by Adele Abbott
“It’s because they’re obsessed with the colour yellow. They wander around the human world, stealing all manner of stuff. It doesn’t much matter to them what it is, just as long as it’s yellow.”
“Hang on. Is it possible they could have stolen some wool?”
“If it’s yellow, they’ll steal it. They’re like a couple of magpies. Why do you ask?”
“Mrs V had all her yellow yarn stolen the other day. She thought it was Winky who’d taken it.”
“It’s quite possible that the Canary Brothers took it,” Daze said.
“Is there any way you could check?”
“Everything that was recovered is back in Candlefield. You can take a look through it if you like.”
“Great. When can we do it?”
“I can take you there now,” Blaze offered. “Anything to get out of this hole for a few minutes.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
Blaze and I magicked ourselves to Rogue Retriever Headquarters.
“All the Canary Brothers’ stuff is in that room over there,” Blaze said. “Why don’t you take a look through it? There’s a couple of things I need to do in the office.”
The room, which was little more than a cupboard, was full of stuff, all of which was yellow: clothes, jewellery, kitchen appliances—you name it and it was there. It would have taken me ages to work my way through it all, but then I caught a break. In the corner, a huge yellow teddy bear was sitting on a pile of yellow balls of wool.
That was good news for Mrs V, but it meant that I’d wrongly accused Winky, and now he’d run away.
I’d just collected all the yarn when Blaze returned.
“This belongs to Mrs V. Is it okay if I take it back to her?”
“Sure. Someone will have the job of trying to return this lot to their rightful owners, so you’ll be helping them.”
“Thanks.”
I magicked myself back to Washbridge and hurried to the office. When I walked through the door, Mrs V’s eyes lit up.
“You found my yarn. Where was it?”
“I—err—found it in the skip around the back of the building.”
“What was it doing there?”
“Perhaps you put it in the waste bin instead of the yarn basket. You said yourself you’ve been feeling rather stressed recently. Stress can do strange things to the mind.”
Chapter 11
I was trying really hard to focus on the pile of papers in front of me, but it was impossible because I was feeling so guilty about Winky. I should never have accused him of stealing Mrs V’s wool without evidence. I’d made it even worse by threatening to throw him out onto the street if he didn’t return the wool by the end of business today.
And now he was gone, just like that. What if something happened to him?
Who was I trying to kid? Winky had more street-smarts than all the other cats in Washbridge put together. He would be fine.
Fingers crossed.
My phone rang; it was Mad.
“Jill, I don’t suppose you’re free at the moment, are you?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Would it be okay if I popped over to see you?”
“Sure.”
“Okay, we’ll be there in a couple of minutes.”
We? Was she with Brad?
I didn’t have long to wait to find out because ten minutes later, Mrs V popped her head around the door.
“Madeline’s here to see you, Jill. She has your niece with her.”
“Lizzie? You’d better send them in.”
Lizzie, on her crutches, came through the door first, followed by Mad.
“Shouldn’t you be in school?” I said.
“It’s only study time, which we do in the library. Nobody will know I’m missing.”
“You can’t just sneak out of school. Your mother will do her nut if she finds out.”
“She won’t find out. Everyone does it.”
“You’re not everyone.”
“This is the first time I’ve skipped school, honestly. You won’t tell Mum, will you?”
“I should.”
“Please don’t, Auntie Jill.”
“Alright, but only if you give me your word that you won’t do it again.”
“I promise.”
I turned to Mad. “Did you encourage her to skive off school?”
“Of course not.”
“She didn’t, Auntie Jill. Honestly. I had to talk to someone, so I went to her shop.”
“Okay. Sorry, Mad. You’d better both sit down and tell me exactly why you’re here.”
“You tell her, Mad,” Lizzie said.
“The thing is, Jill, it’s quite clear that Lizzie can see ghosts.”
“I see them all the time. I try to block them out, but it doesn’t do any good.”
“That must be very scary for you.”
“Not really. I’m used to it now, and most of them are friendly. That’s why I want to be a ghost hunter like Mad.”
“What? You can’t be a ghost hunter. You’re still a child.”
“That’s so unfair!”
“Was this your idea, Mad?”
“No, it wasn’t, but I do think Lizzie is right.”
“Are you crazy? She’s just a kid.”
“I know, and I’m not suggesting she become a ghost hunter today, but she could train to be one. If she starts now, she’ll be fully qualified by the time she’s old enough to take on the job.”
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this. Are you seriously suggesting my niece trains to be a ghost hunter?”
“Why not? There are worse jobs.”
“What about Kathy? She’ll think Lizzie has lost her mind if she tells her she wants to train to be a ghost hunter.”
“I won’t tell her, Auntie Jill.”
“The training is only a couple of hours a week,” Mad said. “Lizzie could do it at the weekend.”
“Don’t you think Kathy will notice if she goes missing every weekend?”
