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don’t need to waste any time actually laughing,” Shelley explained.
    â€œFuture laughs are very popular in the United States,” Jonathan lied, and then whispered to Shelley, “I’m pretty sure Neville Chamberlain’s a character in Harry Potter.”
    â€œThat’s Neville Longbottom! Even I know that,” Shelley whispered back.
    â€œNeville Chamberlain was Britain’s most ineffective and inept prime minister. He was the man who famously supported appeasement with Hitler before the start of the Second World War,” Oli explained.
    â€œYou have heard of Hitler, haven’t you?” Darwin asked with his trademark sly smile.
    â€œYes!” Jonathan and Shelley answered in unison.
    â€œGood. For a second there I was starting to wonder whether Glasses and Khaki were duds in the brains department,” Darwin responded. “Because we don’t work with duds.”
    â€œNeither do we,” Shelley retorted.
    â€œAnd you’re quite certain that you’re up for the mission?” Oli inquired.
    Â â€œI’d say we’re more like
sort of
certain,” Jonathan answered.
    â€œVery well, then. No time to waste. We’d best start back toward Downing Street—it’s a bit of a walk from here,” Hattie said as she led the charge down the street.
    OCTOBER 22, 6:03 P.M. STREET. LONDON, ENGLAND
    â€œYou see, it was a Sunday in mid-November, which is, of course, prime partridge season,” Hattie explained to Jonathan as the two walked side by side, the others trailing behind them.
    â€œI’m sorry, what season?” Jonathan asked.
    â€œPartridge season. Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of partridge season?”
    â€œUnfortunately, I’m only familiar with the basics—summer, fall, winter, and spring,” Jonathan answered honestly.
    â€œPartridge season, not to be confused with pheasant or grouse season, is September first to February first,” Hattie continued.
    â€œExcuse me, but may I interrupt?” Oli said, approaching from behind.
    â€œYes, of course!” Jonathan answered a little too enthusiastically.
    â€œHattie, you simply must hear what Shelley just said,” Oli shrieked, barely controlling his laughter.
    â€œI don’t know what the big deal is. ‘Life’s in the meat tails’ is a pretty common saying,” Shelley said with a shrug.
    â€œLife’s in the
details
,” Jonathan corrected Shelley.
    â€œNo, it’s
meat tails
. As in life is full of surprises, like finding really good meat on an animal’s tail,” Shelley said, and then stopped to rub her chin. “On second thought, maybe it is
details
?”
    â€œWill she ever learn?” Jonathan wondered aloud as the group approached the heavily guarded gate in front of 10 Downing Street.
    â€œWe do hope you both sleep well, safe and sound in your beds,” Hattie said to Jonathan and Shelley, waving good night.
    â€œSafe?”
Darwin asked. “Is an operative ever really safe?”
    â€œNot until they’re dead,” Oli answered, as the trio walked into the night.



OCTOBER 23, 2:06 A.M. RIVER THAMES. LONDON, ENGLAND
    It was a most unusual sight. A speedboat carrying five kids, cutting through the river Thames at just past two in the morning. Seated on a bench at the back of the boat were Jonathan and Shelley, huddled together, the wind chilling them to the bone. Seemingly unaffected by the briskness, Oli and Hattie flanked Darwin as he moored the boat in front of the Tower of London, a royal fortress that had been used as everything from a mint to an armory to a prison and torture chamber, and much more.
    â€œAs we said earlier, Nina turned on her cell phone for less than six seconds tonight,” Darwin explained as they disembarked from the boat.
    â€œBut six seconds was all I needed to track her signal,” Hattie said, pulling a tissue from her sleeve. “What