Don't Feed the Rat!

by Annie Appleton

  Emily nodded her head, her face all lit up. ‘So are they suspects?’

  ‘Well, they had the brooch in their possession seemingly after Godric’s murder and now it was found near the scene of another murder.’ Jacob scratched his head. ‘The questions that remain are, where did they get the brooch and is it connected to the murders or is it just coincidence?’

  ‘And why would they kill Godric and Ian? What motive do they have?’

  Jacob started walking. ‘We need to find out more about those guys.’

  They walked along Woolaston Road in silence for a bit, thinking about possibilities. Everywhere little groups of people stood talking to each other, skittishly looking over their shoulders. The second murder in a week had given the citizens of Milbury much to talk about.

  Suddenly Jacob stopped. He slapped a hand to his forehead. ‘Now I know where I saw that brooch before. It was on that picture!’

  Emily looked at Jacob, brows knitted. ‘What picture?’

  ‘The one in Godric’s shed.’ Jacob was on the move again, walking fast. ‘We have to get it!’

  Back at the allotments, Jacob paced up and down near the bench on the green, waiting for Emily to return. She had managed to sneak in under the crime scene tape without attracting the attention of the police. As long as she wasn’t caught. He stretched his neck to peer down the allotment path, then paced some more.

  Two minutes later Emily appeared and ducked back under the tape. She crossed the street at a run and joined Jacob on the bench.

  ‘Did you find it?’ he asked.

  Emily grinned and pulled the picture frame from under her hoodie. ‘Ta da... No one saw me.’

  They studied the picture. It was black and white and showed a man and a woman in their forties, with two younger women in their early twenties. They looked sternly at the camera, dressed in their nicest clothes. The older woman was wearing a brooch that looked a lot like the one Emily had found.

  Jacob took the brooch out of his pocket and held it next to the picture.

  ‘I’m sure it’s the same one,’ Emily said.

  Jacob nodded. ‘Yes, it looks very similar. I wonder who these people are.’ He opened the back of the frame and took the picture out. Something was scribbled on the back in pencil. Jacob squinted at it, then put on his reading glasses. ‘Fortieth birthday Fiona Douglas née Irving 25 March 1947.’

  ‘Do you think the older woman is Fiona?’ Emily said. She took the picture out of Jacob’s hand and studied it closely.

  ‘Possibly.’ Jacob twirled the brooch in between his fingers. ‘The interesting thing is that the surnames are Scottish.’

  Emily nodded. ‘What do we do now?’

  Jacob stood up. ‘I’m going to do some googling. I’ll take the brooch and picture and see if I can find some more information about them. You just remain here and keep an eye on police proceedings.’

  ‘Remain here? Again?’ Emily crossed her arms and glared at Jacob. ‘I have been doing nothing but remain here at the allotments all week. I want to come with you and do something useful.’

  ‘It’s better if we split our resources. It’s no use both of us staring at a computer screen. What if something happens and we’re not here to see it?’

  Emily stamped her foot. ‘But it’s just a bunch of old people at the allotments. Nothing ever happens there.’

  Jacob raised an eyebrow. ‘Have you forgotten the two murders we’ve had this week?’

  ‘Ugh, I mean besides the murders. Nothing happens in between.’ Emily thought for a moment, then her face lit up. ‘I’m younger than you, so I know more about computers. You might need my help.’

  ‘I have a PhD in Biological Physics and built my own supercomputer. I think I can handle a bit of googling on the internet.’ Jacob walked off, leaving Emily standing at the bench.

  She glared at his back. ‘What if the old people on the allotments run riot and I need your help?’

  ‘Text me!’

  * * *

  Paddy

  Pete’s voice rang out again. ‘Come on, you guys! You really have to check out all this yummy food! There’s more than enough for all of us!’

  We’d been waiting for Pete to appear for a while and I was getting somewhat impatient. It sounded very tempting to take a look in Mad Maggie’s kitchen, but my fear of running into her stopped me from going into the garden.

  Eddy also refused flat out to go near the house. He sat on the wall all rigid. ‘There is no way I’m going near that dog food again. It’s the most horrible stuff I’ve ever seen.’ I didn’t blame Eddy. If I was a vegetarian I guess I would be freaked out by dog food as well.

