Page 59 of Sun, Sea & Strawberry Shortcake
Bee nods. ‘Thank you, Ruby. Thank you so much.’
‘Thank you, Ruby,’ echoes Jodie in a wobbly voice that makestears spring to my eyes.
‘You’re welcome, my love. Although I didn’t actually doanything.’ I glance at Bee. ‘I’m going after them.’ And I run off before shecan stop me.
‘Take care, Ruby!’ she calls. ‘And thank him for me?’
‘Will do,’ I call back, as I hare along the path after MrRaybans, who’s quite tall and gangly, with a rather ungainly style of running.Once or twice, he trips but manages to save himself by grabbing on to a treebranch. The plague doctor is more nimble on its feet, and I can see it in thedistance, making speedy progress down the hill towards the village.
It’s going to get away!
I’m exhausted by this stage. Even the awkward Mr Raybans ismaking a better job of stumbling along the route, trying to catch up with thevillain. I lose sight of him for a while, but as I near the end of the path, I seehim sitting on the promenade wall, staring up at the sky, apparently asknackered as I’m feeling.
Frantically, I look around me.
The plague doctor has vanished.
*****
I sit down on the wall next to Mr Raybans, realising hehas his eyes closed. ‘That was really brave of you, to rescue Jodie like that.I’m Ruby, by the way.’
He opens his eyes and looks at me. ‘Oh. Hello, Ruby. MitchMackay. Private investigator.’
‘Private investigator?’ I stare at him in astonishment, aswe shake hands.
‘You’re amazed. I don’t blame you. I was just sitting herethinking it’s probably best all round if I stick to being an accountant.’ Hegrins. ‘I’ll tell you a secret. I’m actually the least brave person I know.’
‘Well, I beg to disagree. What you did back there wasincredible. The roar and then diving in and pulling Jodie away from the edge.’
‘You liked the roar?’ He nods, looking quite pleased withhimself. ‘Spur of the moment thing, that. I had to distract...whoever it was.’ He frowns. ‘Who the hellisunder that weird costume,by the way?’
I shrug, feeling sick, still trying to catch my breath. ‘Noidea. At least... well, I thought it might be you, actually.’
‘Me?’ He laughs. ‘I’m not the villainous type. I get spookedby everything. I was even a little bit scared of my hamster when I was a kid.What on earth possessed me to think I’d be a good P.I.’ He shakes his head. ‘Isuppose it’s because I read lots of detective novels and I love solvingmysteries. Always have done.’
‘Are you here in the village to solve a mystery?’
He nods. ‘I’ve been tasked with finding someone. Someonewho’s in line for a big inheritance.’
‘Really? Any luck?’
He shakes his head. ‘None whatsoever. I told you. I’mrubbish at it. It’s just as well I’m not being paid. I’m doing it as a favourfor my mum’s neighbour. But it turns out I haven’t got a scooby.’
‘I guess the personalised number plate means you do standout a bit.’
‘NO51 FKR?’ He grins. ‘That was my brother’s idea of a joke...when I told him about my plans to train as a P.I. But yes, you’re right. Ihadn’t thought of that. Talk about drawing attention to yourself – which isobviously thelastthing you want to do if you’re a privateinvestigator.’
‘The dark glasses are a bit of a cliché,’ I point out, andhe laughs.
‘I guess so.’
‘Plus, you left that bag on the roof of your car.’
‘Ah, so that was you who rescued it and left it on thewall.’ He grins. ‘Thanks for that.’
‘It’s okay. And I still say you were incredibly brave backthere, saving Jodie.’
‘I just did what anyone would have done.’
