Search for a Star

by Cindy Jefferies

  Ellie could feel tears trickling down her face and brushed them away with her hands. “I’ve lost Ferdinand.”

  Sophie gasped. “Oh, Ellie! How stupid of me. You’re not wearing your coat any more, and I never even noticed. What happened? Where were you? How long ago?”

  The tears kept coming, and there was nothing Ellie could do about it.

  “Come on, Ellie,” said Sophie, putting her arm around her friend. “We’ll find him. This is all my stupid fault. I should never have encouraged you to smuggle him in. Let’s think. There must be a tannoy system. We can get an announcement put out, to alert people to look for him.”

  Ellie tried not to hiccup. “But he’s…not supposed to be here!”

  “You let me worry about that. But…where did you lose him? We could have a look ourselves first. If we split up we might come across him. If not we’ll get an announcement made. It’ll be okay. You’ll see.”

  Sophie was sounding confident, but she looked very worried, and Ellie was sure she was being upbeat to cheer her up. In this crowd, the chance of finding a little dog wasn’t great.

  Ellie wiped her tears away again and tried to think. “I might have caught a glimpse of him running along over there,” she said, pointing towards the harbour wall, where the boats were tied up. There were loads of people there, admiring the boats, so it was difficult to see anything much.

  “Did you?” Sophie sounded doubtful. “Well why don’t we split up. You go that way, I’ll go this way and we’ll meet back here in say fifteen minutes?”

  “Okay.”

  They both got to their feet and Sophie put the menu back on the table. “When we find him I’ll buy you the biggest cake in the café!” she said with an effort to be light-hearted. She looked at Ellie, concerned. “Are you all right? You look very pale.”

  “I’m fine,” said Ellie, not wanting to hold things up even more by explaining about her fainting fit. “See you in quarter of an hour.”

  Sophie was soon swallowed up by the crowd and Ellie headed for the harbour wall, where she thought she’d last seen Ferdinand. He was used to spending a lot of time sitting quietly in his basket in the office. Did that mean he’d want to find a quiet place by now, or would he still be galloping along, enjoying his freedom? In one way it was good that he was trailing his lead. Anyone would be able to stand on it to catch him, but what if the lead got caught up on something and got all tangled up? His little legs were so thin: Ellie couldn’t bear to think of him being hurt.

  She pushed her way through the throng of people, trying to keep an eye on the ground. It was extremely difficult, and she could see almost no distance ahead. She’d have to practically trip over him before she could see him.

  She worked her way past the boats floating on the water. There were several little dinghies, and two larger boats. One was a cabin cruiser, which looked very cool. The other was shaped rather like a fishing boat, but it didn’t have any fishing gear on its spacious deck, and was obviously meant for leisure. Ellie looked down into a small dinghy and shuddered. She really didn’t want to contemplate the possibility that Ferdinand might have fallen off the harbour wall.

  She searched as far round the harbour as she could – though the painted row of houses was cordoned off – and worked her way back towards the café. There was a whole collection of eateries near the harbour, and it took her some time to peer under every table and chair. Luckily, at this time in the afternoon not too many people were sitting at the tables. Earlier in the day the cafés and bars would have been heaving. Eventually, she made it back to the Harbour Lights café and flopped into a nearby seat. It was no use. She had no idea where Ferdinand was. They would have to own up and hope that someone had seen him somewhere in the exhibition.

  After a few minutes more Sophie arrived back. She shook her head. “It’s nothing like so crowded away from this area, but I can’t see any sign of him.” She put her hands on her hips and gazed around. “Look. There’s a huge crush over by those painted houses. That must be where they’re filming Maia Tonkin’s video. They’ve got lights, and everything.”

  “Oh yes,” said Ellie dully. “Maia Tonkin. I was supposed to be watching that, wasn’t I?” She peered over towards the harbour, but it was impossible to see anything. Ellie wondered if she ought to see if she could push her way through the crowd, but with Ferdinand lost she didn’t care about being a journalist any more. All she wanted was to have the little dog safely back.

