The Eleven Cards

  Here is the first book of The Series Of Murder

 

 

The Eleven Cards

 

Contents

 

Chapter 1 Eleven

Chapter 2 Murder?

Chapter 3 Ten

Chapter 4 Mrs Syrup finds out and Chubs has a bad day

Chapter 5 Murder strikes again!

Chapter 6 Nine

Chapter 7 Another tragedy!

Chapter 8 As hard as, and almost murder

Chapter 9 Eight

Chapter 10 More murder!

 

The Ten Cards

Chapter 1

Eleven

“Go on, open your last present, before I do it for you” said Miss Alps, “I think, that might be a good idea” agreed Mr Topps.  “Ok ok don’t get your heads up about it” said Joe Gane, “Just because it’s my birthday doesn’t mean you have to treat me differently to how you usually do.”

“Joe” warned his mother, Jane Gane. It was Joe's birthday and he was opening presents from his friends and family.

“Just open the present, alright” shouted Bets.

“Ok little sis, no need to shout like that” said Joe calmly. “Oh yeah, well…”

“Another, brother and sister fight, Bets you’re nearly seventeen and I expect more from you” said her mother. “Sorry-e”

“Cards, eleven cards” said Joe.

“Rather a strange present for an eighteen year old boy” exclaimed Mr Walker.

“I agree but thank-you…”

“Well, who sent them?” said Mrs Suji.

“Anonymous” said Miss Tesco. (Everyone laughed except Joe) “Yes, it says from anonymous alright”.

“Probably some joke” sighed Patrick Lucas.

“Why sound so upset?” said Amy Rando.

“Because I’m the one that makes the jokes” replied Patrick. “Kenny” called a voice from the kitchen, “Come and help me carry tea in.”

“Coming Jane” replied Kenny Walker. “That sister’s always asking me to do things” he muttered.

“Sounds like Chubs has been busy” said Hannah Maple. “Who’s Chubs?” questioned Neil Topps.

“The cook” said Joe.

“Chubs isn’t her real name of course” said Jane as she came in with the tea “We just call her that because she’s a bit…”

“Fat.” finished Bets,

“I heard you, cheeky,” said Chubs from the kitchen. “Sorry Chubs.”

“It’s funny that someone should send you eleven cards all signed anonymous,” said Miss Tesco with a mouthful of pizza. “I know” agreed Joe,

“Off the subject, these sandwiches are deeelicious” said Emma Alps. “Three cheers for Chubs” shouted Hannah, “Hip Hip,” “Hooray” “Hip Hip,” “Hooray” “Hip Hip,” “Hooray”

“And eighteen cheers for Joe?” said Mabel Tesco hopefully. “No!” everyone shouted.

“That silenced you!” said Bets.

“Bets don’t talk to a woman like that, she’s twenty-two now” said Jane

“I never knew you were twenty two Mabel” said Miss Alps. “Oh yes nearly twenty three actually”

“Goodness, I thought you were about nineteen” said Emma. “Miss Chubs is nearly fifty four you know”. “Really” said Mabel,

“How’s that friend of yours, what did you say her name is, Mrs Syrup or something?” said Emma

“Yes Mrs Syrup is her name and she’s fine, just realised she’s got to have reading glasses you know, but she has done awfully well not to have them at her age.” Said Mabel, “how old is she now then?” asked Emma

“Sixty-eight but she’s not really my friend, just someone that I’ve met and had a conversation with a few times.” “Goodness, it’s six o’clock and time I went home, come on Mabel I’ll give you a lift.”

“Goodbye everyone” “It’s about time I went too” said Neil. “Why does everyone have to leave so quickly?” moaned Joe. “That’s just how life is and seeing that everyone has already walked out of the door, some without saying goodbye, I’ve agreed to stay the night. Seeing as I live in Bristol and it takes about two hours to get there from here, we thought I may as well stay” said Kenny. “Is that the doorbell?”He questioned, Chubs answered him by getting the door. “Miss Mabel Tesco, for Mr Joe Gane” she said.

“Guess I’d better go then” replied Joe.

“Wonder what she wants?” said Jane as she walked into the room, “She’s only just gone.”

“How’s the farm going then Kenny?”

“You sound very interested” answered Kenny, “Why so intrigued?”

“She’s probably trying to get you to give her a dozen or so eggs!” laughed Bets.

“No, actually I was going to ask how the lambs are feeding” said her mother.

“They’re feeding fine, but I’m still intrigued about why you ask. Can I smell soup or do I imagine it?”

“Yes you can smell soup, it’s for supper tonight!” said Chubs’ voice from the kitchen.

“Where has Joe got to?” said Jane inquiringly,

“Yes he’s been gone with this Mabel of yours for some time” said Kenny.