“She won’t have to go anywhere. Most of the training can be delivered remotely these days.”
“What if your Mum or Dad walk in on you when you’re in the middle of a training session?”
“I’ll just switch screens.” She grinned. “I already do that when I’m looking at something that I don’t want them to see.”
“I really wish you two hadn’t involved me in all of this. If Kathy finds out, she’ll have my guts for garters. Are you absolutely sure you want to do this, Lizzie?”
“Positive. I can’t wait to get started.”
“And you can make all the arrangements, Mad?”
“Yeah, no problem, but I wanted to run it by you before I did anything.”
“And you’ll make sure she doesn’t come to any harm?”
“Of course I will. I promise.”
“Okay, then. I just hope it doesn’t backfire.”
“Thanks, Auntie Jill.” Lizzie hobbled around the desk and gave me a big hug.
“Just one thing, I do not want to be updated on your progress. That way I at least have a degree of plausible deniability.”
“Fair enough.”
They were just about to leave when I called Mad back.
“If you happen to see Winky while you’re out and about, give me a call, will you?”
“Have you lost him?”
“Kind of. Just keep your eyes peeled.”
***
I made a phone call.
“Is that Fi?”
“Who’s that?”
“Jill Maxwell. I spoke to you at the motorcycle club.”
“The private investigator. I remember. What’s up?”
“I wondered if we could have a chat?”
“Sure. Fire away.”
“I was hoping we might be able to meet somewhere.”
“Where?”
“I could come to your place if you like.”
“That wouldn’t be a good idea. Johnny’s here most of the time.”
“And Johnny is—?”
“My boyfriend.”
“Right. I thought you and Chains were an item?”
“We are.”
“Right.”
“How about we meet at Big Bessie’s?”
“What’s that?”
“A diner on the A2186. About nine miles outside Washbridge.”
“Sure. When?”
“I can’t do it today because Johnny and I are just about to set off for a long weekend in Bognor.”
“Okay. How about Monday, then?”
“That works for me. Meet me there at eight o’clock and you can buy me breakfast.”
I’d no sooner finished on that call than my phone rang again; it was Aunt Lucy.
“Jill, could you pop over when you have a minute?”
“Sure. There’s nothing wrong, is there?”
“No. It’s Rhymes. He asked me to get in touch with you.”
“Did he say what it was about?”
“No, just that he’d like you to pop over when you can.”
“I may as well come over now.”
“Okay, I’ll put the kettle on.”
There were at least a couple of dozen corks on the kitchen table.
“I see you’re still sorting out your corks, Aunt Lucy.”
“Actually, I’m trying to decide which one to enter into the competition. What do you think?”
If I’d given her a truthful answer, she probably wouldn’t have spoken to me again.
“Which competition is that?”
“Candlefield Corks of course.”
“Of course. How could I have forgotten?”
“I used to enter every year, but after what happened with Teresa Dropforge, I became disillusioned.”
“What happened?”
“She sabotaged her main competitor’s corks before the judges had the chance to view them. I was devastated when I saw what she’d done to my Little Tipper.”
“You give all of your corks a name?”
“Of course not. That would be silly. Only my favourites.”
“Right. Out of interest, what exactly did she do to your Little Tipper?”
“She took a Stanley knife to it. Even after all this time, it still upsets me to think about it.”
“But you’ve decided to make a return to the competition?”
“Yes, I think now is the right time. So, which one do you think I should go with?”
“I’m no expert, clearly, but I do like that one.”
“Blue Sue? I agree. I’d already narrowed it down to that one or Skinny Timmy or Long Joe. Decision made. Blue Sue it is. Would you like to come to the competition? It can be very exciting.”
“When is it?”
“A week on Sunday. I’ve asked the twins but they’re already doing something.”
I just bet they were.
“What a pity, so am I.”
“Maybe next year, then?”
“Definitely.” Not a chance. “I’d better go and see what Rhymes wants. Is Barry upstairs?”
“No. Dolly has taken him to the park.”
“Jill, you couldn’t have timed it better.” Rhymes looked up from the notepad he was writing on. “What rhymes with marmalade?”
“Err, barricade?”
“That doesn’t work.”
“Renegade?”
“That doesn’t work either.”
“Why don’t you read me what you have so far?”
“Okay. Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
“It’s called an Ode to Toast.”
“Great.”
“Toast is so delicious,
It can be covered with jam or marmalade,
When it comes to snacks,”
“Hmm, it’s very good. So far.”
“That’s where I’m stuck.” He sighed. “I can’t come up with the next line.”
“Err, how about, toast takes the highest accolade?”
“That’s genius! You didn’t tell me you were a poet too, Jill.”
“It’s not something I like to brag about. Aunt Lucy said you wanted to see me?”
“That’s right. I’ve had some exciting news. You’ll never guess.”
“I honestly have no idea.”
“I’ve been asked to do a reading of my poems at the Tortoise Poets Society.”
