The Black Star: Stolen Treasures, #2

By Susie Dinneen

Stolen treasure. Coded messages. Fake gems. She has to solve the crime before she loses her home. 

For the first time in her twelve years, Cairo has found a loving home with Astrid, but when the Black Star Trove, a priceless collection of treasure, is stolen before an exhibition at Astrid's university, their lives are turned upside down. 

Desperate to help her new guardian, Cairo sets out to discover who is behind the crime. As the investigation draws her closer to the truth, she realises that dangerous people are keeping secrets about the stolen jewels.

Will she be able to reveal the truth before she loses the only family she has?

The Black Star is the second book in the Stolen Treasures adventure series for readers aged nine to twelve. If you like Nancy Drew, The Mysterious Benedict Society and Lemony Snicket, you'll love this fast-paced mystery by Susie Dinneen.

Start reading today and unlock the mystery with Cairo. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blue Moth Books
• Release date: May 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9780620927185

Susie Dinneen

Before Susie Dinneen became a writer, she was a reader, and before that she was a dreamer. Now she’s all of those things. She catches stories that flit and float through the air, which is what she’s really doing when it looks like she’s daydreaming (although sometimes she’s just daydreaming). Her first published book is Nombulelo and the Moth, a picture book for 4 to 8 year olds. It’s about love and being brave, even when there are leopards in the forest.  She’s currently working on the Stolen Treasures series of adventures for 9 to twelve year olds. The prequel short story, The Pickpocket and the Thief, is available for free on her website. The first Stolen Treasures novel is The Trunk of Stars.  She lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, with her husband, who’s a musician, and their cat, who pushes books off tables. One day she’ll have a library with a very comfy chair in it. She works as a creative director in a digital agency to fund her book habit. You can find her online at www.susiedinneen.com.

Book preview

image-placeholderimage-placeholder

First published by Blue Moth Books 2021 Copyright © 2021 by Susie Dinneen

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

Susie Dinneen asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

ISBN: 978-0-620-92717-8 (print)

ISBN: 978-0-620-92718-5 (e-book)

image-placeholder

Contents

1.The Frozen Scorpion

2.The Letter

3.Questions

4.The Black Star

5.Treasure

6.Daughter

7.The Emerald Ring

8.Thieves

9.More Trouble

10.Secret Code

11.A House

12.Tante Lisbet

13.Carrot Skins

14.Plotting

15.Houndstooth Hall

16.Perfect

17.Mrs Templeton

18.Atta Biscuits

19.The Grey Man

20.A Few More Days

21.The Book

22.No Matter What

23.News

24.The Crimson Feather

25.The Missing Piece

26.Last Chance

27.Too Many Keys

28.In the Cellar

29.Whispers

30.The Mural

31.The Ruby Panther

32.Evidence

33.Broken

34.Never

35.A Manila Envelope

36.The Star Spear Sneak Peek

image-placeholder

The afternoon sun lanced into the office, tickled by floating motes of dust. Cairo was curled up in her usual spot under the window, doodling in her journal while waiting for Astrid to finish work for the day so they could go home together. Home. The word was honey on her tongue—sweet and golden.

Usually Cairo would pass these two hours doing her homework at Astrid’s desk while she waited, but school had closed today, and Cairo had been swept up in the excitement of the beckoning holidays and six weeks without homework. Homework was another new word in her mouth, not as sweet as honey, but still part of her life with Astrid.

Astrid was the reason Cairo had a home. Six months ago, Astrid had helped Cairo escape her life on the road with the Mulches, a family of thieves led by Agatha, or Gran as she had made Cairo call her. She wasn’t Cairo’s grandmother, but Agatha had raised Cairo after she’d found her as a baby.

Cairo had been desperately unhappy with the Mulches until Astrid had entered her life and they’d made their own family together.

