Spy School

Ben spends the next nine hours in a comfortably furnished interrogation room with “a plush couch, sisal carpeting, and a small Zen fountain” (240). A series of agents question him, though Ben thinks they are more concerned about his loyalties than any information he may have. He spends the hours trying to get them to investigate Chip and Tina, but they repeatedly ask him question about Erica, and how she rescued him, and whether he “[loves] America” (242). Eventually, Alexander takes a frustrated Ben out of the room and releases him through the secret ATM entrance. Alexander says he must go back to cover their tracks, but that Ben is “in good hands” (244). Ben quickly realizes that Alexander planted another mini transmitter on him. He holds his phone to his ear so that he can talk back to Erica without appearing conspicuous to other people. Erica tells Ben to go after Tina, who Erica says is the mole.

Ben hurries around to the front of the campus to intercept Tina. He sees two limousines with diplomatic license plates turn into the school and tells Erica the higher-ups are arriving. She says the meeting attendees include: “the directors of the CIA, FBI, and NSA; the congressional chairs of the Intelligence Committee; a couple White House liaisons; and, of course, no party would be complete without my father” (247).