what type of ruse theyâd employ for their next robbery.
Which was their last after Superintendent Clifford and Danny became involved in tracking them down. Danny decided to have a word with Madam Noseybeak as soon as the Superintendent gave him whatever scantly details were on the police files regarding the twins. There wasnât an awful lot. But it was known that they were fond of a luxurious lifestyle, and certainly wouldnât dream of living anywhere other than in the finest accommodation. It was also known that they were twins, for they were audacious enough to allow themselves to be filmed by security CCTVs without even bothering to wear balaclavas. It added spice to their crimes, this thumbing of their noses at the authorities.
But that was the extent of the information their Garda files contained. Not exactly over-helpful, the Superintendent admitted to Danny, but itâs all we have to go on. An added problem was that nobody knew in which part of the country they lived and operated from. None of the usual police snitches, who could always be relied upon to inform on their colleagues if the price was right, could throw any light on the case. They all swore they hadnât a clue who the twins were or where theyâd sprung from.
*
It was to feathered pigeons as opposed to stoolpigeons Danny went for help. He made a trip to the woods and sought out their president, Madam Noseybeak, shortly after the Superintendent had briefed him on what little was known about the twins.
She was astounded that the police hadnât been able to find out more about these â these hoodlums! Absolutely amazed! Surely somebody somewhere had at least some nice item of juicy gossip where they were concerned? Wasnât it simply unbelievable how incompetent humans were, present company excepted, of course, when it came to discovering everything it was possible to know about each other? Why, she herself was fully aware of every single eccentricity, vice and weakness of the entire pigeon population of the whole country! And as for the latest scandals amongst them, please, she implored, please donât get me started!
Which Danny had no intention of doing if he could help it. Of course, he knew before he came looking for the favour, heâd have to contend with having his ears battered, just as he always had them battered whenever their paths crossed. He wasnât really all that interested in the follies and foibles of his many feathered friends, preferring to be left in ignorance of their various misdemeanours, thank you very much just the same.
There were absolutely no animals or humans, Danny knew, himself included, who didnât have their weak little moments theyâd just as soon nobody else knew about. But Madam Noseybeak simply couldnât help herself when it came to gossip. Yet there was no denying her incredible organisational skills and leadership qualities, which had resulted in her being elected pigeon president for the last five years in a row. And whenever she gave a speech, her subjects flocked in their thousands to listen to the eloquence of her oratory. But she certainly did enjoy a spot of backbiting whenever the opportunity arose.
âI suppose you heard all about the trouble at the last junior cooing contest?â she asked Danny grimly, as though the very thought of it was far too much for her to keep to herself.
Danny shook his head dutifully. If he wanted what he had come to Madam Noseybeak in the first place for, he knew he was going to have to wait patiently for it.
âYou simply wouldnât believe what some of them got up to in an effort to win it.â She lowered her voice to a confidential whisper, doing nothing whatsoever to avoid displaying how deeply scandalised sheâd been by the whole thing. âNot in a million years, you wouldnât.â
Danny somehow doubted if heâd be so outraged as Madam Noseybeak was pretending she was, but managed to
Which was their last after Superintendent Clifford and Danny became involved in tracking them down. Danny decided to have a word with Madam Noseybeak as soon as the Superintendent gave him whatever scantly details were on the police files regarding the twins. There wasnât an awful lot. But it was known that they were fond of a luxurious lifestyle, and certainly wouldnât dream of living anywhere other than in the finest accommodation. It was also known that they were twins, for they were audacious enough to allow themselves to be filmed by security CCTVs without even bothering to wear balaclavas. It added spice to their crimes, this thumbing of their noses at the authorities.
But that was the extent of the information their Garda files contained. Not exactly over-helpful, the Superintendent admitted to Danny, but itâs all we have to go on. An added problem was that nobody knew in which part of the country they lived and operated from. None of the usual police snitches, who could always be relied upon to inform on their colleagues if the price was right, could throw any light on the case. They all swore they hadnât a clue who the twins were or where theyâd sprung from.
*
It was to feathered pigeons as opposed to stoolpigeons Danny went for help. He made a trip to the woods and sought out their president, Madam Noseybeak, shortly after the Superintendent had briefed him on what little was known about the twins.
She was astounded that the police hadnât been able to find out more about these â these hoodlums! Absolutely amazed! Surely somebody somewhere had at least some nice item of juicy gossip where they were concerned? Wasnât it simply unbelievable how incompetent humans were, present company excepted, of course, when it came to discovering everything it was possible to know about each other? Why, she herself was fully aware of every single eccentricity, vice and weakness of the entire pigeon population of the whole country! And as for the latest scandals amongst them, please, she implored, please donât get me started!
Which Danny had no intention of doing if he could help it. Of course, he knew before he came looking for the favour, heâd have to contend with having his ears battered, just as he always had them battered whenever their paths crossed. He wasnât really all that interested in the follies and foibles of his many feathered friends, preferring to be left in ignorance of their various misdemeanours, thank you very much just the same.
There were absolutely no animals or humans, Danny knew, himself included, who didnât have their weak little moments theyâd just as soon nobody else knew about. But Madam Noseybeak simply couldnât help herself when it came to gossip. Yet there was no denying her incredible organisational skills and leadership qualities, which had resulted in her being elected pigeon president for the last five years in a row. And whenever she gave a speech, her subjects flocked in their thousands to listen to the eloquence of her oratory. But she certainly did enjoy a spot of backbiting whenever the opportunity arose.
âI suppose you heard all about the trouble at the last junior cooing contest?â she asked Danny grimly, as though the very thought of it was far too much for her to keep to herself.
Danny shook his head dutifully. If he wanted what he had come to Madam Noseybeak in the first place for, he knew he was going to have to wait patiently for it.
âYou simply wouldnât believe what some of them got up to in an effort to win it.â She lowered her voice to a confidential whisper, doing nothing whatsoever to avoid displaying how deeply scandalised sheâd been by the whole thing. âNot in a million years, you wouldnât.â
Danny somehow doubted if heâd be so outraged as Madam Noseybeak was pretending she was, but managed to
Similar Books
