“Aha!” Dan exploded. “You only want to help so you can steal our clues because you know you’re losing!”
The smile disappeared, and Amy and Dan noticed their distant cousin’s exhausted, red-rimmed eyes.
“I’m afraid, children, that we all might be losing,” he admitted. “Ian and Natalie Kabra have been in China for several days already. Even more worrisome, the Holts have completely dropped off the radar screen.”
“Try the Mr. Universe contest,” Dan suggested.
Alistair regarded him ruefully. “We’ve all underestimated the Holts. In Ekat circles, the rumor is that they’ve made a major breakthrough. It’s not too late to catch them — if we work together.”
Amy’s eyes locked with her brother’s. Of all their competitors in the contest, Uncle Alistair was the only one who felt like family. True, he had betrayed them—and more than just once. But out of their Cahill cousins, Alistair alone seemed to care what happened to them.
The image of Uncle Alistair faded in Amy’s mind, to be replaced by a much darker picture. That terrible night years before; the fire that had killed their parents. Alistair had been there.
Amy’s eyes filled with tears. Stop thinking about it!
Alistair was no murderer. At worst, he had been Isabel’s unwitting accomplice. Still, it would take a lot for her to confide in him. And as for Dan …
“Why can’t you just lie and cheat like the others?” Dan snapped. “Can’t you see that’s better than being nice one minute and then turning around and selling us out? It may be very Cahill, but it stinks! Grace had a saying: Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, I’ll conk you with this pet carrier!”
“You must reconsider,” Alistair began urgently.
Nellie spoke up. “The kids said it’s not happening.”
“Yes, but —”
Dan let go of Saladin, and the Egyptian Mau pounced on Alistair’s ankles. There was a ripping sound as the cat’s claws removed most of the left cuff from Alistair’s custom-tailored dress slacks. Fabric flapping, the old fellow hightailed it to the exit.
“If you change your mind, I’m at the Imperial Hotel,” he tossed over his shoulder, and was gone.
Nellie put an arm around her two charges. “I hope you knuckleheads have a plan, now that you’ve sent Alistair packing.”
Amy manufactured a nervous smile. “Next stop—the Gate of Heavenly Peace.”
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