The French Code by Deborah Abela Page B

said. ‘He thinks your father is involved in his own kidnapping, and he’s watching you partly for your protection but mostly to see if your father passes any messages to you. I don’t think that adds up to someone you should trust.’
    Veronique scowled. ‘What if something happens to Linden and Toby?’
    â€˜It won’t,’ Max said. ‘They’ve been aroundtougher men than Tetu. And even if they do have problems, which they won’t, Spyforce will be there in a second to help them out.’
    Max’s watch lit up. ‘It’s Linden.’ She read the screen. ‘tailing 2 men. T @ c’tery. needs help.’
    Max texted back, ‘Ill b there.’
    Max entered the code for Linden and Toby’s Tracer Bug on the Time and Space Machine. The virtual search engine immediately revealed an image of Paris and zoomed in to their exact locations. The screen showed Linden leaving the cemetery, but Toby stayed where he was.
    â€˜What are those lights?’
    â€˜The green one’s Linden,’ Max answered. ‘Toby is blue. I have to go and help him.’
    â€˜I’m coming too.’
    â€˜You’re staying here. It might be dangerous.’
    â€˜I’ll be fine. I have this.’ Veronique held up the amulet.
    Max’s eyes lowered. ‘It’s a necklace. I’m not sure how that’s going to protect you.’
    â€˜Because it’s a protective amulet and I don’t care what you say, I’m coming with you.’ Veronique threw her hands to her hips. Max recoiled slightly at the gesture that was becoming annoyingly familiar.
    â€˜Okay.’ Max threw a subtle look towards the windows. ‘We can’t leave from this room; the police will see us. Look tired and let’s go up to your bedroom.’
    Veronique picked up Fifi, Max exaggerated a yawn for whoever may have been looking in from outside and the three went upstairs.
    â€˜This is your bedroom?’
    â€˜Yes.’ Veronique held Fifi and looked around. ‘What’s wrong with it?’
    Max surveyed the four-poster bed with its pink doona and curtains, the purple fluffy lounges filled with cushions, and soft animal toys that were crammed into almost every other space.
    â€˜Nothing.’ Max began to cough and felt her throat become clogged with all the girliness. ‘Let’s just go.’
    She closed the curtains and switched off the lights.
    â€˜Now that those guards think we’ve gone to bed, let’s go and help Toby,’ Max whispered.
    â€˜Are we going to use the invisible cream?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜How are we going to sneak out of here without being seen?’
    â€˜You have got to learn to trust me.’ Maxfocused on the steady bleep of Toby’s tracer on the screen of the Time and Space Machine. It hadn’t moved.
    â€˜What are we going to do?
    â€˜You’ll see. Take my hand and hold on tight to the mutt.’
    â€˜She’s not a mutt, and why should I –’
    â€˜Stop asking questions.’
    Max grabbed Veronique’s hand and pressed transport . With a quiet fffttt and the muffled barking of a small poodle, the three disappeared from the room.

Fifteen seconds later, in the darkened folds of Père Lachaise cemetery, a flash of fluorescent light ballooned in the air and tiny sparks of colour fell like a freak rain shower of light. Max, Veronique and Fifi appeared in the centre and, after a few moments suspended in the air, floated gently to the ground.
    â€˜What just happened?’ Veronique’s hair sat like a wind-blown curtain over her face. Fifi shook her flattened curls from her eyes and let out a small whine.
    â€˜We’ve just travelled across Paris using this Time and Space Machine that my uncle and his brother invented. Great for travelling fast, not so great for your hair.’ Max stifled a giggle until she realised she and Veronique were still holding