Kidnap Island Read online

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  To Jonny’s surprise, Eric burst into tears and hugged Jonny, clinging hard to him. Jonny felt embarrassed by the physical contact as his family never really showed each other much affection. “Hey, it’s OK. Let’s go up to the house and you can tell me all about it.”

  Jonny prised Eric gently off him and led him through the dark woods to the house, where a single light was shining from a window. Going in, Jonny realised this was coming from a camping lantern set up in the living room Eric and his dad were using for sleeping in. “Here, sit down,” he said, directing the American into one of two folding chairs. “I’ll make us a drink.” He went into the kitchen, lit the stove and began boiling water for hot chocolate – he’d seen a jar of powder when he’d been cleaning up earlier.

  Before long, the two boys were sitting together sipping at steaming mugs, Ainslie doing his best to get his nose into them. Eric had finally calmed down but, even in the dim light, Jonny could see that his face was pale and streaked with tears and dirt. “Right Eric, you’d better tell me what happened – from the beginning.”

  Chapter Six

  Eric took a deep breath and began talking. “OK, after you guys left, I came back to the house and my dad rang to say he’d been delayed and did I want to wait for him before eating. I was starving so I said I’d fix myself a Pot Noodle, which I did. I was then kinda bored and lonely – we’ve no TV here – so I wandered down to the shore and sat watching the sun go down. It was a pretty neat sunset tonight and I like that kinda stuff.

  “I must have dozed off for a bit, though, as the next thing I heard voices and it took me a moment or two to realise where I was. I was really spooked when I worked out the voices were coming from behind me, near the house. I sneaked up through the trees, keeping off the path, and managed to get close to the house. I reckoned there were two men there, with British accents. They seemed to be looking for something but were keen not to leave any evidence that they’d been there. I heard one of them say, ‘Don’t move anything, we don’t want Goldsmith and his kid to get suspicious,’ but they were definitely hunting around.

  “Then I heard my dad’s voice saying ‘What the hell…’ then there was a thump – I think they hit him and knocked him out. I was too scared to go in and rescue him; oh I wish I had done now. The next thing one of the men said ‘Well we can’t leave him here, when he comes to he’ll spill the beans. We’re gonna have to take him with us.’ The other dude cussed a bit at this and they had a bit of an argument but, in the end, they seemed to agree to tie dad up and take him away on their boat.

  “They had a mighty struggle carrying pops down the path but they eventually dumped him in their boat and motored off towards the harbour entrance. I was able to watch from the woods without them knowing I was there.

  “Now I dunno what to do.” Eric was crying again. “My dad’s the only person I know in this country, and I can’t call my mum cos this stupid phone doesn’t allow international calls – dad reckoned I’d use up all the credit if he let me call home so we always used his phone.”

  Eric looked appealingly at Jonny: “Please help me Jonny, you and the others are my only buddies here. You are my buddies, aren’t you? I know we only met each other today but…”

  “Hey, of course we’re your mates, Eric,” said Jonny in a soothing voice, wondering whether he should give his new friend a hug but decided he couldn’t. “We should really call the police, shouldn’t we?”

  “No, we can’t,” Eric insisted, rubbing his hand over his red hair. “You see, my dad’s wants to keep the island and the house a secret otherwise we’ll get no privacy. His lawyer said it would make a great news story if it got out that an American kid had inherited a long-forgotten English island. If we throw a kidnapping into the mix, it’ll be even bigger news. Also, my dad’s, well, kinda famous back home. He’s a politician, you see.”

  “Er, OK then, if you insist. I just dunno what we can do ourselves to sort all this out. Look, I need to get home before it gets light. I was in trouble for being late back last night and I don’t want to be grounded. How about I come back in the morning with Will and Louisa, and we can come up with a plan?” Will you be all right on your own?”

  “Sure, I guess.” Eric sounded doubtful.

  “Look mate, it’s four o’clock so it’ll be light soon, then everything will feel better. Hang on in there and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  The boys and the dog walked back to the shore, using Eric’s torch to guide themselves through the trees. “You gonna be able to find your way back”

  “Yeah, no problem. Look, the moon’s up and there’s a bit of light appearing in the sky already. I can see the outline of the clubhouse from here already.”

  Jonny pulled his canoe into the water, slipped into it with Ainslie and put on his best Terminator voice: “I’ll be back!” And with that, he paddled silently away leaving Eric standing alone on the shore. The American boy watched Jonny until he could no longer see him in the dim early morning light. He then turned and walked back to the empty house, feeling scared and lonely on the island which, just a few hours before, had seemed exciting and fun. Without bothering to undress, Eric crawled into his sleeping bag and shut his eyes tight, willing himself to be somewhere else. Eventually he drifted off into a fitful sleep.

