About the Book

  When does a secret become a lie? And how do you tell right from wrong when deception is all around you?

  Kensy and Max are gearing up for their first Pharos review, a rite of passage with no room for failure. But juggling studies and the spy life isn’t without its complications. As the dust settles from their last mission, and family members find their place in the new world order, old tensions rise to the surface. There’s also the school play to prepare for – in rather different ways for each twin. However, the play soon takes a back seat as missing journalists and stolen objects see Kensy and Max embarking on a hair-raising ride to the City of Lights. Will they make it before it’s too late?

  Contents

  Cover

  About the Book

  Title Page

  Cast of Characters

  Maps

  Dedication

  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

  A note on Morse code

  About the Author

  Jacqueline Supports

  Books by Jacqueline Harvey

  Imprint

  Read more at Penguin Books Australia

  The Spencer-Grey household

  Kensington Méribel Grey

  Agent-in-training, 11-year-old twin to Maxim

  Maxim Val d’Isère Grey

  Agent-in-training, 11-year-old twin to Kensy

  Anna Spencer

  Dormant agent PA S2694, Kensy and Max’s mother

  Edward Spencer

  Dormant agent PA S2658, Kensy and Max’s father, son of Dame Spencer

  Fitzgerald Williams

  PA S2660, Kensy and Max’s manny, Edward’s first cousin

  Song

  PA U2613, butler

  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

  Theo Richardson

  Drama teacher

  Cilla Caspari

  Librarian

  Madame Verte

  Languages teacher

  Elva Trimm

  Head dinner lady

  Eric Lazenby

  Caretaker

  Central London Free School students

  Autumn Lee,

  Harper Ballantine,

  Carlos Rodriguez,

  Sachin Varma,

  Yasmina Ahmed,

  Dante Moretti,

  Inez Dufour,

  Misha Thornhill,

  Alfie Dingle

  Kensy and Max’s friends

  Blair Braithwaite

  New girl

  Pharos

  Dame Cordelia Spencer

  Head of Pharos

  Peter Petrovska

  PA T113, Editor-in-Chief of the Beacon

  Other

  Victoria De la Vega

  French actress

  Harry Stokes

  Investigative Journalist at the Beacon

  Jamila Assad

  Investigative Journalist at the Beacon

  Trelise Fulton-Jennings

  Social Reporter at the Beacon

  For Ian, Catriona and Holly, who have almost moved mountains to make this happen

  Case Note 18

  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

  Following an immediate threat to the twins’ lives, which involved a bomb being detonated inside their London residence at 13 Ponsonby Terrace, Dame Spencer assigned Kensington, Maxim, Song and myself to keep watch on siblings Donovan and Ellery Chalmers in Sydney, Australia. Ostensibly, the mission was to secure the Chalmers children, after receiving intel that their mother, Tinsley, was planning to leave their father, Dash, and kidnap the children, taking them somewhere overseas. It was a well-timed operation, allowing the agency to investigate the London bomb plot and enable Kensington and Maxim to leave the city. Pharos has dedicated unlimited resources to solving this crime and, while progress has been slow, Dame Spencer is confident of an imminent breakthrough.

  What initially appeared to be a simple surveillance exercise in Sydney became considerably more complicated as the children’s new neighbour, Curtis Pepper, uncovered a plot by the Headmaster of Wentworth Grammar School to employ two professional child singers to help his choir win the Sydney Choral Festival. The man was outed and his conspiracy foiled during the event at the Sydney Opera House.

  Directly afterwards, Maxim realised that several clues pointing to the whereabouts of their grandparents, medical scientists Hector and Marisol Clement, were erroneous and, while his parents and I were looking for them in Dalefield, New Zealand, they were actually being held on a rural property called Dalefield in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, near the village of Exeter. Maxim and his sister travelled by train to the property, although they were unknowingly followed by Curtis Pepper.

  Upon their arrival at Dalefield, Kensington and Maxim located their missing grandparents in a bunker beneath a farm shed and set about freeing them. Dash Chalmers was already at the property, having been diverted there by his assistant, Lucy, who was working with Tinsley to ensure that she and the children could get away. Tinsley had received information regarding her husband’s role in his sister Abigail’s death many years beforehand, which proved the man’s capacity for evildoing.

