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believing they knew more than they actually did. I tried to keep my face completely blank, to not reveal anything. I even stopped myself from chewing on the inside of my cheek—I didn’t want them to know I was nervous. But then again, why shouldn’t I be nervous? No, not nervous, terrified . The initial shock, the numbness, had worn off now and in its place I felt a gut-wrenching fear.
    â€œDo one of you boys want to tell your mother about your involvement with Camp X?” the man asked.
    â€œWe have nothing to tell,” Jack said. His fists were balled up and he was staring at the man with angry, intense eyes. He looked so brave, so strong. “We don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    â€œPlease, there’s no need to lie,” the man said. His words were suddenly gentle, his tone friendly. There was a smile on his face. If it wasn’t for the fancy suit—and the gun tucked inside that fancy suit—he could have been a teacher, or even a minister.
    â€œYour sons are very brave,” he said to our mother. “And loyal. They don’t want to say they knowanything about Camp X because that would violate the oaths they signed under the Official Secrets Act.”
    â€œThey’re just boys … they didn’t sign anything, they don’t even know about things like that,” our mother said.
    â€œIt isn’t nice for boys to keep secrets from their mother, but they signed those oaths before you moved to Bowmanville.” He paused. “Did you ever wonder how you got your new job at Camp 30?”
    â€œWho are you?” I blurted out. I didn’t want anybody to talk about that. She couldn’t find out.
    â€œGood to see you haven’t swallowed your tongue. You must be wondering how we know so much. As I said, we are not Nazi agents. We have no time or tolerance for the Nazis.”
    If they weren’t Nazis, who could they be? I was struck by the strangest thought. Maybe these guys were working for Bill, and this was a test to see if we’d break our oath, and … No, it couldn’t be that. He wouldn’t spill the beans to our mother, or scare her like this.
    â€œWe are businessmen,” he said.
    â€œYou mean mobsters?” Jack asked.
    â€œMobsters?” he asked. “Do we look like mobsters?”
    I studied the three men. They were all dressed the same—and they did look like they’d just walked out of a mobster movie. The one doing all the talking was older, maybe in his forties, and I was sure he was the boss. One of the other two had a baby face on top of agigantic body. He towered over everybody else, and his arms and chest were massive. He didn’t look like he needed a gun to threaten somebody. The third was short—a couple of inches shorter than Jack—but he was stocky and powerful through the arms and shoulders. He looked as though he could take care of himself as well.
    â€œIf you’re not Nazis and you’re not mobsters, then who are you?” Jack asked.
    â€œAs I said, we are independent businessmen,” he answered.
    â€œAnd what do you want with us?” Jack demanded.
    â€œThere is something at Camp X, something very valuable, that we’d like to get our hands on. We need some information and some help from you boys. Now, who’s going to telling us what we need to know?” he asked.
    â€œDon’t expect us to cooperate with anything,” Jack said.
    The leader nodded his head and turned to the little guy. “I told you they wouldn’t scare easily.”
    â€œJust give me a minute with them and I guarantee they’ll be scared,” he said.
    Now I was really frightened. There was something about the slight smile on his face. I just knew he wouldn’t hesitate to hurt us, and that maybe he’d even enjoy it. I also knew that no matter what he did, he wasn’t getting me to say anything.
    â€œNo,” the leader said.