Read Online The Case of the Stolen Film by Gareth P. Jones - Free Book Online Page B

said Putz. ‘I ain’t going to no human city.’
    â€˜You stay here, then,’ replied Kitelsky. ‘I don’t trust this Mountain Dragon.’
    â€˜I work alone,’ said Dirk.
    â€˜Did I say I was givin’ you the choice?’ said Kitelsky. ‘If there’s a film showin’ me and Putz, I ain’t gonna sit around and leave it to no out-of-town detective to sort out.’
    â€˜I’m goin’ if you’re goin’,’ said Putz.
    â€˜And what do you know about city life?’ said Dirk.
    â€˜That ain’t the point. Like it or not, we’re comin’ wi’ you,’ said Kitelsky.

Chapter 13

    This is weird,’ said Archie, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a jelly bean.
    â€˜It’s really weird,’ agreed Holly.
    They were sitting on wooden chairs in the front row of an exact replica of Little Hope Village Hall where Holly’s school concert had taken place. The fake hall was perfect down to the finest detail, except for one of the walls being missing, revealing that they were actually inside a huge hangar in the World Studios. Where the wall should have been were cameras and hundreds of people who bustled around with clipboards and expensive-looking equipment. Chase Lampton sat in a director’s chair wearing a pair ofsunglasses and a look of frustration.
    During the eleven takes so far Petal hadn’t even come close to remembering the words to the dreary song her mother had written for the grand finale of the film.
    To keep everyone occupied between takes Theo Leggett was telling the band members their character names in case it helped them get into their parts.
    Holly, Archie and Miss Gilfeather were in the audience, so they didn’t have character names.
    â€˜On third trumpet we have Holly Bigsby,’ said Theo, pointing at a blonde girl with exceptionally white teeth.
    â€˜Excellent likeness,’ said Miss Gilfeather under her breath.
    â€˜So is yours,’ said Holly, pointing to the stick-thin, beautiful young actress who was playing Miss Gilfeather and waving a baton around.
    â€˜What does that woman think she’s doing?’ said Miss Gilfeather.
    â€˜Looks like she’s sword-fighting the Invisible Man,’ said Archie.
    Miss Gilfeather allowed herself a tiny smile. ‘It’s certainly not conducting,’ she said. ‘That emaciated young lady couldn’t conduct a survey on whethermonkeys like bananas. And as for that Lampton boy, he looks like he’s never seen a French horn before.’
    Dante Lampton was sitting at the front of the stage, in character as Callum Thackley, holding the instrument upside down.
    â€˜OK, everybody.’ Chase spoke through a loudhailer. ‘We’re ready for another take. Petal Moses to set, please.’
    Petal Moses arrived in one of the little white buggies used to shuttle the more important cast members to and from the VIP area. She got out of the buggy and drifted on to the set, wearing an extremely sparkly dress. She took her place in front of the stage, took a deep breath and said, ‘I’m ready.’
    â€˜Quiet on set, please.
Petal – The Movie
, scene fifty-six, take twelve,’ shouted a man with a clapperboard.
    The lights dimmed and the music began.
    â€˜Excellent, I love this tune,’ said Archie, forcing Holly to stifle her giggles.
    â€˜Don’t make me laugh,’ she said. ‘I need the loo.’
    â€˜I bet you a jelly bean she messes up again,’ whispered Archie.
    â€˜Be quiet,’ scolded Miss Gilfeather. ‘We’ll only have to hear it again.’
    â€˜All she has to do is mime along with herself. How difficult can it be?’ said Holly, under her breath.
    As if in answer to her question, Chase shouted, ‘Cut!’
    â€˜Anything wrong, Chase, darling?’ asked Petal sweetly.
    â€˜Petal, love, remember what we said about moving your mouth in time with