Puppy Pie (21 page)

‘That's right,' Tom says perking up, ‘he was wearing a white shirt and a light coloured suit.'

‘Yes,' Gull agrees, ‘he was. I remember thinking it matched his hair. Why would you wear a sandy-coloured suit if you had sandy-coloured hair? Didn't suit him at all: made him look almost invisible.'

‘What are you writing, Lucy?' Tom asks ever curious. He reads over her shoulder. ‘Is that supposed to make sense?'

‘Maybe not yet but we haven't finished,' Lucy answers. Jake and Gull are now standing next to Tom, reading over Lucy's shoulder, ‘A colourless man in a colourless suit: almost invisible. A shaking hand over new puppies and holding open a fob watch.'

‘Why would it matter whether the watch was open or closed?' Tom asks.

‘Don't know yet,' Lucy shrugs, ‘It's all strange.' She sits back on her heels. ‘Anything else happen?

Tom shrugs. ‘Then I walked Gull through the hemp. Oh, and we took Useless and two pups with us.' He laughs at the memory. ‘Remember how they all started scratching at the same time and then stopped?' he says grinning at Gull.

‘Yeah, that's right,' she laughs. ‘They were so funny: like father, like son you said. Remember?'

Lucy adds this to Tom's column and shrugs. ‘You never know what's going to end up important. Now we've got even more questions than answers it seems.'

‘Such as?' Gull queries her.

‘Such as,' Lucy begins, ‘why didn't the bank manager slip the watch back in his pocket before bending over the puppies? And why was it open when he put his hand into the boxful of puppies? Wouldn't you think he'd be worried it'd get ruined?

‘A very good point, Miss Marple,' Tom says with mock seriousness. Lucy pokes her tongue out at him.

Jake seems lost in thought as he speaks, ‘So what have we got so far? We've got a flaky crop that falls over; a colourless bank manager with a shaky hand and a fob watch, and something that sounds very much like Argentinian Siesta Mites. And just think, Mum's slept through all of this.'

Lucy stands up wearily and stretches. ‘But we're still left with the same questions. Who brought in the mites? And why? And why here, to our district?'

Tom gazes at the sheets in front of him. ‘Yeah. Why? I mean, if the crop fails, the whole place falls apart: the farmers can't support the shops, the shops can't support their families, the shops close, the schools close, the land prices fall and the town dies. How could that possibly benefit anyone?

Lucy is staring hard at her brother. ‘Could you say that all again, Tom?'

He shrugs. ‘Why?'

‘It's just that in all that rambling, I'm sure there was something that made good sense.'

‘Like school closing?' Tom asks hopefully.

‘No, after that, I think,' Lucy murmurs. ‘No one say anything for a moment.' The others stand around in thoughtful silence. ‘Wait on, didn't you mention something about land prices falling down?'

‘Yeah. So?'

Lucy looks grim. ‘I've got a bad feeling. Look, I think we need to speak to Dad and tell him what we've found out. He'll know what to do about it.'

Gull looks out the lounge room window. ‘Hey, that's Ted's ute. They must be dropping Harry home. Ted's turned off the engine, so he must be coming in too. And Shirley's with him. Let's go tell them what we've discovered.'

Just then, Harry walks into the lounge room swaying slightly from weariness.

‘Hey Dad,' Tom grins. ‘Have we got news for you!'

‘Yeah,' Jake adds eagerly, ‘We've found out why the hemp's falling over.'

‘Oh, good,' Harry says as he listlessly wanders over to the couch. ‘I'll just lie down here and you can tell me all about it,' he says, blinking hard. Heaving a great sigh, Harry flings himself onto the comfortable floral couch. The couch creaks as Harry sinks into it. His eyelids flutter dangerously.

‘Dad, Dad, wake up' Lucy says gently. ‘Wake up, this is important. We need to talk to you.' He doesn't stir. She tries gently shaking him. No response. Then Tom tries, shaking him more firmly. Still nothing.

‘Dad, wake up,' Tom yells shaking him roughly. ‘The Bank's going to take the Folly, if you don't stop them.'

‘Can't,' Harry mumbles. ‘'s mine.'

‘They can,' Lucy cries out, suddenly losing control and bursting into tears. ‘They'll take the farm, the house, the land, everything. Don't you remember? They're calling in the overdraft.'

