Snowflakes, Silver and Secrets

by Tracey Corderoy

  ‘It is.’ Finn nodded.

  ‘But maybe,’ grinned Hari, ‘not quite the right one for this case!’

  They carried on thinking and trying things out, but nothing sounded right. When their notebooks were half full of crossed-out scribbles, Josh tried a different tack . . .

  ‘Or LAPADA might be something to do with LAPLAND!’ he said after polishing off the last mince pie.

  ‘But Cuthbert and Fig can’t be elves!’ snorted Alice.

  ‘Oh, guys,’ groaned Bryony. This was hard.

  She sat for a while thinking and chewing her pencil. Then suddenly she recalled another clue.

  ‘And Mr Brook’s notepad had a price on it!’ she cried. ‘Above two more letters: P and R.’

  ‘Princess and Red!’ Alice blurted without thinking and suddenly everyone (except Bryony) got the giggles.

  ‘Petunias and Roses!’ Hari snorted.

  ‘Peter Rabbit!’ piped up Josh.

  ‘Possums on Roller-skates!’

  ‘Pimply Radishes!’

  ‘Properly Ridiculous ideas!’

  ‘Right!’ called Bryony.

  ‘Nah, that’s not right,’ corrected Josh. ‘You didn’t do a “P” before it, Bry.’

  Bryony sighed. ‘I mean right, as in – we’re done! I hereby call this meeting to a close.’

  ‘Oh, right,’ said Josh. ‘Um, sorry we messed about.’

  And the others all apologised too.

  ‘Nah, it’s okay,’ Bryony replied as everyone began to pack up. ‘You tried. It’s hard. I think we need to sleep on it. But you will all think about it tonight, yeah?’ Everyone agreed that they would.

  ‘Oh, and don’t forget Georgina’s odd behaviour!’ added Bryony. ‘The two cases are probably not linked at all, but her argument with Amber at the stables is still bugging me. And since when does Georgina shut down arguments, like she tried to do at the Green?’

  Bryony closed her notebook. ‘We have to solve this case – really fast. The Coopers are thinking of moving on now and I can’t bear them to leave so sad. And poor Mr Thimblefold, we have to help him too!’

  ‘You’ll work out the case in the end, Bry,’ said Emma. ‘We’ll help too, but everyone knows if anyone can sort it, it’s you.’ She patted Bryony’s arm.

  ‘Thanks,’ replied Bryony quietly.

  While every started to file down the hatch, Bryony gazed through the window. Her brain was in a whirl just like the tumbling snowflakes.

  Who stole the silver from Mr Brook?

  Who dumped it in Mr Thimblefold’s shop?

  Why dump it?

  And why there?

  Bryony didn’t know.

  But she did know one thing: this case was not going to beat her! Sometimes mysteries were like that, she thought. Like Piggy’s mane – they just needed very patient detangling . . .

  *

  Red was very happy to see Bryony that night and she was so glad to see him too. He was so loving, and such a good listener.

  As she brushed him down, Bryony told him all that was on her mind, and he replied with soft reassuring snorts, his eyes twinkling.

  When Red looked immaculate and was nibbling hay, Bryony decided to nip to the office as she still hadn’t bought him his Christmas present – the play ball.

  The yard was busy with ponies coming back in. As Bryony passed Tiberius’s stable, Tabby was picking the snow from his hooves, whilst practising her lines for the play. Her mum had originally been given the part of Wicked Stepmother but had persuaded Mr Pettifour to let Tabby have it instead because he wouldn’t use her pony to pull the carriage.

  ‘Cinderella!’ Bryony heard Tabby shriek. ‘You shall NOT go to that ball. You must stay right here and sweep the heart and kindle instead!’

  ‘Cut!’ cried Mrs Tibberthwaite-Browne. ‘We’ve been over this so many times, Tabs. Not heart and kindle – it’s sweep the hearth and cinders – otherwise she’d have been called Kindle-ella!’

  Giggling, Bryony carried on to the office, chose Red’s ball and left the money for Abi. She was just heading back, when who should she see but Amber Stepney bringing in Dash for the night.

  Bryony still didn’t know what Georgina had wanted with Amber last Monday night. She didn’t know Amber well enough to ask her either.

  But with Amber tonight was her younger sister, Jasmine, who sat by Bryony in History. If she chatted to Jasmine about school, thought Bryony, maybe she could somehow get onto the subject of Amber and Georgina . . .

  ‘Hey, Jas!’ called Bryony.

  ‘Hi, Bry!’ Jasmine waved.

