The Case of the Haunted Wardrobe E-Book

Kereen Getten

• Herausgeber: Pushkin Children's Books
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Serie: Di Island Crew Investigates
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Seitenzahl: 129

Beschreibung

The second book in Kereen Getten's action-packed mystery series for younger readers! Fayson has been dreaming of going back to the island ever since she left. But no sooner is she reunited with Di Island Crew than a mysterious case comes their way - a haunted wardrobe that keeps making a spine-chilling sound! And to make matters worse, the crew have all received a letter threatening to reveal their deepest secrets. With the clock ticking, Fayson must rally her friends and take charge of the detective agency to solve the eerie mystery. But with tensions rising and friendship squabbles getting in the way, can they work together to crack the case and keep their secrets safe? __________ READERS ARE LOVING Di ISLAND CREW: 'So much fun' 'I really enjoyed this mystery story and read it from start to finish in one sitting' 'A fun adventure with just the right amount of fear and peril… I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the rest of the series' 'Great characters, brilliantly paced and a big fat recommendation from my daughter'

Leseprobe

Contents

Title PageMapChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Next time, Di Island Crew investigates…About the AuthorCopyright

Chapter 1

Yo, we’re going to the island for winter break, my cousin Aaron texted me last week. Mum wants to know if you’re coming?

Of course I’m coming! I replied almost immediately.

Going back to Lighthouse Island is all I’ve been thinking about since I was there last school break. I miss the small island, with its quiet cove and towering lighthouse that doesn’t work. I miss the hut at the end of my cousins’ garden, where we meet with the rest of the gang. I miss Elma the housekeeper making delicious treats, and I miss Di Island Crew, our detective gang. Most of all I miss Gaby. She’s the one person who made me feel at home on the island, who became my best friend.

Mama has lost her temper with me a few times since Aaron texted, because I can’t concentrate on anything else.

“Fayson, I don’t want to hear about no island adventure until you finish your homework,” she said last time I brought it up. “I’m sick of hearing about ‘Island this and island that’.”

I fell silent, not wanting to upset her any more, but continued to doodle on my notepad:

Island Adventures, Here I Come!

Now the day has arrived, I am filled with excitement to see the island and my friends.

I have waited all morning for my cousins to pick me up, jumping up every time I think I hear a car pull into our car park. Finally they arrive early afternoon, just as Mama and I are sitting down for lunch.

I hear a car horn and jump up from the table, running to the window with a half-eaten corned-beef sandwich in my hand.

“Fayson, finish your lunch,” Mum orders.

I peer out and my heart skips a beat.

“They’re here, Mama!” I cry, stuffing the rest of the sandwich in my mouth.

Mama glares at me. “Finish your lunch.”

I turn to her, exasperated. “But they’ll be waiting for me.”

Mama takes a sip of her sorrel tea. “Waiting won’t kill them,” she says. “Sit.”

I reluctantly pull myself away from the window and slump into the hard chair. I try to stuff the last two sandwiches in my mouth as quickly as I can.

“Fayson, eat it properly,” she snaps.

There is a knock on the door, and I look to Mama. She gets up from the table and walks over to the front door. She opens it and I see Uncle Edmond and Aaron outside.

Mama and Uncle Edmond greet each other with an awkward nod of their heads.

“She’s still eating lunch,” Mama says.

I stuff the last piece of sandwich in my mouth and jump to my feet. “Finished!”

Mama shakes her head. “Go and freshen up.”

I groan, push back the chair and rush to the bathroom down the hall.

When I return, Uncle Edmond and Aaron are standing in the living room.

“You’ve done this place up nice,” Uncle Edmond says, looking around.

Mama is in the kitchen pouring two glasses of water. She brings them through. “I do what I can,” she replies.

Aaron and Uncle Edmond drink their water in silence.

I grab my bag as I enter the living room. “Ready,” I announce, desperate to get Aaron and Uncle Edmond out of our tiny apartment, and away from the heavy silence.

Uncle Edmond gives me a small smile. “Good,” he says with a nod. “Shall we go?”

Outside the apartment, Aaron and I walk ahead of the adults, who follow us without speaking. Uncle Edmond makes a half-hearted attempt at a conversation, but Mama barely offers an answer.

“I like your place,” Aaron says as we head down the steps that lead to the car park. “It’s cosy.”

