Atticus Claw Breaks the Law (14 page)

They watched as Atticus placed a front paw at the bottom of the wall and began to heave himself up the trellis.

‘Come on,’ Mrs Tucker whispered. ‘We need to hurry. Before those pesky birds realise what’s
happening
.’

24

‘THREE CHEERS FOR THE MAGPIES!’

Jimmy Magpie was still in full cry when the worms landed in the rose garden. At first he didn’t notice anything was wrong. He strutted up and down the wall with the tiara over his wing. ‘HIP HIP …’

To his surprise none of his magpie audience said HOORAY. They were chattering rudely about
something
else.

‘I said HIP HIP …’

The magpies paid no attention.

SPLAT!

PHUT! PHUT!

SPLAT!

Jimmy looked up. He saw a strange-looking human with a long beard and a short jumper (or the
other way round) sitting in a tree scattering handfuls of worms over
his
magpie army. What was he doing?

HOP!

PECK! PECK!

HOP!

Suddenly Jimmy realised what was happening.

‘NO!’ he screeched.

SPLAT!

PHUT! PHUT!

SPLAT!

‘Stop it!’ he yelled.

HOP!

PECK! PECK!

HOP!

‘Can’t you see it’s a trick!’ he squawked.

The magpies ignored him. One by one they dropped the stolen trinkets and turned their
attention
to the worms.

‘NOOOOOOOOO!!!!’ Jimmy shrieked. ‘You need to leave. Now! Scarper! Shoo! The humans are up to something!’

Some of the birds looked up in alarm and flew away.

‘Chaka-chaka-chaka-chaka!’ The rest of the
magpies
didn’t pay any attention. They were too busy fighting over the worms.

Suddenly the same strange-looking human who had been sitting in the tree a few minutes earlier hobbled through a gate into the rose garden. Jimmy watched in disbelief. He was with the woman in the purple dress who called herself Countess Salmonella Von Troutperch. They were closely followed by two children.

Jimmy blinked. ‘The Cheddar kids!’ he hissed. ‘I might have known.’

‘GET OUT OF THE WAY!’ the countess yelled at the crowd.

Jimmy put his head on one side, puzzled. The countess didn’t sound very posh now. And where was that white cat of hers?

Everyone, including the Chief Inspector of Bigsworth, crawled to the sides of the rose garden and collapsed in the flowerbeds. Some managed to struggle out of the entrance. The only creatures still on the grass were the magpies, jostling over the feast of worms.

Michael and Mrs Tucker ran to the other side of the lawn, stretching the net tight. Callie and Mr Tucker stood by the gate.

‘Ready?’ Mrs Tucker yelled.

‘Ready!’

Holding the corners of the net tightly in their hands, Callie and Michael ran down each side of the lawn. The net flopped open behind them over the squabbling birds.

‘Hold steady!’ Mr Tucker warned, gripping his corner of the net in his hairy fists.

‘I am, you old roach!’ Mrs Tucker gripped hers.

Jimmy Magpie watched in horror.

‘NOOOOOOOOOO!!’ he screeched.

‘OKAY! DROP IT!’ Mr Tucker shouted.

FLUMP! The net landed on top of the remaining magpies.

SQUAWK! The magpies struggled and flapped. Their wings got tangled in the net. It was impossible to escape. They were trapped

‘Bravo!’ Inspector Cheddar yelled, racing round the net and hugging the kids.

‘You were brilliant!’ Mrs Cheddar ran after him and kissed the tops of their heads.

‘Is it safe to come out yet?’ Rupert Rich called from under the table.

‘CHAKA-CHAKA-CHAKA-CHAKA!’ Suddenly there was a violent chattering from the top of the wall.

‘It’s the ringleader!’ Michael gasped. ‘He’s still got the tiara.’

Not for long, he hasn’t!
Atticus hauled himself up the last bricks. He tiptoed along the wall towards Jimmy.

‘Watch out, Boss!’ Thug’s voice came from inside the lobster pot. ‘There’s a cat behind you!’

