Ricky’s lips thinned. He knew what was coming next.
‘D’you remember how you went ballistic when you found out what I’d done?’ Theo continued relentlessly. ‘And now you’re doing exactly the same thing. If it wasn’t OK for me, how come you can do it?’
‘I was wondering that myself,’ Angela piped up.
‘I agree with Theo.’ Bullet put in his five pence worth. ‘And this has more to do with me than any of you. I don’t think you should shut me out like this.’
Theo glared at Bullet. There was a lot of shutting out going on. Ricky looked at Angela lying on her hospital bed and then at Theo and Bullet. ‘It’s just that … OK. I was planning on going to the Family Records Centre on Saturday.’
‘The what?’
‘The Family Records Centre in Islington. They keep records of all births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales. Ricky explained.
‘Why’re you going there?’ Theo questioned.
‘To test a theory. And if my theory is right, then I’m hoping to set a trap for the ones doing this. I think that’s the only way to flush them out.’
‘Are they open on Saturdays?’ Theo asked.
Ricky nodded. ‘I checked.’
‘I’m going with you,’ Bullet said at once.
Looking straight at Ricky, Theo said, ‘So am I. And don’t bother arguing because you’ll just be wasting your breath.’
‘We can’t all go. Bullet, you’d better stay behind,’ Ricky said.
‘But …’
‘We’ll let you know what we found out as soon as we get back. I promise,’ Ricky interrupted. ‘You’re going to have to trust us.’
‘What about this trap you’re going to set? I can help with that, surely?’ said Bullet.
‘Actually, I did want you to do something for me …’ Ricky admitted reluctantly. ‘Are you going to see your dad tomorrow?’
‘Yeah. I was planning to pop into his office after school. Why?’
‘I need you to spread some information about. The thing is, it’ll be dangerous.’ Ricky’s voice faded to a whisper.
‘Just tell me what you want me to do,’ Bullet said with determination.
‘We’re going to set a trap,’ Ricky added sombrely. ‘But I’m worried we’ll be the ones caught in it.’
‘Is that why you didn’t want to include any of us?’ Bullet asked. ‘Just in case things went wrong?’
‘Yes. These people have already proved that they’ll stop at nothing to get what they want. I just don’t want any of us to get steamrollered whilst we’re trying to catch them out.’
‘But Dad said the police have already arrested the person behind all this,’ Bullet reminded them.
‘If someone has been arrested for your dad’s attempted murder, then the police have the wrong person. I’m sure of it.’ Ricky’s voice was grim.
They all digested Ricky’s last statement in silence.
‘And you think more than one person is involved in this?’ Bullet said.
Ricky nodded. ‘And I think they’re covering each other’s tracks, or your dad would’ve found them out by now.’
‘Is it two people who work for Dad?’
Ricky nodded. ‘I think so. And if I’m right, a visit to the Family Records Centre will prove it.’
‘And if you’re wrong?’ Angela asked.
‘Then Bullet and his dad are in even more danger.’
‘How d’you work that out?’ asked Theo.
‘Because we’ll have narrowed down our list of suspects and the person or people doing this will have to act even more quickly. Time will no longer be on our side,’ Ricky said. ‘You see, that’s the problem. With all this, I might actually make things worse.’
Chapter Eighteen
Bait
‘I STILL CAN’T believe it.’ Theo shook his head.
It was five-thirty in the evening. Ricky and Theo were on their way home from the Family Records Centre, both their expressions grim. The tube train was jampacked with late afternoon shoppers returning home and Ricky and Theo stood next to each other, squashed against the door.
‘What made you suspect?’ Theo couldn’t keep a trace of admiration out of his voice.
‘Something she said – and watching the two of them together,’ Ricky replied.
‘Well, they completely fooled me. Lucky you were more on the ball than I was,’ Theo said. Though he couldn’t help feeling that in some way, he had failed. He should’ve been the one to make the connection. He should’ve picked up on the clues, too.