  Jonny, meanwhile, got back to the sailing club, put his canoe back in its place, and pedalled home as fast as he could, a very puzzled Ainslie in tow. It was 5am and fast becoming light. He dropped his bike on the back lawn and sneaked back into the house and up to his room. He quickly stripped off his clothes and snuggled under his duvet, figuring he was unlikely to get to sleep but guessing his mum may stick her head through the door before she left for work. As it happened, he was asleep within minutes and didn’t waken until after 9am – late for Jonny.

  Chapter seven

  Jonny opened his eyes and lay there, still half asleep. Then he suddenly remembered his night-time adventure and sat up in bed. He had to think of a way to help Eric. He wanted to talk to his new friends Will and Louisa but he realised he didn’t have their phone numbers; after Will’s dad had made such a fuss about them being late home the other night, they’d forgotten to exchange numbers as they’d planned to.

  He did, though, have Eric’s number so he rang him. The phone was answered on the first ring. “Eric, it’s Jonny, how ya doing?”

  “I’m OK, thanks. Are you coming over?”

  “I will when the tide’s in a bit further. I need to find Will and Louisa. You didn’t want me to speak to anyone else, but it’s OK to tell them what’s happened, isn’t it?”

  “Sure, I guess. Say, what if those men come back? What shall I do?”

  “Hide somewhere. In the woods maybe. Just keep a good ear out for them; you’ll hear their motorboat a mile off.”

  “OK, will do. Come over quickly won’t you? And Jonny?”

  “What?”

  “Thanks, buddy.”

  “No problem mate. Now, I’m off to find the others. Catch you later.” And with that Jonny rang off.

  Half an hour later, Jonny was back at the sailing club in the hope of finding Will and Louisa there. But then he remembered that Will had been grounded. Damn! Why oh why hadn’t he taken their phone numbers? Maybe he could get Will’s home number from the club office. He went inside to the small office which was run by Gladys, a lovely old lady who knew everyone at the club.

  “Hello Jonny, what can we do for you,” she smiled. “Here, have a biscuit.”

  Jonny took one of the chocolate digestives and Gladys quietly slipped one to Ainslie too. “I’m trying to get hold of a friend, Will. Do you have his number?”

  “Will? What’s his surname?”

  “I dunno, I only met him the other day. His dad’s an architect and drives a cool yellow Porsche.”

  “Ah, that’ll be Richard Turner. The family’s only joined the club this year, lovely people.” Jonny couldn’t help grinning; everyone was lovely in Gladys’ eyes, which is w
hat made her so lovely. “We’re not really meant to give out personal information, though, love.”

  Jonny gave her his best winning smile, which he often used to get out of trouble at school. “We were hoping to go sailing together again today but he’s not here so I just wanted to ring him to check he’s OK.” Which was sort of the truth, he thought.

  Gladys didn’t have to give Jonny a special smile because she was always smiling anyway. “OK love, seeing that it’s you,” she said as she tapped away on her computer. I know you youngsters like mobile numbers but we’ve only got the Turner’s home number.” She scribbled it down on a sticky note and handed it to Jonny. “Now off you go and don’t tell anyone I gave this to you.”

  “Thanks Gladys, you’re the best,” grinned Jonny and ran out of the clubhouse, leaving the lady smiling after him.

  The phone rang and rang, and Jonny was just about to give up when a sleepy voice answered. “Hello?”

  “Will, it’s Jonny, are you coming down the club?”

  “Nah, I’m grounded remember? You’ve just woken me up.” Will didn’t sound happy.

  “Sorry, but I need your help. Eric’s in trouble.” Jonny quickly related the story of what happened last night.

  “I can’t see what we can do, though. Surely Eric needs to call the police?”

  “I told you, he can’t. We’re his only friends in England so we need to do something. Is Louisa around?”

  “She lives out in the sticks, I’ll ring her. I can’t go out though or my dad’ll kill me. How about you both come here and we can talk about what to do?”

  “OK, what’s your address? I’ll come straight over, and get Louisa there too. Oh and give me your mobile number.”

  Will passed on his details and Jonny jumped straight on his bike. He knew the village Will lived in – it was just along the harbour where his mum said the ‘posh’ people lived; she was always grumbling that the rich didn’t pay enough tax.

  Ten minutes later Jonny was ringing the bell of a beautiful New England style house overlooking the water. It was clad with blue-painted wood and had a huge double garage next to it. Eventually, the door opened and Will stood there dripping wet, with just a towel round his waist. “Sorry, I was in the shower. Come and watch TV while I get dressed.” Jonny was led into a large room with an equally large television dominating one wall. There were beanbags on the floor, controllers for various games consoles scattered about and the far wall had coloured blocks running up it and ropes hanging down it, which Ainslie immediately started jumping up at and nipping.

