The Case of the Vanished Sea Dragon by Gareth P. Jones Read Free Book Online Page A

Drake?’ demanded Dirk, addressing the larger of the two.
    â€˜You speak to Pappy with respect,’ said the other, smashing Dirk’s head against the ground.
    â€˜Well done, Junior,’ said Pappy. ‘You’ll make a fine Dragnet officer, just like your old pappy and my pappy before me. And his pappy, your great-grand pappy. Andhis pappy, your great-great-grand—’
    â€˜On what grounds?’ interrupted Dirk, his head throbbing.
    â€˜Tell him, Junior,’ said Pappy.
    â€˜We is arresting you on grounds that we is currently in a state of emergency as declared by our glorious captain, Karnataka the fearless.’
    â€˜Karnataka the fearless?’ laughed Dirk. He had heard Karny described as a lot of things but never fearless. ‘Why has Karny declared a state of emergency?’
    â€˜The Kinghorns are on the rise,’ said Junior. ‘There’s talk that they’re gathering an army, preparing for the big attack. Captain Karnataka has told us to arrest any dragon acting suspiciously and you two is definitely suspicious.’
    â€˜But we are just looking for my sister,’ said Alba.
    â€˜Sounds mighty suspicious to me,’ said Pappy. ‘What do you think, Junior?’
    â€˜Mighty suspicious, Pappy.’
    â€˜We are not doing anything the wrong,’ pleaded Alba.
    â€˜A Mountain and a Sea Dragon skulking down the western ring of the lithosphere tunnel during a state of emergency,’ said Pappy. ’You two is sure-fire criminal types.’
    â€˜No, this is Mr Dirk Dilly,’ said Alba. ‘He is a famous detective. I am Alba Longs. Mr Dirk is helping me to find my sister.’
    â€˜Keep quiet, Alba,’ snarled Dirk.
    â€˜Famous detective, eh?’ said Pappy. ‘Well, I’m a bit of a detective myself and I detect the blood of a couple of Kinghorns.’
    Dirk sighed. He had learnt from previous experience that for all their self-importance, Dragnet officers were almost always looking for what they could get out of a situation. He was yet to meet one who couldn’t be bribed.
    â€˜OK,’ he said, ‘what will it take to persuade you to let us go?’
    Junior pulled hard on the chain, bringing Dirk’s face close enough for him to whack it with his fat fist. ‘You can’t bribe Pappy,’ he said. ‘My pappy is the most honestest officer in Dragnet. He ain’t never taken a backhander. Ain’t that right, Pappy?’
    â€˜Er … sure thing, son,’ said Pappy, although Dirk could see from the look on his face that if his son hadn’t been there it would have been a different story.
    â€˜Rats,’ muttered Dirk. ‘Of all the Drakes in all the world we had to meet these two prize specimens.’
    â€˜What was that, Mountain Dragon?’ said Pappy.
    â€˜I said, we’ll come quietly,’ he said out loud.
    â€˜You see, Junior. Now he’s showing some respect. All these dragons understand is a firm cuff.’
    The two Drakes set off down the tunnel, pulling Alba and Dirk behind them
    â€˜How can we find Delfina now?’ said Alba.
    â€˜Never mind her,’ replied Dirk. ‘How are we going to get out of this?’
    â€˜Surely they will let us go when they realise we are innocent,’ she said.
    â€˜You two Kinghorns keep quiet,’ yelled Junior.
    â€˜You tell them no good traitors, Junior,’ said Pappy.
    â€˜Oh yes,’ said Dirk, under his breath. ‘They seem like a very open-minded pair.’

Chapter Eleven

    Holly had been concentrating too hard on following Arthur and Reg to check if anyone was following her. Archie had seen her vanish from sight then reappear. She could have kicked herself for being so careless but kicking herself wouldn’t have helped, so, instead, she let her face relax into a smile and laughed.
    â€˜What are you talking about?’ she said.
    â€˜Don’t try and deny it,’ said