“Here he comes now” said Bets. “I wonder where he’s been?”

Chapter 2

Murder?

That night the household slept like logs. All apart from Bets, whose bedroom was next to the guest room in which Kenny was sleeping, and Kenny is not the sort of person that you’d call a quiet sleeper, as Bets said the next morning. In the morning everyone was down to breakfast quite punctually except Bets, and when she still wasn’t down at nine o’clock Jane began to worry. “I’ll go and see what she’s doing” she said,

“No need to worry” said Kenny. “I’m sure she’s just fine” and just fine she was because when Bets’ mother went up to check on her she had just woken up. “Kenny is not the sort of person that you’d call a quiet sleeper” she said as she sat up. “You better come and have your breakfast seeing as it’s nearly ten past nine” said Jane. “Really, it seems like ten past eight to me!” said Bets, “No wonder she overslept” murmured Jane. Bets had her breakfast and felt like some fresh air so she opened the door and started to walk to town, on the way who should she meet but Mabel Tesco. “Good morning Miss Elizabeth” said Mabel when she saw Bets.

“Please, call me Bets” said Bets. “Good morning Bets” she repeated, “How’s Joe?”

“He’s fine” Bets replied, “He’s been a lot better since he moved out, still a pest though” (They both laugh.) “I’ve just been talking to Mrs Syrup” said Mabel, and related to her what she had told Emma. “I’ve heard of her before, now let me see, yes isn’t she the one that’s a friend of PC Jolter and solved that mystery, you know, where Mrs Ester got burgled,” said Bets.

“Yes, that’s the one,” said Mabel. “Now, I must be going or Emma will be wondering where I am, she’s staying with me you know,”

“Goodbye” said Bets “See you soon.” When Bets got to town she first went to the newsagent to buy the Daily Mail paper. “Goodness” She said when she came out of the newsagent, “I never realised how long it takes to get to the newsagent, I think I’ll catch a taxi home,” so when the next taxi drove past she put her hand out to stop it. “Fifteen Corner Street please” she said to the taxi driver as she clicked on her seatbelt. “Of course” said the taxi driver. “I recognise your voice” said Bets after a minute, “And I recognise yours” said the taxi driver as he turned round. “Neil Topps” said Bets, “I never knew you were a taxi driver.” “Yes I’m not surprised you didn’t know” he said, “I’ve only been one for two days but there’s no time to talk now because it looks like we’re here.”

“Bye Neil” said Bets.

“Good bye Elizabeth.”

“Why does everyone have to call me Elizabeth?” said Bets to herself as she walked through the front door. “Mother I’m back” said Bets.

“Have you got my paper?” asked Kenny.

“Yes uncle” answered Bets “Here it is.” The house was in silence as Kenny read the paper. Only the humming of the oven could be heard. “Tea, or rather lunch is up” said Chubs after a few minutes. “What happened to the bell?” asked Jane.

“That scamp of a dog from next door took it.”

“Mmm this tuna pie is lovely” said Bets.

“Are you alright Kenny?” said Jane, “You’ve been rather silent and haven’t touched a scrap of your food.”

“Oh yes I’m fine, just been reading this article in the paper,” he replied.

“What’s it about?” said Bets curiously. “Whatever it is seems to interest you a fair bit.”

“Yes it certainty does.”

“Well, what is it?” said Jane just as the phone rang. “Chubs,” shouted Jane, “Would you get that?”

“She went to the garden to pick some peas” said Bets.

“I guess that means I’ll have to get it then,” Jane sighed. Just then Chubs came in from the garden, “Was that your mother calling me Bets?” she asked.

“Yes, she wanted you to get the phone but seeing as you didn’t come she got it.”

“Back to work then,” said Chubs. “Oh and Bets could you put the kettle on, I’ll make myself some pasta when I come in.”

“OK” said Bets.

“That was Joe” said Jane, “He’s got Patrick staying with him. He said he won’t be able to see us while he’s got him there, apparently he’s got to ‘entertain’ him. Is that the kettle boiling or are my ears deceiving me?”

“Yes, Chubs asked me to put it on, says she’s going to make herself some pasta when she’s finished with the peas.”

“Ah so Chubs did come in after all,” said Jane.

“Yes just after you’d gone to the phone actually.” “Anyway, what was it that interested you so much in that article Kenny?” said Bets.

“Well” he answered “It goes like this, you know Neil don’t you?”

“Yes,” said Jane and Bets at the same time.

“Well a cousin of his,”

“Yes,”

“If you’re so curios about it then read the article yourselves.” he said. Here’s what it read:

 

MURDER?

