Free Operation Gadgetman! by Malorie Blackman

‘Are you sure?’
    â€˜I’m positive. That was him,’ Beans said. ‘He was wearing sunglasses yesterday, but I still recognize him.’
    â€˜What was he doing outside your house then?’ Ann asked.
    Beans shrugged. ‘I don’t know. But it’s a bit of a coincidence that he was parked outside my house and now we find out that he works at Dad’s very same building society. I bet he knows something about Dad’s letter and the money. The only trouble is, that twerp of a cashier called out to him and Lucas saw me.’ Beans couldn’t keep her voice from trembling slightly. She wasn’t sure if it shook from fear or a strange kind of excitement. Maybe it was both.
    â€˜What should we do?’ Ann asked.
    Beans glanced down at her watch.
    â€˜Well, the building society closes in ten minutes. They’re only open half-day today,’ Beans said, thinking hard. ‘So what we need to do is wait for that Lucas bloke to come out. Then one of us will have to follow him to see where he goes. We need to know where he lives.’
    â€˜Let me tail him!’ Ann pleaded. ‘I read all about tailing suspects in your dad’s instruction book last night.’
    â€˜I don’t know. It might be dangerous. Very dangerous,’ said Beans. ‘Only one of us should follow Lucas Moynahan. Two or three of us would be too easy to spot. If anyone does it, it should be me.’
    â€˜But he knows who you are and what you look like,’ Ann argued. ‘Besides, Beans, you can’t do everything yourself.’
    â€˜I know that, Ann – and thanks for offering, but this is serious. The men who kidnapped my dad did it because they were after money and they reckoned Dad’s induction oscillator was the way to get it. Those sort of people don’t go round you if you get in their way, they run straight over you. And I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to you – either of you.’
    Ann reached out and placed a hand on Beans’s arm.
    â€˜Beans,’ Ann began. ‘I know I may sound like I’m not taking this seriously, but I promise I am. Your dad’s been kidnapped and I want to do everything I can to help. I also know it’s dangerous, so don’t worry – I intend to be very, very careful following our Mr Moynahan.’
    â€˜Of course, we may not have to follow him,’ Louisa interrupted. ‘We could try looking up his name, address and phone number in a telephone directory.’
    Beans and Ann stared at Louisa before they all started grinning.
    â€˜I do have good ideas sometimes ,’ Louisa said.
    â€˜I’d never have thought of anything so simple!’ admitted Beans. ‘All right then, Ann – you win. You can wait here in case our man leaves early and doesn’t go home. Louisa and I will head for the nearest phone box to check him out. We’ll be right back.’
    â€˜Hang on half a sec!’ Louisa pulled an enthusiastic Beans back when she would have sprinted off. ‘We need a back-up plan for if Lucas Moynahan does decide to leave before we get back.’
    â€˜True!’ Beans agreed dryly. ‘Let me think. What would Dad suggest at a time like this . . . ? Well . . . if Lucas leaves in a car, then there’s not an awful lot Ann can do. So she can wait here for us. Agreed?’
    Ann nodded. ‘Agreed.’
    â€˜If he goes to a bus stop or walks off somewhere then follow him, but be careful and don’t go too far out of town,’ Louisa added.
    â€˜If you aren’t here when we get back . . . we’ll head back to my home . . . and wait for you to call us there,’ Beans said slowly. ‘Then we’ll come out to join you wherever you are. The most important thing, though, is to take care. At the first sign of trouble, or if you’re detected – run!’
    â€˜Dead right!’ Ann