‘You’re going to come with me to my car and if you do anything to draw attention to yourself – anything at all – I’ll make sure that you are very, very sorry. I hope for your sake that I make myself crystal clear.’
Theo gulped and nodded. He tried to prise Mr Dove’s fingers off his upper arm but the man wasn’t letting go.
‘You’re hurting me.’
‘You should’ve thought about that before you decided to stick your nose in where it wasn’t wanted.’
‘But I’m not the only one who’s figured out what’s going on.’ Theo said desperately. ‘What’s the point of taking me with you?’
‘You’ll buy us some time.’ Mr Dove’s gaze darted around the classroom like a cornered rat. When he was satisfied that they were really alone, he said, ‘You’re not to say a word to anyone. D’you understand?’
‘Yes.’
Mr Dove’s grip on Theo’s arm tightened.
‘D’you understand?’
Theo winced and nodded.
‘How did you get into our school anyway? I mean, how did you know Mrs Daltry would win a holiday and be away so you could take her place?’ Theo gritted his teeth against the pain in his arm. He had to keep talking. He had to wait for a chance to catch Mr Dove off guard.
‘Who d’you think arranged for her to win the holiday in the first place?’ Mr Dove said scornfully. ‘Alex and I put up the money. It cost us, but we’ll get it back. Jade’s dad’s new game is going to make us rich.’
Theo stared at him. ‘But … but you couldn’t guarantee you’d take her place …’
‘Yes, I could. It was just a question of being in the right place at the right time. I was at the local supply teacher agency when this school rang up for Mrs Daltry’s replacement – and here I am. Now no more talking.’
Mr Dove opened the door and marched out into the hall, dragging Theo after him. He froze when he saw the crowd in the corridor waiting for him. There stood Jade, Bullet, Ricky, Angela and – looking very perplexed – Mr Appleyard.
‘Did you get it?’ asked Bullet.
Theo dug into his trouser pocket and before Mr Dove could stop him, he threw a mini tape recorder to Bullet who caught it one handed.
Bullet pressed the OFF button and smiled. Mr Dove looked from Theo to the crowd before him and back again.
‘You …’
‘Every word,’ Theo grinned. ‘Now let go of my arm.’
In a daze Mr Dove did as Theo ordered. ‘What’s going on?’ Mr Appleyard was annoyed. ‘I thought you said there was a rat up in the classroom.’
‘There is. You’re looking at him,’ Bullet replied. ‘Could you make sure he doesn’t go anywhere while I get one of the teachers to call the police?’
Without waiting for a reply, Bullet raced down the corridor to the staff room.
‘You’re the new supply teacher. Mr Dove, isn’t it?’ asked the caretaker.
‘He’s not a teacher at all. He tried to knock me over,’ said Theo.
‘You’re not going to believe the word of these kids over me, are you?’ Mr Dove laughed lightly.
Mr Appleyard’s eyes narrowed. ‘I know these kids. And while they get on my nerves, I don’t think they’d lie about something like this. Not something that could get them into so much trouble if it was a lie. But on the other hand, I don’t know you from a hole in the ground! So I think you’d better stay exactly where you are.’
If Mr Appleyard had looked around at that moment and seen the looks on the faces of Theo and the others, his head would’ve doubled in size. Theo was amazed. Mr Appleyard was actually going to help them. Theo had always planned with Bullet that he’d do something to get kept behind by Mr Dove. The plan was for Bullet to get Mr Appleyard the moment the class was over. Theo reckoned the caretaker was a better bet than one of the teachers who would never believe anything against another teacher. But Mr Appleyard’s reaction was always the biggest worry. He could’ve turned round and called them all liars. As it was, Mr Appleyard’s suspicious, wary eyes were still on Mr Dove.
Mr Dove looked up and down the corridor. Quick as a snap, he made a break for it, racing for the stairs at the end of the corridor.
‘Oh no you don’t!’ Mr Appleyard was the first to move. He chased after Mr Dove, but it was Angela who rugby tackled Mr Dove to the floor. Theo, Ricky and Mr Appleyard piled on top of him to make sure he couldn’t get up and try to escape again.
