About the Book
What if you knew your missing parents were alive, but you couldn’t tell anyone? How would you find them and who would you trust?
Kensy and Max are now agents-in-training at Pharos, a covert international spy network. Christmas break sees the twins back at Alexandria for training and a celebration like no other, but where are their parents and why can’t they come home? Thankfully, a school trip to Rome provides a welcome distraction. Amid the history and culture of Italy’s capital, they discover a runaway boy and whisperings of Mafia involvement. It looks like Kensy and Max’s harmless excursion may just turn into their very first mission.
Contents
Cover
About the Book
Title Page
Cast of Characters
Maps
Dedication
Glossary of Italian Terms
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
A note on the pigpen cipher
About the Author
Books by Jacqueline Harvey
Jacqueline Supports
Kensy and Max: Breaking News
Imprint
Read more at Penguin Books Australia
The Grey household
Kensington Méribel Grey
11-year-old twin
Maxim Val d’Isère Grey
11-year-old twin
Kensy and Max’s mother
Edward Grey
Kensy and Max’s father
Fitzgerald Williams
Kensy and Max’s manny, first cousin of Edward Grey
Alexandria Estate
Dame Cordelia Spencer
Head of Pharos
Rupert Spencer
Dame Spencer’s younger son
Song
Butler
Mim
Head gardener and Fitz’s mother
Shugs
Gardener
Mr O’Leary
Gardener
Ida Thornthwaite
Cook
Wellington and Mackintosh
Dame Spencer’s West Highland terriers
Central London Free School staff
Magoo MacGregor
Headmaster
Romilly Vanden Boom
Science teacher
Monty Reffell
History teacher
Willow Witherbee
English teacher
Elliot Frizzle
Art teacher
Lottie Ziegler
Mathematics teacher
Gordon Nutting
PE teacher
Elva Trimm
Head dinner lady
Students
Autumn Lee, Harper Ballantine, Carlos Rodriguez, Sachin Varma, Yasmina Ahmed, Dante Moretti, Inez Dufor, Misha Thornhill, Alfie Dingle
Kensy and Max’s friends
Lola Lemmler
School bully
Graham Churchill, Harriet, Liam and Winston
History tour participants
Other
Esmerelda
Driving instructor
Nico
Missing boy
Sidney
Butler
Sister Maria Regina
Nun
Vittoria Vitale
Prime Minister of Italy
Lorenzo Rinaldi
Prime Minister’s husband
For Ian, my best friend and biggest fan, and for Holly and Catriona, who believed in Kensy and Max right from the start and have worked so hard to help me bring them to life
Allontanatevi dai bambini!
Get away from the children!
borseggiatori
pickpockets
Buon Natale
Merry Christmas
carabinieri
military police
ciao
hello/goodbye
codardo
coward
Cosa avete portato?
What did you bring?
Cosa fai?
What are you doing?
derubato
robbed
diavolo
devil
grazie
thank you
ho vinto
I won
Inglese
English
Italiano
Italian
lei firmerà i documenti
she will sign the documents
mamma mia
an expression of surprise
mi scusi
excuse me
mia cara
my dear
ottimo lavoro
good job
poliziotti
police
Primo Ministro
Prime Minister
scomparso
missing
scusi
sorry
sei morto
you’re dead
sì
yes
signora
madam
mister
stupido
stupid
toilette
toilet
Case Note 16
Author: Fitzgerald Williams,
Pharos Agent (PA) S2660
Subjects: Kensington Grey, PA A2713;
Maxim Grey, PA A2714
Kensington and Maxim Grey were admitted as Pharos agents-in-training at the age of eleven years and one month.
