The Secret of White Stone Gate

Chapter 1

The Animal Lover

Lucy was late. Emmy didn’t know if that was normal or not, but every time something had gone wrong for Emmy lately, there had been a reason. A bad one. That’s why she kept nervously tucking strands of her red hair behind her ear.

The car exhaust and cigarette smoke outside Heathrow Airport in London made her want to wrap her shirt around her nose, and the late-August heat wasn’t helping. She checked the time on her phone. Maybe her mom’s cousin wasn’t a punctual person. Or maybe…

Emmy tried to shake some of the tension out of her shoulders. She was being ridiculous. The Order of Black Hollow Lane wasn’t after her anymore; she didn’t have what they wanted. At least, they didn’t think she had what they wanted.

Maybe she should give Lucy a call. She was just about to pull up her contact info when the phone started to ring.

Hello?

Darling!

Emmy smiled. Hi, Mom.

How was your flight, dear? Are you completely exhausted?

Kinda.

I bet, her mom said. Listen, I just got a text from Lucy. She’s running a few minutes behind, but she’ll be there soon.

Emmy let out a big breath. Okay, thanks.

You’re really going to love her, Em. She and I had so much fun when we lived together in London.

Right. Emmy cleared her throat. I still don’t really get why I’m supposed to go to her house during school holidays this year. I mean, it’s not like I know her at all.

She’s family, Emmy. You’ll get to know her. She and her husband are involved in all kinds of social clubs and charities, and now that you’re going to school in England long-term, I think it would be good for you to make some stronger connections with those types of people.

Those types of people. She meant people with money. And power. After what happened last year, Emmy wasn’t too interested in cozying up to powerful people.

Besides, her mom went on, I think it’ll be good to have family looking after you. It’ll be a real load off my mind if I know you’re taken care of.

But I didn’t have anyone taking care of me last year, and I was totally fine.

Really, Emmy? Her mom’s voice was suddenly sharp. It didn’t seem like you were totally fine when you accepted that dare and almost fell out of a bell tower.

I didn’t fall out of a bell tower, Mom. I slipped while I was climbing a rope.

Well, whatever happened in that tower, you definitely weren’t fine.

Emmy cringed. It was true that she hadn’t been fine then, but it wasn’t because of a dare. Her mom still didn’t know what really happened. If she did, she never would have let Emmy come back to Wellsworth.

Listen, her mom said. This is part of the deal. If you want to go back to that school, you’re going to have Lucy looking after you. Period.

Emmy sighed. Okay.

Listen, Em, I know you want to be independent, but you’re only twelve.

Almost thirteen, Emmy corrected her.

That’s still twelve, which is pretty young to be on your own.

Emmy pressed her lips together. Being eleven hadn’t stopped Mom from sending Emmy to Wellsworth when she wanted to film a TV show the year before.

I know you aren’t too keen on meeting new people, but Lucy’s different. She’s family. We used to be really close. She’s a great animal lover, did I tell you that? She does some kind of work with dogs.

Yeah, you told me.

Her mom didn’t say anything for a moment. Well, let me know how things go, okay? You can always come home.

No! Emmy said. I definitely want to be at Wellsworth. And if she had to deal with her mom’s cousin to make that happen, she’d just have to suck it up.

Okay. I love you, Emmy.

I love you too, Mom.

A few minutes later, a lemon-yellow sports car careened into the parking lot and skidded to a stop. A blond woman got out, yanked off her expensive-looking sunglasses, and examined Emmy.

Do you belong to Pamela?

Uh…I guess so.

Well, get in, then. Lucy popped the car’s trunk and sat back down in the driver’s seat without another word.

Emmy tucked her hair behind her ear again. This was the woman her mom had so much fun with in London? She sure seemed different from how her mom had described her.

Emmy heaved her suitcase onto the edge of the trunk and shoved it inside.

Don’t be a brute! Lucy bellowed. You’ll scratch the paint!

Emmy snapped the trunk shut. If Lucy was so worried about her car’s paint job, she could have helped.

