I don’t say a word in front of Vigil-Aunty, but when we get home I copy out my list of important clues and feel pretty confident of my new theory.
(RECAP)
CLUE 13
Dad was exploring how the camera lens sees things differently from the human eye.
+
(RECAP)
CLUE 14
Dad and Ms Grimm were obsessed with security cameras in the Case of the Exploding Loo.
+
(RECAP)
CLUE 29
Dad says, “There’s more to invisibility than meets the eye.”
+
(RECAP)
CLUE 33
Dad leaves at least a metre of space in front of the desk each time he turns.
+
(RECAP)
CLUE 34
There should be a chair in the cell, but we can’t see one.
+
(RECAP)
CLUE 35
Dad stubbed his toe on . . . nothing.
=
THEORY B
DAD HAS SMUGGLED IN GENUINE STEALTH BLANKETS AND IS KEEPING THEM ON HIS CHAIR. THAT’S WHY YOU CAN’T SEE IT.
(MORE WORRYING) THEORY C
DAD IS PLANNING TO USE HIS STEALTH BLANKETS TO ESCAPE WITH TWO OF THE PRISON’S MOST DANGEROUS PRISONERS.
For a moment, I wonder whether to keep my theories to myself. I’ve often wished I could turn back time so I could step aside and let Dad escape jail, like Porter did for his mum. Why should Ms Grimm be allowed to walk around freely when Dad’s trapped in prison, being battered by his fellow inmates? (That’s ‘battered’ like a punch bag, not a piece of haddock.)
But it wouldn’t just be Dad escaping this time, would it? Three blankets = three escapees. I don’t want to be responsible for Dad spending more time in prison, but I can’t stand by and let him fill the streets with escapee Neanderthugs.
I slide my theory pages towards Holly. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Easy,” she says. “Report him.”
“No!” I protest. “That would get him in trouble with the guards and the prisoners. I can’t do that to him.”
“I’ll do it then.”
“If you do, I’ll never forgive you.” I shouldn’t feel this loyal to Dad, but I do. Evolutionary genetics, I suppose.
“You’d choose Dad over me?” She punches my arm.
“Ouch! He’s not asking me to watch you suffer, whereas you’re asking me to stand by while he gets beaten to a pulp. So, I choose to have no one suffering, if that’s okay with you?” I take a few deep breaths. “Besides, if we betray him like that he’ll never tell us what he knows about the stolen Space Rock.”
“He’s showing no signs of telling us anything anyway, so I’m fine with a bit of betrayal.”
Holly and I stand on opposite sides of the room, glaring at each other.
We both jump as Mum rises to her feet and picks up the phone. Oops. Forgot she was there again.
“Hello. Yes. This is Mrs Hawkins. Wife of Professor Brian ‘Big Brain’ Hawkins. My husband has asked me to report an escape attempt . . . Yes, he’s pretending to be part of it so he can help bring these dangerous men to justice.”
Holly and I stare at her, mouths like slack-jawed goldfish.
Mum puts the phone down and laughs at our expressions. “It was the obvious solution. This way we can prevent the break-out without implicating your father. In fact, if he manages things properly and doesn’t give himself away, he could come out of this the hero.”
We continue staring.
“Wow, Mum,” Holly murmurs eventually. “Just wow!”
“Save your ‘wows’ for later.” Mum drops back down on to the sofa with a yawn. “There’s plenty of time for your father to mess things up. And you’ve still got your exploding brains to worry about.”