by Andrew Cope
The children watched as Lara took off, her howling getting fainter as she rose high above them. They held their breath as she banged against the open window then reached over to it with one paw. Sophie squealed as Lara’s other paw scraped at the glass, her back legs kicking, trying to swing in through the half-open window.
‘Go on, Lara,’ urged Ben.
The family pet pulled with all her might. She swung on the rope until finally she was able to scramble through the window. The children breathed a collective sigh of relief as they watched her back legs disappear.
Dame Payne and Christopher Bent waited for Len to disappear on his shopping errand. Mr Wilde had spent a lifetime with his head in textbooks rather than at the gym. As a result, Bent easily overpowered him and very quickly secured him to a chair. His shouting was a problem so Bent stuffed a pair of socks into his mouth.
Dame Payne turned her attention to Professor Cortex. ‘There’s been a change of plan,’ she announced.
Bent sneered. ‘Yeah,’ he nodded, ‘we don’t want to share the profits for your formula with anyone else. We’ve decided you can make it for us. In an exclusive deal.’
‘And why would I do that?’ demanded the professor.
Dame Payne smiled icily. ‘Because it’s no different from what you’re doing now – the alternative still involves taking the brain of an innocent child. And you don’t want that to happen now, do you? So we’re leaving for somewhere a bit more secret. You get to weave your magic and save Ben Cook … and we become billionaires!’
The professor had no time to think it through. He clutched his laptop tightly as he followed Dame Payne and Christopher Bent into the lift.
15. Room Service
Lara landed in a hotel bedroom with a thump. Phew, she gasped. That was close. She heard the toilet flush and a man wandered out of the bathroom. He was an elderly gentleman with a giant mop of black hair. Clearly a wig, thought Lara. And I don’t need secret agent training to work that out!
He did a double take when he saw Lara. ‘Er, a dog,’ he said aloud. ‘What’s a dog doing in my room?’ He blinked hard. ‘And why has it got a helmet on?’ he added as an afterthought.
Lara wagged her tail as she let herself out into the corridor, following her highly trained nose. She was no longer a family pet – she was a Spy Dog again. Her heart was racing, her mind keeping pace with it. She wriggled out of her ridiculous coat and lost the helmet. Lift or stairs? she thought. Humans are lazy so nearly always travel by lift, she reckoned. Therefore I’ve got a better chance of secret snooping if I take the stairs. She nosed into the stairwell, which was empty, and trotted up a few flights, nose to the ground. Where on earth do I start looking? He could be anywhere. She sniffed again, hoping to pick up the professor’s scent. There was something unusual coming from upstairs. Up we go.
Lara bounded up the stairs, the smell getting stronger. She stood on the twenty-third floor, panting heavily. Perhaps the lift would be better next time. This is it, she thought as she nosed the door open and crept through. Lara did a double take at the scene. She wasn’t in a hotel room; she was in what looked like a laboratory. And a man with angry eyes was tied to a chair. It’s not the prof, but maybe he can help, Lara hoped.
The man’s face was bright red and he was shouting in a muffled voice. It took Lara a while to realize he had socks stuffed in his mouth. She bounded over to the man and pulled them out with her teeth. The man didn’t look very impressed as his face was covered with Lara’s doggie slobber.
Oops, sorry about the tuna sandwich I had for lunch, yapped Lara. Just be grateful you can speak again, mister. Hey, don’t I know you from somewhere?
‘Help!’ bellowed Mr Wilde. ‘Someone help me.’
Well, I’ll help you if you stop bellowing like that, thought Lara. Where’s the professor?
The man shouted again, obviously unaware that Lara was a superdog. ‘If only you could untie me, mutt,’ he gasped. ‘There’s an evil dame, a stupid man and a mad professor who’ve just left. They’ve struck a deal. They have a secret that they’re going to sell for millions – perhaps billions! I’ve been double-crossed. They’re all in it together and I have to stop them!’
It sounded like Lara was in the right place, just moments too late. Then she stopped in her tracks. Pardon, sir? she thought. Did you say they are in it together? That would make the professor a baddie. I really don’t think so.
The man yelled for help again before telling himself off. ‘I should have seen it coming,’ he groaned. ‘I can’t believe they’ve left me out. I bet that mad professor turns out to be as greedy as the others.’
