All three of them stared at Mariam, waiting to hear what she’d have to say.
“Um, yes?” Mariam ventured.
“No!” Poppy cried. Red circles had appeared on each of her cheeks. Zaiba began to feel a small pang of sympathy for her cousin, deep inside her. Were those tears brimming in Mariam’s eyes? She dashed one away as she realized that the friends weren’t going to let her join them.
“Maybe not … but at least I didn’t tell Aunt Jessica that you were all in the attic!”
Zaiba stepped between Poppy and Mariam. She knew Poppy was just frustrated with Mariam’s behaviour, but that didn’t mean they had to be mean to her cousin. Just like Eden Lockett’s rule number eleven says: The best agent is cool, calm and oozes charm.
“Mariam, this is a delicate situation,” Zaiba explained patiently. “It’s a private reunion between a distraught owner and her loyal companion. Maysoon wouldn’t want to meet fans at this time.”
Mariam opened her mouth to protest, but suddenly a cold voice called out from the end of the corridor.
“Mariam! What are you doing over there? Did I give you permission to come upstairs?” It was Mariam’s mother, standing in an angular grey dress.
“No, Mum,” Mariam said quietly. For some reason, she couldn’t look at Zaiba and was staring hard at the floor.
“Then come back to the party at once.” Her gaze flickered over Zaiba with a look of distaste. “Ah, I see you’ve found the mutt. You know that celebrity has the entire staff of this hotel searching for that dog?”
Ali quickly placed his hands over Roberto’s ears, but it was too late – the pedigree dog gave a small yip at the word “mutt”.
Zaiba saw Mariam’s mum’s thin lips twitch in irritation. “I assume you’ll be getting back to your cousin’s party straight away, Zaiba. Mariam, come.”
Zaiba stood aside to let Mariam pass and her cousin walked quickly down the corridor, keeping close to the wall.
As Mariam and her mum disappeared down the stairs, Zaiba glanced round at the others.
“What was all that about?” Poppy asked. “It’s like her mum is a scary headmistress or something.”
Zaiba faintly remembered one time long ago when she’d overheard Jessica and her dad talking about Mariam’s mum. Something about how uptight she was. “Do you know she has a spreadsheet for when she’s planning to throw spontaneous after-school parties?”
Oh my goodness, Zaiba thought now. What would I be like if my mum was that strict and controlling? A sinking feeling in Zaiba’s tummy confirmed that she might well have turned out as mean as Mariam was. Maybe Mariam wanted someone to hang out with and that’s why she was always bugging Zaiba. But then why did she tease them so often? It was certainly a strange way to try to make friends.
Roberto licked Zaiba’s cheek, gazing into her eyes. She laughed. “I think someone wants to go home to his mummy.” She jiggled him in her arms and Poppy reached to stroke his soft head. “Come on then.”
They stepped up to Maysoon’s door. A renewed outburst of sobbing from inside the room startled one of the men guarding the door awake. He’d been slumped in a gilt chair and his friend had disappeared. Aunt Fouzia definitely wouldn’t approve.
The man blinked up at the little dog in Zaiba’s arms. “Is that…?” he began to ask.
“Oh, Roberto,” came Maysoon’s muffled wails. “How I miss you! What are the latest reports?”
Zaiba heard another voice reply, “Our people have been scouring every room.” It was Mr Ainsley. But his people hadn’t been scouring the garden, and Zaiba and her people had.
At the sound of his name Roberto gave a soulful howl.
“It’s almost as if I can hear your sweet voice now… Hang on!”
Zaiba heard footsteps run to the door.
Roberto gave another AROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO and Maysoon threw open the door.
“ROBERTO!” she sang, her smile breaking out into pure joy. “My sweetie, my angel, my baby!”
“Can I have my belt back now?” Ali pleaded quietly.
Zaiba carefully unlooped the belt from around Roberto’s neck and handed him over to his owner. Maysoon spun him round and Roberto gave little yips of delight. Zaiba, Poppy and Ali followed her into the room, where Mr Ainsley was glowering at them.
“Shall I call the staff off?” he asked in a low voice.
“Oh yes! Look what these wonderful children did!” Maysoon peppered her little dog with kisses.
