A Date with Deception Read Free Page B

“Like solving a puzzle without all the pieces.”
    â€œThat’s exactly how it is,” she said, surprised. He seemed genuinely interested in her work. “But I love it.”
    â€œSo do I,” Sasha told her. “Mysteries are my life!”
    Nancy laughed again. “I thought dancing was your life.”
    â€œDancing is my professional life,” he explained. “But I have read many of your American detective stories. They are very exciting. I’ve always dreamed of solving a mystery.”
    Nancy couldn’t help smiling. She had a feeling Sasha might find real detective work a little different from what he had read about. There was an awkward silence as they both stared out into the night. “Where do you go from here?” Nancy asked finally.
    â€œParis!” he said enthusiastically. “I’m very excited to see it again.”
    â€œIsn’t it a wonderful city?” Nancy asked.
    â€œIt’s the most romantic city in the world. I can hardly wait.” Turning, Sasha smiled at her, his eyes bright in the moonlight. “Or maybe I can wait. Tonight I think this is even more romantic.”
    Nancy felt uncomfortable standing in the moonlight with Sasha while he was talking so romantically. Maybe he wasn’t just flirting. Maybe Bess was right and he really did have a crush on her. If that was true, she knew she had to tell him about Ned, and fast.
    â€œNancy,” Sasha said, and moved closer.
    Oh, no, she thought. He wants to kiss me. Tell him now and get it over with.
    Sasha reached out for her, and Nancy held her hand up to stop him. Just as their fingers touched, a long dark shadow fell over them.

Chapter

Three
    S TARTLED , N ANCY JUMPED AWAY from Sasha and whirled around to face the house. Framed in the doorway was Dmitri Kolchak, his thick, gray eyebrows pulled together in a scowl.
    â€œSasha,” the Soviet chaperon said, “I have been searching for you.” Then he spoke a few phrases in Russian.
    Nancy didn’t understand a word, but she got the idea. Dmitri didn’t like the cozy scene he thought he had interrupted between her and Sasha. From the way he kept glancing at her, Nancy believed he thought she was the one who was pursuing Sasha.
    Sasha laughed and held up his hand. “Allright, Dmitri, all right.” He turned to Nancy and grinned. “Dmitri is worried that I’m monopolizing you and keeping you from the other guests.”
    I’ll bet, Nancy thought wryly. But she smiled at Dmitri, anyway. “Sasha’s the one who should be circulating more,” she told him. “After all, the party’s partly in his honor.”
    â€œA very good point, Miss Drew.” Stepping to one side, Dmitri gestured politely for her and Sasha to go back in to join the crowd.
    â€œYou must forgive Dmitri,” Sasha whispered to Nancy as the three of them went inside. He waited until the chaperon walked over to talk to Marina, and then continued. “His job is to look after Marina and me, and he takes his work very seriously.”
    â€œI don’t blame him,” Nancy said. Actually, she was glad Dmitri had come along. She hadn’t been too crazy about that cozy scene, either. She still had to set Sasha straight, but this wasn’t the right moment. “Has he been with you a long time?” she asked.
    â€œTwo years,” Sasha told her. “Before this, he was a pilot in our air force.”
    â€œNow he’s a chaperon? He just travels with you from place to place to make sure you stay out of trouble? That’s a big switch, isn’t it?”
    â€œYes. My government gave him the job because he knows a lot of languages,” Sashaexplained. “Anyway, you know the military—very strict about following orders. Dmitri is good at that.”
    He glanced over at his dance partner, who was prowling the crowded room restlessly. “So is Marina. All she wants to do is