The Case of the Stolen Film Read Online Free PDF Page A

it? Supplement your wage?’
    â€˜No,’ protested Karnataka. ‘The Kinghorns are gathering support but my spies tell me that there’s a splinter group called the One-Worlders. Vainclaw is worried.’
    â€˜So? What’s that got to do with Minertia’s treasure?’ asked Dirk.
    â€˜Vainclaw’s cronies are looking for it. I guess he’s looking for gold to buy support.’
    â€˜Nice try,’ said Dirk, smiling wryly, ‘but I’ve known you too long, Karny. You want to make a little extra gold for yourself.’
    â€˜A little extra gold? We’re not talking about a high street jeweller’s. We’re talking the biggest stash of gold in the world. I’ve been looking through the records from her trial. Did you know the council offered to reduce her sentence if she told them where it was?’
    â€˜If no one’s found it in all the years that she’s been banished, I’m guessing it’s pretty well hidden.’
    â€˜That’s why I need you,’ said Karnataka. ‘Please, Dirk. You’re the best there is.’
    â€˜No.’
    Karnataka let out a frustrated growl. ‘Seriously, if you knew what I know, knowing you, you’d be looking for it too.’
    â€˜Then tell me what you know,’ said Dirk.
    â€˜That’s the thing,’ snorted Karnataka. ‘If you knew what I know, you wouldn’t help me find it.’
    â€˜Karny, I’m in no mood for your riddles. If you’ve nothing more to say, you can disappear down yourhole and get back to your shady dealings.’
    â€˜You’re making a big mistake, Dirk,’ said Karnataka, but he climbed back into the hole, leaving Dirk alone in the empty cellar. Dirk picked up the bits of the dressing table and looked at it. It was way beyond repair. He piled the remains over the hole and went back up the stairs.

Chapter 7

    Mr Bigsby didn’t speak as he motioned Holly and Archie into the back of the car. When the radio came on automatically, he switched it off, filling the car with an uncomfortable absence of sound.
    They arrived at Sidney Clavel Estate and Mr Bigsby stopped the car and switched off the engine. Holly had only been there once before. She was struck by how much gloomier, dirtier and rougher it was than the street where she lived.
    â€˜You’d better know I intend to have a serious word with your father,’ said Mr Bigsby.
    â€˜You might have to wait a while,’ said Archie defiantly. ‘Dad’s in prison.’
    For a moment Mr Bigsby looked thrown by this, then he said, ‘Your mother, then.’
    â€˜Mum’s …’ Archie’s voice faded away as though unsure how to finish the sentence.
    They all stepped out of the car and Mr Bigsby marched them over a patch of grass, which was littered with bits of rubbish, discarded clothes and plastic bags. The area was lit by dim yellow lights. In the middle were a couple of upside-down supermarket trolleys and a mangled bicycle.
    â€˜I’m sorry, Hol,’ whispered Archie.
    â€˜No talking,’ barked Mr Bigsby.
    Archie led them to the block where he lived, past a lift with an ‘Out of Order’ sign on it and up the grimy concrete stairs, which had threatening graffiti scrawled across the walls.
    On the third floor they followed Archie along an outside walkway. On the floor above someone was playing music extremely loudly, and below a couple could be heard arguing. Archie stopped in front of a green door.
    â€˜This is where I live. Thanks for the lift. I’ll see you later,’ he said, as casually as if he was being dropped off after a trip to the cinema.
    â€˜We’ll see you in,’ said Mr Bigsby, waiting for him toopen the door. ‘You have a key, do you?’
    Archie pulled out a key from his pocket but still didn’t try to open the door. ‘I’ll be fine from here,’ he said.
    â€˜Open the door,’ ordered Mr