  I scratched my fur. There was something else bugging me. ‘Why did Little One put Pete into Mad Maggie’s kitchen?’

  Vinnie pondered this. ‘You have a point, actually. Why did she?’

  ‘Does she want to make Mad Maggie madder? If so, that would mean Little One is dangerous to us, just like Cecil.’

  Vinnie shook his head. ‘I think Little One just had an axe to grind with Mad Maggie, so she’s more of an ally to us.’

  ‘Well, maybe. But if Mad Maggie finds Pete has ransacked her kitchen, she will become very mad at us.’ I paced up and down the wall a bit. ‘I don’t think Little One’s thought it through that far, and therefore I think she’s dangerous.’

  Pete’s voice came from the kitchen. ‘I don’t really care. This cake is the best! Seriously, guys. It’s chocolate!’ There was a clattering, then silence.

  ‘Oops,’ Pete said. ‘Well, I think it’s just as yummy from the floor...’

  ‘This is getting ridiculous.’ I jumped off the wall into Mad Maggie’s garden. ‘Someone needs to talk some sense into him.’

  Vinnie and Eddy watched as I made it across the garden and jumped from a large flowerpot on to the windowsill. Peeping through the opening in the window I saw Pete on the floor of the kitchen eating his way through an enormous chocolate cake.

  ‘Hey, Paddy! You’ve come after all.’ He held up a large pawful of cake. ‘Taste this. It’s gorgeous!’

  Tempting as it looked and smelled, I shook my head. ‘No, I don’t want any. Just get out of here, Pete. You never know what might happen. You’re putting yourself in unnecessary danger again.’

  ‘What made you such a scaredy-rat?’ Pete said. He took another enormous bite out of the cake. I glared at him. In the distance a door slammed and we both looked up.

  ‘Was that here?’ Pete said with his mouth full. There was a tripping sound of nails on floor tiles and the snorting of a dog.

  ‘Yes, it was!’ I whispered. ‘Mad Maggie and her dog are back! Get out of here!’

  The kitchen door opened. In a flash the dog was on top of Pete, who with an almighty jump scrambled on top of the cooker. I saw Mad Maggie come into the kitchen. For a second we made eye contact. My heart raced and all I could do was jump off the windowsill, back into the garden. It was every rat for himself right now. If Pete was eaten by the dog, it would serve him right.

  I ran back across the garden and made my way up the wall. From behind me Mad Maggie’s screams pierced my ears. I reckoned they could probably be heard on the other side of the allotments.

  ‘Catch him, Major, catch him!’ her voice came. ‘You filthy rat, you’ve eaten all my food! Look at the horrible mess in my kitchen!’ Her screaming was accompanied by the sound of breaking glass and the dog going wild, barking like mad.

  ‘Get out of there, Pete!’ Vinnie yelled, while he pulled me on top of the wall. Breathless we watched the dog running across the counter, chasing Pete around the kitchen. There was the clatter of pots and pans crashing to the floor. Pete and the dog made another lap around the kitchen, while Mad Maggie screamed some more. Finally, Pete managed to escape out of the kitchen window. We all cheered. The dog was hot on Pete’s heels, but was too large to worm himself through the opening. Instead, he barked like mad.

  Pete ran across the grass and climbed up the wall. He was panting, bu
t smiling from ear to ear. I hardly recognised him. He was an even bigger mess than I thought.

  ‘Look at you,’ I said. His mouth and paws were sticky with chocolate. Cake crumbs were stuck to his fur and his head, and his ears and whiskers were covered in icing sugar.

  ‘What a feast!’ Pete said.

  Mad Maggie opened the back door and came running out with a broom held aloft. ‘I can see you, you flea-ridden, filthy creatures. You did this on purpose. I know you did!’ She made her way across the grass, swinging her broom; we jumped off the wall before she reached us.

  We ran down the hill and I could hear her screams in the distance.

  ‘There was so much food, you guys,’ Pete said while we ran. ‘There was Yorkshire pudding, pasties, choc-chip cookies, apples, bananas and this amazing chocolate cake...’

  Cecil appeared on the path. ‘I see that the fat rat is covered in food again.’

  I had no patience for his bullying and pushed him aside. Ignoring him, we ran on.

  ‘I’m building this most amazing prank,’ Cecil said to our retreating backs. ‘So you’d better watch where you’re going.’ We didn’t react and Cecil jumped up and down in anger.