‘Theo, it’s not that I cracked it, or you cracked it. We solved this together.’ Ricky correctly interpreted the expression on his friend’s face.
‘It’s not that so much. It’s just that …’
‘It’s just that we make a good team,’ Ricky insisted.
Theo smiled. ‘That’s exactly what I was going to say!’
‘What we have to do now is use this information to drag them out into the open. We have to make them show their hand,’ said Ricky.
‘How d’you intend to do that?’
‘Bullet’s already taken care of that bit back home,’ Ricky said with satisfaction.
Theo was startled. ‘He doesn’t know …’
‘No. How can he when we only found out for certain about an hour ago? But yesterday when he went to his dad’s office, I asked him to tell everyone what you’d be up to this afternoon. He was to try and make sure that all the staff on the third floor of DemTech got to hear about your forthcoming visit to the Family Records Centre. I told him to make sure the info was given out in a casual way as if he was just making conversation.’
‘Hang on a minute. My visit?’ Theo asked, astounded.
‘Yes, you! That way we can use you as bait and I’ll be there to make sure that nothing bad happens to you.’
‘Thank you very much!’ Theo exploded. ‘If you’re going to use me as bait, you could’ve told me first.’
‘I’m telling you now.’
‘Thanks for nothing. So when we get home, there could be some lunatic just waiting to run me down or anything.’
‘It won’t come to that – I told you. I’m here to make sure that you’re perfectly safe.’
‘You can’t guarantee that. Ricky, you …’
‘This is where we get off. Come on.’ Ricky pulled Theo past the already closing tube train doors. ‘I’ll go with you to your house and then I’ll disappear for half an hour if you don’t mind.’
‘Why?’
‘I’ve got one last thing to check at the library.’ Ricky glanced down at his watch. ‘And I’d better hurry up before it closes.’
‘What d’you need to check?’
‘Some DemTech annual accounts information and I want to look up something on Darius Marriott.’
‘What?’
‘I’ll tell you once I’ve got the info.’
‘Oh Ricky, don’t start all that again. I thought we’d got all this “my surname is Mystery and my middle name is Secret” nonsense sorted out.’
‘I’ll tell you when I’ve been to the library – not before,’ Ricky insisted stubbornly.
‘Before you disappear, why exactly did Bullet want to talk to you alone in his dad’s apartment the other day?’ Theo couldn’t help asking.
‘He wanted my advice about something.’
‘I know that. What? And why didn’t he want my advice too?’
Ricky sighed. ‘’Cos you live with your happily-married mum and dad. Bullet was like me until a couple of weeks ago. There was no dad on the scene.’
‘Oh …’ Theo couldn’t argue with that. ‘So what did Bullet ask you?’
‘His dad wants Bullet to come and live with him permanently. Bullet just wanted to know what I’d do in his shoes. But I was sworn to secrecy, so don’t go blabbing.’
‘Of course not.’ Theo frowned. ‘So what’s Bullet going to do?’
‘He’s not sure. But he thinks he’ll stay with his mum.’
br />
‘Is that what you’d do?’
‘Oh yes!’ Ricky replied without a moment’s hesitation.
There was something in his voice. Some strange hard edge that Theo hadn’t heard before. ‘What’s the matter?’ Theo questioned.
Ricky shook his head.
‘Come on. Something’s obviously troubling you.’
‘Never mind. Just leave it,’ Ricky dismissed.
Theo glared at Ricky, oblivious to the impatient glances being directed at him by those trying to leave the station. Fine! If Ricky wanted to play that game then Theo wasn’t about to spoil his fun.
‘All right then. Be like that,’ Theo said at last.