  “I asked at a few stands,” said Sophie, trying to be helpful. “I gave them my number and they said they’d text if they saw him.” She sighed. “Where has he got to?”

  Ellie leaned her elbows on the table. “We’ve got to tell someone official. What if he’s tangled up in his lead? What if he’s hurt? Where do we go to get an announcement made?”

  Sophie was taking a last look around. “You’re right. There must be a help desk somewhere. I’ll ask one of the staff in he— Oh, Ellie, look!”

  Ellie looked in the direction Sophie was pointing, but could see nothing.

  “Over there! I saw him. He was carrying something!”

  Ellie stood up to see better, and then, in the gap between a young couple strolling past and an elderly gentleman, she caught a glimpse of a small dog, trotting purposefully along, carrying what looked like a large bone in his mouth. “Ferdi! Here!” Ellie was off like a hare, weaving between people as fast as she could, the brief sight of Ferdinand etched onto her brain. It was so frustrating. One quick sighting, and he was obscured by people again, people who were in no hurry to get out of her way. “Ferdi!”

  Another sighting came as she pushed unapologetically past a gaggle of middle-aged women. “Ferdi!” But it was no use. The little dog hadn’t heard her. And then, to her dismay he started to run, put on a spurt, and disappeared again by the gangplank of the cabin cruiser.

  Ellie followed as best as she could. When she reached the spot where she’d last seen Ferdinand she stood still, casting about for a clue.

  “Did you see a little dog here a moment ago?” she asked a man who was reading a leaflet he’d taken from a nearby table. He shook his head. Ellie was trembling. She was afraid she might cry again, and told herself sternly not to. Ferdinand was okay. He didn’t look at all hurt, and he was somewhere nearby. All she had to do was find him. Though where he’d got that bone from she dreaded to think. Maybe he’d stolen it from one of the kitchens attached to the cafés.

  Sophie caught up with Ellie and grabbed her arm. “Have you lost him again?”

  “Yes. He was running along just here, but then I couldn’t see which way he went. It was a bone he was carrying!”

  A girl about Sophie’s age, who was nearby, looking at the boats, swivelled round to speak to Ellie. “Are you talking about that dog that just ran past?”

  Ellie and Sophie looked at her eagerly. “Yes!” said Ellie. “Did you see him?”

  The girl laughed. “I certainly did. He was so cute, trotting along with a bone in his mouth. Is he yours?”

  “Yes,” said Ellie to avoid time-wasting explanations. “Which way did he go?”

  “That’s easy,” said the girl, looking even more amused. “He was trotting past the boats when something attracted his attention. He seemed to suddenly change his mind and darted up the gangplank.”

  “Which gangplank?” said Sophie, looking at both the large vessels that were tied up to the harbour wall.

  The girl pointed at the one shaped like a fishing boat. “He went on that one,” she said. “And I’m not totally sure, but I don’t think he’s come back off it yet.”

  “We’ve got him!” said Sophie gleefully.

  They made their way swiftly to the boat’s gangplank, but were pulled up short by a slim gate that barred their way. Ellie could see that it would have been easy enough for Ferdinand to slip between the bars, but for them it would be impossible. To make matters worse, a notice had been hung over the gate. NO ENTRY, it said in red letters. There didn’t see
m to be anyone in charge to ask for help. Ellie rattled the gate in frustration.

  “I thought you were supposed to be allowed on these boats,” she said. “People are going on and off the other one.”

  “Don’t worry,” said Sophie, putting a restraining hand on Ellie’s arm. “I’ll go and find someone to help us. You stay here and watch in case he comes back off. We’ve got him cornered now. It’s just a matter of time.” She disappeared at a jog, and Ellie settled down to wait. She glanced at her watch and got a shock. She had assumed it was about four o’clock, but it was just after five. Angel might be wanting to go home, and she would certainly be wondering where Ellie had got to with her dog!

