About the Book

  TOP SECRET

  When all of your family members are being kidnapped, how do you push aside your fear and discover what’s happening before time runs out . . .

  Someone has been plotting to bring down the Spencers ever since Kensy and Max were thrust into the secret world of Pharos, but they’ve always managed to stay one step ahead of their attackers . . . until now.

  As members of the twins’ inner circle – and Pharos’s top agents – start to go missing, it quickly becomes clear that someone is staging a coup. Soon Kensy and Max are on their own and racing to get to the bottom of the terrible situation before the organisation completely falls apart. And before their family is gone forever.

  SCARAB BEETLES

  Ancient Egyptians believed that scarab beetles were an earthly representation of the god Ra’s daily journey pushing the sun across the sky. Scarab amulets thus became powerful symbols of rebirth and renewal – a symbol co-opted by rogue Pharos agents to signal the start of a battle for control of the world’s most powerful spy agency . . .

  Contents

  Cover

  About the Book

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Map of Millbank

  Map of Alexandria

  Cast of Characters

  Case Note 32

  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

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Codes Within Codes

  Morse Code Table

  Caesar Cipher Table

  About the Author

  Jacqueline Supports

  Books by Jacqueline Harvey

  Imprint

  Read More at Penguin Books Australia

  For Lindsey and Holly – my editor and publisher who have worked tirelessly on this series – for Curtis – the gorgeous boy who loaned me his name and has become one of my favourite characters – and for Ian – who loves a good spy story as much as I do.

  The Spencer household

  Kensington Méribel Spencer

  Agent-in-training, 13-year-old twin to Max

  Maxim Val d’Isère Spencer

  Agent-in-training, 13-year-old twin to Kensy

  Anna Spencer

  PA X2694, Kensy and Max’s mother

  Edward Spencer

  PA X2658, Kensy and Max’s father, son of Dame Spencer

  Fitzgerald Williams

  PA X2660, Kensy and Max’s manny, Edward’s first cousin

  Song Li

  PA U2613, butler

  Pharos

  Dame Cordelia Spencer

  Head of Pharos, PA Z001, Edward and Rupert’s mother

  Rupert Spencer

  PA X2672, son of Dame Spencer

  Sidney Li

  PA U2614, butler

  Curtis Pepper, Autumn Lee, Sachin Varma and Dante Moretti

  Pharos agents-in-training and Kensy and Max’s friends

  Peter Petrovska

  PA T113, Editor-in-Chief of the Beacon

  Tippie MacGregor

  PA Q2668, head of Inventions Team, Magoo’s wife

  Irene Lee

  PA W2670, Autumn’s mother

  Fletcher Lee

  PA W2667, Autumn’s father

  Dr Foster

  PA X2698, head of the London Pharos Clinic

  Rod

  PA X2710, helicopter pilot

  Jane

  PA X2702, helicopter pilot

  Central London Free School staff

  Magoo MacGregor

  PA P2659, headmaster, Tippie’s husband

  Daphne Potts

  PA P2641, personal assistant to Magoo

  Romilly Vanden Boom

  PA P2646, science teacher and member of the Pharos Inventions Team

  Monty Reffell

  PA P2667, history teacher

  Elliot Frizzle

  PA P2673, art teacher

  Lottie Ziegler

  PA P2702, mathematics teacher

  Willow Witherbee

  PA P2700, English teacher

  Cilla Caspari

  PA P2699, librarian

  Theo Richardson

  PA P2697, drama teacher

  Gordon Nutting

  PA P2685, PE teacher

  Alexandria Estate

  Ida Thornthwaite

  Cook

  Mim

  PA U2590, head gardener and Fitz’s mother

  Shugs

  Gardener

  Dr Brown

  PA X2674, village doctor

  Other

  Wellington and Mackintosh

  Dame Spencer’s West Highland terriers

  Lawrence MacGregor (aka Michael Smith)

  Twin to Percy, cousin of Magoo, long presumed dead

  Percy MacGregor

  Twin to Lawrence, cousin of Magoo, escaped criminal

  Derek Grigsby

  Shopkeeper

  Dash Chalmers

  Prisoner

  Case Note 32

  Author: Fitzgerald Williams, Pharos Agent PA X2660

  Subjects: Kensington Spencer, PA A2713; Maxim Spencer, PA A2714

  Kensington and Maxim Spencer were admitted as Pharos agents-in-training at the age of eleven years and one month.

  FIELDWORK

  The twins were recently involved in a mission to recapture Dash Chalmers and Percy MacGregor, who had escaped from a secure Pharos prison deep in the mountains near Queenstown, New Zealand, following an earthquake.