  Jasmine left her sister, who carried on with Dash, and walked across to Bryony.

  ‘I don’t usually see you here,’ Bryony said.

  ‘Nah,’ replied Jasmine. ‘Ponies are more Amber’s thing. But it was either stay home alone or come here.’

  Jasmine’s hair was bright ginger like her sister’s, but she was much smaller than Amber. Bryony chatted to her for a bit about school, but just couldn’t get a link to Georgina and the argument the other night.

  Getting rather frustrated, Bryony then had an idea.

  ‘Um, Jas,’ she said. ‘I was just wondering, have you ever been over to Brook Dale Manor, that big posh house with all the land?’

  ‘Yeah, once,’ nodded Jasmine. ‘To watch Amber in the gymkhana. Why?’

  ‘Err, well . . .’ went on Bryony, still thinking on her feet. ‘You know how in History we do projects about old stuff? Well, if we ever did one about an old house, we could maybe go to Brook Dale Manor because that’s old and it’s got tons of history! W-we could even ask Georgina Brook – um, she’s the girl who lives there – all about the old place. Do you or your sister know her?’ asked Bryony.

  ‘N-no.’ Jasmine slowly shook her head. ‘I know of her but that’s about it.’

  ‘What about Amber, though?’ Bryony said quickly. ‘Does she know Georgina? Oh! Now I come to think of it, I’m sure I saw them chatting a few nights ago?’

  This was all sounding really forced but it was the best that she could do.

  ‘I don’t think Amber knows her that well,’ said Jasmine. ‘She’s never mentioned her to me, so . . .’

  She shrugged.

  ‘Oh, right,’ Bryony sighed, suddenly aware that she must sound like a right loser talking about a future (non-existent) History project in the middle of the Christmas holidays.

  ‘Never mind. It was just a thought,’ said Bryony. ‘I mean, History’s great and all that but I much prefer, um . . . Maths!’

  Bryony bit her lip. What was she doing? She did like Maths. She liked it a lot. But saying it now wasn’t helpful!

  ‘Right then.’ Jasmine checked her watch. ‘Sorry, but I’d better go. My brother Callum’s driving over after work to give me and Amber a lift home. If he remembers, that is,’ she added. ‘Callum could forget his own birthday!’

  Rolling her eyes, Jasmine gave a tut. ‘Brothers, eh?’

  Bryony nodded, but before she could reply, a snowball came whizzing from Tornado’s open door and got her right on the ear. Josh had been helping Finn with Tor, but clearly he’d had enough of that.

  ‘Really funny, Josh!’ Bryony called over. Then she turned back to Jasmine.

  ‘Yep – brothers!’

  *

  After supper Bryony worked on her Friendship Jars. She wasn’t needed at tonight’s play rehearsal, nor was Josh. But her brother was up in his bedroom reading comics, so it was just Bryony and Mum, which was lovely after all the busyness of the day.

  They were in the lounge, the fire was crackling and Mum had a lit a scented candle. Cinnamon and orange. The smell was really dreamy and relaxing.

  For Cabbage Patch Charlie’s Friendship Jar, Bryony had made some cookies. They were in the shape of radishes, carrots and bees because Charlie loved his allotment. She’d also iced them and put lots of coloured sprinkles on top.

  The Coopers’ jar was just the right size for the three little picture frames she’d b
ought from Mr Thimblefold’s shop. She hoped they’d soon fill them with happy pictures. Though sadly, she thought, not of Brook Dale . . .

  Around the wire handle of each of the jars, Bryony tied a gingham ribbon. Then she polished the outside glass until it sparkled, and attached a label saying who the jar was for, with a little message on the back. The message on Cabbage Patch Charlie’s label said:

  Grow friends like vegetables!

  (Without the watering.)

  But the label on the Coopers’ was much more serious:

  I’ll miss you . . .

  ‘They look gorgeous,’ said Mum. ‘And I know I’m not really meant to read the labels but I’m sure the Coopers will miss you too, and remember you as a happy memory of Brook Dale.’

  Mum gave her a hug. ‘You’re really kind. Just have fun too, and don’t take on too much. You can’t always solve everything, eh?’

  Bryony nodded. ‘I know,’ she said quietly. ‘If only . . .’

  ‘A rat! A RAT!’ Bryony shrieked.

  ‘Where?’ cried Emma.

  ‘There!’

  Bryony pointed. ‘It just scuttled round the back of that hay bale! All hairy, and ratty – and massive!’