The clock on the wall thunked to five o’clock. Astrid was taking longer than usual. Cairo stood and wandered along the floor-to-ceiling bookcase, trailing her fingertips along the books’ spines, feeling the smooth dust jackets and the rough, uncovered books. She’d done this so many times, imagining her mother had done the same when she had worked at the university. It had been in another office, in another department, but it still felt like reaching a hand back in time—a time when Cairo’s parents were still alive.

She sat at Astrid’s desk and picked up the newspaper lying on it. The headline shouted:

WEALTHY WIDOW ROBBED

PRICELESS JEWELS STOLEN

Cairo read, fascinated. The story sounded like it came out of a novel. Fifteen years ago, Mrs Templeton, the wealthy widow in the article, had inherited the Black Star Trove from her husband, and the previous night someone had broken into her mansion and taken the massive collection of jewels and riches. There was a smudgy photo of a dark-haired woman wearing a fur coat and a rope of diamonds for a necklace. The caption said: Mrs Templeton wore replicas of her collection, saying that she wanted to enjoy their beauty without the risk of loss or damage to the original pieces.

It was the kind of story Cairo’s best friend, Felix, loved. He was happiest when he was in detective mode, which was most of the time, because he viewed everything around him as a puzzle to be solved. They’d become friends working together to stop Agatha stealing the Golden Scarabs, treasure that Cairo’s mother was trying to return to Egypt when she died.

If it had been during the school term, Cairo would have sent the article about the Black Star Trove to Felix, perhaps with a note in their secret code, but she would see him soon.

The person she wanted to see the most right now was Astrid. Footsteps echoed along the passage outside, and Cairo jumped up to open the door. Seeing Astrid appear in the doorway always made her heart swoop.

Before she flung the door wide, she heard the strained voice of Professor Neale, Astrid’s boss. It’s a major setback, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your project.

Peeking through the gap between the door and the frame, Cairo watched Astrid press her lips together and then force a smile. It wasn’t the real one that made her eyes shine. Perhaps the thieves took the replicas by mistake, and we’ll still be able to put the exhibit together.

Were they talking about Mrs Templeton and the trove?

The professor stopped and stared at Astrid, his face pinched in a frown. Miss Miller, this is not the time for flippancy. Mrs Templeton has been a great supporter of the university, and now the poor woman has lost everything.

Worry coiled in Cairo’s stomach. She didn’t want Astrid to be in trouble.

When Astrid spoke, her voice was flat. I’m sorry. It’s been a long day.

Professor Neale’s frown tightened. He cleared his throat but didn’t speak.

Astrid’s lips turned up into a small, stiff smile. Besides, everyone knows the stories.

Stories?

That Mrs Templeton wears the genuine jewels and not the replicas. That she’s like a dragon with a horde of gems that she won’t let out of her sight.

A dragon? Professor Neale’s voice pitched higher. Did you just call my dear friend a dragon?

The colour drained from Astrid’s face.

The coil of worry in Cairo’s belly reached up and wrapped around her heart. Astrid often made light of situations, and she always tried to make people feel better.

It wasn’t working.

Cairo had to do something to protect Astrid. She banged the door open, making both the professor and Astrid jerk, and then rushed out the office. Once she was between them, she had no idea what to do. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Professor Neale made his throat-clearing sound. Miss Miller, I assume this is your ward?

Astrid placed her hand on Cairo’s shoulder. This is Cairo.

He scowled at them both. We shall continue this conversation in the morning. I expect a list of ideas to make sure your project can go ahead. I hope by then you will be professional, and not distracted by domestic matters. He turned and marched down the corridor.

After he had turned the corner, Astrid let out a deep sigh. What are you up to, Cairo?

He was being so mean.

Astrid steered her back into the office. I was stupid. I should’ve kept my mouth shut.

Cairo leaned against the desk and ran her fingers along the wooden edge. Are you in trouble?

Maybe a little. I’ll have to come up with another exhibition, though.

Astrid had been working hard to organise an exhibition to raise funds for the university, but Cairo didn’t understand why she’d need another. What do you mean?

