Half Moon Investigations - Eoin Colfer [5]
Red burst into the centre of the circle on a mountain bike, scattering bystanders like skittles. Red Sharkey had always been at the centre of the rowdy crowd. Red made his points with fists and jibes. He was tall and wiry, with flaming red hair that had earned him his school-yard name. Most of the children and staff in St Jerome’s didn’t know Red’s real name and wouldn’t use it if they did. At thirteen, Red was the oldest kid in primary. He should have moved on to secondary school a year ago, but he hadn’t attended much in his early years and had been held back.
For a moment, Red’s eyes were wide and worried, then he saw his brother upright and apparently not bleeding. He jumped off his bike, kicking the stand with his heel during the dismount. I couldn’t pull off a move like that if I practised for a year.
‘Roddy?’ he said, with a casual nod.
Herod scowled at his brother. ‘I don’t need you, goody-two-shoes. I can handle this.’
‘So I see. Can’t you stay out of trouble for a minute?’
Bella caught her breath. ‘Your brother stole my organizer. Brand new.’
‘I did not!’ objected Herod.
Red frowned. ‘Whenever anything goes missing in this school, the nearest Sharkey gets the blame.’ He glanced at his brother. ‘You didn’t take it, did you?’
‘No.’
‘Are you sure?’
Herod took a second to think back over the past few days.
‘Yeah. Certain. No organizer.’
‘Right, that’s it. He didn’t take it. End of story. Nothing to see here, let’s move it along.’
Good idea, I thought. Red has more sense than his brother.
But Bella wasn’t backing down for anyone, even Red Sharkey.
‘He’s going to prove Herod did it.’
Oh no, I thought. I’m he. He’s me.
‘Who’s going to prove Herod did it?’ demanded Red.
‘He is!’ shouted several dozen people; most of them pointed too.
Red turned, following the fingers. His accusing gaze settled on me.
‘Hey, Red,’ I said, trying the friendly approach. ‘How you doing?’
Red smiled mirthlessly. ‘Half Moon. The man with the badge. This is not lost cats, this is the actual world. People could get in trouble.’
I shrugged. ‘Tell your brother. He invited me.’
‘Doobie is always going on about his partner the qualified detective, with the actual detective’s shield,’ said Herod. ‘So let the nerd prove I’m innocent.’
I didn’t know which disturbed me more, Doobie calling me his partner or Herod calling me a nerd.
‘Yeah, let nerd-boy prove he’s innocent,’ said Bella, rubbing her neck. ‘Or else Herod’s guilty as far as I’m concerned.’
Red rubbed his temples, as though the stupidity of what he was hearing was giving him a headache. ‘Listen to me. Half Moon plays at being a detective. His mammy bought him a toy badge somewhere, so now he goes around pretending to be Sherlock Holmes. It’s not real. He can’t prove anything.’
This was too much. I imagined the shield in my pocket glowing with indignation. I took out the wallet, flipping it open.
‘Actually, Red,’ I said, ‘this is a real detective’s shield. I am a real detective. First in the academy.’
Red turned slowly towards me. Generally at this point, I would run away and find a dark corner to hide in, but some things are worth standing up for.
‘So, you’re a real detective. I bet criminals all over Ireland are turning themselves in. “What’s the point?” they’re saying. “Fletcher Moon is on the case.”’
‘Go, Fletcher,’ snuffled Doobie, who was too young for sarcasm.
‘So what does your big detective’s brain tell you about the case of the missing organizer?’ continued Red.
I shrugged. ‘Nothing. I don’t know the facts. I haven’t had a chance to question anyone.’
Red leaned back on the saddle of his bike. I got the feeling he was more interested in poking fun at me than clearing his brother’s name. Although, in all fairness, it would take two dozen lawyers and a time machine to clear Herod’s name completely.