by Dan Lee
Mr Pei looked helplessly at the dish, then at Sensei Johnson.
‘I-I,’ he stammered. ‘I don’t –’
‘What’s the problem?’ said Johnson. ‘Is it genuine or not?’
‘But… you…’
‘Hey, don’t look at me,’ said Johnson. ‘I’m not the art expert – you are!’
Matt was puzzled. Johnson looked and sounded innocent, compared to the guilty, stuttering Mr Pei. Could it be that Johnson had had nothing to do with it? Had he been talking to Mr Pei about something else?
Mr Pei looked wildly around, like a hunted rabbit. Then, abruptly, he jumped down from the podium and ran for the door.
‘After him!’ shouted Sensei Johnson. ‘He’s a thief!’
There was a buzz of consternation. Everyone moved towards the door and several people ran out after Mr Pei.
Mr Wu strode towards the door, taking out his mobile. ‘Security? Do not allow Mr Pei to leave the building. And call the police immediately!’
All eyes were fixed on the end of the hall where Mr Pei had escaped. It was a surprise for Matt when he turned back to the judges’ table and saw that the Jade Dish had gone.
So had Sensei Johnson.
‘Which way?’ said Catarina.
‘Where can they go?’ asked Olivier. ‘All the exits are being sealed.’
‘Unless…’ Matt had an idea. He looked up and noticed Chang stood outside the doorway of the dorm, watching. He blinked once, slowly, and Matt felt as though his teacher was waiting to see what he would do next. ‘They won’t get past the security guards at the entrance, but what about the car park? Johnson’s school bus is there – and the exit is automatic if you’ve got a visitor’s pass, isn’t it?’
Shawn nodded. ‘You’re right. It’s probably the only way they can still get out – let’s go!’
The car park was a large underground space lit by bright white lights with glittering steel pillars.
‘There he is!’ said Matt. Sensei Johnson was just getting into the school bus, holding the Jade Dish under his arm.
He turned and saw them. A scowl distorted his face.
‘Stay back, kids – I’m warning you. I’m getting outta here – and no one’s going to stop me!’
‘Are you sure of that?’ said Olivier.
The Tangshan Tigers slowly approached.
‘Why don’t you put the dish down?’ said Matt. ‘You don’t want it to get broken.’
‘The only thing that’s gonna get broken, kid,’ said Johnson, ‘is your neck!’
He swiped viciously at Matt with the dish. Matt ducked, feeling the wind from the blow ruffle his hair. He launched himself forward and flung his arms round Johnson’s knees, making him stagger.
Johnson raised his hand to bring a karate chop down on Matt’s neck, but Olivier darted forward and blocked the blow. He and Shawn hung on to Johnson’s arms, preventing him from striking.
‘Let me go!’
‘Not likely!’ said Catarina.
‘Let go – or I’ll drop the dish. It won’t be so priceless when it’s in a thousand pieces!’
‘You wouldn’t!’ said Olivier.
‘Wouldn’t I?’
Sensei Johnson released the dish.
Matt saw it plunging towards the concrete floor of the car park, twisting, turning, flashing gold and emerald under the bright lights – and then he saw Catarina diving gracefully forward, catching it with two outstretched hands a centimetre above the floor.
Johnson struggled even harder. He was a powerful man and managed to break free.
‘Give me that dish, girl!’ he hissed.
‘No,’ said Catarina. She was on her feet now, holding the dish protectively. ‘You won’t look after it.’
Johnson charged at Catarina – but Matt, Shawn and Olivier barred his way. He aimed a volley of kicks and punches at them – but the Tangshan Tigers, well trained by Chang, dodged and blocked expertly. Catarina carefully placed the Jade Dish behind a pillar and helped the others defend themselves against Johnson’s assault. Johnson was a trained and powerful athlete, and could certainly have beaten one or two, perhaps even three Tangshan Tigers. But four were too much for him.
Matt blocked a karate chop double handed; Shawn grabbed Johnson’s other arm and pulled; Catarina stuck out a long leg so that he stumbled over it; Olivier gave him the final push that sent him face first to the ground.
Oliver sat on his legs; Matt and Shawn took an arm each.
In the distance, they heard the sound of a police siren.
‘Do you want to go and tell them where we are, Catarina?’ said Matt.
‘Sure thing. Don’t go anywhere, will you?’
‘Don’t worry,’ said Matt. ‘We won’t.’
The police led Johnson to the foyer. The Tangshan Tigers went with them. Mr Pei had already been caught and was standing between two police offi cers. He looked at Johnson balefully.
‘I never should have listened to you!’ said Mr Pei. ‘It was a crazy plan; I told you from the start!’
‘Yeah? Well, you were happy enough to come in for a share of the profits, weren’t you?’
‘I am arresting you both and you will be charged with theft,’ said the police inspector. ‘You do not have to say anything, but I should warn you that anything you do say may be taken down and used in evidence –’
‘All right!’ screamed Johnson. ‘I did it! I tried to steal something that would have kept me in comfort for the rest of my life! Do you blame me? I’m getting old; I won’t be able to coach for much longer – I need to support myself when I retire. You were happy enough to come in on it for a share of the loot, Pei. Everyone’s in it for the money, aren’t they? Everyone’s corruptible!’
But they’re not, thought Matt. He exchanged glances with the Tangshan Tigers and saw they were all thinking the same thing. Chang Sifu wasn’t corruptible. No amount of money would ever make him do anything dishonourable.
‘Take them away,’ said the inspector.
Later that day, the journalists arrived. They turned up at the school gates in a pack, toting notebooks and cameras and recording devices.
Matt and his friends were watching through the window.
‘Hey, we’re big news!’ said Catarina.
‘It’s fantastic!’ said Shawn. ‘Those same journalists who made fun of my dad – now they’re going to have to eat their words. They’ll have to explain that there’s nothing wrong with my dad’s security system, except that Mr Pei switched it off.’
‘And it’s all thanks to us!’ said Matt. ‘The Tangshan Tigers! We won our first tour nament and we cracked our first case!’
‘High fives!’ said Catarina – and they all high-fived each other, laughing in delight.
‘Yes, you are right to celebrate,’ said a voice. It was Master Chang, who had entered the room without anyone noticing. He could move as quietly as a cat when he wanted to. ‘You deserve your celebration.’
‘Oh, you mean… for winning the tournament?’ said Matt. He wasn’t sure how much Chang had heard.
The ghost of a smile hovered on Chang’s lips. ‘Yes, that too,’ he said. ‘I wish you luck with the next one.’
‘The next tournament?’
‘Yes,’ said Chang softly. ‘That too.’
As Chang left the room, Matt and his friends looked at each other. ‘What do you think he meant?’ Matt asked. Catarina laughed.
‘Who knows?’ she said. ‘Chang Sifu is a mystery.’ The others laughed too, then turned to look out of the window at the crowd of reporters. All of this was because the Tangshan Tigers had solved their first mystery.
‘I wonder what the Tangshan Tigers will do next,’ Olivier said.
Matt smiled. ‘Who knows?’ he said. ‘But I can tell you one thing.’ His friends waited to hear what he would say next. ‘I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be a great adventure!’
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