‘Your grandmother has spent far too much of her time and energy minding my business. If only she had left me alone to get on with my life, we could have stayed friends,’ the man said.

  ‘My grandmother would never be friends with someone like you,’ Kensy scoffed. ‘You trade in human suffering for your own financial gain. People like you have no place in any society.’

  ‘Oh my gosh – listen to the kid. Brainwashed by the old lady.’ Cameron rolled her eyes and opened the mini bar, where she took out a bottle of cola and twisted the cap.

  Kensy was dying for something to drink but she dared not ask.

  ‘How long have you been working with Mr Koh?’ Kensy changed tack. Maybe she could get something useful out of the pair.

  ‘We do not work with him.’ Huang walked over to the windows and looked across the city. ‘He owes me, though it seems he has never known it.’

  Kensy blanched, her mind racing. She thought about what Autumn had said earlier – Vera’s comment about Sedgewick not being able to look after himself. Clearly there was more to all of this than the children had first thought.

  Mae Lyn had to wait until her boss was on his way to the ArtScience Museum before she made her move. The house phone had just rung and she’d hurried to answer it. ‘Of course, yes, sir, I will be there soon,’ was all she said. Autumn had been right on time.

  She found Vera in the kitchen, checking that Mae Lyn had put everything away in its rightful place after the previous night’s party.

  ‘Excuse me, Vera, Mr Koh has just telephoned to ask if I could take Miss Polly down town to the presentation. He left in a hurry and forgot he had promised the children he would bring her,’ the woman said. ‘He has asked that I meet him in the Future World exhibit at the ArtScience Museum.’

  Vera screwed up her nose. ‘You will do no such thing,’ the woman snapped.

  ‘But Mr Koh called – you must have heard the telephone,’ Mae Lyn said.

  Vera had indeed heard the phone ringing but ignored it. At this time of the afternoon it was usually about deliveries for the following day. Mae Lyn could deal with those.

  ‘I will call Mr Koh myself and ask him,’ Vera said. She pulled the phone from her pocket but soon realised that the network was down. She picked up the handset from the wall in the kitchen to use the house phone, but Mr Koh’s phone went straight to voicemail.

  ‘Is there a problem?’ Mae Lyn asked.

  ‘The phones are down,’ Vera sneered at the woman.

  Irene Lee bit back a smile. She was pleased to finally be able to use the blocking device the Pharos Inventions Team had created for her months ago.

  ‘May I go then?’ Mae Lyn asked. ‘Or Miss Polly will be late for her encore performance.’

  ‘I will take her,’ Vera snapped. ‘You stay here. By the time I return this kitchen had better be sparkling.’

  Mae Lyn turned around and smiled to herself. Vera had no idea. By the time the older woman returned, the helper she knew as Mae Lyn would be long gone and this mission would finally be over.

  Students streamed into the ArtScience Museum past ponds filled with lotus flowers that created a moat around the building, which had been inspired by the flower itself.

  Romilly Vanden Boom checked her watch. It was five minutes to six and the Central London Free team had only just arrived. She was on the lookout for Song and the children. It had come as quite a shock to learn that Mr Nutting had been called away urgently on official Pharos business and that Song Li was here in Singapore. Though the details were scant, Song had assured her that everything was fine – but she needed to keep this information to herself.

  At least Magoo and Tippie had managed to get to the bus on time, for once. They’d disappeared after lunch, obviously wanting to get themselves glammed up for the evening. Tippie was looking effortlessly chic as always while Magoo trotted out yet another new suit, this time in a muted shade of mustard.

  The students were met by guides, who were taking them on tours of the exhibits for the next forty-five minutes. The presentation itself was to be held across the concourse in the Sands Theatre as there simply wasn’t a space big enough in the museum to seat everyone. It was a busy evening with the area full of tourists taking in the sights.

  Monty Reffell headed inside with the students while Romilly waited near the door for the others.

  Romilly tapped her foot, feeling increasingly anxious as the minutes ticked by.

  ‘Hello, Mrs Vanden Boom,’ Autumn greeted the woman, looking as spick and span as ever.

  Romilly turned to see the errant group coming towards her. ‘Oh, there you are. What happened to you lot? No, don’t tell me – I don’t think I want to know,’ she said, then realised that there was someone missing.

