Free Crowns and Codebreakers by Elen Caldecott Page A

table and dropped his chin on to his palms.
    ‘What’s the matter?’ Piotr asked.
    Andrew shrugged.
    ‘Go on. What?’
    Andrew raised his head slowly. ‘Marcus,’ he said. ‘I can’t believe Marcus has anything to do with a criminal gang and a hidden message and the break-in. He was so nice he gave us lemonade. ’
    ‘Even criminals have quality soft drinks,’ Minnie said. ‘In fact, criminals probably have nicer stuff than the rest of us. If not, what’s the point of being a criminal?’
    ‘But …’ Andrew tried again, ‘but he seemed so kind. Do you think maybe the letter wasn’t for him at all? That the hidden message was meant to be for Omar and the post office delivered it to the wrong address? Omar had the green T-shirt, after all.’
    Minnie had to admit it was odd. The fact that the T-shirt was in the dry cleaner’s suggested that Omar was involved. But the letter with the hidden message had been in Marcus’s tray.
    ‘We don’t know who the gang are or what they’re up to,’ Minnie said. ‘But we’ll find out at the railway station tomorrow.’

    As they left the cafe, Flora twitched Minnie’s sleeve. The boys went on ahead, but Minnie paused.
    ‘It’s Sylvie,’ Flora said sadly. ‘She still wouldn’t come when you texted me.’
    Minnie gave a shrug. She didn’t care what Sylvie did.
    ‘Will you at least think about making it up with her?’ Flora asked.
    ‘I’m not going to say sorry. I’ve got nothing to be sorry for,’ Minnie said hotly.
    Flora didn’t reply straight away. Minnie got the impressionthat she was choosing her words very carefully. ‘Will you just think about it?’ Flora asked.
    Minnie tilted her head. It wasn’t a yes; it wasn’t a no. It was the best Flora was going to get.
    It left Minnie feeling a bit crotchety. She gave them all a short wave and went, alone, through the salon and up to the flat.
    She glanced into her room. Gran wasn’t there, but she had made a start on the rearranging she’d threatened – one of the beds was angled awkwardly, but at least it was possible to open the wardrobe door now.
    ‘Minnie? Is that you?’ Gran’s voice came from the kitchen. Minnie went in. There was an untouched plate of biscuits on the kitchen table, a pot of tea and two empty cups. Gran hadn’t poured the tea.
    ‘Is it ready?’ Minnie said, gesturing at the teapot.
    ‘It was ready an hour ago,’ Gran said. ‘I expect it is cold now.’
    Minnie slid into the chair opposite Gran. ‘What’s the matter?’
    All the battleship confidence seemed to have left Gran. It was as though she’d run aground on the rocks. ‘I got this ready’ – Gran waved at the tea things – ‘because I thought your Special Constable Wright might take meseriously. I thought he might listen. But there’s been no sign of him.’
    ‘Nothing? He hasn’t even called?’
    Gran looked at the cold teapot. ‘I was promised a swift response. Action. But promises here seem to be as breakable as thread.’
    ‘That’s not true! Jimmy’s nice!’
    Gran didn’t reply.
    Jimmy wouldn’t let them down, would he? Perhaps he was working undercover or was chasing down criminals right now. It couldn’t be that he didn’t care, surely? Minnie took the teapot to the sink and poured away the cold tea, splashing it up the sides and on the taps. She crammed the biscuits back in the biscuit tin.
    She dropped a quick kiss on the top of Gran’s head and left the room. She had to: she was way too cross to stay.
    If Jimmy wasn’t going to fix things, then she and the others would.

Chapter Fourteen
    Gran didn’t eat much that evening. Although the sizzling sound of frying vegetables and the smell of the okra alone had made Minnie’s mouth water, Gran just pushed her food around her plate.
    ‘Is everything all right?’ Mum asked.
    ‘The food is wonderful, Taiwo, really. I’m just bone-tired. I think I’ll go to bed.’ Gran heaved herself up and shuffled out towards the bedroom.
    Mum