Space Detectives: Cosmic Pet Puzzle by Mark Powers

Author:Mark Powers
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781526603234
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2022-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Cellmates

Ignoring their protests, the Mall Security Guards bundled Connor, Ethan and Alfie into a holding cell at the Mall Security Station.

‘Oh, you’re in trouble!’ laughed the Head Guard. She swung the cell door shut with a clang and eyed them through its tiny rectangular window. ‘I haven’t arrested any thieves for ages so I’m really gonna enjoy this! I expect you’ll end up serving six hundred years in a high-security detention cube! You little rotters!’

‘You don’t understand!’ groaned Connor, rubbing the sore skin where the heavy handcuffs had dug into his wrist. ‘We were investigating a crime ourselves! A pet has been stolen …’

‘Well, you’d know all about theft, you newt-rustlers!’ snapped the Head Guard.

‘We didn’t steal the newt,’ pleaded Alfie. ‘We just borrowed it. It was an emergency!’

‘Quiet!’ barked the Head Guard. ‘I’ve had enough of your whining! What is it with kids today, eh? It was different back in my day. If you misbehaved when I was a nipper, a police-bot would just disintegrate you. What we need these days is a few more disintegrations. Especially for evil hooligans like you! Well, don’t you worry! I’ll make sure you feel the full force of the law when it comes time for you to be sentenced, and then—’

She paused as one of her colleagues whispered something in her ear.

Connor, Ethan and Alfie exchanged puzzled glances.

‘Ah,’ said the Head Guard to her colleague. ‘I see. Thank you very much.’

The cell door suddenly swung open.

‘You’re free to go, lads,’ said the Head Guard with a sickly smile. ‘My assistant here tells me that one of you is the son of Fred Frumpleton, Head of Security for the whole of Starville. I don’t want to get in his bad books. So please accept my apologies and do take a free toffee from the front desk on the way out with our compliments. Have a nice day!’

Ethan gave a whoop of joy. ‘Fantastic! Is your dad really Head of Security for the whole of Starville, Alfie?’

Alfie nodded coolly. ‘Yeah. Comes in handy sometimes.’

As he, Connor and Ethan were leaving the cell, Alfie turned to the Head Guard and said, ‘Actually, not that one.’ He pointed at Connor.

‘You’re the boss!’ the Head Guard replied, shoving Connor back inside, slamming the door and disappearing into her office.

‘Hey!’ shouted Connor in confusion from inside the cell.

‘What?’ demanded Ethan. ‘Why isn’t Connor being released?’

Alfie folded his arms and cocked his head to one side. ‘I’m not massively impressed with the amateurish way you and your friend are investigating this case. I reckon this will help focus your mind a bit.’

‘What are you on about?’

‘It couldn’t be simpler,’ said Alfie. ‘Until you find Smurble, Connor stays in that cell.’

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