  Twelve years earlier, Dash’s henchmen kidnapped Hector and Marisol, staging their disappearance to look like an accidental fire in which they were both killed. At the time, the Clements were on the verge of patenting a cure for the common cold. They had been approached by Dash’s parents, Faye and Conrad, owners of The Chalmers Corporation, one of the largest and most ethical pharmaceutical companies in the world, to propose a partnership. However, when Dash learned they were about to sign a deal to produce the vaccine, he decided the family business would stand to make far more money if he forced Hector and Marisol to create killer viruses that he would unleash on countries around the world, followed by their cures sold at exorbitant prices. None of this was known to Faye or Conrad, who believed their son to be an astute and clever businessman.

  Dash’s plan has made The Chalmers Corporation the richest pharmaceutical company in the world bar none. His assistant knew he was selling vaccines at hugely inflated prices but had no idea he was holding Hector and Marisol hostage to create the diseases that required these cures.

  While Kensington and Maxim freed their grandparents, Curtis Pepper managed to secure the latest round of viruses that were about to be released. Curtis is still unaware of the spy organisation that the children belong to, but given his developing skills, there has been some discussion about inviting him into the fold, to join the agents-in-training program in London.

  SKILLS, STRENGTHS AND VULNERABILITIES

  The children have proven themselves worthy of their Pharos credentials on this mission, having rescued their grandparents and thwarted the release of further devastation caused by biological warfare. Their deductive skills, along with a willingness to take risks, has paid huge dividends. However, it would have been more sensible to include Song in their decision-making this time. Maxim has displayed some impetuousness, which is uncharacteristic for him. Curiously, it was Kensy who questioned the logic in taking the train to Exeter by themselves.

  TRAINING

  Despite the change of scenery, the twins continued their combat training. Song has been acquainting them with the finer points of ninja stars and knife-throwing, while I have focused on fitness and coding.

  EMOTIONAL STATE

  Prior to the bombing of 13 Ponsonby Terrace, Kensington had been distracted and sullen. She was encountering a few difficulties at school and was making a significant number of careless mistakes. She was also convinced that someone still had it out for her and Max, following a science experiment that was tampered with and caused a fire. However, following the bombing, Kensington seemed to bounce back very quickly both physically and emotionally. The ‘real mission’ to Sydney improved her attitude greatly and, once it became apparent that there was more to the Chalmers children than met the eye, Kensington’s focus was unrelenting. Maxim has largely proven steadfast and reliable throughout.

  UPDATE ON THE DISA
PPEARANCE OF ANNA AND EDWARD GREY

  Anna and Edward continued communicating with the twins via Morse code through their watches and summoned me to join them in New Zealand. The family was reunited in Sydney and have now travelled back to the United Kingdom for a full debriefing and some important decisions about what comes next.

  OTHER INFORMATION

  Hector and Marisol Clement appear to have endured their twelve-year ordeal incredibly well, both physically and mentally. Further psychometric testing has been carried out in the United Kingdom and they are currently staying at Alexandria, having learned the truth about Pharos. Cordelia has invited them to stay on and collaborate with Mim on her research in addition to continuing their own work. For now, their existence is top secret as Dash Chalmers is still at large and considered highly dangerous. Rupert Spencer is on the man’s trail and has not yet returned to the United Kingdom. The twins are overjoyed to be reunited with their parents and hopeful that they will continue their training at Central London Free School. They have also expressed a desire that Song continue to reside with us, as he is apparently a better baker than I am – a claim that is still up for debate.

  Anna Grey ran the brush through her daughter’s unruly blonde locks, snagging it on yet another tangle.

  ‘Ow!’ Kensy yelped. ‘Mum, you know you can stop anytime you like.’

  Undeterred, Anna tugged at the knot, eventually wrenching it free. She frowned at the girl in the mirror. ‘Darling, you have such beautiful hair, if only you’d look after it at least a little bit.’

  ‘It’s just hair, Mum – everyone has it,’ Kensy replied.

  ‘Except Fitz,’ Max quipped as he walked into the room and sat down on the edge of the freestanding bath.

  ‘True.’ Kensy chuckled. ‘Actually, I think I’d quite like to be bald. It would make life so much easier. No more washing and drying and brushing and styling.’

  Max and his mother grinned at one another.

  ‘Are you talking about yourself?’ Max said, dodging a swipe from his sister. ‘Because you hardly ever wash your hair and you definitely never dry it unless Fitz or Mum stands over you. As for the brushing and styling … um, bird’s nest.’

