‘There’s Dante,’ said Archie, ‘talking to that boy.’
Holly looked and saw Dante in a corner talking excitedly to a boy with dark greasy hair. The boy raised a hand and smoothed down his hair, edging away from the director’s son while nervously glancing around.
‘It’s Callum,’ said Holly, making her way over.
‘Who?’ said Archie.
‘Callum Thackley, the person Dante was supposed to be playing.’
‘Crazy Callum Thackley? I’ve got to meet him,’ said Archie, walking over.
‘Don’t call him that,’ said Holly.
They reached the two boys and Callum’s dark eyes flickered briefly to look at Holly. He edged away.
‘Hey, guys,’ said Dante, ‘look who it is. I’ve been working on my accent, not that it matters now we’ve wrapped, but I reckon I came pretty close, eh, Callum?’
Archie put out a hand but Callum let out a nervous giggle and shrank away. Dante laughed.
‘I really wish we’d met before I did the film,’ he said, imitating Callum’s movements.
‘Dante, your dad’s looking for you. He said something about a speech,’ said Holly.
‘Right. I’ll see you later, Callum,’ Dante said, slapping him on the shoulder.
Callum tensed up, smoothed down his hair and looked at the floor.
‘I love this guy,’ said Dante, leaving to find his dad.
‘How are you, Callum?’ said Holly.
He edged closer, still avoiding her gaze, and spoke quickly, breathlessly. ‘They say I’m making progress but only because I pretend that it’s not true. I say I know the monsters are in my head because that’s what they want to hear. I say I want to get better and I don’t believe these things. But Callum lies. They are there, Holly knows. They are real, with real claws and real teeth and real flames and real anger. Soon everyone will know, won’t they?’
Holly and Archie exchanged a glance.
‘Has he been in contact again?’
Callum didn’t respond.
‘Vainclaw,’ said Holly. ‘Has he spoken to you recently?’
‘Master is always there, in my head. He’s always with me. Soon he’ll come back for me.’
Something behind Holly made him stop talking. Holly and Archie turned round to find Brant Buchanan standing behind them.
‘Ah. I was hoping you’d get a chance to meet my house guest,’ he said.
‘Callum’s staying with you?’ said Holly.
‘His father is an old friend of mine,’ said Mr Buchanan, ‘and Callum’s been through so much, I thought he deserved a holiday. You used to go to school together, didn’t you? What an appropriate setting for a reunion.’ He motioned to the film set. ‘I expect it brings back all sorts of memories.’
‘Excuse me, everyone,’ a voice was saying through the microphone. The crowd fell quiet. Theo Leggett was standing on the stage, red-faced and nervously tapping his glass on the microphone. ‘Hi. Thanks. Ladies and gentlemen, I’m proud to give you Chase Lampton, his son, Dante Lampton, and the leading lady herself, Petal Moses.’
The three of them walked on to the stage to applause. Petal was beaming with pride. Chase took the microphone. ‘Thanks, Theo.’ He addressed the crowd. ‘My old man, Connor Lampton, used to say that making movies is like making a cake. All you need are the right ingredients, the right amount of time and a hungry audience. Well, for this particular cake we …’
The sound of a mobile phone ringing interrupted him.
‘… I’m sorry, that’s mine,’ said Chase, laughing. ‘I meant to turn it off. Just one second.’ He pulled the phone from his jacket and answered it. ‘Hi, I’m kind of busy right now,’ he said, winking at the crowd. The audience laughed too but Chase’s face suddenly fell. ‘I see, right,’ he said seriously, stepping back from the microphone, talking on the phone. For a moment no one was sure what to do. Petal and Dante stood grinning uncomfortably, glancing at Chase. The director returned to the microphone. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, there is no need for alarm but I need you all to leave the building as calmly as you can. There is no danger, but I’ve been informed that a fire has started in another part of the studio.’ A concerned hum rose up in the hall. Chase raised his voice over it and said, ‘As I say, nothing to worry about but studio regulations require that all hangars must be evacuated. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.’
The crowd turned and made for the door. Buchanan placed a hand on Callum’s shoulder and led him out.
