07-IT'S DEAL!

IT'S A DEAL! Pinky hopped up and down on her pink platform shoes. "Everyone freeze!" she ordered. Thea stopped yelling at Trap. Trap stopped yelling at Thea. I stopped chewing my Whiskers. All eyes turned to my assistant editor. Pinky is only a teenager, but she is not shy. In fact, she is the exact OPPOSITE. When that mouse starts squeaking, look out. She can talk the fur off a long-haired hamster! "OK, here's the deal," she began.

1. Trap tells us everything he knows. 2. I tell you how to get by the police barricades in the subway. 3. Thea organizes the whole expedition. 4. And, Boss, you put up the dough. She grinned and went on. "We'll divide the money among all four of us. That's 25 percent for everyone," she finished.

Trap groaned. "What? Equal shares?" he complained. "That doesn't sound fair." Pinky twirled her tail. "Take it or leave it," she squeaked cheerfully. For a moment, no one said a word. It was so quiet, you could have heard a sliver of Parmesan drop. Then Trap stuck out his paw. "It's a deal!" he told Pinky. They shook paws. I could tell Trap wanted more money. But I could also tell something else. He was impressed with my tough-talking assistant. Who would guess a little mouse in pink shoes could be so pushy?