by Lauren Child
‘Boy! Sounds like you two really had a fascinating chat.’ Ruby was staring at the screen, trying to work out what it was that Detective Despo had discovered – he was looking pensive and when Detective Despo looked pensive it always meant he was on to something.
Darn it!
‘Yes we did,’ continued her mother. ‘And she asked me where my drycleaner was because she was looking for a good one – good drycleaning can be such a problem. I said I would look it up – and she said, “As soon as you find out, could you be sure and let me know?”’
Detective Despo was getting in his car and was radioing for back-up but Ruby had no idea why. ‘Mom, could you just move a little to the right? You are blocking my view.’ She hoped her mother would get the hint. Her mother moved but continued to talk.
‘I told her, “You should really get a little powder blue Oscar Birdet suit yourself, redheads always look beautiful in blue”.’
Ruby’s ears pricked up; many tall, pretty, elegantly dressed women in the world had red hair, but her mother seemed to be bumping into a lot of them lately.
‘By the way,’ her mother continued. ‘It’s nice to see you wearing your contact lenses for a change, I don’t understand this fashion for glasses. This woman I’m telling you about, she was wearing the hugest tinted glasses you’ve ever seen. Such a shame, one could hardly see her face.’
Bingo! It had to be, it could only be! The woman from the hotel, from the square, the woman in the car and of course the woman at the airport – there were coincidences and there was bad luck and her mom was certainly running into a lot of one or the other. Her mother carried on talking, but Ruby heard none of what she said – she was too busy thinking about the little man with the huge moustache. What did he have to do with all this?
And then, suddenly, she knew.
‘So Mom, you remember when you bumped into the guy at the airport, the guy with the moustache?’
‘How could I forget? That suit will never be the same,’ sighed Sabina.
‘Well, he didn’t give you something, did he?’
‘Whatever do you mean Ruby, why would he give me something?’
‘Well, I don’t know but could he have slipped something into your pocket, without you knowing?’
‘Why would he slip something into my pocket, why not just give it to me like a normal human person?’
Ruby took a deep breath. ‘Well you see it happens all the time in Crazy Cops, someone who’s being tailed by the cops or even tailed by the bad guys, purposely bumps into a complete stranger and slips something into their pocket – a secret code, or potion or valuable thing. Maybe the thing is stolen!’
‘I can assure you I would know it – that suit is very fitted, the pockets aren’t made for putting things in, it would ruin the shape,’ said her mother firmly.
‘But what about,’ ventured Ruby, ‘if it was something really tiny, like a note, or something small but valuable, like for example a ring or a key?’
‘If it were a ring or a key then the metal detectors would go off – I had to go through metal detectors to board the plane. Besides if there was anything in the pockets the drycleaner would have phoned to let me know – they always do. By the way they found a watch in your jacket.’
‘Oh did they?’ said Ruby. ‘I was missing that… but they didn’t find anything in yours?’
Sabina looked at her daughter bewildered, and said, ‘Just what are you getting at Ruby?’
Ruby saw that look in her mother’s eyes and knew there was no point trying to persuade her that a small man with a moustache, for whatever reason, had almost certainly planted something on her. Something that other people – ruthless killers in fact – badly wanted. That it was not a coincidence that her parent’s luggage was lost, and the very next day the house burgled. That Mrs Digby was not sulking, but was most probably stolen along with the furniture. And that her mom was very lucky not to have been kidnapped herself – someone had certainly tried. At best her mother simply wouldn’t believe her and at worst she would panic.
Ruby took a deep breath and said, ‘Oh nothing, guess I’ve been watching too much TV is all.’
‘I’ll say,’ said Sabina, patting her daughter on the head. ‘Your father is always saying so.’
She left the room and Ruby thought about what her mother had said. It was true, a ring, a key or something like it would have set off the metal detectors but there had to be a reason everyone was after that jacket – Oscar Birdet wasn’t that good a designer.
She took out her notebook and made a list of what she knew, and just as importantly, what she didn’t know.
WHAT SHE KNEW:
1. That a moustachioed man had most probably slipped something into her mother’s pocket, back in Geneva airport.
................................
2. That an elegant woman with big glasses and red hair was prepared to commit numerous crimes to get it. Steal, kidnap, or maybe even kill, she had a gun after all.
................................
3. That whatever the something was, it was still in the jacket.
...............................
4. That her mother’s life might well be in danger.
...............................
5. That this was no time for sitting tight.
...............................
WHAT SHE DIDN’T KNOW:
1. Who the man with the moustache was, good or bad.
...............................
2. What he had slipped into her mother’s pocket.
...............................
3. Why the redhead wanted it.
...............................
4. Why anyone wanted it.
...............................
5. Which drycleaner had the jacket.
...............................
6. What any of this had to do with anything.
...............................
‘But wait a minute,’ said Ruby out loud – maybe she did know something else after all. Ruby thought back – it was Hitch who had taken the jacket into the drycleaners. It was likely he would have kept a ticket and it was more than likely that he would have stuck it on the refrigerator door – she’d seen him do that many times with other things. Ruby got up and went into the kitchen.