‘Get off me! GET … OFF … ME!’ Mr Dove yelled.
‘Yeah, right!’ Ricky scoffed.
Jade walked up and around them to look down at the squirming ex-teacher.
‘You’re the one who sent me all those mail messages, aren’t you?’
Mr Dove didn’t reply.
‘You must’ve found out Dad’s password and you’ve been sending me emails pretending to be him. How could you? How could you be so mean?’
‘You had something we wanted,’ Mr Dove sneered, not in the least bit repentant.
Jade drew herself up to her full height and looked at Mr Dove as if he was something nasty she had just stepped in. ‘I’ve just figured it out. You work for Alex, don’t you?’ Jade asked.
‘Who’s Alex?’ Mr Dove said curtly.
‘Don’t worry,’ Theo told Jade. ‘The tape proves he does know Alex Reeves.’
‘Even if I do, you can’t prove she had anything to do with this,’ said Mr Dove.
‘She?’ Theo was astounded. And he wasn’t the only one.
‘Jade, you never said that Alex Reeves was a woman,’ said Angela.
‘Didn’t I? I thought I did,’ Jade replied.
‘Is she a tall, pretty woman with dark brown hair down to her shoulders?’ Theo asked.
Jade nodded. ‘Why? D’you know her?’
‘She was with him when they tried to knock me over,’ said Theo.
‘My sister’s much too smart for any of you,’ Mr Dove scoffed. ‘By the time she’s told her side of the story, the police will think you’re crazy.’
‘Your sister?’ Jade whispered.
‘I should’ve guessed. Well, I might not have seen your face yesterday evening, but I did see hers – more than once,’ Theo reminded Mr Dove. ‘And with that tape and everything you just said, I think I’ll manage to convince the police.’
‘And Theo, don’t forget, Angela and I saw her too,’ said Ricky. ‘We saw her take the package out of the bin in the precinct.’
Mr Dove’s face fell. Bullet came running down the corridor with at least three other teachers behind him.
‘Mr Appleyard, just what d’you think you’re doing? Get off Mr Dove at once – and that goes for the rest of you,’ Mr Cookson ordered.
‘Not a chance,’ Mr Appleyard replied. ‘Not until the police get here.’
Mr Cookson looked around and frowned deeply. ‘Would someone mind telling me exactly what’s going on?’
Chapter Eighteen
Friends
RICKY, THEO, ANGELA, Jade and Bullet all sat around the same lunch table. They were very aware of the looks they were getting from the rest of the dining hall.
‘This has got my detective agency off to a flying start,’ Theo said with relish.
‘Whose detective agency?’ Angela raised an eyebrow.
‘Our detective agency,’ Theo amended.
‘Are you still going through with that? Haven’t you had enough excitement to last you a lifetime?’ Jade frowned.
‘Nah! I’m just getting into it,’ Theo grinned. ‘Besides, with the five of us in this detective agency, there won’t be a case we won’t be able to crack.’
‘The five of us? You mean … you mean, I’m included?’ Bullet asked amazed.
‘Of course you are. You’re our computer expert,’ Theo said with impatience. ‘I thought that was obvious.’
‘I’m included.’ Bullet grinned around the table.
‘I’m the brains of the outfit,’ Theo continued. ‘Bullet can be the computer expert, Angela can be the heavy
and do all the strong arm stuff …’
‘Thanks!’ Angela said, indignantly.
‘Ricky will be the second lot of brains and Jade can look after the girlie problems.’ Theo’s grin was even broader. ‘I’ve got it all worked out.’
‘Girlie problems? That is outrageous! What a cheek!’ Angela’s indignation knew no bounds now.
‘OK, brains! If you’re so clever, tell me how Mr Dove knew that I’d told you about the emails I was getting,’ Jade challenged.
‘That’s easy,’ Theo grinned. ‘Remember when you first came up to us in the corridor and asked if we believed in ghosts? And d’you remember how Mr Dove passed us in the corridor and we all shut up until he turned the corner? Well, I reckon he turned the corner but he didn’t carry on walking to the staff room. I think he just stood there and listened to our conversation. He probably guessed what you had on your mind. And then when you took us to your house, I was sure we were being followed …’
‘You never said!’ Ricky frowned.