‘Why would Callum be staying with Buchanan?’ said Holly as they shuffled out.
‘It makes sense that he would know his dad. I mean, a man like Buchanan must know loads of important people,’ said Archie.
‘I suppose,’ said Holly. ‘But Buchanan’s interested in dragons and Callum’s been in contact with the most dangerous dragon of all. It’s not good.’
Outside, the fire smelt like burning chemicals. Fire wardens in yellow bibs were showing everyone where to go. As they rounded a corner, they saw the blaze in a nearby building. Three fire engines had arrived and fire fighters were trying to keep it under control, while others were making sure that no one got too near.
Holly and Archie found Chase and Dante standing in the front row watching the flames. Dante turned round and looked at them. He looked upset and his voice trembled as he spoke. ‘P … P … Petal’s in there,’ he said.
‘What?’ said Holly.
‘Petal’s over there talking to that woman who played someone in that thing about a giant octopus,’ said Archie, indicating where Petal Moses was standing chatting to a vaguely familiar actress.
‘Not her,’ snapped Dante, ‘the film. The whole film. It was all in there. It’s all gone.’
‘Gone?’ said Holly and Archie together.
‘That’s right,’ said Chase. ‘They were duplicating the tapes when the place caught fire.’
Holly looked up at the director. Perhaps it was a trick of the light but she thought she saw the curve of a smile appear at the corners of his mouth. Then he spoke.
‘You realise, Dante,’ he said, ‘that everything we worked for over these past few months has just gone up in smoke? Let’s go get a bagel.’
Chapter 26
‘What is this place?’ said Kitelsky.
‘This is Sands Hall,’ replied Dirk, slipping into tour-guide mode, ‘built in 1924 as a retirement home for a former American president and designed by a famous architect. These trees were planted to keep the garden private.’
In order to guarantee the former president’s privacy in his retirement the famous architect had planted rows of leafy trees at the back of the garden, which was where the three dragons were hiding from the hundreds of security cameras that had been installed to guarantee Brant Buchanan’s privacy.
‘What’s this Blue-cannon want with a film of us, anyway?’ said Kitelsky.
‘Buchanan,’ corrected Dirk, ‘and I don’t know.’
‘So why don’t we just go get it?’ said Putz, pushing forward.
Dirk blocked his way. ‘Because we don’t want your cameo turning into a leading role. The place is covered in security cameras.’
‘How do we get the film without being seen, then?’ asked Kitelsky.
‘Simple,’ said Dirk. ‘We cut the power.’
From the book Archie had given him Dirk had learnt that the electricity supply to Sands Hall came in via a locally located substation, housed inside a small red-brick structure. Nothing in the book indicated that the building had a back-up generator.
Dirk pointed out the substation to Kitelsky and Putz.
‘So we just need to trash and smash it,’ said Putz, once again trying to edge forward.
‘Wait,’ said Dirk. ‘There are cameras pointing at that too.’
‘So what do you suggest?’ said Kitelsky irritably.
‘There’s a vent on top, directly in the middle. I need one of you to spit poison through the vent. It should burn straight through the equipment and short the whole place. But
you can’t break your cover. You need to hit it from here.’
‘That’s impossible,’ said Kitelsky.
‘It’s not impossible,’ said Putz. ‘We used to play target practice on that old rock up in Beggar’s Canyon back home. That was about the same distance.’
‘You think it’s so easy, you do it,’ said Kitelsky.
‘OK. I will,’ said Putz.
He looked at the target, took aim and tilted back his head. A bubbling noise came from his throat. Dirk and Kitelsky watched anxiously. Suddenly Putz made a gagging noise and a stream of fluorescent green liquid shot from his throat, flying through the air, arcing then heading down towards the substation.
But it overshot and hit a pot plant, melting straight through both the plant and the pot.
‘Get out of the way. I’ll do it,’ said Kitelsky. ‘I always was a better shot than you.’
‘Don’t go any further than the edge of the trees,’ warned Dirk as Kitelsky crept forward and took aim. Kitelsky did the same as Putz only this time the poison was right on target.
There was an electrical fizzing followed by a loud CRACK! and every light in and around the mansion went out, including the little red lights on the security cameras.
