Mystery & Mayhem. Julia Golding

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      Sylvie was outside, crouched with her back against the lock-up doors, staring at the ground.

      She glanced their way as they climbed out of the doorway. ‘There you are. Have either of you found a clue?’

      Flora shook her head.

      ‘Well, it’s a good job I came along today then. Look at this.’ Sylvie spread her arms to point at the ground at her feet. ‘Careful – don’t stand on them.’

      All Minnie could see was dirt. She bent lower.

      ‘There!’

      Minnie could see them now. Tiny square-ish dimples in the dirt. Heel prints? She counted six of them, in a pattern, as though someone in high-heeled shoes had stood still, but changed position a few times.

      Rats.

      Sylvie had found the first clue.

      And her smug smile was infuriating.

      Sylvie pulled out her phone and snapped photos.

      Just then a huge man with arms and legs like logs lumbered past. He paused, noticing Sylvie taking snapshots of mud. He stopped. Minnie knew him – it was Big Phil. He had a lock-up a few doors down. She managed a smile, but she felt a bit embarrassed. She still remembered the time they’d had him down as a suspect in one of their cases. It had been understandable – after all, he sold fake designer perfumes that smelt of hamster wee, and diet pills that did absolutely nothing, and he wore a leather jacket and an air of menace. But they’d found out that underneath his macho exterior, Big Phil was a teddy bear.

      ‘Morning,’ he said in a deep voice. ‘Bernice all ready for Carnival, is she?’

      ‘Not really,’ Sylvie said. ‘Her costume looks like a toddler made it in the middle of a tantrum.’

      ‘But her costumes are always great,’ Big Phil said, confused. ‘Best in the whole parade. She’s the best designer in town.’

      ‘Not this time. Something happened to her costume and now it’s ruined. I don’t suppose you know anything about it? Were you here last night?’ Sylvie asked.

      Big Phil raised one end of his monobrow. ‘Ruined? Oh, poor Bernice. Is she all right? Is there anything I can do to help?’

      ‘Yes,’ Sylvie snapped. ‘You can answer the question. Were you here last night? Did you see anything suspicious?’

      Big Phil’s face reddened. ‘I was here, as it happens. In my lock-up. I can be there any time I like – there’s no law against it.’

      ‘Did you see anything? Or hear anything strange?’ Flora asked.

      ‘Nothing suspicious. But there was something a bit strange. I was bothered by three of the biggest moths you’ve ever seen. No idea how they got in.’ He gave an involuntary shiver. ‘Horrible things. You know they get stuck in your hair?’

      Big Phil was entirely bald.

      Sylvie rolled her eyes. ‘Moths? Is that it? You didn’t hear any strange sounds? Or notice any unusual visitors?’

      Big Phil shrugged. ‘No. Sorry. I had the radio on – I couldn’t hear anything over Soft Rock Classics. Love that show, I do.’ His eyes went a little misty. Then he seemed to remember himself. He squared his shoulders. ‘Well. I can’t stand here talking about sparkly frocks. Tell Bernice I say hello.’ He wandered off in the general direction of his lock-up.

      Sylvie put her phone away. ‘Might he be involved? He had the opportunity – he was here last night.’

      Flora shrugged. ‘What’s his motive, though? Why would he want to hurt Bernice or her costume? I don’t think he can be a suspect really.’

      ‘And there are these marks,’ Minnie added. ‘It was probably a woman, don’t you think? Was she standing here in high heels trying to pick the padlock?’

      ‘Maybe,’ Flora said. ‘But she didn’t succeed.’ Flora tilted the padlock that hung clipped to the door frame and examined it. ‘You can’t pick a lock without scratching the metal, and this lock is clean.’

      They went back inside and shut the door behind them. Bernice was off the phone and had made herself a mug of tea. They watched as she spooned in three sugars.

      ‘It’s not for the shock,’ Minnie whispered. ‘She just likes three sugars.’ Then, a little louder, ‘Do you want me to call my mum, Bernice? She might know what to do about your costume.’

      ‘There’s nothing that can be done. Someone has ruined it. I won’t walk in the parade. The saboteur has got what they wanted.’ Bernice had stopped looking upset and was looking angry instead.

      ‘We found some footprints outside,’ Flora said.

      ‘I found some footprints,’ Sylvie corrected.

      ‘Yes, Sylvie found them,’ Flora continued. ‘They look like someone in high heels stood outside the door. Do you wear high heels? Or have you had a visitor who does?’

      Bernice shook her head. ‘I come here to build. Sensible shoes only until parade day. And no one has visited either – I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise for the people watching the parade.’

      Minnie caught Flora’s eye. Who was it who’d been standing outside in heels, if it wasn’t Bernice?

      ‘Do you have any enemies, Bernice?’ Sylvie asked abruptly.

      Bernice stirred her tea, clinking the teaspoon hard against the sides of the china. ‘Enemies? Why would I have enemies? I’m not James Bond, I’m a hairdresser and costume maker! I’d been hoping this would be the year I could finally go full-time as a designer. But I guess that won’t happen now.’

      Just then, there was a knock on the door. It opened without waiting for a reply. ‘Bernice! Bernice, sweetie, is it true? Carol heard from Ash, who heard from Billie. Your costume? Gone?’ A tall woman with straight-as-a-die black hair and soft brown skin skipped inside. Her hands gestured wildly as she spoke.

      Bernice sighed. ‘Yes, Jasleen, it’s true.’

      Jasleen gasped. Then she saw the costume and gasped again. ‘It’s hideous!’ she said.

      Jasleen sounded like she was the same sort of friend as Sylvie.

      ‘Thanks, Jasleen,’ Bernice said softly.

      ‘You can’t walk the parade in that!’

      ‘I know.’

      Jasleen circled towards the dummy, her lip curled softly. ‘Carol wondered what you’re going to do. She said I should take your place at the front of the line, but I couldn’t do it without seeing you first.’ Jasleen looked down and took a few paces, as though she was thinking carefully about what to say next. She gave an exasperated sigh. ‘Listen, I still have the costume I made for myself last year, if you’d like to wear it? I know I’m not СКАЧАТЬ