Crowns and Codebreakers by Elen Caldecott Page A

but she could hear her voice. And Dad’s. They were speaking softly, but with a crisp tone, like swirling autumn leaves. Minnie crept to the kitchen, where the voices were coming from.
    ‘There is nothing wrong with keeping eggs in a cupboard,’ Mum was saying. ‘They don’t need to be in a fridge.’
    ‘I know that,’ Dad said.
    ‘So why has she moved them?’
    Eggs? Were they really cross about eggs?
    ‘She’s just trying to help,’ Dad said. ‘Listen, I have to go to work now. So do you. We can talk about this later.’
    Dad turned and saw Minnie in the hallway. A pained look flashed across his face, then it was gone and he gave her a sad smile. ‘See if you can entertain Gran, will you? That might stop her grocery stealth tactics.’
    Mum didn’t say goodbye to Dad as he left. She stood at the sink with her back to the rest of the kitchen. ‘Why does everything have to be such a drama?’ she said, a bit too loudly.
    Minnie didn’t know what to do. She’d hardly ever heard her parents raise their voices at each other. She dithered in the hall. Then she remembered that Dad had asked her to take care of Gran, so she went to look for her.
    She found Gran in their bedroom. Her bedclothes were smoothed and wrinkle free, despite the fact that Gran was forced to sit on the bed. She was dressed, with her hair done, her coat on and her handbag clasped in her lap. It looked as though she was intending to go somewhere.
    As soon as Minnie stepped into the room, Gran spoke.
    ‘Drama, eh? I’m making drama? That’s what your mother believes? Three days I’ve been here and alreadyI’ve lost my belongings, we’ve been burgled, the police have taken no interest, and it’s me creating drama? This place is worse than a Nollywood home video. I moved some eggs. Is that a crime, eh?’
    Minnie really couldn’t believe that the grown-ups were arguing over eggs.
    Gran stood abruptly. ‘Well, I’ve had enough,’ she said. ‘If Mohammad cannot go to the mountain, then the mountain must come to Mohammad. And you’re coming with me.’
    ‘Where are we going?’
    ‘To find someone who will take me seriously.’
    Gran marched past Minnie out into the hallway and towards the front door. Minnie trotted after her. Before she left the flat, she glanced back and yelled to Mum, ‘Bernice says please remember your one o’clock appointment.’
    Gran was down the stairs before Minnie caught up with her. She clutched her sensible brown handbag like a shield before all enemies and stalked out of the salon without glancing at Bernice or the customers. Minnie scurried in her wake.
    Gran stuttered to a halt in the street, her righteous indignation failing for a moment. She looked right, then left. ‘Which way is it to the police station?’ she asked.
    For one wild moment, Minnie wondered whether Gran was going to have Mum arrested for poor egg storage. Then she realised that Gran was taking a report of the break-in to the police, instead of waiting for the police to come to her. The mountain going to Mohammad.
    ‘We go right here, then left by the theatre,’ she said. She had never had any reason to go into the police station, but passed by it on the way to school.
    Gran headed off with such determined strides that she looked more like a warrior than a pensioner.
    As they stalked through the square, Minnie glanced at the dry cleaner’s. And the bench. Andrew and Piotr were sitting on it. Ninja stake-out. But she had no time to stop and talk to them; Gran charged forwards like a warship heading into battle.
    The police station was a low-rise concrete building, mostly ash grey and mottled brown. It had the look of a multi-storey car park with low-level depression. A blue sign above the door said ‘POLICE’. Gran didn’t even pause for breath before pushing open the scuffed door and marching over to reception.
    Gran was going to pick a fight with the police! Minnie felt her fizzing excitement overflow. Gran was cool!
    ‘I want