Alice-Miranda Holds the Key 15 Read online

  About the Book

  In a startling turn of events, Alice-Miranda unexpectedly finishes the school term earlier than planned. Holidays should be a time for fun and a chance to catch up with friends, but it seems all is not well at Highton Hall. There is trouble afoot with the family business and it’s got everyone worried. Scores of people have been struck down with a mystery illness and it looks as if Kennington’s may be responsible.

  Meanwhile, there is also the annual garden party to prepare for. And the whole village is invited! Throw in an intriguing new neighbour, a runaway and a swindler and it may just be the perfect recipe for disaster. Alice-Miranda will have to trust her intuition to unlock this mystery.

  Contents

  Cover

  About the Book

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  And just in case you’re wondering …

  Cast of characters

  About the Author

  Books by Jacqueline Harvey

  Jacqueline Supports

  Copyright Notice

  For Ian and Sandy – who would have thought we’d get to fifteen!

  Down below, the factory whirred and thumped as the machines jolted back and forth, spitting their contents onto the conveyors. From the control room, the plant supervisor looked out over the vast floor and marvelled at how far things had come in the past few years. Not so long ago there would have been a hundred workers attending the stations, but these days human intervention just wasn’t necessary – most of the time. He was fortunate they still employed someone like him. No doubt in the future there would be a machine to do his job too.

  The man’s stomach grumbled. Tonight already felt like one of those shifts that would never end. He stood up and walked to the small refrigerator, where he pulled out the ham-and-pickle sandwich he’d packed for his dinner. He carried it back to his work station and sat down, then picked at the edge of the cling film when an alarm began to bleat.

  ‘Not now,’ he sighed, hoping that one of the workers would sort it out. He could feel the beeping sound working its way inside his head, a dull ache rising. As the alarm continued, he huffed and stood up. He left his sandwich on the bench and hurried downstairs towards the offending machine, which of course was at the furthest corner of the building. He didn’t notice the shadowy figure dart into the control room, closing the door softly behind them.

  It didn’t take long for the supervisor to recalibrate the injector. It was the second time it had happened this week, which was somewhat disconcerting, given the machines had recently been serviced and usually ran like clockwork. He glanced back towards the control room, which was suspended like an eagle’s nest at the end of the factory. It was strange – he didn’t remember closing the blinds. Or had he? Working the night shift on too little sleep wasn’t exactly ideal and he did seem to be more forgetful these days.

  Once more, the shadowy figure went unnoticed as they slipped back out through the control-room door, shoving a piece of paper into their pocket. The deed was done. You couldn’t change the past, but the future? Well, that was something else altogether.

  Millie studied her cards again, willing the one at the top of the deck to be either a black seven or a red three. She looked across the table at her friend, wondering how it was that Alice-Miranda always managed to keep such a straight face.

  ‘It’s your turn,’ Millie reminded her.

  The tiny brunette child hummed, then reached out and placed her hand on top of the deck before retracting it quickly and fanning her cards onto the table. ‘Full house,’ she declared with a cheeky grin.

  Millie threw hers away in disgust. ‘Seriously! I thought this game was mine. What’s that? Six in a row?’

  Alice-Miranda shrugged and wrinkled her nose. ‘Seven, I think. But who’s counting? Sorry, Millie. Some days you win, and some days … you know how it goes.’

  Millie sighed and swept the cards towards her. ‘I’m not giving up yet. Your winning streak has to come to an end sooner or later, although I’m glad your luck held out for the engineering competition. I still can’t believe our tower managed to withstand Plumpy’s wind-machine test.’

  Alice-Miranda looked at her friend. ‘I think that was definitely more luck than skill, especially when he upped the fan level to typhoon strength.’

  ‘No, it wasn’t,’ Caprice piped up from the centre of the sitting room. The girl was cocooned within a beanbag and snuggled up to Fudge, their resident cavoodle.

  As it was Saturday night, the students of Grimthorpe House had gathered in front of the television to watch a movie. There was barely an inch of room, with girls lounging all over the place in chairs, on beanbags and duvets and pillows raided from their bedrooms.

  ‘We were amazing. Well, at least, I was,’ Caprice conceded. ‘And the rest of you weren’t such a bad support crew, I suppose.’

  Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young Ladies had recently held its very first Science, Technology and Engineering Fair, where the girls had spent a whole week engaged in a series of challenges ranging from chemistry and physics, to robotics and construction. Millie had almost choked when she’d been placed in the same group as Caprice. Luckily, so had Sloane and Alice-Miranda, and in the end their group was named the overall champion, receiving a giant silver cup engraved with their names. Caprice had argued that she and Sloane should be able to keep it in their room until next year’s competition – the girl was quite convinced they’d only won because of her – but Miss Grimm had other ideas, promptly placing it under lock and key in the school trophy cabinet.