‘I thought maybe I was imagining things, but now I don’t think so. I think Mr Dove was behind us. That’s how he knew you’d confided in us, Jade,’ said Theo. ‘I mean, what else would we be doing at your house?’
Jade looked at Theo, impressed. ‘Theo, you just might make a detective yet!’
Theo nodded happily. Nothing could dampen his mood. Mr Dove had been taken away by the police and although they’d had to spend the rest of the morning explaining what had happened, it seemed like Mr Dove and his sister were definitely going to get what they deserved. The police wanted each of them to go round to the local police station within the next twenty-four hours with their parents to make official statements. Theo was more than willing. He was just a bit worried about how he was going to explain the whole thing to his mum and dad first.
‘You’ll all be glad to know that I think I’ve finally got my Crimebuster program working, so it’s at your disposal, Theo,’ Bullet announced. ‘It’s just a shame it had a couple of bugs in it before this, or it might have led you to the truth sooner.’
‘And then again …’ Theo teased.
‘Just a minute, Theo,’ said Ricky. ‘I’ve got a huge Tyrannosaurus Rex bone to pick with you.’
Theo sighed. Was he the only one who was happy about the outcome?
‘Go on, then,’ Theo said, his head resting on one of his hands.
‘Just what did you think you were doing by not telling me what was going on?’
‘You and Angela have already been through enough, don’t you think? It wouldn’t have been fair to drag you into this – especially if I was wrong about Mr Dove. I didn’t want to get the two of you into any more trouble after everything you went through during the kidnapping incident.’
‘Theo, that wasn’t your decision to make,’ Angela said angrily. ‘You should’ve told me and Ricky what was going on right from the start and let us make up our own minds.’
‘Too right!’ Ricky agreed.
‘But you wouldn’t have said no, even if you wanted to,’ Theo shrugged.
‘Theo, don’t you ever do that again,’ Ricky said, his voice so quiet that Theo almost didn’t hear what he said.
Everyone else around the table grew quiet too. They could all tell that Ricky was furiously angry.
‘We’re friends. You don’t shut friends out like that,’ Ricky fumed.
‘But I was only doing it because we are friends.’ Theo tried to defend himself.
‘I told him that he should tell both of you what was going on,’ said Jade. ‘But he wouldn’t listen.’
‘He does tend to think he knows everything, doesn’t he?’ Bullet added.
‘What is this? Get at Theo hour?’ Theo said indignantly. ‘Anyone else?’
‘I mean it, Theo.’ Ricky still wasn’t mollified. ‘Don’t you ever do that again. Do you understand?’
Theo nodded. ‘Friends again?’
It took a few moments, but at last Ricky nodded.
‘Then why do you still have a face like a handful of mince?’ Theo teased.
Reluctantly, Ricky smiled. Theo realized that it was going to take a while for Ricky to fully forgive him – but he would. Bullet turned to Jade.
‘I’m sorry about what I said about the email messages you were getting,’ Bullet said seriously. ‘I never meant to make things worse.’
‘I know that.’ Jade managed a smile. ‘It wasn’t your fault. It was just a bit … I’ll be all right. It’ll take a while, but I’ll be all right.’
Silence.
Theo tried to think of something to change the subject. ‘Oh, are you going to get in touch with Pascoe DeMille then? He was hanging around the school earlier, probably looking for you.’
‘That’s not funny, Theo. In fact I think it was very cruel of all of you to play a trick on me like that,’ said Jade.
Bewildered, Theo looked at his friends but from the expressions on their faces they were at as much of a loss as he was.
‘You know what I’m talking about,’ said Jade.
‘I haven’t a clue,’ Theo denied.
‘Pascoe DeMille,’ Jade said impatiently. ‘You know very well that years and years ago my dad tried acting for a while before he went into computing. That was before I was even born and a long time before we moved to our current house. His stage name was Pascoe DeMille. He used the same initials as in his real name.’
