Code Name: Nanny (SEAL and Code Name #5)(48)

The housekeeper looked frightened, too, despite her brave words, and Summer was relieved when the senator called back. After a few minutes she slipped away to pick up the girls, leaving Tate’s mother to the housekeeper’s care.

She made the drive with only minutes to spare. As the class bell rang, students spilled out into the hallway and down the front steps into the sunlight.

Laughter and color, Summer thought. So free, so California. She realized she was a little envious.

She found Sophy and then they went in search of Audra, who was outside her locker on the third floor, arguing with Tracey. When the two teenagers saw Summer, their faces turned stony.

Audra slammed her locker shut. “Let’s go.”

“Can I, uh, have another ride?” Tracey picked at a hangnail. “My mom’s gone today.” She looked up at Summer, her face tense. “Okay?”

“Of course, Tracey. It’s no problem. You might need to move Liberace’s cage into the back. Maybe Audra can—”

Tracey ignored Audra. “That’s cool. I’m just going to the Java Jungle downtown. I’m meeting . . . some friends.”

“You’re sure?” Summer frowned. “Won’t your mother be expecting you at home?”

The girl gave a snort. “Like—she is so not expecting me. I’ll be fine, Ms. Mulvaney. Don’t worry.” She didn’t look at Audra as she bent over to tug Sophy’s pigtail. “Cool Hello Kitty purse. I’ve got one in silver and everyone always, like, tries to steal it from me.”

Sophy looked worried. “They do?”

“Just because they’re morons. Don’t worry, no one will take yours.” Tracey’s face turned wistful for a moment. “You’re lucky that way. You’ve got good friends. That’s really cool.” Then with a final glare at Audra, she started down the stairs.



Two miles from school something small and furry shot across Summer’s lap.

“I thought you left Liberace in his cage,” Summer said.

Sophy struggled to reach the ferret, which chirred loudly, climbing up Summer’s arm. “I had him zipped in my backpack, Ms. M. He was okay until you turned that last corner.”

“Sophy, I need to drive. Liberace isn’t helping me.”

“Sorry.” Sophy produced a piece of smashed banana, but the ferret didn’t budge. Two pieces of raisin, a chocolate chip, and half a carrot later, the ferret was still perched on Summer’s shoulder.

She eased into a slower lane, scanning the traffic for a break, so she could pull off. She saw the car then, a dusty brown Honda hanging back, one lane over. Summer had seen the same car outside the school this morning when she’d dropped off the girls. “Anyone know someone who drives a brown Honda?”

“Not me,” Audra said impatiently.

“I don’t think so,” Tracey said, after thinking for a few moments. “Why?”

“What’s a Honda look like?” Sophy asked.

“It doesn’t matter. I thought someone waved at us,” Summer lied coolly. She tried to ignore the ferret nuzzling her cheek. “I guess I was wrong.”

“There’s the Java Jungle, right at the next corner.” Tracey gathered her things quickly. “You can drop me in front. Thanks a lot.” Tracey jumped out and looked at Audra tensely. “See you.”

“Are you sure she’s allowed to go off alone after school?”

“Come on, she’s not a kid.” Audra sat tensely, not looking at her friend. “She knows what she’s doing.”

Summer hesitated, and a car honked behind her, waiting for her parking spot. Behind that car, other cars began to honk. “Sophy, can you please put Liberace back in his cage?”

“I’m trying. Come here, Liberace.” Sophy made a low clicking noise, holding out another piece of smashed banana. “Be good and come to Aunt Sophy.”

“Oh, that’s so stupid. Talking won’t get him.” Audra leaned forward, grabbing for the ferret, which shot to the floor, wedging its body in the narrow storage space beneath Sophy’s seat.

A dozen cars were honking now. When Summer looked back, the dusty Honda was gone.

“If he moves, grab him.” Summer eased out into traffic, looking for a quieter spot for a final showdown with Sophy’s impossible pet.

The realization hit her suddenly. Liberace was white. The dead rat in the SUV’s backseat had been white.

The message was that Liberace would be next.



“That was so cool, Ms. M.” Sophy skipped over the driveway, carrying Liberace, who was now curled up in his cage surrounded by his favorite balls of aluminum foil. “You really are fast. For an adult, I mean.”

Summer hid a smile. “So are you. Once I pulled Liberace out of the cup holder for the second time, you hustled him right into his cage.” She raised one hand in a high five, and the two slapped loudly. “Nice reflexes.”

Giggling, Sophy ran over to Gabe, who was carrying a flat of petunias up the path from the garage. “We almost had an accident on the way home from school, but Ms. M did this really cool driving thing, in and out of traffic, just like on Top Cops. Then we grabbed Liberace just in time, because this huge truck was changing lanes and he almost hit us.”

Gabe looked at Summer, one eyebrow raised. “Almost?”