‘Clancy, listen to me. I have to get to the museum basement – to the vault. You go alert your dad’s security team – tell them it’s all about the Buddha. You have to convince them that the bank is a decoy – I know it doesn’t look that way but it is.’
But Clancy wasn’t moving.
Hitch clicked his fingers in front of Clancy’s face. ‘You hearing me kid? I need your help.’
Still nothing.
Hitch slid over to the broken figure that was Ruby Redford’s friend, and put his hands on his shoulders. ‘Kid, this shouldn’t have happened. It’s my fault, I realise that, but I think I know who did this and I think I know where to find him. I want to make sure he pays for what he’s done to Ruby – and I need your help.’
Clancy looked up, his face grey and his eyes hollow.
‘Can I count on you kid?’
The boy nodded and got to his feet.
‘Here,’ said Hitch, ‘take my lucky lighter, it’s never let me down.’
Trying to navigate the dark passageways was not easy – not without a flashlight. Ruby had memorised the basement plans, she knew them inside out, but the blackness was disorientating and she had little idea where she was or where she was going.
But she hoped that wherever it was, she was going to make it in time.
She felt a wave of panic as claustrophobia swept over her.
Deep breaths Rube – it’s just a little darkness, nothing else…
Darkness and some crazy Count who just tried to bury you alive.
She moved as silently as she could. Don’t warn him. You have the advantage – he thinks you are dead. RULE 43: IF YOU’VE GOT THE ADVANTAGE – MAKE SURE YOU KEEP IT.
She rounded the corner and there, bathed in a dim but beautiful light, sat the Jade Buddha of Khotan. More precious than gold. Even from where she crouched she could see that the carving was exquisite, the jade itself perfect translucent stone. She felt drawn to move closer, but she resisted, knowing the Count couldn’t be far away. She was right – seconds later he appeared like magic from the pitch black, holding the glass key.
Carefully, he pushed the key into a slot in the glass cylinder and the door slid open. In his left hand he held a silver metal tube. What was that? Then suddenly she saw a tiny beam of light shoot out. He seemed to be studying something – was it the eyes of the Buddha that interested him? Was he just marvelling at the beauty of it or was there something else he was looking for?
He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a notebook and fountain pen.
He was writing something down.
Why?
‘Well, well if it isn’t little Ruby slippers, the snoopiest kid on the block.’
Without even turning around Ruby recognised the sweet voice of Baby Face Marshall.
‘Oh cripes! Not you again.’
By now Hitch was standing outside the museum basement door. He pushed the transmitter button his watch. ‘Blacker, you there? Blacker, are you receiving me?’
Nothing. It was the same with the other agents. OK, one last try – you better be there LB.
Five seconds later LB came on the line. ‘Speak.’
‘The explosion at the bank – it’s a bluff, a distraction. They are after the Jade Buddha, and I’m pretty sure we are dealing with the Count. It has all the hallmarks of his work. He’s got his hands on the key. He’s the one who took Ruby, I just know it.’
‘Where is she now?’ said LB.
Hitch paused. ‘I’m afraid the kid…’ His voice faltered. ‘She didn’t have a chance.’
LB took a sharp breath, but didn’t say anything.
‘Look, I’m going after him – find me some backup.’ His transmitter cut out.
Clancy, meanwhile, was lost. Galleries stretched in every direction and with only the flame from Hitch’s lighter it was difficult to work out where the nearest exit might be. Every door seemed to lead him to another. For all he knew he could be running in spirals – destined never to find a way out, like a fly trapped in a jar.
Hitch switched on his Agent issue flashlight. It had a powerful directional beam and he was able to sweep light across the main corridor – passageways zigzagged every which way.
He recognised the various twists and turns from the museum plans he had studied. It was no trouble navigating, he was trained to find his way in impossible conditions. The tricky thing was second-guessing any surprises that might come along the way. In the maze of passageways it had been deathly quiet, but as he moved further and further into the museum vaults he thought he heard a voice – or rather voices.
Two of them.
Clancy flicked on the lighter. There it was:
EXIT TO MUSEUM GARDEN.
About time, he muttered, as he leant hard on the door and fell out into the warm night air. He was now at the back of the building. He would have to run around the north side to get to the square. He held the flame up and looked for the path. Something glinted. It was red and seemed to sparkle. He walked over to take a closer look. A red shoe, a very small red shoe. He smiled.
Rube, I got a funny feeling you’re not dead. And I have a hunch I know exactly where to find you.
The Count carefully locked the glass case, slipped the key into his jacket pocket, and walked slowly over to where Ruby stood. ‘Ms Redfort, you do surprise me. I am not sure whether I should be delighted or disappointed that you escaped the tower. Am I getting sloppy or are you remarkable?’
‘Mm, that’s a hard one to call. I’d hate to hurt your feelings, so let’s just go with me being remarkable.’
The Count nodded. ‘What courage you have for someone so small and defenceless – quite admirable.’
Ruby had her eyes trained on the Count’s pocket.
‘Yeah well you know, I’ve grown quite fond of you too.’
The Count laughed. He couldn’t help liking this gutsy schoolgirl from Twinford – it was only a shame to see such talent wasted. ‘So what can I do for you?’
‘Back there in the tower, I felt we really hit it off – and you are such good company,’ said Ruby, giving the Count a little dig with her elbow.
‘Understandable, I’m sure,’ the Count replied. ‘Your stupid parents must be quite a burden to you.’
Ruby felt the glass object in her palm. ‘Speaking of stupid, you really shouldn’t leave your valuables lying around – they can so easily get into the wrong hands.’ She held the key up in front of his face.
For a second the Count was thrown. ‘How did you…? Then he made a grab for it. Ruby tossed the glass key high into the air and it made a tiny tinkling sound as it hit the stone floor somewhere in the pitch-blackness of the vault.
The Count laughed. ‘Oh dear Ms Redfort – you think because the key is glass that it will therefore break? I’m afraid you are mistaken.’
This unfortunately was true. Ruby had indeed assumed that a key made of glass would certainly shatter into a hundred pieces.
‘Well, good luck finding it before the clock strikes twelve,’ she said, trying to hold on to her bravado.
Baby Face was gripping Ruby by the hair. ‘What do you suggest I do now?’
The