Hide & Seek - Alyssa Brugman [29]
She hoped she wasn't prejudiced. She wondered if it was just plain old jealousy. That would be better, because she could decide right this minute to be a bigger person. Maybe it was neither.
There in the dark Shelby could see her old broken saddle lying in a heap on the floor. She'd stared at it night after night, having dreams of what she might do in the future – making plans for her own life. She'd always thought it was a symbol of what she didn't have, but now she thought something different. Shelby funded her hobby with her own sweat, and that was something to be proud of.
19 A Delicate Balance
'How goes Operation Beelzebub?' Shelby's mum asked at breakfast the next morning.
Shelby explained all the contradictions to her mother while she cut Blake's toast into soldiers. Blake took the plate from his sister and returned to his cartoon show. Connor lay on his stomach on the floor in the lounge room spooning cereal into his mouth.
'Did you know the Edels were rich?' Shelby asked.
'I would have thought so, yes,' said her mother. 'You're ignoring a whole avenue of investigation, though. Perhaps you should talk to these circus people. Find out what happened from their end.'
'They wouldn't talk to me!'
'Maybe not as Shelby Shaw, private investigator, or even as Shelby-friend-of-the-Edels. There's nothing for it, Cherub,' her mother said, taking a sip of coffee. 'You're going to have to go deep undercover.'
'What would be my disguise?'
Her mother shrugged. 'You could go wild and crazy and pretend you are a girl with an interest in horses.'
'I have just the outfit!' Shelby grinned at her mother and then ran down the hallway to get dressed. She put on her jodhpurs and old joggers, tucking her boots under her arm.
On the way to the stables in the car Shelby asked her mother, 'And so when I go deep undercover, this isn't lying? This is hide and seek too?'
'If they ask, you tell them the truth. You tell them your name is Shelby Shaw. You can even say you keep your horse at the stables.'
'What if they ask if I'm friends with the Edels?'
'Then tell them that you are . . . associates.' Her mother paused. 'You could try not to give them reason to ask that. Maybe you could highlight your friendship with Chad first?'
'Highlight?' Shelby looked out the window. 'Sounds like a fib to me.'
Her mother pulled up at the front of the stables. 'It's a delicate balance.'
Shelby stared at her mother.
'You know when your father puts on those bright orange tracksuit pants with the stripe? I don't mention that he looks as though he's just escaped from a high security facility. Or when Connor makes me a cup of tea with two teaspoons of what he thinks is sugar, but is actually bicarbonate of soda. Or any one of Blake's homemade birthday presents.'
'You don't even have sugar in tea.'
'Nor bicarb, usually.'
Shelby unlocked her seat belt. 'But they are all to do with not hurting people's feelings. This is a bit different.'
'It's a delicate balance,' her mother repeated. 'Part of being a grown-up is finding the line and staying on the right side of it.'
20 Undercover
Shelby helped to saddle up the riding school ponies, but she avoided the trail ride in the morning by offering to get a head start on mucking out the stables. It was not a job any of the girls enjoyed.
The Crooks had arrived back from the Royal Easter Show early that morning, crowing with victory. Hayley and Ditto had won their class, although they missed out on Champion.
'It was a strong field we were up against. All in all it was a good campaign this year,' Mrs Crook told the assembled crowd of well-wishers. 'Next year we'll unleash Scamp. He's our secret weapon. Right, Hales?'
Erin, Lindsey and Shelby had exchanged a knowing smile over Mrs Crook's unconscious military terminology.
Hayley handed out show bags she'd bought for each of her friends.
'Thanks, Hales! You're the best!' said Erin, and then started