Mystery at Mavadi!

Chapter 23!

Yay!! We're in the 23rd Chapter already!

Thank you all sooooooo much for reading. Every time I see how many reads I've gotten I can't help but jump up for joy!!

Thanks and I'll try not to disappoint you guys with the ending! Tell me if you want another book of these guys. :)

Thanks for reading! Enjoy!!

RECAP:

"Babunus," he corrected me, "And no, only one gem is this perfectly cut. So, which one is fake? This one or the one in the vault?"

"Didn't they check the gem after it's reappearance?" Larry asked.

"Well yes," Robert conceded, "Unless these crooks have men in high positions as well."

A creepy silence followed.

These thieves weren't just petty crooks. They were international criminals and we'd just entered the shark's cave.

Chapter 23:

"Let's go back," I said finally.

"It's getting dark outside."

"But we still have the rest of this secret base to explore," Alex protested but even she sounded half-hearted.

"Maybe tomorrow," Larry said and we all agreed.

Robert and I took the lead with our flashlights. We reached the small room with the rope ladder.

"Vy?" Am's voice reached me as I touched the rope.

"Yeah Am, it's me."

I could hear her smile, "You guys make a lot of noise when you walk."

"Really?"

Ten minutes later, we were all above ground sitting on the green grass.

Alex and I shared a pack of crackers ignoring a frustrated Lord Ed. It was 5:30 in the evening and the sun was slowly setting.

"Let's go, you guys. We need to get home before dark." Larry said dragging Robin to his feet with a slight pull.

"Robert, why don't you stay for dinner today?" Am asked.

Robert smiled, "I'd love to."

We didn't protest. Robert was good company.

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Rich, brown, absolutely delicious liquid chocolate flowing out of soft perfectly round, sweet brownie.

Am's chocolate filling cake was a success. At least for Alex and me.

We ate slowly, savouring each each spoon of chocolate goodness and occasionally swatting Robin's hand away from the plate of chicken nuggets.

"Hey! I want one! Stop swatting my hand away."

Alex just shook her head 'no' and pushed his hand away again.

Am walked into the room with the last plate of chicken nuggets.

"Here you go."

"Ha! All mine!!" Robin shouted and grabbed the plate from Am.

"You're welcome, Robin." She said.

He gave her a sheepish grin, "Thanks, Am."

She smiled, pulling off her apron.

"Wonder what the police are telling Robert and Larry," Susan said from next to me.

I paused my chewing to shrug. An hour after we'd gotten home, Robert had gotten a call from the inspector-in-charge to meet him with Larry.

Looked like we were officially a part of the investigation now, that much was clear.

"Something about Rayne maybe." Am said quietly.

"That's right." Larry entered the living room with Robert, his face pulled into an expression of sorrow.

Uh oh.

He stopped in front of us to grab a chair. "Rayne has been reported found dead from a few towns away."

I choked on my cake, "He's dead?"

Larry nodded, his expression grave.

"We should tell the inspector about the secret base," He said sounding distressed.

We were all quiet.

I knew what Larry said was right. This was a job for the police. It could have nothing to do with Rayne.

"Can we take them there?" I asked slowly.

Alex shifted in her seat, "I don't want them to know about it but if we get credit..."

"Yeah," Susan slowly agreed, "If WE can show them the underground hallways and stuff, it'll be cool."

Larry smiled, "I'm sure he'll say 'yes'"

"Who?" Susan asked.

"Uncle Mark. Uncle Mark is the inspector."

"You're kidding me!" Robin exclaimed.

"NO WAY!!" Alex squealed.

"Can you believe it?" Susan turned to me.

I grinned, "I have no clue who Uncle Mark is!"

She rolled her eyes. "Vy! I hate it when you do that. Don't you remember?"

"I know him?"

"Of course you know him. He played carrom with us when we were kids."

Blank.

"He was seven years older than us." Alex tried, "He bought us finger ring chips!"

Utter blank.

"He gave us rides on his bike!" Robin said.

Total and utter blank.

"He gave you piggy back rides to the stream." Am recounted.

A light went on. I slowly remembered.

Looking around, my cousins looked at me like I'd just found a cure for cancer.

I burst out laughing.

I remembered Uncle Mark. We called everybody we played with uncle or older sister around here.

Mrs. Lina had been the only person we hadn't known. This was a Small town where everybody knew everybody else on a first name basis.

Anybody could call the ambulance anytime.

People didn't do formality around here. They were far too warm and friendly to be polite. If you gave someone a polite smile, it meant you didn't know them or you were upset with something they'd done.

It made hurting other people's feelings nearly impossible. You gave your elders respect so much so that you listened to what they said whether you liked it or not.

Children were mature and responsible here, working after school and studying and working to have fun.

Their idea of fun was sitting in a quiet meadow or playing hide and seek with the little children.

Which was where Uncle Mark had come in.

He'd been a teenager back then and had spent his free time playing dumb games with us and talking us down to the river.

That's what I loved about Mavadi. It was like a quiet little retreat from the big bad world outside.

"Yeah, I remember him" I said. "Poor guy! Wonder how much we tortured him."

Susan laughed, "A miracle  he's not suffering from trauma after shepherding us around."

Larry smiled, "Tell me about it."

We threw our cushions at him.