FIELDWORK
Via their keen observation and deductive skills, the twins solved the theft of the Graff Peacock brooch from the Tate Gallery in London, which was perpetrated by Esme Brightside; Wanda Grigsby; Wanda’s son, Derek Grigsby; and Ivy Daggett. The foursome had been under the surveillance of MI6 agents for some time following the disappearance of Esme, Wanda and Ivy’s husbands, who, eighteen months previously, had pulled off the largest diamond heist in British history. The apprehension of the thieves was undertaken by MI6. However, had it not been for Kensington and Maxim, they would have been outsmarted by the gang, who were caught at the last minute while en route to the Dominican Republic. All four suspects are now in custody awaiting trial. Garnet Brightside, Walter Grigsby and Ray Daggett have also been apprehended and are awaiting extradition from the United States. Kensington and Maxim have received no formal recognition for their efforts, although a large box of chocolates did arrive at Ponsonby Terrace for the children along with a thank-you card from Claudia, the MI6 agent in charge of the investigation.
SKILLS, STRENGTHS AND VULNERABILITIES
Since the disappearance of their parents and subsequent relocation to London, the twins have kept up their physical fitness. Maxim has delved further into code-breaking, having recently spent time studying the Caesar cipher. His talent is exceptional. The boy also has a photographic memory, particularly for maps. He must learn to trust his instincts as there will be many occasions in future where he will need to make quick decisions.
While both twins’ understanding of Morse code has been tested with good outcomes, Kensington requires further revision and training in this area. She must also remember to wear her watch each day. Her ability to pick locks has proven excellent and will require increasingly difficult devices to expand her knowledge. They both need to work on their disguise recognition and environmental awareness.
TRAINING
The children entered formal training on 17 November and have adapted well to their new schedules. Their ability to conceal their extra-curricular activities from the regular students at Central London Free School has thus far been very successful and they have both made good friends within the unit. Kensington’s propensity to speak before she thinks has at times landed her in hot water – particularly around Misha, another trainee agent currently on assignment and acting as the close friend of Lola Lemmler, a classmate whose father is of great interest to the organisation.
EMOTIONAL STATE
Kensington has exhibited signs of emotional withdrawal, but she has proven incredibly resilient in the face of enormous change and shocking revelations. Maxim has been a steady influence on his sister and, all things considered, they have both adjusted admirably to their unusual circumstances.
UPDATE ON THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ANNA AND EDWARD GREY
Their parents, Anna and Edward Grey, disappeared in Central Africa while working with a children’s medical charity six weeks ago. Since then they have made contact with the twins via a series of Morse code messages sent through the children’s watches, but they have asked that Kensington and Maxim tell no one and trust only me. This case note will remain Status Black for all other Pharos agents – including Dame Spencer – until Anna and Edward return or in the event of my death, whereby the information will be automatically disseminated to those with appropriate clearances.
OTHER INFORMATION
Kensington and Maxim continue to run rings around Song, who has been tasked with assisting me to look after the pair. It has been extremely amusing to watch.
Kensy ran swiftly, her footsteps soundless on the damp ground. She turned the corner and her heart sank. It was a dead end. She was about to double back when, by chance, she glanced up. There, on the other side of the tightly woven hedge, stood an oak tree perfect for climbing. If she could reach it before he rounded the bend, she’d stand a chance.
Kensy dove onto the ground, her fingernails jamming with dirt as she clawed her way underneath the foliage. With one final push, her legs slithered through. She launched herself at the bottom branch, swinging up and over while trying not to rustle the leaves, then flattened against the trunk and adjusted her night-vision goggles. Her breath created tiny clouds in the darkness.
All was still but for a single silhouette that crept around the corner and down the path. Kensy grinned as she lined him up in the crosshairs. She closed her left eye and squeezed the trigger.
A loud yelp followed by a burst of salty language filled the air.
Kensy stuffed her fist into her mouth to suppress a fit of giggles. Now was not the time to give herself away. She crouched down, straddling the thick bough, and whispered into her headset. ‘Man down!’
There was a whir and a thunk as the pitch-black maze was illuminated by floodlights hidden in the canopies of the surrounding trees. Kensy lifted her arm to shield her eyes and sprang to her feet.
Song’s voice came through as clear as crystal from the control room, where he had been monitoring the activity. ‘Well done, Miss Kensington,’ he said, the smile in his voice audible. ‘Your team has emerged triumphant this evening. Please make your way back to the house and we will celebrate with a feast. Mrs Thornthwaite has been very busy.’
