The Hunt for the Missing Spy Read Free

of the week said backward, like “yadseut.” There had been a couple of times when intruders had tried to break in, so the locks and bolts and knocks and passwords were definitely necessary.
    After the kids removed their backpacks and settled onto the carpet-covered metal floor, they took out their homework assignments. The girls shared their newly learned Japanese numbers with the boys, who copied them into their secret Code Busters notebooks. Then the boys let Cody and M.E. copy the Washington code Mr. Pike had given them.
    When they were finished, Quinn pulled out his mini tablet from his backpack and said, “I want to show you guys some cool stuff I found on the Spy Museum webpage.” He typed in the words “International Spy Museum.” When the home page came up, he showed it to the others. “There are hundreds ofspy gadgets to check out when we get there. And you even become a spy when you enter the museum.”
    â€œI know!” Cody said, her face brightening. “I’ve been reading all about the place.”
    M.E. frowned. “You mean you get to be a real spy?”
    Quinn shook his head. “No, it’s just a game. But you get a code name and a dossier to fill out. You create your fake background—where you were born and how old you are. Then you have to memorize your ‘cover.’ That’s your new identity. When you go through the museum, fake spies ask you questions about your secret identity.”
    â€œAwesome!” Luke said, pulling the collar of his jacket up with both hands to mimic an undercover agent. “I’ve always wanted to be a spy like
double-oh-seven.”
    Quinn continued reading down the page. “Hey, there’s even a code name for the president.”
    â€œWhat is it?” M.E. asked.
    â€œ
POTUS
,” Quinn said. “It’s an acronym. It stands for President of the United States. The motorcade that he rides in is called
Bamboo
.”
    â€œBamboo?” M.E. laughed at the funny name. “Where did they get that code name?”
    Quinn shrugged. “Listen to this: the vice president’s office is called the
Cobweb
!”
    The kids giggled at the weird name.
    â€œWe’re going to be visiting the White House,” Cody said. “What’s it called?”
    â€œThe
Castle
,” Quinn answered. “The Capital is called the
Punch Bowl
and the Pentagon is called
Calico
.”
    â€œAwesome,” Luke said. “Maybe we should give our clubhouse a code name.”
    Quinn read on. “There’s also something in the museum called
Operation Spy
where you get to solve puzzles and read video messages and listen to sound effects—stuff like that. And you can play an interactive game called ‘Spy in the City.’”
    â€œSounds fun. How do you play?” M.E. asked.
    â€œThe museum lends you a GPS device and you have to find clues at landmarks around the area,” Quinn answered. “Your mission is to discover a password for a secret cache.”
    â€œI wonder if we’ll get to play.” Cody said.
    â€œMr. Pike said we’re going on some kind of Spy Scavenger Hunt and we’ll look for coded clues,” Luke said.
    Quinn put away the small tablet. “I think our homework has something to do with our trip. If you guys want to help Luke and me crack the Washington code that Mr. Pike gave us, we’ll help you with the one Ms. Stad gave you.”
    The girls nodded. Everyone got out pencils. Quinn placed his paper on the floor in front of him so everyone could see it. “Let’s race to see who can crack it first.”
    On the word “Go!” the kids got to work. Cody glanced back and forth between the homework paper and the Washington code she’d copied in her notebook and began translating the message.

    Code Busters’ Key and Solution found on pp. 149, 154.
    Cody was the first one to finish deciphering the coded message,