Zaiba looked around as Ali gave a low whistle behind her. The room was certainly Grand, with a capital G.
There was a huge four-poster bed and a separate room with a red velvet sofa. The carpet was a plush pristine white and the walls were delicately painted with golden leaves. The room was spotlessly clean with any evidence of a busy press interview long tidied away.
Ali made his way over to the flat-screen TV, taking in all its buttons and special features. Poppy caught Zaiba’s eye from the other side of the room and mouthed, “Walk-in wardrobe!” with glee. Not to mention a walk-in shoe closet and a bathroom with a sunken jacuzzi bath.
Eventually the three of them gathered in the centre of the room to gaze in awe at the star attraction – Maysoon. Zaiba could sense Poppy trembling with excitement beside her and Ali’s jaw hung open slackly, even though he didn’t like Swing Sing. A real-life celebrity in touching distance! Zaiba’s hand twitched to take a photo on her phone, but she knew that would be rude. A detective always respected a client’s privacy, and at some point Maysoon would notice the missing dog collar. Then Zaiba’s investigations would begin in earnest. Her eyes flickered round the room, looking for clues, but the only suspicious thing she saw was the look of fury on Mr Ainsley’s face. He should be delighted that his star guest had been reunited with her dog. Why was he so angry all the time? It just didn’t make sense. He ran one of the best hotels in town – at the moment the only hotel in town taking bookings. Her gaze wandered back to Maysoon.
Maysoon barely noticed the three of them staring at her. She held Roberto up to the ceiling and let his little paws dangle over her. “You are just as beautiful as I remembered. More beautiful!”
“They’ve only been apart for an hour or so,” Ali whispered to Zaiba.
Maysoon finally popped the dog down on a luxurious faux-fur cushion and turned to the friends.
“Thank you so so so so so sooooooo much for bringing my Roberto back… Now, tell me who you are!”
Zaiba took charge of the introductions. “My name is Zaiba.” She gave her most winning smile. “But I also had a lot of help from my trusted team, Poppy and Ali.”
“Team?” Maysoon’s eyes shone with curiosity.
The three of them lined up in a row in front of her, beaming proudly.
“We like to solve crimes,” Zaiba explained. She noticed Mr Ainsley staring at her. He probably thought they shouldn’t be in the celebrity’s room, but she wouldn’t be put off. She held out her copy of…
“Eden Lockett!” Maysoon took the book from her, turning it over in her hands as though it was a rare artefact. “I read these as a child.”
“So did our—” Ali began to explain, but he was interrupted by a fresh howl of displeasure as Maysoon looked at her Italian greyhound, lying against the faux-fur cushion.
“Oh!” Maysoon’s face crumpled. “His collar. It’s missing!”
“Ah yes, about that…” Poppy started to explain how the collar had been missing when they’d found Roberto in the maze. But her words were drowned out as Maysoon entered another fit of sobbing.
“That collar has a lucky charm attached to it – an even bigger diamond than the ones on his collar,” Maysoon explained, pacing the room, her feet sinking into a shaggy sheepskin rug. “My childhood dog used to wear it too and now it’s g-g-GONE!”
“A lucky charm?” Ali echoed. “But you know that’s—”
Poppy dug him in the ribs to stop him from telling Maysoon that lucky charms were a load of nonsense. At least Mr A
insley had stopped staring at them – he’d suddenly found an intense interest in the view out of the window.
“Is it worth a lot of money?” Zaiba asked, keeping her voice polite. She assumed that a diamond collar and charm would be worth a lot, and money would be a good reason for someone to steal the collar.
“I need to go and see to the staff.” Mr Ainsley suddenly shot across the room. He probably hated Zaiba being so vulgar as to talk about money, but Maysoon barely noticed him disappear.
“Oh yes,” the star said as the door shut behind Mr Ainsley. “I have it insured for millions. But that’s not the point. I loved it so.” She hurled herself theatrically on to the bed, weeping into the deep red linen.
“Oh, don’t cry.” Poppy patted Maysoon’s arm tentatively. “Your fans would hate to see you upset!”
