Blitz Bullion Busters II E-Book

Daryl Joyce

• Herausgeber: Clink Street Publishing
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Seitenzahl: 214

Beschreibung

After the success of their previous gold-hunting escapades, Faiza, Jack and Wade are looking forward to a quieter summer. But in the shadows, someone is keen to make sure their summer holidays are their last. After obtaining some irresistible clues, they are drawn into another thrilling hunt and dangerous chase. Following the trail of mysteries both old and new, they venture into even more death-defying adventures, both above and below ground. Will they survive long enough to find the elusive gold?

Leseprobe

i

Blitz Bullion Busters II

Cold Gold

Daryl Joyce

ii

iiiTo every Year 6 class I've ever taught - past, present and future.

Contents

Title PageDedication12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637EpilogueCopyright

1

1

‘It’s got to be Wet n Wild next!’ enthused Wade, as he and Jack walked through the amusement park crowds whilst munching into a school-provided sandwich.

‘I’d rather go to Turtle Nugget Crush,’ replied Jack, eyeing his yellow apple suspiciously. He put the ageing apple into his backpack and slung it back over his shoulders smiling.

‘We’ve only got ten minutes before we need to head back – how about that one; the Terrific Toe Tingler?’

It was a gloriously warm day and Mrs Poppet’s Year Eight class were enjoying Risa Land of Adventures. After all they had been through recently, Jack felt it was great to really begin to relax. What made it better than that, however, was that it was less than two weeks before the glorious six-week summer holidays. Their teachers had allowed them to wander around by themselves with the warning that if there was any trouble, it would be cleaning the playground with your tongue time when they got back.

They would have been less relaxed had they known that forty metres away on a seat disguised as a mushroom, a man with a large rucksack sat watching the members of class 8P. You’ll pay the figure thought as he got up and walked towards Jack and Wade. 2

‘No… no, that!’ Wade said suddenly, pointing his crusty sandwich remains at a large Ferris wheel called Wheel see you soon. Jack’s shoulders fell. The large colourful sign announced that this was the 360° view of your life!

‘Not really keen on heights,’ said Jack in a slightly whiny voice. Ignoring him, Wade pulled him to the end of the queue and enthused about what they would see from the top. The queue moved fast and within ten minutes they were at the front.

A man in a hard hat and orange Hi-Viz vest with Maintenance written on it suddenly pushed past them and whispered something to the attendant, who nodded sagely and let him past. Keeping his back to them, he bent down in front of the cart closest to them and made some tinkering noises with his tools.

‘What’s going on?’ asked Wade impatiently.

The attendant, whose name badge announced him as Cecil Bodge,looked Wade up and down with a smile that seemed too big for his face.

‘We just have to check something, sirs. We’ll be starting again in just a minute, sirs,’ he said through a fixed grin.

‘Can you see what he’s doing?’ whispered Wade to Jack, trying to peer past the man.

‘No, but I expect with the thousands of people on this every day, it needs constant minute adjustments and…’ replied Jack, his voice trailing off. ‘Does he seem—’ but before Jack had a chance to finish his sentence, the maintenance man stood up, nodded at the ride attendant, and headed away.

‘Whatever – let’s go!’ said Wade jumping into the cart as Jack followed reluctantly. To him it felt rickety, and he frowned at the thought of being twenty-five metres off the ground in something barely larger than a shopping trolley. 3

‘I don’t like these things,’ Jack said quietly as it jerked. He grabbed at the bar and kept his eyes forward. Wade, meanwhile, seemed to have no such fears as he leaned this way and that way, pointing at other rides in the park.

‘There’s Peeky Penguins and I’ve got to go on ’OrribleObelisk!’ Wade continued to enthuse as Jack worked hard at holding onto the bar and keeping his breathing under control. ‘Hey there’s our teacher – ooooeeee, Mrs Poppet!’ Wade shouted and waved at their teacher who looked to be having a more peaceful time on a bench under a nearby tree. She looked around but, seeing no-one, went back to talking to Mr Ruby. He was the new Computing teacher who had recently started at their school and had reluctantly agreed to go on this last trip of the year.

As they reached the top, the wheel juddered gently and slowed. Jack continued to grip tightly but allowed himself to look a little left and right. Wade didn’t notice his friend’s panic as he stood up and pointed out Growling at theBadger Kingdom at the edge of the park.

