by Sarah Rubin
‘You moved the sandbags so you could drill holes in the scaffolding, but you didn’t tie them properly when you put them back.’ Even as I said it, it sounded wrong.
Pete’s already wide eyes opened even further. ‘Drilling holes in the scaffolding? I would never do something so dangerous. And I never moved the sandbags, and even if I did I can tie a sandbag off blindfolded with my hands behind my back.’
I crossed my arms. ‘If it wasn’t you, then why are you here?’
I couldn’t see it because of the paint, but I think Pete blushed.
‘When I heard Della say you’d found a secret room under the stage I thought I’d just come look. If we found the Star we could sell it to raise money for the Beryl. And maybe poor Mr Oswald’s ghost could finally be put to rest.’
Della gasped. ‘You think the ghost is Oswald?’
‘Who else would it be?’
Della nodded thoughtfully. I put my head in my hands. That was just like Pete. He wouldn’t hurt the Beryl, plus as an experienced stagehand he’d know all sorts of complicated knots for making the rigging secure. The knots I’d seen on the sandbags looked like they’d been tied by a kindergarten student.
‘Um, Alice?’ Kevin said, tugging on the hem of my shirt.
I narrowed my eyes at Pete, just because I didn’t like it didn’t mean he wasn’t the one behind the trouble. I opened my mouth.
Kevin tugged harder. ‘Alice,’ he hissed. ‘Listen.’
Something in Kevin’s tone made me stop. I tilted my head to one side and listened. Footsteps. Coming from the direction of the Stage Door. Coming closer.
‘Pete,’ I whispered. ‘Did you bring someone with you?’
He shook his head.
The door between the hall and the wings clicked as someone turned the knob.
‘Quick,’ I said. ‘Hide.’
I pushed Kevin and Della towards the hole. Pete scrambled awkwardly out of their way, hunching over to avoid the low ceiling. I jumped in after them, grabbing the edge of the trapdoor as I fell and pulling it shut behind me.
Darkness swallowed us.
Pete started to say something.
‘Shhh,’ I said.
‘What are we doing?’ Kevin whispered, his breath hot against my temple. My mind raced as I tried to figure out what to do. If the real thief was still out there and worked out this was a trap, they might stop looking for the necklace. That would be good for the Beryl, but I didn’t know if I’d ever be happy if I didn’t know who was really behind all the troubles.
‘Pete sprung the trap,’ I said. ‘The only way we can stop the thief now is to catch him red-handed.’
Pete didn’t say a word as he tried to wrap his brain about just what he’d walked into.
The darkness beneath the stage was so complete that specks of imaginary light started to flash and swirl in my vision, as if my eyes were trying to fill the darkness all by themselves. I flicked on my torch and found my way to the control panel.
I grabbed the spray-paint can and put it gently on the floor. It would only give the trap away. Then I shoved the fake necklace back into its hiding place and shut the compartment door.
The stage creaked above us. There was something a little heavier about the sound, more solid, and then it creaked again. I hurried across the small space, shoving Pete, Della and Kevin into the far corner, and turned off the light.
I held my breath as I listened to the footsteps overhead.
The trapdoor screeched and a slightly lighter shade of black opened up in the ceiling above us. I pressed further into the corner of the room, trying to melt into the shadows.
There was a moment of total silence and then a dull thump as someone dropped into the hole. The sound was soft, like whoever jumped in had experience falling into small dark spaces.
A small penlight flicked on, and I flinched, afraid we’d been caught, but the light wasn’t pointing in our direction. It swept over the wall and found the closed door of the control panel and stopped.
The backwash of the light reflected on a figure dressed all in black, medium height and build. He had the slow stealth of a snake, and moved towards the panel without making a sound. A black knitted cap hid any trace of hair. I noticed a string tied around the back of the cap and realized that whoever it was was wearing a mask.
I spread my arms, holding everyone back. We’d already had one false alarm, and this time there was no can of paint to mark the criminal. I needed him to take the fake Midnight Star, and I needed a picture of him doing it. At least this time I knew we had the right person. No one innocent sneaks into a building at night wearing all black and a mask. I held up my phone and then I gave a silent groan.