Lara was wide-eyed. Surely not, she thought. There must be some mistake. The professor wouldn’t sell out. He’s a good guy.
Lara looked at the prisoner and considered her options. It would take ages to untie him by which time the professor would be long gone. If she was to rescue the professor and stop the criminal gang she had to act now. Sorry, sir, she woofed, doing her best sad eyes. I’ve got a mystery to solve. But I’ll come back for you later, honest. With that, Lara raced out of the door and pressed the ‘Lift down’ button.
Come on, come on, she muttered to herself as she watched the dial coming up, then stopping, then coming up a bit more. Eventually the lift pinged and the doors swished open.
‘Blast! I thought this lift was going down –’ The elderly man with the wig was shocked into silence when Lara got into the lift. He looked even more surprised when she pressed the ‘G’ button and accompanied him to the ground floor. ‘I really must remember to speak to Doctor Johnson about my medication,’ he murmured to himself.
Come on, come on, thought Lara, tapping her paw impatiently as the lift descended. I need to make up time. Not lose it. The doors opened and Lara sprinted, greyhound-style, into the hotel lobby. She raced past reception, knocked over a waiter and dodged a group of American tourists who were milling about. The man with the uniform was guarding the door. He saw Lara coming.
‘You again,’ he mouthed. Lara read his lips. ‘I hate dogs.’
Yes, me again, thought Lara. What are you going to do about it? She stopped in her tracks and looked all around. There seemed to be only one way out and the dog-hater was guarding it.
‘A dog on the loose!’ yelled a woman. All eyes turned to Lara.
‘Get that dog out of here!’ screamed the manager.
Calm down, everyone. There’s no need to panic, Lara assured them. And I’m not dangerous. Unless you’re a baddie, of course. She spied Dame Payne and Christopher Bent hurrying out of the main entrance, taking advantage of the confusion to make their escape. The professor scurried after them. Oh, my goodness, she gasped. Surely the man wasn’t right. But why is the professor escaping with those baddies? The security guard closed the door. No time to think, just take action, Lara, she told herself. Remember your training.
The guard seemed determined to be a bit of a hero. Everyone else had run away, but he was striding towards her. ‘Come here, mutt,’ he soothed.
I don’t think so, thought Lara, her eyes darting everywhere, trying to spot an escape route. The doorman was closing in. She bolted into the hotel restaurant, following the man with the black wig. The doorman was now sprinting after her. She couldn’t see a way out and was trapped. Not a good move. Lara backed into a corner as the guard approached. She issued a low warning growl. He picked up a chair and kept coming. Little did Lara know but this was the most exciting thing that had happened in his fifteen years as doorman of the hotel.
‘Come on, poochie,’ he coaxed, taking some sausages from a customer’s plate and holding them out to Lara. ‘Come and get your din dins.’
Oh, for heaven’s sake, thought Lara. The baddies are getting away with the country’s top scientist and you want me to sit here eating sausages. The world is at stake, man. Get out of my way. Lara hated to show off but there was no choice. She stood on her hind legs and took a step forward. She did a kick and a punch in the air. I’m a bla
ck belt, matey, she warned, bending her knees, ready to attack. Don’t mess with me. The man looked surprised but continued towards her. Lara had to take a chance. What can I throw? she thought. How can I create a diversion?
She looked round at the customers, who’d all stopped eating and seemed very worried indeed. The man with the wig was seated at the next table. Lara approached him and stood up. Excuse me, she thought. I need a diversion and you might have the answer. The man looked terrified. Lara whipped off his wig and juggled with the hairy mop as if it were alive. Yikes, she yelped. It looks like a hamster.
The customers screamed. The bald man felt the shiny surface of his head and gasped. The doorman lurched towards Lara and she threw the hairy frisbee at him, right in his face. The doorman brought the chair smashing down, missing Lara but demolishing the bald man’s table. Lara was away. She knew the front door was closed so she ran for an open window. It was going to be a tight squeeze but she went for it anyway, leaping through the gap and out on to the pavement.
The Cook kids had been pressed up against the locked door of the hotel, trying to see what was happening inside. When Lara bounded up to them they smothered her with kisses and hugs.