  Kensy’s mouth fell open. ‘Unlike you, who uses a bucket of product to make sure there’s not a hair out of place.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Let’s face it, Max. Some of us are vain and some of us are not, and I know which category you fall into.’

  ‘That’s quite enough, you two,’ Anna said. ‘It’s been lovely having the past two weeks together with barely a cross word – let’s not spoil it now, right before we’re all faced with the stresses of the real world again.’ She put the brush on the marble countertop and leaned down to give Kensy a hug.

  ‘Thanks, Mum,’ Kensy replied, then poked her tongue out at her brother.

  The twins were excited about heading back to Central London Free School in the morning, although there was the small issue of their first Pharos review, which was taking place in a couple of weeks. It was Song who’d reminded them that they had better start preparing for it. He and Fitz had been despatched to London from Alexandria too – to take care of the family, although Fitz was spending a lot of time out on mysterious business that he was not at liberty to discuss.

  ‘Hello,’ Ed called from the entrance hall. ‘Anyone fancy a trot around the block?’

  ‘Yes, please!’ Kensy jumped up and charged off into her bedroom.

  ‘Grab your coats and scarves,’ Anna called after her. She scraped her shoulder-length brunette hair into a ponytail and dug a cylinder of lip balm from her jeans pocket.

  Max lingered behind for a moment. ‘Have you ever worn make-up, Mum?’

  ‘Why do you ask?’ She looked at the boy. ‘Do you think I need it?’

  ‘No, of course not, but Granny Cordelia is always in full war paint and Grandmère is never without lipstick and mascara,’ Max said. ‘I just thought maybe you’d like to.’

  Anna paused for a moment. ‘I used to. There was nothing I loved more than trying all the latest products. I remember there was a craze on matte lipsticks – I must have looked like a ghoul, but I thought it was very stylish at the time.’

  Max leant against the doorframe. ‘Why did you stop?’

  ‘When life changed, I thought it was just easier to be me – even though I was doing my best not to be me at all, if you know what I mean. Now I’m out of the habit and I suppose I can’t be bothered, although it would probably help. These dark circles aren’t doing me any favours, are they?’ Anna said, pulling at the skin under her eyes. ‘And I sense your grandmother thinks I should smarten up too.’

  ‘You’re perfect just the way you are,’ Max said. ‘And it’s entirely up to you whether you want to wear make-up or not. Don’t let Granny boss you about.’

  Anna smiled. ‘You, my darling son, are as charming as your father.’ She kissed Max on the forehead. ‘Come on, we’d better get moving or Dad will think we’ve found something better to do.’

  Kensy was still ratting through the piles of clothes in the middle of her wardrobe floor, trying to find her scarf and beanie. Max disappeared into his room and grabbed a jacket from his walk-in wardrobe while Anna trotted downstairs.

  Ed looked at his wife adoringly, then wrapped his strong arms around her trim waist. ‘Good to be home?’

  She nodded. ‘Gosh, I missed those kids.’

  ‘Ew, parent-kissing alert!’ Kensy flew down the bannister rail, shielding her eyes. Max was right behind her and almost pushed her off the edge.

  Anna and Ed chuckled as Kensy leapt to the floor and struck a gymnast’s pose, as if she’d just finished a routine on the beam.

  ‘Where are we going?’ Max asked.

  ‘For a walk along the river,’ Ed said, glancing at his watch. ‘We can’t be too long, though, as you both need to get to bed. I thought it might be nice to get some fresh air and see parts of the old stomping ground under the cover of darkness.’

  Anna held her husband’s hand. ‘We’ll tell you some stories on the way.’

  Kensy and Max looked at each other.

  ‘What stories?’ Max asked as the twins followed their parents down to the kitchen and down again into the basement level, where they caught the new elevator. The group stepped inside and waited for the door to close before the unit began its descent into the earth. It came to a short stop, then hurtled sideways until it pulled up and rose again. This time the door opened into a basement flat in John Islip Street, which provided their current secret access route in and out of the much-expanded house.

  ‘This is the weirdest elevator in the world,’ Kensy said, pondering the engineering required to power such a contraption.

  ‘You haven’t ridden in the one from your grandmother’s office to Pharos HQ?’ Ed asked.

  Max frowned. ‘Nope.’

  ‘It’s far more spectacular,’ Ed said.

  ‘You’ll have to show us,’ Kensy piped up. ‘Can we go now?’

  Ed shook his head. ‘Sorry, that’s up to Cordelia. I didn’t get to see it until I’d left school.’