Free Scam on the Cam by Clementine Beauvais Page B

Gonville & Caius.”
    â€œYou’ll have to explain zat to the police,” said the pirate. “We’re taking ze kids zere, and we’ll happily take you along.”
    Jeremy sighed. “Ah. That’s not entirely ideal, as I need to finish an essay for yesterday morning and I haven’t started thinking about it yet.”
    â€œYou’ll zink about it at ze police station,” suggested Marcel.
    â€œI would, but I can’t for the life of meremember what the question is. Sesame, can you please explain what’s going on?”
    â€œYes,” I said. ‘We went into the boathouse to steal Rob Dawes’s chocolates which we thought were poisonous. But then we found a woolly hat full of stolen jewelry and stole that instead. We were then caught on our way out by Monsieur Marcel here, who is under the wrong but understandable impression that we are the notorious barge-burgling zieves who’ve been spreading chaos and desolation among the river dwellers of late.”
    â€œI see,” said Jeremy. “Well, not really.”
    That’s when the university team’s van from Ely arrived. Will got off first, and looked immediately terrified.
    â€œHey, what’s going on?” he said, drawing closer to us. “What are you doing here, kids?”
    â€œWe’ve just intercepted these children leaving the boathouse with a bag of jewelry that we know has been stolen from local barges over the past few weeks,” explained Patricia. “We’re taking them to the police station.”
    Gwen, from the doorstep of the boathouse, called, “What’s the matter, Wally? What are the crazy kids doing here
again
?”

    â€œNothing,” replied Will, “I’m dealing with it! Do the debriefing without me!”
    And Gwendoline and the rowers disappeared into the boathouse. Will turned to Marcel and Patricia again. “Are you sure it’s them?” he asked hesitantly.
    â€œIt’s seriously not us at all,” I said, “it’s Gwendoline. Or Rob. Or Julius, or someone. But not us.”
    Will addressed a reassuring smile to me. “Listen,” he said to our kidnappers, “I really don’t think these kids have anything to do with this. They’re just would-be journalists. Let me drive you to the police station and we’ll talk about it there, okay? But leave the children here. I’m pretty sure it’s not their fault. And anyway, they’re too young to be arrested.”
    â€œ
He
’s not too young,” objected Marcel, pointing at Jeremy.
    â€œWell, we’ll take him along,” said Will. “Let’s go.”
    Marcel seemed reluctant, but then he said, “Okay, zen. Patricia, call your friend and tell her we don’t need her anymore. You’re coming with us,” he said to Jeremy. “As for you, children,” he pointed a menacing finger at our face, “if I see you again . . .”
    And the three little dots were more terrifying than any actual threat could ever be.
    â€œI’m so glad I came,” moaned Jeremy, rolling his eyes. “Sesame, you can say goodbye to your salary this month.”
    I felt bad, but it’s not as if he ever pays me anyway. Marcel and Jeremy squeezed into Will’s car and Will drove off, leaving Toby, Gemma, Patricia, the woolly hat and me on the riverbank.
    â€œSesame,” said Toby, “now they’re gone, can I just tell you something that’s just struck me as just a little bit strange?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œWhile you were busy defending us, I was looking at another frog, and really, I mean really, the frogs around here are very, very fast.”
    When Toby’s got something he wants to do, you have to let him do it. You have to let him do it because otherwise he’ll say every two minutes, “Let me do it,” and sing it to the tune of famous nursery rhymes, which is incredibly