‘Woohoo! Thanks, Song.’ Kensy did a little victory dance on the tree branch and almost lost her balance. She hoped nobody saw her. ‘Hey guys, we did it! Finally!’
There were whoops of joy – some from close by while the rest came over the airwaves.
‘Not fair!’ Dante moaned. The lad had been sure he’d had the girl cornered. ‘Kensy’s outside the perimeter. Isn’t that against the rules?’
‘It is not,’ Kensy argued. ‘This tree is clearly on the boundary line. There’s no need to be such a sore loser, Moretti.’
‘If Miss Kensington was clever enough to see a vantage point then, I am afraid, Master Dante, that she has done nothing illegal,’ Song informed the lad, receiving another groan in response.
Kensy leapt from the tree, clearing the hedge and landing hard on the ground inside the maze just as Autumn charged around the corner. Dante had already taken off.
‘Go us!’ Autumn exclaimed. She removed her headgear and high-fived Kensy.
Even after an hour and a half of intense combat training, the girl was a model of perfection. Autumn’s silky black hair remained neatly tied back in a low ponytail with a red ribbon – unlike Kensy’s messy locks, which, after scrambling under the hedge, were now sprouting several leaves and a couple of twigs.
The pair were soon joined by Harper and Max, but the rest of their team were still deep inside the labyrinth. Via their earpieces, the children could hear their opponents complaining about how many bruises they were going to have tomorrow.
‘Stop your whining, Carlos,’ Autumn ordered. ‘At least I had the good grace to shoot you in the bottom. You got me in the head last time, but you didn’t hear me going on about it like a sooky la-la.’
It was true. Carlos had aimed at the girl’s shoulder, but somehow the projectile clipped the edge of Autumn’s helmet. The bullets were made of soft rubber and, although the children were fully covered in their sensory slimline body armour, concealed beneath their clothes, the pellets still packed a punch. It was all part of their training – Mr Nutting and Miss Witherbee, the children’s PE and English teachers respectively, were also in charge of weapons instruction and maintained there was a purpose for using rubber bullets instead of something messier but less invasive like paint balls. They reasoned that the children needed regular reminders of the harsh and at times fatal realities of their impending life of service.
Kensy looked at her brother, who possessed an uncanny knack of navigating the maze without running into the usual dead ends. ‘Can you get us out of here, Max?’
‘Sure – follow me,’ the boy said.
He jogged to the end of the row and turned left, with Kensy, Harper and Autumn in tow. It was a little while before the rest of the group joined them at the entrance. While en route, Max had been called on by a couple of the kids who were horribly lost to offer his guidance. It wasn’t too long before everyone was accounted for.
‘Congratulations, Kensy.’ Sachin’s dark eyes glinted with good humour. He offered the girl his hand. ‘Your team was on fire tonight.’
There was a murmur of agreement from the rest of the kids. Max hoped his sister wouldn’t gloat too much. She had a tendency to do that, which rubbed some people up the wrong way and understandably so.
‘We couldn’t let you beat us three nights in a row,’ Kensy replied, and checked that she’d flicked the safety catch on her weapon. ‘It helped that Alfie shot you in the first five minutes.’
The burly lad grinned. ‘I was very proud of that.’
Sachin rubbed his shoulder. ‘You couldn’t have taken a step back, maybe? I’m going to have a welt there for weeks.’
Alfie shrugged and carried on grinning. ‘You were right in front of me and you know what Nutters says – he who hesitates is lost.’
‘Or she, but you don’t need to hesitate to be lost,’ Inez said. ‘If it wasn’t for Max’s instructions, I’d be camping in the maze tonight. I don’t know why I have no sense of direction whatsoever. I really need to work on that.’
The others chuckled. It was true – Inez was hopeless. One day during Pharos lessons at school, she’d managed to make her way to Dame Spencer’s office at the Beacon, several blocks away, when she’d meant to take the secret lift to the lab.
The group headed back towards the
storage shed to put away the equipment.