by Andrew Cope
‘Yes, are you sure you’re ready?’ asked Mum, giving one of her stern looks.
‘As I’ll ever be,’ smiled Dad, avoiding eye contact. ‘What do I have to do?’
‘Just sit down,’ said the professor. ‘And keep your head still. It may feel slightly strange as the lasers get to work, but it’ll all be over in a few seconds.’
Lasers? winced Lara.
Dad sat down, his neck straight, a serious look of concentration on his face. Sophie stifled a giggle.
The professor pressed another button and put his thumbs up. ‘And go,’ he said.
The helmet whirred into action and Mr Cook started to giggle. ‘It tickles!’ he said.
‘Really?’ said the professor, ‘Hmm, well this is only a prototype, remember. Still experimental,’ he added, as all eyes watched Dad.
Dad’s smile disappeared, replaced by a look of concern. ‘Experimental?’ he asked. ‘You mean it’s not safe?’
‘Oh, it’s safe, Mr Cook, don’t worry about that. But sometimes the styles don’t work out quite like the picture.’
‘Maybe you’ll have a Mohican after all, Dad,’ suggested Ollie brightly. Mrs Cook turned slightly pale.
The whirring stopped and a green light appeared on the front of the helmet.
‘All done,’ smiled the professor, loosening the strap. ‘Let’s reveal the James Bond haircut.’ Professor Cortex removed the helmet and this time Sophie couldn’t stifle her giggle.
Mrs Cook looked horrified. Her hand went to her mouth in shock. ‘What on earth –?’
‘What?’ said Dad, in a panic as he stood up and went over to the mirror. ‘Argh!’ he shrieked. What have you done to me?’
His lovely straight hair had been expertly permed. A mass of tight curls stood high on the top of his head. The sides were shaved. It was a most unusual look.
‘He looks like a poodle,’ barked Spud.
‘It’s not very 007, Dad,’ admitted Ben. ‘More OAP.’
‘I did explain,’ stuttered the professor, ‘that it’s still in development.’
‘After you’d pressed Go,’ yelled Dad, running his fingers through the curls. ‘I look like James Bond’s grandmother.’
Poodles are very intelligent, at least, thought Lara.
‘It’ll grow out, Dad,’ smiled Ollie.
‘Yes, don’t worry,’ said the professor, ‘and you can always have another go to see if we can put it right.’
Dad glared. ‘Are you a nutty professor? I’m not subjecting myself to that contraption again!’
Sophie clapped enthusiastically. ‘It’s a great idea,’ she said. ‘Just needs tweaking. What else have you got, Professor?’
‘Lots, young lady,’ he continued. ‘But now something for spies. Which one of you little fellas wants this?’ he asked the puppies, holding up a small dog collar.
Spud raised his paw. Star raised hers higher, her claws straining for the ceiling.
Pick me, Prof, she urged. Please pick me for a gadget collar.
The professor knelt down beside Star and demonstrated his new device. ‘Basic,’ he said, ‘but highly effective. This collar has a small button. Here,’ he said, pushing his glasses up to the bridge of his nose to get a closer look. ‘Press it and it releases a dart – laced with a truth drug. Victims will confess to any crimes they’ve committed, no matter how small.’
How cool is that? thought Star, her neck lengthening with pride. She eyed her brother suspiciously. I wonder if I can aim it at him to see if he stole my last custard cream?
‘Anything for me, Prof?’ wagged Spud.
‘And don’t worry, young fella,’ beamed the professor. ‘I’ve got something very special for you too.’ The professor held up another collar and Spud’s tail sprang into life. ‘Yours is even more special. Same button and same dart. But this one’s tipped with my brand-new memory-loss formula. It’s completely fabulous. Watch this.’ He turned and waved to his colleague across the office. ‘Hello, Brian,’ he shouted.
The man waved back and smiled. ‘See,’ said the professor under his breath. ‘His name’s not even Brian. It’s Nigel! The chap’s totally confused and will remain so for a whole week. I have to give him a lift home every night. He can’t even remember where he lives!’
‘Wow!’ said Ollie. ‘Maybe we could use it on Dad so he forgets how he used to look?’