  I could only think of Mad Maggie’s wrath. She was going to take revenge, I just knew it.

  We arrived at the bottom of the hill completely out of breath. Vinnie looked over his shoulder.

  ‘She didn’t follow us, we’re okay.’

  ‘Yeah... for now,’ I said.

  I looked at Pete, who was licking one of his paws. He was as filthy as I had ever seen him. The chocolate icing of the cake had gathered in clumps on his fur from running down the hill, and the icing sugar had made it all the way down to the tip of his tail.

  Eddy leaned in and sniffed Pete from a distance. ‘Is that dog food I smell?’ His nose wrinkled at the thought.

  ‘Oh yeah,’ Pete said. ‘There was a bowl of that stuff in Mad Maggie’s kitchen as well.’ Eddy jumped back, disgust written all over his tiny cute face. Pete grinned and took a step towards Eddy, paws outstretched.

  ‘Argh, get away from me!’ The squirrel jumped several feet away. ‘I don’t want to get all sticky and horrible.’

  I didn’t blame Eddy. I didn’t want him near me either. Pete was disgusting.

  ‘Perhaps we should wash you with a hose,’ I said. ‘You’ll be clean again much faster.’

  Pete looked up at me, eyes wide. ‘Why are you saying that?’ He started licking his paws like a mad rat. ‘I will lick myself clean in no time.’

  As we watched Pete, an idea struck me.

  ‘Wait a minute, guys.’ I looked about me. ‘I know how we can get rid of Moe!’

  They looked at me.

  ‘Vinnie, you know more of the surroundings down here. Is there any allotment with a hose?’

  Vinnie thought for a second, then nodded. ‘Yes, there is.’

  ‘Let’s go.’

  Single file we made it on to the allotment across from where Vinnie’s digs were. Eddy made up the rear, keeping some distance from Pete. It was a tidy allotment, with dwarf cherry trees covered in netting. Hmpf. As if that would stop us from going after the cherries.

  Against the wall of the shed we found a bright orange hose, all neatly coiled up, one end attached to its water supply.

  ‘You’re not really going to spray me, are you, Paddy?’ Pete said, hiding behind Vinnie.

  ‘No, I promise I’m not. And you’d better stop licking yourself clean, Pete. For this plan you need to be filthy.

  It didn’t take long to set our plan in motion. Vinnie and I unravelled the hose, while Eddy jumped on top of the water supply.

  With Pete, I walked to the path. ‘Go,’ I said. ‘And make sure you come back with that Maine Coon in tow.’

  ‘Will do!’

  I watched as Pete made his way up the hill to Cecil’s digs. I knew we were taking a risk of him running into Cecil, but I was counting on the stupid furball being busy with his ‘amazing’ prank.

  Vinnie joined me and together we watched as Pete stood at the entrance to Cecil’s allotment and jumped up and down.

  ‘Hey, Moe!’ He waved his paws in the air. ‘You stupid cat. Wake up; I have something to show you.’

  Pete started running in our direction and it wasn’t long before Moe stuck his head out of the entrance and looked down the hill.

  Pete turned around. ‘Come quick! There is an amazing pile of food down here.’ He started running again. We watched as Moe couldn’t contain his curiosity. Sniffing the air he slowly made his way down the hill. I had never seen a cat that wasn’t curious, even a large one like Moe. Perhaps this proved he wasn’t a ratlore creature after all.

  Pete reached us and grinned. ‘He was sleeping on his pillow with no one else around.’

  Vinnie and I retreated on to the allotment and grabbed the end of the hose. Pete waited for Moe to arrive, then also made it on to the allotment.

  ‘In here, Moe,’ Pete said. ‘I will show you the food.’

  The giant cat tiptoed his way on to the allotment. Pete stood in front of us shielding the hose behind his considerable bulk. Moe sniffed the air some more and studied Pete, taking in the chocolate icing on his fur.

  When Moe was two feet away from us, I signalled Eddy to turn on the water supply. It didn’t take long for the water to make it down the hose. The pressure almost ripped it out of our grip, but Vinnie and I held on for dear life. If this went wrong, Moe would kill us all.

  I felt the hose ripple as the water reached the nozzle. ‘Now, Pete!’ I yelled and Pete jumped out of the way of the spray.

