Half Moon Investigations - Eoin Colfer [60]
Red and I ducked low, wriggling into the mud.
Mr Devereux climbed up on his high horse. ‘Just what are you suggesting, sergeant? You’re not saying that somehow my little girl is involved in this deception?’
Murt’s phone beeped a final time. ‘That’s exactly what I’m saying, sir. And my source informs me that this isn’t the first time. My text buddy advises me to take a look at April’s clipboard, which is hidden behind the headboard of her bed.’
‘So now April is the ringleader. Ridiculous! You can search behind any headboard you like. Trust me, my little girl does not hide clipboards. She has no need to, we’re a very open family.’
Mercedes’s lip was quivering.
‘Bouffy!’ she blurted.
April pinched her friend’s arm cruelly. ‘Quiet!’
‘Bouffy threw me,’ sobbed Mercedes.
‘You total idiot,’ snapped April. ‘You are soooo like a boy. They have nothing. Nothing!’
Mercedes was on a blubbery roll. ‘I didn’t want to do it. Mademoiselle Présidente, I mean April, said we could get rid of Herod the way we got rid of Ernie and Jimín and Kamal. April said that Bouffy wouldn’t get in trouble.’
Murt was puzzled. ‘Who is this Bouffy person?’
‘My pony. She threw me and I bruised my arm.’
Now Mrs Quinn was involved. ‘You got rid of Ernie? And Jimín?’
Mercedes folded completely. ‘April did it. She made us swear not to say anything. April made me take the iPod and then she planted the money on Ernie.’
‘What about Jimín? You couldn’t have done that. It was his voice on the school bell.’
April couldn’t resist explaining. ‘Jimín is so stupid he couldn’t give you a rhyme for cat. We simply had him read a long passage into a computer microphone, then edited it down. He was happy to do it for a minute’s attention.’
Mrs Quinn was looking less like a gracious host now and more like an irate headmistress.
‘And Kamal’s little present on my doorstep?’
Mercedes blushed. ‘Bouffy did that.’
April crossed her legs at the knee. ‘This is so frustrating.’ Her moment of anger was over and now she had to talk her way out of this situation. ‘Surely you understand, Mrs Quinn. I had to get rid of the boys, they were interfering with our education.’
Mr Devereux slumped against the wall. ‘Oh my god, my mother was right. She’s become a spoilt monster.’ He straightened. ‘Right, young lady. This is the final straw. You are going to do whatever it takes to undo whatever it is that you have done.’
April actually sneered. ‘Oh really, Daddy? Shouldn’t you check with Mummy before handing out punishments?’
Murt slammed his palms on the table. ‘Quiet! All of you. It seems as though a crime has been committed here, so this is a police matter. I need to see that clipboard, Mr Devereux. Any objections?’
April stuck out her lip. ‘You need to check with Mummy before answering.’
‘I do not need to check anything!’ shouted her father. ‘You have my full permission to see whatever you like, sergeant. No warrant necessary.’
Murt pocketed his phone. ‘Excellent. I’ll be around early tomorrow, about eight thirty.’ He turned to Mrs Quinn. ‘And if I were you, I’d be begging those boys you expelled to come back before their parents get themselves a lawyer.’
April was dumbstruck. For about half a second.
‘I just do not believe this,’ she shrieked. ‘You should be thanking me. You should be giving me a medal. I have made your jobs easier by a million per cent.’
Murt was not in the mood. ‘If I was you, missy, I’d shut my trap before my blood pressure gets any more elevated.’
April paled, as though physically slapped. ‘Did you hear that, Daddy? He told me to shut my trap. Are you going to let a mere sergeant speak to me that way? Don’t you play golf with Chief Quinn?’
April’s dad wagged a finger at Murt. ‘Really, officer. She’s just a child, a baby really. I hardly think…’ Then his resolve returned. He took a mobile phone from his pocket, dialled a number and waited.
‘Hello, it’s me,’ he said, when the person on the other end picked up. ‘How would you like a visitor? Yes. What we talked about. I’d say a month. Oh, right away. The sooner the better.’
Mr Devereux pocketed