On the 25^th of April Albert Topps was found lying motionless on his bed. The doctors still aren’t sure whether he’s dead or not as there are signs of slight breathing. It is said that he was killed by a overdose of medicine and there are traces of it in a cup beside his bed. But would someone really drink that much medicine or is it a murder? He has no very close relatives as his parents are away in Portugal. His cousin Mr Neil Topps said: “I am not very close to Albert but obviously upset. All we can hope is that he is alive and if it was a murder the murderer will be caught and arrested for trying to kill my unfortunate cousin.”

 

“Well,” said Bets after a minute, “That surprises me quite a lot.”

“Why’s that?” asked her mother.

“Well… 1. Why would anyone want to kill an innocent man like that? And 2. When I took a taxi home today I realised that the taxi driver was Neil, the day of his cousin’s possible death was ten o’clock and at eleven o’clock he didn’t say a word about it. He also seemed very anxious for me to leave,” she finished.

“I have got to agree that it’s all quite strange,” said Kenny. “What’s strange?” questioned Chubs as she came into the room.” “Read this,” said Jane and handed her the paper. She read it and said, “I can see why you call it strange. Bets did you put the kettle on like I asked? I’m starving,”

“Yep” replied Bets.

Chapter 3

Ten

“Has anyone heard from Hannah lately?” Bets asked her mother on the twenty sixth of June. “You’ve forgotten that she went to Spain yesterday haven’t you?” Jane answered. “Yes I had actually,” said Bets.

“Why do so much tidying on a Saturday afternoon mother?” said Bets,

“I didn’t forget to tell you did I?” replied her mother. “The police are coming to question us in an hour and Joe and Patrick are coming too,”

“Why do they need to question us?” asked Bets. “They’ve got to question Albert’s and any of his relations friends. Goodness knows how long it’s going to take,” said Jane. “The police are on the phone,” said Chubs “They say would it be possible to come now? They’re going to bring Mrs Syrup because she might be useful in solving the crime.”

“Yes they can come,” Chubs nodded and went out. “Who’s Mrs Syrup?” questioned Kenny and Jane at the same time.

“Chubs” shouted Bets. “Those two have just asked me who Mrs Syrup is so I…”

“Wait a second Bets” said Chubs, “I’ll go and get the door.”

“Probably Joe and Patrick” said Jane, at that moment Joe and Patrick walked in.

“Hello” they said, “Chubs said that you were in here.” “Yes and I was about to talk to you lot and Chubs” Shouted Bets, Chubs walked in and sat down.

“Everyone keeps asking me who Mrs Syrup is so I thought that I may as-well tell everyone at once,” So Bets told them all about Mrs Syrup.

“She’s coming over today because the police think that she might be useful in solving this ‘mystery’.” Finished Bets, then the doorbell rung.“That’ll be the police,” said Chubs timidly. “PC Jolter and Mrs Syrup are here,” she announced.

“Hello there Miss Elizabeth…” began PC Jolter.

“Gane” said Bets, “and please, call me Bets.”

“And who else is here, Mr Patrick Lucas, Mrs Jane Gane, Mr Kenny Walker, Mr Joseph Gane and Miss Freda Updon” he finished.

“Oh surely you don’t want to question me!” said Chubs, “I must question everyone” Jolter answered. “Please sit down PC Jolter, Mrs Syrup.”

“I won’t be doing any questioning” said Mrs Syrup, “Just noting things down.”

“Right” said PC Jolter, “Let’s get started. Mrs Gane, we’ll start with you.”

“Right” said Jane.

“So, on the day of the incident what might you have been doing?” asked Jolter.

“Well, that depends on the time” she said.

“About ten o’clock am,” he said.

“Well in that case I was helping Chubs with the cooking.”  The policeman looked puzzled.

“And Chubs is…” he said.

“Oh, Freda, and if you want evidence, she’ll tell you so,” Chubs nodded.

“Right, and did you see any of Albert’s relations at the time?”

“No, no I didn’t.”

“So when was the last time you saw one?”

“The same time as everyone else…” (Bets coughed) “Oh apart from Bets,” she finished.

“OK” said PC Jolter “Let’s move onto Bets.  So what were you doing at ten o’clock?”

“I was in town talking to Miss Tesco” she answered. “And when was the last time you saw one of Albert’s relations?”

“Well it’s all quite strange because when I caught a taxi home, I realised that Neil was the driver. He said that he had got the job two days ago but didn’t say a word about his cousins’ death and seemed awfully anxious for me to go,” said Bets.

“What exactly did he say that makes you think that?” questioned Jolter.

“He said, there’s no time to talk now because it looks like we’re here, and yet we had only just entered our street.”

“Thank you Bets,” he said. “So now we move on to Miss Freda.”

“Right” said Chubs.

“So at the time you were with Mrs Gane cooking, yes?” he said.

“Yes” said Chubs.

“And the last time you saw a relation of his was?”