Paul Driscoll … Pascoe DeMille …
Theo stared at Jade in stunned silence. He wasn’t the only one.
‘Are you saying …’ Angela’s voice came out in a high-pitched squeak. She coughed and tried again. ‘Are you saying that Pascoe DeMille is … was your dad?’
‘Of course not,’ Jade replied. She looked around the table. ‘If you lot aren’t having me on, then someone’s playing a joke on you.’
‘D’you have a photograph of your dad?’ Ricky asked quietly.
Jade nodded. ‘I’ve got lots of photos.’
‘Can we see them?’
Jade dug into her bag and took out a tatty envelope. She emptied its contents over the table. Family photographs fanned out everywhere. There were photos of Jade’s dad by himself, photos of Jade and her mum and dad on holiday, in the house, in the garden. Theo could understand Jade carrying around all those photos. In her shoes he would do the same. After a moment’s hesitation, everyone reached out to pick up the photos for a closer look.
‘I didn’t get to see this Pascoe DeMille person.’ Bullet looked at the photos with interest. ‘Did he make himself up to look like Jade’s dad then?’
Ricky, Angela and Theo looked at each other. Theo felt a chill trickle down his back then snake its icy way through the rest of his body.
‘Jade, the man who spoke to us, the man who helped us – it was this guy.’ Ricky pointed to the man in the photograph he was holding. ‘There’s no doubt about it. The man we met was a lot younger, but it was definitely this man.’
‘It can’t have been. That’s my dad.’ Jade frowned deeply.
‘I know,’ said Theo. ‘It all makes sense. That’s why he was helping us. We must’ve been talking to your dad’s gh …’
‘Theo,’ Angela interrupted. ‘Do me a favour and don’t finish that sentence.’
‘Wow!’ Ricky breathed. ‘It’s just like when I was in Scotland with Mum and one morning, I was downstairs in the dining room and I saw …’
‘Ricky,’ Theo raised a hand. ‘No more ghost stories. I think I’ve heard enough about ghosts to last me a lifetime.’
And for once, no one argued.
LIE DETECTIVES
Prologue
‘ARE WE REALLY going to go through with this?’
The night rain battered at the window as if trying to get through it. The woman sipped her mineral water, unable to disguise the way her hand was shaking. The ice in her drink clinked and clinked again against the sides of her glass. She could almost imagine it was beating out a coded message.
Don?
??t do it! Don’t do it!
She put the glass down with a bump, some of its contents sloshing out onto the coffee table. She stood up to close the curtains. They should’ve been closed ages ago. Even though this flat was on the second floor of the tallest building for streets around, she still felt nervous about the possibility of being watched. More often than not she closed the curtains before she even switched on the lights in the flat. She wasn’t usually so careless. They had agreed that they couldn’t take any chances. It wasn’t like her. She turned around.
‘Is there really no other way?’ she whispered.
The man shook his head. ‘You know there isn’t. We don’t have any choice. This latest invention of his is milking the company dry. If we don’t stop him – and soon – the company will be worth about ten pence, if we’re lucky. DemTech is just as much ours as it is his.’
‘Couldn’t we … fight him in court or something?’
‘Darling, we’ve been through all this before. On paper DemTech belongs to him. In court we wouldn’t have a leg to stand on. And d’you think I’d be suggesting we do this if there was any other way?’ the man replied softly. ‘He’s taken over financial control of this project himself so I can’t find out what it’s really costing the company, but I know it’s a lot more than he’s stated publicly. We’ve both worked too long and too hard to let DemTech go down the drain now.’
The woman sighed her agreement but her expression was far from happy. She sat down next to the man on the settee. ‘I’m scared. I think … I think he may know about us …’
The man raised a sceptical eyebrow.
‘Don’t look at me like that,’ the woman argued. ‘I’m telling you, he’s on to us.’
‘What makes you think that?’
‘Over the last couple of days he’s been making some very peculiar comments. Strange comments – about you and how hard you work and about me and how he wouldn’t have got this far without me fighting at his side and in his corner. Stuff like that.’
‘Maybe he means it.’