The Great Ice-Cream Heist by Elen Caldecott

We’ve been given an opportunity here. Smile!’ Shan held her phone up and Eva heard the shutter-click of a shot being taken. She was pretty sure that she didn’t want to be in the paper. She deliberately went cross-eyed for Shan’s next shot. Heidi giggled at Shan’s outraged look.
    When they all stopped to eat, the lodge was looking better already. All the broken objects had been cleared and the worst of the paint had been scrubbed away. The place looked like it had been scoured in the bath and now just needed clean clothes.
    Eva chewed the cheese sandwich she’d been given. It was amazing that so many people had come out to help, she thought. But none of Jamie’s family was here. Of course they weren’t. She looked down at the bread and rolled pieces of the crust into tiny balls.
    After break, the rest of the morning passed quickly. The lodge was busier than it had ever been before with well-wishers and workers piling in through the door. More than Sally knew what to do with, really. And Shan continued to click her way through the crowd, taking publicity shots of everyone.
    Eva was waiting outside the lodge, ready to go home after a hard morning’s work when Heidi slipped her arm through Eva’s.
    â€˜You live a street over from me, you know. I’ve seen you walking in sometimes. Do you want to walk home together?’ Heidi’s blue eyes shone like gemstones.
    â€˜I can’t,’ Eva said. Her answer was automatic. Ever since Mum, she’d said no to invites. It was just easier on Dad. But Heidi’s doll face looked crushed.
    â€˜My gran is meeting me,’ Eva explained. ‘She’s on her way. But we could all go together? If you don’t mind.’
    Heidi grinned and her face was sunshine again. ‘I don’t mind. I love grans. What’s yours like?’
    â€˜She’s nice. You’ll like her.’
    â€˜It was good today, wasn’t it?’ Heidi asked. ‘It felt like it will be OK?’
    Eva nodded. It did.
    But that was before she saw what was happening on their street.

Chapter 16
    Three police cars were parked outside Jamie’s house, angled crookedly like toy cars on a rug. Shouts came from inside the building. An officer called out and another reached for her radio. Eva stood stock still. She felt Heidi’s grip tighten on her wrist. Gran put a hand on each of their shoulders.
    Someone was bundled out of the front door. He had the hood of his jacket up, so she couldn’t see who it was. Officers on either side held him by the shoulders.
    â€˜It wasn’t me. This is an unfair arrest,’ the man shouted. Eva recognised his voice – Michael.
    Another figure appeared. Mrs McIntyre. Her face was twisted in fury. She spat words as though they were a bad taste in her mouth. ‘Let him go. He’s done nothing. He was here the whole time. This is discrimination.’
    The officers kept walking. They paid her no attention. It was as though she was invisible.
    Then Mrs McIntyre grabbed one of the officers and pulled him backwards. Eva gasped. The officer stumbled and fell. In the confusion, Michael wrenched his other arm free and set off down the path. He ran with an awkward sway, like a moored boat on a sudden current.
    â€˜Go on, son,’ Mrs McIntyre yelled.
    Michael leapt over a small wall, heading for the street.
    Three more officers appeared from their cars. Michael ran straight into them. They grabbed him tight and dropped him into the back of a police car. His break for freedom had lasted about six seconds and now he was trussed up like a Christmas turkey.
    Then Mrs McIntyre was swept into the back of another.
    Eva felt sick. Jamie’s brother was being arrested.
    His mum was being arrested.
    Was he here or had they all been arrested? Even if Jamie thought Michael was cool, he hadn’t had anything to do with the break-in at the club. It wasn’t anything to do with Jamie.
    She