Bag-Pi Investigates Again: The Five Sneeze Theory Book Two

By H.D. Francis

"An old man once told me that if you sneezed five times in a row on a rainy day in May something strange would happen. I never really believed him, but his words remained tucked away somewhere in my memory for years.”

When Garreth's mother receives a sinister and mysterious letter Garreth Williams, Busi Masimango and Anthea Poulos, the three young BAG-PI investigators, embark on their second case. This time it's personal. Once again the five sneeze theory leads them on an unexpected adventure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Mar 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781483566580

Book preview

Note

An old man once told me that if you sneezed five times in a row on a rainy day in May, something strange would happen. I never really believed him, but his words remained tucked away somewhere in my memory.

Chapter 1: Friday: Late for School

Garreth, would you come in here for a minute please?

I walked into the kitchen to see what my mother wanted. She was sitting at the table holding a letter. Her hands were shaking and she looked a little pale.

What’s wrong, Mum?

She handed me the letter and I read it out loud.

‘Meet me at the corner of Palace and Juniper Street at 11am Saturday 16 August. This is not a hoax. Stephen’

What can this mean, Garreth? Stephen is dead. Your father died seven years ago! Who would play such an awful trick on me? she whispered.

I just stood there.

He was shot, Garreth, I buried him. He was shot, he’s dead!

Mum stood up and started to wash the breakfast dishes in the sink as though it was the most important job in the world, slowly soaping each bowl with a sponge and then rinsing them under the running water. I looked at the letter again. It was typed, but the name ‘Stephen’ was handwritten.

Is this Dad’s handwriting?

My mother continued to rinse some spoons, as if in a trance. She looked out of the window then turned her attention back to the sink.

Mum, are you listening? Is this Dad’s handwriting? I pushed the letter in front of her face.

What? she stepped back. I turned off the tap and shook the note in front of her again.

Mum, concentrate! Is this his handwriting?

She wiped her wet hands on her skirt and took the letter from me. She read it again, carefully studying the words.

I can’t remember, Garreth, it looks like his, but that’s impossible.

Haven’t you got something, to see if the writing is the same? I asked calmly, although my head was spinning with questions and my mouth felt really dry.

My mother shoved the letter into my hands and ran into the hallway. I followed. She opened the top drawer of the dresser and scratched about, throwing pieces of paper and stationery onto the floor.

Oh gosh, I can’t think! Where is it? Where is it?

Let me help. What are you looking for?

She was sitting on the floor rummaging through the papers and stuff she had tossed out of the drawer. I sat down opposite her.

Mum, stop! I yelled. You’re making me scared!

My mother looked at me, her eyes were wild. Then she seemed to focus on my words and stopped.

I’m sorry, Garreth, she said. I’m so sorry.

It’s okay.

No. It’s not. I frightened you. She stood up, walked back into the kitchen and sat down at the table.

I followed and sat down too. I still had the letter in my hand.

Where’s the envelope?

She handed me an envelope. I looked at the typing carefully.

Helen Williams

Apartment 3

Cole Street

East Bank

I looked at the stamp; it was a bird, and covered with black smudgy stamp ink from the post office. I wasn’t used to looking at stamps because we never received much mail, except bills, and they didn’t have coloured stamps on them. The postmark was dated, but it was far too smudged to read properly.

Garreth, tomorrow is Saturday the 16th.

I nodded.

Oh no, look at the time! Quickly Garreth, you’re going to be late for school, fetch your bag. I shoved the envelope into my pocket.

Mum drove like a maniac, but the bell had already gone.

I’m sorry, Garreth, I know you hate being late. We’ll talk about this tonight. Try not to worry okay.

I nodded, slammed the car door and ran into the quad. Too late, I stood in front of the school next to Mr Norton, our principal. Now I was going to have to tell everyone why I was late. Great, just what I needed! I couldn’t exactly say that my mother was having a meltdown, so I said we were caught in a traffic jam. Mr Norton nodded and I went to line up with my class. I stood behind Anthea, who frowned and said we should meet at break because she could see something was wrong. We led off to class.

At first break I met up with Anthea and Busi and told them what had happened before school.

I wonder who sent that letter, it couldn’t be your dad, Garreth. Someone is playing a really sick joke on your mother, said Anthea softly.

Did you bring the letter? asked Busi. I handed him the envelope. Busi and Anthea studied it carefully.

It’s useless, the post office mark has smudged out the date and my mother has the letter, I said.

My dad could fix this, Garreth. Maybe we should take it to his lab before our meeting this afternoon, see what he can do with it.

We always had our BAG-PI meeting on Friday afternoon in Busi’s treehouse, which had become our headquarters. The three of us had been doing this ever since we created BAG-PI, which was an acronym for Busi, Anthea and Garreth – Private Investigators. We formed the company about two months ago when we were involved in the Sam Aberfeldy case, and had continued to have meetings ever since.

I was glad today was Friday, and I was doubly glad that Dr Poulos might be able to help me with the envelope. It was bothering me, and seeing my mum’s reaction this morning had really frightened me.

Chapter 2: The Institute of Scientific Research

Busi’s mother, Mrs Masimango, took us to the Institute of Scientific Research where Anthea’s father worked and came up to the fifth floor with us. We showed her what to do before we entered the lab.

Must I also tie these disposable slippers over my shoes? she asked. This is so exciting; I’ve never been into a laboratory before.

Dr Poulos led us past the other scientists, who, as usual, were too busy to notice us.

So, what’s the problem today, kids? I thought you were finished with all your investigations.

Anthea told her father about the letter and showed him the envelope. He put it under a large microscope looking gadget and explained that this would help him to see beneath the top layer of the post office ink.

