by Lyn Gardner
“We were horrified when we discovered that Jack had been the victim of one of Mitch’s scams,” said Tati.
“We never meant to cause you trouble,” said Evie quietly.
The grown-ups looked at each other. “We believe you, of course we do. The question is, what are we going to do about you now?” Jack looked worried.
“We’ll sort something out,” said Alicia. “It’s the least we can do. You’ve been through a great deal, girls, but you’re safe now. It’s time to go to the police, get this mess cleared up and make sure Mitch gets everything he deserves.”
Evie looked as if she was going to cry. “But if we go to the police, the social services will become involved and I could end up being sent to a children’s home, couldn’t I? Tati and I want to stay together.”
Jack looked agonised. “Alicia, we can’t guarantee that won’t happen, can we?”
Alicia shook her head.
“Please, Miss Swan, please wait. Just give us a couple more days. You’ll be leaving Edinburgh soon anyway, and I want to get Jack’s money back for him before you go. I know how I can do it, and it’s the least Tati and I can do after all the trouble we’ve caused. A few days won’t make any difference, surely, and it would mean so much to us,” said Evie.
She looked so desperate that Alicia relented, even though she shook her head and said she wasn’t sure she was doing the right thing. But it had made both Evie and Tati beam.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Olivia sat down on the grass next to Evie feeling shy. Evie grinned at her. Olivia didn’t think that Evie and Tati had much to grin about, and after hearing their story, she didn’t feel much like smiling either. She felt guilty. Really guilty.
“Evie, I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I really didn’t mean to accuse you of being a thief.”
Evie just smiled more. “I know that, Olivia. And I should never have booed you. It was wrong and arrogant of me. Livy, I am a very good tightrope walker; you will be a great one.”
Olivia smiled. “Well, you’re going to be the world’s best dog trainer,” she said.
“Yes,” said Evie, sounding very like Eel. “I am.” She grinned at Olivia.
“Evie,” said Olivia. “How exactly do you plan to get Dad’s money back for him?”
“Oh,” said Evie. “That’s easy. I’m going to make Mitch an offer he won’t be able to refuse.”
“What?” asked Olivia, puzzled.
“I’m going to offer to swap the sapphires for the money he swindled from Jack. They’re worth much more to him. Particularly as he’s got the earrings, too.”
Olivia was appalled. “But you can’t do that! The necklace is the only security that you and Tati have. You can’t give it up just so Jack gets his money back. Jack won’t let you. I won’t let you.”
“Ah,” said Evie with a little secret smile, “but I don’t see how you can stop me.”
The roar of the crowd subsided, the Swans took their last bow and ran out of the ring. It had been an electrifying performance, with everybody on top form. Alfie’s magic act had been much appreciated by the crowd, and Olivia and Evie’s high-wire duel was so charged that the audience gasped and then cheered. The fairies and the animal procession had been utterly enchanting, and when Jack and Olivia had done their high-wire act it had felt as if the whole tent was holding its breath. It was just as well. A five-star review in the Guardian that morning as well as the growing word of mouth had ensured a full house, and two people had been in from the team that awarded the prestigious Fringe Firsts, including the chief critic of the Scotsman, a dark-haired woman who had beamed and clapped wildly when Alfie had stolen her notepad and biro without her noticing.
It was beginning to look as if the Swan Circus might triumph after all. On the strength of it, Alicia had decided to splash out on getting some proper glossy programmes printed and they were selling like hot cakes. Olivia and the others were still pumped full of adrenalin but rather than running back into the dressing-room tent, they ran a little way down Calton Hill and sat on the grass together.
“You do realise that if Gran catches us still in our costumes, we’ll all be toast,” said Eel warningly.
Olivia ignored her. “So,” she said, looking at the others very seriously. “Have you had a chance to think about my plan. Are we agreed? We’ll put the plan to Evie and Tati and if they think it’s a good idea, we’ll put it into action?” Everyone nodded.