Lucy pulled the car into traffic, and by the time they’d reached the highway, Emmy was trying not to throw up. Lucy drove like a maniac. She flew from one lane to another, making rude hand gestures with perfectly sculpted fingernails and honking the horn like a wild goose. The only part of her face that moved was her bottom lip. Everything else seemed to have been pulled, tucked, and frozen into a permanent scowl.

So, do you actually talk or what? Lucy said.

Oh, um, yeah. Emmy rubbed her hands on her jeans. Talking to strangers wasn’t exactly her favorite thing. What kinds of things did adults usually say when they first met? So, um, what do you do?

I breed Chinese cresteds.

Emmy had no clue what that meant. Chinese what?

Lucy rolled her eyes. Dogs, she said, like that was the most obvious thing in the world. I hear you got into a spot of trouble at school last year.

Emmy’s cheeks got hot. Um, yeah. A spot of trouble. That would be an understatement. Even though she’d spent the last few months in Connecticut, Emmy still got an awful feeling in the pit of her stomach when she thought about what had happened. When she’d gotten to Wellsworth, she’d found out that her dad had gone there, too. A secret school society called the Order of Black Hollow Lane had been after him, which was why he had disappeared when she was three. Emmy and her two best friends had snuck into the Order’s secret tunnels to look for proof that the Order had tried to hurt him. Unfortunately, Emmy had gotten caught.

But that wasn’t the spot of trouble Lucy was talking about, because no one knew what had really happened except Emmy, her two best friends, and the two teachers who had helped save her. As far as anyone else knew, it was all just a dare that had gone wrong.

Well, I certainly hope there won’t be anything like that this year. I don’t want to be the one dealing with all that rubbish. I hear they’ve hired a new head of security, so hopefully she’ll do a better job at keeping you kids under control.

She? Emmy would breathe easier if the new security person was a woman. The Order was a strict boys only club.

Yes, I read all about it in that school newsletter your mother signed me up for. I guess the last fellow quit at the end of the year.

Emmy shivered. She always did that when she thought about the old head of security, Jonas. She had trusted him, but he was the one who had caught her in the tunnels, chased her into the belfry of an old church, and tried to kill her. All because of something that was sitting in her backpack right now. She clutched her bag tighter. She would probably regret bringing the box of medallions with her, but she liked having it close. As far as Jonas and the Order were concerned, it was destroyed. If they found out differently… Well, there was no turning back now.

After what seemed like the longest car ride ever, they finally made it to Lucy’s house in one piece.

Don’t touch anything, Lucy said as she opened the front door. Georgian town houses cost a fortune in London, especially when they’re in such perfect condition.

Emmy looked around. No art. No family photos. No comfy chairs. Apparently perfect condition meant stuffy old box.

Your room’s up on the next floor, Lucy said. It’s the little one at the end. She banged on a door next to the entryway. Harold? Are you in there?

A grunt sounded from behind the door. That must be Lucy’s husband.

Did the paperwork come from the club yet? she asked.

Another grunt. This one must have meant no because Lucy crossed her arms and sighed.

We’ve been offered membership in the Thackery Club, she said smugly. It’s the most prestigious club in the country, you know.

Emmy wasn’t sure what could be so prestigious about a club, but from the way Lucy was smirking, it must have been a big deal.

A couple members popped over for tea the other day and offered us exclusive pricing at their electronics store. Harold and I already got brand new cell phones for next to nothing.

"There are people in the lounge, Harold said, as though these people" were some kind of pests that had weaseled through the door.

What people? Lucy bellowed.

For the girl.

It was like someone had dumped ice water down Emmy’s back. Someone was here for her. More than one someone. Were they from the Order? She’d always known it would be risky to come back to the UK, back to the school where Jonas had tried to kill her, but she figured she’d be safe now that they believed she didn’t have the box.

They’re in the lounge, Harold said.

Lucy opened the door on Emmy’s left. It was too late to run now.

Before Emmy could back away, a short, stocky girl with a black ponytail barreled through the door and practically tackled Emmy in a huge bear hug. What took you so long? We’ve been waiting on that lumpy sofa for ages.

All of Emmy’s fear melted away. Hey, Lola. It felt good to hug her best friend again.