  “Wow, you have a climbing wall in your living room?” Jonny exclaimed.

  “No, don’t be daft, this isn’t the living room, it’s my den.”

  “Oh yes, of course. How silly of me. Now, are you going to get dressed? That towel’s about to fall off you.”

  Jonny was already halfway up the wall – he loved climbing but, living where he did, by a coast with no cliffs, rarely got the chance. He had just reached the top when his phone rang in his shorts’ pocket. Damn! He shimmied down a rope and reached the floor just in time to answer the call. It was Eric: “Jonny, where are you? Those men came back again, they’re definitely looking for something. Gee, I thought England was a safe place!”

  “Did they see you?” Jonny asked, breathless from his climbing.

  “No, of course not. I hid in the old toilet hut.”

  “Nice,” Jonny smiled at the thought of Eric squatting in the old outbuilding. “Look, I’m gonna talk to Will and Louisa, and will be with you this afternoon. You got enough food?”

  “Yeah, loads thanks. My dad brought some shopping back yesterday; I found all the bags by the front door. He can’t have had time to take them inside before he spotted the men.”

  “Great. Hang on in there. We’ll be over soon.”

  Jonny finished the call just as Will walked in, now dressed in designer board shorts and tee-shirt.

  “Phew, you’re dressed,” grinned Jonny. “Is Louisa coming?”

  “Yeah, her mum’s dropping her off on her way to town, should be here any minute.” Indeed, at that very moment the doorbell rang, and Will ran out to answer it. “That’ll be her.”

  Moments later he returned with Louisa, who was wearing the sort of cut-off jeans Jonny’s mum would tut about and an equally short tee-shirt adorned with a big yellow smiley face. She grinned: “Hi Jonny, how’s it going?”

  “Great thanks, you?”

  Before long, the three friends were sitting on beanbags while Jonny once again recounted the story of his night-time adventure with Eric. Louisa, whom Jonny thought was very sensible and grown-up for a 12-year-old, grasped the situation quickly. “Right, Jonny and I had better get over to the island now, as poor Eric is on his own and needs our help. Once we’re with him, we can come up with an action plan.”

  “What about me?” Will looked crestfallen. “I’ll be all alone if you go.”

  “Well, you could come with us but you’ll have your old man to answer to,” Louisa pointed out. You stay here and see what you can find out about the island and Eric’s family. There can’t be too many Goldsmiths in this area.”

  Will liked any excuse to be on a computer so cheered up at the thought of a day browsing the web. “OK then, you’d better take my boat as Jonny’s is broken. The sails and stuff are in the store at the club.”

  “Thanks Will,” Jonny was touched by his new friend’s kind gesture and chuffed at the thought of sailing his cool boat again. “Come on, Louisa, let’s get going.” He was secretly also looking forward to getting to know Louisa better, too. And off they went, leaving Will with his shiny and very thin MacBook.

  Chapter Eight

  It was early afternoon by the time Jonny, Louisa and Ainslie set off in Will’s boat to Folney Island. The wind had picked up since yesterday and was gusting Force Five, making the lively racing dinghy a handful even for Jonny. He did wonder why Will’s dad had chosen such a boat for an inexperienced sailor but guessed that Will always demanded the best, regardless of whether or not it was right for him.

  With the wind in their favour, it was a fast and exhilarating reach to the island and, before they knew it, Louisa had furled the jib and Jonny was depowering the mainsail to bring the boat onto the shore. A gust came at just the wrong moment, meaning they hit the beach a bit harder than Jonny would have liked, but he made a decent enough job of it and Louisa hopped out of the boat to hold the bow into the wind while Jonny dropped the sail and made sure the wind wouldn’t catch it.

  As they were pulling the boat up the beach they spotted Eric running down to them. “Hi guys. Boy, am I glad to see you two! Where’s Will?”

  Louisa explained what had happened with Will and his dad, and that Will was doing some research into the island and Eric’s family. “He won’t find much,” said Eric. “Me and my pops tried all that over in the States when we first found out about Folney. Anyway, come up to the house.”

  After they’d lifted Will’s dinghy up the beach and at least partly hidden it behind some trees, Eric led them back up the path to the little house, talking nonstop about this, that and the other. “What are we gonna do about dad?” he finally asked despairingly.

  The three plonked themselves down on the sleeping bags in the living room (Louisa checking first for any stray underwear). “We should look around for clues,” suggested Jonny.

  “What sort of clues?” replied Louisa.

  “Dunno. I guess we won’t know until we’ve found them.”

  “Er, OK. Come on then. Eric, where was your dad when he found the men?”

  “He must have heard them when he was at the front door, cos that’s where he dropped the shopping. I think they were in here when they hit my dad, some of our stuff was messed about a bit, after you’d help me tidy up. Er, I’ve not really cleared up again since.”