‘It’s Claw!’ Slasher yelled.

Jimmy turned. He stared at Atticus in disbelief. ‘Claw?’ he repeated. ‘You’re supposed to be in jail.’

‘No, Jimmy.’ Atticus snarled. ‘
You are.
’ He pounced.

Jimmy spread his wings to fly away but the tiara was still balanced over one of them. It was heavy. He flapped furiously with the other wing but it didn’t give him enough thrust to take off. He was like an aeroplane with one engine, leaning dangerously to the side.

‘Gotcha!’ Atticus pinned him by the tail. But Jimmy was strong. He twisted his neck and pecked at Atticus viciously with his sharp beak. ‘Ouch!’ Atticus drew back. He tasted blood on his lip.

‘You pathetic pampered pet,’ Jimmy cackled. ‘I always knew you’d turn out to be a loser. Just like a cat to wimp out of a fight.’ He took hold of the tiara in his beak.

Atticus sprang forward and caught Jimmy’s foot in his mouth.

Jimmy tried desperately to kick him off.

The two of them teetered on the edge of the wall.

‘DO SOMETHING, DAD!’ Michael shouted. ‘Atticus is going to fall!’

Inspector Cheddar didn’t hesitate. He sprinted back down the path in Olympic-qualifying time. ‘I’m coming, Atticus!’

He reached the stage.

With one final effort, Jimmy Magpie launched himself into the air.

Atticus hung on grimly, his mouth round Jimmy’s leg.
He wasn’t going to let him go after everything he’d done!
He closed his eyes as they plummeted to the ground together.

‘CHAKA-CHAKA-CHAKA-CHAKA!’

Jimmy let out one last despairing burst of chatter.

The tiara fell from his beak.

In one swift movement, Inspector Cheddar whipped the velvet cloth off the table and held it out in his arms.

THWUMP! Atticus and Jimmy landed in a tangle of velvet, feathers and fur.

SMASH! The tiara landed on the bare wooden
table and shattered into thousands of pieces.

There was a ghastly silence.

‘Whoops!’ Inspector Cheddar said.

‘What have you done, you moron!’ screeched Lady Toffly.

‘You’re a disgrace to the police force!’ yelled Lord Toffly. ‘You should be out arresting hedgehogs not going round breaking people’s priceless hairlooms.’

‘It’s
heir
looms.’ Rupert Rich clambered out from under the table. ‘And it’s not priceless. I thought as much when I was inspecting it earlier.’ He flicked at the bits of crystal. ‘It’s glass.’

‘Glass?’ Lady Toffly shrieked. ‘It can’t be.’ She fainted.

‘That’s torn it!’ Lord Toffly agreed. And he fainted too.

‘This, on the other hand,’ said Rupert Rich,
reaching
forward gingerly and touching the rubies around Atticus’s neck where his head poked out of the velvet cloth, ‘may well be genuine.’

Atticus struggled free so that Rupert Rich could take a closer look. He was surprised to see that his fur was nearly back to its normal colour. The dye had rubbed off, just as Mr Tucker had said it would. It felt good being a tabby again, even though his white socks were a bit longer than usual.

‘Chaka-chaka-chaka …’

‘Zip it, you!’ Mrs Cheddar raced up. She had found a plaster in first aid. Inspector Cheddar held Jimmy in a wing-lock while she wrapped it firmly around his beak. They threw him in the lobster pot with the other two magpies.

‘Where’s Countess Von Troutperch?’ Rupert Rich demanded.

Michael and Callie picked their way round the netted birds with Mr and Mrs Tucker and climbed on to the stage.

Rupert Rich flashed his teeth. ‘Welcome back to this interrupted edition of
Get Rich Quick!’
He beamed at the cameras. ‘I’m pleased to say there has been an exciting development. The Tofflys’ tiara, as I always suspected, is a cheap fake. It’s worth
nothing
. Zilch. Zero. Zip.’

