Free Operation Gadgetman! by Malorie Blackman Page B

down, Beans was just as shocked as Louisa. She hadn’t meant to ask that at all. ‘It’s just that . . . that suddenly all I could see was Dad locked up or tied up and all for a stupid gadget. He’s there ! I just know he’s there. I can feel it.’
    â€˜Feel it, my left eyeball!’ Louisa scoffed. ‘Beans, you need more proof than feelings. Detective Warner isn’t interested in your feelings. Suppose you got it wrong? Suppose that was Lucas Moynahan’s dad or brother or something and they have nothing to do with your dad?’
    â€˜Yeah, but the man on the phone complained that Lucas has been phoning him a lot. I bet that was after he saw me in the building society,’ Beans tried to defend herself.
    â€˜That doesn’t prove anything. Lucas might have been phoning up all the time to make sure his lunch was ready when he got home,’ Louisa said.
    Crestfallen, Beans nodded.
    â€˜And supposing, just supposing, you’re right. What if Lucas Moynahan and the man you just spoke to are somehow involved in your dad’s kidnapping? All you’ve done now is tip them off,’ Louisa said.
    â€˜I was stupid, wasn’t I?’ Beans said glumly.
    â€˜Yes, you were,’ Louisa agreed immediately. ‘Come on, let’s get back to Ann.’
    As they walked back, Beans said, ‘I’m sure I’m right about Lucas Moynahan though. He would have been the first one at the building society to read Dad’s letter. As soon as I get home I think I’d better give Detective Warner a call.’
    â€˜You’re certain Moynahan’s the one you saw outside your house?’ Louisa asked. ‘As I remember, the man you saw in the Escort had on sunglasses . . .’
    â€˜It was him,’ Beans replied immediately. ‘I recognized him at once. He also has this habit of drumming his fingers. He was drumming his fingers on the steering wheel when I saw him the first time, and he was drumming his fingers on the table just now.’
    â€˜Are you sure you didn’t see the drumming fingers and the beard and put two and two together to make three and three-quarters?’ Louisa asked.
    â€˜No, I didn’t. It was him. I know it was. Besides, you didn’t see the way he looked at me. He recognized me all right,’ Beans retorted.
    The rest of the short walk back to Ann was carried out in silence. Beans glanced up at the blue sky, shading her eyes from the dazzling sun. It was going to be a scorcher. Was Dad somewhere where he could see it . . . ? Feel it . . . ?
    They reached the line of cars opposite the building society where they’d left Ann.
    She wasn’t there . . .
    â€˜Ann . . .’ Louisa called out nervously.
    Beans looked around quickly, hoping Ann was still in sight. She wasn’t.
    â€˜Stay there,’ Louisa ordered.
    Before Beans could argue, Louisa crossed the road and went up to the building society. Beans’s heart moved up to her mouth as she watched Louisa try to push open the front doors. A tall, slim woman with black hair appeared almost immediately and said something to Louisa through the glass doors. Louisa spoke back. Licking her lips, Beans glanced up and down the main road, wondering if she should cross it to be with Louisa. As Beans watched, the woman unbolted the doors and spoke to Louisa directly.
    Just when Beans thought she’d have to join her friend or die of curiosity, she saw Louisa smile and thank the woman from the building society before turning to recross the road.
    â€˜What happened? What did you say to her? What did she say to you?’ Beans was all questions.
    â€˜They closed over five minutes ago and our man Moynahan was out the door about two seconds afterwards,’ Louisa filled in. ‘I said he was supposed to be having dinner with us later and Mum had sent me with a message for him.’
    â€˜So Ann