Sky Lights (19 page)

Once again the children stuck to their stories and repeated exactly the same as they had already told their parents. It was obvious to all the adults, including the police officers, that whatever the truth of the situation, the children firmly believed that they had been to Never Land with Peter Pan. With a sigh, the policewoman put her notebook away.

‘We’re getting nowhere with this investigation,’ said WPC Ferguson. ‘Perhaps we will have to get the children’s psychologist to question them individually. But with the holidays and everything that’s not going to happen now until after Christmas.’

‘By the way,’ interrupted Beth, as the police officers prepared to leave, ‘has there been any news on Professor Dante and his daughter?’

‘Nothing yet. But it hasn’t been five days so there isn’t a full investigation going on. A patrol car drove past their house and all looked peaceful. The professor’s car isn’t in the driveway so I guess he has just taken his daughter for a wee trip as a Christmas treat.’

‘I have some information that might be relevant,’ said Jack.

The two police officers turned simultaneously to face Jack and, although they said nothing, their raised eyebrows indicated, ‘We doubt it.’

‘You know we told you we couldn’t get back home because there was no fairy dust? Well, the reason for that was some pirates had stolen it. The fairies heard them say that they needed it to fly over here to kidnap a scientist.’

‘Oh really?’ said DI Johnston patronisingly. ‘And did they say that Cinderella had murdered her two ugly sisters? Or that Hansel and Gretel had been eaten by the witch?’

‘I am only telling you what the fairies said.’

‘And did you hear them say these actual words?’ asked WPC Ferguson.

‘Well no, because fairies only tinkle like bells. But Peter translated for us,’ Jack replied.

‘And this Peter….would that be Peter Pan? The boy who never grew up?’ she asked.

‘Yeah that’s right,’ said Jack.

‘Well sonny, we’ve got news for you,’ said DI Johnston. ‘Peter Pan is a fictitious character and I would have thought by your age you would know the difference between fact and fiction.’

Jack was incensed by this remark and felt like punching the detective on the nose. He clenched his fists but counted to ten. He was in enough trouble without getting charged with assaulting a police officer. ‘Yesterday,’ he began, taking a deep breath to calm himself, ‘I would have wholeheartedly agreed with you sir. But today, I
know
different.’

‘I think there might be something in what my son says,’ said Beth. ‘There’s more to this story than meets the eye. Take a look at what I found out yesterday.’ She began unfolding a sheet of paper. ‘Did you know a Darling family was living in Kensington Gardens in 1901? It is right here in the census. And read this newspaper article.’ She picked up another sheet of paper from the desk. ‘During the war years a young girl was found on the roof of that very house. It seems she was out all night and she died of pneumonia. Why was she there? What was she waiting for? If the Darlings were real perhaps Peter Pan was too.’ She sipped her wine.

‘Look Mrs Paton, we can understand why you wanted a wee drink when your children came home. But this will all seem different when you sober up in the morning.’

Now Beth, too, was livid and felt like slapping the policeman hard. How dare he suggest she was drunk? ‘I’m completely sober inspector and I am only saying what Jack said might be worth investigating. If the professor and his daughter have been kidnapped by pirates they could be in serious danger.’

‘Yes, yes, Mrs Paton. Just leave us to do our job and you do yours. Take better care of your children in future. Or it might be
you
we are investigating! Good night and Merry Christmas to you all.’ And with that the police officers turned and left.

‘What a cheek. What a nerve he had. That’s all the thanks we get for trying to help police with their enquiries,’ said Beth.

‘Forget about it, dear,’ said Doug. ‘The most important thing is that our children are home safely and in time for Christmas. We should all do something nice together tomorrow since it’ll be Christmas Eve. What do you think?’

‘Good idea, Dad,’ said Jack. ‘Can we go to the cinema? There’s a good film on at the Astoria.’

‘What about tickets for the pantomime?’ suggested Shelley.

‘I’d rather go skating at the open air ice rink in Princes Street Gardens,’ said Amy. ‘Some girls in our class were talking about going. Jody went last year and said it was ace.’

‘All these ideas sound good, so what shall it be?’ began Yvonne. ‘What film is on, and would we all like it? We may be too late to get tickets for the Panto. You know how these shows sell out quickly. But we could try. And what is the weather forecast for tomorrow? There’s no point in going skating if it is raining……’

‘Would you like another beer, Rob?’ asked Beth. ‘I’ll top up our glasses of wine, and we can all discuss what to do tomorrow.’