“The same as everyone else, it was when Neil came to Joe’s party” said Chubs.

“Did you notice anything strange on the morning of Albert’s death?” said PC Jolter.

“No, I can’t say that I did,” answered Chubs.

“Thank you Freda.” said Jolter, “Kenny?”

“I’m exactly the same as Chubs,” he said.

“Joseph,” said Jolter

“Same,” said Joe.

“Patrick,” said Jolter,

“Same.”

“Did you get all that down Daphne?” said PC Jolter to Mrs Syrup, “Yes, may I ask a question to Mr Joseph?” asked Mrs Syrup. “Yep” said Jolter,

“In private” said Mrs Syrup

“Yes, as long as I can come”

“We’ll go to the kitchen and shut the door” said Joe. So that’s what they did, “Joseph,” said Mrs Syrup, “I understand that you got eleven cards all signed anonymous”

“Yes.” said Joe “I did,”

“And noticed at ten thirty on the day of the murder or death that one was missing?”

“Yes,” said Joe

“PC Jolter, it’s a murder because…” Mrs Syrup began. “Joe, you may leave now.” said PC Jolter, Joe nodded and left.

 

Chapter 4

Mrs Syrup finds out and Chubs has a bad day

“I wonder what Amy’s doing today,” said Bets, “She’s my best friend and I haven’t seen her since Joe’s party. I’ll ring her up,” she was talking to herself as there was no-one in the room with her. “Amy, is that you, do you want to meet in town or are you out? You’re out, ok, what about tomorrow; I’m going with Iona already. You will, ok nine o’clock bye.” Then she texted Iona to say that Amy was coming and went for a bath before bed. It was the day after the police had come over and everyone was normal again. Bets had her bath, said goodnight and went to bed. The next morning Kenny was busy packing. He was to leave after lunch and couldn’t find his best suit that he’d worn to Joe’s party. “Where could it be?” he said to himself,

“Kenny,” shouted Jane, “Have you found it?”

“No!” he shouted.

“Probably because I just found it in the washing machine,” so Kenny went downstairs and got his suit, he packed the rest of his ‘things’ and had his lunch. “I’d better be off,” said Kenny

“Bye uncle,” said Bets,

“Goodbye Kenny!” shouted Jane. Kenny beeped his horn and drove off, “Well, there goes Uncle Kenny,” said Bets as she walked through the door. “At least we have some peace for a while,” said Jane. The afternoon and evening passed awfully quickly. In the morning everything was quite normal at Fifteen Corner Street, meanwhile at Eighteen Highton Road Mrs Syrup was just finishing her breakfast when she thought that she’d try and find out a thing or two about Albert Topps’s death. She was certain that it was a murder but wanted to find out who had done it. She decided to go and see Neil Topps, seeing as he was about the only person that anyone had

seen that was one of Albert Topps’s relations. She got to Neil’s house and talked about various things and then came to the point of Albert’s death. “So you say that the doctors are sure that Albert’s dead,” started Mrs Syrup.

“Yes,” said Neil, “They’re quite sure.”

“And I understand that you’re a taxi driver,”

“Yes, yes I am,” he said.

“Bets said that you were anxious for her to go and didn’t mention your cousin,” said Mrs Syrup.

“I didn’t mention my cousin because the policeman Toppolisin told me not to tell anyone about it until it was in the papers. I was anxious for Miss Bets to go because I was expecting a visitor at my house and my manager had told me I could leave early,” finished Neil.

“Who was this visitor?” asked Mrs Syrup,

“My mother,” he said, “She lives in Africa you see, so I only get to see her once a year.”

“I see,” said Mrs Syrup. “Why did you take up the job of a taxi driver?” asked Mrs Syrup,

“Because driving is a sort of talent to me and I do love seeing different people.” Answered Neil,

“Thank-you for your time Neil, I must be leaving now.” said Mrs Syrup. “Goodbye Mrs Syrup.” said Neil cheerfully, when Mrs Syrup got home she noted down all that Neil Topps had told her. “Hmm” said Mrs Syrup after a while, “That went rather well.” meanwhile, Bets had been having a reasonably good time. She had met Iona Curter and Amy Rando at town and they had been to the clothes, food, accessories and ice-cream shops. They were just eating their Mr Whippies when Iona dropped her bag and when she picked it up dropped her ice-cream so she had to buy another one. Back at Fifteen Corner Street however, Chubs was having a bad day. She had gone to pick the peas and dropped the basket, meaning that she had to lean over and pick them up which made her back ache. “Oh bother”, she said, then when she went in to wash the peas, half of them fell down the sink. “Oh bother and beetroot” she said. Chubs put the peas away in a cupboard and thought that she was safe. But safe was just what she wasn’t. Because when she went to hang out the washing, she realised that the peg basket was missing, and with no peg basket there were no pegs to hang out the washing with. So she had to go all round the house and garden looking for it. “Oh bother, beat-root and balderdash” she said.  In the end, she found it in next doors dogs’ mouth, which meant that she had to wrench it out. The next thing that annoyed Chubs was that she dropped the phone, scratched the battery and had to put a new one in. “Oh bother, beat-root, balderdash and beeswax” said Chubs. After that Chubs and everyone else got on normally. All apart from Mrs Syrup, who was not yet satisfied with what she had found out.