Roberto immediately hopped off his cushion and nuzzled Maysoon, which helped ease the crying a bit. They waited as the star took two short breaths in and then one long breath out with accompanying hand motions.
“My yoga teacher taught me this technique,” she explained. “The thing is, I’m here promoting a—”
“Swing Sing the movie!” Poppy gushed excitedly.
“How do you know about the film?” Maysoon raised an eyebrow. “I suppose it is pretty big news. But this isn’t Swing Sing … it’s a drama. This film is a big break for me. It’s my first chance to be taken seriously as an actor, not just a talent-show judge.”
Zaiba nodded and came to sit on the bed next to her and Poppy. Ali was stroking Roberto to comfort him. The dog looked anxious to see how upset Maysoon was. Zaiba was sure that Roberto must feel as emotional as Maysoon – like owner like pet. If they could help Maysoon to feel better, it would probably be good for Roberto too.
“I’m beyond nervous about it,” Maysoon continued, waving a hand dramatically through the air. “We’re having this big champagne reception tomorrow where I’ll be the centre of attention, but what if everyone hates the film? What if everyone hates me?” She clutched her hands to her chest. “I can’t possibly attend without my lucky charm!”
Maysoon threw herself back down and buried her face in the big fluffy pillow.
“But you’re Maysoon,” Poppy said encouragingly. “You’re the most talented performer like ever. You have nothing to worry about.”
At that moment, there was a knock at the door and Maysoon looked up startled. “Could you get that?” she asked Zaiba. “I don’t want anyone to see me like this, and my PA has gone out to get me some chocolate.”
Zaiba briskly walked to the door, excited that she was basically part of Maysoon’s entourage now. I mean, if she was letting her answer the doors, what would it be next? Answering the phone? Going to red-carpet events? But Zaiba’s stomach sank as she saw who was at the door.
“Damon Harvey, VIPTV. I just wanted to congratulate Maysoon on being reunited with Rodrigo.” The journalist was trying to crane his neck round the door, his dramatic black eyebrows arching.
“His name is Roberto and how do you know we found him?” Zaiba pressed, keeping the door closed enough to protect Maysoon’s privacy.
“Oh, journalist’s intuition,” Damon crooned in his corny TV-presenter voice. “Is Maysoon here?”
Zaiba looked back into the room and saw Maysoon shaking her head vigorously.
“No, she’s not available at the moment,” Zaiba said with a straight face. She’d heard her dad say this on the phone when Jessica didn’t want to speak to someone from work. “I think you should leave.”
Damon had one last go at peering round the door before he shot Zaiba a flashy smile with dazzling white teeth. “That’s a shame. And who are you by the way? Maysoon’s secret child? Or maybe she employs children as staff?” Damon’s arched eyebrows were wiggling madly at the idea of getting a scoop for his show.
“Stop making things up!” Zaiba was fed up with this guy now. She started to close the door on him.
“Tell Maysoon I’m so looking forward to hearing what she has to say about the new film tomorrow,” he managed to add. “I’m sure it will be very enlightening.”
The door slammed shut and Zaiba stood for a moment, still seething from the rudeness of Damon Harvey.
“See, it’s going to be a disaster,” Maysoon sobbed. “Everyone knows it! Especially now that I don’t have my lucky charm. There’s no way I’m going…”
At that moment Georgia came hurrying through the door. “Maysoon, what’s wrong?” She stopped in her tracks. “You got Roberto back?” she asked, confused. When the little dog saw her, he buried his face in Maysoon’s chest.
“Yes! But look! His diamond collar and the lucky charm are missing!” Maysoon’s shoulders sagged and she eased her head round on her neck to roll out the stress. “I think my muscles are going into spasm. Please run me an extremely bubbly bubble bath … oh, and call the police!”
Georgia nodded, though her face had turned deathly pale. She faced the friends. “You three should leave. Maysoon needs rest before tomorrow. I’ve already seen one of those journalists skulking about outside in the corridor.”
Before they even had a chance to say goodbye, Georgia had hurried them to the door and practically pushed them out of the room before slamming the door.
“So much for thanking us,” Ali grumbled.
