Violet and the Mummy Mystery

by Harriet Whitehorn

Brrring!! The doorbell rang again. Violet rushed to open the door, glad to have an excuse to stop talking to the rude professor. Outside were Matilde and Agnes, along with PC Green.

  ‘Oh, have you three met?’

  ‘Yes, just now,’ Matilde said, winking at Violet. ‘PC Green has told us all about his new-found fame.’

  Sure enough, PC Green was carrying a pile of his books with him.

  ‘Hello, Violet, I just brought a few copies along in case anyone wanted a signed one. And some photos too,’ he said, whipping out some large copies of the photo of him that Violet had seen in the newspaper.

  ‘Great,’ Violet replied, as kindly as she could. ‘Come in.’

  Is that everyone? Violet wondered, trying to remember the guest list. A few moments later, the bell rang again.

  Violet opened the door to a very tall, slim man, with a slight stoop. He had swept-back grey hair, a large nose that he seemed to have to peer over to speak to Violet, and pale blue eyes with heavy lids, like a lizard. He was clutching a bottle of dry sherry.

  ‘Good evening, young lady,’ he said smoothly. ‘I am Archie Fitzherbert and I was invited to a party here this evening.’

  Oh yes, Violet thought. Matilde’s boss at the museum.

  ‘Of course,’ she said. ‘Please come in – everyone’s through here. I’m Violet, Matilde’s niece.’

  ‘Violet, I am delighted to meet you,’ he replied.

  He seems nice, Violet thought and decided she would introduce him to Dee Dee. Dee Dee, who had been a young actress in 1950s Hollywood, was chatting to PC Green about the problems of fame.

  ‘Everyone wants a piece of me,’ PC Green was complaining. ‘And I feel under such pressure.’

  ‘Oh, my dear, I do remember. It must be terrible for you,’ Dee Dee sympathised in her Southern belle accent.

  ‘Of course, it has been a distraction from breaking up with Maria,’ PC Green added with a deep sigh. Maria was PC Green’s Italian ex-girlfriend.

  ‘You’ll meet someone else, I’m sure,’ Dee Dee said.

  ‘Dee Dee,’ Violet said. ‘This is Archie Fitzherbert. He is Head of the British Museum.’

  ‘How enchanting to meet you,’ Dee exclaimed, offering her hand. ‘I am Dee Dee Derota and this is PC Green.’

  Art and Rose appeared with more drinks and sausage rolls and everyone was introduced. Dee Dee was about to launch into further chitchat, when Professor Petit appeared, holding out his glass to Rose for more wine and, with his other hand, scooping up sausage rolls which he proceeded to shovel into his mouth.

  ‘Thank goodness you are here! What a strange collection of people,’ he said to Professor Fitzherbert with his mouth still full of food. Then he turned to Dee Dee and PC Green and said, ‘Why have you come in fancy dress?’

  ‘We haven’t!’ PC Green exclaimed. ‘I am a real policeman!’

  Professor Petit laughed, turning to Dee Dee. ‘And I suppose you are a real lime?’

  Dee Dee looked confused at first and was just starting to be offended when Professor Fitzherbert stepped in.

  ‘Madam, you look delightful. You mustn’t mind Professor Petit – he’s not very good at saying the right thing. So, PC Green, you’re a policeman, how interesting. Tell me, what crimes have you solved?’

  ‘Well, apart from a tricky case involving a lost cat, I’ve mostly worked with Violet, Rose and Art, haven’t I?’ He turned to the three children, who nodded. ‘So together we have solved the case of the smugglers in Italy, the loss of Mrs Derota’s brooch, the Pearl of the Orient, and then the kidnapping of the Maharani, Violet’s cockatoo.’

  ‘Really?’ Professor Fitzherbert said, looking at the three of them ‘Are you budding detectives?’

  ‘Less of the budding, more of the expert,’ PC Green said proudly.

  ‘How impressive,’ said Professor Fitzherbert. ‘We recently had some thefts from the back area of the museum where we all work. Nothing that important, just some minor pieces.’

  ‘I wouldn’t say that,’ Professor Petit said huffily. ‘They are all fine examples of New Kingdom objects – there was that very interesting scarab amulet and a gold ring . . .’

  Professor Fitzherbert continued. ‘One of your colleagues, Inspector Jones, came to investigate,’ he said to PC Green.

