Artnapping by Hazel Edwards Read Free Book Online

the silver padlock looked so official and Tess’s luggage was such a mess. Could she be a courier too? Even one way Sydney to Tokyo was expensive. If she was an art student, where did her ticket money come from? Even if her uncle had left her an artefact, she hadn’t sold it yet, so she wouldn’t have the money. Tess was a mystery.
    â€˜Is this your Mr Ng?’ Amy showed the torn newspaper. Tess read it quickly.She seemed a bit concerned, ‘Ming vase. Coin.’ she muttered.
    â€˜Is that the same Mr Ng?’ repeated Amy.
    â€˜Could be. It’s a common name. Look! We’re on the news!’ Tess pointed to the TV screen on a shelf up high on the wall.’That’s our plane.’
    The news reader stated, ‘A flight heading for Tokyo has been forced to make an emergency landing at Sydney after cabin crew reported an unusual fine mist-like condensation forming in the cabin. But after the Sydney- Tokyo passengers landed, the mist was thought to be harmless. The plane will leave soon. Earlier today, Federal Police reported arrests at the airport. Details will follow in our later news. ‘
    While one of the brides complained, ‘Oh, nice if they’d told us first!’, the twins realised that Tess had cleverly changed the subject from Mr Ng. And who had been arrested? Was it someone on their flight?’
    â€˜Sorry madam, we just found out,’ the captain explained to the bride as he passed through the transit lounge. The twins weren’t sure whether he was talking about the plane delay or the arrests.
    â€˜Who was arrested?’ Amy blurted out.
    The captain turned, ‘You’ll have to watch the later news. Security was involved. Our undercover people.’
    â€˜Security.’ Amy turned to her brother. ‘D’you think Gloria is here, undercover?’
    Just then, Red stormed past and grabbed hold of the guard’s arm.Red was very uptight as he pulled at his shelf-like beard. ‘All my prints and the copies of our exhibitions game! I’m devastated. First our FAST-FOTO mixed them up. Now someone has taken my bag while we were playing in the lounge. Totally irreplaceable. I need them as proof of our original ideas. And that’s not all that’s missing!’ He started to mumble.’ My valuable...’
    â€˜I’ll see what I can do sir,’ soothed William. ‘Come this way.’
    Next Amy decided to investigate the prints mix up. Unluckily,the FAST-FOTO airport shop was closed. But she did notice something else. ‘Look!’ Amy pointed. On the windows were photos of the faces of the staff who worked there. Their names were printed underneath. ‘Recognise him?’
    Christopher nodded. ‘That explains something. Perhaps the others are chasing all over Australia giving back the right prints.’
    Just then, they saw Gloria. And she was shadowing someone! A chunky man with a bag.
    The man looked behind him. He saw Gloria and started hurrying. Gloria took off too. Her feet tapped on the floor, faster and faster.
    â€˜Mr Yap!’ she called. Then she tried to use her walkie- talkie to summon help. ‘Suspect heading for exit! Need help! Cover exits.’
    â€˜Gloria!’ cried the twins. ‘We’ll help.’ Then Christopher recognised the man. The man scuttled around the lounge chairs and headed for the doorway.
    Suddenly Tess raced past. ‘Stop!’ The man looked over his shoulder, seemed to recognise Tess and took off!
    Tess was a fast runner. Her legs were so long, she could take great strides.
    And she was quick.
    But so was the suspect. He would pretended to change direction, then swerve and keep running flat out, while Gloria following couldn’t alter direction fast enough. She twisted on the slippery floor, went over on her ankle and fell to the floor! ‘Ow!’ Her walkie-talkie hit the ground too.
    â€˜Oh no!’ cried the twins. So they took up the chase.