Stone Investigations (Stone Series Book 4)

it’s an important diplomatic posting.  I have to bethere to help manage the events,” Mrs. Morrison said.
“Maybe I can stay with Emily.”
“We can talk to the Stevensons about that, but this is sosudden, it’s not fair to spring something like this on them.”
“Why do you have to take the job?”
“Because I’ve been asked by the Prime Minister,” Sir Williamsaid.  “It’s a significant opportunity for me and more important, it’s whatBritain needs.”
“But why you?”
“Because Sir Toby has been diagnosed with cancer and has toreturn to Britain for treatment.  He and I have discussed his plansextensively, so I’m the logical choice to replace him.”
“It’s not fair!”
“Life is not fair.  Now, why don’t you go to your party withJason?  We can discuss options tomorrow when we’ve all had a chance to digestthis,” Mrs. Morrison said.
Alex folded her arms and pouted.
“Go, you can’t leave Jason hanging in the living roomforever.”
◆ ◆ ◆
“What’s up?” Emily asked.
“Oh, I didn’t notice you walk up,” Matthew said.
“I suspected you wouldn’t, you had that spacey look on yourface, so I assume you were checking on Alex.”
“Yes, her father is getting posted to Russia.”
“Wow, that’s sudden.”
“Apparently he’s to replace someone named Sir Toby who wasdiagnosed with cancer.”
“And Alex doesn’t want to go,” Emily said.
“Of course not.  This is her senior year.  It’s a big shock.”
“Why doesn’t her mother stay with her?”
“Something about diplomatic posting means her mom needs to bethere.”
“Oh, a diplomatic posting.  I wonder what it is?”
“Didn’t hear.”
“Well look it up.  You said he’s to replace Sir Toby, whoeverthat is.”
Matthew used his portal to access his computer at home anddid a google search on ‘Sir Toby, Russia, British Diplomat.’
“It says here that he is the minister of trade,” Matthewsaid.  “Isn’t that the position they give their spies?”
“I don’t know.  But we do know that her dad has been involvedwith MI6, so it would make sense.”
“I’m surprised that Alex doesn’t want to go.  She has anaffinity for spying,” Matthew said, harkening back to when Alex decided she wasgoing to help track down terrorists and was spying on Sayid.
“It takes too much time and it interferes with her sleep andpartying.”
“Not the way James Bond does it.”
Emily giggled at that, “Well, Alex figured out that was afantasy pretty fast.”
“I should warn you that Alex suggested she stay with you.”
“Oh, that might work.  Except for the fact that I’m introuble about that New York thing, Mom would agree for sure.”
“She really can’t still be holding that against you,” Matthewsaid.
“She’s not happy that I was less than truthful.  And unfortunately,she’s right, I hate lying to her.”
“I know, but I think telling her we were going to a party tosee if we could help stop a terrorist assassination plot wouldn’t have goneover too well.”
Emily slugged Matthew on the shoulder.  “No, it wouldn’thave.”
◆ ◆ ◆
“Hey, Jason, Alex,” Matthew greeted the pair as they madetheir way down the beach to join everyone else.
“Sorry we’re late.  I walked into the middle of a familymeeting,” Jason said.
“Is everything okay?” Emily asked, walking up and giving Alexa hug.
“Sort of.  Daddy’s getting posted to Russia, we just foundout this morning.”
“When?” Emily asked.
“Right away,” Alex said.  “Bloody awful timing.”
“What about you and your mom?”
“Mummy has to go with him, they’re trying to figure out whatto do with me.”
“Maybe you can stay with me,” Emily said.
“Really?”
“If you want, I can ask my parents.  We have the room,” Emilysaid.
“That’d be brilliant, Em.”
“I’ll ask them tonight.  Now let’s have fun.”
◆ ◆ ◆
Matthew and Emily grabbed the two wave runners, figuringthey’d get some time in before the competition for time on them got too heavy. The waves coming into the beach were pretty mild, which was probably good sinceheavy waves would make riding the wave runners at high speeds dangerous, but itdid make it hard to get some air under them when they jumped the waves.
Emily waved Matthew over.  “Hey, Matt, can’t you give us aramp or something so we can do a jump?”
“And you don’t think Jen or Jeffrey will notice?”
“Not if you do it right.”
Matthew sighed at Emily, but he quickly thought of a way touse his portal.  “Okay, I’ll try it. If it works, I’ll explain it to you.”
“Sounds good.  Now, do it.”
Matthew found a spot where the slope of the beach below the oceanwas about right.  He opened his portal, placing one end against that spot andthe other he floated in front of his wave runner.  It kept pace with him,staying the same distance from his body.  When he approached a good-lookingwave, he locked his end right in front of the wave.  He had it expanded so thatit was taller than the wave by about a foot.  When he hit the wave, the waverunner rode up the wave then onto his portal, giving it an extra foot of ramp.
“Wow! That was great.  Now, how do I do it?”
“Just start jumping waves, I’ll yell when I’m going to giveyou a boost.”
Emily and Matthew were able to play on the wave runners forthirty minutes before Alex and Jason shouted them down and made them give therunners up.  The two ran up the beach laughing as the other two took the waverunners out.
Emily was trying to talk Matthew into going out on the HobieCat when Brianna’s mother dropped her off.
“Hey, Brea.  About time you showed up!” Jennifer yelled.  Shewas the only one who could get away with scolding Brianna.
Brianna ran up to her friends.  She was wearing a beach cover-upover her bikini and had already kicked off her sandals.  “I told you I’d belate.  Now, hand me a drink and I won’t kick sand in your face!”  Briannalaughed as she scooped some sand with her toes and flipped it toward Jennifer. “Where’s Jeffrey?”
“Over there trying to get Jason and Alex to give up the waverunners.  Do you want to go out with us?”
Brianna looked out at the wave runners as Jason made his jumpa wave.  “I don’t think so.  I’m just going to relax and get some sun.”
Matthew handed Brianna a Coke; he’d opened it for her indeference to her fingernails.  Jennifer mouthed a thank you to