‘Your father is banned from testing another gadget ever again!’ said Mrs Cook sternly, glaring at the professor.
Spud wagged his tail proudly. ‘I can’t wait to get a chance to use it on a bad guy!’
‘Keep it away from me, son,’ yapped Lara. ‘I need my brain in top condition!’
‘Right, no time for any more inventions, folks,’ finished Professor Cortex. ‘I have some final business for GM451 and the spy pups.’ He lowered his head and peered over the top of his spectacles. ‘This is top secret,’ he said, tapping the side of his nose. ‘That is, if they fancy a daring adventure?’
5. Resistance is Futile
Spud cocked his head, his eyes shining with excitement. Star’s tail beat a rhythm on the floor. ‘An adventure? Like a real mission? Do we fancy one? What do you think?’
Lara looked rather concerned. She cast a warning glance at the professor. This had better not be anything serious, she thought. We’re family pets first and foremost.
Mrs Cook sighed. ‘I don’t think so, Professor,’ she said sternly. ‘We’ve had nothing but excitement and danger since we adopted Lara.’ She pointed at Spud. ‘He’s already got a bullet hole in his ear – just like Lara’s! There’s no way I’m risking the dogs or the children ever again. I’m not allowing them to be involved in one of your special missions.’
‘Quite,’ agreed the professor. ‘But you see, Mrs Cook, this is a zero-risk project. But I totally understand if you don’t want the pups to solve a crime spree that’s been baffling the police for years. Not just here, but across the world,’ he added, his eyes sparkling. ‘And I totally understand it if you don’t want them to have their most exciting adventure to date. Or to have massive fun along the way. Even if there’s no danger,’ continued the professor. ‘I understand your position.’
I wonder what that could be, thought Lara. That sounds unlike any mission the professor has ever handed out before. Too good to be true?
The puppies’ jaws had dropped in amazement. ‘Did he say an exciting adventure?’ yapped Spud.
‘With one hundred per cent fun and zero per cent danger?’ wagged Star. ‘It’s a no-brainer! You have to let us, Ma,’ begged Spud, putting on his pleading eyes for Lara. ‘It sounds so exciting. And we’ll be ever so careful – promise!’
Lara looked at the children and her puppies. They were longing for a nod. She glanced at Mr Cook, who was standing at the mirror pulling his hair down to attempt some ear coverage. He’s not even listening! And finally at Mrs Cook, who was wearing her familiar stern face. But she’s very tuned in!
Let’s hear him out, she decided. Lara gave a doggie nod.
‘Mum?’ said Sophie hopefully.
Mrs Cook looked at the puppies’ hopeful faces. She sighed. ‘Let’s hear what you’ve got to say, Professor,’ she replied. ‘But no danger – you promised.’
The children and pups exploded with delight.
‘OK,’ said the professor, ‘here’s the puzzle.’
Clarissa White had been doing her homework on the Cooks’ home town. She was a wanted woman and everyone had been reluctant to give her the information she so desperately needed. But that was OK because she loved using force.
‘I’m sorry about this,’ she lied, clutching a pair of pliers.
A man stood in front of her, blood streaming from his mouth. He held his teeth in his hand. His eyes were wild with terror.
‘Would you be so kind,’ she purred, ‘as to avoid spilling your blood on my white carpet?’ She passed him a towel and he held it to his mouth. ‘If you’d have just given me the information first time round, we’d
have had no need to use these,’ she said, holding the tool aloft. ‘That’s your teeth gone, but I can work on fingernails too …’
The man gulped. His eyes, already revealing panic, were now watering.
‘So where are the diamonds?’ she hissed. ‘I want the location of the best haul of diamonds in town.’
The man’s resistance had gone from ten to zero. His eyes darted around – before coming to rest on the pliers. ‘The Parthingthonth’s,’ he said, spitting out more blood. ‘They liff in the big houth. Got at leath a dothen thparklerth. Betht diamonth in town.’
‘Partingtons?’ asked the lady, emphasising the ‘t’s.
‘Yeth, Parthingthonth,’ he confirmed.
Clarissa White scribbled the name on a pad. ‘Where?’
‘The manor. Fourth floor,’ surrendered the man. ‘In the thafe.’