  ‘You know, your modesty is always so refreshing, Caprice,’ Millie replied with a roll of her eyes. She shuffled the cards and somehow managed to spray them up into the air.

  Caprice snorted and waved her hand dismissively. ‘What’s the point of winning if you can’t rub everyone’s noses in it? Not that you would have much experience with that.’

  Sloane wriggled out of the beanbag she was lying on and picked her way across the sitting-room floor. ‘Can I play? she asked, joining Alice-Miranda and Millie at the table. ‘I think I’d rather watch Miss Wall’s instructional video on javelin throwing techniques than this boring movie. At least there’s that funny part when Mr Plumpton wanders onto the field and doesn’t realise he’s in the line of fire. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him move so fast.’

  Alice-Miranda grinned. ‘He was lucky Mi
ss Wall was off her game that day.’

  ‘Well, I think it’s a lovely film,’ Mrs Howard said. The housemistress was wedged into her favourite armchair, her knitting needles clacking away as the body of the jumper she was making for her granddaughter grew longer.

  ‘Me too,’ Sofia said. ‘That dog is adorable.’

  ‘Not as cute as Fudge,’ Caprice said, stroking the pup’s curly caramel fur.

  ‘Mrs Howard, could I make some hot chocolate?’ Sofia asked.

  There was a chorus of agreement from the rest of the girls as the movie was interrupted by the catchy new jingle for the Kennington’s grocery chain.

  ‘I’ll give you a hand, dear,’ the woman said, setting her knitting aside. ‘I think we’d best make a large pot.’ She muted the sound and left the television remote on the seat cushion as she stood up and navigated her way to the door.

  ‘Change the channel, someone,’ Caprice ordered.

  ‘Don’t you even think about it,’ Mrs Howard called from the kitchenette. ‘Who knows what rubbish is on the other stations.’

  ‘Whatever,’ Caprice griped. ‘Hey, isn’t that your father, Alice-Miranda?’ The girl pointed at the television, which had just cut to a news bulletin. Emblazoned across the bottom of the screen were the words: Kennington’s food-poisoning outbreak.

  Alice-Miranda put down her cards and stood up to get a better view. ‘What are they saying?’ she asked as she watched a clip of her father walking from his car to the front doors of the Kennington’s offices.

  ‘Turn it up, someone,’ Caprice demanded, before stretching back to Mrs Howard’s chair and unmuting the television herself.

  ‘The Kennington’s grocery empire is tonight under threat as police investigate the cause of a food-poisoning outbreak that has left scores in hospital with a range of symptoms including nausea, headaches and general confusion. The national food authority is working with Kennington’s to isolate possible contaminants. However, at this stage the source remains a mystery. Owner Hugh Kennington-Jones has said that all avenues are being thoroughly investigated, and he and his wife are keeping those affected in their thoughts.’

  The story ended with Alice-Miranda’s father facing the cameras, a look of grave concern etched into his features.

  Alice-Miranda shivered as if her blood had just run cold. What a terrible thing to happen. This morning she’d been prattling on about typhoon-resistant towers while her parents were dealing with a crisis. Now she felt positively foolish.

  A quiet murmur rippled around the room.

  ‘Wow, that sounds pretty bad,’ Caprice said.

  Alice-Miranda’s brow puckered as all eyes fell on her. ‘I’m sure Daddy will get to the bottom of it. I only hope all the people affected get better very quickly.’

  ‘Yeah, because if anyone dies, your dad will probably go to jail,’ Caprice said matter-of-factly.

  Millie glared at the girl. ‘Did you really have to say that?’

  ‘Well, it’s true,’ Caprice retorted.

  But Alice-Miranda hadn’t even heard her. She was lost in her own thoughts.

  Millie slipped off her chair and walked over to her friend. ‘Are you okay?’ she asked.

  Alice-Miranda nodded. ‘I might sit out this round and give Mummy a call.’

  Mrs Howard walked back into the room, carrying a tray laden with mugs of steaming hot chocolate. She set it down at the end of the table as Sofia walked in behind her with a second lot. The sweet aroma filled the air, and the girls descended upon them like seagulls.

  ‘Would you mind if I used the telephone?’ Alice-Miranda asked the woman once the melee had died down.

  ‘Go ahead, dear,’ Mrs Howard said. She paused, taking note of the uncharacteristically sombre tone of Alice-Miranda’s voice. ‘Is everything all right?’

  ‘Her father’s in big trouble. People might die because of stuff they’ve sold in their shops,’ Caprice jumped in, relishing the opportunity to deliver the bad news. She took a sip of her milk, which she immediately spat back into the mug. ‘Ow! That’s scalding hot.’

  ‘Good, maybe it will shut you up for a while,’ Millie grumbled.

  ‘I heard that,’ Caprice sniped, and poked out her burning tongue.