  While a handful of agents were aware that Dash was still alive (having helped conceal the transport of his unconscious body after his apparent death by poisoning at a gala dinner in New York the previous year), Percy MacGregor had long been presumed dead by almost everyone within the organisation.

  His existence was a huge shock to the family, and the reason for his incarceration even more so. Cordelia revealed that Percy MacGregor had murdered her husband, Dominic Spencer, who had reportedly died of an untimely heart attack.

  Instead, Percy – who believed that his infant twin brother, Lawrence, perished as a result of a kidnapping ransom gone wrong – had killed Dominic in an act of retribution. Wrongfully so, as Dominic had made extensive efforts to find the boy and bring him home.

  After the New Zealand prison was compromised, and with the Pharos agents in charge of the facility out of communication, Cordelia sent Edward, Song, Kensington, Maxim, Rupert and myself to locate and detain the escapees. Unfortunately, my part in the mission was cut short early on when I fell victim to an aftershock that resulted in my left arm being badly broken. Song was needed to search for the missing Pharos agents.

  Edward and the twins were left to hunt the criminals on their own until the belated arrival of Rupert. Aftershocks separated the group, and Maxim was captured by the escapees. Percy and Dash forced Maxim to lead them back to Moonlight Cove – the prison’s base of operations – where the two men split up. Dash attempted to storm the homestead but failed and was recaptured. Percy tried to escape by boat, taking Maxim with him as leverage.

  Fortunately, Kensington spotted the pair on their way to the dock and gave chase. The twins overpowered Percy on the boat, and the man became entangled in fishing nets and fell into the lake during the fight. While the nets washed ashore several days later, Percy’s body has not been recovered. He is presumed dead, but in this business we know nothing can be ruled out.

  Dash Chalmers has been relocated to a second secure facility at Alexandria, until repairs and improvements can be made to the prison at Moonlight Cove. For now, the only people who are aware of his presence at Alexandria are Song, Sidney, Rupert, Edward, Kensington, Maxim, Anna, Mim, Cordelia and myself.

  While this was happening, Anna and Cordelia remained in London, investigating suspicious circumstances surrounding Magoo and Tippie MacGregor and Romilly Vanden Boom. These came to include an attack on Tippie (from which recovered DNA seemed to reveal Romilly as the perpetrator) an event that was followed by Romilly’s sudden disappearance.

  Anna and Cordelia also uncovered new evidence that Lawrence MacGregor is alive (adding to the DNA evidence found following an attack on the twins some months ago). He now seems to have befriended Tippie and is calling himself Michael Smith, facts shared by Magoo, which has added another layer of complexity to the mystery.

  Magoo, who acknowledges ‘Michael’ could pass for a grown version of his long-dead cousin, appears to believe the man is pursuing his wife romantically, and had met with him in a bid to get Michael to leave her alone. Peter Petrovska has been watching Tippie and Magoo closely for the past week since this came to light, but there is nothing to report on their behaviour being anythi
ng out of the ordinary.

  Anna’s investigations into Romilly’s disappearance uncovered that the woman had been working on a program to crack codes. When tested, however, the software was of little assistance to Max, who managed to work out for himself that a line previously decoded in Magoo’s mystery note – Romilly must be stopped – in fact reads, My wife T must be stopped. While this appears to make no sense, we cannot discount that it is an important part of the puzzle.

  SKILLS, STRENGTHS AND VULNERABILITIES

  Kensington and Maxim demonstrated an extraordinary array of skills on this mission and repeatedly kept calm under intense pressure. Their quick thinking and evasive action saved more than one life, including my own. Their resilience and capacity to cope in difficult situations is to be commended.

  That said, Kensington still has a propensity to act impulsively. There are times this has served her well, though it is not always the case. The twins’ greatest vulnerability is the fear of losing one another, which has ensured that they strive even harder to achieve their goals.

  TRAINING

  Both Kensington and Maxim have been dedicated to a strict training regime with outstanding results. Their physical fitness and endurance was evident across the difficulty of the terrain and the changeable weather patterns during the mission. Their agility and fleet-footedness has ensured they are not only able to keep up with their adult counterparts but at times to surpass them. As always, there is a certain amount of good fortune associated with a positive outcome, however their preparedness is beyond a doubt.

  EMOTIONAL STATE

  The twins have both proven that they are able to control their emotions when required. Kensington has been more moody and unpredictable in recent months, which can be attributed to her having entered puberty. Maxim has found this difficult to deal with, and is wondering when he will ever begin to grow (not unlike many boys his age). Maxim’s even temper and capacity to deal well with his sister’s frequent outbursts have ensured that, while the pair have at times had some unpleasant exchanges, things haven’t been allowed to escalate. Maxim confided in me that he is feeling somewhat second rate at the moment – despite his best efforts, he hasn’t been able to match his sister academically or physically. I have assured him that won’t be the case forever if he continues to study and train at a high level.

