Nancy's father, Carson Drew, was furious. He insisted on coming to Washington D.C. himself, to take control of things.
"When Marilyn told me that she wanted you to pick something up for her, I thought it would be fine," Carson said. "I didn't know it would turn into international espionage!"
"Dad, we're perfectly okay," Nancy said. "There's no reason for you to come here."
"Oh, yes, there is. I'm going to give Marilyn a piece of my mind. What kind of senator does something like this to innocent civilians?"
"The bad guys are all captured, and Teresa is safe. There's nothing wrong," Nancy insisted.
"Nice try," Carson said. "I saw the video of George on the news. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole town ended up seeing it."
George winced. "That is either bad news, or really, really good news," she said.
"Bad news," Bess said. "You'll never get a date in River Heights again."
"The tournament only goes on for two more days," Nancy said. "We'll be back home, safe and sound, before you know it."
"I'm sorry, but nothing's going to change my mind," Carson said. "I'm going straight to O'Hare Airport after this, and I'll be on the next flight out."
Great. Just what I need, Nancy thought. A deadline.
Senator Kilpatrick appeared with Teresa Montenegro later that night. Teresa squealed and hugged Nancy, saying how proud she was of her twin for winning the tennis match. Senator Kilpatrick, on the other hand, looked rather harangued until she was assured that George was uninjured.
"I'm sorry I didn't come by sooner," the senator from Illinois said. "It's just that we've been busy with the bandits."
"They've all been arrested?" Nancy asked.
"Yes. We've questioned all three of them, but it turns out they're a bunch of incompetents who barely know anything," Senator Kilpatrick said dismissively. She shook her head, obviously frustrated that hours of questioning the criminals had turned up nothing. "They said that they were working for El Morro, but I hope to God that was a lie."
"El Morro?" Bess asked.
"He's a professional hitman," Senator Kilpatrick said. "He has a reputation for being impossible to trace. My guess is that the San Carlos dictator hired him to kill everyone on Roberto's list. And the list is still missing!"
Senator Kilpatrick put her head in her hands, growling in frustration. "We've searched his room ten times! I have no idea where it could be hidden!"
"Maybe we could help look for it," Nancy offered. "A fresh set of eyes could be just what you need!"
"Yeah, we're experts at finding things!" Bess said.
"I doubt that the FBI agents will let four teenagers enter the crime scene," Senator Kilpatrick said. "Anyway, the main reason we're here is so you girls can pack your things up."
"Pack our things up?" George asked.
"Yes. You're leaving this hotel and going into protective custody, effective immediately."
Nancy and her friends began protesting, but to no avail.
"I'm sorry, but there have been multiple attacks on Teresa, and, by extension, you. It's better to be safe than sorry, especially if El Morro is involved." Senator Kilpatrick paused for a moment. "And besides, your father insisted."
"I don't believe it!" Nancy said.
"It's true," Senator Kilpatrick said. "I'm having lunch with him tomorrow, after a budget meeting. It's...not going to be a fun day. Now hurry up and pack your things. I'd like to make it to the safe house before seven."
Nancy clenched her fists. "But you have to let us continue investigating the case," she said. "You owe it to us!"
"Yeah, I almost got killed today!" George said.
"You can't just drop us off at a safe house and go home!" Bess said.
"¡No es justo!" Teresa said.
"My hands are tied," Senator Kilpatrick said. "Don't worry. It'll just be for a couple of days, and Teresa will still be allowed to compete in the tennis tournament."
Nancy and her friends kept arguing, but Senator Kilpatrick was used to arguing, after all the time she spent in Congress. She overrode everything the girls said, and in the end, they were left with no choice. They reluctantly packed all of their belongings into their suitcases and left the room.
After this, the group went to Teresa's room. Teresa went to get her things, while Nancy tried to convince the agents to let her investigate. Nancy believed she was making progress, when there was some arguing from inside the room.
Teresa walked to the door, looking upset. "Senator, you have to help me!" she pleaded.
"What's the issue?" Senator Kilpatrick asked, wearily.
"They won't let me bring my postcard!" Teresa said. "It was my last gift from Roberto!"
"We haven't finished examining it yet," the agent said.
"Let me look at it," Senator Kilpatrick said. She took the postcard, which had a picture of the Lincoln Memorial on it. "Huh. Where did you get this?"
"The airport," Teresa said. "It was before we rented the car."
"The airport, of course!" Senator Kilpatrick said.
"Huh?" Bess asked.
"We searched Roberto's room, car, and the tennis tournament grounds," Senator Kilpatrick said. "But what if Roberto hid the list at the airport? It's the only place he went to that we haven't checked!"
"Impossible," the FBI agent said. "No one could hide a list at the airport. Security at IAD is too tight. Especially for visitors from communist countries."
"It's worth a shot," Senator Kilpatrick said. She pursed her lips, thinking. "Teresa, you were with him, so you'd better come along and show us exactly where he went."
"Okay," Teresa said.
"And girls?" Senator Kilpatrick asked.
"Yes?" Nancy asked.
"Looks like you'll help investigate after all," Senator Kilpatrick said. "Let's go."
Author's Note: In the book, Nancy and her friends go to the airport twice, in separate chapters. I decided to combine these two investigations into one.
Also, I'm giving larger roles to Teresa and Senator Kilpatrick. They are absent for the majority of the book.