‘Close door, Lucy. ‘'at'll fix the draft.' Harry rolls over, his legs sticking over the side of the couch.

‘But we'll have nowhere to live. They'll take the Folly.'

‘Find a tree,' he mumbles, beginning to snore.

‘What? Find a tree?' Gull repeats confused.

‘If you don't wake up, we'll really be living up a gum tree,' Jake adds upset. ‘And we want to tell you about the mite we've found. And maybe if we can get rid of the mite, we
might
just be able to save the farm. Might! Mite! Might!'

Just then, a surprised Shirley and Ted walk into the lounge room with a homemade lemon meringue pie.

‘Mite? What mite?' Ted asks. Shirley looks around at four very troubled faces: Lucy is blowing her nose loudly and wiping away tears; Jake is biting his bottom lip; Tom is kicking the leg of Harry's couch, and Gull, arms crossed, is looking very upset.

‘Let's go into the kitchen, and you can tell us all about it,' Shirley says rounding up the quartet with a quick hug and raised eyebrows at Ted. Together, they leave the lounge room to Harry who continues to sleep undisturbed.

With relief flooding them, the gang begins to tell Shirley and Ted all about their latest theory.

‘Conspiracy?' Ted echoes startled. ‘How have we jumped from mites to conspiracy? As in “mighty” big conspiracy?' He laughs and winks at the gang.

Together, Lucy, Jake, Tom and Gull begin to explain to the perplexed pair all about mites, Argentina, their conspiracy theory and the bank manager until they realise Shirley and Ted are becoming even more confused.

At last, Gull stands up. ‘Look, we'll show you on the Internet. You can read all about the mites.' Clutching mugs of tea, Gull leads everybody back into the lounge room where Harry continues to snore fitfully.

‘What's this?' Ted asks as he squints at the screen. ‘ The “Puppy Pie” website?'

‘Oh, I've got some more hits,' Gull grins. She turns to Ted. ‘I'm selling Useless' puppies … '

‘So Dad doesn't turn them into puppy pie,' Tom adds. ‘Long story: bore you later.'

Gull closes “Puppy Pie” and searches for “Argentina”. In no time, Shirley and Ted are reading about the “Argentinian Siesta Mite”.

‘They sang the wheat crop to sleep in the Pampas?' Ted repeats amazed. ‘They had to harvest by hand with scythes. Just like we had to? Wow! So, we're not the only ones, Lucy. What nasty little mites. Why would anyone want to bring them here and do this to us?'

‘That's what we've been wondering,' Jake nods.

‘I think it must have something to do with the greedy Bank,' Gull adds.

‘That makes no sense at all. I mean, the Bank will lose if the farmers go broke. It doesn't make sense,' Ted frowns worried.

‘What do you think, Shirley?' Gull asks looking up at her.

‘Well,' she replies, ‘I agree with Ted. Even if the Bank takes farms, sells off all they can, they'll lose in the end because the town'll close down and die. No wonder people use Credit Unions.'

‘And start community banks,' Ted adds knowingly.

‘Lucy thinks that if the town starts dying, someone might come in and buy up the land cheaply,' Jake says.

‘Well, that's possible,' Ted agrees, scratching his head. ‘But what would they do with it?'

His question floats in the air.

‘Lots of food for thought,' Shirley says finally. ‘And speaking of food, let's enjoy that pie I made, and then Ted and I have to get home. Oh, by the way, Gull, I'll pick you up at eight thirty tomorrow morning. It's Bank day tomorrow so don't forget. And remember you're seven. So look your age,' she adds grinning.

Later that evening, before the gang hauls itself up the stairs to bed, Jake walks back into the lounge room. He looks sadly at his father sound asleep on the couch. ‘Dad,' he says softly, ‘I know it's not your fault you keep falling asleep. But you really, really need to wake up and help us. We're doing our best but … ' Jakes bites his bottom lip to stop it from trembling. Sighing heavily, he takes off his father's boots and slings a light cover over him, shaking his head at Harry flat out sleeping on the couch.

* * *

On Monday morning after waving Harry and her cousins off, Gull waits impatiently for Shirley. Soon, she sees Shirley's car in the distance. She pulls up outside the kitchen door.

‘In that outfit, you could pass for seven easily,' she says smiling at Gull. ‘That pink and green skirt, with the white blouse, looks as if it was made for you. Mmm, you know it looks vaguely familiar.'