There was a faint sob from the floor.

‘As a result of which, as I understand it, the Tofflys are broke. Bankrupt. Finished!’ Rupert Rich grinned at the cameras. ‘Tough luck, Tofflys! But never mind because we have a new lucky lady in our midst. Countess Salmonella Von Troutperch, would you please step forward.’

Mrs Tucker took the stage. Everyone clapped.
The duty sergeant rattled his teaspoon against his buttons.

Rupert Rich squinted at the rubies through his
eyeglass
. ‘Countess Von Troutperch,’ he announced grandly, ‘I can confirm that your ruby necklace is priceless. It’s worth trillions. Zillions, I wouldn’t be surprised. Congratulations.’ He shook hands with Mr and Mrs Tucker and winked at the camera. ‘So don’t forget, ladies and gentlemen at home, to tune in to
Get Rich Quick!
with me, Rupert Rich, at the same time next week. And remember:
Attack the attic, make a packet!’

Everyone cheered.

The cameras stopped rolling. Rupert Rich smoothed his hair. ‘That,’ he said, taking Mrs Cheddar’s arm, ‘was probably the best show I’ve ever done. Where did you get those birds from? Absolutely brilliant! Tell me … have you ever thought about a career in television?’

Michael and Callie hugged one another in delight.

‘Ah, Cheddar,’ the Chief Inspector of Bigsworth came up and shook Inspector Cheddar’s hand. ‘I wanted to congratulate you. You’ve captured the most criminals I’ve ever seen in one day.
And
you
floored the Tofflys. A brilliant achievement.’

‘Thank you, sir.’ Inspector Cheddar drew Michael and Callie towards him. ‘But I couldn’t have done it without these two.’

Callie whispered something in his ear.

‘And Atticus, of course!’ Inspector Cheddar added.

Finally! It was about time Inspector Cheddar
recognised
all the work he’d put in
. Atticus purred. He lifted his chin so that Callie could give him a tickle.

‘Oh, and sir, I think I know where to find the other missing jewellery.’ Inspector Cheddar squeezed Michael’s hand. Michael squeezed it back. ‘The
magpies
are hoarding it in a nest under the pier.’ He glanced down at Atticus. ‘My … er … specially trained police cat led the children straight to it.’

What specially trained police cat?
Atticus looked puzzled.

‘He means you, Atticus,’ Michael whispered.

‘He’s forgiven you.’ Callie grinned.

‘Well done, Atticus,’ Mrs Cheddar said. ‘You were so brave.’

Atticus had never felt so proud in his life. A police cat! He couldn’t wait to tell Mimi. He leapt into Inspector Cheddar’s arms and started to purr throatily.

Everyone crowded round and made a fuss of him.

‘Brilliant work, all of you!’ The Chief Inspector of Bigsworth beamed. ‘I’ll be recommending you and your cat for a position at Scotland Yard, Cheddar. That’s it then. Case closed.’ He turned to Mr and Mrs Tucker. ‘I don’t suppose I can interest you in making a donation to the Police Helmets Fund?’ he asked casually.

‘I’ll see if we’ve got any change to spare,’ Mrs Tucker replied. ‘After we buy our new house.’

‘What new house?’ Mr Tucker demanded.

‘Toffly Hall of course, Herman.’ Mrs Tucker took his arm. ‘I’ve got quite a taste for being the Countess Von Troutperch.’

From the lobster pot, Thug eyed the necklace longingly. ‘’Ere, Slasher,’ he whispered, ‘do you think I’d look good in rubies?’

‘Gorgeous, Thug, me old prison mate.’ Slasher nodded. ‘What do you think, Boss?’

‘Ah, shut up,’ said Jimmy sourly, peeling the
plaster
off his beak.

25

Early the next morning, when Aisha Rana got back from the Bigsworth Flower Market, a large
brown-and
-black tabby cat with four white socks and a chewed ear was sitting waiting for her outside the florist in the High Street. Around his neck was a red handkerchief. On the handkerchief was a shiny sticker.

