Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20 "This is ridiculous!" Shep said as they walked back into the hanger. "I'm their cousin, too!" "You see how he makes big lie from mouth," Irina said, pressing her handkerchief to her eyes. Her Russian accent had thickened. "Maya morkovka!" she cried to Amy. "My little carrot! How my eyes have longed to plant themselves on your face!" Amy grabbed Shep's arm. "He is our cousin!" "May I see your passport, sir?" the officer asked Shep sternly. "I just had it a minute ago…." "Come here, little treasure," Irina said, trying to hug Dan. "I am like grandmother to these children. They ran away from guardian in Boston. You see I have papers. Look! Office Social Services, city of Massachusetts, have been looking. I have been sent to bring them home."

"Everything looks in order," the officer said, consulting the papers. "Apparently, Social Services are looking for these two back in the States." "That woman is a lying, homicidal spy!" Dan cried, pointing at Irina. "She tried to kill us!" Amy yelled. Irina dabbed at her eyes again, which were completely dry. "They have always had trouble with authority," she said to the officer. "You know American children, so spoiled. But they are my little pierogies, and I love them. They are family." "You say you're their nanny and their cousin?" the officer asked. "Oooooo," Irina cried, throwing her handkerchief over her face. "My heart in broken pieces like teacup, just seeing sweet angel faces again!" "My heart is throwing up in mouth," Nellie said, rolling her eyes. Even the security officer lifted an eyebrow. Amy thought Irina was piling it on a little too thick. Obviously, she didn't have much practice at sentiment.

"If you could let me go back to the plane, I could get the papers," Shep said. "I've clearly misplaced them, but they can't have gone far." "Don't move." The officer turned to Amy and Dan. "This lady is Irina Cahill, and she claims—" "She's not a Cahill!" Amy cried. "I mean, she is, but that's not her name!" The officer wiped some sweat from his forehead. "Can everybody stop shouting? We're trying to straighten this out." Another officer hurried from the building. He whispered in the head officer's ear. Amy heard the word Interpol. The head officer turned to Irina. "Do you happen to know an Irina Spasky?" "Never heard of this person." Irina looked blank. "Spasky is common Russian name." "She's Irina Spasky!" Amy yelled. "This person is wanted by Interpol for… uh, various international crimes." The officer consulted the list. "Dubrovnik, 2002, traveling under false passport. Sofia, 1999, administering paralyzing poison to unidentified male. Sri Lanka

The officer looked pale. "Crikey." "That's her!" Dan cried. "Lock her up and throw away Russian key!" Irina smiled. "Silly children. Tell me, officers, why aren't you chasing criminals like this Spasky, not accusing poor Russian nanny trying to save children from kidnapper." The officer sighed. "So you say, ma'am." Shep began to talk to the officer, explaining that he was Arthur Trent's cousin and a respectable citizen with a flight plan and a plane he needed to take off in. He pulled Nellie into the discussion. Irina turned to Amy and Dan. She lowered her voice to a whisper. "I am here to help you. You are flying straight into a trap." "Hello? It seems to me that we're already in one," Dan said. "Can't resist chance to needle me," Irina said. "I understand." "You're the one with the needles," Dan pointed out.

"We're not going to get caught in your trap," Amy said fiercely. "You probably thought you killed us back in that mine—" "I was not involved in what happened," Irina said. "I didn't know what Isabel was planning until she did it. I would have stopped her if I could." "Liar!" "Haven't you figured out who your real enemy is yet?" Dan pointed to Irina. "Bingo!" "Don't go to Jakarta. If Isabel knows you're there, she will kill you, do you understand?" "And suddenly you're some sort of grandma?" Dan asked scornfully. "Please. You would have killed us if you had the chance." "Amy." Irina said her name quietly. Amy had never heard that tone in Irina's voice. She couldn't quite figure it out at first, but then she got it. The scorn was missing. "Isabel told you it was me who killed your parents. Correct?" Amy only stared at her.

Dan's head whipped from Irina to Amy and back again. "What did she just say?" "She lied. She will lie about anything to get what she wants. Have you remembered more about that night?" "Our parents were murdered?" Dan asked in a whisper. He turned his bewildered gaze on Amy. He looked like a lost little boy. It was exactly the look she had dreaded seeing. "Yes," Amy said. "I remember you." She made the accusation coolly, hoping Irina would take the bait. Irina must have been there, even if she couldn't remember her. "But not just me, correct?" "What is going on?" Dan's voice wavered. "Why?" Amy asked. She forced the words out around the tightness in her throat. "How could you do it?" "I didn't," Irina said. "Yet, I was there." "That's called accessory to murder," Amy said. Dan's face had seemed to shrink in his bewilderment. He looked as though somebody