  It was Thursday morning and the girls were mucking out Piggy in Farmer Jenkins’s barn while Red gave a lesson at Seaview.

  Emma put down her pitchfork and went to check around the hay bale. Emma wanted to be a vet one day so she didn’t mind rats at all.

  Bryony did. But she calmed herself quickly so that Piggy didn’t get spooked. Not that he looked remotely bothered as he chomped on a mouthful of hay.

  ‘No worries, Bry,’ called Emma. ‘I think the rat’s gone.’

  ‘Oh, good!’ Bryony smiled.

  But no sooner had she spoken than a thumping filled the air as if Ratty was back – with hobnailed boots on!

  Bryony spun around. No rat. Just Jed Jenkins belting up in his big muddy wellies.

  ‘Hey!’ gasped Jed, red-faced and panting. ‘Have either of you seen Gnawsy?’

  ‘Who’s—?’ began Bryony.

  ‘My pet rat!’ puffed Jed. ‘Okay, so there we were in the kitchen ’aving breakfast – me, Goaty, Gnawsy and Fiona.’

  ‘Fiona?’ blurted Bryony, glossing over Goaty as everyone knew Jed’s nightmare pet goat.

  ‘Yeah, Fiona,’ nodded Jed. ‘She’s Gramps’s pet pig. And boy, does she love breakfast! Just not sausages. Or bacon. Obviously.’

  Jed was talking like this was a normal thing – having breakfast with a goat, a rat, a pet pig, and the family!

  ‘But then,’ went on Jed, ‘Gran whips out her trumpet. She’s been practising for the play, see?’

  Bryony felt herself nod. Though she didn’t see at all. This was all kinds of bonkers!

  ‘So anyway, Gran blows her trumpet full-blast. But Gnawsy don’t like trumpets, do he?’ said Jed.

  ‘D-do he?’ repeated Bryony. ‘I mean – don’t he – err, doesn’t he?’

  ‘Nah,’ tutted Jed. ‘He don’t!’

  Jed shook his head. ‘He’s sensitive, see. A bit nervy, to be honest, is Gnawsy. So he bolts – fwittt – straight out the back door as Gramps is coming in from his gritting. Then Goaty gets all twitchy, ’cos Gnawsy’s done a runner. See, Goaty likes Gnawsy. When Gnawsy don’t bite him. But Gnawsy only bites ’cos he’s teething.’

  Jed shrugged. ‘Anyway, you seen him, then? A cute baby rat – dark grey, kind eyes, sharp(ish) teeth?’

  For a moment the girls just stood there, trying to take all this in.

  ‘Um, hay bales,’ Emma then muttered quietly.

  ‘Oh, brill!’ Jed beamed, clumping over to look, flecks of mud flying off his wellies. A few moments later, he returned looking pleased, with Gnawsy cradled in his arms. Bryony shuddered. It looked like a big fat hairball you’d pull out of the plughole in the bath. Except this one had teeth, and a thick pink swishy tail!

  ‘Here he is!’ beamed Jed. ‘Cute, eh? Wanna hold?’

  ‘No, thanks!’ Bryony squeaked and even Emma politely declined.

  ‘Right then,’ said Jed. ‘Come on, Gnawsy! He’s helping me learn my lines for the play. Cinderella’s on my case. She’s so stroppy!’

  ‘That doesn’t sound like Alice,’ Bryony said.

  ‘It ain’t Alice no more. It’s Georgina now,’ said Jed.

  ‘What?’ gasped Emma.

  ‘Hang on!’ cried Bryony. ‘Let me get this straight. Are you saying Georgina Brook is now Cinderella?’

  ‘Yep.’

  Jed then told them that at last night’s rehearsal Mr Brook had turned up with Georgina.

  ‘So, Mr Brook,’ grumbled Jed, ‘talked to Pettifour for ages. Then Pettifour asked Alice if she’d be okay to swap, and put Georgina as Cinders instead.’

  Bryony felt instantly furious for Alice. Georgina always got what she wanted!

  ‘So what’s Alice now?’ Emma asked Jed.

  ‘Um, Ball Crowd,’ he nodded. ‘And she didn’t seem to mind a bit!’

  Jed left, and the girls took Piggy to the beach, chattering about the play the whole way there. By the time they arrived, they both agreed that Alice was actually better off with Ball Crowd. Now she’d be with her friends, could forget about the sidecar, and wouldn’t have to dance with Jed in those wellies. Now that was all on Georgina – and it served her right!

  The beach was deserted and icy cold. The sand was covered in a fresh layer of snow and some of the rock pools had a thin layer of ice at their surface.

