Disappearing Act Read online

  About the Book

  What if you knew your missing parents were alive, but you couldn’t tell anyone? How would you find them and who would you trust?

  Kensy and Max are now agents-in-training at Pharos, a covert international spy network. Christmas break sees the twins back at Alexandria for training and a celebration like no other, but where are their parents and why can’t they come home? Thankfully, a school trip to Rome provides a welcome distraction. Amid the history and culture of Italy’s capital, they discover a runaway boy and whisperings of Mafia involvement. It looks like Kensy and Max’s harmless excursion may just turn into their very first mission.

  Contents

  Cover

  About the Book

  Title Page

  Cast of Characters

  Maps

  Dedication

  Glossary of Italian Terms

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  A note on the pigpen cipher

  About the Author

  Books by Jacqueline Harvey

  Jacqueline Supports

  Kensy and Max: Breaking News

  Imprint

  Read more at Penguin Books Australia

  The Grey household

  Kensington Méribel Grey

  11-year-old twin

  Maxim Val d’Isère Grey

  11-year-old twin

  Anna Grey

  Kensy and Max’s mother

  Edward Grey

  Kensy and Max’s father

  Fitzgerald Williams

  Kensy and Max’s manny, first cousin of Edward Grey

  Alexandria Estate

  Dame Cordelia Spencer

  Head of Pharos

  Rupert Spencer

  Dame Spencer’s younger son

  Song

  Butler

  Mim

  Head gardener and Fitz’s mother

  Shugs

  Gardener

  Mr O’Leary

  Gardener

  Ida Thornthwaite

  Cook

  Wellington and Mackintosh

  Dame Spencer’s West Highland terriers

  Central London Free School staff

  Magoo MacGregor

  Headmaster

  Romilly Vanden Boom

  Science teacher

  Monty Reffell

  History teacher

  Willow Witherbee

  English teacher

  Elliot Frizzle

  Art teacher

  Lottie Ziegler

  Mathematics teacher

  Gordon Nutting

  PE teacher

  Elva Trimm

  Head dinner lady

  Students

  Autumn Lee, Harper Ballantine, Carlos Rodriguez, Sachin Varma, Yasmina Ahmed, Dante Moretti, Inez Dufor, Misha Thornhill, Alfie Dingle

  Kensy and Max’s friends

  Lola Lemmler

  School bully

  Graham Churchill, Harriet, Liam and Winston

  History tour participants

  Other

  Esmerelda

  Driving instructor

  Nico

  Missing boy

  Sidney

  Butler

  Sister Maria Regina

  Nun

  Vittoria Vitale

  Prime Minister of Italy

  Lorenzo Rinaldi

  Prime Minister’s husband

  For Ian, my best friend and biggest fan, and for Holly and Catriona, who believed in Kensy and Max right from the start and have worked so hard to help me bring them to life

  Allontanatevi dai bambini!

  Get away from the children!

  borseggiatori

  pickpockets

  Buon Natale

  Merry Christmas

  carabinieri

  military police

  ciao

  hello/goodbye

  codardo

  coward

  Cosa avete portato?

  What did you bring?

  Cosa fai?

  What are you doing?

  derubato

  robbed

  diavolo

  devil

  grazie

  thank you

  ho vinto

  I won

  Inglese

  English

  Italiano

  Italian

  lei firmerà i documenti

  she will sign the documents

  mamma mia

  an expression of surprise

  mi scusi

  excuse me

  mia cara

  my dear

  ottimo lavoro

  good job

  poliziotti

  police

  Primo Ministro

  Prime Minister

  scomparso

  missing

  scusi

  sorry

  sei morto

  you’re dead

  sì

  yes

  signora

  madam

  signore

  mister

  stupido

  stupid

  toilette

  toilet

  Case Note 16

  Author: Fitzgerald Williams,

  Pharos Agent (PA) S2660

  Subjects: Kensington Grey, PA A2713;

  Maxim Grey, PA A2714

  Kensington and Maxim Grey were admitted as Pharos agents-in-training at the age of eleven years and one month.