Clarissa White looked pleased. ‘Thank you, Ivan,’ she said. ‘That will be all.’
The bloodied man was led away and Clarissa White reached for her mobile. She texted ‘Partington Manor’ and clicked Send.
6. A Man with a Plan
The Cook family gathered in the professor’s office. He swept the mess off the table and booted up his laptop. Spud jumped on to Sophie’s knee and Star snuggled up with Ollie. Ben scratched behind Lara’s ear as Mum and Dad stood nervously, Dad still tugging at his perm. The wall lit up as an image was projected on to it.
‘Diamonds,’ began the professor. ‘And rubies and emeralds. Millions of pounds’ worth of them have gone missing. From towns across the country. It seems the robbers simply pick a town and empty it of its gems.’ A picture of a diamond was beamed on to the wall. ‘The police have nicknamed them the “Roving Robbers” because they’ve swept through the country. What makes this crime so unusual is that cash is never taken. Often, after the thief has broken into the safe, there is a massive wad of notes alongside the stones. The cash is just left. As if they’re simply not interested in money.’
‘Why would that be?’ thought Ben aloud. ‘Why just take the jewels?’
‘Why, indeed,’ nodded the professor. ‘The police are baffled. And there’s another unusual angle to this spate of crimes,’ he added, clicking a button on his laptop. ‘There’s never a forced entry. No sign of a break-in whatsoever. This is the tidiest criminal – or criminals – ever. So how does the robber enter and exit without being noticed? Even the CCTV footage has failed to show anyone breaking in or out.’
‘Very strange,’ agreed Dad. ‘So do the police have any suspects?’
The professor adopted what he imagined to be his best mysterious face. ‘Just one suspect, sir,’ he said dramatically, revealing the next picture.
All eyes went to the wall, where there was a picture of a glamorous lady in white. Her cat was staring straight at the camera, its eyes illuminated in red. ‘Clarissa White,’ said the professor. ‘One very evil lady.’
With an evil cat, thought Star.
She’s an infamous jewel thief,’ explained Professor Cortex. ‘Current whereabouts unknown. But police believe she’s still active. We think she’s the brains behind this series of thefts. She’s unspeakably horrible. It’s possible she’s not the actual thief on this occasion, but is pulling the strings on the project from behind the scenes.’
‘Any more clues?’ asked Sophie.
‘Oh yes,’ chirped the professor. ‘Get a load of this. He clicked the laptop once more and a huge big top was beamed on to the wall.
‘A circus!’ marvelled Ollie. ‘That’s such a cool clue.’
‘Cool clue, indeed, Master Oliver. This is the only link between all the burglaries,’ added the professor, in what he now deemed to be his best Sherlock Holmes style. ‘They’ve all taken place when the circus is in town. Of course, once they worked it out, the police had the circus watched. Searched, even. But nothing. Zilch. Zero. No gems. No sign of crime at all. But the police still think there’s a link between Clarissa White and this circus.’ The professor reflected on a lot of puzzled faces.
‘So what kind of circus is it?’ asked Ben. ‘The old-fashioned sort, unfortunately,’ said the professor, clicking again. ‘But that may just help us.’
‘Hmm,’ said Lara suspiciously. ‘I hope that doesn’t mean any animals are in trouble!’
A man in a red coat and top hat was beamed on to the screen.
‘Awesome eyebrows!’ cooed Ollie.
‘This is Tony Jewell. Owner, ringmaster and, by all accounts, dreadful chap,’ said Professor Cortex. ‘Shouts a lot. Bullies people. Nasty man. And yes, Oliver, extraordinary eyebrows. But that doesn’t make him a criminal.’
Spud let out a low growl. ‘I don’t like him. Not if he shouts at people.’
‘And here’s his wife, Jennifer Jewell. Lovely lady. From what we can make out, she’s the opposite of her husband. And here are a few of the performers and animals,’ continued the professor, clicking rapidly through a few slides.
Lara, the pups and the children gasped at some of the pictures.
‘A bearded lady!’ woofed Star, amazed.
Ollie nearly fell off his seat when he saw the trapeze artist. ‘We definitely need to get involved with this one,’ he said. ‘It’d be so exciting to visit the circus.’
