The Case of the Chaos Monster by Patrice Lawrence

Author:Patrice Lawrence
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic
Published: 2023-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

THE BROTHERS IN COVENT GARDEN

Nannerl returned to her lodgings to wait in case her brother came home. Marisee and Robert left the square quickly, Robert walking with his head down.

“Now to Cheapside,” Marisee said.

“Cheapside? Can we go to Covent Garden first?” he asked.

“Why?”

“Perhaps we can find some more help for tonight.”

Marisee gave him a curious look. “You mean the Red Guard Gang?”

“Perhaps.”

“I thought they’d betrayed you,” Marisee said.

“I think… No, I’m sure it was only one of them,” he said. “It was Steeple. He stole the gold and told Mr Gripe who I was. It was only him that the capture-creature mentioned when they talked about the reward.”

“If you’re sure you can trust them,” Marisee said.

How could he tell her that he was never fully sure if he could trust anyone at all? But he gave her a little smile and nodded. It would be good to see Emma again too, to let her know that he was, well, as all right as he could be under the circumstances.

Robert heard the market stall-holders shouting enticements to buy long before he set foot in Covent Garden. Panic rose in him. Just there, off Drury Lane, Mr Gripe had locked him in the shop and the capture-creature had… Robert’s heart slammed against his ribs.

Robert knew he had to calm down. He breathed in deeply. The usual London smells hung in the air. The capture-creature’s scent did not. Mr Gripe’s shop was too far away to see into the market. And the market itself was teeming with carts and carriages, and people crowding the stalls and shops. That’s why thieves loved this place. It was easy to pick a pocket and escape into the mass of people.

Robert looked around. He hoped that his instincts were right. They should be here.

“Who are we looking for?” Marisee shouted above the noise.

“Two boys,” Robert said.

They weaved their way between the fruit and vegetable stalls. Robert kept his eyes towards the ground. He’d seen the boys in action; they were quick, a bend and scoop, then away.

There! Robert was sure of it! The flash of a hand grabbing a fallen potato then away again. But that’s all there’d been – a hand. He couldn’t see who it belonged to. And there! Again. Another potato, scooped from by the wheel of a handcart. This time Robert glimpsed the owner – it was Duval, crouching by a row of carts. Turpin must be close by.

“This way,” Robert said to Marisee. They pushed their way towards the edge of the market. “It’s best if I let them see me. Then it’s up to them if they want to talk to me.”

“What if they don’t?” Marisee asked.

“I’ll have to change my plan,” he said.

Robert walked slowly, Marisee at his side. He kept looking straight ahead until he stooped by the cart and bent down, as if adjusting his shoe.

“It’s Robert,” an excited whisper came. It sounded like Duval. “It’s him!”

“I thought he was taken away!” Turpin’s higher voice.

“He’s come back! He’s safe.

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