Free False Bottom by Hazel Edwards Page B

faster and faster. Left for standing. Right for walking. She jogged up the middle. She passed the man with the blue bag. She was getting faster. She looked up ahead. Mrs Smart in the wheelchair was nearly at a gateway lounge.
    The moving walkway stopped outside the gateway. Then it was just blue carpet. Amy took one more step. Her other leg followed, by itself, without her even thinking. ‘Made it!’ The floor didn’t move anymore. Her legs felt wobbly. It was strange, but not like pins and needles. Christopher was somewhere behind her.
    She felt as if she’d been running for hours in a marathon race. Passengers walked past her, knowing exactly where to go. Each door was labelled, but Amy wasn’t sure where to go next.
    Mrs Smart had vanished, again!

Chapter 16
Lizard Business
    â€˜Goodbye UM sleuths. Thanks for your help with the bird smugglers. I’ll be in touch. Let me know when you’re passing through again. Meanwhile, keep your eyes open for clues,’
    Gloria said, waving. The boarding sign was flashing.
    â€˜We have to go!’ Amy was upset. So was Christopher.
    They’d been so close to catching up with Mrs Smart. And now they’d have to leave for Singapore.
    Then Amy had an idea. She felt in her pocket for the business card. Yes. She still had one clue to work on. The Singapore address of the Smarts. Maybe the twins could track her down there.
    â€˜Come on!’ said Christopher. ‘Or we’ll miss the plane. That would make Mum chuck a mental.’
    Most of the passengers were already on board. The twins showed their tickets and hurried down the mobile corridor.
    Brett smiled at them. ‘Welcome back.’
    â€˜Any wheelchairs on this flight?’ Amy asked him. She expected a ‘no’, but she never gave up.
    â€˜One. Up the front. She came on first.’
    Mrs Smart was sitting comfortably in the aisle seat. Her neck brace still looked like a neck frill.
    â€˜Where’s her wheelchair?’ Amy knew that wouldn’t fit in the overhead lockers. Or couldn’t be belted on the seat like Mr Gee.
    â€˜Underneath with the baggage. It was folded up and fork-lifted onto the plane.’
    â€˜Why didn’t she use an airport one?’
    â€˜Why don’t you ask her.’ Brett sounded hassled. ‘There are spare seats alongside Mrs Smart. After take-off, move there until we serve dinner.’
    Sleuth Amy thought quickly. Brett was hurrying her. Other late passengers were queued in the aisle behind them. ‘Do you mind if I visit you after take off?’ Amy asked.
    Mrs Smart looked a little surprised. ‘Why not? There are some spare seats here.’
    â€˜D’you mind if my brother comes too?”
    â€˜Please yourself.’
    So the twins quickly found their proper seats. Mrs Smart couldn’t get away from them this time. In a seven- hour flight, there was nowhere to hide. Not even the toilets,thought Amy.
    Some of the transit passengers had different seats on this leg of the flight. But Mr Smith was sitting alongside. And he still looked nervous.
    He and Aunty Viv would make a good pair of anti-flyers, thought Christopher. The Mouth and his guitar Mr Gee were nearby. Amy looked forwards to where Mrs Smart was sitting. This time, she couldn’t vanish!
    The twins were determined to find out about the Lizard Lady. After take-off, Amy was ready to move. As soon as the seat belts sign went off, she unclipped hers. Christopher slipped from the other seat. The U M sleuths were ready for action. But just then the fasten safety belts message flashed again.
    The captain spoke. ‘We’ll be going through some rough weather. Please fasten your seat belts.’
    The twins sat down again.
    Mr Smith clasped his tummy. ‘I don’t like rough flying. And I hate taking off. That’s why I always read, and eat sweets.’
    Amy wasn’t sure how she felt. The plane bumped up and down.
    Mr Smith looked