‘It should,' Gull laughs. ‘Lucy wore it when she was seven. And she said you made it for her.'

‘Oh, of course,' Shirley laughs. ‘Helen has never liked sewing, so I used to make the occasional surprise for Lucy. Speaking of surprises,' she adds, ‘I hope we find some surprises at the Bank. Today's Monday, so you've got five days to snoop around. And remember, the auction's on Saturday for the three farms.'

Gull groans. ‘How could I forget!'

Shirley smiles encouragingly as they drive towards Getalong, heading towards the Bank. ‘And by the way, everyone in the Bank has access to all the files to do with customers. All the information is in the computer. However, we're only interested in information threatening the farms. Everything else is “off limits”. Got it?'

‘Got it. Only look for anything to do with the three farms.'

‘Exactly.' Shirley nods approvingly. ‘Got your lunch?'

‘Got it,' Gull grins. ‘I've “got” everything except the answer to our problem but soon I'll have “got” that too,' she says more confidently than she's feeling.

‘Good,' Shirley nods as they pull up outside the Bank building. Both of them get out of the car and walk towards the Bank. Gull looks at the Bank that is the only two-storey building in the street. It looks impressive with a facade of columns in front of the sandstone exterior.

From what Shirley has said on the way in, Gull knows that in the basement at the back of the building is the vault. At ground level is the main part of the Bank, and above that, the top storey houses the bank manager's office.

Shirley looks at her watch and beckons Gull to follow her. As they enter, Gull notices how quiet and dark the entrance is with a sombre, hardwearing carpet. In front of the tellers' windows is a length of dull, scuffed linoleum. In her mind, she imagines customers standing there, scuffing the lino absentmindedly as they wait to be noticed.

Soon, Shirley is introducing Gull to the other women in the branch. As usual, the bank manager is absent. Both Shirley and Gull breathe a sigh of relief.

‘Just thought she'd like a change from the farm,' Shirley says as she bustles around showing Gull where everything is. ‘I don't like to leave her alone at her age,' she adds, as she puts her handbag in the drawer of her desk near the front of the office.

‘How old are you, dear?' Flora, wearing a gaudy floral dress, asks.

‘Seven,' Shirley answers smoothly as Gull begins to say ‘nine'.

‘Oh, yes,' another younger woman, Mary, nods, ‘that is a bit young. Well, come and get a cup of tea first, Gull. Or would you rather have a glass of milk?'

‘Tea thanks,' Gull replies.
As if I'm too young to drink tea
, she thinks to herself mentally rolling her eyes at the woman.

‘What will you do here all day?' Betty, another of the women asks.

Oh, just snoop and spy on the greedy Bank until I work out why it's stealing the farms from under our very noses
, Gull thinks as she smiles sweetly.

‘I thought I'd park her at the spare computer down the back,' Shirley says quickly as she spots Gull's sweet smile. ‘It's got computer games and the Internet: maybe she could look up some topics for her next school semester.'

Gull starts to unpack her backpack. ‘Ah, I see you've brought some games of your own. Well, that is handy,' Betty says bustling about.

‘Just so long as you don't start stealing money from people's accounts,' Flora in the gaudy dress says.

Gull frowns.
I'm not the one who's stealing
, she thinks.

‘Oh, no, of course not,' Shirley says speaking for Gull again, anxious that she doesn't give the game away. ‘I'll just show her the Internet and where the games are. Come on, Gull, over here.' Shirley guides her charge over to a desk and sits her down. Signing in, Shirley points to various files and leaves Gull to it. After looking at what's available, Gull clicks on the file of games. She opens it and selects “Patience”: almost immediately, the screen is filled with playing cards. Deftly, she opens another file marked “e-mails”. With the first name of the employee as the login and the Bank's street number as the password for each, Gull begins. Starting with Shirley's, she quickly opens the e-mails.
Better check to see if anyone in the Bank is trying to steal the Folly.

‘What have you got there?' Appearing soundlessly behind Gull, Flora appears.

Quickly, Gull hits the “Patience” file and playing cards fly onto the screen.

‘Just Patience,' Gull answers innocently. The woman walks around Gull and stares at the screen mesmerised as Gull clicks on one card after the other. ‘I like this game,' she says innocently.

‘I think it's boring,' Flora says. ‘Isn't there anything more exciting?' she says as she reaches out to touch the mouse.