False Bottom by Hazel Edwards Page A

luggage.’
    â€˜What was it?’ Amy remembered The Mouth’s guitar case.
    â€˜A pet dog.’
    Christopher didn’t say anything, so Amy asked, ‘What happened to the dog after?’
    â€˜Spent the required time in quarantine.’
    â€˜What if someone doesn’t declare something in his luggage and you find it?’
    â€˜They get an on-the-spot fine or they might have to go to court.
    We seize the goods anyway.’
    Shelves were stuffed with knives, reptile-skin bags, air guns, coral, wooden souvenirs and strange shaped lamps. One was a cobra’s head. Amy kept her band aided finger away from that lamp!
    â€˜Tiny pellets!’ The twins looked closely at an air gun.
    â€˜Very dangerous!’ said Gloria firmly. ‘Sometimes people import things without realising. Other times, they know.’
    â€˜What happens to all these things?’
    â€˜Some are destroyed. Others are sent back.’
    A newspaper clipping was stuck on the wall. Handbags Needed.
    â€˜What’s that about?’ Christopher looked at the date. ‘Only a few weeks ago.’
    â€˜That was when the drug detector dog unit ran short of handbags.’
    â€˜Handbags?’
    â€˜Yes, one of the dogs is a bit of a villain. On good days, his training can mean that he tears up two or three handbags. So we need a good supply.’
    â€˜Where from?’
    â€˜We asked the public. We were swamped! They sent unwanted suitcases, handbags and shopping bags. It was great.’
    â€˜Do the dogs usually rip up passengers’ bags?’ Amy was quite fond of her aqua and purple backpack. She had enough badges on the outside. She didn’t need teeth marks for decoration.
    â€˜Only in training.’
    â€˜Thanks for showing us around.’
    â€˜You’ll have to line up at security now.’
    Amy was wondering about Smart’s exports and imports. Were they legal?

Chapter 13
Rainbow Reasons
    â€˜Excuse me madam.’
    The official at the international arrivals desk spoke to Rainbow Wig.
    Singapore passengers queued up for their second security check.
    Rainbow Wig had spiky, multi coloured hair that the twins knew was a wig. One gold ear ring was big enough to swing on. Her purple and aqua backpack had an I’ve Been Everywhere sticker. For some reason, her black T- shirt reminded Amy of Aunty Viv.
    â€˜What’s wrong?’
    â€˜Is this your passport?
    â€˜Yeah.’ Madam nodded.
    Amy leant over the painted line. You were supposed to stay behind the line until your turn. That was to give privacy to travellers. But Amy liked to know what people said to official questions. Collecting clues was a sleuth’s business.
    Amy wished the officer would talk louder. Although she had no trouble hearing Rainbow Wig. Everybody in the arrival hall could hear her.
    â€˜Why do we have to be searched again? What’s wrong with my photo?’
    Rainbow Wig was a professional complainer.
    The officer held the passport closer to Rainbow Wig’s face.
    â€˜It says on this that your hair is brown.’
    Rainbow Wig patted her spikes. ‘A change is as good as a holiday.’
    The frames of Amy’s glasses were the same rainbow colour.
    â€˜Blue eyes?’ read the officer.
    â€˜Coloured contacts. Overseas they’re the latest thing.’
    â€˜And your reasons for leaving Australia?’
    â€˜Time for a change. And my Aunty in Sydney got sick of me.’
    Amy watched carefully. Rainbow Wig was being as loud as possible.
    Everybody was looking at her. Was that what she had planned? Was that what she wanted? Was she drawing attention away from someone else? Or from something else?
    Amy felt something move beside her leg. She looked down. A moist nose snuffed at her.
    A dog was sitting alongside her left sneaker.He sniffed at her. Then he sat quietly. Luckily, he didn’t lift his leg on her jeans. A big man in a uniform hurried by. He clipped the dog to