  ‘Dolores Jones? Oh, she’s brilliant; she does all the top cases,’ PC Green said approvingly.

  ‘Yes, she was very helpful, but unfortunately she couldn’t find the thief,’ Professor Fitzherbert said.

  Violet, Art and Rose, who, as you know, loved solving crimes, were positively twitching with questions for the Professor about the thefts, but at that moment Matilde strode over with Agnes.

  ‘Ah, I’m so pleased you’ve already met the other children,’ she said, greeting Professor Fitzherbert. ‘This is my daughter,’ she said, gesturing to Agnes.

  Matilde wished Professor Petit a good evening, but he was too busy shoving yet another sausage roll in his mouth to do more than give her and Agnes a curt nod.

  Turning back to Professor Fitzherbert, Matilde said, ‘Would it be all right if I brought the children into the museum at half-term to have a look around and see the mummy I’m working on? It’s in two weeks’ time.’

  Professor Petit made a sort of spluttering sound, but Professor Fitzherbert replied, ‘Of course, that would be fine.’

  ‘Do you think we could ask some questions too about the thefts? Just to see if we could get any further than the police?’ Violet asked.

  ‘Yes, be my guest,’ Professor Fitzherbert replied with a smile. ‘Now, let me taste one of these delicious-looking sausage rolls before Pierre eats them all.’

  ‘I have to admit they are very good,’ Professor Petit said, taking three more.

  I am sad to report that despite Agnes having been told that under no circumstances was Mr Ratty to come to the party, he had somehow ended up in her pocket and the tantalising smell of all those sausage rolls was proving too much for him. He poked his head out to have a look at just the moment Professor Petit was sneaking a sausage roll into the pocket of his suit. The temptation was overwhelming for Mr Ratty and he launched himself at the Professor.

  Well, you can just imagine the kerfuffle that followed. Professor Petit started shrieking that he was being attacked by a rodent, Matilde was shouting at Agnes and Agnes was shouting at Mr Ratty, who had scuttled under a chest of drawers with a large hunk of sausage roll. The Maharani began to squawk and Benedict had an expression like a thundercloud, while Rose, Art and Violet got the terrible giggles. And PC Green, Dee Dee and Professor Fitzherbert all politely excused themselves and thanked Camille for a lovely party.

  Violet decided that they should speak to Inspector Jones before their half-term visit so she made an appointment for them all to meet her at the police station. Dee Dee offered to take them, as her cat, Lullabelle, needed her toenails clipping, and the vet was nearby.

  Inspector Jones, or Dolores as she insisted they call her, was a very nice, sensible young woman and they all liked her immediately. She knew all about the other cases that they had solved and, unlike most grown-ups, she treated them like proper detectives. Over tea and biscuits, she talked them through her record of the thefts at the museum. Rose took some notes and they looked like this.

  THEFTS AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM

  • 3 THEFTS IN 2 WEEKS

  • 0 CLUES. 1 SECURITY CAMERA BY THE ENTRANCE THAT SHOWED NOTHING.

  • 0 EVIDENCE OF A BREAK-IN SO THIEVES MUST HAVE COME THROUGH THE 1 ENTRANCE – THE PROFESSOR’S DOOR.

  • 4 PEOPLE HAVE KEYS TO THE DOOR:

  • PROFESSOR FITZHERBERT, WHO WASN’T IN THE MUSEUM WHEN THE OBJECTS WERE STOLEN, SO NOT A SUSPECT.

  • RALPH AND ALF (THE TWINS WHO ARE SEC URITY GUARDS) – CAMERA SHOWED THEM ONLY AWAY FROM THEIR DESKS FOR VERY SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, SO NOT SUSPECTS.

  • MISS BEASLEY (PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE OBJECTS IN THE BACK AREA OF THE MUSEUM) – PRESENT FOR 1ST AND 2ND OF THE 3 THEFTS, POTENTIAL
SUSPECT.

  • PROFESSOR PETIT – PRESENT FOR 2ND AND 3RD OF 3 THEFTS, POTENTIAL SUSPECT.

  ‘Could Professor Petit and Miss Beasley have been working together?’ Art asked.

  Dolores nodded. ‘I definitely thought that there was more than one thief, and I did wonder whether those two were working jointly. What was strange was that they denied being friends, but then one of the guards from the main museum said that they always had lunch together. However, I couldn’t find any real evidence, which as you know is what you need. So I had no choice but to close the case. Hopefully, you’ll have more luck!’.