  With some force the water hit Moe square between the eyes. The cat jumped three feet in the air and let out a terrified scream. As soon as Moe hit the ground again, we aimed the hose and sprayed the cat some more. Pete and Eddy helped us hold the nozzle, while Moe started to make zigzags across the allotment to avoid the spray.

  ‘Get him!’ Pete yelled.

  We followed the cat around with the hose, spraying him as much as we could. His long fur was soaking wet and stuck together, making him look smaller than usual.

  ‘How dare you!’ Moe yelled and made a lunge for us. But we simply aimed the hose and sprayed him some more. ‘Arggg...’ he yelled.

  ‘Nooo, what are you doing?’ I hadn’t seen Cecil coming on to the allotment with part of his posse. ‘Stop that! Cats don’t like water.’

  ‘Oh, don’t they?’ I said. ‘I didn’t know that.’

  ‘Let’s get him,’ I said over my shoulder to Vinnie and Pete and together we pointed the hose on Cecil.

  The spray hit Cecil with so much force that the young rat fell back and tumbled over a few times. The posse also got sprayed and scattered in a panic.

  Cecil lay on his back on the grass, wiping the water out of his eyes. ‘Moe! Help me!’

  The now not so giant cat looked at Cecil, then at us, still holding the spraying hose. He got up and looked down his dripping nose at Cecil. ‘This wasn’t part of our deal. I’ve had it with you and your petty little war. Perhaps you can find some stupid dog to do your dirty work.’

  With that Moe turned on his heel and stalked off the allotment.

  ‘Moe!’ Cecil scrambled up. ‘Come back! I’m going to make it up to you.’ He ran after Moe, but the cat started running and in a flash disappeared down the path.

  ‘Yay! He’s gone!’ Pete said, jumping up and down. ‘Good riddance.’

  ‘I can’t believe that actually worked,’ I said.

  Vinnie clapped me on the shoulder. ‘Great work.’

  ‘Guys,’ Eddy said. ‘I can’t hold this hose any longer! The pressure is too great!’

  In our enthusiasm we’d forgotten that the hose was still on. Now the wriggly nozzle sprung from Eddy’s paws, making big loops in the air, soaking us all. Vinnie and I both dived on top of the hose in an attempt to stop it, but to no avail. A large spray hit Pete.

  ‘I hate getting wet!’ he said, jumping up and down in frustrati
on.

  Eddy ran to the water supply and turned it off. He returned looking all weird now that his big fluffy tail was like a soaking wet rag.

  I burst out laughing, pointing at Eddy. ‘You look so funny.’

  Pete and Vinnie both snickered, then started laughing. Eddy glared at us for a moment, but he couldn’t keep a straight face.

  ‘You guys look funny as well,’ he said. ‘All soaking wet like that.’

  We collapsed in a giggling heap, laughing and making fun of each other.

  ‘Ahem.’

  I looked up and saw Cecil glaring down at me.

  ‘Moe is gone,’ he said. He stamped a paw on the soaked grass. Water splattered up and Pete snickered.

  ‘He’s gone, and this is all your fault.’ Cecil pointed at me. ‘You will regret this.’ He turned on his heel and stalked off.

  ‘Ooh, I’m so scared,’ Pete said at Cecil’s retreating back.

  ‘Stop it, Pete,’ I said. I realised that Cecil might still be a threat. He was sure to retaliate and I hoped that however he was going to do it, we could handle it.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Emily stared after Jacob as he walked down Milbury Road. Stupid old professor. It wasn’t fair that she always had to stand watch. She wasn’t a little girl any more. And contrary to what he had just said, she probably did know more about googling and the internet than him. She was sure of it. He was just some old guy in his fifties. What would he know?

  Emily plonked herself down on the bench and crossed her arms. The police proceedings on the other side of the road seemed to wind down. There were far less police cars parked now than before and the ones that were still there were now being packed with the equipment the crime scene team had used on Ian’s allotment.

  McDermott and Abe made their way under the tape. Emily ducked and watched them drive away. Good, her main enemies were gone. Now it was easier for her to snoop around. She didn’t like either man. McDermott had it in for her, because of her probation, and Abe was just an annoying young cop. And besides, how could they be so stupid as to think that Jacob and Georgie were in cahoots with the murders? Stupid guys. They didn’t know anything.