‘Good shot,’ said Dirk. ‘Now stay here.’
‘We’re comin’ wi’ you,’ said Kitelsky.
‘Yeah, that’s right, wi’ you,’ said Putz.
‘Listen, I haven’t got time for this. There may still be humans in there and, if so, they’re going to come running out, looking to find out what the problem is,’ said Dirk, ‘and we don’t want them to find that the problem is a bunch of dragons creeping around. Now, stay here.’
He spread his wings and flew over the garden. His wings still hurt a lot. He landed on top of the cylindrical building, careful to avoid the glass roof. He was relieved to see no one rushing out to find out what was going on. It looked like the place really was empty.
He licked his left paw and stuck it on to the glass, then extended a claw on his right and carefully cut a circular hole, which he lifted away and slid to one side. He dropped into the moonlit room. With the electricity off he could clearly see the TV screen that Holly and Archie had described. He reached up and felt around the side, trying to locate a wire.
‘You found it yet?’ said a voice above him.
Dirk glanced up and saw Kitelsky standing on the glass roof, his spiky head peeking through the hole.
‘I told you to stay back,’ said Dirk.
‘Relax, there ain’t no one here,’ he said.
‘Yeah, relax, we’re being careful,’ said Putz, landing on the glass, which began to show signs of strain under the weight of the two dragons on it.
‘Get off the glass, you idiots,’ said Dirk.
The glass creaked as a crack snaked across it like a slow-motion lightning bolt.
‘Hey, that ain’t very friendly,’ said Putz.
‘It’s not strong enough to support two –’
Dirk’s words were cut short by the sound of glass shattering. He ducked and covered his eyes to protect them from the shards of glass that were raining down. Along with the glass came the two Desert Dragons, landing on top of him, their spikes jabbing painfully into his skin. The sound of tinkling glass lingered in the air for a few seconds then the room fell silent.
‘Get off me,’ snarled Dirk, white smoke billowing from his nostrils.
Kitelsky and Putz climbed off and stood back. Dirk stood up and shook the bits of glass off his back.
‘Watch it! You almost got me in the eye,’ said Kitelsky.
Dirk flew across the room, grabbing Kitelsky and slamming him into a wall of books that fell down, whacking them both on the head.
‘Listen, you no-good desert rat,’ said Dirk. ‘It’s your necks I’m trying to save here.’
‘What are all these things?’ said Putz, picking up a fallen book.
‘They’re called books,’ said Dirk, releasing Kitelsky and snatching the book off Putz. ‘Now stay back while I try to find the film.’
He returned to the TV screen and groped around until he found a black wire running behind the shelves. He followed it down, knocking away the books as he did so, until he came to one that wouldn’t budge. He stooped down and inspected it. On its spine was the author’s name, David Player. Dirk tapped it with his claw. It made a tink-tink noise. He felt along its spine and found an opening. He dug his claw in and forced a hidden drawer open. There was a disk inside. He went to take the disk, but the drawer shut again and part of the author’s name lit up in blue, spelling DVD Player.
‘Hey, that’s us,’ said Kitelsky.
Dirk spun round. On the screen was the film of the two Desert Dragons.
‘I never seen myself before. I got some good moves,’ said Putz.
‘How can it be playing when we’ve cut the pow—’ Dirk started. ‘Quick, get out!’
But as he spoke sheets of metal shot up in front of the bookshelves. More metal moved across the floor, knocking the dragons off their feet. The same happened over the top, blocking out the moonlight. It all happened too quickly to get out. Dirk flicked out his claws and rammed them into the wall of metal, tearing a hole, but as he did so the metal he had ripped away re-formed. He tried again but the same thing happened.
‘What’s going on?’ said Kitelsky.
‘Help me,’ said Dirk.
All three dragons went to work on the walls with teeth and claws but each time they tore a piece open it sealed itself before they could make the hole any bigger. A voice behind them caused them to stop.
‘Welcome,’ it said.
They looked up at the screen, where the voice had come from. The image of the desert had been replaced by a silver-haired man. Brant Buchanan smiled.