My exhibition was going to tell the story of the trove. It was discovered buried in the basement of Houndstooth Hall, but each piece has its own history. People love that kind of thing.

Cairo twisted her fingers. The treasure was going to be here?

Astrid perched next to her on the desk. Not in my office, but yes, here at the university.

What will you do now?

I’ll make a plan. Astrid nudged her shoulder. Don’t look so worried, Cairo.

But a flutter of anxiety whispered in Cairo’s heart. She’d only been with Astrid for a few months. What if something changed and she couldn’t live with her anymore? What will you do if you can’t get another exhibition together?

If this becomes even more of a disaster, and Neale fires me, I can always get a job at the zoo, mucking out cages. Her smile was tight.

To avoid the fake smile, Cairo looked down at the paperweight on the desk. It was a scorpion, tail poised to strike, frozen in a chunk of clear resin. She ran her finger over the polished surface and when Astrid looked away, she slipped it into her pocket.

I’ll help you.

Cairo, you don’t have to worry about this. It’s been a bad day. Tomorrow will bring something new.

Astrid stood up and slung her bag over her shoulder. I’m not sure what you have planned now, but I’m going to ask my favourite girl if she’d like to have an ice cream with me.

The knot of worry in Cairo’s stomach loosened. That sounds good.

Astrid locked her office door behind them and dropped the keys into her bag. Felix arrives tomorrow, right?

The thought of seeing her friend again warmed her. She ran her fingers over the smooth resin in her pocket again, and then handed the paperweight to Astrid.

The smile she got in reply was genuine this time. Cairo Lilly, don’t tell me you lifted that right in front of me.

She nodded and Astrid looped her arm through hers.

I’m going to have to keep a closer eye on you, it seems. Are you sure you aren’t the jewel thief? Where exactly were you at two o’clock this morning?

They wandered along the passages of the university, out towards the last of the afternoon sunshine, Astrid teasing Cairo. While she laughed at the jokes, that knot of anxiety tightened a little around her heart, because Astrid was right.

Cairo was a thief.

image-placeholder

Cairo stared at the page in her book. The words were shapes that meant nothing anymore as they floated on their papery cloud. She was at home, too excited about Felix’s arrival to pay much attention to anything else. As soon as she heard footsteps outside the front door, she ran to it, only to find an envelope lying on the carpet, underneath the letterbox.

Cairo recognised the spidery handwriting immediately, and ice rushed through her entire body.

It was a letter from Aunt Griselda, Agatha Mulch’s daughter-in-law.

Not daring to touch it, Cairo dashed out the back door and sat under the pin oak. The smooth bark against her back was steadying, and she summoned her courage until she was ready to go inside. The letter still lay on the floor, quietly taunting her, daring her to open it.

She left it there and went to find her book, still open on the couch where she’d left it. She looked at the words and turned the pages, but the letter covered her thoughts, growing bigger and fatter until it took up all the space in her mind.

Just by opening it, her life could change—maybe in the most terrible way.

What if Agatha was summoning her?

What if Cairo had to leave Astrid and go back to the Mulches?

What if she never saw Astrid again?

When the uncertainty was too much, Cairo forced herself into action. She scooped up the letter and tore open the envelope.

It wasn’t what she expected.

It was a simple letter, inviting Cairo to play with Jojo. The little girl was like a sister to Cairo—they’d spent their lives together. She missed Jojo and wanted to see her, but a tendril of fear wormed under her skin. What if it was a trap?

The knock on the door jolted her out of her thoughts. As softly as she could, she stepped towards the kitchen. If Agatha was here, Cairo could escape through the back garden, maybe run to Felix’s house. The second knock was louder, startling Cairo so she bumped over a framed photo on the telephone table. Now that the person outside knew she was there, she didn’t have to stay quiet. She was about to sprint out the kitchen, when the voice came through the door.

Cairo! Hello? Cairo! Open up, open up!

Cairo unlocked the door to find Felix on the doorstep, his face shiny, a few strands