Chapter 5

Murder strikes again!

 

“Oh goodness me, just look at the front of the paper” said Julie Suji to her husband. “Do you remember when we were questioned by the police about the murder of Albert Topps?” she said.

“Yes, I do” said Benjamin Suji,

“Well, look at the front cover” she said. Benjamin looked at the front cover and indeed he got a shock, for the front cover said: Murder Strikes Again! Back at Fifteen Corner Street, Jane was reading the same article aloud. “Murder strikes again” she read aloud. “On the first of July, that was yesterday. Mrs Teresa Collers was murdered, it is said to be the same person that murdered Mr Albert Topps. She was found lying still on her living room floor with a glass of poisoned water by her side. Her husband Mr Lucas Collers said: “I have no idea why anyone would want to murder my poor wife but whoever it is obviously doesn’t like to use anything but water to do his or her murdering.” “The murderer has not yet been discovered but the police (with the help of Mrs Daphne Syrup) are on the case.” “Well” said Jane, “what do you make of that?” “I’m not sure mother, I’m just not sure” Joe and Patrick had read the article and were also puzzled, but one thing puzzled everyone, why murder such, what seemed to be innocent people?  Chubs had quite recovered from her what she called an, ‘accident morning.’ Mrs Syrup didn’t tell anyone what she had worked out from what she knew, so not even PC Jolter knew. The next morning Chubs was up especially early to get things ready for Bets’s eighteenth birthday party. “Now let’s see” she said to herself. “Now let’s see who’s coming and how much food do I need to make? Miss Rando, Miss Curter, Mr Topps, Mr and Mrs Suji, Mrs Gane, Mr Gane, Miss Gane, Miss Tesco, Miss Alps, me and Mr Lucas. That’s ten people so that means twelve ham, chocolate spread and marmite sandwiches. Two bottles of homemade lemonade and one bottle of juice and a big vegetable salad. One margarita pizza, a fruit loaf and a chocolate cake. She finished. “I’ll start now but when Jane and Bets come down I’m going to need A LOT of help.” So Chubs started work and by the time Jane and Bets got down Chubs had made all the sandwiches and got out the juice. When they got down, Chubs asked Bets to make the lemonade and Jane to make the vegetable salad. Bets finished her job quite quickly and then went on to getting the pizza, fruit loaf and chocolate cake out. When everything was done they washed their hands and laid the table. The party was a great success and afterwards there was an awful lot of clearing up to do, including food and wrapping paper. Everyone talked a lot about the incident of the murder and discussed who could have done it. “I think that it was Kenny” said Mabel Tesco, “Kenny wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing!” said Jane Gane.”

“Besides” said Joe Gane, “he was the first here that saw the paper and he seemed awfully surprised.” That night Mabel Tesco couldn’t sleep. She knew who the murderer was at the back of her mind but not at the front. Mabel tried to figure it out until midnight, when she fell asleep. She had never thought that it was Kenny, but had thought of a random person at the party to accuse. She didn’t want to be left out of the conversation and afterwards wished that she had kept quiet! What if everyone thought it was her now, she knew it wasn’t but nobody else did. For all Mabel knew at the front of her mind the murderer could be dark, silky haired Jane, smart suited Neil, it could even be Kenny! At that moment Mabel’s mind was useless. But the next day it was very, very useful!

 

 

Chapter 6

Nine

 

“I wonder what’s for breakfast” said Bets to her mother as they came down the stairs. “I’ll ask Chubs” replied Jane, so she did, ‘scrambled eggs and toast` was the answer that Chubs gave. So, after the breakfast of ‘scrambled eggs and toast’ Bets went to give out her thank you letters. Most people waved at her as she posted the letters through their box, but one person didn’t wave and their house was in darkness, that person was Mabel Tesco. “She must be out” Bets thought to herself, and out she was! Mabel had gone out to tell the police about what she had thought the night before. Or at least, she was going to tell the police, but in the end decided to tell Mrs Syrup, “She might understand a bit better” she said to herself. So Mabel started off towards Daphne Syrups delicate, purple, ivy covered cottage. When she got there she knocked on the door, rat-a-tat-tat, a dark figure could be seen walking towards her. “Hello Miss Tesco” said Mrs Syrup when she opened the door, “What a lovely, un-expected visitor!”

