Seaside Mystery (5 page)

Maisie picked up Flame, who was curled up on her lap, and went to the door. “Bye. See you later!” she called as Joel and Louise left.

“We’re going on a bike ride to Smuggler’s Cove tomorrow and having a picnic with us. Do you want to come?” Louise said.

“You can wear your new boots,” Joel encouraged.

As Flame gave an extraloud purr, Maisie grinned. “We’d love to!”

Maisie’s hair streamed out behind her as she rode her bike the following morning.

Flame was in the basket attached to the handlebars. He leaned forward, his nose twitching as he sniffed at the exciting smells.

Maisie could see Joel and Louise up ahead. They were having a race to see
who could reach the top of the hill first.

“I won!” shouted Joel, waving both arms in the air.

“Only because you have longer legs than me!” Louise cried. She turned around and biked back toward Maisie. “Almost there now. Smuggler’s Cove is just around the headland.”

“Great,” Maisie said, pedaling hard as
Louise wheeled around again and sped after her brother once more. “Phew! Those two are some double act! I can hardly keep up with them!” she said to Flame.

Flame nodded, his bright emerald eyes sparkling. “Are we a double act, too?”

“We’re the best ever!” Maisie said, feeling her heart swell with affection for the tiny kitten.

Smuggler’s Cove had a picnic area on the cliff top. There was a small parking lot and a kiosk selling ice cream and drinks. Maisie lifted Flame out of the basket and then chained her bike up. Joel and Louise chained their bikes next to hers.

They sat on the grass to eat. The food was delicious, and Maisie ate hungrily.
She broke off pieces of her cheese sandwich for Flame.

Joel was wearing his sleeveless jacket with all the pockets. He sprawled on his stomach to eat his chips. He’d almost finished them when Louise jumped on him. The chips shot everywhere.

“Hey! I hadn’t finished those!” Joel complained.

“Tough! You have now!” Louise said, giggling as she wrestled with her brother and tried to stuff grass into his mouth.

Maisie laughed. They were completely crazy. She hoped that they didn’t decide to start on her!

After a few minutes, Joel and Louise sat up. Joel’s jacket and Louise’s T-shirt were covered in grass stains.

“Let’s go and explore the caves,” Joel suggested, shaking his head to get grass out of his hair.

“Do you think we should? Maisie might be scared,” Louise panted, her brown eyes gleaming mischievously.

“Scared? Why would I be?” Maisie asked.

“Because of the legend,” Louise
said, winking at her brother. “A smuggler was trapped inside the cave by the rising tide. Sea monsters swam up and dragged him away. Sometimes you can still hear his screams.”

“I really believe that!” Maisie scoffed, laughing.

But even though she knew Louise was just teasing, she had a horrible squirmy feeling in her tummy. In her imagination, she could hear the bloodcurdling screams echoing around the lonely caves.

“Shut up, Lou, you’re scaring her,” Joel said. He got up and started walking down the grassy slope.

“Aw, she’s not scared! Are you?” Louise said, beckoning to Maisie and Flame. “Come on, let’s go!”

Flame trotted along at Maisie’s heels as she made her way down to the small, sheltered cove. They had to scramble over seaweed-draped rocks at the mouth of the cave.

Maisie frowned as she entered the shadowy cave. It was very dark at the back, where the sunlight didn’t reach. Rocks were spread over the cave’s sandy floor. Small pools of cold, dark water were dotted among them.

“Come on, you guys!” Joel called from deep inside.

“We’re coming! Hold your horses!” Louise shouted, disappearing into the shadows.

Maisie told herself that there was nothing to be scared of as she went farther into the cave after Louise and Joel. “Are
you all right, Flame? Do you want me to pick you up?” she whispered.

“I am fine, thank you, Maisie,” Flame answered, placing each tiny brown tabby paw with deliberate care as he followed her over the rocks. Silver sparks shone faintly in his long silky fur.

Maisie shivered. It was getting chilly and smelled of damp and old seaweed. Every slight sound seemed magnified and spooky. There was no sign of Joel or Louise. She was really glad she had Flame with her.

Maisie was thinking of turning back, and risking being teased for being too chicken, when she noticed the natural shelves in the cave walls. There was a lot of driftwood there, washed up by the high tide when it filled the cave.

“Wow! Look at all that amazing wood. Dad would love it for his carvings,” she said to Flame.

“Maybe you could tell him it is here, and then he can come and get it,” Flame purred.

“Better than that, I’ll take some
back for him as a surprise!” Maisie said.

She clambered toward the side of the cave and began collecting driftwood. Flame watched her from where he sat on a rock beside a large pool behind her.

“Who-oo-ooh!” Suddenly a terrible wail rang out, echoing around the cave creepily.

“Oh!” Maisie gasped, as her heart missed a beat. It was the drowned smuggler!

Then things seemed to happen all at once. Maisie heard Joel and Louise scream with fear, and then their footsteps rang on the rocks as they pounded toward her.

Just as Joel and Louise came into sight, Flame screeched with panic.
Maisie turned to see him scrabbling for a pawhold on the seaweed. As she watched, he fell with a sickening splash into the pool.

“Flame!” Maisie cried in horror. Dropping the driftwood, she sprang toward the rocks.

“What happened? Where is he?” Joel shouted, rushing up with Louise close behind him.

“He’s under the water!” Maisie pointed at the pool, her heart pounding.

Flame’s tiny head suddenly appeared.
He paddled desperately, his paws sending out ripples as he tried to keep his head above water.

“Swim to the side, Flame! You should be able to climb out,” Maisie urged, hoping that the other two wouldn’t realize that Flame actually understood.

Flame mewed and swam toward the side of the pool, where thick seaweed from the rocks draped into the water. He tried to catch hold with his claws, but it was no use and he slipped back in.

“He can’t get out. He’ll drown!” cried Louise.

Maisie felt desperate. She realized that Flame couldn’t use his magic without giving himself away. Before she could think twice about it, she stepped forward and launched herself into the pool.

She gasped with shock as the icy water rose almost up to the tops of her thighs, and a dreadful pain shot up her leg. She had twisted her ankle on a submerged rock.

A wave of sickness washed over Maisie, but she gritted her teeth. Flame had sunk for a second time. She plunged her hands beneath the water and felt around.

“Got you!” she cried as her fingers closed over wet fur.

She lifted Flame up triumphantly
and held him to her chest. Shivering and whimpering with cold, Flame clung to her soaked T-shirt.

Joel and Louise leaned over to help Maisie clamber out of the pool. Trying not to put any weight on her twisted ankle, she crawled onto the rocks on her hands and knees.

Still holding Flame, Maisie managed to sit up. Her ankle throbbed with a dull ache, and she was shivering from head to foot. She bit her lip as a small groan escaped her.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt, Maisie?” Louise asked with concern.

“She’s probably just cold. What did you jump in for, you idiot?” Joel scolded Maisie.

“Shut up, Joel! And give her your
jacket,” Louise ordered, glaring at him.

Joel quickly took off his jacket and spread it around Maisie’s shoulders. As soon as Flame was covered up, Maisie felt sparks igniting in his fur and gently prickling her fingers.