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work . If we go anywhere near him he will suspect something .’
‘ But someone else could go near him ,’ I said . ‘ Her , for example .’ I nodded towards an elderly woman who had just walked into the café . She shuffled towards the back of the café , removed her wool coat and a hat covered with cherries , hung them on the stand , then joined her friend at a table .
Iris frowned . ‘ I ’ m not sure she would agree to knock out our friend .’
But I wasn ’ t so sure . Quickly I outlined the plan that had begun to form in my mind .
When I finished , Iris shook her head . ‘ It ’ s risky , Tuffy , but right now it ’ s all we ’ ve got , so let ’ s give it a go .’
‘ What if it goes wrong ?’ I said , slipping the pen into my pocket .
‘ It can ’ t ,’ she said . Followed by , ‘ Do it . Now !’
I leapt into action . I got up clumsily , banging against the table .
‘ Do be careful , darling ,’ said Iris , loudly . ‘ You ’ ll spill my tea .’ And then she made a show of filling her cup . ‘ I feel rotten ,’ I said . ‘ Can we go ?’ ‘ Not until I ’ ve finished this ,’ she said , and she lifted the cup to her lips .
‘ Fine ,’ I said , grumpily , then I made my way to the cloakroom . I did this clumsily , brushing against tables and clutching the back of a chair . As we had planned , Iris watched me curiously . A sideways glance told me that Red Moustache was watching me too . Good . Hopefully he thought his poisonous tea was working . Right now , Iris should be dumping her tea in the plant pot , just like I did .
Once inside the cloakroom , I waited two minutes exactly , then poked my head out .
Red Moustache was staring intently at Iris . This allowed me to step behind the hat stand and grab the two objects that had caught my eye earlier .
I pulled the hat with cherries down low on my head , put on the coat and turned up the collar . Next I slipped the pen into my hand . I had to be ready .
I started shuffling forwards just as I had seen the little old lady do .
Red Moustache ’ s eyes flicked from Iris
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then towards the cloakroom door . My mouth went dry . This was the most dangerous moment . If he looked closely at me , the game was up . But just as Iris predicted , his eyes skipped past me , lighted on the cloakroom door , then returned to Iris .
‘ Change your height and your walk ,’ Iris had said . ‘ He ’ s looking for a tall lad who strides , not a diminutive lady who shuffles .’
I was approaching his table . My fingers curled around the pen . My heart sped up . I would get one chance . Iris had warned me that I must be brave and swift . Plus we had planned a diversion . As I reached Red Moustache , Iris stood up then bent to retrieve her bag . As she did so , she leant heavily on the edge of the neighbouring table . It tipped forwards sending tomato soup , sandwiches and cocoa flying through the air . The café erupted with shouts and cries . Red soup splattered across shirts and faces and one gentleman wearing a tweed suit , jumped to his feet and roared , ‘ I say !’
Red Moustache half-rose from his seat , his hand reaching for something in his pocket . This was my chance . Just as Dad had taught me to throw a dart , I flung out my arm , jabbing the pen into the milky skin of his neck .
He gave a gasp of surprise and reached for me , but no one noticed because Iris was making such a noisy show of apologising and attempting to tidy up . ‘ I am so , so sorry !’ she cried . ‘ I ’ m such a dolt !’
I didn ’ t hang around . While Iris used a napkin to rub tomato soup from a woman ’ s hat , I wrenched myself free from Red Moustache and ran out onto the street . I dumped the coat and hat on a bench then darted behind a postbox to watch what happened next .
Inside the café , Iris dropped some coins on the table then made for the exit . As she passed Red Moustache he attempted to stand up , but his legs gave way and he collapsed back in his seat .
Iris slipped out of the café just as Red Moustache collapsed face first into his cream-laden scone .
‘ Let ’ s go !’ she cried , grabbing my arm . We started to run up the High Street .
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‘ Where are we going ?’ I said . ‘ Are you taking me back to school ? I have a Latin test this afternoon !’
Iris darted round a lady with a pram , dragging me after her . ‘ You ’ re not going back to school , Tuffy . The tranquilliser will wear off in a few minutes and then he ’ ll be after us again . We ’ ve got to get on a train and get out of here !’
I glanced at my watch . ‘ But , Iris , the next train doesn ’ t leave for half an hour .’
‘ Bother !’ she said , skidding to a stop . She looked frantically up and down the High Street as if hoping to find inspiration . She did . Her eyes landed on a handsome green motor car . It matched her hat perfectly . ‘ Jump in ,’ she said , making for the driver ’ s seat .
After glancing over my shoulder , I followed her , slipping into the passenger seat . ‘ Iris … are we stealing a car ?’ My sister was fiddling about under the steering wheel . ‘ No . We ’ re borrowing it . Keep an eye out for the owner , will you .’
Sweat prickled my armpits as I shrunk down in the seat and stared out onto the High Street .
‘ Blast !’ said Iris as she continued to yank and twist at exposed wires .
Just then I saw movement at the Copper Kettle Café . The door had been flung open and Red Moustache came stumbling out . His eyes found us instantly – why did Iris have to choose such a bright green car ? The next thing I saw was a gun being pulled out of his pocket . ‘ Go Iris , GO !’ I yelled . The engine spluttered into life and the car lurched forwards . ‘ When did you learn to drive ?’ I cried , grabbing hold of the dashboard . ‘ Shortly before I learnt to fly ,’ she replied , then , with a roar of the engine , we tore up the High Street and away from Red Moustache .
THE END
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Illustration : Lia Tuia |
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