‘I am sorry that I’m not here to greet you personally,’ said the pre-recorded image, ‘but rest assured I will be with you very shortly. In the meantime, please enjoy this short feature.’
‘What’s going on?’ said Kitelsky.
Buchanan’s image was replaced by footage of the inside of an office. Dirk recognised it at once. It cut to a different angle, then another, and then the screen split into three so he could see three alternative viewpoints.
‘Hey, that looks like you, Dilly,’ said Putz.
Dirk watched with dismay as he saw himself drop into the office, look around, reach up and help Holly in.
‘A human,’ said Kitelsky. ‘Why, you double-crossin’ no-good dragon!’
‘I think you’re trying to save your own scaly neck too from now on,’ said Putz.
Chapter 27
When Petal learnt about the film being destroyed, she let out a piercing scream, cried, ‘Someone’s to blame,’ then phoned her mum, who told her what to do.
‘I have to take her for an emergency meeting with her lawyer,’ Miss Gilfeather told Holly and Archie, rolling her eyes. ‘Mr Buchanan has kindly offered to take you home.’
In the back of Brant Buchanan’s luxury Bentley, the billionaire sat facing backwards, to the side of the plasma TV screen, opposite Holly, Archie and Callum.
‘Poor Petal, all that work for nothing,’ said Holly.
‘Stupid girl with her stupid film, her life story destroyed, nothing left, all gone,’ said Callum, smoothing down his hair.
Something beeped and Mr Buchanan pulled out a mobile phone from his pocket. He read the message on it and smiled. ‘Ah, excellent timing. Excuse me.’ He made a phone call. ‘Hunter,’ he said, ‘meet me at Sands Hall. You can give me the information you’re so excited about and I’ve got something to show you … Yes, see you shortly.’ He pressed the disconnect button and looked at Holly. ‘Now, if you don’t mind, there’s something I’d like to show you at the mansion before I take you home.’
‘What is it?’ asked Holly suspiciously.
Mr Buchanan’s grey eyes sparkled with excitement. ‘Have you ever played poker, Holly? No, of course, you’re too young,’ he said. ‘There’s an exp
ression in the game, “to show one’s hand”. It means that all the players reveal what they’re holding. No more bluffing, no more bets. It normally indicates the end of the game. Well, Holly Bigsby, our little game is also coming to an end. I think it’s time to show our hands.’
‘What are you talking about?’ she said, trying not to look at Archie.
‘I mean, no more secrets, Holly,’ said Mr Buchanan.
‘He knows. He knows about the monsters,’ said Callum. ‘He knows the truth.’
‘What are you talking about?’ said Holly, trying to laugh it off.
‘I said no more bluffing,’ snapped Buchanan, pressing a button, causing the screen to flicker to life. ‘Now let me show you a little film that I’ve made. It’s low budget and the camera work is a little shaky in places but it’s got a terrific plot and I think you’ll warm to the actors.’
Holly gasped. On the screen she and Dirk were breaking into Brant Buchanan’s laboratory.
‘The monster,’ said Callum, seeing Dirk. He looked away, fidgeting nervously and smoothing down his hair.
The shot cut to Holly and Archie standing in the cylindrical library. ‘But didn’t he say that it was full of expensive books? Why wouldn’t he have cameras?’ said Archie on the screen.
‘That would be madness,’ said Buchanan.
On the TV, Archie looked up at the film of the two Desert Dragons. ‘But where’s the actual film?’ said the onscreen Holly.
‘You were watching a duplicated DVD,’ Brant Buchanan answered her. ‘You see, unlike World Studios, I am more cautious with my films. This is my favourite bit now.’
The shot changed again, this time showing the exterior of a house. It was dark and the camera zoomed in to find Holly and Archie standing on a balcony. Archie held up a book. A tail materialised from something on the roof and took it.
‘I believe it’s called blending, a skill unique to the Mountain Dragon,’ said Mr Buchanan.
They heard Dirk say, ‘… my gut tells me that anyone as wealthy as Buchanan is going to want to keep a secret like this to himself for a while.’
‘How very astute,’ said Mr Buchanan. ‘The phone’s tapped, of course.’
The Case of the Stolen Film Page 11