The Mystery of the Stolen Secrets

©2017 Richard Humphreys

It's going to be a white Christmas and Fatty's Uncle Harold comes to stay. However, before long Fatty begins to notice that his uncle is acting suspiciously. Why did he go out secretly in the middle of the night? Did he steal some keys from a local house agents' office? Who is the man with a limp? The Find Outers get on the case and are soon embroiled in a mystery that involves spies, stolen secrets and a dangerous chase along the river in the dead of night...

Chapter 22: Superintendent Jenks Arrives

Back | Index | Next

As soon as they got to Larry and Daisy's house, they went straight to the telephone and Larry called the police headquarters.

'My name is Lawrence Daykin,' he told the Duty Officer. 'I understand that Superintendent Jenks is away, is it possible to get a message to him?'

'That remains to be seen,' the policeman said. 'The Superintendent is a very busy man. You can give your message to me and if I consider it to be important enough, I'll see what I can do.'

Larry paused for a moment as they had been told by Mr Johns not to discuss this business with anyone, but surely that would not include the police.

'Well,' Larry said, 'it's about those missing scientists, I think I know where they are. And they've kidnapped two friends of mine as well, one of whom is Frederick Trotteville who is also a friend of Superintendent Jenks.'

There was a pause on the other end of the line, then the policeman said: 'Where are you calling from?'

Larry gave the man his address and telephone number.

'Look, you need to hurry,' Larry said. 'They're being held on a boat on the Thames and we don't know where it's gone, it's called The Hideout.'

'Listen to me Lawrence,' the policeman said, 'stay by your telephone, I'll try and get through to the Superintendent. But in any case I'll call you back shortly.'

Larry put the phone down and looked at the others. 'We have to stay by the phone,' he said. 'He'll see if he can contact the Super and get back to us.'

Just then Mrs Daykin came down the stairs. She was surprised to see the four children standing around the telephone.

'Hello children,' she said. 'Are you expecting a call?'

Larry looked at Daisy, not knowing what to say. 'Yes, Mother,' Daisy said, 'we're expecting Superintendent Jenks to telephone.'

'Superintendent Jenks?' Mrs Daykin said. 'Why would he be telephoning you?'

'It's about Fatty,' Larry said.

'Then why doesn't he call Fatty?' she asked.

'Because Fatty's with Eunice,' Bets said.

Mrs Daykin shook her head not understanding what on the Earth the children were talking about.

'Anyway, Larry and Daisy,' she said changing the subject, 'have you both finished your present wrapping?'

'Nearly, Mother,' Larry said and looked at Daisy and frowned. He was afraid the telephone would ring whilst his mother was there, which would prove very awkward.

Daisy understood the look. 'Mother can you help me wrap up Father's present from Larry and me, only it's an awkward shape, it's upstairs?'

Mrs Daykin looked at her watch. 'Oh, not at the moment, Dear, I'm just going out to visit old Mrs Perkins, she's a bit under the weather,' she said. 'Ask me again later.'

To the children's relief, Mrs Daykin slipped on her coat and went out. They all breathed a sigh of relief.

Just then, the telephone rang and Larry grabbed the receiver.

'Is that you, Larry?' came a familiar voice.

'Yes, Sir, it is,' Larry said as a wave of relief flooded over him. Superintendent Jenks was such a strong and sensible person, he would sort out this business, they could leave everything to him.

'Listen, Larry, I've just arrived back at headquarters and will be in Peterswood in the next half hour,' Superintendent Jenks said. 'I want you and the others to stay put. Are you calling from home?'

'Yes, Sir,' Larry said. 'We're all here.'

'Then stay there,' the Superintendent said. 'You say Frederick and Eunice are missing?'

'Yes, Sir, we believe they're on a boat called The Hideout,' Larry said.

'Do Frederick's parents know about this?' the Superintendent asked.

'No, they don't, Sir,' Larry said. 'Just Daisy, Pip, Bets and I know about it. Oh, and Mr Goon.'

'Goon?' the Superintendent said sounding astonished. 'You're telling me he knows that Frederick and Eunice have been taken away on a boat?'

'Well, that is what he was told, though not by us, I might add, but by a small boy whose name I don't know. We happened to overhear their conversation, you see,' Larry said. 'And, apparently, when he went along to investigate, the boat had gone and I think he disregarded the boy's story.'

Larry heard the Superintendent sigh. 'Very well, Larry, you and the others hold on and I'll be there shortly.'

Larry put the phone down. 'The Super's coming over,' he said.

'I wonder what's happening to Fatty?' Bets said. She had tears in her eyes and her face was very pale. 'Oh, I do hope he and Eunice are all right.'

Larry put his arm around her shoulders. 'I'm sure they are,' he said. 'And anyway, the Super's on his way and he'll sort everything, won't he?'

'I suppose so,' she said.

'He has in the past,' Pip said. 'And anyway, Fatty knows how to look after himself. I bet at this very moment, he's working on a plan to escape.'

'I know it's cold, but can we wait down by the gate?' Bets said. 'I really don't think I could sit still waiting for the Superintendent the arrive, I feel too excited and worried.'

They all felt the same and went down to the front gate. There was still some snow falling but none of them felt much like a snowball fight. Daisy suggested building a snowman, but no-one wanted to.

'I've still got some of the sweets that Fatty gave us,' Bets said and handed round a bag of pear drops.

'Now we'll all smell of pear drops when the Superintendent arrives,' Pip said.

