The Mystery of Miss King Read Free

Miss Dodds!”

    I was cross. Cross because I knew what I’d seen, but no one seemed to believe me. Not even my friends. What was I to do? I thought about it for a while, then decided to put all ideas of feet and bones out of my mind for good.
    But Gran wouldn’t let me.
    When I got home from school, she was there again. She handed me a library book.
    â€œIt’s about Burke and Hare. I thought you might be interested. In case you’ve seen any more body parts…”
    â€œWell…” I said, and then I told her about the bone.
    Dad, who was reading his newspaper, got cross. “Stop this nonsense, both of you,” he said. “I checked with the station and there are no missing persons around here. Now, why don’t you be sensible, Jonny, and concentrate on winning this football match on Saturday instead.”
    â€œOK,” I said. I’d be happy to.
    But it wasn’t that easy. Next morning, Mr Maini had another thick magazine for Miss King.
    â€œShe certainly has some unusual interests,” he said, handing it to me.
    I looked at the title and gulped.
The Muscles of the Human Body
. I daren’t think what she wanted
that
for!
    I stuck it in my bag, along with the rest of the papers, and set off on my round. Outside number 36, I met Dr Sphinx. He was putting a large bag into the back of a taxi.

    â€œHello, Jonny,” he smiled. “I’m glad I met you. Will you ask Mr Maini to cancel my paper till I get back from Egypt. I forgot.”
    â€œOf course,” I nodded. “Have a good trip.”
    â€œI’ll send you a postcard,” he said, and got into the taxi. It was only when it had disappeared down the hill that I wished I’d asked Dr Sphinx if he knew anything about Miss King.
    I carried on with my round, but when I got to number 57 and tried to put the magazine through the snappy letter box, it wouldn’t fit.
    â€œOh no,” I said. “Not again!” There was nothing for it. I’d have to knock on the door.
    I banged the knocker.
    No reply.
    I thought about taking the magazine back to the shop, but then I’d
still
have to deliver it tomorrow.
    Then I had another thought. Perhaps I could leave it on the window ledge, weighed down by the Viking gods.
    I went over to the compost heap. “Excuse me,” I said, picking them up, “but I need you to guard something else today.”
    I put the magazine on the ledge and sat the stone gods on top. “You can look in the window, if you like,” I said, and turned them round.

    I wish I hadn’t, for there, grinning at us from the top of the TV, was a human skull…

    â€œAaaargh!” I yelled and bolted down the path. It was getting to be quite a habit. I suppose I must have finished the rest of my round, but I don’t really remember. I just know that when I got back to Mr Maini’s my bag was empty.
    â€œWhat’s wrong, Jonny?” said Mr Maini. “You look upset.”
    â€œIt’s nothing,” I said, backing out of the shop. “Just got some things on my mind.”
    I must be sensible, I must be sensible, I kept repeating. Dad’s sure to be right.There are no missing persons from around here. The skull’s probably a theatrical prop or maybe a plastic one from a joke shop. The trouble was, it didn’t look plastic. It looked only too real. Those staring eyes. Those tombstone teeth…
    â€œBut you can’t tell anyone about it,” I said out loud, as I pedalled to school. “Or they’ll really think you’re nuts. Just try to do as Dad says and concentrate on Saturday’s game.”

Chapter Five

    So I did. I tried to put it all out of my mind and for the next couple of days luckily there were no more magazines to deliver. I just stuck Miss King’s paper through her letter box and hurried away as fast as I could.

    Finally, Saturday arrived and the long-awaited inter-schools’