‘But the elephant and lions are not so exciting,’ yapped Spud. ‘That’s cruel!’
‘It’s more than visiting,’ noted the professor. ‘I want the puppies to infiltrate the circus.’
‘What’s infiltrate?’ asked Ollie.
‘Spy on!’ said Ben, his eyes shining.
Star looked at her brother and their tails started to wag faster than ever.
‘And next week we have the perfect opportunity,’ explained Professor Cortex, ‘because the circus will be in our town. They’re setting up the big top in the park as we speak.’
‘So the robberies will probably happen here!’ yelled Ben. ‘We have to investigate, Mum,’ he said, his eyes pleading like the puppies sometimes did.
‘Obviously, I don’t want to subject the pups to undue risk,’ coughed the professor. ‘But we need to find the robbers so they will lead us to Clarissa White or whoever is behind these crimes. The circus is holding an open day this Sunday – they have this thing where they invite some local people to take part in one of the acts. Drums up a bit of local interest and helps build a bigger crowd. I was rather hoping the pups might go along and get talent-spotted. Then they’ll be able to perform with the circus for a week. Sort of undercover, I suppose – proper spy-pup work, but without any real risk because they’re allowed to be there. They can do some careful observing, see what they can find and then report back to either myself or the police.’
Spud was off around the room, tail wagging, dancing on his hind legs. He shadow-boxed. ‘Take that, you baddie diamond robber,’ he said. ‘And one for good luck,’ he said, kicking the sofa.
Star had her nose to the carpet, sniffing hard, bloodhound-style. ‘And I’ll be finding clues,’ she woofed. ‘This powerful schnoz will find any gems that may be hidden.’
‘Just think,’ said Ben. ‘If the circus gets closed down, then all the animals will be saved too!’
I like the sound of that, thought Lara.
‘The pups look keen,’ said Sophie. ‘Can they, Mum? Can they become a circus act and go on an exciting mission?’
The colour had drained from Mum’s cheeks. She sat limply.
‘What’s the danger factor?’ Dad asked.
‘Almost zero,’ smiled the professor. ‘They don’t actually have to get involved in solving anything. They’re just observers. Learn a circus skill, join the troupe and report back. On a danger scale of one to ten, it’s a nought point five.’
Spud’s tail drooped a little. He liked the other end of the spectrum.
‘Well,’ sighed Mum, ‘I suppose if it’s just the pups, and the kids aren’t doing the snooping … and it’s going to stop a local robbery. And it involves diamonds! Then it has to be a yes.’
&
nbsp; Pandemonium broke out among the children and dogs.
‘So long as everyone’s very careful,’ she shouted above the hullabaloo. ‘And we can get free tickets to keep an eye on them during the show! Deal?’
‘Deal!’ said the professor. ‘Let the adventure begin.’
7. Judgement Day
Spud and Star had hardly slept and arrived bright and early at the circus auditions with Ben, Sophie and Ollie. A huge crowd began to gather, with quite a few people practising their acrobatic and juggling skills. At 10.00 a.m. Tony Jewell emerged from his caravan and stood on a stage to address the crowd.
‘Good morning,’ he bellowed in his best ringmaster’s voice. ‘Welcome to my circus. As you know, we have the finest performers in the world,’ he exaggerated. ‘But today we intend to choose just one act. We are on the hunt for locals. The finest, most gifted that this town has to offer. And they will be performing in this week’s shows.’
The crowd applauded warmly. Each person was issued with a numbered sticker and instructed to perform their potential circus act. Tony Jewell and a few of the performers wandered among the crowd, making notes. A tap on the shoulder meant you were out. The performers soon thinned.
Ollie got an early tap for his rubbish dance routine. Sophie’s mime act was also rather amateurish, so she was relieved to be asked to sit down. Finally, Ben and the puppies put their plan into action.
‘Let’s show them what we’ve got,’ yapped Spud excitedly.
‘Here goes,’ Ben said as he saw Tony Jewell approaching. He took the three juggling balls from his pocket and prepared to throw them in the air. The puppies sat patiently, waiting for the ringmaster to glance their way.
‘Now,’ woofed Spud, eyeing the circus owner. ‘He’s coming over.’