She scanned the refrigerator – it was covered in receipts and lists, postcards and coupons, all stuck in place with magnets.
There it was:
She crossed off number 5 from her list of unknowns – she had the advantage.
Chapter 33.
Crisp and lean
SHE WAS PRETTY SURE SHE KNEW where ‘Crisp n Clean’ was located – she had seen their sign, which had neon lettering and a neon laundry detergent box that spilled neon bubbles. It was somewhere on the east side of town. She rarely went to that particular district but she had passed it once or twice and the brightly coloured sign had lodged in her mind. The ‘C’ of Clean was broken so it read ‘Crisp n lean.’
Ruby felt there was no time to lose, not if she was right about the woman who had visited her mother’s gallery earlier that day – and she was sure that she was. She grabbed her school bag and called out, ‘Hey Mom, just popping over to see Clancy, I promised him some help on his French assignment.’
This wasn’t an actual lie, she was going to pop in on Clance. She had promised and Ruby Redfort always made a point of keeping her promises.
‘OK honey! Your father and I will be at the very last and final museum meeting before the big launch – we can’t wait, it is so exciting. I am wondering, mmm, what do you think? Should I wear the yellow dress or the silver? I look fabulous in yellow but then again silver is a statement, don’t you agree? Oh my, of course! I should wear jade, it would be perfect! Only thing is I don’t have a jade dress…’
Her mother’s voice drifted away as Ruby slipped out of the door.
Ruby could see Froghorn: his car wa
s parked across the street and he was watching the house. Or at least he should have been watching the house, but instead seemed to be involved in some chit-chat with Consuela.
He was leaning, his hand on the hood, trying to look cool. What a potato head, thought Ruby. Unnoticed, she climbed on her bike and set off for the east district. She almost instantly regretted that she hadn’t swapped the sparkly red clogs for some practical sneakers – they made pedalling difficult.
A few miles from home, she found herself in the industrial district and after riding up and down several wrong streets she finally came upon the one she was looking for. The light in the window of Crisp n Clean was on but the back of the shop was dark and after several minutes of knocking it became obvious that everyone had gone home for the night.
Drat!
Ruby parked her bike down the alley that ran down the side of the building, and looked for a way to get in. About ten feet above her head was a little window. It was small but then so was Ruby; if she could reach it there was a good chance of her wriggling through.
She looked around and saw right at the far end a mass of old crates and cardboard boxes – she began to drag them underneath the window. It wasn’t long before she had constructed a sort of cardboard tower, but was it going to take her weight?
Lucky I skipped dinner.
Ruby took a deep breath. The box construction was very unstable, but strong enough for her to climb; however, as she pushed herself through the opening, the makeshift staircase gave way and toppled back into the alley.
Don’t worry about that now, thought Ruby, as she tumbled onto the hard linoleum floor. Just find that dumb jacket and get outta here. The room was full of sewing machines and reels of cotton, clothes piled up waiting to be mended. It seemed likely that the cleaned items would be downstairs near the front of the shop. It wasn’t easy to see, the lights were off and she didn’t want to alert anyone by switching them on. She did, however, have her mini flashlight – it would have to do. She would need to be careful – she didn’t want to draw a crowd.
Ruby trawled through the racks of clothes. There were quite a few powder blue ladies jackets. Must be a fashionable colour. She had to look at the label in the back of each one before finding her mother’s – the Oscar Birdet.
This is what all the fuss is about?
She slipped it from its hanger and peered into the tiny fitted pockets. Empty? But there had to be something, surely she hadn’t been wrong about this.
She slipped her fingers into the left hand pocket – nothing – and then the right.
Something.
Something cold and flat.
She drew it out.
And almost invisible.
She could scarcely feel its weight in her palm. So that’s what they’ve been looking for – no wonder no one found it. It looked like a letter K, a K with holes punched through it. What was it? And where to put it? She instinctively felt like she should keep it with her – not in her bag. And not in her jeans pocket: it looked delicate, made of glass.
Ruby thought for a moment, then, taking the barrette from her hair, she slipped the glass “K” on to it and clipped it back in place. It was barely visible in her thick dark hair. She had always felt that the most obvious place was often the safest place to hide something. RULE 3: PEOPLE SO OFTEN DON’T SEE WHAT IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR EYES.
Then she folded the jacket and stuffed it into her bag. Might as well make my mother happy. Now, better get outta here.
She looked at the back door – it would be a lot easier to leave that way than by the tiny upstairs window. She turned to go and then she remembered the watch. She didn’t want to leave it here, not when she was so close.
Better be quick. The mending room was upstairs – she headed up to the first floor and let the flashlight dance around the room. It wasn’t obvious where to start looking. She thought for a moment. The cleaners were bound to have a drawer for found items.
What was that?
Ruby froze.
Was that a car pulling up at the back of the building? No it was nothing. Boy, Ruby, get yourself out of here before you have a heart attack. Just get the watch and get out!
There was a desk in the corner – maybe there. She tip-toed over to it and began opening the drawers. And there it was, a brown envelope with Redfort scrawled on it. She opened it and took out the watch.
