The Highland Falcon Thief Read online

‘I’ll be standing behind you holding this newspaper up as if I’m reading it. Walk quickly and confidently, but don’t run. Go, go, go!’

  Lenny hurried forward, keeping her face hidden behind the pile of white linen, and Hal followed. The dining car was empty. They passed the kitchen, making it into the corridor of the sleeping car, when Lenny stopped abruptly.

  ‘Someone’s coming!’ she hissed. ‘It’s the Pickles!’

  ‘Don’t panic,’ Hal said, feeling like ice-cold frogs were hopping about inside his tummy. ‘Keep going.’

  ‘I won’t be able to get past them!’ Lenny squeaked, pushing her face against the tablecloths. ‘They’re going to see me.’

  Hal peeped round her. The Pickles were two steps away from his compartment.

  The door sprang open.

  ‘Ah, Mr Pickle!’ Uncle Nat stepped into the hallway in front of Lenny. ‘Just the man I wanted to see.’

  ‘Hiya!’ Lydia Pickle smiled.

  ‘The police have been through our things with two sniffer dogs, and you’ll be glad to hear they found nothing. No necklaces, no earrings, no brooches.’ Uncle Nat stepped sideways and discreetly gestured to Hal.

  Hal took the cue from his uncle and quickly shoved Lenny into the compartment, motioning for her to hide behind the door.

  ‘Aren’t you going to apologize for accusing my nephew of being a thief?’

  ‘I most certainly am not!’ Mr Pickle huffed. ‘Now, get out of my way.’

  Uncle Nat and Hal stepped back into the cabin doorway, watching the Pickles exit the corridor.

  ‘That was close!’ Hal said, closing the door behind them.

  ‘Thank you, Mr Bradshaw,’ Lenny said. ‘You saved my bacon.’

  ‘My pleasure, Marlene. You probably don’t remember me, but we met when you were little.’

  ‘I do.’ Lenny grinned. ‘Dad’s got all your books; he reads them to me. They’re brilliant.’

  ‘Aren’t you kind.’ Uncle Nat beamed. ‘Now, we’ll be pulling into Settle soon, to take on coal and water. So, I’m going to talk to your father. I think he should tell the police you’re on the train, Marlene. I’m sure everyone will understand why you wanted to come on this journey.’ He looked at Hal. ‘Lock the door and don’t open it to anyone except me. If the police discover a stowaway, it’ll take some explaining.’ He picked up his journal and pen. ‘I won’t be long.’

  Lenny threw herself on the sofa as Hal locked the door behind his uncle. ‘We don’t have much time,’ she said.

  ‘For what?’

  ‘To solve the mystery of the Highland Falcon Thief!’ Lenny rested her chin on her hands. ‘Once people find out I’m here, they’ll probably send me home. If Milo is the thief and Sierra his accomplice, we’ll have to get proof quick.’

  ‘How?’

  ‘I’m glad you asked.’ Lenny leaned forward. ‘Because I’ve got a plan.’

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  UNSETTLED AT SETTLE

  ‘I’ve been to Settle station before,’ Lenny said. ‘The loco has to pull the front of the train beyond the platform to take on coal and water. All the formal duties, the handshaking with the prince and princess, will happen at the back, on the veranda of the observation car. Everyone will be down that end of the train.’

  ‘So?’ Hal sat on Uncle Nat’s chair.

  ‘So, that’s when we search Milo’s compartment.’

  ‘But the police have already searched it and found no jewels.’

  ‘We’re not looking for jewels. We’re looking for proof that he’s the Magpie. We might find tools or plans.’

  ‘But the door will be locked.’ Hal looked at Lenny’s tool belt. ‘Can you pick locks?’

  ‘I wish! I wouldn’t have borrowed Gordon’s key to the royal compartment if I could pick locks.’

  ‘But I promised Uncle Nat I wouldn’t leave.’

  ‘No, you didn’t.’ Lenny crossed her arms. ‘You promised him you’d lock the door when he left and not open it to anyone but him. And I’m not suggesting we go out the door. I’m saying we should go outside.’

  ‘What?!’

  ‘It’ll be easy. When we pull into Settle, the window will be on the opposite side to the platform. No one will see us. We’ll open it and climb out. I’ll jemmy Milo’s window open with my screwdriver.’ She pointed to her tool belt. ‘We’ll get in and investigate the place as fast as we can, making sure we get back before the train pulls out of the station.’ She waited for a response. ‘C’mon, Hal – otherwise Inspector Clyde will catch Milo and get the reward. We worked it out first.’

