Ring Around Rosie by Emily Pattullo Page B

The
Lock but the fact that the girl had given them a lead meant they had
something to do, somewhere to go.
    They wound in and out of streets, some dark
and sinister, some still bustling with life; Ted marvelled at the city that
never slept. Eventually they reached the sign that Dillon remembered seeing. It
wasn’t bright and flashing like the others but written in black letters against
a wooden background. It wasn’t shouting about its existence but it was there in
bold if you knew what you were looking for.
    They marched up to the door, unsure of the
response they’d get, but the bouncer stood aside to let them in. Ted and Dillon
looked at each other. Could it really be so easy? Were they going to find Rosie
here and get to go home?
    They walked down the steps, following the
sound of the beat. Ted felt positive suddenly, and found himself moving to the
music. It wasn’t the kind of place they normally went to: the lights were too
bright and the music too jumpy, but it was quite a spectacular place to behold.
    “I think I’ve read about this place,” said
Dillon suddenly. “Isn’t this the club owned by that football manager? Umm,
can’t think of his name. Anyway, it’s meant to be the largest in Europe or
something, and reaches further underground than any other club,” he said,
tapping his forehead like he was trying to dislodge the memory.
    “Dunno, mate, I’ve never heard of it. Looks
impressive though.”
    They bought a beer each and stood leaning
over the balcony, watching the dancing below. Girls caught their eyes and
beckoned to join them on the dance floor.
    “How are we gonna play this one?” asked
Dillon. “Are we just looking or should we be asking around?”
    “Let’s look first,” said Ted. He didn’t
want to alert anyone to their presence just yet. They were a jumpy bunch, and
Ted was beginning to realise it was going to take something more subtle than
direct questioning.
    Dillon nodded and took the lead down the
stairs. They tried to look casual as they wandered in and out of dancers and
then past the booths, but no one seemed to pay them any attention. They could
see no sign of anything dodgy; there were some young girls but they seemed to
be there of their own free will and it wasn’t unusual to see underage girls at
clubs.
    They wandered back up the stairs to the
second floor and walked along the balconies. More people lounged in more
booths, their tables laden with a myriad of empty glasses. Ted noticed that
each booth had its own bar. There were drinks dispensers fitted into a mini bar
at the back where you could put your glass and fill up with anything you
desired. Like an alcohol vending machine , thought Ted in awe, and
suddenly he longed to have a go.
    Ted felt a pull on his arm and Dillon
hissed in his ear that he was gawping. Ted hurried along behind Dillon and up
to the top floor. More of the same, and still nothing that gave them any idea
what the girl had meant by sending them to this bar. Ted began to feel
desperate again and wondered if they should ask around.
    “This doesn’t make sense,” he said. “You
think she was just trying to get us out of the way?”
    “I dunno mate. Perhaps we should go, just
for now. I’ll speak to Trig, get him to find out the insiders on this place.
Then when we know more we can come back.” Dillon patted Ted on the shoulder and
indicated towards the door. Ted took one last look around and followed him out,
that sinking feeling dragging his head down until he could only see his feet.
    They walked away from The Lock , the
sign diminishing in the distance like Ted’s fragile hopes. Ted suddenly slumped
down on the curb in defeat, his head finding its familiar place in his hands.
    “I’ll call Trig,” said Dillon, sitting down
beside Ted. “He might be able to ask around about the club before we see him
tomorrow.”
    Ted nodded and looked back at The Lock in the distance; it seemed like such an insignificant place from the outside,
and