How Ali Ferguson Saved Houdini (14 page)

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Chapter 27

‘How do I look?' Mum twirled around the living room. She was wearing a blue silk tunic over embroidered jeans.

Mum was in danger. The thought was like a pulse, throbbing inside Ali. She was in danger and he had to save her.

Outside, the sun was setting and the sky was the livid purple of a bruise.

‘Nice,' Ali said finally.

‘Oh, Ali.' Mum sat down next to him on the sofa. ‘This is hard for you, isn't it?' She brushed his cheek with her fingertips. ‘You know I love you, don't you?'

Ali nodded. ‘Mum . . . I don't think you should go out with Dave tonight. I don't think you should go out with him at all.' The words came out in a rush.

‘Ali, is it because of Dad? Because he's gone, you know. He's gone.'

‘I know that!' Ali hadn't meant to shout. ‘I know,' he said more quietly. ‘It isn't because of Dad. It's Dave. He's no good – I just know it. I can't prove it yet, but I will.'

‘No.' Mum's voice was firm. ‘You have to stop this. You haven't even given him a chance.'

‘But –'

‘I mean it. I want you to stop being so hard on him. Give him a chance. For me.'

Ali pressed his lips closed. It was no good. Mum wouldn't believe him, unless he showed her. So, he'd just have to show her.

He took a deep breath. ‘You look really nice,' he said.

‘Thank you,' Mum dropped a kiss on his forehead. ‘Are you ready to go to Gez's house?'

Ali nodded. He had found black clothes, he had charged his mobile, he was ready.
I am a ninja
, he thought. He'd have to be; Mum was relying on him, whether she knew it or not.

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Chapter 28

Ali knocked on Gez's back door.

‘Operation Follow the Baddies is go,' Gez said happily when he let Ali in.

Ali stepped into the kitchen. ‘Shh!' he said. ‘Everyone will hear you.'

‘It wouldn't matter if they did. They'd only think it was some silly game I'm playing. They never take me seriously. It's brilliant. Watch this.' He walked into the living room, where Ali could see Gez's mum sitting on the sofa.

‘Mum . . .' Gez said. ‘Mum, I thought me and Ali could go and hunt some criminals later. Some smugglers or kidnappers. Is that OK?'

Gez's mum chuckled, ‘Of course it is, sweetheart. Just don't make too much mess, OK?'

Gez grinned at Ali. ‘See?'

Ali laughed. Now they had permission! He followed Gez up the stairs into his bedroom.

‘Is Caitlin here?' Ali asked, looking around.

‘No, not yet. She'll be here any minute though.'

‘Do you think she'll still be cross with us?'

‘Yes.'

‘Oh.' Ali sat on Gez's bed. ‘Cool snake,' he said, nodding a quick hello to Percy.

‘Hello?' Caitlin's voice came yelling up the stairs. She must have let herself in.

Gez went to the bedroom door. ‘We're in here.'

Caitlin came up. She carried a huge black sports bag; she needed two hands to keep it on her shoulder.

‘What have you got there?' Ali asked.

‘Supplies,' she said, dropping the bag to the floor. ‘Everything we need to prove Dad's innocence.'

Ali and Gez flashed a look to each other. She was still cross.

‘I've got biscuits, apples, a torch, a blanket,' Caitlin said. ‘Some dog food in case the animals are hungry, a tin opener, a bowl, a bottle of water, and some rope.'

‘Rope?' Ali asked.

‘Well, you never know, we might have to tie some bad guys to a chair or something,' Caitlin said.

‘Or abseil down a tall building!' Gez said.

‘OK, rope. Fair enough,' Ali said. ‘We can take turns carrying the bag. It looks heavy.'

‘Good idea,' Caitlin said. ‘
Teamwork
.' Her voice dripped sarcasm.

‘Oh, don't be like that, Caitlin,' Gez said. ‘It's not our fault your dad's a criminal.'

‘Argh! You are just a nightmare, Gez Brown. You wait. You just wait!'

.

The evening passed quickly. They ate tea with Gez's family, all eight of them squished into the living room with plates on their laps. Then they played a racing game on the computer, until one of Gez's brothers stole the controls. Caitlin tried to teach them rummy, but it was too hard to concentrate with the noise of Gez's big brothers arguing. Suddenly, it was quarter to ten.

‘How are we going to get out of the house?' Ali whispered.

‘Easy. We say, “Goodnight.” Then we put pillows and stuff into the beds and turn off the light. No one will notice.'

‘What about Michael and Owen? They'll notice when they come to bed?'