Right, let’s see what we have here. Mmm yes, it shows that the letter was posted last week. Did you notice that the stamp is not from here? See how the ink smudge partially covers this Japanese stamp.

Japanese! My mum doesn’t know anyone in Japan.

You say the letter was signed?

Yes, just the name ‘Stephen’ was written, the rest of the note was typed.

Well someone really wants to meet your mother, Garreth. I wonder what this is all about?

She was very upset this morning, Dr Poulos.

Indeed, I’m sure she was. Tell her to give me a call. I wouldn’t want her to go alone to this rendezvous.

I will, thanks for your help.

I’d like to run another test on the envelope paper. I’ll return it to you as soon as I can.

As we left the lab we tossed our goggles, lab coats and disposable slippers into the stainless steel bin outside the door.

Later, after lunch, we sat in Busi’s treehouse talking about the Japanese stamp.

Let’s treat this like an investigation, guys. I’ll write it up in my new casebook.

Anthea opened her new journal that she had stored in our filing cabinet, which was really Busi’s old toy box.

Shall we call it the case of the Mystery Letter?

How about the case of the Japanese Stamp? Busi suggested.

I liked the name, so Anthea wrote it on the cover of her new casebook.

Then she wrote down all the main details of what we had discovered that day.

Right, now what? she asked when she had finished.

Don’t really know, but I do know that my mum can’t go to Juniper and Palace Streets on her own tomorrow.

Let’s all go. My dad can take us, that way she’ll be safe.

Why would someone sign my dad’s name I wonder?

Maybe to make sure your mother would meet them. She can’t exactly ignore the note if it is signed with your father’s name, can she?

Garreth, do you remember your dad? asked Busi gently.

I did remember some things about him, like his large hands. I was only in Grade 1 when he died. I explained that he was a bank manager and was killed in a bank robbery. I didn’t mind speaking to Anthea and Busi about it, like I usually do when someone asks about my father, but the truth is I couldn’t remember him clearly. It made me feel bad because my mother obviously could and still missed him often. Sometimes Luciano Castellani, my friend, whose parents run Mamma’s Restaurant, which is below my apartment, would ask me about my dad. He explained that it was normal not to remember him well. Luciano was like my big brother, so I trusted him when he said that.

Do you look like him, Garreth? asked Anthea.

My gran says I do, whenever she visits, but I don’t see the resemblance. Here, take a look. I showed them the passport photograph I keep in my wallet. Busi and Anthea studied the little old photograph carefully.

You have his jaw and hair colour, Garreth, Anthea observed.

Just then Busi’s eyes glazed over and his head began to sway.

Garreth, he’s having an ESP! whispered Anthea as she touched my hand.

I had seen Busi do this a few times before, during the Sam Aberfeldy investigation, but it felt odd now, because he was doing it about my dad. I squeezed Anthea’s hand tightly and she squeezed mine back.

Busi opened his eyes and shook his head.

That’s strange, I know your dad is dead, Garreth, but I saw him speaking to a newspaper vendor on a street. He was wearing a grey coat and holding a bunch of flowers in his right hand. He looked very alive to me.

What! You can’t be serious, Busi! Try again, that’s crazy stuff!

I saw what I saw, Anthea. It’s not that I wanted to see Mr Williams. I just saw him, that’s all.

As we sat in Busi’s treehouse I felt really frightened. Why would Busi see something that wasn’t true? His ESP was always spot on. I listened to Anthea and Busi’s voices, but they sounded far away and I wasn’t focused on their words at all. There was no way on earth I was going to tell my mum about this. I felt like I was in a dream that didn’t make sense. How could Busi have seen my dad alive when I had been at his funeral?

We have to keep this a secret. No one must know what you saw, Busi. Okay?

But, Garreth, maybe we should tell Dr Poulos, Busi replied. He looked frightened too.

Rubbish, Garreth! Your mother has to know this, said Anthea.

No way, Anthea! It’ll make her crazy. You didn’t see how upset she was this morning. Promise me you won’t tell anyone, not even your dad. Please promise. I felt really upset now and just wanted both of them to stop arguing with me.

Okay, calm down, we promise, said Anthea.

My mum didn’t say anything about the note when we got home, she pretended she was tired, and we both went to bed early. I heard her crying the way she did when I was little, quiet sobbing coming from her bedroom. I wanted to get up and go to her, but part of me just couldn’t. I wished I was braver for things like this. Luciano would have barged into her bedroom and asked her what he could do.

Chapter 3: Saturday: Following Helen

I want you to stay with Mamma today. She needs help at the restaurant, Garreth.

Mum, did you know the letter was posted in Japan? I ignored my mother’s instruction and spoke as bravely as I could. It was posted last week.

Give me that envelope now, Garreth! Let me see.

Dr Poulos has it at the lab. He’s running tests on it.

What! Who gave you permission to take that to him? I can’t believe you did that. Honestly, it’s none of his business.

I didn’t argue. My mother has a way of letting me know when I have done something wrong; her eyes flash and she starts pacing the floor. I took a deep breath and waited for the onslaught.

Why would you do something so stupid? Honestly, Garreth, this is out of line, bringing the Poulos family into my private business. I suppose you told Busi and Anthea too? This is not one of your silly investigation games. It’s my life, and my business. Do you understand me?

I waited it out.

I mean, what on earth made you steal that envelope and take it to the lab? What was going on in that head of yours? I am furious, just furious with you!

She stormed out of the room, only to come back in a second later.

Where’s the letter? Did you steal that too? I shook my head.

Don’t sit there pretending not to hear me, where is it?

I don’t have it, Mum.

My mother stood still and looked at