Stolen Treasures Read Online Free PDF

bag ready for swimming. Jessica followed and sat on the bed watching her.
    “I want to be in the squad too. Do you think I’ll be good enough soon?”
    “If you practise,” said Antonia, rummaging in the drawer for her swimming goggles. She found them inside her swimming hat and put both in her bag with her towel, swimming costume, shampoo and hairbrush, then zipped it up.
    “Will you play with me now?” asked Jessica.
    “I’m going swimming,” said Antonia.
    “That’s not for another half an hour. Please, Antonia. Come and see my dolls. I’ve made a camp for them in my bedroom.”
    “Just a quick look,” said Antonia reluctantly, but luckily she was saved by Dad, who wanted to leave earlier than usual so he could drop off a quote to a customer.
    “This customer’s just bought an old fishing boat to go diving from,” said Dad as he drove the car off the main road and into a lane. “It needs quite a bit of work on the engine.”
    Antonia’s pulse raced.
    “A fishing boat?” she asked. Could this be the boat that was causing the damage out at sea? “What’s it called?”
    “I’ve no idea. You’ll see it in a minute.”
    Rounding a corner, the lane opened out into a yard with outbuildings on the long side and a house in the corner. Antonia’s heart sank when she spotted an old fishing boat parked on a trailer. It was nothing like the boat she was after. By the look of it, this boat wasn’t even seaworthy.
    “Wait here,” said Dad, parking the car and reaching for a long white envelope on the dashboard. “I won’t be a sec.”
    Absentmindedly, Antonia twiddled her dolphin charm as she watched Dad knock on the front door. As much as she loved swimming, she wished she didn’t have to go tonight. Then she could have gone to the harbour before tea with Cai and they might have been closer to solving the mystery of theboat owners, before they caused any more damage.
    “Spirit, I will sort this out,” Antonia vowed, lightly running her finger along her dolphin’s soft back.
    The charm juddered slightly and Antonia sat bolt upright. Was Spirit about to call? She concentrated on the dolphin but it was still now and her sixth sense told her she wasn’t needed.
    “Back again,” said Dad, sliding into the car. “Swimming club next.”
    “Cool,” said Antonia, forcing a smile.
    The swimming pool was busy and Dad had to park at the end of the road. As they drove past the entrance, Antonia saw Emily walking in with a lady who was obviously her mother.She was tall and thin just like Emily and walked with the same gangly stride. A memory stirred in Antonia’s head but refused to surface. Emily was cradling her swimming bag in her arms as if it was something precious. Antonia was secretly glad Dad hadn’t found a parking space outside the pool or she would have had to walk in with her.
    “Here’s my mobile. Ring me on the landline if you finish early,” said Dad. Antonia nodded.
    “See you in a couple of hours then.” Dad left Antonia at the swimming-pool entrance and ran back to the car.
    Antonia changed quickly and was putting her swimming bag in a locker when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She swung round and saw Emily, her curly hair escaping fromher swimming hat and a silly grin on her face.
    “This is for you,” she said, thrusting a gift box at Antonia. “It’s to say thank you, for helping me to find Stripes and for not telling on me.”
    “Oh!” Antonia exclaimed. “You didn’t need to get me anything.”
    “I did,” Emily insisted. “I was stupid and careless and I’m really sorry.”
    A small crowd of Year Six girls gathered round the lockers.
    “Open the box,” they urged.
    Reluctantly, Antonia prised off the lid.
    “Don’t jog her,” said Emily, putting out her hands to keep everyone back. “It’s fragile. Do you like it, Antonia? Mum made itespecially for you. It’s a ‘stardish’. Get it?
Stardish
, clever, huh?”
    Antonia stared at the smoky-blue glass dish