Lola pulled away and gave Emmy a serious look. You’ve been doing drills this summer, right?

Emmy rolled her eyes and nodded.

’Cause trials are in two weeks, and Madam Boxgrove is going to get after you if your left foot isn’t a bit faster when you’re dribbling.

I promise, I’ve been practicing! Emmy shook her head. Leave it to Lola to ask her about soccer when they hadn’t seen each other in two months.

Emmy looked over Lola’s shoulder and saw a tall woman with wild, black hair. She leaned on her cane and smiled. Lola’s been talking about you all summer. At least, that’s what her dad tells me.

Emmy ran over and gave Lola’s mom a hug. Madam Boyd was in charge of Emmy and Lola’s house at Wellsworth, but over the course of the year, she’d come to mean a lot more to Emmy than just a housemistress.

As touching as this little reunion is, Lucy said, I’m going upstairs to tend to Mr. Minicomb.

Who’s Mr. Minicomb? Lola asked Emmy.

Emmy shrugged.

You don’t mind if I take the girls out for a bit, do you? Madam Boyd asked Lucy.

Lucy just waved her hand and didn’t look back, which Emmy assumed meant yes.

We’ll get your things settled in your room first, Madam Boyd said. Emmy and Lola each grabbed one of Emmy’s suitcases and heaved them up the staircase.

They passed two large bedrooms that didn’t look lived-in before they reached the little door at the end. The room was so tiny they could barely wedge the suitcases between the bed and the wall.

Lola snorted. Guess you got the maid’s room.

Emmy didn’t really care. It was only a week until she went back to Wellsworth. Just the thought of being back at school sent a warm rush through her. Wellsworth was where she belonged.

Right, then, Madam Boyd said, let’s get going.

Emmy tried to cover up a groan. She just wanted to crash. Can I have a nap first?

Madam Boyd peered out into the hallway and then snapped the bedroom door shut. Sorry, this can’t wait. Your father has a job for you.

Chapter 2

The Royal Bank of London

Emmy stared at Madam Boyd. You know about my dad? The last she’d heard, it was only her humanities teacher, Master Barlowe, who knew her dad was still alive.

After the…incident at the end of last year, your father thought it best to have more than one person at school who knew the full extent of the situation, Madam Boyd said. Since I’m your head of house, I can keep an extra eye out for your safety. She looked at Lola and narrowed her eyes. And make sure you both stay out of trouble.

Have you seen him? Emmy asked.

Madam Boyd shook her head. Thomas and I have ways of communicating, but I never know where he is. It’s just not safe.

Emmy’s shoulders slumped. That’s what Master Barlowe had said, too. If her dad could communicate with Boyd and Barlowe, why couldn’t he communicate with her? Sending her a few cryptic letters last year definitely didn’t count.

He’d like you to come with me to the Royal Bank of London, Boyd said. There’s a safe-deposit box there that he’d like you to open. And he said—and I’m assuming you know what this means, because I have no idea—that if you saved any of his relics, please bring them along.

Emmy looked at Lola. They both knew exactly what Thomas meant.

The medallions.

Her father had stolen them years ago. He knew the medallions would open the Order’s secret vaults, and he didn’t want Jonas to get all the valuable artifacts inside. Emmy found the medallions before she went to Wellsworth, and when Jonas had cornered her, she pretended to throw them into the North Sea. Only Emmy, Lola, and their friend Jack knew that Emmy still had them. At least, that’s what Emmy had thought. Her dad must have guessed that she’d try to save them.

Emmy clutched at the straps on her backpack. I have everything I need. Let’s go.

A short while later, the three of them clambered into a black taxicab, Madam Boyd in the front, the girls in the back.

Royal Bank of London on St. Martin’s le Grand, Boyd told the driver. The cab lurched into traffic, and they started winding their way through the endless lines of cars headed downtown. I’m afraid you’ll have to suffer through a bit of sightseeing after. Just in case someone’s…keeping an eye on us. We don’t want them to think too much about us stopping at the bank.

Did you get my last text? Lola asked, completely ignoring the fact that her mom had just said that someone might be following