by Andrew Cope
The London traffic was slow. The taxi driver avoided jams by weaving through a warren of back streets.
Blimey, where are we going? thought Lara. This must be the longest journey to a police station, ever. I’m sure we’re heading the wrong way. She tapped on the glass. The driver looked round, gold teeth glinting. Sophie squealed. She recognized Gus immediately.
‘I think we’ll avoid the police if that’s all right with you lot,’ he smirked.
Lara heard the doors click as the central locking was activated.
Trapped! With a gold-toothed gorilla. She slapped her paw across her forehead. This so frustrating.
‘Just give me the diamond and you can go free,’ sneered Gus, turning his head to speak to them. ‘I promise you. I’m a man of honour.’
Yeah, right, thought Lara. She was so frustrated that she stuck her tongue out at Gus. You are such a horrible villain. She stuck her paws in her ears and waggled her claws at him. I hate criminals.
The big man had never seen a dog do that before. ‘Why, you horrible, rude mutt,’ he began, reaching into the back of the cab.
He took his eyes off the road for just a moment too long and Lara saw he was going to run into the bus ahead. There was an almighty crunch and the children were thrown forward, but luckily they had their seatbelts on.
Lara quickly assessed the situation. No harm done. Gus is pinned by the airbag. This is our chance. She slid the window open and helped the kids out. Quickly, everyone. No time to lose.
She was the last out. Then they were away, haring down a side street. Lara looked back at the crumpled cab; steam was hissing out of its engine. She watched as Gus kicked the driver’s door off its hinges and clambered out. His head was bleeding. He spat his gold teeth into his hand and pocketed them. Gus stood and glared at Lara, flexing his muscles like the Hulk.
Yikes! Lara turned and ran. She heard the taxi door slam and she knew the ape was after them. The children ran like never before. Lara sprinted ahead.
Come on, kids, she urged.
The lumbering ape was surprisingly fast. He drew a pistol and as he ran. A bullet zinged into the pavement and the children sprinted even faster. Another bullet hit a passing car, shattering its windscreen. Lara barged through the oncoming pedestrians and people started to panic. Several passers-by pulled out mobiles and rang 999.
The big man started to slow and the children pulled ahead. Lara had a bit of breathing space.
Time to think, she panted. They were in Trafalgar Square. Pigeons and tourists everywhere. Lara saw a lady with a handbag and growled her most vicious growl. Sorry, lady, she thought, but I need your bag. Lara grabbed the bag in her teeth and yanked it from the woman. Lara sniffed inside. Excellent, she thought, pulling out a notepad and pen.
Several onlookers watched the dog hold the pen in her mouth and scribble a note. It’s the diamond he wants, thought Lara. She took the famous gem off Ben and shooed the children away. Go on, guys. A safe distance, please. Lara stuck the note on a nearby red phone box. Then she sat and waited for Gus to appear. I’m just hoping he’s as stupid as he looks.
A minute later the ape plodded into view, panting heavily, shoulders drooping with the effort of the chase. Blood was trickling down his face and people were staring. He saw Lara and a toothless snarl lit up his face. He started to push tourists out of the way, pigeons scattering as he lumbered towards the dog. She pointed to the phone box and he stopped in his tracks. He looked at the note:
Phone 07764 245635 if you want to find the real diamond
‘Eh?’ Gus’s tiny mind whirred as he repeated the phrase in his head.
Lara watched as he fumbled in his pocket for some change and swung the heavy door open. He was halfway through the phone call when Lara wedged the door shut with the world’s most famous diamond, so escape was impossible.
It makes a perfect doorstop, she thought as she admired her handiwork. I can see why it’s priceless.
The children watched from a safe distance as the Hulk went berserk in the phone box. He punched the windows out and ripped the phone from its cradle in a terrible tantrum.
I knew I wouldn’t like him when he’s angry, Lara smiled.
Once again, passers-by reached for their mobiles and reported the hooligan to the police. Minutes later two police cars drew up, the diamond doorstop was removed and a handcuffed Gus taken away. Lara and the children came forward and got into the second cop car, Ben, Sophie and Ollie jabbering excitedly as they were driven safely away.
22. Stress City
Dad was secretly very proud that his children had solved a major crime. But Mum was annoyed that the children had been dragged into yet another dangerous adventure.