  Hal nodded. ‘I suppose.’

  ‘Good.’ Lenny jumped up. ‘Which compartment is Milo’s – do you know?’

  ‘He’s next door. That way.’ Hal pointed at the opposite wall.

  ‘Easy-peasy.’

  ‘It’s a big drop to the ground,’ said Hal.

  ‘So don’t let go.’ Lenny pushed her face against the glass. ‘Come on – the train’s slowing down already.’

  The train pulled through the idyllic Settle station. Hal saw a white-and-cherry-red building with a slate roof and frilly wooden trim. His pulse was racing. As soon as they’d passed the platform and drawn to a halt, Lenny jumped on the chair and opened the window. She climbed out sideways, swinging her leg out.

  ‘Let’s go,’ she hissed, one foot on the thin metal ledge beneath the window. She reached out, full stretch, hooking the fingers of her hand around the window of Milo’s room, before swinging her leg across, so that she was straddling the two windows.

  ‘Be careful!’

  Lenny pulled the screwdriver from her tool belt and prised Milo’s window open. Hal’s heart was beating so fast, he thought he might throw up. Once Lenny had pushed the window down, she got her hand inside and clambered in, then stuck her head back out and grinned at Hal.

  ‘Come on,’ she said. ‘Now you.’

  Hal stood on the chair and stepped one leg out the window, reaching unsuccessfully for the edge of Milo’s window.

  ‘Try reaching with your foot first,’ Lenny encouraged him.

  Hal gripped the window frame and stretched out his leg as far as he could. The chair wobbled, and he gasped. His hands were sweating. He froze, feeling that at any moment, he might fall on to the tracks. ‘I can’t do it,’ he said. ‘I’ll fall.’

  ‘You won’t.’

  Hal gripped the window tighter. His arms were shaking. ‘It’s too high.’ He heard the panic in his own voice. ‘I can’t do it.’

  ‘You can. Here – grab my hand.’

  Hal looked across. Her hand seemed miles away. He shook his head.

  ‘OK – don’t worry.’ Lenny smiled reassuringly. ‘Go back inside – I’ll tell you what I see.’

  Hal pulled himself back into the compartment, tumbling on to the floor with relief and shame. He grabbed his sketchbook and put his head back out of the window so he could hear Lenny.

  ‘It’s the mirror image of yours,’ he heard her say. ‘Except Milo is very messy.’

  Hal whipped lines on to the page, creating the reverse image of his cabin. ‘Tell me everything you can see.’

  ‘There’s paper everywhere,’ said Lenny. ‘All over the desk. Screwed up in balls all over the carpet …’ She fell silent. ‘I’ve opened a couple – they all have one word or a few sentences, all scribbled out. It’s like he’s trying to write an important letter but can’t think of the right words.’

  ‘What else?’

  ‘Ugh … stinky socks. A stack of books on the floor – poetry by John Donne and e. e. cummings. He hasn’t unpacked – there’s a duffel bag in front of the wardrobe. His clothes are spilling out. I’m looking inside …’ There was a silence. ‘Nope – just clothes.’

  ‘Start in one corner of the room and tell me everything you see,’ Hal said, his pen finishing off the outline of a duffel bag.

  ‘OK. Above the sofa, dangling from a lamp, is a blue-and-pink spotted silk scarf. Milo’s coat is hanging off the back
of the door …’ There was another moment of silence, followed by a gasp. ‘The note’s gone from the pocket! … Oh, Hal!’ Her head popped out of the window. ‘There’s a bracelet in the soap well by the sink. It looks like diamonds!’

  ‘Don’t touch it.’ Hal said. ‘Describe it to me.’

  ‘It’s a circlet of gold, and embedded in it, one after another, are small diamonds. Why didn’t the police find this when they searched?’

  ‘The men with dogs weren’t looking for a bracelet,’ said Hal. ‘They probably thought it was Milo’s—’ The Highland Falcon let out a high whistle, making Hal jump. ‘Lenny, get out of there. We’re about to move.’

  ‘Hang on! I forgot to check the drawer under the seat.’

  ‘Lenny, come on.’

  ‘There’s a suitcase in here.’

  ‘Leave it … Lenny?’ Hal held his breath, puffing it out when her grinning head stuck out of Milo’s window. ‘Don’t do that to me.’

  The smile fell from her lips, and her head turned. ‘Someone’s trying to get in! I’ve got to hide!’ She disappeared from view.

  ‘Lenny?’ Hal whispered. ‘Lenny!’