  Ellie looked around for Sophie, but there was no sign of her. This was dreadful. She needed to take Ferdinand back to his mistress now! She rattled the gate again, and then noticed something. The gate wasn’t actually locked. She’d thought it was because of the notice, but actually it was simply latched. She could open it, walk through and search the boat for Ferdinand – if no one noticed her, that was. She looked around, but there didn’t seem to be anyone in charge. And there was still no sign of Sophie. Quickly, before she could falter, Ellie opened the gate, sidled through and closed it behind her. There was no going back now!

  She made her way up the gangplank towards the boat, expecting a shout to come from behind her at any moment, telling her to come back. But the shout never came. In a moment she was at the boat, and she swiftly jumped down off the gangplank and into the wheelhouse at the stern. Although it was securely tied up, when she landed, the boat dipped and rose again with her added weight. She stumbled at the unexpected movement. She’d almost forgotten it was actually floating.

  It was a lovely boat. She could imagine sunbathing on the deck, while some handsome film star steered them towards the sunset, but this was no time for daydreaming. She needed to find Ferdinand…and fast! She went down a step, so she could see into the cabin. There he was! But he wasn’t alone. Ellie stared at the person he was with. For a few moments she couldn’t take it all in, and the person seemed to be having difficulty taking Ellie in too.

  “Ferdinand!”

  Angel Makepiece’s little dog was sitting at the feet of a woman…a woman Ellie recognized. She was holding his collar, and looking at his tag…which was the very thing Ellie had tried to do with her dog in the park not so long ago. There was no sign of her little dogs though; Snappit and Beastly must have been left at home, as Ferdinand should have been.

  The woman looked at Ellie as if she couldn’t quite believe she was there. “You seem to have lost your dog,” she said at last. “He caught sight of me and came rushing up the gangplank.”

  “I expect he recognized you,” said Ellie faintly. “Like I did.” Relief at finding Ferdinand safe and unharmed jostled with the shock of seeing him with Snappit and Beastly’s owner. “We met at the park,” she explained. But it was obvious that the woman had recognized her too.

  “I remember,” said the woman. “This is your boss’s dog, isn’t it?”

  Ellie nodded. “I work for Heart…”

  “The magazine,” the woman finished for her. “Yes. And I’m sorry I had to rush off that last time. I did feel I was being a bit rude but…”

  “I thought it was a bit odd,” said Ellie truthfully. “But then I wondered…you see…I think you know Charlie Daniels!” she gabbled before she could stop herself. “And you didn’t want me to find out.”

  Just then someone else appeared through an inner door. It was a boy who looked a bit older than Ellie. He was in time to hear what she’d said and laughed. The woman looked urgently at him, but the same time as she said, “No,” he said, “Yes.”

  The woman looked cross. She turned to the boy. “Don’t, Daniel,” she said.

  “It’s all right,” he said. “It doesn’t matter any more.”

  Ellie looked from one to the other, but neither of them seemed tempted to elaborate. Finding Ferdinand safe and, bizarrely, with the very woman she’d been hoping to meet in the park, she felt reckless, and didn’t care if they thought her rude to pursue the subject.

  “I found out that Charlie Daniels used to have two dogs,” she told the boy. “They were called Snippit and Snappit.”

  The boy looked very startled for a moment, then recovered himself and smiled. “And your point is…?” he said.

  “Well,” said Ellie. “Maybe Snippit died. If so, I’m sorry, but you still have Snappit, don’t you? Ferdinand used to play with him and Beastly until…”

  The boat rocked again and Ellie wondered if it might be Sophie. But it wasn’t her. It was a man, wearing a badge that showed he worked for Replica Boats Inc. He seemed both worried and annoyed.

  He looked at the woman. “I do apologize. I know you didn’t want to be disturbed. I’ll remove this young lady and her dog immediately.”

  “NO!”

  They all stared at Ellie. “I’m sorry,” she said to the woman and the boy called Daniel. “I will go in a minute, and I’m sorry about the dog, and disturbing you and everything…” Her voice faltered for a moment and then she went stubbornly on. “I didn’t know you were going to be here…but you are…and I’ve been looking for Charlie Daniels for so long. I’ve tried the publisher, the agent…trawled through thousands of websites…I went to a bookshop and the library. And I’d wanted to talk to you in the park,” she said accusingly to the woman. “But you stopped coming, and so I had to give up. I had worked so hard at it…”

  “And you’ve done so well!” said Daniel. “Really. You have.”

