Free The Pacific Giants by Jean Flitcroft Page A

known affectionately as Caddy.
    It was another beautifully clear day and the sun streamed through Vanessa’s bedroom curtains, but when she woke up she felt far from happy. It was Tuesday already. They would be leaving this weekendand she still knew nothing at all about the cryptid she had seen.
    After talking to Ronan and her father, Vanessa had fallen back to sleep. She’d had the most vivid dreams about Ziggy—that they had found her on the beach and helped her back into the sea. Ziggy had even thanked her.
    Now she had to face the fact again that Ziggy was dead. Vanessa turned onto her side, and her eye was caught by a note propped up against the lamp on her bedside table.
    You were exhausted. Decided not to wake you. Back at usual time. Take it easy today. Love, Lee
.
    Vanessa leaned over the side of the bed, opened her backpack, and took out Toddy. She held the head against her chest.
    â€œThey murdered Ziggy,” Vanessa whispered. “It makes me sick to think about it.”
    Well, don’t, then
, the shrunken head seemed to murmur.
    â€œI can’t stop thinking, can I?” Vanessa said impatiently. “More like
they
have to be stopped.”
    And you think you can do that, do you?
    â€œYes. No. I don’t know, Toddy,” she said crossly,stuffing him under her pillow. “I can see you’re going to be no help at all today.”
    It was nearly half past ten by the time Vanessa finally came down to breakfast. She planned to grab some of the fruit that was always in a bowl on the kitchen table and go off alone to the beach, but it was not to be.
    â€œGood morning, Vanessa. I hope you had a refreshing sleep. I hear you had a very tough day yesterday,” Frankie called out as Vanessa picked an apple out of the fruit bowl. She grimaced in sympathy and Vanessa’s heart sank. Why did Lee have to tell Frankie Bouche? Now she wouldn’t stop talking about it all day.
    But Vanessa was wrong. Without another word, Mrs. Bouche produced toast, two fried eggs, and a glass of orange juice and then disappeared into the pantry. Vanessa could see the top of her mousy brown hair as she arranged the shelves. There were enough tins in there to feed an entire regiment of Canadian Mounties, rather than just a couple of guests, Vanessa reckoned.
    She couldn’t help sighing heavily when Wayne slipped into the chair beside her. She had assumedthat by now he’d have eaten his breakfast and be gone somewhere. Anywhere.
    â€œI want my eggs like that,” Wayne said loudly.
    Frankie shot out of the pantry. The look of pleasure on her face pained Vanessa.
    â€œAre you still hungry, my poor pet?” said Frankie, ruffling her son’s hair affectionately.
    So this was Wayne’s second breakfast.
    â€œOf course you are,” Frankie went on proudly. “You’re a growing boy.”
    Greedy pig
, Vanessa thought, keeping her head down and eating steadily.
    When she lifted her head to take a sip of orange juice she spotted a piece of paper in Wayne’s hand. He caught her eye and grinned. Then he ran his hand repeatedly over it, smoothing out the creases. What was he up to? Well, she wouldn’t give the little monster the satisfaction of looking at it.
    â€œThat’s a really good drawing, Wayne,” his mother said, putting down his breakfast plate and peering at the page.
    Vanessa looked up despite herself. She let out a gasp at what she saw.
    â€œYes. It is very good, isn’t it?” Frankie said,assuming Vanessa’s gasp was one of admiration. “I never knew you were so talented at drawing, Pickles.”
    Vanessa stared at the page in disbelief. It was her drawing, the one of the cryptid. The heat began in her neck and she felt it spread across her face.
    Vanessa bit her lip hard. He must have fished it out from between the rocks.
    â€œIt certainly does look just like Caddy. Although I have to say I’ve never actually seen it