“Mrs Syrup” said Mabel, “I was wondering if we could talk, you know about the murders”

“Of course of course, please do come in” Mrs Syrup said. Mabel went in and sat down, “coffee?” asked Mrs Syrup, “if you would be so kind” replied Mabel. So Mrs Syrup got the coffee and sat down, “so what is it that, if I’m right, is worrying you?” she said, “well” began Mabel and it all poured out. “I see” said Mrs Syrup after sipping her, what she called, ‘morning coffee.’ “Why did you come to me about this?” she said, “why not the police?”

“I thought that you might understand better” said Mabel, awkwardly. “So you want to get this thought from the back of your head, to the front, yes?” asked Mrs Syrup

“Yes” said Mabel.

“Well I think that I can help you out with that” said Mrs Syrup, “so don’t worry anymore about it and if you don’t mind I won’t tell you when I’ve found out. At the end of this mystery, when whoever did it is announced your mind will go ping and you’ll know that it was them all along that was troubling you.”

“You’re being very mysterious and secretive about this but thank-you anyway” said Mabel,

“Any time m-dear, any time.”

“Good bye” shouted Mabel and with that, she was gone. Mabel thought about what she had been told and decided that she would do as Mrs Syrup said and forget about her worries. This is the part of the story that Mabel’s brain becomes useful. “Hello, I’m back” she said as she walked into her house, there was no answer. “Emma” she shouted, “Emma?” she said again, more quietly this time. She went in and there was no Emma, no note, no nothing! “I wonder where she’s gone” thought Mabel. Then, she saw that someone had left a message on her home phone. Mabel snatched it up, pressed the green button and listened, this is what the message said; “Hi, it’s Emma I’ve gone to see the police, I’ll tell you everything when I come back at about eleven o’clock, bye”

“Well” said Mabel “I wonder what she wants with the police!” Meanwhile at the police station, Emma Alps was having a rather awkward time. “Hello Miss Alps” said PC Jolter,

“Good morning inspector” replied Emma.

“I hear that you think you know something about this ‘mystery’” said Jolter. “We have also found something out, every time a murder happens, one of Mr Joe Gane’s cards that he got, you know the ones that were signed anonymous go missing. First there were eleven, then Mr Albert Topps gets murdered, there are ten, Miss Collers is murdered, there are nine. Who knows how many murders are going to happen!” PC Jolter was quite out of breath after this long speech and waited for Emma to speak. Finally she did, these are the words that she spoke, “Well, to be honest that’s what I was going to tell you. But there’s something else, did you know…”

“I wonder where Bets’s got too” said Jane, “she’s been out all day.”

“I overheard the inspector talking about nine cards” Emma was saying to Bets,(she had happened to bump into her on the way to Neil’s house, they had agreed to have tea there.) Meanwhile, AT Neil Topps’s house, there was a bit of a, (as Bets called it,) ‘kerfuffle’ going on. Neil had just got home and was just walking into his house when he felt that something was wrong. He couldn’t tell what it was until he walked in…

 

Chapter 7

Another tragedy!

“MOTHER” shouted Bets as she entered her house after being out for five hours! “I met Emma on the way back here and she said that she was going to Neil’s for tea, she also said I could go so I did.” Blurted out Bets,

“So that’s where you’ve been all this time.”

“No mother, Neil Topps was burgled!” Her mother was speechless. “Everyone passing by came to help, there was such a kerfuffle! Emma and I were the first there but in the end Mabel, Joe, Patrick, Amy, Iona, Chubs (who was coming back from doing the shopping,) the greengrocer, Mr Yogal and Mr Suji came! We all helped, Neil was ever so upset!”

“What was taken?” asked Jane, “The television, a few vases, some work papers, two bowls, a small bedside table and a sofa.” Answered Bets, “Oh and a couple of books, all by Dickens, not that that matters.” Meanwhile Neil Topps was being questioned, PC Jolter, Mrs Syrup and a tall, ginger haired policeman were there. They asked him the normal sort of questions that you’d usually be asked if you were robbed, apart from one, it was Mrs Syrup who said it. “Do you think that this has anything to do with the series of murders going on at the moment?” she asked. Neil was puzzled,

“No” he said, he wondered why she had said it but didn’t ask. Mrs Suji had heard about the news too and seemed to be surprised, “Oh how dreadful” she said. “I’m awfully shocked!” Then another thing surprised her, A tall, slim lady walked up Mrs Suji’s drive and knocked on her door! She wore a silk, red dress and a lot of jewellery. Her high heels were wedged and she had bright pink lipstick on. Mrs Suji had never seen her before and thought that she wasn’t at all the sort of person that would want to see her! Rather shyly, she opened the door; “Hello” said the lady in an American accent “Is this where Kenny Walker is staying?” Mrs Suji was very puzzled.