  ‘Where’s Kensy?’ the woman asked.

  ‘She’ll be here soon,’ Max said. He hoped that was true. He could feel the weight of Cameron Lu’s handbag inside his backpack, along with the watch.

  ‘If she’s not here, then who’s looking after her?’ Romilly asked, her words slow and deliberate, her stomach churning.

  ‘It is probably best that you do not know, Mrs Vanden Boom,’ Song said. ‘Please, you must not be alarmed by anything you see. I would like you to go inside with the children.’

  ‘She’s here,’ Max said. He’d spotted Kensy, with Huang and Lu, walking towards them.

  ‘Oh good Lord, is that who I think it is?’ Romilly eyed the threesome.

  ‘Yes. Please go inside, Mrs Vanden Boom,’ Song said. ‘And stay with the rest of the group – we have things in hand.’

  Kensy smiled tensely at her friends and gave a wave.

  ‘She looks fine,’ Curtis said.

  ‘She looks a mess,’ Max said, shaking his head.

  Autumn grinned. ‘She’s looked like that all day – I don’t think they’ve roughed her up.’

  The children walked ahead with Romilly while Song waited for Kensy and her captors.

  As soon as they were inside, Autumn, Max and Curtis split up. They each had their own task to perform. Romilly knew there was nothing she could do now except pray that everything went to plan – whatever that entailed. She hurried away to find the rest of the team, hoping to distract herself and calm her pounding heart.

  Out on the concourse, Song greeted Huang and Lu tersely. ‘Future World, Basement 2. There is an exit that will take you to the helipad.’

  ‘Where is the chopper?’ Huang asked. He looked agitated, as if he expected one would already be waiting.

  ‘It will be there as soon as you have the parcel and Miss Polly, and Kensy is back safely with us,’ Song said.

  Meanwhile, inside the building, the atmosphere was supercharged by the teams excited to learn the outcome of today’s contest. It was noisy too, which was likely a good thing.

  ‘Hello, Mr Koh.’ Max found the man in the foyer. ‘I’m so excited that you brought Miss Polly with you tonight – she must be the smartest and funniest parrot in the world.’

  Sedgewick Koh looked at the boy and shook his head. ‘I am afraid that you are mistaken.’

  Max feigned surprise. ‘But, sir, she’s downstairs in Future World. I just saw her.’

  ‘I have no idea why you think that. We are not even touring that exhibit this evening.’ Sedgewick looked flustered.

  ‘I’ll show you,’ Max said.

  Sedgewick eyed the boy warily and followed him.

  Autumn was already downstairs. Curtis had sped down too, having swiped a security pass at the front desk to ensure they had access to all areas.

  ‘Where is Miss Polly?’ Sedgewick asked.

  ‘There!’ Max said, pointing to the next room.

  ‘What’s all this? What’s going on?’ Sedgewick Koh spun around and saw Vera. The bird was sitting on her shoulder, the creature’s leg attached to a short lead that the woman was grasping tightly.

  ‘Hello, Mr Koh,’ Miss Polly said. ‘I rode in a taxi, I rode in a taxi. I love you.’

  ‘Vera, who told you to bring Miss Polly here?’ the man demanded, but the sound of heels clacking across the floor distracted him before his maid could answer.

  ‘Hand her over,’ Cameron Lu demanded.

  ‘What? Who are you?’ Sedgewick recoiled. ‘And you,’ he stared at Kensy. ‘You’re the girl who told me you knew who stole Ah Meng at the zoo.’

  Kensy nodded. ‘I did, but you fobbed me off and that’s when I started to wonder if you were in on it too.’

  Sedgewick gasped. ‘How dare you accuse me? I know nothing about it. But Heston Fong is missing – perhaps you should ask him.’

  ‘Or you could ask me yourself.’ Fletcher Lee stepped from the shadows, still disguised as Heston Fong. This time it was Lu and Huang’s turn to gasp.

  Autumn smiled at the man, but didn’t give him away.

  Suddenly Cameron Lu grabbed Kensy around the throat. ‘Give us that bird and the parcel and I’ll let her go – otherwise I will break her scrawny neck.’

  It was obvious the woman was starting to panic.

