Chapter 14: Plainclothes Police

Doina didn't explain anything to Amanda that day. It was partly because they weren't able to talk freely most of the time. When Dotty found out that Amanda was going shopping with Doina, she invited herself along. There was no way that Amanda could say no without it looking suspicious or hurting her mother's feelings.

Amanda did get a chance to talk to Doina briefly when they went to pick up the kids from school. Dotty stayed home so that there would be more room in the car for the kids.

When Amanda explained about the two men in the gray car, Doina said, "I don't think it's anything to worry about. It is just coincidence. Mr. Stetson just thought that he saw these two men again."

"They were the same men in the same car," Amanda said. "He's seen them four times now, not counting when he saw the first man at the airport."

"He could be wrong."

"But, you saw the man at the airport, didn't you?" Amanda said.

"I saw many people at the airport."

"You saw the man your husband recognized, didn't you?"

"He didn't recognize anyone. He said it was a mistake."

They were near the school now. Amanda pulled over to the side of the road where she or Dotty often waited for the boys. Doina just looked out the window of the car, not looking at Amanda.

Amanda tried again. "He thought that he saw someone. Who did he think he saw?"

Doina shrugged. It was like talking to Philip or Jamie when they were afraid of admitting something, not wanting to tattle on a friend.

"Doina, I'm not just asking this as a government agent. We're neighbors. We're friends. My boys like Antonia. If she's in danger-"

"She's not."

"But, if-wait, look over there!" It was the same gray car. It was parked near the curb, a little closer to the school than they were.

"That's the one!" Amanda said. "Do you recognize it?"

Doina's brow furrowed. "No," she said. "I've never seen it before."

Amanda believed her. She did look puzzled. The two women watched as the children came walking down the sidewalk. Antonia was walking between Philip and Jamie.

As the kids passed by the gray car, two men got out.

Doina gasped.

"You know them, don't you?" Amanda asked.

"No!"

Amanda wasn't sure if that was supposed to be a denial or if Doina was just shocked at what she was seeing.

The men started talking to the children. Whatever they said, Philip didn't like it. He grabbed hold of both Jamie and Antonia and began pulling them away.

Across the street, two other men got out of a brown sedan. They were Agency men, and Amanda was glad for their presence. They started across the street.

Suddenly, one of the men from the gray car grabbed Antonia's hand.

"Antonia!" Doina said, unbuckling her seatbelt.

"Wait!"

Before Amanda could stop her, Doina got out of the car and started running down the sidewalk toward her daughter. One of the men turned and saw her. He said something to his friend, who dropped the girl's hand.

The two Agency men had almost reached the sidewalk. Seeing their approach, the other two men dove back into their gray car and sped off. They almost sideswiped one of the Agency men and nearly hit a couple of students crossing the street, but they all managed to dive aside in time. Parents were yelling, and the school crossing guard blew her whistle in vain. Amanda jumped out of the car and ran toward her children.

Doina was hugging Antonia, and the Agency men were asking Philip and Jamie if they were alright.

"We're okay," Philip said. "Did you see that, mom?"

"I saw it, Sweetheart. What did those two men say to you?"

"They said that they were here to pick up Antonia," Philip said. "I said no they weren't because she's coming home with us. The taller guy insisted that Antonia's father sent them to get her, and he tried to grab her when she didn't want to go with them."

"I think we'd better get Antonia home now," Amanda said with a meaningful look at the Agency men.

"We'll have to file a report," one of them said.

Francine hadn't told them that the boys didn't know about the Agency, and Amanda hadn't thought to mention it, either. Lee usually took care of those kind of reminders, but he hadn't been there.

"A report?" Jamie asked. "You mean a police report?"

"You're plainclothes police, aren't you?" Amanda said, nodding meaningfully at the Agency men.

They got the hint.

"Yes, ma'am. There's been some strange activity in the area, and we were watching in case anything happened," the same man said.

"Well, perhaps I can leave you our names and addresses, and you can stop by later. I'd like to get the children home," Amanda said. She pulled a small notebook out of her purse and scribbled a note. It told the agents to contact Lee immediately.

The agent who took the note read it and nodded. "That would be fine, ma'am. We'll have someone stop by or call you to take down your information for our report."

"Those men were the same guys we saw when we were shopping with Lee!" Philip said.

Both of the agents raised their eyebrows. Amanda didn't know if they were more surprised that the kids had seen the men before or that Lee had taken the kids shopping. More fodder for Agency gossip!

"Lee thought he recognized them," Philip continued confidently, "but he said they were acting weird."

"Maybe Lee should explain it to them later," Amanda said. "I think we'd better go home now."

On the way home, Amanda told the kids that they did the right thing by not getting in the car with the men and cautioned them to be very careful and keep an eye out for strangers because some odd things had happened recently in the neighborhood.

"And, if you see those men again," Amanda said, "I want you to tell me and Lee right away."

The boys wanted to talk about it some more, but neither Antonia nor Doina said anything during the entire ride. They dropped Doina and Antonia at home, and when they reached their house, the boys eagerly told Dotty the whole story.

"And then, these plainclothes officers just showed up!" Jamie said.

"It's awful!" Dotty said. "Crime in this country is just getting worse and worse. I tell you, it was never like this when I was young."

"I know," Amanda said. "I think I'll go over and see how Doina and Antonia are doing. They were pretty shaken by this."

"I'm not surprised," Dotty said.

"Maybe we should go over and see Antonia, too," Philip volunteered.

"No," Amanda said. "I think it would be better for you to stay here with your grandmother in case the police come to take your statement. If they want to talk to me, too, tell them that I won't be long."

Amanda hurried out of the house toward the Petrescus'. She hoped that Lee would be there soon.