I’ve left Gram and Clay near the slides. When Gram caught me with her phone at home, it hadn’t taken much to convince her that I wasn’t snooping. I told her that she’d left her phone in the kitchen and I was on my way to bring it to her. If she really is a spy, then her loss of memory must be affecting her skills. What kind of spy believes everything her granddaughter tells her?

“What’s he saying?” Olivia whispers.

“How am I supposed to know? They’re too far away.” I take a picture to document the meeting. Max said it was important to record everything we could.

“I’m sorry about your gram’s memory,” Olivia whispers. “I know how much she means to you.”

“She’ll be okay.”

Olivia bumps my shoulder with hers. “You know I’m always here for you, right? I’m like your Jacob.”

I want to believe this. I don’t want to think she’d ditch me if she found out about my memory. When we’re together like this, it’s hard to remember why I was so worried. Who else would follow a possible dangerous Russian guy with me?

I bump her shoulder back. “I know. Same.”

But something still holds me back from telling her everything.

“He’s waving us over,” Olivia says, her voice wobbling with excitement.

I take a deep breath and step out from behind the tree. Olivia grabs my hand, and it makes Yakov’s ferocious glare a little less scary.

“You girls again?” His gaze fixes on me. “I know you. You’re Tatyana’s granddaughter, yes?”

“Sue,” I squeak. “My grandma’s name is Sue. How do you know her?”

“Ah, yes, Sue. Of course, my mistake. Is Tat… Sue here?” He looks past me as if he expects to see her.

I shake my head and try not to look toward the play area. “You didn’t answer my question. How do you know Gram? Why did she come and see you yesterday?”

He slaps his giant hands together. “So, you are a detective, yes? And these are your colleagues?” He gestures to Max and Olivia.

“We know who you are,” Max says, his chest thrust out. “You better answer our questions or we’re going to the police.”

I catch Max’s eye and give him a look I hope he translates as, What the heck are you doing? He shakes his head like he has it all under control. But from Yakov’s smile, I don’t think Max knows what he’s doing at all. Whoever he is, this man is a professional, and we’re pests to him. Pests that he won’t have much trouble swatting away if he wants to.