Part of the problem was that both Grandpa Mike and Grandma Glenda had turned their scooters round to the side in the middle of the road. So there was quite a lot more of them for the police car to hit.
Luckily, DCI Bryant – perhaps because he’d already had some practice this night – was able to slam on the brakes just in time. Again. Although not without throwing himself and PC Middleton (and Vicky and Charlie) forward in their seat belts.
“WHAT ARE THEY DOING NOWWW—”
Crunch.
Not a big crunch.
And not a crunch of the car against either Glenda’s or Mike’s scooters.
It was the crunch of Poppy’s and Carmel’s scooters, coming round the corner, against the back of the police car. They had been going faster than usual, because it was downhill towards the river.
“Oh great. Just great,” said DCI Bryant, opening the door of the car. Charlie, Vicky and PC Middleton got out at the same time. They came round to the back of the car, where Carmel was helping Poppy up off the ground.
“Mum!” said Vicky. “Are you OK?”
“She’s fine!” said Carmel.
“I’m fine!” said Poppy. “But why did you stop so suddenly?”
“It was the other two, I’m afraid,” said PC Middleton. “The ones in front. They stopped, when we got to the river.”
Poppy’s face set into a dark frown.
“Oh! Did they now?”
She pushed Carmel away and began marching round the police car to where Glenda and Mike were still sitting in the middle of the road on their scooters, side-on to the police car.
“Mum!” said Vicky as she strode past her. “Don’t! I don’t want any more shouting at each other!”
But Poppy wasn’t listening. She walked up to Glenda, wagging her finger, ready to tell her off.
Glenda, however, didn’t even look at her. In fact, Glenda had extended her own finger, out towards the river.
That was why she and Mike had stopped and turned their scooters round. The sweep of their lights was weak. But it had been just strong enough – only just – to see something.
Something moving close to the road, down on the banks of the river.
“LOOK!” said Glenda. “There!”
Everyone looked round.
“THAT’S SAM’S GUINEA PIG! ISN’T IT?”