Chapter 15

The group of children and the two dogs headed back to the same cake shop the Famous Five had been in earlier that morning.

The young woman behind the counter looked up in surprise. "Gosh! Nine of you! Well, you'll be making a dent in my stock, I dare say!"

"Yes, I think so," replied Fatty solemnly. "Can we get two large plates of assorted cakes for now and some lemonade all round. And may we drag these tables at the front together?"

"Of course," replied the lady. "You go right on ahead."

"Thank you," said Fatty. "Are you new to the village? Usually it's Mrs Price that serves us when we're home for the hols."

"Yes, I only arrived a week ago," replied the lady as she began piling cakes onto a plate. "I heard from the baker that Mrs Price had been taken ill so I offered my services. It's terrible for Mrs Price but rather good luck for me, I'm afraid. I needed money and a place to live and I am able to stay in the little flat above the shop while Mrs Price recuperates at her sister's home."

"Well, welcome to Peterswood!" said Fatty warmly. "I dare say you'll be getting to see a bit of us over the next few weeks. I'm Frederick Trotteville."

"I'm Emmaline Masters and it's a pleasure to meet you and your friends," replied Emmaline. "Now, you go on and I'll bring your cakes out."

"So," said George when he returned to the tables. "How many mysteries have you solved? We've solved 21 – all over the country."

"21? Gosh!" said Pip admiringly. "I'm not sure how many we have – do you know, Fatty?"

Fatty consulted a notebook from his pocket. "I believe it's 15. But we're rather limited, they have all been in Peterswood or very close by."

"Still, that's rather impressive," said Dick. "Peterswood must be an exciting place!"

"So you're allowed to travel about by yourselves?" asked Pip enviously.

"Oh, yes," replied Julian. "In fact, we prefer to do our own thing, you know. We can take care of ourselves!"

"We've gone on caravan trips, hiking trips, bike trips," added Dick.

"And we've stayed at some ever so nice villages and farms and things," said Anne.

"Gosh, that would be fine!" said Larry. "Maybe we should ask if we could do something on our own next hols?"

"Our mother would never let us," said Bets gloomily. "She still thinks I'm too young to stay up for the bonfires on Guy Fawkes Day!"

"Maybe when you're a bit older, Bets," said Fatty kindly.

"There you are," said Emmaline, bringing over a large tray of cakes and lemonade.

The children made appreciative noises.

"Thank you, Emmaline! This looks jolly fine," said Fatty approvingly.

Emmaline smiled. "Now, I'm just going to pop upstairs for a moment, but I'll be back soon."

The children fell upon the cakes eagerly and were contentedly munching when the shop door opened and a man wearing a hat and dark glasses entered.

"Emmaline will be back in a moment," Pip called to him.

"Oh, I shan't be needing her," said the man and with that, leant over the counter and emptied the till into a small bag!

"Hie! What are you doing?" cried Julian.

The man simply ran past out of the shop and the children dashed out after him.

"Stop! Thief!" they all cried. Fatty and Julian ran hard after the man who picked up a bicycle that had been leaning against a lamp post and sped away on it!

"Blow! We'll never catch him!" said Fatty in dismay.

They returned to the others gasping for breath. Emmaline had come running down the stairs into the shop at the commotion and breathlessly the children poured out the story.

Emmaline burst into tears.

"Oh dear! Whatever will Mrs Price say? I'm supposed to be looking after her shop!" she wailed.

"We'll catch the thief for you!" said Bets determinedly.

"Oh no, no. I wouldn't want you children getting into danger," said Emmaline.

"At any rate, we really ought to call the police," said Dick.

Emmaline looked worried. "Oh no, children, really. I feel ever so stupid, I would be simply mortified to have the police involved."

"We really need to report it, Emmaline," said Larry seriously. "There might be a clue and we can retrieve Mrs Price's money."

"I'll telephone Goon," said Fatty decisively and strode through to the back of the shop. The others followed. Bets and Anne sat with Emmaline on a small settee while the others stood around Fatty.

"I say, Fatty, I don't mean to take charge," said Julian in a low voice, "but do you think it would be better if I called? From what I understand, this Goon fellow is likely to think you're playing a trick on him."

Fatty was thoughtful.

"He could be right, Fatty," said Daisy anxiously. Fatty nodded.

"Yes, of course. I'll dial the number for you." He twirled the dial and passed the receiver to Julian.

"Hello? Is that Mr Goon? My name is Julian Barnard, sir. I met you yesterday at the market – yes, that's right, sir. I'd like to report a robbery that has just happened at the Peterswood Café. Yes, sir. I'll be here."

He hung up the receiver.

"Shall I hang the closed sign on the door, Emmaline?" asked George. "I need to see to Timmy as well."

Emmaline glanced at her wrist as if to check the time, but her wrist was bare.

"I must have left my wristwatch on my dresser upstairs," she said. "Does anyone have the time?"

"It's quarter past four," said Larry.

Emmaline nodded. "Yes, we close at half past today. You can put the sign out, thank you, and lock the door when you come back in. At least we will have no more robbers in today!" She burst into fresh tears.

"Shall we take you upstairs?" asked Anne. "You will be so much more comfortable up there and we can get you a hankerchief. The boys will wait down here and bring up Mr Goon when he arrives."

Emmaline agreed and Bets, Daisy and Anne took her up the stairs to the small flat above. Fatty, Julian, Dick, Pip and Larry waited downstairs in the shop for the arrival of PC Goon.