What good was a picture if the criminal was wearing a mask?
Sure, maybe the police could do some fancy ear recognition or something, but I wasn’t the police. I needed a face. My mind raced. I only had a few seconds before the thief had the necklace and left. If I didn’t act fast he’d get away.
I handed Kevin my phone and motioned to him to stay put, to take the picture. Then I pointed at myself, the thief and my face. I was starting to wish I’d taken that mime class with Della, but Kevin seemed to understand and I didn’t have time to waste making sure.
The thief already had the panel open and was rooting around inside. There was a small hiss of excitement as his penlight flashed against the jewels. It was now or never.
‘Stop!’ I shouted, and turned on my torch, pointing it at the thief.
The figure froze, penlight clutched between his teeth and the fake Midnight Star dangling from his hand. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see movement in the darkness – Kevin or Della, moving into position. I kept my eyes locked on the thief, careful not to let my gaze give them away. I just needed to keep his attention for a few more minutes.
The thief made a small hiccoughing sound of surprise. It wasn’t the kind of sound I expected from a masked intruder. He paused for a minute, gathering himself, and then dropped the necklace into a pouch that hung around his neck. He took a step backwards, towards the trapdoor.
‘I said, stop. That belongs to the Beryl.’
The thief didn’t listen. He reached up and grabbed on to the edge of the stage and pulled up with the strength and grace of a gymnast.
I had to stop him.
‘Alice, no!’ Della shouted, but I didn’t listen.
I jumped forward and grabbed on to the figure’s legs. I didn’t care how strong he was, there was no way he could pull me up as well. He tried to kick his legs free, but I held on for dear life. The struggle didn’t last long. It didn’t need to. After half a second, Pete stepped forward and yanked on the thief’s shirt, pulling him down. We landed in an undignified lump on the floor.
The thief kicked and wriggled, trying to untangle himself from my legs. He must have thought I was going to keep trying to hold him, but I wasn’t that crazy. I let him slip free, stretched up my arms and dragged the mask from his face.
I heard the snap of a camera shutter.
It was Ashley Barscay.
Pete looked at Ashley for a second. And then he sat on him.
The breath escaped from Ashley’s lungs in a giant whoosh and the fight went with it.
‘Della,’ Pete said, his voice very steady. ‘Can you get me some rope from backstage? And after that, please call the police.’
Della nodded and scrambled out of the trapdoor. Her footsteps disappeared towards the wings overhead.
I took a good look at Ashley. It hadn’t occurred to me that the thief might be someone who wasn’t part of the cast or crew, but when I thought about it, Ashley and Irinke were around the Beryl more than I was. I remembered how much Ashley knew about diamonds. I’d thought it was because Irinke was his aunt, but maybe there was more to it than that. I wondered if he’d stolen things from her too.
My eyes widened. Ashley had been with Irinke at the charity ball the night the Astor cousin’s sapphires had been stolen. He’d even b
een talking to her. I wondered how many parties he got to go to as Irinke’s escort, and how many jewels went missing when he was around. It was him – he was the thief who Interpol was after.
I took the pouch from around Ashley’s neck, opening it and pulling out the fake Midnight Star. Ashley bared his teeth at me, but didn’t say a word. I kept looking and found a small stack of silver calling cards.
I took one out and held it under the torch. It was printed in silver ink, only slightly darker than the card itself and I had to squint to make out the words in the low light.
The Phantom.
I took a step back and stared at Ashley, and then at the cards.
I walked slowly back to the metal door where I’d hidden the necklace. One of the cards rested there in place of the necklace.
‘You leave a calling card?’ I asked, picking it up. ‘Isn’t that a little bit cheesy?’ I smiled. Dad was going to have a field day with this one.
And then the ghost light went out.
The steady glow of warm yellow light that had been filtering in through the trapdoor vanished and my torch barely cut through the gloom.
‘Della?’ I called, suddenly aware that my sister had been gone an awfully long time.