‘Mum, would it be OK if we went upstairs and watched a DVD in my room?’ said Jack. ‘Just until the soup is ready?’

‘On one condition,’ smiled Beth. ‘No going off to Never Land!’

‘We won’t,’ promised Jack. ‘Not tonight anyway.’ He smiled back. The children made their way upstairs and into Jack’s room. They began talking as soon as they closed the door and the DVD was soon forgotten.

‘I wonder where Peter went,’ Amy said. ‘I can’t believe he would’ve gone without saying goodbye.’

‘You know Peter. He’s more than a bit selfish,’ replied Jack. ‘He only ever thinks about himself.’

‘Jack’s right. Peter was such a show off,’ Shelley said.

‘But he was exciting. You have to admit that. And he did bring us back,’ said Amy. ‘He’s not all that selfish.’

‘Wonder why nobody believes us about what happened?’ said Shelley.

‘Can you blame them? It’s all a bit far fetched,’ said Jack. ‘I wouldn’t believe it either if I hadn’t been there.’

‘Shhh. Listen,’ said Shelley. ‘Do you hear anything?’

‘I can hear tinkling….. like bells,’ said Jack.

‘Me too,’ added Amy. ‘Could it be Tinker Bell?’

‘Look there’s tiny light outside my window,’ said Jack as he opened it to look outside. Sitting on the roof was Peter.

‘Well, well, well, there you all are. I was waiting outside the other bedroom window for you until Tinks said she saw you in here. Were you hiding from me?’ he said, climbing into Jack’s bedroom.

‘What the devil…..?’ began Jack but he was drowned out by his little sister.

‘PETER!’ she shouted. ‘I knew you wouldn’t go without saying goodbye.’

‘Shhh, Amy, not so loud,’ said Peter. ‘We don’t want your parents up here. They won’t believe I am who I say I am and they would have me arrested and that wouldn’t do. We have work to do.’

‘Work?’ asked Shelley. ‘What do you mean?’

‘We are not going back to Never Land tonight. I promised my mum,’ said Jack.

‘No, we are not going to Never Land. But we do have work here in Edinburgh. I sent the fairies all over the city to see if they could find out what the pirates were up to and they came back with several things to report.’

‘Like what?’ asked Amy, hanging on Peter’s every word.

‘O’Mullins and MacStarkey were seen running down the High Street being chased by a man in uniform. And then a short time after that they were seen carrying bundles of clothes into an old dark building.’ Peter paused for effect. ‘Noddler and Jukes are currently hanging about on the castle ramparts and they were overheard to say they would wait until 5 minutes past midnight for Fitzsmee and Skylights. And then Noddler was heard to say he wondered if they had got anything useful from the contents of the crocodile’s stomach, and Jukes replied that he hoped they had and that the professor was able to do the job on Hook.’

‘Do you think this professor is the same one that mum was talking about?’ asked Amy. ‘The one whose daughter goes to our school?’

‘Could be,’ said Jack, absentmindedly, as he searched his mind for what he could remember about the professor. He had seen him on TV a few days before. What was it that he had been able to do? And then he remembered! ‘Yeah, yeah, I think it could be the same professor. I remember what he’s famous for now. He’s able to grow new fingers and other body parts on people who have lost them. And grow them very quickly. Maybe Hook isn’t dead. Maybe he wants a new hand,’ said Jack.

‘Hook is definitely dead. I saw it happen. He fell right into the crocodile’s open mouth. The beast chewed twice then swallowed. When it opened its mouth to spit out the hook the captain was gone. He must be dead because he couldn’t live all these years inside a crocodile.’

‘Maybe not,’ said Jack, ‘but his DNA might.’

‘His what?’ asked Peter, for once in his life admitting that he didn’t know something.

‘Oh no,’ said Jack, ‘Surely they are not up to what I think they are up to. We’ve got to find them. We’ve got to find the professor and his daughter. They could be in real danger.’

‘Right,’ said Peter. ‘There’s enough fairy dust to get us round Edinburgh at top speed. Do you know where the professor’s house is? There may be some clues there.’

‘No idea,’ said Jack.

‘I know,’ said Amy. ‘We can check the school’s directory. All the children’s addresses are in it. I’ve a copy in my room. I’ll get it.’

‘Good idea, Amy. Be quick. This is a matter of life and death,’ said Jack.

‘Life and death? You don’t think the pirates will kill them do you?’ asked Shelley.

