How Ali Ferguson Saved Houdini Read Free

was an hour ago.’
    â€˜Oh . . . You’d best come in.’
    â€˜Will you help me look?’ she asked. ‘You seemed nice before. Will you help?’
    â€˜Er . . . Of course.’ Ali thought Caitlin looked cross, but she sounded worried. He had to help. ‘Come in. I’ll have to ask my mum.’
    Caitlin stepped into the hallway and Ali closed the door behind her.
    â€˜Who is it?’ Mum shouted from the living room.
    Ali walked ahead of Caitlin. ‘Mum, this is Caitlin. She lives upstairs. Her dad went out with the dog, but he hasn’t come back. Can me and Caitlin go and look for him?’
    â€˜Absolutely not!’ Mum said.
    Ali got ready to argue.
    Then Mum grinned. ‘But me and you and Caitlin can. Go and put something warm on. I’ll grab my scarf and boots.’ Mum stood up and moved towards her bedroom. As she passed Caitlin, she stopped and put a hand on her shoulder. ‘Don’t worry, sweetheart. We’ll find him. I’m sure he just ran into a friend and lost track of time,’ she said.
    Caitlin nodded slowly, then gave a weak smile. ‘Thanks,’ she whispered.
    Mum dropped a quick kiss on the top of Caitlin’s head, then went into her room.
    â€˜Does your dad often stay out late?’ Ali asked.
    Caitlin shook her head. ‘No, but like I said, odd things keep happening.’
    Mum was back quickly. Ali pulled on his own coat and led the way to the lift.
    Outside felt different to the way it did in the daytime. It was still and quiet, as though the cold evening mist held secrets. The street lights cast orange islands on the ground. Between the islands was the shadowy night. Parked cars were hulking shapes, and the bushes crouched in darkness. There was nobody else about. Ali zipped up his coat right to the top. ‘Which way would your dad go?’ he asked.
    â€˜Usually he goes round the block, as far as the footpath to the river. There’s a scrubby bit of woods there that the dogs like. Then he comes back.’ Caitlin sounded much stronger now that they were actually doing something.
    â€˜Right,’ Mum said. ‘Let’s go. Keep together, OK?’
    She set off with long strides. Ali and Caitlin marched beside her. The only sounds were their own footsteps on the concrete and once, somewhere in the distance, the squeal of a van speeding away.
    â€˜Keep an eye out for any likely-looking pubs,’ Mum said.
    Then, out of the darkness, there came a sudden sound. Claws striking the ground. Running fast. Racing through the mist. One of the shadows, come alive and coming towards them. Ali looked left and right, trying desperately to see what it was.
    â€˜Falcon!’ Caitlin dropped down on one knee as the huge dog bounded into her arms. Ali laughed nervously. The shadow was only Falcon!
    Caitlin spoke urgently. ‘Falcon, where’s Dad? Do you know?’
    â€˜Is she like a police dog?’ Ali asked.
    â€˜No, she’s as thick as mince. But she must know where Dad is. Fetch, Falcon. Fetch! Find Dad!’
    Falcon sat. Her huge mouth lolled open as she panted.
    â€˜Falcon!’ Caitlin said impatiently.
    â€˜Well, she’ll never be Lassie,’ Mum said. ‘It looks like we’re on our own. But at least we know we’re going the right way. We found Falcon; we’ll find your dad.’
    They carried on walking. The road narrowed as it got closer to the river. It was hardly more than a lane now. Ali saw a wooden sign marked ‘Public Footpath’ pointing in the direction they were walking. He realised that soon the lane would shrink down to a path. A dark, damp path, with trees looming in on either side. He shivered.
    And then, in the shadows, he saw something.
    â€˜What’s that?’ He pointed towards the shape on the ground. Something large, something still.
    â€˜Dad!’ Caitlin ran forward. Mum and Ali chased after her. Caitlin dropped down next to the