“N-no he, he lives i-in Bristol” she stammered, “h-e was staying with Mrs Gane bu-ut went back a few days ago”

“Oh, I’m so sorry to bother you” the strange visitor said, “I’ll be going then, bye” and then Mrs Suji looked out of the window and saw that the strange, unexpected visitor got into a big, black limo and drove off! The next day the news had spread about Mrs Suji’s visitor. Most people were puzzled, but when Neil heard about it he knew exactly who it was, “that sounds like the famous film star Verona Slate!” “Call er famous, I’ve never eard of er.” Said the farmer, it wasn’t very surprising because only one other person had! “You saw Verona Slate, she’s practically my hero!” shouted Iona, “How can only Neil have heard of her, it’s impossible to not hear of Verona Slate!”

“Now calm down Iona, you sound quite frantic,” said Bets. “But,” said Iona

“Calm down” Shouted Amy,

“Ok ok, bossy boots” Iona muttered to herself. This was all happening in the middle of the small town that they lived in. “I must be going, I’ve promised to go to the police station and tell the police about something else that’s missing from the burglary. Very valuable you know” said Neil. The girls let him go and when he got to the police station he had quite an interesting time. “Hello inspector” Neil said, “I’ve come to talk to you about the robbery” “I see” said Jolter. “You see, I’ve found out that the most valuable thing in my house was stolen in the robbery.” Said Neil,

“And what might that thing be?” asked the inspector, Neil took a deep breath and said “an North American blow pipe, but not any old blow pipe,  one made out of a very valuable type of wood…

 

 

Chapter 8

As Hard As, And Almost Murder

 

It was the eighteenth of May and Chubs was once again having a bad day. She thought that with all of these happenings going on she’d better be careful. So out she went into the garden to clear up something that a cat had done that wasn’t very pleasant to look at. On went the nappy bag to clear it up with, “Goodness me, this is as hard as rock” Chubs said when she picked it up. Then the postman came with a bill for Chubs to pay. She had to do some complicated sums to work out how much extra she must pay, “Goodness me, this is as hard as trying to tell apart identical twins!” said Chubs. Meanwhile Mrs Syrup was trying to figure things out, she had heard about the blow pipe the day before and was very puzzled about it. “This mystery is as hard as forcing open a chest made of steel!” She muttered as she wrote a postcard.  Back at Fifteen Corner Street, Bets was also writing a postcard, but this time to Hannah. Just as she was writing the last word, the lights went out, “must be a fuse” thought Bets, until a stranger walked in through her bedroom door… Next door Jane Gane was just saying goodbye to Miss Padget (her next door neighbour) when she heard a loud scream! “That’s Bets!” She said, and without even thinking about taking her handbag with her, rushed off. When she got inside she rushed to Bets’ room, only to find Chubs there calming a rather pale in the face Bets down. “Go and ring the police and a doctor” said Chubs in a rather stressed voice. Mrs Gane did just that and a few seconds later the doctor and police came into the house, “Oh my goodness!” they said as they came into Bets’ room as Bets was very pale and had a short, but deep cut on her left hand. “Hmm” said the doctor as he examined it, “a knife did it” he said,

“You mean this one” said PC Jolter as he picked up a blood stained knife off the floor. “Most likely” said the doctor, “we’d better take you to the surgery to do some tests, I think that the police would quite like to give the house a check”

“Quite right doctor, quite right” and with that, Bets was taken by Jane and the doctor to the hospital. Chubs had said that she would stay with the police to have a search, after Bets had gone the police and Chubs had a thorough search of the house. PC Jolter found the first clue, “this murderer isn’t very clever” he said as he found a footprint in the ground outside the house. “But no-one got murdered!” said Chubs,

“But someone has tried to murder Elizabeth” replied PC Jolter. “and I have a feeling that, well I’d better not tell you just yet” Chubs found the next clue. It was a piece of paper, it was torn, ‘newly torn’ as Chubs called it. The paper had one word on it, it was all in capitals,

NOW

 

 

 

 

Chapter 9

Eight

Meanwhile, somewhere in Bristol, Verona slate was on the train, disapproving of what she called ‘the English reception’ she was trying to have a conversation with Kenny. Suddenly, Kenny hung up… “Hello, hello” she said. Back at Fifteen Corner Street, Chubs and the police hadn’t found any more clues. When Bets got back (with her hand in a bandage,) the Police asked her what had happened and this is what she said, “Well, I was sitting at my desk writing a postcard, when the lights went out. At first I thought it was a fuse, but then something stabbed my hand, I screamed and then chubs came in.”

