Free Gatwick Bear and the Secret Plans by Anna Cuffaro Page B

off in a straight line and then headed off towards the City. When they arrived, Gatwick was thrown into a prison cell.
    Gatwick sat there with his wooden spoon for quite a long time, but nobody came. He started thinking about his Little Sister and his Mama – how worried they’d be! And, he also started thinking about the blackberry crumble he didn’t get around to eating. The eyes in his round head went watery. Little Sister said that litter louts could end up in prison because they were not civilised. She was so right.
    Mama and Little Sister had finished making blackberry crumble. It had a mouth-watering light-brown sugar crust on it. Mama waited for it to cool down and then drizzled more caster sugar over it. What a finishing touch! Mama was an excellent cook: “Go and call Gatwick, will you, Little Sister. Both of you, go and wash your paws then come and have supper”.
    Little Sister put her head out of the cave door and shouted: “Gatwick, supper’s ready! Dinner’s ready!”, she waited a moment for his reply. Nothing, only the silence of the brooding mountains. “Gatwick, please stop messing around. Come on!” Again, there was no answer. It was evening, and the sun had already started moving down behind the mountains. Little Sister went a short way along the stony track and called again. No answer. She rushed back home, crying as she went, to tell Mama.
    â€œMama! Mama! I can’t find Gatwick!”
    â€œAll right, now; don’t panic. I’m sure he’ll come back soon. He’s probably just playing somewhere, hasn’t realised how time has passed”. But, Mama was worried. After what had happened to Bertie, she couldn’t help being on edge.
    â€œWhat if he’s been shot, like our dad, Bertie?”, Little Sister  cried out.
    â€œDon’t say such silly things. We haven’t heard any shots. No, he hasn’t been shot”.
    â€œLook, you stay here and don’t move. I’ll go further down the track, and see if I can find him”.
    After what seemed like an eternity, Mama came back – without Gatwick. Mama and Little Sister were too worried to eat. In fact, they were sick with worry. Mama took Little Sister into her arms, sat down, placed her on her lap, and cuddled her tight. “Everything will be all right”, she said. But, night was now closing in over the mountain and creeping into the cave. Mama thought that Gatwick was surely lost. The problem was that at that height spending a night on the open mountains could mean freezing to death. And, Gatwick was only wearing a waistcoat, really not warm enough. Neither did he have anything to drink or eat with him.

24  Questioning
    The Chief Inspector arrived and asked Gatwick if he’d like a drink.
    â€œCould I have a fizzy drink, please?”
    â€œOf course. Constable, can you bring us a couple of fizzy drinks, please?”
    â€œRight you are, sir”, and off the constable went.
    â€œSo, Gatwick, I suppose you know why you’re here?”
    â€œYes, sir. I’m so sorry. I haven’t been very civilised. I promise I will never ever do it again”.
    â€œYes, well, it’s a bit late for that”.
    â€œI know it was naughty. But, you can be sure that I regret it very much”.
    â€œAre you willing to sign a statement that you are guilty?”
    â€œYes, sir, I’m guilty. I can’t hide that”.
    â€œNo, you can’t because we have CCTV images of you and your accomplice in front of the bank”.
    â€œSorry, sir. What does ‘ accomplice’ mean?
    â€œIt means that...”, the constable came in with the fizzy drinks. The Chief Inspector went on: “It means that there was someone with you who helped you commit the crime”.
    â€œOh, no, no, you can’t blame Little Sister. I take all the blame, Inspector”.
    â€œSo, it’s your sister, is it? Keep it all in the family,