  Max took Lu’s handbag from his backpack and passed it to Song, who pulled out the box and opened it to show that the watch was still inside.

  ‘We have a deal,’ the butler said.

  ‘What?’ Sedgewick Koh snapped. ‘I am not giving Miss Polly to those two. I have no idea who they are. And what are you doing with my watch? How did you get that? It was in the safe at my home – my father gave it to me. It is very valuable.’ His voice rose higher and higher.

  ‘Yes, we know it is,’ Cameron said. ‘Honesto collects Rolexes, but he does not own this particular style.’

  Kensy’s mind was awhirl. Sedgewick Koh looked completely bamboozled – he wasn’t involved at all.

  The girl spun around and stared at Vera, pointing her finger. ‘It was you. You organised those animals to be stolen – you’re in cahoots with Huang and Lu. But I don’t understand why?’

  Vera took a step backwards. ‘I have no idea what you are talking about.’

  ‘Yes, you do.’ Max nodded. ‘We saw you at the motor show. You gave them the watch, but we thought you were working for Mr Koh.’

  ‘I am,’ the woman spat. ‘And if it wasn’t for me, he would be fish food by now at the bottom of the sea.’

  Sedgewick looked at her, his eyes wide.

  ‘You have been losing at the casino for a year. All of your family money is long gone and the people you borrowed from – you thought they were kind, giving you more time to pay. Honesto Huang has been a bad apple ever since he was a boy growing up in my village in the Philippines. The only reason he hasn’t killed you already and taken everything you own is because I knew him personally and he allowed me to work out other ways to pay your debts,’ Vera said. ‘I love you like a son, but for that I get no thanks. You will send me away on my next birthday. The jaguars and the watch – they were supposed to end it. That was the finish. I told them.’ Vera was wringing her hands together.

  ‘What? No. Vera, how could you? And Miss Polly?’ Sedgewick blinked in horror. ‘You know that bird means everything to me.’

  ‘I love Sedgewick, I love Sedgewick.’ Miss Polly bounced up and down.

  ‘No, that was never part of the deal. Mae Lyn told me that you asked her to bring the bird down here for the presentation. I don’t trust her, so I brought Miss Polly myself. But it was all a trick,’ Vera said. The woman’s face had turned a ghostly shade.

  ‘Enough talking. Give me the bird and the watch or the girl dies!’ Huang demanded.

  Vera steeled herself and looked at Sedgewick. ‘I know these two. If you don’t want the death of a child on your hands, then I would advise you do as they ask.’

  ‘No!’ Miss Polly screeched. ‘No! I don’t want to go. I love you, Mr Koh.’ The bird had flown to the floor and was straining against the tether attached to her leg, but Vera kept a strong hold.

  ‘It will be fine, Miss Polly. Please be a good girl and go with the nice man and lady,’ Sedgewick said with tears in his eyes.

  Vera passed Cameron Lu the parrot’s lead while Song threw Lu’s handbag to Huang, who quickly pulled out the watch and put it on his wrist.

  They could hear the thumping of helicopter rotors outside.

  ‘Give me my sister,’ Max said, staring them down.

  Honesto Huang looked at Cameron Lu, a snide smile passing between them.

  ‘She is worth more to us than anything!’ Huang shouted.

  He flung the handbag towards the others just as Miss Polly flew up and bit Cameron hard on the ear.

  ‘Ow!’ the woman screamed, and let go of the creature, who flew out of her reach.

  Kensy began to run but stumbled. Lu was on her in a flash. She picked the girl up and threw her over her shoulder, racing after Huang to the exit. They busted through the fire doors, setting off a blaring alarm.

  Huang and Lu raced for the helipad, Kensy screaming blue murder and kicking and biting, but the fire alarms had caused chaos. Everyone was being evacuated to the upper concourse outside the theatre and no one gave the girl a second glance.

  ‘Kensy!’ Max shouted, charging after his sister. Autumn and Curtis were right behind him.

  Huang pulled the chopper pilot from his seat, knocking the man out before jumping in. Cameron Lu held Kensy tightly as they climbed in, then pulled a pair of handcuffs from her pocket. But Kensy wasn’t giving up easily. She knew they wanted her alive.

  Max ran for the chopper as it lifted into the air, leaping onto the skids.

