The Ho Ho Ho Mystery by Bob Burke

Author:Bob Burke [Burke, Bob]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-00-736402-2
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2010-02-14T16:00:00+00:00

11

A Rug with a View

After we’d landed back at the Claus residence I sent Jack and Basili home in a cab and wandered the streets of Grimmtown, trying to get my thoughts together. You know those dramatic scenes in movies where the hero is happily minding his own business walking along the street when all of a sudden a really big car screeches up beside him, two burly men jump out, put a bag over his head, bundle him into the car and drive off? Well, I had one of those (sort of). I was walking along the street, minding my own business and mulling over the progress (or lack thereof) in the case. There was a strange swishing noise from above and before I could react, two burly men materialised on either side of me, put a large black bag over my head and bundled me into … well, more like on to … something soft and wavy. There was a sudden lurch as whatever I was in took off once more and then silence – apart from some whispering.

‘Is this him?’ This was a deep I’m-a-tough-guy-so-don’t-screw-with-me kind of whisper.

‘How many pigs in trench coats do you see walking around Grimmtown? Of course it is,’ whispered a second, just as intimidating voice.

Now I didn’t recognise either voice, but I figured they were the types who would do me irreparable damage if I suddenly tried any heroics – not that I was going to try too much while I had a bag on my head.

I could still hear noises from outside the vehicle and could feel the wind buffeting my head, which suggested I was in a convertible of some kind, but I couldn’t feel any vibrations or engine noise. It was a very strange sensation. I extended my arms on either side but couldn’t feel any doors or walls. Mystified, I ran my trotters across the floor. It seemed to be made of very plush material; possibly a carpet.

Carpet! Of course. I wasn’t in the world’s quietest sports car after all. I knew exactly where I was and, more to the point, who had abducted me. Yet again I had one of those sinking feelings I knew only too well. Yes, things had gone from bad to very much worse.

‘Hi, Ali, can I take the bag off now? I presume we’re on your magic carpet.’

There was a brief round of slow, sarcastic applause and then a voice said, ‘Of course Harry. My, my, it didn’t take you too long to figure out where you were, did it?’

The bag was pulled roughly from my head and I found myself staring straight into the face of one of Grimmtown’s biggest gangsters, Ali Baba. Ah yes, now the plot was really thickening. If Ali had me, then my life expectancy was dropping fast to roughly the same level as a haemophiliac’s at a vampire convention.

Then, to my complete surprise, Ali said something that I never thought I’d ever hear him say, ‘Harry, I need your help.

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