Frankie Potts and the Bikini Burglar by Juliet Jacka

Author:Juliet Jacka [Jacka, Juliet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781743487181
Publisher: Penguin Random House New Zealand
Published: 2013-04-08T00:00:00+00:00

Ten

The Same-As-The-Last-One Mystery

THE NEXT MORNING AT SCHOOL Mac and I were supposed to be doing creative writing. But we drew pictures of creative cat burglar traps instead.

“Reckon I’m partner material, Frankie?” said Mac, as he finished his second trap. It was elaborately impressive.

“Sidekick, remember?” I said. “There’s only room for one number-one detective in this town.”

Ms Meaching clapped her hands. “Right, kids, time to get ready for our class trip. Are we excited about going to see the Absurdities Encrusted in Diamonds exhibition?”

“Yeeessss,” said everyone. Apart from Ralph and his evil henchmen.

“Urgh,” said Albert Bottle, pretending to puke. “Diamond-encrusted things are lame.”

“Albert,” said Ms Meaching, “you’re welcome to stay here and help Mr Brown clean the school lavatories.”

That shut the Bottle up.

“Will we get to see the sparkly bikini, Ms? The one with the fancy diamonds on it?” said Cecily.

Ms Meaching frowned. “I think so, although Mickey — I mean, Inspector Michaels — was telling me they’ve had to tighten security. Just last night someone broke into Mrs Hooper’s place and stole her two-piece, and her faux diamond necklace to boot. It seems our cat burglar has a taste for jewellery as well as for swimwear.”

Mac and I looked at each other. Maybe Bruno’ll be hanging around the diamond exhibition today, waiting for a chance to steal something blingy.

We filed out of the classroom and across the playground. The Philistine was next to the school bus, crossing our names off a list as we got on. She was wearing a beige coat with pockets in the front. A notepad was sticking out the top of one of them.

“Is she coming too?” I said to Mac as we sat down.

“Guess so,” he said.

The bus ride to the village hall was long enough for Ralph to write a rude word on the back of a seat in black marker, then get sent to the front of the bus to sit next to the Philistine (ha).

Mrs Hortenesca met us at the entrance to the village hall. She looked so fancy it was silly.

“Children,” she said, earrings flashing, “welcome to Tring’s first ever diamond-encrusted exhibition. Remember — look, but don’t touch.”

“Thank you again for hosting our visit today,” said Ms Meaching. “It’s such a marvellous idea, holding this exhibition and donating the proceeds.”

I looked around. There were no cats. But I did notice the Philistine pull out her notepad and write something down.

We followed Mrs Hortenesca inside. A security guard was standing next to the exhibition room entrance. He was tall and had black hair growing out of his ears. He looked like a grown-up version of Ralph and the evil henchmen: mean.

“Morning, Melvin,” said Mrs Hortenesca. “I’ve got class 8B here today, taking a sneak peek before the official opening tomorrow.”

Melvin smiled, and the what-I-thought-was-meanness melted away as quickly as Sparkplug licks up ice cream.

“Ah, you’re in for a treat, you lot,” said actually-not-mean Melvin. “Those sparklers in there sure do lift the spirits.” He rummaged around in his pockets and pulled out a paper bag from Mrs Entwhistle’s Ye Olde Sweet Shoppe.

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