It’s been a few years since Uncle Edmond or the twins have been to our home. The last time they came, Omar announced that our apartment was the same size as his bathroom and bedroom put together, then proceeded to run through the apartment to make sure.

I narrow my eyes at Aaron.

He throws his hands up in the air. “What? Cosy is good.”

I shake my head. “Just say it’s small,” I tell him, as we walk across the car park to their familiar black SUV.

“Nope,” Aaron says. “I’m sticking with cosy.”

Uncle Edmond takes my small bag from me and puts it in the boot of the car. My cousin Omar—Aaron’s twin—sits inside with Aunty Desiree, Uncle Edmond’s wife.

I hug Mama tightly.

“Be good,” she whispers in my ear. “Listen to your uncle and don’t cause any trouble.” She holds me at a distance, looking me over as if checking I am dressed and lotioned. “I don’t want stories coming back to me about your behaviour,” she says, running her palm across my face.

I nod firmly. “I won’t let you down, Mama.” I let go of her and slide into the open door of the car. Omar acknowledges me with a fist bump.

“Welcome, weirdo,” he says.

I beam with excitement, refusing to let him ruin this day.

“How was school?” Aunty Desiree asks, as I climb in. “Did you do well this term?”

“Yes, I did well, Aunty,” I tell her, even though I have been told off at least three times during school term for daydreaming in class. Aunty Desiree can be so serious about school. Much more serious than Mama.

I roll the window down and wave to Mama, who’s standing in the car park of our apartment block, her arms folded against her chest. Barry, my annoying neighbour who goes to the same school as me, watches from his balcony.

“Dat car too nice for you,” he shouts down at me through his cupped hands. Mama turns to look up at him. Barry flashes her an innocent smile. “Ms Mayor, what a pretty dress yuh wearing.”

Mama shakes her head, turning back to me just in time to catch me sticking my tongue out at Barry. I sink back into the car seat as she approaches, expecting her to tell me off. She leans into the car window and kisses me on the cheek.

“Stop being so rude,” she says, before stepping back.

Uncle Edmond gets into the front seat, closing his door and winding the window down. “You sure you don’t want to come?” he asks Mama.

She shakes her head, folding her arms again. “That life is not for me.” She glances at me, then shifts from one foot to the other. “But I’ll never say never,” Mama adds. “Fayson seems to enjoy it, so it can’t be too bad over there.”

My eyes widen. Did Mama just say something nice about Lighthouse Island?

“Well, when you’re ready,” Uncle Edmond says. “There’s always a room for you.”

Mama doesn’t reply, just gives him a short nod.

Uncle Edmond rolls his window up, locking the tension inside. He and Aunty Desiree exchange a look between them, and I sink even further into my seat.

During the journey to the boat, I think only of Mama: what she must be feeling now I have gone, and how she is alone in the apartment without me.

The sun has not come out once today. When we reach the boat that will take us to the island, the sea is particularly rough, a sure sign it is about to rain.

As we climb on to the boat, Uncle Edmond shouts, “Is there a storm coming?”, to no one in particular, and the boat captain responds.

“Yep, we’re in for a bumpy ride. Rougher than normal,” he says, squinting out to sea. “Might be coming sooner than we think.”

“Well, I hope it’s after we reach shore,” Uncle Edmond replies.

I clutch my bag to my chest and close my eyes tightly, hoping that we make it to the island before any storm. It would be terrible if we all got swept away and I drowned and never saw Mama again. I feel sick suddenly at the thought. Or maybe my sickness is due to the boat setting off, bouncing over the choppy water.

I grab on to the seat with one hand, gripping my bag with the other. I feel every bump of the waves. The spray of the sea on my face. I try to drown out the roar of the ocean each time we meet a swell, gritting my teeth and silently begging it to be over.

Chapter 2

Luckily, we make it to the island before any rain, and I am relieved to get off the boat.

As we all step on to the jetty there is a screech of excitement, and Gaby comes running towards us. Ace is strolling behind her.

I drop my bag and run towards Gaby, who I met here on my last visit. Of everyone I met in the group on the island—Aaron, Omar, Tia, Gaby and Ace—she was the one who made me feel the most welcome. We meet in the middle, clashing against each other, arms entangled, voices squealing, jumping around in circles until we are out of breath.

Gaby and I have grown close on the mainland. We talk every day on the phone; about school, and about parents and how they don’t understand us. But most of all we talk about the island and all the adventures we are going to have.