  FIELDWORK

  Via their keen observation and deductive skills, the twins solved the theft of the Graff Peacock brooch from the Tate Gallery in London, which was perpetrated by Esme Brightside; Wanda Grigsby; Wanda’s son, Derek Grigsby; and Ivy Daggett. The foursome had been under the surveillance of MI6 agents for some time following the disappearance of Esme, Wanda and Ivy’s husbands, who, eighteen months previously, had pulled off the largest diamond heist in British history. The apprehension of the thieves was undertaken by MI6. However, had it not been for Kensington and Maxim, they would have been outsmarted by the gang, who were caught at the last minute while en route to the Dominican Republic. All four suspects are now in custody awaiting trial. Garnet Brightside, Walter Grigsby and Ray Daggett have also been apprehended and are awaiting extradition from the United States. Kensington and Maxim have received no formal recognition for their efforts, although a large box of chocolates did arrive at Ponsonby Terrace for the children along with a thank-you card from Claudia, the MI6 agent in charge of the investigation.

  SKILLS, STRENGTHS AND VULNERABILITIES

  Since the disappearance of their parents and subsequent relocation to London, the twins have kept up their physical fitness. Maxim has delved further into code-breaking, having recently spent time studying the Caesar cipher. His talent is exceptional. The boy also has a photographic memory, particularly for maps. He must learn to trust his instincts as there will be many occasions in future where he will need to make quick decisions.
While both twins’ understanding of Morse code has been tested with good outcomes, Kensington requires further revision and training in this area. She must also remember to wear her watch each day. Her ability to pick locks has proven excellent and will require increasingly difficult devices to expand her knowledge. They both need to work on their disguise recognition and environmental awareness.

  TRAINING

  The children entered formal training on 17 November and have adapted well to their new schedules. Their ability to conceal their extra-curricular activities from the regular students at Central London Free School has thus far been very successful and they have both made good friends within the unit. Kensington’s propensity to speak before she thinks has at times landed her in hot water – particularly around Misha, another trainee agent currently on assignment and acting as the close friend of Lola Lemmler, a classmate whose father is of great interest to the organisation.

  EMOTIONAL STATE

  Kensington has exhibited signs of emotional withdrawal, but she has proven incredibly resilient in the face of enormous change and shocking revelations. Maxim has been a steady influence on his sister and, all things considered, they have both adjusted admirably to their unusual circumstances.

  UPDATE ON THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ANNA AND EDWARD GREY

  Their parents, Anna and Edward Grey, disappeared in Central Africa while working with a children’s medical charity six weeks ago. Since then they have made contact with the twins via a series of Morse code messages sent through the children’s watches, but they have asked that Kensington and Maxim tell no one and trust only me. This case note will remain Status Black for all other Pharos agents – including Dame Spencer – until Anna and Edward return or in the event of my death, whereby the information will be automatically disseminated to those with appropriate clearances.

  OTHER INFORMATION

  Kensington and Maxim continue to run rings around Song, who has been tasked with assisting me to look after the pair. It has been extremely amusing to watch.

  Kensy ran swiftly, her footsteps soundless on the damp ground. She turned the corner and her heart sank. It was a dead end. She was about to double back when, by chance, she glanced up. There, on the other side of the tightly woven hedge, stood an oak tree perfect for climbing. If she could reach it before he rounded the bend, she’d stand a chance.

  Kensy dove onto the ground, her fingernails jamming with dirt as she clawed her way underneath the foliage. With one final push, her legs slithered through. She launched herself at the bottom branch, swinging up and over while trying not to rustle the leaves, then flattened against the trunk and adjusted her night-vision goggles. Her breath created tiny clouds in the darkness.

  All was still but for a single silhouette that crept around the corner and down the path. Kensy grinned as she lined him up in the crosshairs. She closed her left eye and squeezed the trigger.

  A loud yelp followed by a burst of salty language filled the air.

  Kensy stuffed her fist into her mouth to suppress a fit of giggles. Now was not the time to give herself away. She crouched down, straddling the thick bough, and whispered into her headset. ‘Man down!’

  There was a whir and a thunk as the pitch-black maze was illuminated by floodlights hidden in the canopies of the surrounding trees. Kensy lifted her arm to shield her eyes and sprang to her feet.