  I don’t know if you have ever been to the British Museum in London, but it is so ENORMOUS that, when you go in, beneath its great grey entrance, you feel like an ant walking under an elephant. Matilde led Rose, Art, Violet and Agnes briskly up the steps, and through the half-term crowds towards the Professor’s door at the back of the museum.

  Unfortunately, Rose and Agnes were not getting on any better, which was frustrating for Violet as she felt that neither of them was giving the other a proper chance. So Violet had spent some time persuading Agnes to let Rose come to the museum and telling Rose that Agnes really wanted her to be there. In the end, Rose’s desire to see the mummy and to find out more about the thefts had won her over.

  Matilde was humming a jolly tune as they reached a large door that said

  STAFF ONLY

  In front of it sat a scrawny young man dressed in a guard’s uniform.

  ‘Good morning, Alf,’ Matilde said, grinning at him.

  ‘Good morning, Professor. You seem in a very good mood,’ he replied.

  ‘I am,’ Matilde said. ‘This is my daughter, Agnes, my niece, Violet, and her friends, Art and Rose. All of you, this is Alf. He and his identical twin brother, Ralph, have both just finished studying Egyptology at university and are working here as guards while they’re waiting for a chance to go on an archaeological dig in Egypt.’

  The children said hello politely to Alf, who was looking at them with amusement.

  ‘You must be the young detectives I’ve heard about?’ When they nodded, he said, ‘Well, perhaps you can solve the mystery of our thefts. Feel free to ask me any questions.’

  Rose got out a pen and notebook and they checked the information about the Professor’s door and the camera that Dolores had given them. Alf confirmed it was all correct.

  ‘I have just have one more question,’ Violet said. ‘Was it you or your brother who was working when the objects were stolen?’

  ‘It was Ralph the first two times, and me the last time,’ Alf said. ‘But surely you don’t suspect me?’ he joked. ‘I can assure you I am entirely innocent. Here, let me bribe you with a mint humbug.’ He produced a bag from under his desk.

  The children smiled and, thanking him, took a sweet.

  ‘Well, if those are all the questions,’ Matilde said. ‘Follow me. I want to introduce you to my mummy, Tey.’

  In the corridor, a lady walked past them, carrying a small statue as carefully as if it was a newborn baby.

  ‘Girls, this is Miss Beasley, our cataloguer. She is an expert on all things Egyptian, but particularly New Kingdom artefacts,’ Matilde said. ‘The New Kingdom was the time in Ancient Egypt when Tutankhamun and Nefertiti lived,’ she added.

  Miss Beasley was very slim, with streaky grey hair pulled back tightly into a bun, and spiky-looking glasses. She didn’t seem particularly friendly, though she did manage to say hello, and that she hoped that they’d have an interesting time, BUT please could they not touch ANYTHING they weren’t supposed to.

  Tey, the mummy, was laid out on a table in a small white room that looked a little like a laboratory.

  ‘Oh, isn’t she a perfect example of a New Kingdom mummy? But perhaps not as good as the one my father excavated . . .’ Agnes burbled on, while the others stood silently, fascinated by the grave-faced, golden-masked figure.

  ‘How old is she?’ Rose asked Matilde.

  ‘Over three thousand years old,’ Matilde replied.

  Rose gasped.

  Agnes rolled her eyes. ‘That’s not very old for a mummy,’ she said meanly.

  Violet felt like pinching Agnes, while Matilde tutted at her daughter and turned to Rose.

  ‘Ignore her, Rose. I’m afraid Agnes has become too used to being around ancient artefacts. Three thousand years is very old for anything. Now, let me explain to you all a little about what I’ve been doing. I have actually been studying the mummy case and the coffin, rather than the mummy itself, and also the objects she was buried with, as these give greater clues to her identity. Come and look – they’re over here.’

  The case and coffin were made of wood and painted with intricate designs of hieroglyphs and pictures. And then carefully laid on a table were an assortment of large jars, little statuettes and some jewellery. Violet was in heaven.

  ‘Those are Canopic jars, aren’t they?’ she said excitedly. When Matilde nodded, she went on. ‘We learnt about those in our school project – they have the mummy’s liver and heart in them, don’t they?’

  ‘Yes, and look at these little amulets,’ Matilde said. ‘They are charms that were buried with mummies, for good luck. And these are shabtis,’ she explained, picking up one of the figures. ‘They were slaves for the mummy in the afterlife . . .’

