The Case of the Stolen Film by Gareth P. Jones Read Free Book Online Page B

it today but there’s no footage of it.’
    Holly could remember every detail of the horrific night when the Dark Mountain Dragon, Vainclaw Grandin, had entranced the hall with Dragonsong butshe lied and said, ‘I only remember how good it was.’
    â€˜Ha! You see,’ said Chase, snapping his fingers, ‘that’s what everyone says. It’s kind of spooky. You know, there are rumours on the Internet that something strange happened that night – like something, you know, magic.’
    â€˜What nonsense. Unless you are referring to the magic of music,’ said Miss Gilfeather, stepping into the hallway, not realising how close to the truth she was. After all, it was Dirk’s Dragonsong which had caused everyone to forget the evening.
    Chase smiled. ‘You know, Vivian, it’s not too late to play yourself. The actress playing you isn’t a patch on the real thing.’
    â€˜I’m sure she would be flattered to hear you say so,’ replied Miss Gilfeather. ‘I’ll be quite content as a member of the audience.’
    â€˜Can we sit with you?’ said Holly.
    â€˜Of course,’ said Miss Gilfeather. ‘Now come along. Breakfast is ready in the dining room.’
    The buzzer sounded.
    â€˜You go ahead,’ said Chase. ‘That’ll be Theo. He’s all wound up about something as usual. You go through. I’ll be there in a minute.’
    â€˜Theo is Chase’s assistant director,’ explained MissGilfeather, leading them into the dining room.
    â€˜So do you want to be an actor when you grow up?’ Holly said to Dante.
    â€˜I’m an actor now,’ he replied. ‘I’m going to be a director when I grow up like Dad. Acting is a good way to get to know the business. Do you want to be in the movies too?’
    â€˜No, I’m going to be a detective,’ replied Holly, picturing herself sitting in an office like Dirk’s or wearing a wide-brimmed hat like Ladbroke Blake, another detective she knew who had once been hired to follow her and had, ever since, helped her out of some tight spots.
    â€˜Since you know Callum, can you tell me what you think of my impression?’ said Dante. ‘I want to get him just right but I’ve not been allowed to meet him.’
    Dante turned round and tried to flatten his unkempt hair against his head. When he turned to face them again, he had a strange look on his face and he allowed his eyes to roll around in his head. Holly had to admit that it wasn’t a bad likeness of Callum. Dante walked around the dining-room table, allowing his right leg to drag behind him in a limp and spoke in his attempt at an English accent. ‘My name is Callum Thackley. They call me Crazy Callum. But it is not Iwho is mad. It is you.’ Dante relaxed, smiled, and said in his normal voice, ‘What do you think?’
    â€˜Well … It’s not bad,’ said Holly, ‘but Callum doesn’t really have a limp.’
    â€˜I know that,’ replied Dante, with a theatrical wave of his hand, ‘but I thought it would help bring the character alive.’
    â€˜Yes, but he doesn’t have one,’ said Holly.
    â€˜I like the limp,’ said Petal.
    â€˜Oh, it’s a good limp,’ said Holly, catching Archie’s eye.
    â€˜An excellent limp,’ said Archie.
    â€˜If I hadn’t known, I’d have thought you were actually lame,’ said Holly.
    â€˜Totally lame,’ added Archie, straight-faced.
    â€˜Thanks,’ replied Dante. ‘Hey, I like these guys, Petal.’
    They sat down at the table and helped themselves to the breakfast Miss Gilfeather had laid out.
    In the hallway they could hear someone talking loudly.
    â€˜Chase, I don’t know where to start … The whole thing’s crazy …’ he was saying.
    â€˜Calm down, Theo,’ said Chase. ‘Let’s go and get something to eat. I need a coffee.’