For the next hour Angela watched the house like a hawk. Finally Mr Monk came out of the front door. He was still wearing the black top and trousers, but the balaclava was gone. Angela guessed that would have given him away. Burglars had to be careful.
“Quick!” she cried. “Now’s our chance!”
“Angela!” cried Laura, but Angela was already rushing downstairs. By the time they caught up with her, she was outside Mr Monk’s house.
“Oh, hi, Mr Monk!” she called out.
Mr Monk looked round. “Oh. What do you want?” he said, scowling.
Angela smiled. “How are you today?”
“I’m busy,” snapped Mr Monk, unlocking his car.
“And how’s Mrs Monk?”
“She’s not here,” sighed Mr Monk.
“Oh, not here!” repeated Angela. “But I expect you’ve got lots to do, haven’t you? I bet you’ve been busy?”
Mr Monk looked at her as if she was raving mad. “What business is it of yours?” he growled. “Go and bother someone else!”
He got into his car, slammed the door and drove off.
“See?” Angela said to her friends. “He got really cross when I asked what he was doing.”
Laura thought that Mr Monk seemed cross all the time. “Anyway, there’s nothing we can do,” she said.
“We can look for evidence,” said Angela. “I bet he’s got things hidden away – diamonds, jewels, stuff that he took.”
“We shouldn’t even be here!” moaned Laura. “Let’s go before he comes back.”
But Angela was wondering where Mr Monk would hide his loot. At the back of the house was a garage. She walked down the drive.
“Angela!” said Maisie. “You can’t just go nosing round their house!”
“We’re not in the house,” said Angela. “And we’re only looking. Come on!”
Laura and Maisie looked at each other in despair. They were mad to listen to Angela, it always ended in trouble – but they couldn’t just walk off and leave her.
They found her poking around inside the garage. There were bikes, boxes, tools and a smell of oil and paint.
“Look at this!” gasped Angela. She reached into a box and pulled out a pair of silver candlesticks.
“STOLEN!” hissed Angela. “What did I tell you? These are worth millions!”
Laura stared. Maybe Angela was right? Now she really wanted to go back.
“There has to be more,” said Angela. “Where’s he hidden it all?”
“Let’s go!” pleaded Laura.
But Angela wasn’t listening. She’d caught sight of something through the garage window. Across the lawn was a freshly dug bed of earth. Why would Mr Monk be digging? thought Angela. Unless he had something he wanted to hide?