  There was a whoosh of steam, and the Highland Falcon lurched forward, pulling away from the station.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  STEAM OF THE DRAGON

  Hal opened the wardrobe door, pushing his head against the wall, expecting to hear Lenny cry out or Milo’s angry shout. He listened but heard nothing. Grabbing a glass from beside the sink, he held it against the wall, putting his ear to it. There was a thump and a clattering sound. Hal jumped back. ‘Lenny!’ He tossed the glass on to the sofa, flipped the key, and yanked open the door.

  ‘Whoa!’ Uncle Nat was standing in the hall, his hand raised to knock.

  ‘Hi.’ Hal glanced up and down the hall. It was empty. Milo’s door was closed.

  ‘I spoke to your father … Oh.’ Uncle Nat looked about. ‘Where’s Lenny?’

  ‘Um …’ Hal blinked. He didn’t want to tell Uncle Nat that she’d broken into Milo’s compartment. ‘She’s in the loo.’

  ‘Oh.’ Uncle Nat sat down on the sofa. ‘I thought she was worried about being seen.’

  ‘She was desperate. She thought she could risk it because everyone was at the other end of the train for the Settle celebration, but now I’m worried she might be stuck in the toilet. I’ll go and check.’

  Hal stepped out into the corridor and shut the door behind him, waiting for a second to be sure Uncle Nat wasn’t going to open it again, and then crept to Milo’s compartment.

  The door was closed. There was no sound from within. If Milo had found Lenny, there would have been a row, which meant she must be hidden, trapped.

  ‘What are you doing, boy?’

  Hal jumped. Mr Pickle was striding towards him.

  ‘Loitering? Plotting to steal something?’

  ‘I’m … going to the library to get a book,’ Hal said defiantly, marching past the horrible man.

  ‘Are you now?’ Mr Pickle turned and followed Hal. ‘Why don’t I believe you?’

  As Hal walked, he tried not to panic. Lenny was stuck in Milo’s compartment, and he was being driven the wrong way up the train by a suspicious Steven Pickle. He wished he’d told Uncle Nat the truth. As he passed through the dining car, he racked his brain for a reason to turn around. Arriving in the library, he went straight to the nearest shelf, and pulled out a book.

  Mr Pickle entered, scowling at Hal as he stomped past. ‘I’ve got my eye on you, boy,’ he said. ‘Every move you make, I’m watching.’ He lingered, making sure Hal felt the full force of his menacing glare.

  ‘Oh!’ Lucy Meadows exclaimed, surprised to see Mr Pickle’s back as she opened the door.

  ‘Beg your pardon, Miss Meadows,’ Mr Pickle said, leaving the library.

  Lucy made a beeline for a low shelf, grabbing a book and opening it.

  Hal stepped towards the door, desperate to get back and help Lenny.

  Lucy gasped. ‘Oh! Hal!’ She snapped her book shut. ‘I didn’t see you there.’

  ‘Sorry. Didn’t mean to make you jump.’ Hal smiled politely, pointing at the book she was holding. ‘Is it good?’

  ‘Excuse me?’

  ‘That book.’ Hal said. ‘Steam of the Dragon.’

  ‘Oh! Yes – I love dragons.’

  Hal frowned. ‘Don’t you mean trains?’

  ‘Of course! Trains and dragons.’ Lucy nodded vigorously. ‘Anyway, I must go – Sierra’s waiting.’ She tucked the book under her arm, and as she marched past, something slipped from between its pages, falling to the floor.

  ‘Wait!’ Hal called, crouching down to pick up the plain blue envelope. But when he looked back up, Lucy had gone.

  Hal turned the envelope over in his hands. The flap was tucked in, not sealed. He felt a ripple of guilt as he opened it and slid out a rectangle of folded paper. Written in a sharp, spidery hand, he read:

  Hearing the clip-clop of high heels, Hal pushed the note back into the envelope and stuffed it in his pocket.

  ‘Have you seen Lucy anywhere?’ Sierra asked. Her eyes darted about the room. She was obviously annoyed.

  ‘She came through a minute ago.’ Hal pointed at the near door.

  Sierra tutted. ‘She was meant to be getting something for me.’

  ‘If I see her, I’ll tell her you’re looking for her,’ Hal said, smiling awkwardly as Sierra strutted past him.

