Read Shatterproof for Free Online

you —”
    “No talking!” Rommel shouted, then turned to the man walking into the security room. “Agent Vanek. We are honored to have you here.”
    “I am not Agent Vanek,” the man said. “I am Gale Monist.” He flashed an Interpol badge. “Vanek and I are working together. I’m looking for him.”
    Amy and Atticus tried to hide their surprise. They knew that voice. The flashlight showed a man wearing a trench coat and hat, who looked like he had a mustache, although it was hard to tell in the dark.
    “Agent Vanek was in the museum just before we lost power,” Rommel said. “I couldn’t tell you if he is still in the building or not. Have you tried his mobile?”
    “Of course,” Agent Monist said impatiently. “He’s not answering, which is why I knocked on your door. And you are . . . ?”
    “Alberich Rommel, Director of Security.”
    Agent Monist turned toward them. “And these are . . . ? My God! Amy Cahill! She’s the reason Vanek and I are here. Who’s the boy?”
    “Her accomplice, I believe, but both of them refuse to answer my questions.”
    “We’ll see if a trip to Interpol loosens their tongues,” Agent Monist said.
    “Not before they answer
my
questions,” Rommel said. “Until they do, they will remain in my custody.”
    “Your custody?” Agent Monist’s voice rose. “I wasn’t aware that the Pergamon had a sanctioned police organization.”
    “Of course it doesn’t,” Rommel said. “But I apprehended them here and before they leave I must determine what damage they have caused to our collection.”
    “I see,” Agent Monist said. “How did you lose your power?”
    “The boy.”
    Agent Monist stared at Atticus. Atticus looked away, trying not to smile.
    “I assume your power grid is controlled in this room.”
    “Yes.”
    “How did the boy get inside?”
    Rommel hesitated. “I was giving him a tour.”
    “So, you
let
him in?”
    Before Rommel could answer, Agent Monist got a call. He took his cell phone out of his trench coat.
    “Yes . . . Where are you? . . . I’m inside the museum. . . . They have Amy Cahill and a boy. . . . No. A Herr Rommel wants to talk to them first. . . . I see. . . . Just stay where you are and I’ll be out in a minute.” He put the phone back in his pocket and looked at Rommel. “That was Milos Vanek. He’s waiting out front for me in the car. He said that the news organizations have shown up. I suspect they will be wanting to talk to you about how this all happened. How you let the boy in the security room, how your security was breached by children, et cetera, or I can . . . Oh, never mind.” He turned to leave.
    “Wait,” Rommel said. “Or you can what?”
    Agent Monist turned back. “Or, I can take them out of here very, very quietly and when you speak to the media you can say that you don’t know how the power went off, but Interpol is investigating. If they call us, which they will, we will back you up without giving them any details about your . . .” He paused. “Your unfortunate
tour
.” He looked at his watch. “I have to leave. Agent Vanek and I are due back at headquarters for an important meeting.”
    “Take them,” Rommel said with disgust. “And if you can get the boy to tell you the passcode he used to lock our system, it would be greatly appreciated.”
    “We’ll get the passcode out of him,” Agent Monist said. “And everything else he knows. You two come with me.”
    Amy and Atticus jumped to their feet.
    Rommel escorted them to the entrance of the museum, but quickly faded back as soon as he saw the news vans outside.
    Agent Monist, aka Jake Rosenbloom, draped his trench coat over the handcuffs so the news people wouldn’t notice them as they hurried across the square.
    “Where’s Dan?” Amy asked.
    “Agent Vanek is in the car, waiting for us at the curb.”
    Amy and Atticus climbed into the back of the SUV. Jake went around to the driver’s side and opened the door.
    “Scoot over.”
    “I