Chapter 10

The Famous Five were still gathered around the bench consoling Anne when Goon returned.

"I shouldn't think anyone would bother you now," he said loftily. "Just kids, you know."

"I still think it's jolly queer that someone should want to pull Anne's hair," said Dick, still very angry.

"At least we had two policemen on the job," said George, lightheartedly.

Goon frowned. "Yes. Murphy. From Macon," he muttered. "Why have I never heard of him before?"

"Well, he might be new to the force, sir," said Julian, respectfully. "I shouldn't think anyone would want to dress up as a policeman and wander around a village market!"

The children watched in alarm as Goon's face turned a spectacular shade of purple.

"That TOAD of a boy! And the others, I bet they were in on it too! Gah! He's got the whole lot of them dressing up now. GAH!"

"Whoever do you mean, sir?" asked Julian.

"I mean Frederick Algernon Trotteville and his Find-Outers, that's who!" snorted Goon angrily. "Oh ho ho! Won't the Trottevilles be pleased to know what their toad of a boy is getting up to now! It's not enough to go about disguising himself, meddling in mysteries and Interfering with the Law, he's now going Impersonating an Officer of the Law! I'll go over there right now. GAH!"

He strode off, leaving the Famous Five in bewilderment.

"I say! What do you think about that?" asked Julian. "These Find-Outers disguising themselves to solve mysteries?"

"Pooh!" said George, scornfully. "We've never had to disguise ourselves to solve any of our mysteries. We just use our brains!"

"I jolly well think we ought to pay them out for pulling Anne's hair," said Dick. "Why don't we create a little mystery for them and see if they solve it?"

"Why, Dick, whatever do you mean?" asked Anne.

"Just a little bit of fun, Anne. We'll leave some clues and lead them a merry dance. It won't hurt anyone and we'll see how smart they are!"

The others agreed, Anne somewhat doubtfully.

"We don't even know where they live," she said. "How are we supposed to leave any clues?"

"That policeman was headed over to that Frederick boy's house. Why don't we follow him and see where he lives and then we can go from there?" suggested Julian.

"Capital idea, Ju," agreed George. They hastily followed Goon who was ponderously making his way towards the Trotteville's. Luckily for the Five, he had not brought his bicycle so they were able to follow him easily.

It was a dishevelled group of Find-Outers who met back at Fatty's garden shed that afternoon.

"You girls look a fright," said Fatty. Bets and Daisy had been crying and the tears had made tracks down their dirty faces. "Why don't you go and wash up at the tap in the garden? You too, Pip and Larry. Your faces are still covered in greasepaint." He rummaged around in one of his chests. "Here. I keep a bar of soap and a towel down here to save frightening Mother up in the bathroom!"

By the time they returned, clean and in their normal clothes, Fatty had changed entirely out of his police uniform and was carefully peeling off his moustache.

"Well, that was rather exciting, wasn't it?" he asked, jovially, once everyone had sat down. "Cheer up, Bets. At least Goon didn't recognise any of us!"

"I must say, I wouldn't have recognised you girls either," said Pip grudgingly. "Jolly good disguise."

Bets gave a watery smile.

"But it was jolly fat-headed of you to pull that girl's hair," said Larry. "Why didn't you make sure?"

"We just convinced ourselves it would be you two," explained Daisy. "We didn't recognise them as local children."

"Well, you know to be a lot more careful in future!" said Fatty. "As I say, no harm done. And it was frightfully clever of you boys to create the diversion so we could slip away."

Pip and Larry beamed at the praise.

"Daisy, there's some biscuits in that tin. Why don't you pass them around while I go and see if Cook's got any orangeade for us?" said Fatty, standing up. Before he could leave the shed, however, there was a thunderous knocking at the door.

"Blow! It's Goon!" hissed Pip, seeing the fat policeman through the window.

Fatty opened the door of the shed. "Hello, Mr Goon," he said politely.

"Thought I'd find all you lot here," said Goon, ignoring Fatty's greeting. "I wonder what all of your parents will say when I tell them what you've been up to today?"

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Mr Goon," replied Fatty smoothly. "We've been here all afternoon and we were just about to head down to the market."

"Oh ho! Going to do a bit more impersonating an Officer of the Law then?" Goon asked. "Serious penalties for that, young Frederick. I wonder what your good friend Superintendent Jenks will think about such a violation of the Law?"

"I don't know. Why don't you ask him when you see him next, and give him my regards," said Fatty. He tried to close the door, but Goon had stuck his fat foot in the way.

"I'll just pop in and have a word with your parents while I'm here, shall I?" he asked.

"They've gone to London for the weekend," replied Fatty. "But you're welcome to wait. We can handle any mysteries that may arise while you're sitting in the parlour."

Goon's eyes bulged even more than normal and his face turned the familiar purple colour. Buster, who had been very restrained until then suddenly darted forward, barking loudly and began nipping at the policeman's ankles.

"Call off this pestiferous dog!" ordered Goon, dancing about angrily.

"He's only defending his territory," replied Fatty, coldly. "I suggest you leave, Mr Goon. You can speak to my parents when they return."

Goon marched away with a strangled snort and a noise that sounded very much like "Gah!"