“But will it work?” said Aeysha, looking anxious. “The trouble is that we won’t know until we do it,” said Georgia. “It’s risky, but it’s worth a try.”
“But after everything they’ve been through, we’ve got to do something to help Evie and Tati,” said Olivia. “After all, she’s trying to get Dad’s money back. I’d feel so guilty if I just let her do it without trying to help in some way. Tati was right, compared with them we’ve all got it made.”
“You musn’t feel guilty, Livy, that you were suspicious of them. If I’d known about the newspaper cuttings, seen the photos and overheard the same conversations, I’d probably have thought so too,” said Aeysha.
“Alfie,” said Olivia, “are you certain that you’re up for this? So much depends on you. We can’t do it without you.”
“Oh, he’s been practising like mad,” said Eel confidently. “He even managed to make Harry disappear this morning.”
“Well, all of him except his bark,” laughed Alfie, “which rather gave the game away.”
“Fortunately,” said Aeysha, “humans don’t bark much.” Then she added thoughtfully, “Although, of course, Evie does have a bit of a bite.”
They all laughed before hurrying away to take off their costumes before Alicia caught them. Olivia went to find Evie and Tati. If they agreed to try Olivia’s plan, the Swan Circus was going to have to give the performance of its life.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Evie slipped down the aisle to where Mitch was sitting in the second row. Olivia had directed him to that seat after she’d torn his ticket when he came in. Evie sat down in the empty aisle seat next to him. He had a small suitcase tucked between his feet.
The show was almost halfway through, and out of the corner of her eye, Evie could see that Alfie was getting ready to do his next solo conjuring act that would take them up to the interval. In the ring, the Swans were doing their sequence on the silks and Kasha’s dreamy music was helping to create a genuine sense of enchantment. In their sequined costumes and sleek green and aquamarine leotards with leggings, their faces covered with streaks of blue and green make-up and touches of glitter, the Swans looked like exquisite, ethereal creatures from another dimension. Everyone was lost in the performance and didn’t notice that the thickset man and the girl in the second row were behaving slightly oddly.
“Have you got the money?” hissed Evie, out of the corner of her mouth. Mitch kept his eyes on the show in the ring but nodded.
“Show it to me,” said Evie.
“Oh, Evie, don’t you trust your uncle Mitch?” said Mitch with a sly grin, his eyes still fixed on the performance.
“You’re not my uncle and I have no reason to trust you,” snapped Evie.
Mitch opened his programme and inside Evie could see a wad of notes. She eyed them carefully and got him to fan them out. She wouldn’t put it past him to put a few real £50 notes on the top and then plain paper cut to size underneath.
“Where’s the necklace?” demanded Mitch in a loud whisper. Evie indicated the programme that was on her lap, and opened it so that he could see the jewels. Mitch’s eyes gleamed and he ran his tongue over his lips greedily.
“You do realise,” he said silkily, “that I’m only doing this out of the goodness of my heart. I’m giving you much more than the necklace is worth.”
Evie snorted. “Come on, Mitch, everyone knows you haven’t got a heart. You were in the wrong queue when they were handing them out. You’re giving me the money because you know that the necklace is worth three
times the money you swindled out of Jack, and because you know it’s your last chance to get it before you leave Edinburgh for good. I’ve been making a few enquiries and you’re getting out because there are a lot of people in this city who are very upset with you and all your double-crossing.”
“You know nothing,” sneered Mitch. “Let’s just get on with it and I’ll be on my way. The Costa Brava here I come.”
“I think,” said Evie softly, “that you better look behind you.” Mitch turned round. A sheen of sweat appeared on his brow. A few rows further up in seats on either side of the aisle were two burly men he clearly recognised and wasn’t at all pleased to see.
“You wee double-crosser. You’ve lured me into a trap,” he snarled. “The deal’s off.”
