Chapter 15

Chapter 15 YOU CAN BLOW OUT THE CANDLES, BUT DON'T CLOSE YOUR EYES! Jodi's birthday celebration was simple. It was just the five of them, with no secrets and no surprises. Exactly what she'd asked for. They were roasting marshmallows in Ash's backyard. The fire was getting low. "I should ask my parents for more wood," Ash said.

"Allow me," said Jodi. And she tossed her spy notebook into the fire.

"Oh no!" said Po. "Don't tell me you're giving up the spy life?" "I think I've outgrown it," Jodi said with a grin. "Anyway, it didn't feel right spying on my friends. I should have trusted you." "To be fair, we were telling white lies," said Ash. "We meant well, but maybe we shouldn't have done that when there were real mysteries hounding us." "I guess it's a good time to give you my present," Morgan said, and handed her a package. Jodi unwrapped it eagerly. She laughed when she saw what it was. "Another notebook?" she asked cheerfully. "Not for spying," Morgan said. "For sleuthing. After all, you solved the mystery of the Evoker King." Jodi thought about it a moment. Then she nodded. "I suppose I did. And I can still be a detective without being a spy. I'll need a totally different hat, though…."

"Speaking of spying," Harper said. "Doc told me it was safe to use her tech to fix my phone. The glitch is officially out of the system." "Which means the Evoker King can't see Woodsword anymore," Po said. "Whew." "Probably," Harper said. "But we're up against an actual thinking computer program. I'm not taking any chances with my privacy." She held up her phone. "I'm disabling the camera on this thing for good." Jodi grinned. "Should we say goodbye first?" Morgan grinned too. "Just in case he's in there somewhere?" "I like that idea," Ash said. Harper handed Po the phone. "You've got the longest arms, Po." Po held the phone up. "Everyone gather around!" he said. "Selfie position!"

They all stuck their heads close together. They put on their toughest faces. Po cleared his throat, then pressed the big red button. "Are you listening, Evoker King?" he asked. "Can you see us right now? Because we're not afraid of you, blockhead. And we're coming for you!" They all laughed. Jodi enjoyed a moment of perfect birthday happiness. And then she heard that sound again. Low,

sinister laughter. This time, it was coming from Harper's phone. "See you in the game, then," said the voice.