  ‘No!’ Autumn yelled.

  The helicopter spun around with Max dangling beneath it, hanging on for his life.

  ‘Tell your brother it’s much more comfortable on the inside.’ Huang turned to Kensy. The girl leaned across and bit him on the arm. Cameron Lu was still trying to get the handcuffs on, but Kensy was having none of it. She bit Huang again, even harder.

  ‘Why, you brat!’ The man momentarily lost control of the aircraft, which spun and dipped before it rose back up again.

  Down below, Song had pulled a small controller out of his pocket. He was desperately trying to get the glitchy thing to turn on but was having no luck.

  Huang hadn’t counted on Max being quite so agile. The boy stood up on the skids and reached inside the cabin, grabbing Kensy’s arm. He held onto his sister as tightly as he could, but Cameron Lu was stronger. She snatched a handful of Kensy’s hair, almost pulling it from her scalp.

  ‘Ow! Stop that!’ Kensy screamed, giving Max an extra shot of adrenalin. He hauled himself inside the cabin and punched the woman in the throat. Cameron Lu momentarily let go of Kensy and Max saw his chance. He flung his sister out of the open chopper door and jumped after her, the twins dropping into the bay below.

  ‘What do we do now?’ Lu screamed at Huang. ‘This is all your fault. You said her grandmother would pay tenfold for the brat! We should have kept the bird.’

  ‘At least I have the watch,’ he spat, then looked down at his wrist and realised it was gone. Huang’s heart was racing. He had no idea what to do other than get out of there. But something was wrong with the controls. He tried to lift the aircraft but instead it flew sideways. He did battle with the joystick for a minute before he looked down and realised exactly what was going on.

  Song Li had got his controller working and was now in charge of the machine. Huang and Lu could only sit and wait to see where they were going to end up. Meanwhile, in the hotels and office blocks overlooking the area, people wondered if there was a film being shot. It was all terribly exciting.

  Kensy and Max sputtered and coughed and hugged each other tightly.

  ‘Are you okay?’ Max shouted, gasping for breath.

  Kensy nodded. ‘You saved my life, little brother.’

  Max grinned. ‘You’d do it for me.’

  The boy couldn’t see it, but Kensy’s eyes were brimming with tears. ‘Anytime, Max, anytime.’

  The pair swum back to the shore where they were greeted by Heston Fong and Mae Lyn – or rather Fletcher and Irene Lee – who wrapped them in towels and whisked them away from prying eyes.

  ‘Wow. That was not what I expected to happen,’ Curtis said, shaking his head.

  ‘Me either,’ Autumn agreed. The pair had been watching in horror and amazement.

  Meanwhile, Sedgewick Koh was giving his statement to Lily Lo and Winston Yu. They already had Vera in custody, and she was singing like a canary to cut a deal, happy to give up anyone who helped her steal the animals.

  ‘Please, would you be able to come to the house later this evening and we will finish the interview?’ Sedgewick asked. ‘I have a presentation to attend.’

  Lily Lo nodded. ‘Of course.’

  Song and his remote controller had disappeared. He’d called Rupert and Fitz, who had taken over and were currently guiding Honesto Huang and Cameron Lu to a secure facility where Pharos would take care of their internment. With the aid of local authorities, Gordon Nutting had retrieved the jaguars, which were now on their way back to the zoo. Huang’s cronies had been rounded up and taken to the Central Police Station for processing. Gordon glanced at his watch. If he stepped on it, he might still make the presentation.

  The auditorium erupted when Sedgewick Koh announced the students from Central London Free School as the winners of the World STEM Championships. Even Lars gave them a begrudging nod. His team had managed fifth place despite his attempt to cheat.

  Romilly Vanden Boom felt as if her heart was going to burst with pride as they stood up and headed to the stage to collect the winner’s trophy, as well as their individual medals. She looked around, wondering when she would be bowled over by Magoo but, strangely, he didn’t appear.

  Sedgwick Koh shook hands with each of the children and placed a medal around their necks. When he got to Kensy he paused.

  ‘You are a very brave young woman. I need to thank you for what you and your friends did for me earlier,’ he said quietly, noticing that she had quite a nasty scratch on her forehead and a bruise on her forearm. The girl reached into her pocket.