“We found the knife that stabbed you, we’ve kept it safe” replied Jolter. “Now tell me, do you by any chance recognise this?” he showed Bets the scrap of paper. “No” she said, “No I don’t. Whilst all of this was happening, Mrs Suji was watching the BBC News. She was wondering what was happening in the world but then, something caught her eye and It wasn’t about Bets… At the police station, PC Jolter was talking with PC Toppolisin, “Another of those wretched cards has disappeared again,” he said. “Almost proves that Elizabeth was meant to be murdered.”

“Yes” replied Topolisin, at that moment, in walked Mrs Suji. “So sorry to bother you, you must be very busy”

“Not at all Mrs Suji, not at all” Jolter replied. Little did they know, that someone was listening through the door… Four hours later, the six’o clock news came on. “Breaking News” it said, “A policeman that was supposed to be at the desk at a police station in Hertfordshire was found knocked out after, Mrs Suji was in PC Jolter’s office talking to him and PC Greyson. The same village have already had several murders and the police are looking into it. Here is Lucy in Hertfordshire with Mrs Suji and the policeman who was knocked out”. The television screen showed a picture of, Lucy Hawk(News presenter) Mrs Suji and Inspector Tupp. “So” began Lucy Hawk, “Mrs Suji, you were in PC Jolter’s office taking to him and another policeman am I correct?”

“Yes” replied Mrs Suji.

“And when you went in, Inspector Tupp was sitting at his desk normally, yes?”

“Yes” said Mrs Suji again.

“And what is your view of this mysterious happening?” Lucy asked Inspector Tupp,

“Well I was just sitting at my desk, waiting for someone to come to the door, when something hit me on the head and knocked me out. The next thing I remember is being in a bed at the doctors!” “That’s all I have to say at the moment about this case, back to you Kim.”

 

Chapter 10

More Murder!

I am aware that Mrs Syrup hasn’t been mentioned for a while, so this chapter will mostly be about her, and Mrs Suji. Mrs Syrup at that moment, was with Mrs Suji in her house. They were watching a video that PC Jolter had lent them, it was recorded by CCTV of the outside of the police station. It was the first time that either of them had seen the video and at a certain bit of it, Mrs Suji gasped and Mrs Syrup, was wide eyed. When the video had finished, Mrs Suji went home to do the washing-up. But little did she know, that someone was following her… Mabel Tesco was out shopping with Emma Alps, in Tesco! They were looking for a present for Mabel’s little cousin who was going to be four the following week. “What about this teddy bear? Said Emma,

“I think she’d like that very much” replied Mabel, who then exclaimed “I thought I just saw Kenny Walker walking out of the exit!”

“Don’t be silly Mabel, Kenny’s in Bristol remember!”

“Yes” said Mabel, “Yes I do.”

That night, the evening paper had a lot to say about someone in particular.

 

More Murder

Mrs Suji of Herts was walking home to do the washing up after seeing a friend of hers and was found about an hour or so later drowned. Sadly, it was her husband who found her and here is what he said. “I am terribly upset to have found my wife drowned and hope that the police will soon make an end to these series of murder.”

“Well” said Bets who had just finished reading the article, “I certainly didn’t think anyone expected that!” Neil Topps said a similar sort of thing,

“Well, I’m speechless,” is what he actually said. Mrs Syrup had also read the evening paper and was now quite satisfied about who the murderer was. She called everyone, including the policemen over to her house the following morning. “Well, thank you for coming,” she said. “I’d just like to say that you are all safe, as the murderer has no need to strike again. Also, I know who it is, firstly I had to have my suspicions of everyone but it was not until Mrs Suji was murdered that I could be sure. Actually, it was Mabel that gave me the idea that it could be this person. It was when she came to me saying that she knew who the person was at the back of her mind but not at the front.”

“But surely it wasn’t me who made you sure who it was!” said Mabel,

“No, but you reminded me of someone.” Said Mrs Syrup, the other thing that made me even surer is when Mrs Suji went to the police station and the policeman got knocked out. I was watching outside and so was someone else. When Mrs Suji was murdered I was sure I was right.”

“But who is this murderer that you keep talking about?” questioned PC Jolter.

“I’m just coming to that, you see Jane and Kenny are siblings and have the same mother who was robbed last year. The robber was said to have brown hair and a toothbrush moustache, like Neil. I will now say that the murderer is Kenny.” There were gasps from all round, “You see, when Kenny met Neil, he was instantly sure that Neil robbed his mother. But he didn’t, Kenny was too scared to murder Neil himself, so he murdered people that Neil liked. He also robbed Neil to make it even more devastating for him. Kenny never went back to Bristol, he stayed with Verona Slate all the time. Oh, and the cards were just added to everything to confuse it all, there were only ten in the first place, Joe miss-counted them!”

“Well,” said Jolter, “You’ve beat us again Mrs Syrup!”