Get off me, she shrugged. Lara was a Spy Dog again, her bullet-holed ear standing taller than ever. I’m after some baddies. A young bloke, running like mad. And a lady with a large nose. Which way? she panted. Oh, if only I could talk, she howled.
Ben pointed to a man sprinting round the corner. ‘Is that who you’re chasing, Lara?’ he asked. ‘And it looks like the professor too.’ It most certainly is, barked Lara. You have got a superbrain, Ben! Come on, guys, let’s get them.
Christopher Bent was full of energy, spurred on by the prospect of selling the brain formula for millions. Dame Payne clopped along in her heels but it was the professor whose lungs were soon heaving.
He stopped and clutched his chest. ‘I can’t run any more,’ he puffed, bending double to recover. The professor raised his head and saw Lara and the children bounding round the corner. ‘Oh no,’ he gasped. ‘The kids. I can’t have them following me.’ Lara and the children saw the professor up ahead and stopped in their tracks. Professor Cortex fixed Lara with an icy stare that sent a shiver down her spine. ‘Sorry, GM451,’ he shouted. ‘But you must stop following us. Your priority has to be the children. Keep them safe.’
Lara watched as he hailed a taxi and the three escapees bundled in. Perhaps the man was right after all, thought Lara. I still can’t believe it but the professor seems to have turned bad.
Ben, Ollie and Sophie caught up with Lara. ‘I’m sure that woman is my head teacher, Dame Payne,’ said Ben, catching his breath. ‘Maybe she’s been kidnapped too! What can we do, Lara?’ he asked. ‘They’ve all disappeared, and why did the professor get into the taxi with them?’
Why indeed? shrugged Lara, her brain whirring. The dog raised her paw and hailed the next taxi. The driver pulled up and watched with a confused frown as they piled in. ‘Where to, kids?’ he asked.
Ben looked at Lara. Go on, lad, she willed. I know you’ve always wanted to say it.
Ben shrugged. ‘Er, follow that cab?’ he asked, pointing to the professor’s taxi some distance ahead.
Christopher Bent had a tight hold on the professor’s laptop. His plan was to take some of the brain potion at the earliest opportunity, then log on to the professor’s laptop, learn the secret and make sure he remained permanently brainy. Then he would either set up an Internet site to sell the potion worldwide or make a living from game shows. He wasn’t sure which yet, but either way he would be rich beyond his wildest dreams.
Dame Payne had similar thoughts whirring through her mind. Neither planned on sharing. They exchanged cold smiles in the taxi, each scheming to double-cross the other.
Lara and the children watched from a distance as Dame Payne, Christopher Bent and the professor queued for rail tickets. Lara couldn’t help thinking the professor looked extremely nervous. She was racking her brain to come up with an innocent explanation. Why on earth is the professor getting on the train with these evil people? she wondered. And why did he run away when he saw us? It doesn’t look good. I suppose it’s no wonder he’s looking so edgy. She considered what to do next. As she saw it, they didn’t have many options and she wasn’t keen on getting the children into any more danger. She cringed as she thought about what Mum would say. At least the trio don’t know we’re following them, she thought. They think they’re home and dry. All we have to do is find a way on to their train and I’m sure a plan will follow.
Bent and the professor left the ticket counter and strolled towards platform six. Lara pushed Ben forward and he approached the ticket office. He began badly. ‘Er … Can I have some tickets on the same train as those three people who were just here?’ he asked.
‘To London?’ asked the ticket lady.
‘Yes, please.’ Ben smiled. ‘Three children and a dog.’
The lady eyed Ben suspiciously. ‘Three kids and a dog?’ she questioned. ‘Shouldn’t you children be with an adult?’ The ticket lady poked her head out of the kiosk and looked at Sophie, Ollie and Lara. Ollie waved. Sophie looked down at her shoes.
Lara cringed. Just give us the tickets, lady, she urged.
‘Where’s your mum?’ quizzed the lady. ‘And you must put your dog on a lead.’
‘Oh, forget it,’ said Ben. ‘You’re right, the train isn’t for us.’ He turned away with Sophie, Ollie and Lara and stared up at the departure board.