‘Maybe. Maybe not. But
we’ll
be dead if our parents find we have gone off again. We have to do what we can before they decide it’s time for soup and then bed. I reckon we have no more than an hour. Can we do it Peter?’

‘Cock a doodle doo!’ crowed Peter. ‘Of course we can…or my name’s not Peter Pan. Let’s go. Amy, you lead the way to the professor’s house.’

And for the second time in twenty four hours a mini string of Christmas lights left the Patons’ rooftop and took to the sky.

Jack peered through the bars of the gates into the dark driveway of 16 Renfrew Street. ‘This must be the place where Wendy and her father live,’ he said. ‘Doesn’t look like anyone’s at home.’ Tall evergreen trees swayed in the darkness all round the stone built house. There was no sign of life. No light at any of the windows.

‘What’re we going to do?’ whispered Amy. ‘Are we going to knock at the door?’

‘We’d better, in case someone’s in,’ said her brother.

Not even a security light penetrated the darkness surrounding the building. They looked in vain for a doorbell. Jack tapped softly, as if he really didn’t want an answer, and waited. They listened for signs of life inside. Only the rustle of dried leaves broke the silence. No answer. They were uncertain what to do next.

‘Let’s see if there’s a window open,’ said Jack.

‘I can climb up the outside of the house and check if there’s an upstairs window open,’ said Peter. ‘I can do that easily. If there’s a window open anywhere, I’ll find it,’ he boasted.

‘Be careful. We don’t want anyone to see you flying about,’ said Jack. ‘The rest of you, follow me. And stay quiet.’

‘Did I tell you the first girl I ever took to Never Land was also called Wendy? This could be the house where my Wendy lives now,’ announced Peter grandly from his perch on top of the porch.

‘Don’t be silly!’ said Shelley, ‘That was over a hundred years ago. How could she still be alive?’

‘I’m still alive! And I don’t look a day older than I did a hundred years ago. Strange things happen in my world,’ said Peter. Shelley had no answer to that. Peter started peering in the upstairs windows, doing somersaults along the coping above the first floor. The others circled the building, checking the windows as they went.

‘I’m scared,’ whispered Amy. ‘Let’s go home.’ She pulled at Jack’s sleeve. ‘I’m really scared. It’s so dark.’

‘It’s OK Amy. Don’t worry. Think about those pirates. They were scared of shadows.’

‘No wonder,’ said Amy, laughing at the memory. ‘They were
our
shadows.’

Jack shone a torch all around the back of the house. Peter cartwheeled off the roof and plopped down right in front of him. Jack jumped. Amy and Shelley laughed. ‘Who’s a scaredy cat now?’ said Shelley.

‘Be quiet,’ said Jack. ‘Let’s get a move on. We haven’t time to waste.’ Round the next corner, the torch lit up the patio doors.

‘Look!’ said Amy. ‘These doors aren’t shut properly. Are we going in?’

‘Yeah, well we didn’t come all this way to stay outside. We have to find out what’s going on, and what’s happened to this Professor Dante. See if he’s the same one the pirates talked about.’

Jack stepped inside the house with Amy, Shelley and Peter following closely behind. Four wooden chairs were pushed neatly under a table and a sideboard stood against the wall. A vase of dead flowers was placed in the middle of the sideboard and a bowl of ripe bananas occupied one end of the table. At the other end lay a closed laptop computer, with a scattering of papers over it. Jack scanned the walls with the torchlight. He rested the beam on an old fashioned photograph of a young girl in school uniform, hanging above the sideboard.

‘Wow!’ he said. ‘Who does this remind you of?’ He turned to Amy. ‘Isn’t it like that photo of granny mum keeps by her family history files?’

‘Yeah, it is,’ replied Amy, giving it only a cursory glance. She switched on the reading light by the computer. ‘I’m going to look through these papers.’

‘Amy! What’re you doing?’ said Jack. ‘Don’t put on the light.’

She ignored him and began leafing through the loose pages. ‘Well, it’s the correct house. These are addressed to Professor Dante all right. Most of them are about his work on ABRT. What’s that?’

‘Let’s see,’ said Jack, taking a sheaf of notes from Amy. He scanned a few of them searching for an explanation. ‘Here it is…Accelerated Biological Reconstruction Technique. Remember that article in the paper. Dad had it this morning. They can grow new parts of the body now, like missing fingers.’

‘How about hands?’ said Peter. ‘If this professor had been around when the captain lost his hand…there never would have been a Captain
Hook.
Hook wouldn’t have liked that. He liked to slash and rip and gouge with his hook.’