They walked back to Theo’s house, chatting about nothing in particular, rather than the subject uppermost in both their minds. Until, running out of things to say, they both fell silent. Theo couldn’t understand what was going on with this whole business. For the last few days, he’d felt as if he was constantly fifteen minutes behind everyone else. Secrets … That was it. Everyone seemed to have secrets. And he was so close to what was going on, he felt as if he couldn’t see the wood for the trees. He’d never really known what that saying meant before, but now its meaning was all too clear. He was too close to Bullet and Ricky to see things objectively. Maybe that’s why Ricky had had an inkling as to who might be responsible for all this mayhem before he had. He felt as if he’d done nothing but worry for longer than he cared to remember. He was worried about Bullet and Angela and Ricky and even Darius Marriott. Still, now that they had found the information they were looking for, maybe they could get somewhere at last. The proof of what they had found wouldn’t be posted to them for another four or five days though. Finding the data on the Family Records computer was one thing. Getting a proper printout of that data was apparently something else entirely. They’d handed over their money, but they couldn’t get the certificate they’d paid for, for a minimum of four days. Theo just hoped and prayed that they had four days. If Bullet had spread rumours about what he’d been doing that day, then even four hours seemed optimistic.
And at that moment, Theo made a decision. He’d go home and wait for Ricky. And then tomorrow without fail, they’d go to the police with what they knew. And if Bullet and Ricky wouldn’t go with him, then he’d go by himself. He was no one’s sitting duck and at the moment, that’s exactly what he felt like. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling. Theo quickly turned his head. There were people milling about here, there and everywhere. Was one of them watching him? What if he was being followed? What if …?
Stop it! Theo told himself firmly. He was OK. Even if Bullet had managed to pass on the message about his so-called solo trip to the Family Records Centre, there wouldn’t have been time for the guilty parties to have arranged anything. He was safe – but only if he went to the police the very next morning. Now that the decision had been made, Theo felt strangely comforted. All he had to do was hold on for one more night.
Outside Theo’s house, Ricky said, ‘Right then, now you’re safely home, I’ll see you in a little while. I’ve only got fifteen minutes before the library closes.’ And Ricky was already turning around and heading back the way they had just come.
‘Ricky …’ Theo called after him.
‘Tell me later,’ Ricky called back, breaking into a run.
With a sigh, Theo turned and went into his house. He had a foot on the bottom step when his dad came out of the living room.
‘Hi, Theo. How was your day?’
‘Informative,’ Theo told his dad. He headed up the stairs, pulling off his jacket as he went.
‘Just a sec. You got a message from Bullet. He wants you to meet him at the DemTech building. He said he and his dad will meet you there and his dad will give you a lift home again,’ said Theo’s dad. ‘I don’t know what all of you have been up to recently but I do know that I’ve hardly seen you.’
‘When did Bullet phone?’
‘About an hour ago. He said it was urgent.’
Theo glanced at his watch. ‘I’m just going to pop out for a while. Dad, Ricky’s going to come round later. When he does, could you tell him where I’ve gone and that I’ll be back soon.’
‘All I seem to do around this house is take messages for you,’ Theo’s dad grumbled. ‘And I never get one word of thanks either.’
‘Thank you for taking my messages, Dad,’ Theo said deliberately.
‘It’s too late.’ Theo’s dad sniffed with mock indignation. ‘Thanks should be spontaneous, not prompted.’
‘Later, Dad,’ Theo called, as he headed out of the door.
‘Not too much later, Theo,’ his dad called back at once. ‘I want you home within the hour – without fail. We’d see more of you if you were a lodger instead of our son. I don’t know why your mum and me …’
Theo didn’t hear any more. He walked briskly down the garden path, breaking into a run once he hit the road. He didn’t know why Bullet wanted to see him but it was obviously important.
‘Name?’
Theo stared at the intercom. He peered through the glass to look at the uniformed security guard who had asked the question.
‘Name?’ The voice came again, edged with impatience.
‘Theo. Theo Mosley.’
‘Ah yes. You’re expected,’ said the security guard.
There was a buzz and a click and the door swung open. Theo walked straight up to the security guard who sat behind the reception desk.
‘I’m here to see …’
‘Yes, that’s right. Take the lift up to the third floor. You’ll be met.’
‘Is this place open all the time?’ Theo couldn’t help asking.
‘Yep! Seven days a week. Twenty-four hours a day,’ the guard replied.