  Mrs Howard turned to Alice-Miranda. ‘Off you go, dear. Make that call,’ she said. ‘And you can take the telephone to your room if you’d prefer.’

  ‘Thank you,’ the child said, and scampered away down the hall.

  ‘That’s so unfair,’ Caprice whined. ‘We never get to make calls in our rooms.’

  ‘Did I just hear you volunteer to clear out the attic all day tomorrow?’ Mrs Howard said, arching an eyebrow.

  ‘No,’ the girl sulked, hunkering back down beside Fudge.

  ‘Then I’d do as Millie suggested and keep a still tongue for the rest of the evening,’ the woman harrumphed.

  Millie’s eyes were rooted to the doorway as she fidgeted, unsure of what to do. Her instinct was to go after Alice-Miranda, but she didn’t want to pry either.

  ‘Why don’t you play another round of cards?’ Mrs Howard said, gently placing her hand on the girl’s shoulder and giving it a reassuring squeeze. ‘Give her a few minutes, Millie – you can check on Alice-Miranda in a little while.’

  Sleep had not come easily to Alice-Miranda that night. She’d been reading since just after four o’clock, hoping the book would finally send her off, but each time the sandman beckoned, her brain would click back into gear. Despite her mother’s assurances that everything was under control, there had been a waver in the woman’s voice that hadn’t filled her with confidence. Though, the knowledge that Mrs Oliver was undertaking a barrage of testing in her laboratory that was housed in the ancient cellars of Highton Hall did somewhat quell her unease. If anyone could get to the bottom of the problem, Alice-Miranda felt sure that Dolly Oliver could. Not only was she the family’s spectacular cook, Dolly’s work in food science had earned her accolades around the world – particularly for her Just Add Water creation of freeze-dried foods, which had made inroads into feeding many of the world’s impoverished nations.

  Now, as the first rays of morning sun streamed through the gap in the curtains, Millie rolled over and yawned loudly.

  Alice-Miranda smiled across at her friend. ‘Good morning,’ she said softly. She slipped her bookmark, with its picture of a pony that bore a striking resemblance to Bonaparte, between the pages and placed her book on her bedside table.

  Millie stretched her arms above her head and sat up. ‘Have you been awake long?’

  ‘A while,’ Alice-Miranda said, not wanting to cause concern.

  Millie peeled back the covers and bounced across to Alice-Miranda’s bed, snuggling in beside her. ‘Okay, out with it,’ she demanded. ‘What else did your mother say last night?’

  ‘Nothing,’ Alice-Miranda said, tying her wild curls back into a ponytail. ‘I told you everything I know.’

  ‘Then what are those suitcases doing there?’ Millie pointed at the puffy crescent-shaped bags under Alice-Miranda’s big brown eyes.

  Alice-Miranda giggled. ‘Not just bags but suitcases? How impressive.’

  ‘Have you slept at all?’ Millie asked.

  ‘Not really. I couldn’t stop thinking about all the people who have fallen ill and how upset their families must be, which made me think about my own family. I suppose I’ve never seen Daddy look so very tired and stressed – it was quite a shock. I even tried counting sheep but, believe me, it doesn’t work. Perhaps I should have a word with Shilly and Mrs Oliver. I have a feeling Mummy was putting on a brave face, but she did say that Mrs Oliver is on the case.’ Alice-Miranda stopped and looked over at her friend. ‘Do you think there’s anything we could do to help?’

  Millie rolled onto her back and examined the ceiling for a full minute. ‘I don’t really see what we could do from here. Between the doctors and scientists and Mrs Oliver, they’ll surely find the cause soon.’

  Alice-Miranda nodded. ‘I
just feel so helpless. What if more people get sick in the meantime? Maybe Daddy should close all the stores until they know exactly what’s going on.’

  Millie jumped down onto the floor and put on her glasses. ‘It’s not the first time your parents have had trouble with their companies and they’ve always managed to pull through,’ the girl said, gathering up her bathroom bag and towel.

  ‘That’s true. I’d almost forgotten about the awful business with Mr Finkelstein and the reopening of Highton’s on Fifth Avenue. Now I think of it, Daddy also had quite a drama at Pelham Park when we were on camp,’ Alice-Miranda said. She yawned widely, a wave of exhaustion rolling over her.

  ‘And who knows how many other things have happened that your parents haven’t told you. You can’t fix everything,’ Millie said sternly.

  Alice-Miranda grinned at her flame-haired friend. ‘How come you’re always the voice of reason these days, Millie?’

  ‘I have to be good at something, seeing as though I’m abysmal at cards,’ Millie said, grinning back. ‘Do you want to go for a ride this morning? It might take your mind off things.’

  ‘That’s a great idea,’ Alice-Miranda said, perking up. ‘Mummy always says that a dose of fresh air does wonders, and Bony definitely needs the exercise. I had to let his girth strap out another notch last week.’