Got ya, she whispered, fastening it around her wrist. Suddenly, Ruby heard the sound of breaking glass. She stood stock-still – and then she heard a key turn on the inside of the door. Someone was coming in and it was high time she got out.
She slung her bag over her shoulder and pushed herself back out through the small window. She leapt headlong into the pile of cardboard boxes. She was glad she had watched all those episodes of Crazy Cops – they had taught her how to land. Now her adrenaline was really pumping – the fall had dislodged her left contact lens, and her right eye had begun to stream. For a few seconds she found herself practically blind. Why wasn’t she wearing her glasses? Somehow, she stumbled into her bike, got on and pointed it in the direction of town. She rode fast, not wanting to tempt fate by looking behind her.
Just pedal, Ruby!
As she rode, her right eye began to clear and she could see enough to know she wasn’t far from home. She began to laugh, the slightly hysterical laugh of one who is both relieved and a little surprised to be alive. No one had seen her, and she had gotten away free as a bird – luck was on her side.
Ruby had many hiding places, all of them good ones. As soon as she got back she would choose the best…
But she had forgotten something. Clancy! She had promised she would help with his assignment.
Drat! OK Clance my old pal, I’m coming. She made a detour at Rose and turned left up Birchwood.
It would be nice to see Clancy – although she wasn’t in the mood for French. However, she wouldn’t say no to a long cool glass of lemonade. She was just turning the corner on to Ambassador Row when she saw a dark silver car pass by. She watched as it drove a little beyond the Crew’s house and came to a stop just in front of the neighbouring wall, its engine idling. She wasn’t sure but wasn’t that…
Hitch? She smiled. Just in the nick of time too!
She pedalled fast up the road towards the car – boy! was Hitch going to feel pretty stupid for ignoring her now. Maybe she would confess about blabbing to Clancy – how she had had to tell him all about Spectrum. After all, Hitch was going to be so impressed by her detective work, he probably wouldn’t even get mad. She had her line all worked out, as soon as that butler guy opened the car door she was going to deliver her smart remark.
Ruby hopped off her bike and propped it against the huge brick wall, skipping towards the car. She had her hand on the door and was about to open it when she noticed something strange. This car that looked silver in the moonlight was not silver, it was grey.
It was not a convertible.
And the man who had just wound down the window was not Hitch.
Ruby froze as she looked into the friendly green eyes of Baby Face Marshall.
And the words of Agent Blacker came shooting back to her.
If you see Baby Face, don’t bother calling for Mommy, run!
What Clancy saw. . .
Clancy watched as Ruby cycled towards a silver car parked in front of the Smithson’s luxury home. He saw her jump off her bike and lean it against their wall.
What are you doing Ruby?
He saw her skip over to the driver’s side as whoever it was wound down the window. Hitch! thought Clancy. Then Ruby got in a little awkwardly and the car zoomed off into the darkness.
Darn it Ruby, you promised! said Clancy, slamming his bedroom window. Now I’m really in trouble!
He sank back onto his chair and stared at the blank piece of paper in front of him. Now the only thing to look forward to was getting an F from Madame Loup.
Chapter 34.
‘They could feed my toes to a
pack of vultures but I would never blab’
THE NEXT MORNING Hitch walked into the kitchen.
‘Well hello there stranger,’ said Sabina warmly.
‘Nice to have you back on board,’ said Brant. ‘Things haven’t been the same without you.’
‘Glad to hear it,’ said Hitch. ‘Now where’s that short kid? She not bothering to get up these days?’
‘Oh, you know how it is,’ said Sabina, rolling her eyes. ‘Trying to get Ruby out of bed early on a Saturday morning is next to impossible.’
‘I’ll offer her French toast,’ said Hitch. ‘She’ll be down those stairs before you can say “maple syrup”.’
Hitch knocked on Ruby’s door and was not surprised to be met with silence.
He knocked again, a lot louder, and when there was still no answer he opened the door a crack and let Bug bound over to her bed.
‘Hey, Kiddo, rise and shine, it’s a big day for…’ his voice tailed off.
It was clear to anyone who knew Ruby that she had not slept in her bed – it being perfectly made and Ruby being no maker of beds. That’s strange, he thought. He picked up Ruby’s donut phone and dialled the Crew’s number. The maid answered and put him through to Clancy, who was brushing his teeth.
‘Clancy, it’s Hitch – I don’t suppose Ruby is with you is she?’
‘No,’ replied Clancy, ‘and the weasel can collect her own bike – thanks to her I’m sure to be getting a big fat F.’
‘Her bike?’ asked Hitch. ‘She didn’t ride her bike home last night?’
‘You know she didn’t. She left it leaning against the wall – didn’t lock it or anything.’
‘Why would I know that?’
‘You picked her up in the car, remember?’
‘No, I didn’t.’
‘Yeah you did – I saw you with my own two eyes.’
‘It wasn’t me kid.’
‘Look,’ said Clancy Crew, ‘one thing I know about Ruby is she wouldn’t have just gotten into some stranger’s car and one thing I know about me, I got pretty good eyesight.’ But there was no answer from Hitch because Hitch had already hung up. He pressed the tiny button his wristwatch phone and was instantly connected to LB.