Chapter 5
"I got the documents!" Gary sang as he walked into the shack. Topham was stunned as he struggled to get out of his chair, but it was useless.
"Now let's take a look here," Gary said to Topham. He flipped open a folder and pulled out a piece of paper. "I have not a clue as to where the engine is. However, today while I was hiking by Sodor Mountains, I saw some old tracks that lead right up to mountain. Right up to the mountain and just stopped. I also noticed an old oil can with the date '1856' on it." Gary read. After reading it, he stomped his foot and cursed.
"Oh that really helped me!" he shouted in anger. "A nice little oil can with a stupid date on it." He sat down at the table and sighed. "It's not getting me anywhere." Gary cursed a little more, then walked out the door and got in Buck. "I need a ride." he sighed.
"Did you here anything about how the Fat Controller went missing?" Skarloey asked the other engines. They all spoke up with 'no' or 'never' but some did say that they had heard.
"I heard that he was kidnapped." Sir Handel answered. Arnold also cut in. (note that Arnold is one of my made up characters) "Edward told me that the new person, Gary and that truck, Buck could be responsible." Rusty was about to mention something, but was cut off by the sound of a police siren. And soon, a whole line of police cars came in. And the Thin Controller's car came in, and stopped quickly.
"Thank goodness!" he shouted. "I've been robbed! Someone stole my secret documents on Benjamin the Golden Engine." The police started talking to him while the engines spoke quietly.
"Something strange is going on..." Duncan said. Peter Sam agreed. "Do you remember the day that Gary asked the Thin Controller about his documents and the Thin Controller wouldn't let him see them?" he asked. That made them each think. "Then that would make Gary a prime suspect..." Ivo Hugh noted. "I'll tell James when he picks up my train today." Skarloey said as he puffed off.
"And this is our final stop." Lady Hatt said as she walked Theodore out of James' train at the station. Theodore walked up to James. "You've done quite a nice run." he complimented. James blushed. Then a whistle was heard and Skarloey came puffing in, rather quickly.
"Lady Hatt!" he shouted. She turned around, surprised, and looked at the tired engine. "Skarloey, what is up?" she asked. Skarloey struggled for breath and finally blurted it out: "Thin Controller...robbed, Gary..." She turned to Theodore who looked back at her. "Thank you Skarloey. That will do." Then she turned towards Theodore. "We have some work to do." she said as they walked back into the coach.
"Here we are." Lady Hatt said as she flipped the switch on in Topham's office. She quickly slid over to a filing cabinet with some letters on each of the droors of each one. She remembered him giving Gary's last name as 'Rodnick.' She went to R section and opened it. No sooner had she opened it, she found the file labeled 'Gary Rodnick.'
"It doesn't give residence or even a phone number..." she sighed. Theodore stood up. "Okay, so that's done. However, we'll soon figure something out. Remember, he's looking for the golden engine and..." Then he trailed of as he saw a headlight outside the office. "Excuse me." he told Lady Hatt as he walked outside.
"STOP RIGHT THERE!" he shouted at the set of headlights. The vehicle quickly turned around and started off behind the station. "Come on!" Theodore shouted to Lady Hatt who locked the door and jumped into Theodore's car. They took chase to the vehicle.
"What is that?" Lady Hatt asked. Theodore struggled to see anything about the vehicle. "It's a truck...brown I believe..." Lady Hatt's eyes grew big when he said that. "GARY! THAT'S HIS TRUCK!" she shouted. Theodore floored the car and took off. However when they found a small dirt road, they stopped and turned around.
"We can't go on, for we're at risk. However, now that we know where Gary's hideout is, we can get Topham back. We'll do it tomorrow." Theodore elaborated. Lady Hatt nodded as they drove back to the station.
Gary threw open the door to his shack and slammed it. "Stupid idiot who chases me..." he groaned. Then he sat down at his desk and flipped on a small light. "An oil can dated 1856 and tracks leading up to the mountains." he sighed. Then all at once, the thoughts hit him. "1856...the date the engine was put in it's shed...mountains...tracks leading up to them...THAT'S IT! BENJAMIN IS HIDDEN IT SODOR MOUNTAINS!" he exclaimed as he danced around the floor. Then he walked into his makeshift bedroom, which was really none other than a small sleeping bag on the floor. "I'll rest and start the search tomorrow!" he shouted. But little did he know, that Theodore and Lady Hatt had figured out the same thing, and had a little plan ready for the next day...