“We all got our fair share of it,” Duncan continued.

“But you guys are awesome fighters. You could have put me in my place easily.”

“If we fought back, you might have been seriously injured, and it would have blown our covers as spies. But there’s another reason why we took it, Jackson. It’s because we know that what the popular kids have to offer the world is so tiny and unimportant compared to what the nerds will do. The dorks, dweebs, goobers, and spazzes that you picked on are the ones who will grow up to discover the vaccines, write the great novels, push the boundaries of science and technology, and invent things that make people healthier and happier. Nerds change the world. Kids like you and Brett, and that gang of lunatics you called friends—well, you never amount to much. Knowing I have a bright future helps when I’m pulling my underpants off my head.

“I don’t hate you, though I do think you are way too arrogant for your own good. The others, however, hate your guts. I know Ruby resents you because Brand brought you in without discussing it with her. Flinch and Matilda think you don’t have what it takes in the brains department. And Heathcliff, well, he has a special place in his heart for the hate he feels for you.”

“Why?”

“You took particular delight in abusing him. He got the worst of it,” Duncan said.

Jackson watched as the video showed him dragging Heathcliff down the dirty hallway by his feet. Ashamed, Jackson looked across the lawn at his teammates, and for the first time he wasn’t annoyed that they didn’t want to be his friend. He suddenly understood. He didn’t deserve their friendship.

The Hyena sat in a dark corner of the lab with her laptop. She was busy working on her résumé and searching want ads for contract killers. She wasn’t having a lot of luck.

“Mindy, may I have a word?” a voice said behind her. Startled, the Hyena spun around and found Dr. Jigsaw standing over her. Terror swept through her. Had he seen what she was doing? Was she headed for the fire pit?

“I think it’s time to introduce you to Simon,” Dr. Jigsaw continued.

“Simon?” she asked, quickly closing her laptop.

“Follow me,” the doctor said. He led her up a flight of stairs into the glass-walled observation room that overlooked his giant satellite dish. She noticed that the henchmen and scientists below were assembling huge solar panels. Jigsaw pushed a button and an enormous television screen rose up out of the floor. It was as big as a wall. The Hyena rolled her eyes. Villains always had to have such big TVs.

A strange man with a skull mask appeared on the screen. He was the same man she had glimpsed in Jigsaw’s helicopter.

“Hyena, my name is Simon. Tell me about Cairo,” the masked man said.

Jigsaw turned to the Hyena. She stepped forward and nervously cleared her throat. “Um, when I got to Cairo there was a team of … well, they were kids, waiting for me. They were trying to kidnap Dr. Badawi themselves. The odd thing is, they didn’t seem like goons or henchmen. It was like they were trying to protect her.”

“They’re called NERDS. They are quite formidable,” Simon said.

“I’m sorry,” Hyena said. “Did you say they were nerds?”

“Secret agents with incredible technology at their disposal. They are of little concern to us,” Simon said. “Precautions are already being made to help with your next pickup.”

“Next pickup?” the Hyena said. “I got everyone on the list. There is no next pickup.”

“You’re not the only one who screws up, Hyena. It appears Dr. Jigsaw has revealed our plan to an old colleague.”

Jigsaw shuffled uncomfortably. “Someone from my past could cause some problems. It’s a bit of a long shot, but I did the math and there is a five percent probability that he could figure out our plan.”

“That’s a chance I’d rather not take,” Simon said. “Hyena, I believe this is a job best suited for your talents. Find the good doctor’s friend.”

The Hyena sighed. “And kidnap him?”

The man in the skull mask shook his head. “No, my dear. You’re getting a promotion. I want you to kill him.”

Suddenly, the screen faded to black and the odd man was gone, but the room was aglow with the Hyena’s smile.

ALL RIGHT, PAL. I SEE YOU’RE

READY FOR LEVEL 8 CLEARANCE. LET

ME TELL YOU, LEVEL 8 IS THE BEST

LEVEL. IT’S VERY EXCITING. YES,

WHEN I GOT TO LEVEL 8 MY WHOLE

LIFE CHANGED. UNFORTUNATELY,

I CAN’T LET YOU IN. NOPE. SORRY.

CAN’T BE DONE … UNLESS …

BETWEEN ME AND YOU, NO ONE GETS

TO LEVEL 8—BUT ’CAUSE WE ARE

CLOSE FRIENDS I’M GOING TO PULL

SOME STRINGS AND HELP YOU. OF

COURSE, IT WOULD BE EASIER IF YOU

WERE WILLING TO MAKE A LITTLE

DONATION TO MY PERSONAL BANK

ACCOUNT. CONSIDER IT A TIP FOR

SERVICES RENDERED.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN

“FORGET YOU”? YOU STINGY

LITTLE … I’VE BEEN SITTING

HERE WIPING UP YOUR BOOGERS,

SWEAT, AND SALIVA, AND YOU

WON’T EVEN THROW

A LITTLE CASH MY WAY?

ACCESS DENIED!

JERK!

I’M NOT TALKING

TO YOU ANYMORE.

FINE. HERE’S YOUR

LEVEL 8 ACCESS. I HOPE YOU

CHOKE ON IT.

By the end of his suspension, Jackson’s house was immaculate. The gutters had been cleared, the windows washed, and the shrubs pruned into the shapes of wild stallions. Jackson, with the help of Duncan, and the begrudging assistance of Flinch and Matilda, caught up on all his homework. There was even a moment when he was learning about past participles that they had all shared a laugh. He seemed to be breaking the shell that protected most of the team, though Heathcliff and Ruby still refused to speak to him outside of training.

When Jackson stepped back into Nathan Hale Elementary, he was feeling better about his life. The weight on his shoulders didn’t feel so heavy, and he had a renewed determination to succeed not only in his classes, but as a secret agent as well. He had a growing sensation that nothing could get in his way.