Read The 39 Clues [Cahills vs. Vespers] 05 - Trust No One for Free Online

four boys with her could hear everything.
    “Evan found out — Sinead is the mole.” She could almost hear the click of a door closing on her emotions, blocking out the pain that went with those words.
Focus
,
she told herself firmly.
    No response from Ian.
    “Ian, I’m sorry.”
    Still no response.
    “Look, I know we screwed up big-time.”
    Finally: “That would seem to be an understatement of laughable proportions,” he said.
    Followed by silence again.
    Amy gritted her teeth. “Ian, come on. I’ll say it again: I’m really, really sorry. What do you want me to do, beg?”
    “As a matter of fact, yes,” Ian said.
    Jake bristled. “Hey, where do you get off?”
    Amy scowled at him. “I don’t need your help, and besides, you’re just going to make him madder.”
    “You don’t even know him,” Evan protested to Jake. “He’s okay, he’s just pissed off right now. Amy, if you want, I can try —”
    Amy glared at the two of them. “Would you both please shut up? Ian —” She paused, trying to figure out a way to break through to him.
Maybe if I ask a question . . .
“Is there any way I can make this right?”
    Ian cleared his throat. “I would have thought you would have given me the benefit of the doubt,” he said, his accent more clipped than she had ever heard before. “After all, we do have a considerable history together.”
    Amy felt her face go pink. A couple of years ago, she had had a crush on Ian, which, it turned out, had been mutual. Was that what he was referring to?
I hope not — I’m already all mixed up when it comes to boys!
    The pain of Sinead’s betrayal came back in full force. Like most girls and women, Amy confided in her female friends, and just yesterday she had drafted an e-mail to Sinead about kissing Jake. She hadn’t had a chance to send it, and now she never would.
    Amy forced herself to concentrate. “I know that. But think about it, Ian — the recent history with you has been — well, worrying. You left Attleboro without telling anyone where you were going, and no one could get in touch with you. Then when you got back, you wouldn’t tell Evan where you’d been. We didn’t want to think the worst, but can you see how it looked?”
    Another silence, but somehow this one seemed less frosty.
    “I see your point,” he said. “But the phrase
benefit of the doubt
means that one holds off doubting and gives the subject time to explain. Or whatever.”
    “You’re right,” she said, “and I’m sorry. Really I am. If you’re willing to explain now, I’m ready. Late to the party is better than — than missing the boat entirely, right?”
    A pause. Then, “I shall plan a party on the
Force
.”
    “The
Force —
you mean, your yacht?” Amy was startled by the sudden change in subject.
    He snorted. “Yes, and you can arrive late, thus rescuing you from that appalling mixed metaphor.”
    Amy laughed, partly at his joke and partly from relief; her approach seemed to be working.
And now for a little ego stroking . . .
    “Okay, can we talk about what you’ve been up to? The rest of you, listen up. Whatever Ian has to say, I’m sure it’s important.”
    “Amy. Please. I’m going to explain everything whether or not you flatter me, so you needn’t bother.”
    Amy blushed again. “Okay, you got me. But I meant it, too. Go ahead.”

Ian’s explanation was concise and efficient. He told them that his mother Isabel’s charity, AWW, was highly suspect. She appeared to be using it as a cover, traveling all over the world.
    “She’s been to Alaska, Istanbul, Quito in Ecuador —”
    “Wait. Ian, this is Dan. You said she’s using the charity as a cover — for what?”
    “Ah. That I have not yet been able to deduce. The locations seem quite random. If there is anything connecting them, I do not know what it is. Other than poor people, which gives AWW a reason to be there.” Pause. “It seems there are poor people everywhere.”
    Amy noticed that there