Smythe was staying for two weeks, so I was surprised to see his car parked behind Beachview , with the hatchback open. As we got nearer I could see that his suitcase, a couple of rugs and a folding chair were inside the boot. It looked like he was leaving. And I could guess why. He’d been avoiding me since I tackled him about stealing my bracelet. I bet he was doing a runner with it. Well, he wasn’t going to get away with it!
‘Have you got that whistle on you?’ I asked Max. For some reason he carried it around everywhere.
‘Yeah, why?’
‘’Cos I’m going to find my bracelet before Mr Smythe disappears with it. Go into the backyard and blow your whistle to warn me if he comes out.’
‘What am I supposed to do in the backyard?’ Max grumbled.
‘I don’t know. Use your brains. Pretend your bike chain has come off and you’re fixing it. And if he comes out, try to keep him talking, it will give me time to have a good look through his suitcase.’
‘Why do I get all the lousy jobs?’ Max grumbled, wheeling his bike into Gran’s backyard.
I ignored him, leant my bike against the fence and hurried over to the car. I had to be quick but thorough. If I let Mr Smythe go off with the bracelet, I’d never see it again.
The suitcase was right at the back of the boot. I grabbed it, but it was jammed between the folding chair and a toolbox. I glanced around to make sure the coast was clear, then climbed into the boot and unzipped the case. It was full of clothes; some of them didn’t smell very clean. I opened a plastic bag and caught the whiff of dirty socks. Gross!
‘Fancy leaving a car parked here, some people are so thoughtless.’
‘I know, there’s barely enough space to walk around it.’
It was the Arnold sisters. They lived next door to Max. I couldn’t let them see me looking through Mr Smythe’s suitcase! I quickly crouched down as low as I could, grabbed one of the rugs and threw it over me.
Then I heard three sharp whistles.
It was Max, warning me that Mr Smythe was on his way out.
Okay, I had to get out of here, and fast. But before I had the chance to do anything, I heard the boot slam shut, then someone got in the car and started the engine. Next thing I knew we were moving. Mr Smythe was off … and he was taking me with him!
I was trapped.
Chapter 10
Stowaway
I tried not to think what Mr Smythe would do if he found me in the boot of his car. I couldn’t help recalling that sinister look on his face when he warned me not to mention the bracelet to anyone. I had to keep calm; it was my only chance of getting out of here.
I took a few deep breaths and tried not to panic. At least I was locked in the boot of a hatchback rather than the closed-in boot of a saloon. That meant I could see where we were going if I lifted a corner of the blanket. It also meant that Mr Smythe could see me if I wasn’t careful, so I had to keep as still as possible.
I doubted if he was going very far, not when he was so interested in Old Joe’s land. With a bit of luck, he might not unpack his car straight away, then I could sneak out without him being any the wiser. Meanwhile, I might still be able to search through the suitcase. Dare I risk it?
I was just about to wriggle my hand through the open zip when my cellphone bleeped as a text message came in. My heart raced. I could feel my mouth drying up with fear. But I’d got lucky. Mr Smythe had the radio on, so he hadn’t heard it. I quickly switched the volume to mute – not an easy thing to do when you’re crouched in the boot of a car with a rug over your head – then read the text. It was Max. I should have guessed.
I tried to shift to a more comfortable position so I could feel inside the suitcase, but it was hopeless. All I could feel were clothes, and I was petrified that Mr Smythe would see me in the rearview mirror. I’d just have to lie still, wait until he stopped, and hope he didn’t go straight to the boot for his suitcase. I
‘Have you got that whistle on you?’ I asked Max. For some reason he carried it around everywhere.
‘Yeah, why?’
‘’Cos I’m going to find my bracelet before Mr Smythe disappears with it. Go into the backyard and blow your whistle to warn me if he comes out.’
‘What am I supposed to do in the backyard?’ Max grumbled.
‘I don’t know. Use your brains. Pretend your bike chain has come off and you’re fixing it. And if he comes out, try to keep him talking, it will give me time to have a good look through his suitcase.’
‘Why do I get all the lousy jobs?’ Max grumbled, wheeling his bike into Gran’s backyard.
I ignored him, leant my bike against the fence and hurried over to the car. I had to be quick but thorough. If I let Mr Smythe go off with the bracelet, I’d never see it again.
The suitcase was right at the back of the boot. I grabbed it, but it was jammed between the folding chair and a toolbox. I glanced around to make sure the coast was clear, then climbed into the boot and unzipped the case. It was full of clothes; some of them didn’t smell very clean. I opened a plastic bag and caught the whiff of dirty socks. Gross!
‘Fancy leaving a car parked here, some people are so thoughtless.’
‘I know, there’s barely enough space to walk around it.’
It was the Arnold sisters. They lived next door to Max. I couldn’t let them see me looking through Mr Smythe’s suitcase! I quickly crouched down as low as I could, grabbed one of the rugs and threw it over me.
Then I heard three sharp whistles.
It was Max, warning me that Mr Smythe was on his way out.
Okay, I had to get out of here, and fast. But before I had the chance to do anything, I heard the boot slam shut, then someone got in the car and started the engine. Next thing I knew we were moving. Mr Smythe was off … and he was taking me with him!
I was trapped.
Chapter 10
Stowaway
I tried not to think what Mr Smythe would do if he found me in the boot of his car. I couldn’t help recalling that sinister look on his face when he warned me not to mention the bracelet to anyone. I had to keep calm; it was my only chance of getting out of here.
I took a few deep breaths and tried not to panic. At least I was locked in the boot of a hatchback rather than the closed-in boot of a saloon. That meant I could see where we were going if I lifted a corner of the blanket. It also meant that Mr Smythe could see me if I wasn’t careful, so I had to keep as still as possible.
I doubted if he was going very far, not when he was so interested in Old Joe’s land. With a bit of luck, he might not unpack his car straight away, then I could sneak out without him being any the wiser. Meanwhile, I might still be able to search through the suitcase. Dare I risk it?
I was just about to wriggle my hand through the open zip when my cellphone bleeped as a text message came in. My heart raced. I could feel my mouth drying up with fear. But I’d got lucky. Mr Smythe had the radio on, so he hadn’t heard it. I quickly switched the volume to mute – not an easy thing to do when you’re crouched in the boot of a car with a rug over your head – then read the text. It was Max. I should have guessed.
I tried to shift to a more comfortable position so I could feel inside the suitcase, but it was hopeless. All I could feel were clothes, and I was petrified that Mr Smythe would see me in the rearview mirror. I’d just have to lie still, wait until he stopped, and hope he didn’t go straight to the boot for his suitcase. I
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