The Ministry of Unladylike Activity by Robin Stevens

Author:Robin Stevens [Stevens, Robin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780241429884
Publisher: Penguin Random House Children's UK
Published: 2022-08-26T00:00:00+00:00

33

From the diary of Fionnuala O’Malley, continued

I stood with Granny and Grandfather and watched PC Cuffe as he stared at the scratches on the wood of the French window. The photographer took a shot of them, his camera tripod sinking down into the mud, and PC Cuffe, even more wrecked-looking than yesterday, rubbed his eyes and said, ‘Looks professional, doesn’t it?’

Ruth had brought him and the photographer cups of tea, and they steamed and smoked in the cold air. Little raindrops fell on the policemen’s helmets, like fingers drumming, and I shivered.

I don’t know why I’d done that – taken the policeman’s notes and given them to May. It was so dangerous. I was expecting him to ask for his jacket any minute, and I didn’t know what I’d say when he did. I was trying to make up a story – had I tripped and dropped it, then the notebook fell out? – and not really getting very far, when I heard a noise above me.

There was a face pressed against the bathroom window on the first floor. It was all squished out of shape and looked demonic. I got a shock until I realized that it was just May. She was acting the eejit, and I wanted to laugh at her. Then she pressed her hand up against the glass too, and I saw the little red notebook in it.

I finally got what she wanted me to do. I pulled myself together and imagined that I was about to step out onstage. Funnily enough, right at that moment, I swear I heard Da say, ‘Break a leg,’ and it made me steely enough to perform.

‘OH!’ I cried. I put my left hand to my mouth and made a sweeping motion with my arm that took in the garden and the hedges and the field beyond. I made sure to make my accent as English as possible. ‘Gosh! I saw someone! Someone in the trees! There! LOOK!’

Everyone swung round to follow my pointing finger.

‘Where?’ cried PC Cuffe, blinking. ‘Where?’

‘I can’t see anything!’ said Granny.

Obviously she couldn’t because I’d just invented it, but I made my face wrinkle up with confusion. ‘I was sure I saw someone,’ I said, letting my voice wobble just a little. ‘I know I did! What if it was – the murderer?’

I was scared that part was too much, but everyone was eating my act up. Granny gasped and fluttered, clutching Grandfather’s arm, and the policemen drew themselves up in excitement.

‘Go and look!’ PC Cuffe said to the one who’d been taking photographs. ‘Hurry!’

And out of the corner of my eye I saw something winging its way downwards, and heard a thump as it hit the ground.

‘Did you really see someone?’ Grandfather asked breathlessly, taking hold of my shoulder. ‘Be honest, Fiona.’

I looked up into his stern, craggy face, its big eyebrows scrunched together and his mouth turned down. I really had to act then. I hated that part.

‘Yes, Grandfather,’ I said, feeling like a worm.

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