‘Wade, sit down – we’ll fall out!’ Jack hissed, gripping even tighter.

‘No chance of that, these things are built for safety,’ Wade said proudly, banging the side of the cart.

‘But we’re not,’ muttered Jack through clenched teeth. Wade looked at him, shrugged and sat back down with a bump that made Jack grab the bar even tighter.

Just then, the two bolts holding Wade’s side sparked and snapped with a sharp clicking sound. The sudden lurching caused the cart to tilt to forty-five degrees and both boys almost fell out.

‘What did you do?’ shouted Jack accusingly as he pushed with his legs against the side.

‘Nothing, I just—’ began Wade fearfully as they realised they couldn’t stop their slide out of the cart. Wade held on 4as he watched Jack’s bag fall to the ground, landing with a dull thud below at the feet of the growing crowd. The remaining bolt began to bend slowly…

5

2

Both Jack and Wade shouted and screamed and held on as tightly as they could, but they felt themselves sliding slowly to the lower end of the cart and that twenty-five-metre drop. Wade hooked his elbow around the bar which slowed his slide a little. Jack was pressed against Wade, and it would only be a matter of time.

Below them they could hear screams and shouts. Through his one open eye, Jack could see more people running in their direction amid pointless cries of ‘hang on’. There seemed to be a lot of people holding phones up and a few were taking selfies! Slowly they were beginning to lose their grip. After a few long seconds, the bar Jack was holding onto gave a groaning noise and bent causing Jack to scream and slide past Wade. Wade reached out and grabbed frantically at Jack’s jacket. There were louder screams and gasps from below.

Jack’s sudden descent was stopped, but there was now nothing between his dangling feet and the wheel mechanism below. Jack held his breath and closed his eyes tighter, desperately trying not to move. The cart continued to make creaking noises amidst the sound of the crowd and machinery struggling.

‘Don’t move, I’m hanging on,’ hissed Wade. Jack looked 6up with a mixture of appreciation and fear at Wade, who grimaced with the effort. How much longer can I hold on? thought Wade as he felt the strength in his fingers begin to lessen.

Suddenly a voice in Wade’s ear: ‘It’s alright, I’ve got you.’ Wade looked over his shoulder and felt someone in mid-air grasp him. No, not in mid-air, but actually on a long ladder, attached to… attached to a fire engine! On another ladder, a similar firefighter grabbed Jack and held onto him tightly as they descended slowly.

‘Thank you, thank you,’ whispered Jack, eyes still tightly shut. They reached the ground to cheers and applause. When he felt ground beneath his feet, Jack opened his eyes and fell to his knees, stopping short of kissing the ground as he heard the applause from onlookers. Two paramedics covered them with blankets and escorted them towards the back of an ambulance. Some police and security personnel urged the relieved crowd back and put barriers up as some of the other children and teachers from Year Eight tried to see what was going on.

‘You ok?’ Wade said to Jack. Jack shrugged.

‘Yeah… my hand hurts a bit though. How ’bout you?’

‘Yeah! I’m ok… reckon we could do that again?’ enthused Wade.

Jack couldn’t tell if he was serious or not.

Three separate people in the crowd of cheering onlookers were frowning, however. One of them quietly cursed as he removed his hard hat and orange Hi-Viz vest and dropped something to the ground. Shaking his head, the figure pushed back through the crowd and headed to the exit. The other two frowning people were Mrs Poppet and Mr Ruby.

‘It’s always you two, isn’t it?’ she sighed, walking over to Wade and Jack with Mr Ruby. 7

Once their teacher was convinced the boys were ok, and the medics confirmed it, she messaged the other teachers who gathered the rest of Year Eight. As they sat on the mound, Jack and Wade were met like true heroes who had survived a momentous brush with death!

‘Let me see if I can get any more information about what happened,’ said Mr Ruby and he walked over to where the operator, Colin Bodge, was talking to police. Jack watched as they seemed to speak in hushed tones accompanied with many hand gestures.

After a few minutes, Mr Ruby came back to the boys smiling and carrying something.

‘Here you go, Mr Roble,’ he said, handing it over, ‘this is yours I think…’

‘Hey, that’s my bag!’ said Jack excitedly taking the bag offered by Mr Ruby. Jack rummaged through it and his smile turned upside down. ‘Oh no, my camera’s gone!’ Wade and Mr Ruby looked on as Jack went through his bag again. ‘Some plum stole my camera!’ he replied sorely. Since their underground escapades seven weeks earlier, anyone acting like an idiot was described as a plum. ‘What is my dad going to say?’

