Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6 'CARRYING FOUR CATS! My poor back is killing, me, plus I've lost half a day's take from Billingsgate AND it'll take me ages to get these smelly crow feathers out of my plumage. Toto, you owe me. Next time you need a favour, call someone else, Mary moaned as she dropped the four cats in the safety of some bushes near 10 DOWNING STREET. (Though she gave Toto a friendly hug goodbye to show she wasn't too annoyed.)

'Good luck, you lot- get that collar back safe and sound. I'm off for some much-needed fish and chips and a steam bath... LAAVELY!' She flapped her wings and was off. 'So, what's the plan, boss? How do we get into your office without being seen?' Toto asked. 'It's not going to be easy, but that air conditioning vent over there should lead directly to a pipe above my office. We'll have to be as quiet as mice, ones that aren't being chased by cats. I'll go first. Toto, you go at the back. Remember, we are all wanted now, so the CIA will be all over the building in case we turn up. LARRY SPRINTED, unseen, from the bushes to the vent opening. The hope now was that they could solve the riddle to find the other part of the collar before the thief did, and clear Larry's name once and for all. The air conditioning pipes were a pretty tight

squeeze and a couple of times they had to freeze when they saw police dogs on patrol through the vents. But ten minutes later they were directly over Larry's office. The head ninja silently removed the vent and slipped down on to his desk, ushering the others down behind him. It was clear all was not right: the place was a scene of chaos. Somebody had clearly turned the place upside down looking for the clue. Larry moved papers and furniture around as quietly as possible. He shifted the milk trolley to reveal an opened and empty safe. 'BLAST! IT'S GONE.' For a second the gang of four stood still, not quite knowing their next move. But then they heard something stirring in the corner of the room, where an upturned armchair was covered with old papers and maps. Instinctively, LARRY AND TOTO pushed the two brothers behind them and took up a NINJA FIGHTING STANCE.

'OH, MY HEAD,' a very groggy Catface groaned, as he got to his feet. 'What happened?' asked Toto, rushing over to help him up. 'It was all going swimmingly to start with. I was

able to charm my way through security- said I was looking for some papers to help with your case, Larry! Catface winked conspiratorially. 'AS SOON AS I WAS IN HERE, I MADE STRAIGHT FOR THE MILK TROLLEY AND CRACKED OPEN THE SAFE.' The cats looked at him in surprise. 'Don't be so surprised! I learned from the best: Abbe the eel, Dutch guy, master safe cracker. You arrested him last year, Toto? Anyway, I found the parchment and was just about to solve the riddle, when— 'When what?' the cats asked with bated breath. 'When I got clocked over the head by some rotter. I only came to just now.' 'Which means WHOEVER KNOCKED YOU OUT NOW HAS THE RIDDLE. If they can crack that they can reunite the two collars and then... rat domination, said Toto with a grimace. 'Yes, rather bad luck, I'm afraid. But there is one

bit of silver lining: I can remember the riddle! See, learning songs for all those gigs has been good for something. Catface cleared his throat then recited: 'I lie below where horses tread, Before the carts and wheels go red, In water low, but hill so high, Where the city kisses the sky. You'll find me safe and buried there, Above London's smoke filled air. So, take a breath and you will find the treasure to control rats' minds.'