Free How Ali Ferguson Saved Houdini by Elen Caldecott Page B

any of those things. I’ve never smelled gunpowder.’ He paused. ‘Or drugs. Or poison.’
    â€˜Well,’ Caitlin said, ‘we did find it in a pet shop bin. It isn’t going to smell like a bed of roses, is it?’
    She had a point. The bin was probably full of poo and mouldy dog food and cat sick. But the note had been next to the bin, not in it.
    The door opened.
    â€˜Caitlin,’ Mum said, ‘your dad’s here.’
    Ali frowned. Dave was here? In the flat? What was he snooping around for?
    Caitlin put her glass down on the bedside table and stood up.
    â€˜It’s OK,’ Mum said to Caitlin. ‘He doesn’t need you home yet. He’s after Falcon.’ Mum paused. ‘In fact, he’s asked if I want to take a quick walk with them. I’ll just nip out for an hour or so, OK?’
    â€˜What?’ Ali asked. ‘What do you want to do that for?’ He looked at Mum. Was she blushing? She was! Ali didn’t know what to say. He felt suddenly angry. Dave couldn’t just come here and tell Mum what to do. He might be the boss of a bunch of criminals, but he wasn’t the boss in this flat!
    â€˜I’m just getting a bit of fresh air,’ Mum said. ‘I won’t be long. Come on, Falcon.’
    Falcon stood up and followed Mum out of the room.
    â€˜Caitlin’s dad and Ali’s mum up the tree –’ Gez sang.
    â€˜Shut up!’ Ali said.
    â€˜K-I-S-S-I-N-G!’
    â€˜They are not!’ Ali said. It wasn’t true. Mum wouldn’t go out with Dave. Except she was. But just for a walk. It was normal; people did that sort of thing. She was just being friendly. Ali scowled, but Gez just kept on singing.
    â€˜Gez, shut up!’
    â€˜What?’ Gez asked. ‘I’m only saying.’
    Ali took a deep breath; he tried to squish down his temper. But it was no good. It rushed out like sparks from a firework. ‘Well, don’t! My mum isn’t going out with anyone. Especially not Dave. OK?’
    There was a sudden silence.
    He looked at Caitlin. Her face was pale and her eyes sparkled dangerously. ‘And what’s wrong with my dad?’
    Ali bit his lip. ‘Nothing. I didn’t mean anything.’
    â€˜Yes, you did!’
    â€˜Look,’ Ali said carefully, ‘this doesn’t matter right now. We need to concentrate on the note. We need to find Miss Osborne before it’s too late.’
    Gez nodded. ‘Yes, come on, Caitlin. Don’t start a fight. What do you reckon Monkey Adams is?’
    Caitlin nodded slowly, but she still looked cross. ‘It could be a code name,’ she said. ‘One of the gang, maybe.’
    â€˜There was Woody, but I didn’t hear any of the others’ names,’ Gez said. ‘It’s a shame we’ve only got half the note.’
    â€˜We should go back,’ Caitlin said. ‘We should look for the other half of the envelope.’
    â€˜Yes! We should go back tonight, under cover of darkness!’ Gez said.
    â€˜Well,’ said Ali, ‘how about just after tea? It will be dark then, but I’ll still be allowed out. Just. How can you get out of the house all the time, without your parents freaking?’ Ali asked Gez.
    â€˜I have three brothers.’ Gez grinned. ‘My mum and dad have a problem trying to remember our names, let alone keeping track of where we’re all supposed to be. You two should be pleased your parents are getting together. Everyone should have brothers and sisters. It’s brilliant.’
    Ali threw a pillow at Gez. And this time so did Caitlin.

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    Chapter 19
    Ali watched the winter sun set behind the town. The last red and orange streaks made the sky look like fire. Mum still wasn’t back from her walk. There was a tight knot in Ali’s stomach, as though it was clenched into a fist. Mum had better be all right, that’s all. If Dave had hurt her, or kidnapped her, or