Theo headed over to the lift. DemTech was nothing if not efficient! He stepped in and pressed the button to go up to the third floor, speculating about what Bullet and his dad wanted to say to him. The lift halted and the doors slid open with a hiss.
‘Hello. Theo, isn’t it?’ Jo Fleming stood right in front of the lift, a notepad in her hand.
‘Hello, Miss Fleming,’ Theo said, surprised. ‘I was meant to meet Bullet, I mean Toby, and his dad here.’
‘Oh, yes. Darius mentioned it. They’ve gone up to one of the labs on the seventh floor,’ said Jo. ‘I’ll take you up.’
Jo led the way to the lift and they headed up to the top floor in silence. Theo struggled to find something to say, but failed. He glanced at Jo, who had a preoccupied look on her face. Theo used the opportunity to scrutinize her. She was a dark horse and no mistake. Theo knew she’d been at DemTech for quite a few years now. He couldn’t help wondering just what she really thought of her boss. Darius Marriott didn’t seem like exactly the easiest man in the world to get along with. For a start, this woman always seemed to be working. It was Saturday and she was still in the office. Didn’t she have a private life? Even when Theo was a great detective, he’d still make sure he had time for a personal life and to have some fun. Otherwise what was the point?
‘Here we are,’ said Jo.
Theo stepped out into an eerie silence which was a total contrast to the noise and organized chaos present when Darius Marriott had shown them around.
‘Is it always this quiet on a Saturday?’ Theo asked.
‘No, not usually. Most of the quality assurance and testing staff work on Saturdays and some work on Sundays, too. It’s just that most people are at the company knees-up tonight,’ Jo replied as they walked down the corridor. ‘I’m just on my way there now. Here we are. Bullet’s in there.’
Theo opened the door and walked in. ‘Hi, Bullet. What was so …?’
The door banged shut behind him. Theo spun around – but he was too late. With a resounding click, the door was locked.
Chapter Nineteen
No Way Out
‘WHAT ON EARTH …? What’s the matter?’ Bullet asked urgently.
‘Jo’s locked the door,’ Theo replied
. He started rattling the door handle. ‘Let us out! LET US OUT NOW!’
‘Don’t worry, Theo. We’re going to deal with Toby – and then it’s your turn,’ Jo called through the locked door.
‘What d’you mean?’ Theo’s blood ran liquid nitrogen cold. ‘OPEN THIS DOOR.’
‘Sorry, Theo, but you’ve left us no choice. If what we’ve got lined up for Bullet doesn’t work for you too, Ron’s got a little something waiting for you on – or should I say off – the roof of this building.’
‘Jo, the joke’s over. Let us out – please. Come on! You can’t do this …’ Theo pulled even harder on the door handle, but it was useless.
Beyond the door there was now nothing but an eerie silence. Theo shook the door handle, wondering if there was some way to force it open. Nothing doing! There was no way a big, heavy security door like that was going to give, no matter what Theo did to it.
‘What’s going on? What’s she up to?’ asked Bullet.
‘I have a horrible feeling I know,’ Theo said through gritted teeth. ‘But I don’t understand … Bullet, why did you want to see me?’
Bullet looked puzzled. ‘What’re you talking about? You left a message with my mum saying that you wanted to see me at the DemTech building. You said it was a matter of life and death.’
‘But that’s the message I got – that you wanted to see me,’ said Theo.
And all at once, it became very clear what was going on.
‘Bullet,’ Theo fumed. ‘Ricky and I found out that Jo Fleming and Ron Westall are married. According to the old will, if anything should happen to your dad, combined they’d have enough shares to take over the company.’
‘But then Dad changed his will …’ Bullet breathed. Realization like Antarctic water flowed over him.
‘And they know that I’ve spent the day at the Family Records Centre finding out that the two of them are married. And d’you remember what else the DemTech stock contract said? If by any chance, any of the directors should even so much as live together, one of them would have to give up their shares, no arguments, no questions.’