Just then some reporters appeared and, after speaking with Mrs Poppet, approached Wade and Jack. Wade enthusiastically regaled the tale again of how they had miraculously escaped death and that it was only by his amazing strength and fortitude that they had survived. At least that’s the way he told it – a total of seventeen times before they left the park and another eight times on the coach on the way back to school.

8

3

Some forty-six miles to the south-east, a woman in a red trench coat approached a secure holding room on the first floor of a large imposing building. She was accompanied by two men and ordered one of the men to wait outside. A small device in the wall scanned her eye and the door slid open. In the room was a small metal desk. Chained to it was a seated man dressed in a pale blue prisoner outfit. He did not look up as they entered. The woman undid her coat and sat down. A few moments passed as she eyed him up and down.

‘Three-Seven here thinks you’ll not say a word, but I’ve bet him that you will, so don’t let me down,’ she said with an air of authority. The man looked at Agent Three-Seven with a hint of recognition but stayed silent.

‘Onto business then, Mr Plum,’ Miss Corner began, ‘and you’re probably wondering why I’m here.’ Plum shuffled slightly in his chair. He had been Miss Corner’s top agent until just seven weeks earlier when Faiza, Jack and Wade had thwarted his gold-stealing plans.

‘As you can imagine, having to see you is not something I care for, but I’m here professionally to give you some exciting news.’ She paused, but still nothing from Plum. ‘As you know, your previous security status meant 9you had to be tried in secret. The committee have deliberated, and it took them about – erm – four seconds to come to a unanimous decision…’ She let the words hang in the air. Plum moved his head to one side slightly and narrowed his eyes. ‘Their decision is that you are guilty of all crimes you were accused of.’ It was Corner’s turn to allow herself a slightly smug smile. No-one said anything and a whole minute passed. ‘Nothing to say then?’

Plum suddenly sat forward and the rattle of the chains broke the silence. ‘I’ll help you win your wager. I do have something to say,’ Plum eventually said with a mirthless grin. Miss Corner smiled back towards the suited man by the door, knowing she had won the bet. Plum had not finished. ‘It’s all a fit-up. You and those little… twonks did me up like a kipper.’

‘Come come now, Mr Plum, who is really responsible for your incarceration? You threatened people, including children, you lied and perverted the course of justice, you attempted to steal, you appropriated agency resources, you were disloyal to your country and worst of all you were traitorous to me.’ She sat back. He stared at her as though that alone would turn her to ash.

‘You did this; you did this – I bet you told them to find me guilty!’ Plum was a little more animated now.

‘I don’t have that much influence… but it would be fair to say that I helped them reach the right decision,’ Miss Corner said with a shrug of her shoulders. ‘But you incriminated yourself, to be honest. We searched – ransacked might be a better word – your apartment and we found so many items, a lot of which convicted you by themselves.’ She smiled as Plum pulled at his chain.

‘I’m a little embarrassed to say, we’re stuck on two things – can you explain what some of these USB keys have on them?’ Miss Corner held out two iridescent USB 10fobs. Plum stared at her, then at the fobs, and then back to her.

‘Where…. never seen them before,’ he replied, looking away.

‘Well, I see you’re still no use at lying. Thank you for confirming that they are yours. We’re having a little trouble with the security on them, maybe you can help us with that?’ she asked. Plum continued just staring at her. ‘Oh well. We’ll crack it soon anyway.’ She put them away.

Plum pulled at his restraints and the chains strained against the table with a rasping noise. He sat back and eyed her again.

‘Miss Corner, my dear Miss Corner,’ he said. ‘Still in charge? Still alone, Miss Corner, still not married, Miss Corner?’ He looked at her with dead eyes. Miss Corner simply smiled back in similar fashion. It was not a good look for either of them.

‘Nice to see being held in a high-security prison has mellowed you,’ Miss Corner replied, ‘and what a shame it hasn’t improved your vocabulary – you speak like a six-year-old. I feel like you’re going to call one of us a stinky poobum at any moment,’ she said as Plum continued to keep his chains taut in a useless show of defiance.