“I might never see a walk-in wardrobe ever again,” Poppy said. Zaiba could almost see the stars swimming around behind her friend’s eyes.
“Come on. We’ve done everything we can,” she told them.
But as they turned back to their own hotel room next door, she wasn’t sure she believed her own words. She had a strange feeling in her tummy. They’d found Roberto and delivered him back to Maysoon. That had been the plan all along. But now there was the case of the missing diamond charm. It was as though there were clues whirling all around Zaiba, like the stars in Poppy’s eyes. She just had to piece them together and work out what they meant.
“Psst, Sam. Over here!”
Zaiba, Poppy and Ali were huddled by some trees near to the entrance of the function hall, trying to keep out of sight. Zaiba beckoned Sam over.
“I got your text to meet you, but why are we sneaking around?” Sam looked weary and confused. The night really wasn’t working out as she’d planned.
“Well, Sam, you’ll be glad to know that we found the dog and he’s safely back with his owner.” Zaiba took Sam’s hand and noticed the henna artist had tried to salvage some of the smeared designs by adding new flowers.
“’Well done, Zaiba. I do feel better knowing there won’t be any more canine surprises.” Sam’s shoulders relaxed a little and she patted Zaiba’s cheek.
“But there’s more, Sam. An investigation!” Ali jumped up and down, clearly unable to keep in the news any longer. Zaiba slyly nudged Ali in the back.
“It’s nothing to worry about though,” Poppy quickly added. “Also … we think we might be able to ask Maysoon to come and meet you.”
“Maysoon? Really?” At this Sam’s face lit up. “But what’s this investigation?”
“I’ll tell you more once I’ve figured it out.” Zaiba glanced over her shoulder, to make sure there were no party guests around. Then she turned back to her cousin. “But currently we are on the lookout for a stolen diamond collar!”
Sam nodded slowly and looked at each of them one by one. “Then I think you’d better get investigating. I’ll spread the news that the pup’s been found.”
With a wink and a kiss she walked back into the party, noticeably happier than before.
Poppy and Ali immediately gathered round Zaiba. “Great! So, what’s the plan?”
Zaiba took a deep breath. “The investigation is under way. The crime – a missing diamond collar. Now we need to sort through the evidence, examine the suspects and put together some theories.”
Poppy and Ali nodded eagerly, hanging on to every word.
“But first…” Zaiba looked over at the door to the function hall. “
I think we need to show our faces to Mum and Dad. We don’t want them to be suspicious!”
Tuck … tuck … swing!
A small crowd cheered as Zaiba’s dad swiftly whacked a hockey ball through two sticks marking a makeshift goal. The light had almost gone – but that wouldn’t stop Hassan from playing his favourite sport!
“Trust Dad to bring his hockey stick and ball to a Mehndi party,” Ali chuckled.
Zaiba sighed but couldn’t stop herself from grinning. As silly as he was, she loved her dad’s enthusiasm for hockey, baking – and pretty much everything else!
A small crowd of party guests, including Mariam and her parents, had congregated just outside the patio doors of the function hall to watch Hassan. Aunt Fouzia was even trying to act as goalie until someone told her that wasn’t a good idea without the proper body pads and a mouth guard. Especially when the shooter could barely see in the fading light!
Now that Roberto was no longer on the loose, it seemed the partygoers had picked up where they’d left off, and several families were giving impromptu song and dance performances.
“Darling, do the trick where you flick the hockey stick round again!” Jessica clapped.
“Don’t encourage him…” Ali said under his breath, making Poppy grin. She stole a look at Zaiba to see what they would do next.
After a good ten minutes of cheering on Hassan and a subtle nod at Sam, Zaiba decided it was time to make a move. Jessica had told them to go and help themselves from the dinner buffet. They had to come back to the party by nine o’clock to say goodnight to everyone before going up to bed, but before then they could continue exploring. Thank goodness Jessica didn’t realize that “exploring” meant “investigating”.
Zaiba gave Poppy and Ali a serious look then jerked her chin towards the function hall. Instantly they picked up on her cue. Checking that Mariam was still fixed on watching the hockey, Zaiba snuck back inside the annexe, with Poppy and Ali following a few moments later.
The Missing Diamonds Page 8