  ‘You wanted to see me?’ A voice interrupted Matilde and they all turned around to see Professor Fitzherbert standing in the doorway.

  Matilde’s face lit up. ‘Yes, I wanted to show you what I have just uncovered. It’s a set of hieroglyphs identifying this lady as Nefertiti’s beloved nurse, Tey, as I thought.’

  ‘Really! That is fascinating!’ he exclaimed and the two of them went to huddle over the coffin.

  ‘And what’s even more exciting is that I’ve started translating the next section, and I think it will confirm that Tey was buried near Nefertiti,’ Matilde said. ‘I am very hopeful that I’ll be able to work out the exact location of Nefertiti’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings. It would make perfect sense for Nefertiti – as a queen – to have been buried there.’

  Professor Fitzherbert swallowed hard and took a deep breath. ‘That indeed would be remarkable. The lost tomb of Nefertiti. Imagine the treasures . . .’

  ‘Are we running a nursery now?’ a voice interrupted them. Professor Petit strode into the room. ‘Matilde, I do hope you are not letting these children touch anything.’

  The four friends exchanged glances.

  ‘Of course not,’ Matilde replied.

  ‘Matilde has made the most remarkable discovery,’ Professor Fitzherbert said, his voice quivering with excitement.

  ‘Oh really?’ Professor Petit asked, his eyes narrowing with irritation.

  ‘Yes,’ Matilde said happily. ‘As I thought, this mummy is Tey, and I expect that she will lead me to Nefertiti’s tomb.’

  Professor Petit’s face turned a purply-red.

  ‘No! You cannot have found out such a thing. You are wrong! I have spent my whole life looking for Nefertiti’s tomb. No! It cannot be!!’ And he stormed out.

  They all loved their visit to the museum, and were fascinated by the mummy. But, when the four of them talked about their visit later, they agreed that it hadn’t helped them make much progress with solving the crimes. Rose had noticed another piece of evidence pointing towards Miss Beasley – that she was an expert on the New Kingdom and all the items stolen were from that period of history. But then, as Agnes said rather unkindly, so were her mother, her father, Professor Fitzherbert and Professor Petit, so it was hardly conclusive evidence.

  To try and help, they turned Rose’s notes into a crime-solving matrix.

  Disappointingly, it didn’t tell them much more than they knew from talking to Inspector Jones. Violet hated an unsolved case, but she knew that there was nothing to be done unless there was another theft, so they just had to hope that if the criminals did strike again, they left some more clues.

  As
it turned out Violet didn’t have to wait very long for another theft. It was early on the Friday morning after half-term, the Maharani and Pudding were having a noisy squabble and Violet was just pouring a twirl of golden syrup onto her porridge when the telephone rang. Shortly after, her mother came into the kitchen in fluster.

  ‘That was poor Matilde in a terrible state! Her mummy has been stolen.’

  ‘Someone has stolen Grand-mère?’ Benedict teased, waving his piece of toast and marmalade around in the air. ‘Good Lord. I bet that was quite a business.’

  Camille shot him a look. ‘Her mummy at the museum.’

  ‘But that’s terrible. When did it happen?’ Violet asked. She hadn’t ever imagined something as important as the mummy being stolen.

  ‘Last night at some point. Professor Fitzherbert came into the museum very early and raised the alarm. Apparently, Inspector Jones is busy on another case so Professor Fitzherbert requested that PC Green come and investigate.’

  ‘Oh dear,’ Benedict replied.

  Agnes and Rose still weren’t getting on, but the mummy theft gave them something to focus on, and they agreed with Violet that they couldn’t leave PC Green to solve the case on his own.

  ‘Why don’t you all come over to my flat after school?’ Violet said in the playground at breaktime. ‘We could get Art to come too and then we can telephone PC Green and see what he’s found out.’

  ‘Good plan,’ Rose said. ‘I’ll fetch Art when we get back.’

  ‘No, I will – I live next door to him,’ Agnes said.

  ‘But I can just as easily get him,’ Rose said, frowning.

  ‘We can all go and pick him up,’ Violet snapped, feeling thoroughly irritated with both of them.

  But, when they got home from school, Norma said, ‘You have a visitor,’ and sure enough, there in the kitchen sat none other than PC Green, munching through a pile of Norma’s freshly baked chocolate-chip cookies.