The ticket lady was still watching them, so Sophie took Lara’s lead out of her pocket and clipped it on to her collar.
‘We’ve got exactly three minutes before the London train on platform six departs,’ explained Ben. ‘But we haven’t got any tickets. Let’s go to the platform and see if we can find a way to sneak on.’
Great, thought Lara, bounding alongside the children as they rushed across the station. Just the kind of thing I used to do when I was a secret agent!
‘Quick,’ said Sophie excitedly, ‘there’s no one at the ticket barrier.’
The children raced towards the platform and through the gates, just as the guard’s whistle blew.
Hurry, kids, Lara woofed. That’s the signal for the train to leave and we’re not on it yet.
Ben grabbed Ollie’s hand and they all sprinted for the train, just making it on board as the doors beeped and closed behind them. Within seconds the children and their pet were away, speeding towards London.
16. Tickets, Please?
Ben, Sophie, Ollie and Lara stood in the cramped corridor of the train as it pulled out of the station. ‘What now?’ asked Ollie.
‘Not sure,’ replied Ben. ‘I suppose we have to find the baddies and let Lara loose on them. Hopefully, she’ll know what to do.’
Lara gave an excited woof as Sophie bent down and unclipped her lead. I can’t wait to find them and save the professor, she thought.
They were standing in the swaying part of the train, between carriages. Lara looked at the kids, their encouraging eyes gazing at her. What? You expect me to come up with a plan? I’d better get my Spy Dog head on. A plan, Lara. A cunning plan. What should we do first? she thought, strumming her paw against the carriage floor. She spied the ticket collector coming down the carriage. Yikes. Part one of the plan is to avoid him. Lara stood and jabbed her paw in the direction of the ticket collector.
Ben and Sophie looked panicky. ‘What if he throws us off the train?’ exclaimed Sophie.
‘He might know where the baddies are sitting,’ offered Ollie. ‘Maybe he would help us.’
Lara took two seconds to consider the situation. She ran through Ollie’s suggestion in her head. She pictured Ben explaining that there was a pair of criminals and a mad professor somewhere on the train. And they were stealing a top-secret brain formula that was going to make millions. And that the children and their dog were going to solve the crime. And that their dog was in fact a highly trained secret agent. Mmm, s
he thought, on an unbelievability scale of 1 to 10, it’s an 11. He’s going to throw us straight off the train. She looked at the corridor. Quickly, she beckoned. Let’s hide in the loo.
Lara pressed the button and the toilet door swished open. They all crammed into the tiny train toilet and the door swished shut. Sophie pressed the lock. Ben sat on the toilet seat with Ollie on his knee while Sophie and Lara squeezed up against the sink, hardly able to breathe. And all of them stopped breathing completely when they heard the ticket collector knock on the door.
‘Tickets, please,’ he yelled. ‘Whoever’s in there, I need to see your tickets.’
‘We haven’t got tickets,’ mouthed Sophie to Lara.
‘I need a wee,’ whispered Ollie to his big brother.
‘Hang on just a minute,’ shouted Ben. ‘I’m, er, just finishing.’ He looked at Lara. ‘What do we do now?’ he mouthed. ‘He’s waiting for us.’
Let him wait a bit, thought Lara, waving her paws up and down to calm the children. I need to escape. And there seems only one way out. Lara stood and pointed to the small skylight. Can someone help me open this, please?
‘No way, Lara,’ whispered Sophie. ‘This train is going at a hundred miles an hour. You’ll be killed.’
Lara shrugged. It’s not ideal, she thought. But if the ticket inspector catches me he’ll throw us off at the next station and we’ll never get to the bottom of this mystery. The roof’s the only hiding place.
Sophie took Ollie as Ben stood on the toilet seat and pulled the skylight open. A whooshing noise filled the tiny bathroom. Ben gave Lara a leg up and she poked her head out of the top of the carriage. She looked forward, her eyes squinting into the wind, her ears blown flat against her head as the trees flashed by. This is definitely a fast train, she agreed. Lara looked backwards, across the top of the snaking carriages, fur and ears obscuring her view. Finally she looked back down at the children. It is difficult, she decided. But with a bit of a push I may be able to make it up there.