‘You, professor, had no right to take the children to London without my permission,’ she’d bellowed. ‘I’ve been beside myself with worry. How would you feel if I’d taken your children away?’ The professor hadn’t got children, just dogs, but he’d still hung his head in shame. ‘And you lot should have known better,’ she’d yelled, turning her attention to the children. ‘Sneaking off in secret. What were you thinking?’
The group knew not to answer back and tried their best to look sorry. They were thinking that Professor Cortex had been absolutely right not to ask permission. Never in a million years would Mum have allowed them to go to London and if they hadn’t snuck away, they would never have got Lara back and the crime would not have been solved.
But Mum saved her loudest voice for Lara.
Yikes, cringed the family pet as Mum let rip.
‘And you, madam,’ she began, ‘I can’t believe that you let the children fall into danger. Again! Diamonds, shootings, chases across London. Spy Dog, pah! Danger Dog more like. Whatever do you think you’re playing at?’
But … thought Lara, but it wasn’t really my fault.
‘No buts, Lara,’ bellowed Mum. ‘You need to learn the error of your ways, my girl. And learn you jolly well will.’
Ben and Sophie were pleased to get away with being grounded for just two weeks. Ollie was upset that his PlayStation rights were withdrawn for ten days. But everyone was relieved to have Lara back safe and to find out that the professor hadn’t been blown up by the bomb squad.
Lara had the worst punishment, having to go to work with Dad for a whole month.
But I hate window cleaning, she thought. I’m rubbish at it. I’m a highly trained secret agent, for goodness’ sake. It’s insulting to make me clean windows.
Nevertheless the punishment stood.
‘It’s the only way that I can keep an eye on you’, said Dad. ‘Be thankful it’s only for a month.’
It was a while before things calmed down. Ben and Sophie were asked to tell their story yet again in the playground.
‘So what happened after the bones had collapsed?’ asked Jordan. ‘I mean, were the men dead or anything?’
Ben shook his head. ‘No, just a bit dazed. The museum manager wasn’t very amused that his dinosaur had been destroyed but he understood when he heard what had happened. And, besides, the bones are already being reassembled, so there’s no permanent harm done.’
‘And what about the others? What about the nasty dog? The one that looks like Lara?’ asked one of the children.
‘Bambi is a nasty dog,’ agreed Ben. ‘But she’s very, very clever. The professor is giving her a chance to mend her ways. She is being retrained to do good things and is doing very well. Her owners are all in prison. Mr Big won’t be tunnelling out again in a hurry. We won’t see him for at least twenty-five years.’
‘And the other two? What about Archie and Gus? And that lady who trained the bad dog?’
‘Same as Mr Big,’ grinned Ben. ‘All safely behind bars.’
‘So another happy ending, then,’ said someone from the playground crowd. ‘Where’s Lara? Why can’t she come to school?’
Ben looked sheepish. ‘She’s doing a bit of punishment,’ he said sadly. ‘She’ll be up a ladder somewhere, cleaning wi
ndows.’
Dad had arranged a special punishment for Lara. He didn’t clean office blocks very often but he decided to do one now. He and Lara stood on the platform and lowered themselves down the front of the glass tower block.
This’ll take forever, groaned the family pet. I’ve never seen so many windows. This is so unfair. She looked at the cars the size of toys below. And it makes me dizzy.
Dad did the first few windows, expertly cleaning them with his wiper blade. Lara watched.
Actually, she thought, that looks like quite good fun. Maybe I could have a little go.
Dad let the rope out and they dropped to the next row of windows.
‘OK, girl,’ he said. ‘You may as well make yourself useful. Here’s one with blinds down so you can have a go. Nobody’ll see you. It’s all yours.’ Dad sat down and undid his flask of tea while Lara took the sponge in her mouth.
First the soapy water, she hummed, splashing the window. Then we wipe it off, making sure we get in all the corners. Hey, this is OK.
Mr Peacock was back at work after his holiday in the Lake District. His last few days there had been bliss and his nervous twitch had gone completely. He had been catching up with his emails all morning and decided it was time to open the blinds and let some sunshine in. He pulled the cord and the blind swished open, sunlight flooding into his office. He shielded his eyes from the glare.