  They’d got everything wrong. Milo was in love with Sierra Knight! Lucy had been carrying their love notes. That’s why Sierra had made Lucy lie for her. Her alibi was that she was with Milo. He wasn’t the Magpie at all! Hal pulled out his sketchbook, flicking to the page with Milo’s note, and he reread it, realizing his mistake. The bracelet Lenny had seen in his compartment probably belonged to Sierra – and the blue-and-pink polka-dot scarf. He had to get back to Lenny and tell her.

  The door to the billiards room opened again. He held his breath, expecting Mr Pickle’s voice.

  ‘Hello, Harrison.’ It was Milo. ‘Reading more of your uncle’s books?’

  Hal’s heart skipped a beat. How could Milo be coming from that end of the train? He was supposed to be in his compartment, with Lenny. If he wasn’t in there, then who was?

  ‘Are you all right?’ Milo asked. ‘You’ve gone very pale.’

  But Hal didn’t reply. He was already racing out of the library.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  THE TURN OF THE KEY

  Hal sprinted through the dining car, bumping into Sergeant Prattle, who blocked his path with an outstretched hand.

  ‘Stop,’ said the sergeant.

  ‘I’m in a rush,’ Hal said, as the tannoy crackled, and Gordon Goulde’s voice boomed through the train.

  ‘Ladies and gentlemen, Detective Chief Inspector Clyde has asked that all guests gather in the dining car as a matter of urgency. Please make your way there immediately.’

  Sergeant Prattle pointed to a seat. ‘Sit down.’

  The carriage began filling with guests.

  ‘I hope this means the necklace has been found,’ the baron said, sitting at the table next to Hal’s. ‘We can enjoy the rest of the journey in peace.’

  ‘There’s never a dull moment on the Highland Falcon,’ said Milo, sitting opposite his father, wearing a sardonic smile.

  Uncle Nat spotted Hal and joined him.

  ‘Did you leave our compartment door unlocked?’ Hal whispered. ‘For Lenny.’

  ‘Of course,’ his uncle replied.

  Hal bit his lip. If everyone came to the dining car, hopefully that would give Lenny a chance to slip out of Milo’s room.

  Lady Lansbury arrived, followed by Rowan. He stood by the door with Bailey, Shannon and Trafalgar.

  Shannon and Trafalgar yapped and jumped up as Sierra entered the carriage.

  ‘Get them off me!’ Sierra squealed, leaning away. ‘Urgh, dogs!’ She went and sat at the other end of the carriage.

&nb
sp; Hal thought he saw Lucy smile, but he was more concerned that Bailey seemed downcast and lethargic. She wasn’t jumping around with the other dogs.

  ‘Now, now, girls,’ soothed Lady Lansbury. ‘Be on your best behaviour for the nice detectives.’

  ‘This is the least relaxing train journey I’ve ever been on,’ grumbled Steven Pickle, dropping into a chair. ‘You wouldn’t get this on one of my trains.’

  ‘You wouldn’t get a seat on one of your trains,’ muttered Ernest White from behind him.

  The prince and princess were the last to enter, and both wore grave expressions. As they sat, Inspector Clyde arose from the corner, and everyone turned to face her.

  ‘Thank you for coming,’ she said. ‘I apologize for the disruption, but I wanted to inform you that, although we have not yet located the princess’s necklace, we have taken a suspect into custody.’ A smile flickered across her face as an intrigued murmur rippled through the carriage.

  ‘Who is it?’ asked Lydia Pickle. ‘Did you find my brooch?’

  ‘The thief has been walking among you since the Highland Falcon left London,’ Inspector Clyde said. ‘The necklace was taken … by a stowaway.’

  ‘Oh no,’ Uncle Nat said under his breath as everyone gasped.

  Hal felt sick.

  ‘A stowaway! On the royal train!’ exclaimed Lady Lansbury. ‘How is that possible?’

  ‘Her name is Marlene Singh,’ said Inspector Clyde. ‘She is the daughter of the royal train driver, Mohanjit Singh, who at this minute is driving the Highland Falcon towards … um …’

  ‘Blackburn,’ said Uncle Nat quietly.

  ‘He is the mastermind behind the thefts. Devastated that the Highland Falcon is being retired, angry at losing his job, and with children to feed, Mohanjit has resorted to stealing. He smuggled his daughter on to the train to lift valuable jewellery from the Highland Falcon’s wealthy guests.’

  ‘That’s not true!’ Hal leaped up.

  ‘Friends of yours, are they?’ Steven Pickle sneered. ‘Should have known.’

  Uncle Nat tried to get Hal to sit down.

  ‘Where’s your proof?’ Hal shouted, his fists clenched.