I have shared secrets with Gaby that I have never told anyone else, because I trust her. She is the best friend I’ve ever had. One day I hope I’ll trust her enough to invite her to my apartment. I will show her all my books, and we’ll read together and go to the beach, maybe even have ice cream—just like I did with my best friend Lizzy before she moved away.

Lizzy used to be my best friend. My only friend. We liked the same things and did everything together. We would read our favourite books in the living room, with the door open while Mama hung the washing out, the soft morning breeze giving us some relief from the rising sun. After lunch we would sit on the balcony, our legs hanging over the side, pretending we were royalty and all the people below were our subjects. Lizzy understood me. She never laughed at me for loving books and never made fun of me for the games I wanted to play. She was my favourite person in the whole wide world. Then, one day, she was gone.

I link arms with Gaby, following Aunty Desiree and Uncle Edmond over to their golf carts.

“I’ve been counting the days on the calendar until we saw each other,” I tell Gaby.

She squeezes my arm. “Me too. I wonder what adventures we’ll have this time?”

As if on cue, the sound of thunder explodes in the sky, and the heavens open. We run for the shelter of the buggy, screaming as the rain soaks us to the skin.

Uncle Edmond tuts as we jump on to the back of the buggy. “It’s only rain. No one’s going to die!”

We drive up the hill, the wind sweeping sheets of rain inside the buggy. I can see Tia’s house from here. I catch a glimpse of her bedroom window, where she said she could watch over the island. Tia and I never got along on my last visit. She was the leader of the group and didn’t particularly like the twins bringing me to the island. We clashed almost every day, and when I left the island last summer, she wasn’t talking to any of us.

I’m almost sure I see a shadow in the window looking out, but the rain is so thick that I can’t tell if it’s Tia or the shadow of the trees.

Uncle Edmond parks the buggy right outside their front door, and Aaron—who was allowed to drive the second buggy—parks behind us.

Gaby grabs my hand and rushes from the buggy to the front door, just as Elma opens it to let us in.

Inside Uncle Edmond’s house, Elma hugs me tightly even though I’m soaking wet.

“It’s so good to see you, Ms Fayson,” she says, letting me go and handing us all towels that were hanging over her shoulder. We dry ourselves off as best we can while Aunty Desiree moans at us to stop dirtying the floor.

I grab Gaby’s hand and rush through the house. The smell of Elma’s banana bread fills every room.

The sound of Uncle Edmond’s heavy feet echoes down the hall to his office. He shouts that he doesn’t want to be disturbed unless someone is dying.

“Take those wet clothes off and put them in the laundry room!” Aunty Desiree shouts after us.

We run into the kitchen and steal slices of banana cake. It’s so warm it melts in our mouths! “It’s not ready yet!” Elma cries, catching us. We run out, giggling.

I notice the dark, cloudy sky through the large floor-to-ceiling glass doors and the skylight. Every time we pass a window, the sound of the rain pounds against the glass like a demon trying to get in.

We reach my room, which is on the left of the long bedroom corridor. I run in, throwing myself on the bed and snuggling into the freshly washed sheets. Gaby jumps next to me, narrowly missing my head, which only sends us into screeching laughter.

We turn to each other and scream, “I missed you,” at the same time, wrapping our arms and legs around each other like an octopus.

“This weather sucks,” Omar mumbles, entering my room and heading over to the glass doors. He stares out at the thick sheet of rain, with his hands in his pocket like an old man. Aaron and Ace follow a little way behind, talking in lowered voices.

“What are you two whispering about?” I ask curiously, sitting up. Aaron shrugs his shoulders. “We were wondering what the plans were for the gang.”

I climb off the bed and reach for my bag, pulling out a large folder. “I’ve thought about all that,” I tell them proudly. “I have some ideas, if you want to hear them?”

“Of course we do,” Gaby says, looking over my shoulder. Omar, Aaron and Ace nod in agreement.

I scan the pages of ideas I put together while I was away from the island.

“Maybe we should do this at the hut,” I suggest, suddenly feeling nervous. I spent the entire school term thinking of ideas for the gang, but now I am here in front of them, I’m afraid they won’t take me seriously.

Omar looks out at the rain then back at me. “It’s pouring down,” he grumbles, pointing, as though I haven’t seen the sheets of rain or heard it pelting down on the roof. “Let’s do it here.”

“You’re a big boy, you can handle rain,” Aaron says, patting his brother on the back.