‘You think you’re clever, eh? You think you’ve got me and this all sewn up and I’m stuck here with no-one and no way out… You’re wrong. You’re so wrong, simply wrong!’

‘Oh dear, have I made you angry? How am I mistaken then?’

‘You don’t know what I’m capable of and you don’t know what I’ve got planned!’ he shouted. Agent Three-Seven took a step forward as Plum banged his fists on the table. Miss Corner watched him motionlessly.

‘Thank you for that. Very eloquent. Well, anyway, I just 11came here to tell you that you’re guilty and will be in here for a long time.’

‘A long time? We’ll see about that. I’m still going to get the rest of that gold! It’s me and my family’s gold.’ His voice was quieter now, but there was still menace behind his eyes.

‘Yes, well you will be here a long time and you can forget about ever looking for any gold – mainly because it doesn’t exist. The trail has definitely gone cold.’

‘Hah – it does exist and I can still get it and I’ve got friends you know…’

‘You don’t have friends,’ Corner said quietly as Plum carried on.

‘…and family and they will make sure I get what I deserve.’

‘I think you’re already getting what you deserve,’ she replied.

‘Not yet, but I will… you just watch me.’ he said scowling. ‘And I have plans, big plans and I have people out there who will help me!’ he shouted again.

Miss Corner looked surprised. ‘You’ve got me there – how could you get any plans to the outside world? You’re not allowed visitors or phone calls and your mail is checked, so how on earth could you get or receive any messages?’ she asked nonchalantly.

Plum opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it again and shook his head. ‘Nice try, Miss Corner, nice try,’ he said after a few long moments. He sat back and gave that smug look again.

Corner nodded and shrugged her shoulders. She was about to speak, when Three-Seven passed her a mobile phone. She read the screen and then sighed, passing it back to him.

‘We’re going,’ she said urgently. 12

‘Problem, Miss Corner?’ drawled Plum.

‘Only for you. Now I think our business is concluded. I have a new urgent business appointment,’ she said, getting up to leave.

‘Oh, and I was enjoying your company so much,’ he replied.

‘Well I cannot say the same. Can I tell you one final thing, Plum?’ She emphasised his name, knowing it would annoy him. ‘We know. And we are prepared for it. Goodbye, Mr Plum, I hope we don’t meet again.’

‘Keep looking over your shoulder, Miss Corner, because I’m sure we will.’

13

4

Two hours had passed by the time the coach pulled into school. Both their sets of parents were waiting, as were most of the staff and some journalists. Also standing there, next to a long black car, was someone they were familiar with – Miss Corner.

The fourth floor of LPS House was where most of the ‘discussion’ suites of CO8 were housed. In Suite Four, Faiza sat one side of a large grey table. It hadn’t changed since she was there last, just two months ago. The large room was still relatively bare, with a plain colour scheme. The blandness of the walls was interrupted only by a keypad next to the door. Across the other side of the table was a silver laptop stencilled with CO8-4 and behind that sat a thin, greasy-haired man in a beige tank-top staring at the screen. There was a big 4 above the door and the keypad now had a handguard around it, making it much harder to see a number typed in. Faiza shuffled impatiently in her chair.

‘Where the hell are my brother and his sidekick?’ she asked suddenly.

‘I’m not authorised to answer any questions,’ the man said blandly. He peered over the top of his thin glasses and continued to tap on the keyboard. Just then the door opened and in came Jack and Wade. They were 14accompanied by a tall woman dressed in black trousers and a white shirt. She plonked the two in a chair each and turned and left without a word.

‘Where the hell have you been? What’s all this about?’ she hissed. Wade was about to answer when the tank-topped man spoke.

‘Erm, you’re not allowed to talk unless an authorised agent is in the room,’ he said, turning back to his computer screen. There was a sharp intake of breath as Faiza raised her eyebrows and stood up indignantly.

‘I’ve been rudely picked up on the way home from school without an explanation and I’ve been sitting here for half an hour now and unless you talk to us now, me and Laurel and Hardy here are leaving.’

‘I’m only authorised to tell you that someone will be here shortly.’ The man had a look on his face; determined boredom was the best way to describe it. A few silent seconds passed.

‘Come on, guys, let’s get out of here.’ Faiza turned and began to walk towards the door. Just then Miss Corner entered carrying some files and shadowed by one of her operatives.