Oh, hi! waved Lara. I’m, er, just cleaning your windows if that’s OK? Dad’s having a cup of tea. She smiled at the man, reaching into the corners with her wiper. She watched as his face twitched. Wow, you look like you need a holiday she thought.
Mr Peacock pulled the cord and the blind swished shut. He furrowed his brow and sank into his chair in a daze. He rocked while he thought.
‘It’s the stress. Too many emails. It can’t be real.’ He took a deep breath and strode confidently across the room. ‘Dogs don’t waterski, play cricket or cook. And they most certainly do not clean office windows fifteen floors up,’ he smiled. He paused for a minute before he swished the blind open for a second time.
Oh, hello again! shrugged Lara, busy with her cloth. Just got this last bit to do. Soon be finished.
The blind shut almost immediately. Mr Peacock staggered back to his desk. He pressed the button on his intercom and spoke to his secretary. ‘Please ring Margaret,’ he gasped, ‘I have something to tell her.’
23. Priceless
The mayor looked at the gathering of locals and pets. Lara beamed. Just about everyone had turned up, including her neighbourhood watch team. George had hitched a lift with Jimmy.
‘As you all now know,’ began the mayor, ‘Mr and Mrs Cook’s children have solved a big crime in London. They rescued the Millennium Diamond – an extremely valuable gem – and have put three crooks back behind bars.’
Warm applause filled the hall. Lara winked at Ben who was beaming with pride.
‘So we thought it was worth presenting the children with a certificate of bravery, in recognition of the brilliant work they’ve done’.
Ollie was the first to step forward. He waved to the crowd and blew kisses, milking the moment. He shook hands with the mayor and stood while the newspaper photographer took his picture. Sophie was up next, taking the applause with a shy smile. Ben was third up, striding confidently on to the stage and shaking the mayor warmly by the hand. The three children stood onstage, grinning, hair combed and teeth shining.
Lara sat happily, watching the children receive their certificates.
Brilliant, she thought. I only wish the mayor knew how much I helped out.
‘But, of course,’ continued the silverhaired mayor, ‘there was another key member of this crime-fighting gang.’
He threw a warm smile at Lara and she felt a hundred pairs of eyes boring into her. She put on her shades and raised an eyebrow, trying to look cool.
Oh, shucks, she thought. Do I get a certificate too?
‘If Lara would like to step up on to the stage to collect her reward’.
The family pet got to her feet and jumped onstage to rapturous applause.
Thank you. Thank you, everyone, she waved until the clapping finally faded away.
The dog sat proudly, her bullet-holed ear standing to attention. The mayor opened a box and pulled out a dog collar with a massive diamond hanging from it.
Wow! Looks just like the real thing. Lara sniffed it. Hang on, she thought, I think there’s something you should know …
The mayor fastened the collar around Lara’s neck.
‘The fake diamond is worthless’ he announced, ‘but we thought it would remind you of this adventure and it makes an excellent decoration for a collar.’
Fake, thought Lara wide-eyed. Er, I think you might have made a huge mistake. She sniffed again. I’m fact, I’m sure you have.
‘It’s a collar for special occasions,’ smiled the mayor as the crowd cheered and the flashes blinded those onstage. The noise died down, allowing the mayor to finish his speech. ‘I think we all agree that, with this collar, Lara, you look a million dollars’.
Lara smiled for the cameras. The glint in her eye matched that of the Millennium Diamond around her neck.
A million dollars? she beamed. More like priceless.
Thanks to:
Mark
What can I say? A chance meeting at the school gates. I ran home to add the finishing touches. Cheers, mate.
Sarah and the team at Puffin
Sarah for being brilliant and the rest of the team for making it happen. I still can’t believe it!
Chris
Long-overdue thanks. The illustrations always make me grin.
Lou
As always, for help, support and encouragement.
Staff and pupils at the following schools:
Curzon Primary, Quarndon
Holy Trinity Primary, Burton
Melbourne Junior, Derbyshire
Melbourne Infant, Derbyshire
Packington, near Ashby
Dame Catherine Harpur, Ticknall
Woodville, near Swadlincote
Orchard Primary, Castle Donington
Year 7s at Chellaston, Derby
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Text copyright © Andrew Cope, 2007
Illustrations copyright © Chris Mould, 2007
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ISBN: 978-0-141-92916-3