Silence.
I swept my torch over the room. Pete still had Ashley pinned to the floor. But the corners of the Phantom’s mouth were tucked up into a smirk. I flicked the torch a little further. Kevin was still there too.
‘Stay here,’ I said softly. ‘I’m going to go see if I can find Della.’
I took a deep careful breath and reminded myself that there are no such things as ghosts. Then I went back to the trapdoor and pulled myself on to the stage. I wasn’t half as strong as Ashley or nearly as graceful, but after a few kicks and a helpful shove from Kevin, I made it out.
The stage was pitch-black. I swept my torch around, trying to orient myself. The beam rippled over an odd lump and I turned back. It was Della.
I rushed across the stage. Someone had tied my sister to the set staircase and stuffed a large square of black cloth into her mouth. My heart leapt up into my throat. I pulled the cloth free. Della’s eyes were wide and terrified.
‘What happened?’ I asked as I fumbled at the knots.
‘Look out,’ Della hissed. I felt the air rush behind me and I rolled to the side, fighting to get my fear under control.
A painfully thin figure dressed all in black darted out of the shadows, rolling past me and snatching the Phantom card from my hand. He was smooth and fast and made Ashley look like a three-footed sloth.
I whirled round, willing myself to see in the dark. Ashley must have had a partner.
I back-pedalled towards the front of the stage, trying to keep my movements random and unpredictable. I’d dropped my torch when I rolled, but there was no point trying to retrieve it. Holding a light in a dark room would paint a target on my back. But I couldn’t keep running for ever. If I wanted to catch the other Phantom, I needed to think of a plan. And fast.
My heel hit the edge of the stage and I stopped cold, swallowing hard. One more step and I would have fallen backwards into the orchestra pit. I closed my eyes, it was a gamble, but it was probably the best chance I was going to get.
I took a breath and then I shouted, ‘Kevin! Get help. I’ll keep him busy! I’ll keep the necklace safe.’
My voice gave my position away as clearly as a spotlight. I could hear Kevin under the stage, running across the floor towards the second exit. The Phantom could only chase one of us. I crossed my fingers he would choose me and dropped silently to my belly. It worked. As soon as my cheek touched the stage I felt the air move above my head as the Phantom dived forward, rushing towards the last place from where he’d heard my voice.
I didn’t wait for the crash or the shouts of pain when he hit the bottom of the pit. I just got up and ran, through the wings and up the small hallway. I burst out into the theatre and began running towards the lobby. Kevin could only get out by the Stage Door and I needed to keep the Phantom as far away from there as possible.
I slowed down. Listened for footsteps. The theatre was silent. I licked my lips. Mom was going to kill me.
‘You won’t get away with this,’ I shouted into the darkness. ‘I know who you are.’
There was a hiss of sound to my left and I took a quick step back, pressing into the lobby door. My mind raced furiously. If Ashley was only half of the Phantom, there was only one person his partner could be.
‘Irinke Barscay. I know it’s you. I know you’re Ashley’s partner.’
The hiss turned into a dry, papery sound and I realized the Phantom was laughing. And she was right in front of me!
I leant back against the lobby door and pushed. The door swung open and a slice of orange street light streaked into the theatre, illuminating a figure all in black. She wore the same type of mask as Ashley.
‘Partner. Ha.’ She spat out the words. The fabric of the mask distorted her voice, but now that I knew it was Irinke I could recognize it. ‘Don’t make me laugh. My turnip of an apprentice has been trying to usurp me. As if he could be the Phantom.’
Irinke took a step closer and I mirrored her, backing into the lobby. I didn’t know how long it would take Kevin to get help. All I knew was I needed to keep stalling.
‘Ashley’s your apprentice?’ I asked, edging backwards. If I could get her into the lobby, I might be able to trick her into the cloakroom and lock the door until the police arrived. It wasn’t the best plan I’d ever come up with, but it was better than nothing.
Irinke snorted. ‘The most useless apprentice I’ve ever trained. Greedy and impatient, always stealing when he should be waiting, and waiting when he should act.’