  OTHER INFORMATION

  Kensington and Maxim are both concerned about the impact of their uncle’s marriage to Tinsley Chalmers, and whether Tinsley’s children, Donovan and Ellery, will be invited to become part of the organisation. That is something that will occur at the discretion of their grandmother, Cordelia. Rupert has already confessed to Cordelia that he has shared some details of his role at Pharos with his wife. Hence it would seem that, in the fullness of time, the children will be made aware of their stepfather’s life. Whether they are invited to be part of the trainee spy program remains to be seen, although Maxim believes that both of them have characteristics that would suit the profession well.

  Kensy peered over the top of her cards. So far, she’d bluffed Max and Curtis out of tickets to the football (a highly coveted Chelsea versus Man U match) and had just taken possession of Fitz’s England rugby jersey. She was hoping to acquire Song’s favourite slingshot before the game was finished.

  The group sat in silence at the dining table, with only the odd flick of a card or nod of a head. It was hard to say who had the best poker face.

  Kensy glanced at her hand. It was her turn to bet. You’d never know that right now she was crying on the inside. If only her parents would let them play for money, things would be far less complicated (and personal). Kensy’s latest insect prototype, a wasp with an impressive stinger, was the last thing she had to offer. She really didn’t want to lose it, but then what choice did she have to stay in the game?

  ‘I raise you . . . Sahbia,’ Kensy said with a small sigh, nodding at the tiny metal box containing the drone. If she could just hold out a bit longer, she was sure the boys would fold and the slingshot would be hers. Unless Song was holding a better than average hand. Her heart sped up at the thought, as he often was.

  Max threw his cards down in disgust, quickly followed by Fitz and Curtis. Kensy smiled inwardly. The game would end in a battle of wits between her and the butler.

  Song frowned.

  ‘I am afraid that I only have one more thing to offer,’ he said, placing an ancient cassette case on the table. ‘It is Kenny and Dolly – recorded illegally at one of their first concerts in Nashville by yours truly.’

  Kensy screwed up her nose. ‘Who?’

  ‘Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton – icons of country music,’ Song said, shaking his head.

  ‘Dolly Parton . . . you mean the woman with the blonde wigs who looks like she discovered the fountain of youth? Seriously, Song, no one wants that. What else have you got?’ Kensy replied. She remembered a poison pen Song had once shown her. She wouldn’t mind adding that to her collection.

  ‘It is my final offer,’ Song said.

  Kensy rolled her eyes. ‘I’m all in.’

  She swallowed hard as she placed the cards face-up on the table.

  Max gasped. ‘A crumby pair of fives? Really, Kensy,’ he said, shaking his head.

  ‘But you lost your nerve, little brother,’ the girl replied with an arched left eyebrow. Even though they were twins, Kensy often reminded Max that she was the elder of the pair.

  ‘Full house,’ Song said, splaying his cards in front of him. ‘You know I would never have bet Kenny and Dolly without an unbeatable hand.’

  ‘Urgh! Are you kidding me? Okay, Sahbia, see you again – never.’ Reluctantly, Kensy pushed her insect drone towards Song, but the man immediately pushed it back to her.

  ‘Confucius says that it is not about the things we win, but the manner in which we give them all back,’ Song said as Kensy snatched up the case before he changed his mind.

  Curtis pulled a face at the man. ‘I bet he didn’t.’

  Song smiled as he handed over the various other items the group had been betting.

  ‘Yes, Master Curtis, you got me. But what need do I have for insect drones and concert tickets and rugby jerseys?’ Song said. He grabbed his cassette tape and held it to his chest. ‘But Kenny and Dolly – I could not live without them.’

  The others laughed loudly.

  ‘You really need to get out more, Song,’ Kensy said.

  Fitz looked at his watch. ‘Speaking of cards on the table, we’d better get moving. Your grandmother is expecting us.’

  ‘Do you think she has a lead on Mrs Vanden Boom?’ Kensy asked. The girl still couldn’t believe that her beloved science teacher had anything to do with the recent attack on Tippie MacGregor. Mrs Vanden Boom’s disappearance – along with the entire contents of her house – suggested that she was up to something, but what and why? Kensy, Max and Curtis had spent hours trying to come up with an answer to no avail. It had only been a week since Romilly had gone missing, but the half-term holidays were over tomorrow and they were all wondering how the teacher’s absence would be explained.