Read Online Charlie's Gang by Scilla James - Free Book Online Page B

the sound of the engine came closer, she realised that it sounded different - lower and deeper - and that a blue light was flashing, lighting up the darkness. She paused and pressed herself against a garden wall, waiting for it to pass.
    The motorbike stopped alongside her, and a man’s voice spoke into a radio, ‘Reference your earlier report, there’s a stray dog here on Pullman Street. Also white terrier. Could be the one that caused the near traffic accident. Can’t see an owner anywhere. Call the dog warden and I’ll hang on to it....over.’ He turned to look at Beattie, ‘Come on boy, or is it girl? Come!’
    Although the blue light scared her, the man’s voice was kind, and the white helmet and leather gloves Beattie recognised as belonging to a policeman. She shuffled over and lay shivering in front of him. He picked her up and held her lightly under one arm while he spoke again into his radio. ‘Yes...I’ve got her...I’ll hold her till the warden gets here. About half way up Pullman Street.’
    Beattie had met policemen before. They called from time to time to see Darren at home, who generally, when this happened, hid behind the sofa and pretended to be out. If he wasn’t quick enough the police would come in and talk to him, after which he would go off in a white car with them for a few hours, coming home even more irritable than usual.
    Now Beattie was sure that if Darren didn’t like the police, they were probably OK, and so she determined to stay with this one if she could. Still her heart beat faster and she shivered as a second, familiar motorbike pulled up, and Darren dismounted.
    He came boldly over and spoke to the policeman in a respectful but firm voice,
    â€˜Oh thank you Officer! You’ve found my dog that I’ve been looking all over for.’
    Darren held out his arms to take Beattie. Beattie trembled and the policeman seemed unimpressed.
    â€˜Oh yes? Your dog eh? So why is it shivering and not wagging its tail in the welcoming way dogs usually have when they’ve been lost and their owners find them. Name?’
    â€˜Darren Taylor.’ said Darren.
    â€˜Not your name! The dog’s name please.’
    â€˜Oh.’ There was a silence, during which Beattie realised that as usual Darren could only think of whatsyourstupidname.
    â€˜Funny owner not knowing his own dog,’ said the policeman. ‘And why d’you think she’s so scared? For your information this animal has been reported as having been the cause of a potentially serious traffic accident. She’s to be taken to the Dog Shelter this evening. If she belongs to you, you’d better go there and claim her.’
    Darren looked as if he might argue, but instead said, ‘I’ll do that,’ and went back to Andy’s motorbike and started it up. He drove off, as Beattie snuggled into the not-very-snuggly leather jacket the policeman was wearing, and sighed with relief.
    A short time later a van pulled up on the street. It had Dog Warden painted on both sides of it.
    â€˜Good luck little dog,’ said the policeman as he handed Beattie over to a woman wearing white overalls. ‘A skinny little one for you,’ he said. ‘Cold and hungry I reckon. It’s got a collar on but no nametag. The rescue place will be able to see if she’s been microchipped.’
    And Beattie was driven away in the back of the Warden’s van.

12
    Timba
    Charlie was not himself at all. Snip tried everything he could think of to cheer him up, and often talked about the Rat Hall job which he was sure would be given to Mr Trundle in the end, because how could three girls manage a job like that alone? But this seemed, for some reason, to make Charlie even more depressed.
    He had started going off alone, refusing to answer Snip’s anxious questions.
    â€˜I’m the boss,’ he told Snip, ‘I have to plan.’
    Charlie always went