‘Nah. And anyway, if they do, they won't tell Mum. It's too good a thing to blackmail me with. I'll be doing their chores for months. They won't tell – at least, not tonight. Don't worry, it will be easy.'

Ali was amazed to find that Gez was right. They made a big show of going up to bed, but no one seemed to pay any attention. Gez's mum and dad waved them upstairs, but didn't come to tuck them in like his own mum would have.

‘OK,' Gez whispered from his bed. ‘This is the tricky part. We'll have to climb out the window.'

‘The window?' Caitlin yelped. ‘But we're on the first floor!'

‘Yeah, I know. But the kitchen roof is below us. We can lower ourselves down on to that and it's easy to get down into the garden from there. I do it all the time. Get your beds ready.'

Ali tucked a spare pillow under his duvet. In the gloom it almost looked like a sleeping person. He tried to sculpt it a little bit, but it was no good. If anyone turned the light on, it would be obvious that there was a pile of goose feathers in the bed instead of him. He just hoped no one would. And that he, Caitlin and Gez would be back safely before morning.

It was trickier to get down to the garden. Gez went first, to show them how it was done. Then it was Ali's turn. As he climbed out, flecks of paint from the windowsill came off in his hands. Despite the cold, his palms were sweaty. He probed for the roof with his toes, flailing in midair. Then, underfoot, he felt the solid shape of the slates. He let go of the sill slowly, trusting that the roof would hold and that he wouldn't go falling through on to Gez's mum's kitchen table below.

He inched along the tiles, his trainers squeaking on the cold surface. And then, suddenly, the slate seemed to move underneath him. He felt himself slipping down. He grabbed wildly, but just clutched the air. He scrabbled to stay upright. He spun, rolled and fell. He slid off the roof and landed heavily on the grass. The air was knocked out of him. He lay still.

‘Ali?' He heard Caitlin moving quickly on the roof. Then she was next to him, her hand on his forehead. ‘Ali? Are you dead?'

Ali groaned. Then he rolled on to his back. He could see the outline of Caitlin's face framed by stars. Gez was beside her.

‘You idiot!' Gez whispered. ‘That was not ninja-like at all. Caitlin did it much better. Have you broken anything?'

Ali sat up slowly. He ached a bit, but nothing felt too bad. ‘No. I'm OK,' he said.

‘Good. Come on, let's catch some baddies. If we get to the den quickly, we can have a midnight feast before they arrive. There should be enough time.'

‘Trust you to be thinking of your stomach,' Caitlin said.

‘Shh. Let's go.' Gez led the way out of the garden into the back lane. The road was deserted. Once his eyes adjusted to the moonlight, he could see the path to the river. The water was loud in the darkness, as though the river was high and swollen.

They moved as quietly as they could, off the path and into the den. The log and the crate were damp with dew, but Gez sat down anyway.

‘Can I have one of the biscuits?' he asked.

Caitlin opened her bag. Then paused. ‘Did you hear that?' she asked.

‘What?' Then Ali heard it. The drone of an engine. Coming from the lane.

‘It's them!' Caitlin said. She closed her bag and stood, ready to move out.

‘Wait,' Ali said. ‘We know these people are dangerous. We can't just barge up to them and ask them to let the animals go. We have to wait and watch. We follow them until we know where Miss Osborne is. Then we call the police. The police come and arrest them and we go home without anyone noticing we've been gone. OK?'

‘OK,' Gez said. He saw Caitlin nod silently.

This was like a game of cat and mouse, Ali thought. He just hoped that tonight the cats weren't too big.

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Chapter 29

They edged their way quietly out of the den, towards the water. Whoever was meeting Dave would be landing there. The thick brambles clawed at Ali's legs, pulling him back. He forced his way through, trying not to make a sound. He could hear the other two breathing behind him.

From the road, he heard the clank of a van door opening. Down by the water, an owl hooted. Was it a signal? Ali wondered.

They had reached the edge of the wood. The river path was just a few steps in front of them; it was bright and clear in the moonlight. Ali crouched down in the bushes. His heart was beating so loudly he felt certain that the men would be able to hear it. Caitlin and Gez crouched beside him. He felt better knowing they were there with him.

There was a sudden noise. Scuffling. Coming from the water's edge. Someone was struggling to lift something heavy.

Ali peered out on to the path. It was empty, no one in sight. Then a small torch beam shone out. Someone was coming; the van driver was headed their way! Ali gripped Caitlin's arm. What if it was Dave? Would Caitlin run out? He felt her shrug him off.

Then two shapes moved into the torchlight. Two men coming from the river. They were carrying something between them. Ali caught quick flashes of whatever it was in the torch beam. It was brown. Wicker. It was a basket. And there was something inside it – he heard a creak as the
something
moved.

