Hello everybody out there! I hope you all enjoy chapter 5.
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Meanwhile there was new trouble coming closer. Millard and Hugh watched hidden behind heavy white curtains how a police officer and the owner of the local pub marched towards the house.
"Oh, oh" sighed Millard. "I had almost forgotten about that"
"Well, thanks to you and your stupid book we are in quite some trouble now. Even more trouble so, now that Miss P is not here to talk us out of the situation. What are we supposed to do now? If they find Miss P to be gone they will contact the mainland. They will try to use this to get rid of us!" Hugh hissed angrily. Earlier that day Millard had gone to the pub intending on doing some more research for his book. He had decided to use the loop to study the on-goings during a single day in its complete glory. Right now he was studying what happened inside the pub. But therefore he had to get close…really close. Being invisible came in handy in those situations but for some reason he still managed to get into trouble on a regular basis. Today had been an especially nasty. It had all ended in a bar fight and he had been worried all day how he'd explain what had happened to Miss Peregrine. She would probably have had a heart attack. Right now of course they had different things to worry about concerning Miss Peregrine. They would have to deal with their unwelcome visitors themselves.
"Well, we simply do what Miss Peregrine normally does" Millard answered and Hugh raised his eyebrow in a doubtful manner.
"We cannot kill them" Hugh answered. "We don't know what happens to our loop. Maybe Miss Avocet will have to give up Miss Peregrine's loop because she cannot reset it and she creates one of her own and then they will stay dead."
Millard didn't say anything. He hadn't considered that. In that moment the doorbell rang and immediately the young ones were running towards the door expecting Miss Avocet to arrive.
"Stop!" Millard and Hugh's shouts came to late. Claire had already pulled open the door and was faced with two grim looking men.
"Hello" Claire said shyly.
"Hello young girl. Is Miss Peregrine available?" The police officer said formally.
"Uhm, no" Claire answered. In the meantime Millard had undressed completely. Hugh who could also not assist Claire at the door because he had lost control over his bees had searched the whole house for Horace. Horace was the cleverest of them all. He had read about a million books. In one of them must have been a solution for their current problem.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen. Is there a problem?" Horace greeted the two men. He placed a comforting hand on Claire's shoulder. With his formal way of dressing and his monocle he was the most respected one of the children.
"Good day, Mr. Somnusson. Maybe you've heard about the bar fight this morning. I am here to investigate the circumstances."
"I see" Horace answered. "May I ask what gives you the idea that any one of us was involved? Was anyone seen around?"
"Well, no. But-but I would rather discuss the details with your headmistress. I was just informed that she is not around, is that correct?" The officer answered obviously done with small talk.
"Of course she is. I'm sure Miss Peregrine will soon be able to welcome you. Right now she's very busy. She's preparing tomorrow's lesson for my older siblings. Maybe I can tell her about your visit and she will come to the police station later?" Horace suggested desperately hoping that they would fall for it. This was one of Miss P's tricks to delay the matter so long until the loop was reset and the matter was forgotten. Problem was that on some days it simply wouldn't work. Unfortunately today was such a day.
"I am sorry but this is an urgent matter and I have to insist on talking to her right now" The officer said leaving no doubt at his words. He would not leave until he had talked to Miss Peregrine.
"But-" Claire said from behind Horace.
"This is no Problem" Horace interrupted the littler girl before she could say something too close to the truth. "Please, step in Gentlemen."
Horace took a step to the side and both men entered.