After fifteen minutes, a large black car pulled into the lane and stopped by the gate. Superintendent Jenks jumped out and the children rushed up to him.

'I only ever seem to see you all when there's trouble,' he said smiling at the children. 'And I picked up Constable Goon and young Boris Boggs on the way.'

The children watched as Goon and a small rather bewildered looking boy climbed out of the car.

'Are your parents at home, Larry?' the Superintendent asked.

'No, Dad's at work and Mum's gone out to visit a sick friend,' Larry said.

'That's a pity,' the Superintendent said. 'But it can't be helped. We need to talk straight away, can we go inside?'

'Yes, of course,' Larry said and led the way into the house and through to the drawing room.

There were not enough chairs for everyone, so Pip, Bets and Daisy sat on the hearthrug.

The Superintendent cleared his throat. 'Young Boris, here, told me on the way that he saw Frederick and Eunice go aboard a river cruiser called The Hideout. This corresponds with Constable Goon's report of his abduction in which he stated that he heard one of the abductors mention The Hideout as a place they should get to as it had just arrived. There is little doubt that they were referring to this cruiser. And the cellar that Constable Goon and Boris were locked in was certainly used by the two scientists whilst they awaited the arrival of the boat. Then, after hearing what Boris had seen, Constable Goon went to investigate but found no sign of cruiser,' he looked around at the children. 'So which way did it go, upriver in the direction of Bourne End or downriver towards Maidenhead? Well, as you may know the lock downriver has been frozen for some days and so it's not possible for this cruiser to progress beyond Maidenhead. The other direction is another matter. There's plenty of open countryside upriver from here and it is possible that they intend to disembark and escape by way of a light aircraft or a helicopter. We have a number of police launches searching the river in both directions, so we're optimistic we'll find it.' He looked out of the window. 'But it's getting dark,' he said, 'and there are quite a number of backwaters in which it's possible to conceal a cruiser, even a large one.' He stood up. 'Can I use your telephone please, Larry?'

Larry took the Superintendent into the hall and then returned to the sitting room. He could see how concerned Bets was. 'Try not to worry, Bets, the police will find Fatty and Eunice, won't they Mr Goon?' he said.

Goon just grunted and muttered something under his breath that sounded strangely like: 'I hope not.'

Just then the Superintendent reappeared. 'I've just spoken to Frederick's mother,' he said, 'and explained the situation. She will contact Eunice's father and let him know what's happened.'

Goon fidgeted around nervously. 'If only someone had told me what was going on,' he said suddenly, 'I might have been able to do something.'

'I did tell you, Mr Goon,' Boris said, 'but you just threatened to box my ears.'

The children all looked straight at Goon and slowly shook their heads. Goon's eyes began to bulge and his face reddened slightly.

Just then Boris yawned rather loudly and looked around with an embarrassed look on his face.

'Well, Goon, I don't think I need you for the present, but stay by your telephone in case of developments,' the Superintendent said. 'And I think you should take that young man home and put him to bed,' he added. 'He looks exhausted.'

Goon jumped to his feet. 'Er, yes Sir, I will.' He looked down at Boris. 'Come on, then, snap to it.'

'And can I have a hot meal, like the lady said?' Boris asked hopefully.

'Oh, I'm sure Mr Goon can manage that,' the Superintendent said. 'Isn't that so, Constable?'

'Er, yes, Sir, I believe there's a steak and kidney pie in the larder,' Goon said with a sniff. 'He can have a bit of that.'

Larry showed Mr Goon and Boris to the door. He did not particularly want to say anything to Goon, so instead he said to Boris: 'I hope you enjoy your steak and kidney pie.'

'I will,' Boris said and got a jab in the back from Goon.

'Come on, get moving, I haven't got all day,' he said.

Larry closed the door and returned to the sitting room.

'Now the best thing the rest of you can do is sit tight,' Superintendent Jenks said. 'I have no doubt we will find this cruiser and free Frederick and Eunice.'

'And Fatty's uncle,' Daisy said.

'His uncle?' the Superintendent said. 'Why do you say that?'

'Because there's a good chance he's on the boat too,' Larry said. 'You see, Fatty found the name of the boat amongst Uncle Harold's papers. Although at that time none of us realised it was a boat. But Uncle Harold must have been on the trail of it and probably found it.'

'I see,' the Superintendent said thoughtfully. 'Thanks for that, Larry.' He stood. 'Now then, as I said, you just sit tight and wait and as soon as we have any news, I'll let you know.'

They all went with him to the door and watched him walk down the drive and get into his car.

Pip looked at his watch. 'We'd best be off, Bets,' he said, 'or we'll be late for supper.'

'I'm not hungry,' Bets said and a tear rolled down her cheek, which she quickly wiped away. 'I simply don't know how I'm going to eat a meal feeling like this, I shall probably choke.'

'You'll feel differently when it's put in front of you,' Pip said. 'And you heard what the Super said, they'll find Fatty.'

'You bet,' Larry said forcing himself to be cheerful. 'Fatty's probably worked out a way of escaping already, you know how ingenious he is. And if he's got Uncle Harold with him as well, then I'm sure they'll get away.'

'And Eunice,' added Daisy. 'She's a tiger.'

'I suppose so,' Bets said. 'Oh I do hope we hear they're safe soon. You will telephone as soon as you hear anything, won't you.'

'Of course I will,' Larry assured her. 'You and Pip will be the first to know.'

Bets and Pip said goodbye and slowly made their way home, wondering all the while if Fatty and Eunice had made plans to escape.

Back | Index | Next