Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5 Flora gave a great gasp of shock. 'So the Great Catsby is missing as well?' 'What do you mean, "as well"?' Wogan asked. 'First the chinchillas went missing from the zoo,' said Flora. 'Then the pets from town. And now the Great Catsby too? There's something going on here, boys, and no mistake.' 'What is it?' asked Wogan. 'I'm not sure yet,' said Flora, staring off into the distance. 'I'm not sure…' 'You said that twice. You must really not be sure,' said Wogan. 'You know Flora,' said Mohsen. 'She'll get there in the end. She loves a good mystery. She's like the Sherlock Holmes of our school. Remember the Case of My Missing Easter Egg?' 'Err… yes,' replied Wogan.

'How Flora quickly deduced you had eaten it because you had chocolate all over your face and were complaining of a stomachache?' 'Yes, well…' 'And what about the Case of the Spiders All Over My Bedroom, when my bedroom was suddenly filled with spiders, and Flora worked it out because she asked you if you'd forgotten to close the lid on your spider collection box, and you started crying and confessed everything? Flora is so clever. She'll definitely work it out.' Mohsen shook his head, smiling. 'I was still finding spiders under my pillow months later. What fun times we have together, guys, don't we?' 'So,' said Charlie. 'Do you have any ideas at all, Flor?' 'Hmm,' hmmed Flora. 'Well, there is one clue…' 'You see!' said Mohsen, thumping his palm. 'I knew she'd solve the case!' 'I haven't solved anything yet!' 'No. But you nearly have.' 'I'm nowhere near.' 'What's the clue, Flora?' asked Charlie. 'OK, so remember the signs about the missing pets? Well, one of them said they'd discovered paw prints in the garden. What if a big wild animal is attacking people's pets?' Mohsen nodded. 'And didn't the sign say they were feline paw prints? Like a lion or a tiger?' Charlie shook his head. 'A lion would have had to escape from the zoo, and I'm sure the police would

know if that had happened.' 'So it CAN'T be that,' said Wogan. 'Flora, you're a terrible detective.' 'It's true that it can't have escaped from the zoo,' replied Flora. 'But maybe it's a wild animal the police don't know about.' 'But where would that have come fr–' Mohsen stopped in his tracks, and turned to Charlie, his eyes going wide. 'It's you!' 'What's me?' asked Charlie, looking around. 'You've been turning into a lion and eating all the missing animals!' Wogan jumped up, pointing at Charlie accusingly. 'Daisy is going to be FURIOUS when she hears you scoffed all the chinchillas!' 'No! That's not what I meant!' cried Flora. 'I wasn't saying it was Charlie! I just meant maybe there's a wild panther or something roaming about. You know, you hear about that sort of thing.' 'It's possible,' said Mohsen. 'But I think my Charlie theory makes much more sense.' 'I have NOT been turning into a lion, and eating cats and chinchillas, thank you very much!' shouted Charlie. 'I can't believe you think I would do that.'

'OK…' said Mohsen, eyes still narrowed with suspicion. 'I can see your eyes still narrowed with suspicion, Mohsen,' said Charlie. 'Fine,' said Mohsen, forcing his eyes open wider. The gang had reached the school gates. As they entered, Lola ran up to them. 'Hi, guys,' said Lola. 'Hello, Lola,' said Wogan, Flora and Charlie. 'Lello, Hola,' Mohsen stammered in a high voice, then slapped himself on the forehead. 'Really sorry, Wogan,' said Lola. 'But Daisy has asked me to tell you that she doesn't want to go to the dance with you any more.' 'Oh,' said Wogan.

'But, Mohsen,' said Lola. 'Yes,' yelped Mohsen. 'That's me.' 'Would you like to go with me?' 'I… err… yes.' 'Great!' And without another word, Lola skipped off. Charlie put his arm around Wogan. 'Never mind! I don't have anyone to go to the dance with either!' Flora swallowed. 'Charlie, would you–' 'Yeah,' interrupted Wogan, glumly. 'Maybe you and I should go to the dance together. No one else will go with us.' 'Not a bad idea, that,' Charlie agreed. 'What were you saying, Flor?' Flora shook her head. 'Nothing,' she said quietly. Wogan's day did not get any better, what with the feared spelling test after lunch. He came out, shaking his head and muttering, 'This is the actual worst day of my life.' Charlie agreed. It wasn't made any better when Dylan walked out right behind them. 'You'd have to be a right dummy to have messed that test up. It was SO easy,' he gloated, a smug smile plastered across his face. 'What's that plastered across your face?' asked Charlie. 'Erm… a smug smile?' replied Dylan. 'No, next to it,' Charlie said, pointing to a big plaster on Dylan's cheek.

'Oh that! I… erm… fell over and grazed myself,' Dylan replied. 'Anyway, must dash,' he continued. 'Great talking to you. Byeee!' And Dylan ran off as fast as possible. 'What a weirdo,' said Wogan, shaking his head. Charlie couldn't disagree. Dylan was acting even weirder than usual. Before they could think any further about it, though, Flora and Mohsen came running up. 'Have you heard?' Flora said, breathlessly. 'What?' said Wogan, full of breath.