  Song’s voice came through as clear as crystal from the control room, where he had been monitoring the activity. ‘Well done, Miss Kensington,’ he said, the smile in his voice audible. ‘Your team has emerged triumphant this evening. Please make your way back to the house and we will celebrate with a feast. Mrs Thornthwaite has been very busy.’

  ‘Woohoo! Thanks, Song.’ Kensy did a little victory dance on the tree branch and almost lost her balance. She hoped nobody saw her. ‘Hey guys, we did it! Finally!’

  There were whoops of joy – some from close by while the rest came over the airwaves.

  ‘Not fair!’ Dante moaned. The lad had been sure he’d had the girl cornered. ‘Kensy’s outside the perimeter. Isn’t that against the rules?’

  ‘It is not,’ Kensy argued. ‘This tree is clearly on the boundary line. There’s no need to be such a sore loser, Moretti.’

  ‘If Miss Kensington was clever enough to see a vantage point then, I am afraid, Master Dante, that she has done nothing illegal,’ Song informed the lad, receiving another groan in response.

  Kensy leapt from the tree, clearing the hedge and landing hard on the ground inside the maze just as Autumn charged around the corner. Dante had already taken off.

  ‘Go us!’ Autumn exclaimed. She removed her headgear and high-fived Kensy.

  Even after an hour and a half of intense combat training, the girl was a model of perfection. Autumn’s silky black hair remained neatly tied back in a low ponytail with a red ribbon – unlike Kensy’s messy locks, which, after scrambling under the hedge, were now sprouting several leaves and a couple of twigs.

  The pair were soon joined by Harper and Max, but the rest of their team were still deep inside the labyrinth. Via their earpieces, the children could hear their opponents complaining about how many bruises they were going to have tomorrow.

  ‘Stop your whining, Carlos,’ Autumn ordered. ‘At least I had the good grace to shoot you in the bottom. You got me in the head last time, but you didn’t hear me going on about it like a sooky la-la.’

  It was true. Carlos had aimed at the girl’s shoulder, but somehow the projectile clipped the edge of Autumn’s helmet. The bullets were made of soft rubber and, although the children were fully covered in their sensory slimline body armour, concealed beneath their clothes, the pellets still packed a punch. It was all part of their training – Mr Nutting and Miss Witherbee, the children’s PE and English teachers respectively, were also in charge of weapons instruction and maintained there was a purpose for using rubber bullets instead of something messier but less invasive like paint balls. They reasoned that the children needed regular reminders of the harsh and at times fatal realities of their impending life of service.

  Kensy looked at her brother, who possessed an uncanny knack of navigating the maze without running into the usual dead ends. ‘Can you get us out of here, Max?’

  ‘Sure – follow me,’ the boy said.

  He jogged to the end of the row and turned left, with Kensy, Harper and Autumn in tow. It was a little while before the rest of the group joined them at the entrance. While en route, Max had been called on by a couple of the kids who were horribly lost to offer his guidance. It wasn’t too long before everyone was accounted for.

  ‘Congratulations, Kensy.’ Sachin’s dark eyes glinted with good humour. He offered the girl his hand. ‘Your team was on fire tonight.’

  There was a murmur of agreement from the rest of the kids. Max hoped his sister wouldn’t gloat too much. She had a tendency to do that, which rubbed some people up the wrong way and understandably so.

  ‘We couldn’t let you beat us three nights in a row,’ Kensy replied, and checked that she’d flicked the safety catch on her weapon. ‘It helped that Alfie shot you in the first five minutes.’

  The burly lad grinned. ‘I was very proud of that.’

  Sachin rubbed his shoulder. ‘You couldn’t have taken a step back, maybe? I’m going to have a welt there for weeks.’

  Alfie shrugged and carried on grinning. ‘You were right in front of me and you know what Nutters says – he who hesitates is lost.’

  ‘Or she, but you don’t need to hesitate to be lost,’ Inez said. ‘If it wasn’t for Max’s instructions, I’d be camping in the maze tonight. I don’t know why I have no sense of direction whatsoever. I really need to work on that.’

  The others chuckled. It was true – Inez was hopeless. One day during Pharos lessons at school, she’d managed to make her way to Dame Spencer’s office at the Beacon, several blocks away, when she’d meant to take the secret lift to the lab.

  The group headed back towards the
storage shed to put away the equipment.