“That’s great. I’m really pleased for you.” And, well worth dragging me all the way over here.
“It’s in London.”
“I thought you meant here in Candlefield.”
“No. That’s why I wanted to see you. I need you to get me there.”
“To London? Have you actually been to the human world before?”
“No, that’s why I’m so excited. Do you think there’ll be time to do some sightseeing too?”
“Hang on. I haven’t said I can take you.”
“You have to, Jill. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Please say you will.” He gave me that pathetic little tortoise face of his. The one he knew I couldn’t say no to.
“When is it?”
“In three weeks.”
“I—err—”
“Please, Jill. I’ll be forever in your debt.”
“Okay, then.”
When would I ever learn?
“Is everything okay?” Aunt Lucy asked when I joined her in the kitchen.
“Everything’s hunky dory. I’ve just agreed to take Rhymes to London for a poetry recital.”
“That’s so nice of you. You’re such a kind soul.”
“Aren’t I just?”
“Did you hear about Queen Chomp, Jill? It’s so incredibly sad.”
Queen Chomp was the queen of the rainbow fairies who I’d encountered several years earlier, when I’d been trying to get hold of some sap from the rainbow lily. At the time, we thought Grandma was in a coma and that the sap was the only thing that could save her. As it transpired, she wasn’t in a coma at all; she was just witchbernating.
“What’s happened to her?”
“See for yourself.” Aunt Lucy picked up The Candle newspaper and handed it to me.
“She’s dying? But she isn’t very old, is she?”
“No. It’s all very tragic.”
“It says here that she’s been taken to the Rainbow Zone. Where’s that?”
“I’m no expert, but from what I understand, it’s where the Rainbow fairies go to spend their final days.”
“Hold on. Say that again, would you?”
“I said the Rainbow Zone is where Rainbow fairies end their days.”
“Pearl is a genius.”
“She’s my daughter and I love her dearly, but I never thought I’d hear you say that about her. What did she do?”
“Sorry, Aunt Lucy, I have to get back. I’ll explain everything another day.”
“Okay, bye.”
***
I charged into the house, almost knocking Jack over.
“I know where it is, Jack!”
“That’s great. You know where what is?”
“I think I’ve found the—”
“What have you found, Mummy?” Florence came running out of the kitchen.
“I—err—I’ve found another red caterpillar with yellow spots.”
“Brill!” Her little face lit up. “Is it a boy or a girl?”
“I—err—think it’s a girl.”
“She can be Archie’s girlfriend. Where is she?”
“In the front garden.”
“Show me! Show me, please!”
We went out into the garden and I made a show of trying to find the (non-existent) second caterpillar. “She seems to have disappeared.”
“Where was she, Mummy? I might be able to find her.”
“Somewhere around here.”
Florence got down on her hands and knees and began to search the lawn and flowerbeds. I took that opportunity to go over to Jack who was standing in the doorway.
“I take i
t that it wasn’t really a caterpillar you found?” Jack said, in a hushed voice.
“No. It’s the first compass stone, and I haven’t actually found it yet, but I think I might know where to look.”
“Where?”
“When I showed the clue to Pearl, she said she thought part of it was missing because the paper was torn. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but now I reckon she might be right.”
“I still can’t see the caterpillar, Mummy.”
“Keep looking, darling. It must be there somewhere.”
“So, where’s the stone?” Jack said.
“When I was at Aunt Lucy’s earlier, she showed me an article about the queen of the rainbow fairies. She’s critically ill and has been moved to the Rainbow Zone.”
“So?”
“That’s where rainbow fairies end their days.”
“You’ve lost me.”
“What if the whole clue was actually: Find the north compass stone where the rainbows end their days?
“It’s a bit convoluted, isn’t it? Wouldn’t it have said where rainbow fairies?”
“That’s not how clues work, Jack. They’re supposed to be convoluted. Didn’t you ever have scavenger hunts when you were a kid?”
“I’ve found it, Mummy!” Florence jumped to her feet.
“You have?”
“Look!” She came running over to us and held out her open palm to reveal the caterpillar.
“I’m going to call her Angie.”
“Archie and Angie? Nice.”
“Can I take her to see Archie?”
“Of course. Off you go.”
“I assume you’ll be paying a visit to the Rainbow Zone,” Jack said.
“I might as well. It’s not like I have any other leads. I may have to buy a Bakewell pudding or two first, though.”
Chapter 12
“Mummy! Daddy! It’s time to get up!”
I managed to open one eye, to find Florence jumping up and down on our bed.
“What time is it?” Jack yawned.
I fumbled to grab my phone from the bedside cabinet. “Ten to six. Go back to bed, Florence.”
“I can’t sleep, Mummy. It’s the dance competition today. Let’s practise.”
“Forget it. I’ve done all the practising I can. If I do any more, I won’t have any energy left for the competition.”