  The woman put her hand on his sleeve but he shook her off gently. “It’s okay, Mum,” he said. “Really. It’s all right. I don’t mind now.” He smiled at the man who had offered to remove Ellie. “She can stay,” he said, and looked at his mother. “Can’t she?” His mother looked exasperated, but then she smiled at her son and nodded slightly.

  “What about the dog?”

  “I’ll take the dog.”

  Everyone turned to where Sophie was standing in the doorway. She had come on board much more quietly than Ellie or the man, and no one had heard her. “Give him to me, Ellie. I’ll take Ferdinand back. After all, I owe you.” She looked at the official. “It’s my fault he’s here, so if you need to escort me off the premises go ahead.”

  Ellie picked up Ferdinand’s lead and handed him over to Sophie. She smiled at Ellie. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I won’t say a word to anyone…about anything. You’ve obviously got stuff to do here. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Thanks, Sophie!” Ellie wondered what on earth Sophie would say to Angel. No doubt Ellie would find out later, and it wasn’t something she was looking forward to. She hoped Sophie wouldn’t get into too much trouble.

  When Sophie and the official had gone Ellie stood in the cabin of the boat, wondering what to say next. The woman stood up and went over to close the door. It was suddenly very quiet.

  “So,” said Daniel with an amused expression on his face. “Tell us exactly what you know, and how you know it, and I’ll tell you if you’re right.”

  “All right,” said Ellie. “I’ll tell you what I know, but it’s not very much.”

  “Wait a moment,” said the woman. “I could really do with a cup of tea. Do sit down if you’re staying, and chat to Daniel for a minute. I’m going to put the kettle on. Would you like a cup of tea, or a soft drink? The fridge is quite well equipped I think.” Without waiting for an answer she disappeared into the galley, and Ellie looked at Daniel.

  He patted the seat next to him. “Sit down. And call me Dan. Mum is the only one who calls me Daniel, and then only when she’s cross.” He grinned. “Tell me how you found out about Snappit and Snippit.”

  Ellie’s heart gave a thump. He wasn’t denying it! She must have been right. He and his mum did have something to do with Charlie Daniels’s family…at the very least they must surely be friends. Whoever they were, Ellie was getting very close to the reclusive author.
Maybe he was even on the boat at this very minute!

  “I found a blog,” she told Dan, trying hard to sound calm, even though she could feel her excitement rising. “By someone called Matt Budgeon.”

  Dan looked astonished. “Really? I thought he’d stopped that ages ago.”

  “It was quite old,” she said. “I’d looked through all the newest websites, blogs and articles about Charlie Daniels that I could find, but there was nothing to go on. So I tried starting at the back and working forward instead. There still wasn’t much, except for the old blog. I needed to get in touch,” she explained, “to ask if he’d let me interview him.”

  Dan was shaking his head. “Hang on. What made you think Charlie Daniels would let you interview him, when he hasn’t ever given an interview?”

  Ellie blushed. “Well, I want to be a journalist,” she explained. “Like my dad was. And I have this sort of part-time job for a magazine…well it’s work experience really but…”

  “So what do your mum and dad think about you chasing after people for interviews?” It was Dan’s mum, carrying a tray with a mug of tea, two glasses of orange juice and a plate of expensive-looking biscuits.

  Ellie took a glass of orange. “Thanks. Mum’s fine about it. And my dad died just before I was born. He was a war correspondent.”

  The boy stared at her. “Wow. I mean…sorry.”

  Ellie found herself smiling at him to make light of his confusion. “It’s okay. And I have his notebook, which is really cool.”

  “So. You read Matt’s blog, which is amazing, because we’re mates from school, and he didn’t do the blog for long. It was just a joke. He was always into computers and the net…and names. In fact Charlie Daniels was his idea. He was so pleased when we decided to go with it – it made his day.”