Chapter 4

The Investigation

When Nikki wasn't back after five minutes Harry thought it odd. Ten minutes and he was slightly concerned. He'd read the report of the Smithson fire so many times, most of it he'd memorised. Fifteen minutes and he grabbed his jacket and set off to look for her. He couldn't help stopping at a cake and sweet stand on the way to buy a couple of cupcakes and chocolate bars. It was much better than being stuck indoors, the sun was shining and the students were happy and relaxed for once.

He ate the first cupcake walking across to the coffee shop, but then realised he would need both hands to carry the coffees back so stopped in the shade of a large purple flowering bush to eat the second. He was just biting off the frosting when he felt himself grabbed from behind.

"Bloody hell! You nearly made me drop my cake!" Harry cried surveying the assorted members of the scavenging crew and quickly putting two and two together. Nikki was sat on a low branch quietly sipping her coffee.

"Well well well, it's the Famous Five," Harry exploded. "I hope you've got plenty of ginger beer! Has Timmy fallen down a mineshaft or a hole yet, doesn't that happen in every story? It's been a while since I read them."

"Erm I'm Tim," said the tall boy, standing up and offering to shake hands. "Your colleague here said she'd join us for our game, it won't be much longer. We're trying to beat the LSSE record and get two of everything. No one's ever had two items from the Lyell Centre before. It's going to be epic!"

"Do I get to finish my cake?" Harry asked.

"Yes and coffee too if you have to; but you have to stay quiet." Debbie insisted.

Harry joined Nikki on her branch and offered her a bite of half eaten cupcake.

"Do you come here often?" he asked with a wink.

"Shut up you, you were the one who was bored!" she said and offered him her coffee.

"So how long have we got?" he asked sipping her drink without a seconds thought.

"I'm pretty sure Lizzie said it finished at 1"

Harry checked his watch. "Is it vital that we stay hidden in this bush for the whole time?"

He was ignored; the others were going through the list of items still to find.

"Can I help?" Harry asked wandering up to the group of teenagers. "What else do you need?"

"We haven't got any medical equipment, but it could just be a first aid box or something." Debbie said.

"You can't go round stealing first aid boxes!" insisted Harry. Give me five minutes and I'll go find you something.

"You have to come back," Jamal said.

"I'll come back!" Harry promised.

"I'm not sure I believe him." Tim said glancing towards Nikki. "She might run after him.

"No she won't" laughed Lizzie pulling something from their bag of stash. "We'll handcuff your friend to the tree until you come back."

"It won't be necessary!" Nikki insisted.

"I'm not prepared to take chances, this could be our year to have our names written into LSSE history!" declared Lizzie.

"I'll be two minutes," Harry insisted and jogged off towards the Lyell as Nikki sat and had the cold metal of the handcuffs attached to her wrist.