Bella and her cousin Jessamine went on a picnic with Neil to the Red wood farm. They got tired after a long badminton match and decided to rest. Neil picked up a piece of paper and said “I have got a clue.”
“Mr Detective how can you get a clue when there is no mystery?” Bella said.
“56789 88888 RKD {6:30 9:00 5:00 3:00 1:00}[pm] town hall” Bella said reading the note.
“What on the earth it is supposed to mean?” Jess said
“I am not wasting my holiday solving this stupid note.” Neil said
“Same here” Jess said.
Next day Bella came across a news about stolen antiques and their replacement with the fake ones. One of the members was arrested in an injured condition and is not expected to live. The other two have fled. Bella went to her father’s office i.e. police station as her father was a police officer to know more about the criminals.
“Where is the arrested person?” Bella asked
“Trying to solve this case?” Her father asked.
“Yes and without your help just I need a bit of information.”
“He is very badly injured. He is in the hospital.”
“Oh can I meet him.”
“Even we policeman are not allowed.”
“Ok.”
Back home she was staring at the note when Jessamine entered “Hey are you thinking the case and note are interlinked?”
“I think so.” Bella said
“Good because I too think so let’s solve it together”
“6:30 9:00 5:00 3:00 1:00 indicate time right” Bella said.
“Hope.”
“Town hall may be where the original antiques are being hidden.”
“RKD may be the initials of the three persons. According to the newspaper the name of the injured person is Richard. That leaves D and K.”
“Yes Jessamine my company has made you much more intelligent.”
“Thank you by the way I am just trying to imitate you.”
“5 6 7 8 9 may be a part of mobile numbers.”
“Or may be dates like 5th 6th .... So on and 8 may refer to august. That means the theft will take place on 5th 6th 7th.....August. Jessamine what was the date yester day?”
“5th August at 6:30 pm”
“Today is 6th August. That means today there will be a theft and the Antiques will be hidden in Town Hall. Let us wait there till we catch them.”
“Ok. Shall we call Neil?”
“Yes. I want to see how Mr Detective will react when he learns that he had actually found a clue.”
That night the trio went to Town Hall to investigate unaware this would lead them into trouble. Bella had informed her dad about the clues so that they could get his support if needed.
Nobody was late. They hid behind a pillar.
“Bella I am too excited and afraid to be sleepy.” Neil said.
“Same here.” Jessamine said
“Can you both keep quiet for some time?” Bella said.
‘K’ and ‘D” were there but ‘R’ was absent.
“Must be in the hospital.” Neil said
“Think so.” Bella said.
They saw another person come. One of the two people addressed him as Richard.
“What Richard is severally injured yet he is here?” Neil said.
“Maybe he is just pretending to be Richard. Or maybe the Richard in Hospital is fake.”
“Second one is better.” Neil Said.
One of the men brought a box. After checking the box they come towards the trio but Bella ensured that they were safely hidden. They had almost cracked the case and known the secret when suddenly Neil’s phone rang. The group become alerted and the trio had to flee.
After scolding Neil Bella started to plan about the next day. Tomorrow i.e. 7th August at 5pm.
“Bella I am really sorry I will not bring my phone this time.” Neil said.
“Ok Neil. But they are already alert will they this time also hide it at the same place? And where is the actual Richard.”
“Bella let us go to sleep it is 11pm. Neil you can come tomorrow.” Jessamine said.
Next day Neil came to Bella’s home early morning with a newspaper.
“Bella have you checked the newspaper”
“No, Neil. Why any special news?”
“Richard was declared dead yesterday at 8pm.”
“So that was a ghost.” Jessamine said.
“Jessamine there is nothing called ghost.” Neil said.
Let us meet at Town Hall at 4pm without phones. They reached on time to see ‘Richard’ standing and talking to someone and ‘K’ and ‘D’ coming.
“Neil hide behind the bush and follow ‘Richard’ wherever he goes. Jessamine go and follow ‘K’ and I’ll do that for ‘D’. We will meet at 6pm near that tree”
They quickly went to do their assigned tasks. Bella went to do her part of job. But following ‘D’ was not an easy task. He seemed to be more intelligent than anyone could be. Bella could understand all their plans but suddenly she felt someone hitting her hard and then blank.
Jessamine and Neil were on time with their respective information near the tree at the appointed time.
“Hey Neil? Got any news.”
“Lots of it, Jessamine and you.”
“Lots. Let’s wait for Bella.”
After an hour Jessamine said “She is never late. What is taking her so long?”
“God only knows.”
On the other hand Bella woke up in a small hut with blood oozing out from her arms and no previous memory about the case. She tried to open the door but alas it was locked. Unable to do anything she remained sitting inside. She was afraid and hurt hoping for Jessamine to find her. Here Neil and Jessamine were very worried about Bella. To increase problems for Bella the hut caught fire. Fortunately the gardener sprayed water and the fire stopped. The hut was half burnt and Bella could escape. The gardener took her to his house and asked his wife to nurse her wounds.
After nursing, Bella started walking in the lawns of Town Hall. Neil saw her and brought her home. Ariel, Bella’s housekeeper called the doctor. The doctor ensured that she was all right but needed rest. Next morning Bella started recalling the case and she was able to.
She quickly called Neil. There was a meeting at Bella’s room.
“How are you now?” Neil asked.
“Fine, Neil.” Bella said
“Jessamine you first tell.” Bella said
“‘K’ is Kelvin. I got his passport. Here look at it. I read his diary. They steal original antiques and replace them with fake ones. The original antiques are sold. ‘D’ is Dennis. A girl named Hannah also helps them.”
“Neil it is your turn”
“Richard was talking to Hannah about where to sell these antiques? Hannah was a mediator, she used to take antiques and sell them to markets. The Richard in hospital was a man called Danny. Danny was given money to pose as Richard and get caught by police. Other two persons were also given money to pose like Dennis and Kelvin but they cancelled at the last moment. By doing this they police team would think they were able to arrest the gang.”
“My piece of information is that another girl named Betty was involved. She was responsible to hide the gang and help them escape from police. I caught Dennis talking to her. Today they are about to run at 3 pm by a bus. They were to run tomorrow but thanks to your phone Neil, They changed their plan. The note we got was given to Betty but could not reach her as it fell down and they thought it was lost. Dennis bet me so that I forget everything I saw and heard but my voice recorder recorded it. The antiques are hidden under the ground. Let us rush, I will call Dad and ask him to come.”
Bella Brown was correct, on digging the ground antiques worth a million dollar was saved. This was how Bella solved her 6th case.
