milling around."* *
*Somewhere in the deep recesses of the very building in which Dan and Amy searched,
a person tracked their every move.Very resourceful, these two, NRR thought. They
might make the deadline after all.NRR dialed a phone and let it ring several times
before the call was picked up."Is this a secure line?"121"I will not dignify that with an
answer," NRR answered."Okay, okay. Just make it quick.""I will be seeing them shortly.
Do you stil want me to go through with it?"A pause ensued on the line. NRR was used
to this. The contact was a thinker who liked to weigh every option."They are
extraordinary, aren't they? No one can say they haven't proven themselves.""They
understood from the start it could not be done alone," NRR responded."And recruiting a
team like the Holts? Simply remarkable. I didn't think it was possible.""So we go ahead,
then?" asked NRR."We're a go. If they make it to your desk, take them to the room. I
think they're ready."The line went dead and NRR turned back to the bank of video
screens.122CHAPTER 12All the doors into the theater were locked, but it was only a
few minutes before a maintenance worker emerged, pushing a garbage can on wheels.
Dan saw the opportunity they needed and shoved Amy into the man's path. When she
hit the cart, Amy caught her foot on the metal wheel and flew forward onto the marble
floor."You little monster!" she said, turning beet red and forgetting for a moment that
she was visiting one of the more opulent concert halls in Europe, disguised as an
adult.When she got up, the man was wearing a cramped smile, trying not to laugh. He
mumbled something in Russian that Amy felt sure meant "hopeless klutz," then
wandered down the long corridor, shaking his head."Dan?"Amy looked every which
way, straightening her ridiculous wig and glasses, but there was no sign of her
brother.123"Pssst. Over here," said Dan.Amy turned around and saw that a door to the
theater was open just far enough for Dan's goatee to poke out at her."Get in here
before someone sees you."Amy backed up slowly as a group of women walked past,
chatting quietly in Russian. By the time they'd disappeared, Amy had her back against
one of the two doors. Dan grabbed her by the arm and yanked her inside."What's
taking you so long?"Amy scowled at her brother. First he pushes me, then he pulls me.
Now he gets all over my case."You're starting to annoy me," she said, gearing up for an
epic brother-sister argument. But when she turned toward the stage, her anger melted
away. Amy loved the theater almost as much as she loved books, and the State Kremlin
Palace was a stunner if ever she'd seen one. The stage was set with blue lights shining
down as night descended on the scene. There were scale model buildings and a
Russian-style church deep in the background. It was breathtaking from where they
stood, like a scene from a fairy tale in which Anastasia came back to life and Rasputin
roamed the woods.Long rows of seats lined the middle of the theater, all of them
empty, awaiting theatergoers who wouldn't arrive until evening.Dan led the way into
the darkness along the back wall of the theater. "The balcony's up there, so
the124stairs can't be too far. This place is gigantic. It must hold at least six thousand
people."They could hear a door opening as they crept onto the stairs, which were
hidden behind a curtain. Amy put her finger to her lips, then looked back to see that a
security guard had entered. And what was worse, he had a giant German shepherd on
a leash.Dan waved Amy along and soon they were at the top of the gilded stairway,
down a short hall, and standing in Balcony Box 4. Dan began searching for row number
3, then tried to imagine what Dl meant. He hadn't got that far in his thinking before
Amy could tell he was stumped. She crouched down low, peering over the edge of the
balcony. The dog was guiding the guard closer toward the stairs."He's coming this
way!" said
*Somewhere in the deep recesses of the very building in which Dan and Amy searched,
a person tracked their every move.Very resourceful, these two, NRR thought. They
might make the deadline after all.NRR dialed a phone and let it ring several times
before the call was picked up."Is this a secure line?"121"I will not dignify that with an
answer," NRR answered."Okay, okay. Just make it quick.""I will be seeing them shortly.
Do you stil want me to go through with it?"A pause ensued on the line. NRR was used
to this. The contact was a thinker who liked to weigh every option."They are
extraordinary, aren't they? No one can say they haven't proven themselves.""They
understood from the start it could not be done alone," NRR responded."And recruiting a
team like the Holts? Simply remarkable. I didn't think it was possible.""So we go ahead,
then?" asked NRR."We're a go. If they make it to your desk, take them to the room. I
think they're ready."The line went dead and NRR turned back to the bank of video
screens.122CHAPTER 12All the doors into the theater were locked, but it was only a
few minutes before a maintenance worker emerged, pushing a garbage can on wheels.
Dan saw the opportunity they needed and shoved Amy into the man's path. When she
hit the cart, Amy caught her foot on the metal wheel and flew forward onto the marble
floor."You little monster!" she said, turning beet red and forgetting for a moment that
she was visiting one of the more opulent concert halls in Europe, disguised as an
adult.When she got up, the man was wearing a cramped smile, trying not to laugh. He
mumbled something in Russian that Amy felt sure meant "hopeless klutz," then
wandered down the long corridor, shaking his head."Dan?"Amy looked every which
way, straightening her ridiculous wig and glasses, but there was no sign of her
brother.123"Pssst. Over here," said Dan.Amy turned around and saw that a door to the
theater was open just far enough for Dan's goatee to poke out at her."Get in here
before someone sees you."Amy backed up slowly as a group of women walked past,
chatting quietly in Russian. By the time they'd disappeared, Amy had her back against
one of the two doors. Dan grabbed her by the arm and yanked her inside."What's
taking you so long?"Amy scowled at her brother. First he pushes me, then he pulls me.
Now he gets all over my case."You're starting to annoy me," she said, gearing up for an
epic brother-sister argument. But when she turned toward the stage, her anger melted
away. Amy loved the theater almost as much as she loved books, and the State Kremlin
Palace was a stunner if ever she'd seen one. The stage was set with blue lights shining
down as night descended on the scene. There were scale model buildings and a
Russian-style church deep in the background. It was breathtaking from where they
stood, like a scene from a fairy tale in which Anastasia came back to life and Rasputin
roamed the woods.Long rows of seats lined the middle of the theater, all of them
empty, awaiting theatergoers who wouldn't arrive until evening.Dan led the way into
the darkness along the back wall of the theater. "The balcony's up there, so
the124stairs can't be too far. This place is gigantic. It must hold at least six thousand
people."They could hear a door opening as they crept onto the stairs, which were
hidden behind a curtain. Amy put her finger to her lips, then looked back to see that a
security guard had entered. And what was worse, he had a giant German shepherd on
a leash.Dan waved Amy along and soon they were at the top of the gilded stairway,
down a short hall, and standing in Balcony Box 4. Dan began searching for row number
3, then tried to imagine what Dl meant. He hadn't got that far in his thinking before
Amy could tell he was stumped. She crouched down low, peering over the edge of the
balcony. The dog was guiding the guard closer toward the stairs."He's coming this
way!" said
Similar Books