  The girls took it in turns to ride Piggy. ‘I hope his detangle spray works,’ said Emma, as she jumped on to have her go. ‘You only have to look at his mane and it knots. And we don’t have long to get it done now.’

  Tomorrow was Christmas Eve and the play was at two o’ clock.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ said Bryony. ‘By the time we’ve finished he’ll look gorgeous!’

  Piggy gave a snort, sounding thoroughly unimpressed with that plan!

  Bryony told Emma to ride on. Then stopping, she gave her feet a good stomp to try and get the circulation going. She could hardly feel them. And although it wasn’t actually snowing now, the clouds were so high Bryony expected more later.

  ‘Brr!’ She shivered, hoping the Coopers were keeping warm. A white Christmas was such a cosy thought. But there were so many things happening before the big day that more snow might well interfere with. How would the postman deliver the Friendship Jars, for instance, if snow blocked all the roads? And constantly keeping Seaview’s yard clear was turning into a mammoth operation!

  Wrapping her scarf around her, she ran on to catch up with Emma. ‘Hey, Em – I’m going to see Meredith after this.’

  ‘Oh, can I come too?’ Emma asked. ‘I’d love to meet the family properly after everything you’ve said.’

  ‘Sure,’ Bryony smiled. ‘Meredith is going to love Piggy.’

  Meredith didn’t know that Bryony was coming, but Bryony knew she’d be delighted to see her. Meredith was such a sociable little thing. Though perhaps she’d been a touch subdued when Bryony last visited after the row on the Green. She longed to see Meredith twirl again. Carefree and full of dizzy smiles, like on the first day they’d met.

  Bryony was also keen to make the most of the time she and the Coopers still had together. After Tuesday night’s argument Mr Cooper had seemed determined to leave town as soon as possible. Then last night, when doing their Friendship Jar, it had struck Bryony that they could go at any moment. She had to see Meredith one more time before they left for good.

  She still felt determined to solve the case too, although time was rapidly running out. The few disjointed clues that Bryony already had kept whirling around in her head. Hopefully the Coopers would say something today that would give her a bit more of a lead. Although Mr Cooper had told Mr Brook that he knew nothing about the silver, sometimes – or so Miss Swann always said – important clues could just pop out of nowhere.

  Mr Thimblefold wasn’t doing too well either, which w
as another reason Bryony couldn’t give up. That morning, when Grandpa had appeared with some eggs for breakfast, he’d said that now the sidecar was fixed, Mr Thimblefold was back in his dressing gown and slippers and his beard looked more straggly than ever. His enchanting little shop was still closed too, and whenever Grandpa mentioned it, apparently Mr T just quickly changed the subject.

  ‘Time to get Red, Em,’ Bryony nodded. ‘He’ll definitely have finished his lesson by now and we can ride to the Coopers together.’

  ‘Okay.’ Emma turned Piggy around. ‘Let’s go!’

  Bryony walked by their side, still mulling over clues, as Piggy plodded Emma off the beach. Back at Seaview, Bryony left them in the lane and hurried inside to get Red.

  ‘He’s really bouncy,’ she said, trotting him back out. ‘I just told him we were off to see Blossom and he seems so keen.’

  Red had a happy spring in his step all the way to the meadow by Bluebell Wood. When they arrived, Mr Cooper was out polishing the huge bear. It appeared to be finished and ready for Saul Salmon a day early.

  Bryony bit her lip. Ready a day early? Could the Coopers be leaving today? She felt her shoulders sag. Yes, it made sense. They were off.

  The girls dismounted by the fir trees and carefully tied up their ponies. Bryony made sure Red was next to Blossom and they greeted each other by blowing noses, just as they’d done the other day. It looked like they’d been friends forever, thought Bryony.

  She and Emma walked over to Mr Cooper and as they did so, Bryony saw he looked sad.

  ‘H-how are you doing, Mr Cooper?’ she asked.

  Mr Cooper stopped polishing. ‘Ah, Bryony . . . not so great. We’ve had a visit from the police about the silver.’

  ‘When?’ gasped Bryony.

  ‘Yesterday afternoon.’

  Mr Cooper, she thought, looked pale and tired, with dark circles under his eyes. Bryony suspected he’d been awake in the night, worrying.

  ‘Aye. Anyway, I told them my story,’ he sighed. ‘That I just took the sticks from the Brooks’ and nothing else. I went through it all, and they listened and wrote things down. But then they told us not to leave for the moment. So it looks like we’re around a bit longer.’