got in the way...

Helga waited for both of them to leave and climbed out from underneath the desk, stretching. "I have muscle and neck cramps, I'm exhausted, my head feels like it's been run over by a truck, and my legs are asleep, and I do all of this for Arnold and what do I get in return? He likes people like Lila and Ruth McDougal! I'm NEVER sleeping under a desk again."

She strolled through the rooms to see what she could find. Everything seemed normal...nothing out of place. She shuffled through the drawers, and as she approached the office, one caught her eye. The note on the drawer read: "THE PLAN".

"Hmm..." Helga opened the drawer and found a folder of files. In front of the folder was a picture that looked like it had been ripped in half and torn down the middle, entitled "My Family," and suddenly Helga knew what Arnold was talking about. Curious, she flipped the picture over, and on the back, there was a little note. "I've informed my family of the secret plan to defeat the green-eyed, and they're all in on it. I'm watching over the one with the weird, football shaped head. He's our captives' son, and we have to keep him, his grandparents, and the rest of the boarders ignorant. Did you get the copy of the whole plan? Please reply A.S.A.P. and have this message returned. IT ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT REACH THE HANDS OF ANYONE BUT YOU AND ME. I REPEAT, LET THIS REACH NO ONE OUTSIDE OUR INNER CIRCLE. I'll meet you you know where at five." There was a reply saying, "I've got the copy, and don't worry, it's covered. This will reach no one but you. Talk to you soon."

Helga gasped. Suddenly, it was clear to her. "My Family," was not describing the picture, but instead, introducing the message on the back. And Arnold and Gerald and all the boarders, in all their excitement, had MISSED the message on the back! She had no idea how old the note was...what if it was too late? But she had to show Arnold, and quick!

She dashed through the room and was just reaching for the doorknob when she saw it turn and the door opened.