Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9 "Have a seat, Amy," Isabel said, pointing to the long cushioned bench in the stern of the speedboat. She was dressed casually in a striped T- shirt and trim white pants with white sneakers. "Let's take a quick tour of the harbor and then I'll show you the prettiest cove. I'll have you back in forty-five minutes. Promise!" "I guess it's—" Amy's next words were drowned out as Isabel gunned the motor. The boat zipped away from the quay, passing right by the ferry as it blasted its horn. Amy clapped her hands over her ears. "Oopsie, sorry!" Isabel laughed as she turned the wheel and skipped over another boat's wake. The waves thudded against the hull. "Let's get away from this traffic. Don't worry, Amy, I'm an expert captain." "Mother keeps a boat at our place in the Bahamas," Ian shouted in Amy's ear. "She's raced

competitively. There's no cause for concern." In her head, she heard Dan mimicking Ian's British accent and formal words. She wished he was here to make fun of him. Anything to stop this dread in her stomach. She had been afraid of grim, colorless Irina for so long and the menacing Holts that this new shape of villain didn't make sense. Isabel looked like a model. Her eyes sparkled and her smile was generous and warm. She was one of the most beautiful women Amy had ever seen. Isabel perched high on the captain's chair, her white sneaker swinging gaily. Dangerous? It didn't seem possible. Just another of Irina's lies. An open path of water lay in front of them now. Amy's teeth slammed together as the boat surged forward. She felt the bow lift off the water. They raced across the harbor at what Amy considered a terrifying speed. "That's more like it!" Isabel yelled. When she turned, her eyes were alight with excitement. "Don't you love it?" "LOVE IT!" Ian shouted, but Amy noticed he

was gripping the railing. The boat slammed against the waves as they entered a rougher part of the harbor. Amy bounced up and down, trying to keep her seat. The wind whipped her hair into her eyes. Finally, when Amy thought her bones might disintegrate into powder after being slammed against the water so much, Isabel cut the speed and motored into a beautiful cove. Amy saw a white horseshoe-shaped beach. She could see a sprinkling of people on the beach and a few swimmers beyond the surf line. She relaxed. She'd been afraid that Isabel would take her somewhere totally secluded or way out at sea. If she had to, she could dive off the boat and swim to shore from here. The boat bobbed gently in the waves. Isabel crossed over and sat in a deck chair that faced Ian and Amy. She took each of their hands. "Now, you two," she said. "Enough squabbling. You're here to make up." Amy looked at her incredulously. Squabbling? Obviously, Mother Kabra didn't have a clue about

the homicidal tendencies of her son. Amy withdrew her hand. "I'm not here to make up with Ian," she said firmly. She was relieved that her voice came out so strong. "I'm here because he told me that my parents were murdered." "Right to the point, aren't you?" Isabel dropped Ian's hand. "I admire that! All right, then. I'm going to tell you some things in confidence and hope that you will respect it. I didn't come to Australia just to collect my darling children." Isabel paused. "There is a mole in the Lucian branch. We believe this mole has been operating for some time. Thwarting us at every turn." Nataliya, Amy thought. She had led Amy and Dan to Russia. She was a Lucian, but she'd helped them get their last Clue. "We've wondered where they were getting information, resources. And then we realized. The Madrigals. One of our own has joined them." Amy didn't believe it. If Isabel was talking about Nataliya, she had to be wrong. "What does this have to do with me?" Amy asked. "I believe— we believe, those of us at the

highest levels— that this person, this spy, this mole, along with the Madrigals— murdered your parents." No. Isabel was definitely not talking about Nataliya. It was someone else. Nataliya had risked so much to help them. "How do you know?" she asked, swallowing hard. "The fire was deliberately set. Cleverly done," Isabel said. "We investigated ourselves. I'm sorry to shock you, Amy, but you must come to terms with it. You must see what you're up against. The Madrigals are ruthless." "Why should I believe you?" Amy challenged. Why should she believe anyone? Isabel's voice was soft. "Because I was close to your parents, for one thing. I mourned them. When I realized that the Lucian spy was aligned with the Madrigals, I decided I had to get involved with the hunt. I called off Ian and Natalie. I want an alliance with you and Dan. I will help you bring the murderer to justice." "Who is it?" Amy asked, swallowing hard.

"Not only will I help you," Isabel said, ignoring Amy's question, "but the full resources of the Lucians will be placed before you and your brother. Information. Strongholds. Money. We'll share the clues, and we'll win together." "Enough about the clues. Who killed my parents?" "Irina Spasky." The sun was sinking lower in the sky, staining the blue water with pink. The glare behind Isabel put her face in shadow, obliterating her features. It seemed to flare out like fire around her. Amy felt dizzy. This was what Irina had warned her about. The lie will sound like truth. But was it a lie? Or did Irina just want her to think it was? "My husband and I knew Irina when we were all teenagers," Isabel said. "I watched her turn from an idealistic scholar into a cold-blooded killer. But I never dreamed she'd strike against her own relatives. The chase for the clues is a hunger for her. It's warped her. I'm sorry, Amy. This can't be easy to hear. But you should know who killed