Then the torch moved upwards. Ali gasped. The man carrying the basket was the same man who had chased him and Gez away from Miss Osborne's house. Woody.

‘Hey!' Woody said. ‘Get that torch out of my eyes, Sidney. You're blinding me.'

‘Sorry. Everything all right?' said the man holding the torch in a deep, gravelly voice.

‘Got a real live one here for you,' Woody chuckled. ‘Proper dangerous. And hell-bent on escaping. Ain't he, Peep?'

The man carrying the other handle of the basket started laughing. Woody and Peep lowered the basket to the ground. Ali saw the lid rise, slowly, slowly. Then one furry arm stretched out. It had long, curved claws and moved as though it was half asleep.

‘You've not even got a lock on it! It's getting away!' Sidney said.

‘Nah,' Woody said. ‘Watch.'

A second arm raised itself and eased itself over the edge of the basket. The wicker wobbled, and then toppled on to its side. A head about the size of a melon peered out. Sensing freedom, the animal moved as fast as its legs could carry it.

Sidney started laughing too. ‘Oh, I see.'

The animal had moved about ten centimetres away from the basket, lifting each heavy limb in turn.

‘Yes,' Woody said. ‘The amazing three-toed sloth. Top speed of one mile an hour. Think you can keep up with it, Sidney?'

‘Ha ha, very funny.'

‘Seriously. Apparently it's been trying to run away since it got on the boat at Costa Rica. But you just have to pick it up and move it back to its basket every day or so. The crew named it Houdini.'

He righted the basket with his foot and then lifted Houdini back inside.

‘The boss around?' Peep asked.

‘No. There's urgent business on tonight,' Sidney said quietly. ‘You'll be needed too. Come on.'

Woody and Peep followed Sidney, carrying the basket between them. The path was empty again.

Gez hissed in the darkness, ‘Should we follow?'

‘Yes,' Ali said. ‘They'll lead us straight to Miss Osborne. Getting rid of her must be their urgent business. We have to stop them!'

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The van was already at the end of the lane by the time they had tugged their bikes out of the bushes. They leapt on and pedalled hard. The van pulled away from them, its red lights glowing demon-eyed in the darkness. Ali's legs went up and down like Nan's sewing machine on full power. He was desperate to keep the van in sight.

‘It's headed towards the pet shop,' Ali gasped. ‘Not far now.'

They did their best to keep up, but it was no good; the van was too fast and soon it had disappeared into the night. Ali hoped that his guess about where they were heading was right.

The three bikes sailed around the final corner and drew up outside the pet shop. It was in total darkness, locked up for the night.

‘We should hide the bikes,' Caitlin whispered. ‘We can't let them know we're here.'

‘Too right,' Gez said.

‘There's garages in the lane behind. Let's see if we can use one of them.' Ali wheeled his bike to the end of the row and then swerved into the lane. There was a narrow gap between the garages and the neighbouring hedge. A gap just big enough for three bikes lined up in a row. They stashed them quickly, then turned down the lane, heading towards the back of the pet shop.

They walked the final few metres on tiptoe, so as not to make a noise. But the pet shop was as dark and empty at the back as it was at the front. A white van was parked in the yard.

‘There they are!' Caitlin said.

Ali ran over to it and laid his palm on the bumper. ‘The engine's warm,' he said. ‘It's only just been turned off.' He ran his hands along the side panel, feeling the raised lettering, now painted over. ‘It's them, all right. But where have they gone? The pet shop looks deserted.'

‘Look!' Caitlin pointed to the house next door: Miss Osborne's house. There was light spilling from an upstairs window, casting long shadows across the back garden. ‘They've gone next door. Ali, you were right! They
are
using Miss Osborne's house.'

‘Oh, that's evil,' Gez said. ‘Keeping her prisoner in her own home. No wonder they were so angry when they saw us sneaking in the garden.'

‘Well, they're stealing animals from their habitats and bringing them to cold, rainy gardens in Britain. I don't think they're winning any Mary Poppins awards for kindness any time soon,' Caitlin said.

‘We have to go and investigate the house,' Gez said.

‘Should we call the police now? They're pretty red-handed in there. With Houdini and Miss Osborne and everything,' Caitlin said.

Ali could see Gez grinning in the moonlight. ‘Do we have to?' Gez said. ‘I mean, I know we do, but can't we solve the whole mystery first? You know, rescue Miss Osborne, save the sloth, that kind of thing. Then call the police to deliver the criminals gift-wrapped with that rope you've brought?'