‘You’re going nowhere right now, Miss Saab. All of you sit back down, please.’ Although she had asked them politely, there was a steely tone to Miss Corner’s voice that made Faiza stop on her next step. The boys sat back down, with Faiza reluctantly following suit. Miss Corner sat down and put her files on the table.

‘Right, that’s better. Now, apologies for the delay, I like to have all the details before I start any discussion.’ She smiled, but the way she said discussion made Jack shiver a little. ‘Mr Dank?’ She looked over at the man in the beige tank-top, who got up looking a little worried. Wade snorted at the man’s name. 15

‘Your laptop’s fixed, Miss Corner, and it’s all connected correctly now – it was an IP conflict. Sorry about the delay.’ He bowed his head and headed rapidly to the door, knocking Miss Corner’s files on the floor.

Wade was closest and first to leap up. He helped pick them up, putting them carefully on the desk. Corner stared at a frightened looking Dank, who muttered some apologies and quickly backed towards the door. Shielding the keypad, he typed in what sounded like a six-digit code and, as the door opened, slipped out.

‘Computery people,’ she muttered.

‘What is all that?’ asked Wade, shuffling in his seat.

‘Just some more Blitz bullion stuff we gathered from Plum’s apartment,’ she said, as she turned to face the three. ‘Now I guess you’d like to know why you’re here?’

‘Well, that would be a start,’ said Faiza frustratedly. She was about to add more when Miss Corner clarified:

‘Firstly, it’s good to see you all and again, I’m glad you’re both ok.’ She looked at Wade and Jack. ‘That was quite an adventure you had today,’ she added. Faiza looked at them confused, but Miss Corner continued. ‘I’ve brought you here to say that we are keeping an eye on things and, after what happened today, we want you to stay safe.’ She let the words sink in for a moment. Jack and Wade looked a bit nonplussed. Corner was about to continue when Faiza cut in.

‘Someone better tell me what happened!’ she said, turning angrily to the two boys.

Wade took a deep breath and detailed everything that had happened earlier that afternoon. As usual, Jack was able to clarify some of the more florid parts of his retelling.

Faiza turned back to face Miss Corner. ‘Right, thank you. So why have we ended up here then? Is there something dodgy happening?’ 16

‘I have to ask – did you see or hear anything unusual before the ride?’ asked Miss Corner

‘No,’ said Wade quickly. Jack looked at Wade and raised his hand slowly. Miss Corner rolled her eyes before indicating he should speak up.

‘Erm,’ he began, ‘actually, there was that mechanic who came and fixed the ride just before we got on. I don’t know what he did, but we were the ones who got on next. And my camera was nicked out of my bag.’ Miss Corner nodded and pressed a button on the small control panel.

‘Miss Place? Get today’s CCTV from the Risa Land of Adventures’ Wheel See You Soon ride.’ She clicked off.

‘What’s going on, Miss Corner?’ asked Faiza growing increasingly inpatient.

Corner paused for a moment as if deciding how to say something. She held her hands up. ‘We can’t be sure. All I can tell you is that we have reason to believe there may be more going on here than a dodgy fairground ride and a stolen camera.’

‘You’re talking but not saying much – just what is going on?’ Faiza demanded again.

‘We’re not sure, as I said,’ Corner admitted. ‘But I want you to know we’re working to keep you safe.’

‘How are you keeping us safe? It doesn’t seem like it,’ said Wade pointedly. ‘Is it Plum – has he escaped?’

‘No, don’t worry – he’s going to find it almost impossible to get out of his incarceration,’ replied Miss Corner.

‘Almost? So, are we in danger then or are we safe?’ Jack piped up, feeling a little braver.

Ignoring his question, Miss Corner continued, ‘Look, just do normal things in a normal way and don’t do anything unsafe and you’ll be fine.’ There was silence for a few seconds. ‘Tell your parents downstairs that all is well, 17and now, if there’s nothing else, I’ll get you all a ride back to your homes.’

‘Actually, I have an important vital question,’ said Wade looking around.

Miss Corner indicated for him to go ahead.

‘You only ever show us Suite Four – what’s in the other ones?’ he asked.

Miss Corner rolled her eyes.

18

5

‘Blimey, I can still hear her voice!’ exclaimed Wade as they reached his front door. Faiza stood on the pavement talking to their parents.