‘So it wasn’t you at the Liberty Ball? You didn’t steal the sapphires.’
‘Of course not. I’m a professional. I was only here for the real prize. The Midnight Star. But Ashley sees something shiny and he takes it, like a child. He leaves those dreadful cards, as if a good thief wants fame. If I hadn’t promised his mother on her deathbed that I would look after him . . .’ Irinke’s voice died away and she looked at me suspiciously. Like I’d been the one making her talk.
I took another step back.
‘It doesn’t matter,’ Irinke said. ‘He’s gone too far. He tried to steal the Star from me. The police can have him.’
I shuffled backwards towards the cloakroom. I could see Irinke’s smile grow as she watched me – she thought she was backing me into a corner. To be fair, she was right.
‘Why are you telling me all this?’
‘Why not? No one will ever believe you. They never believe children, no matter how smart they are. And you are smart, aren’t you?’ Irinke took a deep breath and her voice became almost wistful. It made my skin crawl. ‘If circumstances were different, I could have trained you to be a wonderful thief.’ She stepped through the door into the cloakroom. ‘Now give me the Star, so I don’t have to hurt you.’
‘I don’t have it,’ I said, pressing back against the wall.
Irinke hissed. ‘Don’t play games. I can see it in your hand.’
She moved forward slowly, stalking across the room. I took a deep breath and tried to regulate my breathing. Just a few more steps and I’d have space to run around her.
This isn’t the real Star. It’s a fake.’
‘What?’ I practically expected a forked tongue to dart between her lips.
The necklace, it’s a fake. I hid it under the stage to trick you.’
She eyed me suspiciously but didn’t take another step. I swallowed hard. It was now or never.
‘See for yourself,’ I said, and I tossed the Midnight Star into the air. It arced up in a high parabola, Irinke had to step forward to catch the necklace as it fell, and as soon as she moved, I ran.
I didn’t get far.
She was fast for an older woman. Her years of experience as a dancer had left her strong and lithe. Irinke jumped, snatched the Midnight
Star from mid-air and spun in one smooth motion, grabbing the back of my shirt and dragging me to the floor before I got more than a step past her.
I hit the floor with a thud and tried to scramble to my feet.
It was no use. Irinke planted a foot firmly on my chest. ‘Stay,’ she said, and pressed down hard enough to make my lungs hurt. She held up the Midnight Star uncertainly. She glared at me, and then brought the necklace up to her lips and touched the enormous diamond gently to the tip of her tongue. Her eyes flashed. ‘Where is the real one?’
I shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Someone stole it, someone found it, or it was lost in the fire. It could be anywhere.’
‘But the police files . . . it has to be here. You’re hiding it! Give it to me!’ Irinke pressed her foot harder into my chest, squeezing the air out of my lungs one breath at a time.
‘I don’t know,’ I gasped, but Irinke didn’t believe me.
I felt the last puff of air leaving my lungs. My head felt as heavy as lead and my ears rang. Blood hammered inside my head like a drum solo, or maybe it was more like the sound of running feet. I tried to twist to one side, but it was no use, I didn’t have the strength. I was drowning in sand and no one was going to save me.
Darkness closed around me like a tunnel.
And then there was light. Blinding electric light.
The weight lifted off my chest suddenly and I gasped in air like it was going out of style. I blinked and coughed and the room swam back into focus. Kevin was helping me sit up. Della watched from the doorway, her face very pale.
Irinke Barscay lay sprawled on the floor, her hands pinned behind her back and Jarvis knelt on top of her. I blinked again. For a second I thought he was fastening a jewelled bracelet around her wrist. My eyes focused and I realized it was a pair of handcuffs.
‘Irinke Barscay, you are under arrest for burglary, grand larceny’ – he spoke like he was reading a script, then he looked over at me – ‘and assault.’
I sat in the costume workshop, a rough grey blanket wrapped around my shoulders. Della and Kevin sat on either side of me, sporting grey blankets of their own. The police had showed up a few minutes after Jarvis snapped the cuffs on Irinke Barscay.