“I had no idea they’d be here,” said Evie. “But tell you what, I’ll help you get away. It suits both of us. Let’s do the swap, and then you just stay put until the next act. It’s a conjuror. He’s very good, even though he’s only a kid. When he asks for a volunteer from the audience, you get down there smartish. We’ll conjure you out of the big top so you don’t have to come face to face with your two friends up there.”
Mitch looked around wildly. He could see that he was trapped, and had no choice but to go along with Evie’s plan.
“All right,” he said gruffly and he pushed the programme towards her. She took it carefully before handing hers over. The silks sequence was coming to an end. Evie ran nimbly up the steps, taking great care of her bulky programme that she had shoved under her hoodie out of sight of prying eyes. She ran out of the big top and round to the performers’ entrance, where she found Olivia waiting for her with Alfie and Tati.
“Slight change to Olivia’s brilliant idea,” she announced as she handed Olivia the programme with the money and pulled off the jeans and hoodie that she was wearing over her leotard. “Alfie, you not going to make Tati and me disappear as Olivia suggested, you’re going to make Mitch disappear. It couldn’t have worked out better if we’d planned it,” She continued to swiftly explain what she wanted him to do.
Will, in his elephant costume, was just concluding squirting the audience with water and the music was changing. This was the cue for Alfie to take to the floor with his disappearing act. The audience had already enjoyed Alfie’s act with the rabbits and they were looking forward to seeing what he did next. Olivia ran around to the back of the band. Kasha saw her coming and just raised himself very slightly from his seat, allowing Olivia to secrete the bulging programme underneath him. It would be quite safe there until the interval. He winked at her and played on.
Out in the ring, Alfie was wearing his too-big-for-him hat and the cloak with its crescent moons. He was busy charming the audience with his patter.
“And now, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I’m going to make a member of the audience disappear. But I’m going to need all your help. I can’t do it on my own. This is such a stupendous undertaking that I simply don’t have the power alone. I need all your magical powers to help me to magick a volunteer into another dimension.” He waved his wand with a flourish and opened the front and back doors of his box. It looked like an exotic wardrobe, covered with tiny silver stars and magic squiggles. The audience could see daylight on either side.
“Now,” said Alfie, “I need a volunteer. It must be an adult and it must be someone strong and brave who is prepared to travel through time and space.”
The drama in his voice made the audience smile but nobody had their hands up.
“Come on, ladies and gentlemen,” said Alfie, wagging his finger at them as if they were all naughty children. “There must be someone here with a spirit of adventure, someone strong and brave who is not easily frightened, who is in a hurry to get somewhere…”
Mitch had his arm up and was waving it around in the air.
“Sir,” said Alfie, walking towards him and putting out his hand to draw him into the ring. “Let me congratulate you on your courage. I always think that it’s really important to have witnesses when you’re about to do something really brave, and you, sir, have an entire audience to clap and cheer you on your way.”
Mitch looked suspicious as if he thought that he was being made fun of but couldn’t quite work out how it was happening. There was something comical about the way the small boy was leading the sweaty man clutching his suitcase. The two burly men jeered.
“I’m glad to see that you came prepared for a long journey, sir,” said Alfie with a grin.
Evie and Olivia looked at each other. “I think your cousin might be slightly overdoing it,” said Evie. “I wish he’d get on with it. We don’t want Mitch turning nasty. He’s got a horrid temper.”
Alfie opened the door to the box with a flourish and ushered Mitch in. It was a tight squeeze.
“Are you sure that you’re quite comfortable, sir?” said Alfie, giving Mitch a good pat as if he was a dog. “You look a little hot, sir, let me cool you down,” and he waved his arms around Mitch in a fanning motion. Mitch had gone very red in the face. “Now, sir, are you quite sure that you are ready for your journey?”
“Yes,” snapped Mitch. “Get on with it.”
“Gran,” said Olivia to Alicia, who was standing with them, watching. “You know you were very keen to call the police and tell them about Mitch? I think now might be the moment to do it.”