Ali thought for a moment. It would be cool to beat the gang on their own. And there was another reason why he didn't want to go to the police just yet. If Dave was in the house, then was Mum too? Would the police arrest her as an accessory? Saving Mum was the most important thing here.

‘OK,' he said firmly. ‘Let's check it out.'

There was a sudden sound. A door opening. Low voices. Coming from Miss Osborne's house.

‘Hide!'

The three dived towards the big industrial bin. There was just enough room for them to duck down behind it, out of sight. They froze. Ali heard footsteps and the flick of a cigarette lighter. Then van doors opened and slammed. An engine started. With a crunch of gears, the van edged down the lane. It was gone.

Ali breathed again. ‘How many were there? In the van.'

Gez shrugged. ‘I couldn't see.'

‘Well,' said Caitlin, ‘there's at least one fewer baddy inside. That has to be good news.'

Ali nodded. ‘Right. Let's get them.'

They stepped into Miss Osborne's back garden. Ali felt his skin tingle. Were there murderers inside the house? Was there a puma on the loose? Was Mum still safe? At the back door he took a deep breath. ‘Ready?' The others nodded. He gripped the handle and turned it. It didn't move. ‘It's locked!' he whispered.

Caitlin looked down at the floor. A plastic mat was laid on the concrete, for people to wipe their feet on. She shooed Ali off it, then lifted the corner. A few disturbed woodlice scurried for cover. And there, under a layer of grime, was a key. ‘It's where my gran keeps her spare,' Caitlin grinned. She took the key and turned it silently in the lock.

The back door opened into the kitchen – just like at Gez's house. The room was dark and deserted. A huge fridge hummed gently in the corner. The green light of a dishwasher winked at them. In the side wall, a door stood ajar. It was the connecting door into the pet shop. Ali peered inside. It was dark and musty-smelling. The same supplies they'd seen before were piled up against the walls. There was no sign of anyone in the storeroom.

Gez opened the kitchen door leading out into the hall. They were scarcely breathing now, they were trying to be so quiet. Then – yuck! Despite his shallow breaths, Ali couldn't help inhaling the stink that hung around the hallway like a putrid mist. It was disgusting! Like the bottoms of cages in the zoo, or, actually, just like bottoms. He struggled to hold in a cough. He forced his feet to take another step.

He moved slowly. The living-room door was on his left; it was closed. The stairs were on his right; the smell got stronger as he got closer to them. He paused outside the living room. Was there anyone in there? Or had Peep, Sidney and Woody gone to meet Dave somewhere else? He pressed his ear against the wood. There was a strange noise coming from inside, a low growl so deep that it was more of a feeling than a sound. The hairs on the back of his neck bristled.

Caitlin edged closer too, and her hair tickled his face as she listened.

‘Anyone there?' Gez whispered behind them.

Ali turned and gestured back towards the kitchen. They followed. Ali led them into the quiet darkness of the storeroom. He shut the door gently behind them.

‘It's not
someone
,' Ali said quietly. ‘But it is
something
. Something growly.'

‘A dog?' Gez asked. ‘Do you think it's guarding Miss Osborne?'

‘Was it Falcon?' Caitlin asked hopefully.

Ali shook his head. That wasn't a dog he had heard; it wasn't anything he recognised. He suddenly imagined a black bear rising up from a flowery sofa to take an angry swipe at them. Was there a bear in the living room? This was way too weird.

‘Should we try to rescue it, whatever it is?' Caitlin asked doubtfully.

‘It might eat us. It might not realise that we want to help it. I think we should see what else is here. We can come back to rescue it later,' Ali whispered.

‘You mean go upstairs? Where that smell is coming from? We'll all puke and then we'll get caught,' Gez said.

‘We have to go up,' Ali said.

‘Why? Do you think Dave's up there?' Gez asked.

‘Dad?' Caitlin said. ‘He's not going to be. He's out with Ali's mum, remember. He has an alibi! And I've told you, he loves animals. He wouldn't be involved in anything like this.'

‘Hah!' Ali said.

‘He wouldn't. You take that back!' Caitlin's voice was more than a whisper.

‘Right,' Gez said, standing in between them, ‘that's enough. In case you haven't noticed, we're sort of in danger here. Bad guys? Scary beasts? Ring any bells? I know you're both cross, but this isn't the time. We have to save Miss Osborne and get out of here. Save the row for later, OK?'

Ali nodded slowly. Caitlin shrugged.

‘Right,' Gez said. ‘Back into the house. Up the stairs. Save everyone who needs it. Call the police. Is that a plan, or what?'

‘Sure,' Ali said. ‘Let's go.'