‘Wait a minute, you’re Atticus!’ Aisha bent down to stroke him. ‘I saw you yesterday at the antiques fair. You were brilliant! And I’ve been reading about you in the morning paper! Look!’ She held it out to him.

Further down was a picture of Atticus with the Cheddars and another of the magpies being loaded into a police van in cages.

‘Not that you can read, of course.’ She put the newspaper in the van and brought out armfuls of flowers. ‘Inspector Cheddar must be very proud of you!’ she said, placing the flowers into a bucket
carefully
. ‘Imagine!’ She went back for more. ‘A police CAT! Such a clever idea. He told me he trained you himself.’

He did?!
Atticus raised a whiskery eyebrow.

Aisha finished unloading the van. ‘He also said it was
you
who returned my necklace!’ She tickled him fondly around the ears. ‘Thank you!’

Atticus began to purr. He was pleased Inspector Cheddar hadn’t told her it was him who stole it in the first place. But then, after what had happened yesterday, everyone was so happy with him he didn’t think it would ever be mentioned again.

Aisha swept her long hair back and grinned. ‘Which means you must have met Mimi.’

Atticus’s purr grew deeper.

‘I thought so!’ Aisha laughed. ‘She’s pretty, isn’t she?’ She stood up. ‘Would you like to take her one?’ She gestured to the flowers. ‘I’m sure she’d be pleased.’

Atticus raised a paw and pointed to a pretty white daisy with long thin petals and a golden centre which reminded him of Mimi’s eyes.

‘An aster.’ Aisha picked it out of the bucket and trimmed the stem with a pair of scissors. ‘She’ll like that.’ She tucked it carefully into his handkerchief. ‘You know the rhyme I suppose – she loves me, she loves me not?’

Atticus blushed.

Aisha laughed at herself. ‘What am I saying? Of
course you don’t! You’re a cat! A very clever one, of course …’ She waved Atticus goodbye. ‘Come and see me again, won’t you?’

Atticus said meow to thank her and set off at a brisk trot towards the beach.

Mimi was sitting in front of the beach hut gazing out to sea.

‘I brought this for you,’ Atticus reached up and pulled out the daisy carefully from the handkerchief and laid it down in front of her. ‘Aisha gave it to me, actually,’ he added quickly. He didn’t want Mimi to think he’d stolen it!

‘Oh, Atticus!’ Mimi sniffed it carefully. ‘It’s beautiful.’ She looked up. ‘What’s that on your handkerchief?’

‘It’s my temporary police-cat badge,’ Atticus
explained
proudly. ‘Callie found it in her sticker book when we got home from the antiques fair yesterday afternoon. Inspector Cheddar stuck it on. He’s going to get me a proper one next week from the Chief Inspector of Bigsworth.’

‘Oh, Atticus, that’s fantastic!’

‘I know!’ Atticus glowed. ‘And look at this!’ He untied the handkerchief. Beneath it was a bright red matching collar. It had a tiny tube fastened on to the buckle with a small metal ring – a bit like the one the
messenger pigeon had brought to him in Monte Carlo only two weeks ago. So much had changed since then, Atticus could hardly believe it. ‘There’s a piece of paper in there,’ Atticus explained proudly. ‘It’s got Inspector and Mrs Cheddar’s number on it, in case I get lost. And their address.’

‘
Your
address,’ Mimi reminded him gently. ‘That’s where you live now, Atticus. Number 2 Blossom Crescent. That’s your home.’

‘Yes, I suppose it is, isn’t it?’ Atticus purred
throatily
. ‘Home.’ It was the best word he’d ever heard.

They were silent for a moment, listening to the hiss of the waves.

‘Er … Mimi,’ Atticus said eventually, eyeing the daisy. ‘Would you like me to teach you a little rhyme?’

Mimi giggled. ‘Okay,’ she agreed.

And the two of them sat side by side pulling the petals gently from the daisy in the warmth of the morning sun.