The Case of the Stolen Film by Gareth P. Jones

clues about the film yet?’
    â€˜I’ve found the stars, a couple of Desert Dragons from out of town. A right pair of characters, not too friendly but they didn’t seem to know anything about the filming.’
    â€˜So what’s next?’ asked Holly.
    â€˜Any ideas who the last person to see the film was?’ asked Dirk.
    â€˜That would have been Theo,’ replied Holly.
    â€˜Any other details?’
    â€˜Archie, Dirk’s on the phone. Give me that card Theo gave you,’ said Holly. ‘Thanks. Theo Leggett, Assistant Director.’ She read out the phone number.
    â€˜Holly and Archie, come down here immediately,’ shouted Holly’s dad in the background. ‘We have dinner reservations and we’ve got to stop off at Mr Buchanan’s first.’
    â€˜Coming,’ shouted Holly. ‘You don’t think Buchanan’s involved in this, do you?’ she said into the receiver.
    â€˜We’ve got no reason to suspect him,’ said Dirk.
    â€˜I suppose not,’ said Holly. ‘Archie says hi.’
    â€˜Hi to Archie,’ replied Dirk. ‘If the trail leads to Buchanan, I’ll let you know, but I’m going to start with this Theo character. Nine times out of ten in my experience the last person to see something is the first person you suspect of having taken it. I’ll speak soon.’
    Dirk hung up and dialled Theo’s number. It rang once then a nervous voice answered, ‘Theo Leggett speaking. Hello?’
    â€˜Mr Leggett, my name’s Dirk Dilly. I work for an insurance company,’ said Dirk, doing his best to sound professional. ‘I need to ask you a few questions.’
    â€˜What insurance company?’ said Theo, a note of suspicion in his voice.
    â€˜Holly insurance,’ replied Dirk, improvising as he went along. ‘Holly of Hollywood. We cover the World Film Studios. I understand a tape went missing this morning.’
    â€˜I’ve never heard of you. Who is this?’ demanded Theo.
    â€˜I told you, I’m –’
    â€˜Don’t give me no story about an insurance company. I already spoke to the studio insurance people. He’s put you up to this, hasn’t he? Well, I told him thatI don’t know who took the film and that’s what I’m telling you. And I’ve never heard of no Mr Sorrentino. Now leave me alone.’
    The phone went dead.
    The sun was setting and the sky was turning mauve. Dirk felt a wave of exhaustion sweep over him. All in all it had been a long day. He decided to return to the hill for the night then make an early start in the morning.
    He was bounding up the hill through the trees and had reached the Hollywood sign when a thorny weight landed on his back.
    â€˜Where you goin’, Dilly?’ said Kitelsky, his spikes digging into Dirk’s back.
    â€˜Get off me,’ growled Dirk. ‘How many times do I have to say it? I’m trying to help. Where’s Putz?’
    Kitelsky released Dirk. ‘He’s down the hill, actin’ a fool. Come on, I’ll show you,’ he said, walking into the trees.
    Dirk opened his mouth and shot fire at Kitelsky’s backside.
    â€˜Ow! What d’you go doin’ that for?’ said Kitelsky.
    â€˜That’s a reminder not to go jumping on me again,’ said Dirk.
    They found Putz standing in a clearing, carefullypatting down a mound of old newspapers. He stood back, took aim, closed his eyes and blew. Bits of newspaper went flying everywhere.
    â€˜What’s he doing?’ asked Dirk.
    â€˜Tryin’ to breathe fire,’ replied Kitelsky, smirking.
    Torn pages of newspaper fluttered back down to the ground.
    â€˜If you can do it, I can do it,’ said Putz, seeing Dirk. ‘We’re dragons, ain’t we? We got wings and teeth and claws and green blood. Ain’t no reason why we can’t breathe fire. Show me how you do it. I reckon I could learn