Alicia looked at Evie, who nodded. “Yes,” she said with great satisfaction. “Livy is right. It’s the perfect moment. Tell them to come to the bottom of Calton Hill if they want to catch the jewel thief.”
With a lot of arm-waving, Alfie made a great show of locking the box. Then he pulled across a small sliding window in the top of the box through which Mitch’s grimacing face could be clearly seen. He looked so uncomfortable and so clearly not brave that the audience laughed. This made Mitch furious, which made them laugh all the more. Alfie hurriedly pulled the sliding window shut.
“Right then, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we’re going to do some magic. Remember, I can’t do this without you. I need you all to think very hard about a tropical island, and through the power of thought alone we will transport this brave man to an island paradise. So all together now, think hard while I wave my magic wand.”
Kasha and the band struck up, the music sounding like a spell. Alfie waved his magic wand. He muttered an incantation. He tapped the box once, twice, three times, and then with a flourish he pulled back the window. There was no sign of Mitch.
“He’s sat down,” cried out a child in the audience. “He’s still in the box, hiding.”
“Oh no he isn’t,” said Alfie with a grin, playing to the crowd.
“Oh yes he is!” they chorused delightedly.
“Oh no he isn’t,” said Alfie, undoing the locks and throwing open the doors of the box. It was quite empty. There was a moment of astonished silence and then the crowd erupted with a roar, and began to clap wildly. The two men who had been tailing Mitch looked at each other, shrugged as if neither of them could quite understand what had happened to Mitch, and made hurriedly for the exit.
Mitch was halfway down Calton Hill. He couldn’t believe his luck. That little Evie had actually done him a favour and helped him out of a tight spot. All he had to do now was take the sapphires and the other stolen jewels he had in his case to a fence who would give him a good price, and then he would head straight to Edinburgh airport and get himself out of the country. Soon he’d be far away on a permanent sun-soaked holiday. Silly kid, those sapphires were worth far, far more than the sum he had swindled out of that sucker Jack Marvell.
Mitch patted his inside jacket pocket where he had secreted the sapphires for safe-keeping. A wave of nausea swept over him and he almost stumbled. The necklace wasn’t there! Or the earrings. He felt in all his other pockets, but he knew that he wouldn’t find them. They had been filched by that boy-magician. He was certain of it. He gave a howl of rage and turned around, determined to go back to the circus and raise merry
hell. He’d kill that Evie Purcarete who thought she could get one over him.
He broke into a run, and as he did so, he saw the two men he most didn’t want to meet in the world coming towards him. He turned on his heel and fled, but as he reached the main road he heard a police car screech to a halt and saw two policemen leap out and run towards him. Two more police cars arrived.
Mitch dropped his precious suitcase and it fell open. A ruby brooch tumbled on to the pavement. One of the policemen scooped the brooch and the suitcase up, and the other lunged for Mitch and brought him down. Mitch struggled as his hands were forced behind his back and into handcuffs. He knew that he wouldn’t be heading off into the sun after all. He groaned and rued the day he had met Evie Pucarete or heard of the Swan Circus.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“It’s so exciting!” said Aeysha, looking out of their dressing-room tent at the long queue snaking from the box office. “It’s going to be another full house.”
“We’re completely sold out tonight, too. Returns only,” said Eel happily.
“We deserve to be full,” said Evie. “The reviews have all been raves. Look, Livy, there’s a massive picture of you and Jack on the high-wire in the Guardian. They say ‘this is a truly enchanting show that will make every child – and adult – want to run away and join the circus.’”
The Swans were all buzzing with excitement. They’d just come from the ceremony at which they had been awarded their Fringe First, and there was a strong rumour that they were going to get a Herald Angel, too. A TV crew was going to be filming part of this afternoon’s performance, and producers from both the Barbican and the South Bank were coming to see the show with an eye to transferring it to London the following summer. Both Alicia and Jack had told them not to get their hopes up.