The Maze of Bones (The 39 Clues #1)(29)

Amy gritted her teeth. "King Louis XVI even put Franklin's picture on a chamber pot!"

Jonah looked at his dad. "Do we have souvenir chamber pots?"

"No." His dad whipped out his phone. "I'll make the call."

Jonah nodded. "So you see, guys, I am the biggest thing since Franklin, which is why I'm the natural person to find his secrets."

"If your head was any bigger," Dan muttered, "we could use it as a hot air balloon."

Jonah ignored him. "Look, Amy, you're a smart girl. You know the family's got branches, right? Good Cahills. Bad Cahills. I'm-"

"Jonah!" His father covered his phone with his hand. "I thought we discussed -- "

"Dad, chill. All I'm saying: I use my talents to create art.

Whatever this final treasure is? I'll use it to bring more beauty to the world! I'm not like those Lucians, man. They're vicious!"

Amy's mind was racing. "But... Benjamin Franklin was a Lucian. We saw the snake crest -- "

"Okay, so occasionally a Lucian did something right." Jonah waved his hand dismissively. "But today I'm the good guy. You gotta see that, Amy."

Dan snorted. "Because you make gangster pop-up books?"

"Exactly! Look, you think it was easy for me growing up rich and famous in Beverly Hills?" Jonah paused. "Actually, it was easy. The point is I work hard to stay that way.

Fame is something you gotta keep building, baby. Am I right, dad?"

"You're right, son!"

"I already got albums and TV and fashion and books ... so where do I go for up? I'll tell you where. I need to win this contest. It's a smart career move! If we work together, I'll cut you in for a percentage."

"Uncle Alistair offered to help us, too," Amy grumbled. "That didn't work out."

Jonah snorted. "Alistair Oh? That old fool probably told you how he invented microwave burritos, huh? Bet he didn't tell you he lost his fortune on bad investments.

He's nearly broke, girl. He should've taken the million bucks and walked, but he's got some crazy idea the thirty-nine clues are gonna restore his reputation. Don't listen to him. You join me, we can beat everybody. We can even show those backstabbers, Ian and Natalie. You gotta be careful around here, Amy. Paris is a Lucian stronghold, you know. Has been for centuries."

"Jonah," his dad said, "you should not be dealing with these people. They have no star power and they're going to drag down your ratings."

"Chamber pots, Dad. I'll handle this." He gave Amy his most dazzling smile. "Come on, girl. We both know the next clue is about Ben Franklin. We could help each other."

What bothered her wasn't that Jonah was an arrogant jerk. What bothered her was that she was tempted by his offer, anyway. The idea of showing up Natalie and Ian was hard to resist. And she couldn't help feeling flattered that somebody like Jonah Wizard was paying attention to her. Still... she remembered the way he'd talked to Nellie, and how nice he'd been to them at the airport, but it had all been an act, like they were just stage props for the cameras.

"Why ... why do you want a deal with us?" she asked hesitantly. "What makes us so special?"

"Nothing!" Jonah laughed. "Isn't that awesome? You're part of the Cahill clan, but you have no talent at all! Me, if I try to sneak into someplace to check out a clue, I'll have the media following me, people shooting my picture and asking me for interviews. I can't do anything in secret. You -- you're so unimportant, you can go places I can't. Nobody cares about you."

"Thanks a lot," Dan grumbled.

"What'd I say?" Jonah looked baffled. "Hey, if it's money, I got plenty of that. I can even throw in a day on the set of Who Wants to Be a Gangsta? You can't do better than that."

"No thanks," Amy and Dan said together.

"Aw, c'mon. Just think about it, will you? Where's your hotel? I'll drop you off."

Amy was about to make something up when she glanced out the window. What she saw made her blood turn to ice. It was impossible. What was she doing here? And was she really carrying ...

"Right here!" she said. "Pull over, please!"

The driver did.

Jonah looked out the window and frowned. They were parked next to a seedy-looking hotel called the Maison des Gordons. The awning was tattered and the doorman looked like a wino.

"Here, huh?" Jonah said. "Man, you guys like to rough it. Me, I'm staying at the Ritz. If you change your mind, you know where to find me."

Amy dragged Nellie and Dan out of the car. The driver tossed out their bags, and the Wizards' limo glided away.

"What a creep!" Nellie said."He isn't like that on TV!"

Dan looked up at the Maison des Gordons. "Don't tell me we're actually staying here."

"I had to get him to stop the car," Amy said. "Nellie, get us rooms for the night."

"Here?" she protested. "But -- "

"It says 'gardens' in the title. How bad can it be?"

"Urn, that doesn't say -- "

"Just do it, please!" Amy felt weird acting so bossy, but she didn't have time to argue.