Libby and the Highland Heist

Contents Title Page Dedication Contents Chapter 1: A Highland View Chapter 2: The Missing Painting Chapter 3: Hide and Seek Chapter 4: A Family Secret Chapter 5: A Festive Feeling Chapter 6: A Forgery Chapter 7: Stranger in the Night Chapter 8: Secrets and Santa Chapter 9: Edinburgh Express Chapter 10: An Unexpected Find Chapter 11: The City of Ghosts Chapter 12: Mistaken Identity Chapter 13: The Flying Scotsman Chapter 14: The Family Tree Chapter 15: A Face from the Past Chapter 16: A Cunning Plan Chapter 17: A Highland Heist Chapter 18: A Trap is Laid Chapter 19: Bagpipes and Breakthrough Chapter 20: Diamonds and Danger Chapter 21: A Disappearing Act Chapter 22: Secrets and Lies Chapter 23: The Reunion Acknowledgements Interview with Jo and Becka! Q&A with Jo Clarke Q&A with Becka Moor Copyright 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 JC
 For Graeme, Freya and Evie, the best partners in crime anyone could ever ask for x
 
 
 
 
 
 
 BM
 For Halle, Logan, Rudy and Sunny, for making me a very proud Aunty!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Contents
 
 
 
 Title Page
 Dedication
 Chapter 1: A Highland View 
 Chapter 2: The Missing Painting 
 Chapter 3: Hide and Seek 
 Chapter 4: A Family Secret 
 Chapter 5: A Festive Feeling 
 Chapter 6: A Forgery 
 Chapter 7: Stranger in the Night 
 Chapter 8: Secrets and Santa 
 Chapter 9: Edinburgh Express 
 Chapter 10: An Unexpected Find 
 Chapter 11: The City of Ghosts 
 Chapter 12: Mistaken Identity 
 Chapter 13: The Flying Scotsman 
 Chapter 14: The Family Tree 
 Chapter 15: A Face from the Past 
 Chapter 16: A Cunning Plan 
 Chapter 17: A Highland Heist 
 Chapter 18: A Trap is Laid 
 Chapter 19: Bagpipes and Breakthrough 
 Chapter 20: Diamonds and Danger 
 Chapter 21: A Disappearing Act 
 Chapter 22: Secrets and Lies 
 Chapter 23: The Reunion 
 Acknowledgements 
 Interview with Jo and Becka! 
 Q&A with Jo Clarke 
 Q&A with Becka Moor 
 Copyright
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Chapter 1
 A Highland View
 
 ‘Connie, we’re nearly here!’ shouted Libby. She swung down from the top bunk, landed on the floor and shook Connie to wake her up.
 Annoyingly, last night Connie had dropped off straightaway, but Libby had hardly slept. Connie had been right − the top bunk of a sleeper train was like trying to sleep on a rollercoaster.
 Connie rubbed her eyes and stretched. ‘What’s that awful rattling noise?’
 ‘Ssshhh,’ said Libby, throwing her pillow at her. ‘It’s my aunt. She snores terribly. I don’t think she’d like us to tell anyone though.’
 Connie giggled. ‘My lips are sealed.’ She snuggled back down.
 ‘Hurry up.’ Libby checked her watch. ‘We might have time for some breakfast before we arrive.’
 ‘Good plan. Or my mum will insist we have a big bowl of porridge as soon as we step through the door.’
 ‘Bleugh,’ they said in unison.
 They quickly got dressed and dashed down to the club car. Connie tried to persuade the attendant to make them something to eat, while Libby gazed out of the window. Everything seemed so empty compared to the streets of Paris. Although it was dark, she could just about see the mountains and rivers glistening in the distance where the moonlight shone on them. She felt a long way from home.
 ‘Here you go.’ Connie handed her a roll, distracting her.
 Libby munched on her bacon roll while Connie chattered away. ‘I can’t wait for you to meet Bertie and James.’
 ‘I thought you only had one brother?’
 ‘Very funny,’ laughed Connie. ‘They’re my dogs, silly. I’ve missed them so much. Unlike my brother, who is so annoying!’
 Libby wondered what it was like to have a brother. Being an only child, she was used to having her mum all to herself.
 ‘Oh, I think we’re coming into the station now!’ said Connie. ‘Let’s grab our bags. I know Dad will be waiting for us. He’s always early.’
 Connie clambered off the train and dashed along the platform with Libby’s aunt, Miss Mousedale, in close pursuit.
 Following behind, Libby couldn’t help noticing her aunt wasn’t her usual tidy self. Her hair was escaping from her bun and her cardigan was fastened up the wrong way. It looked like she had got ready in a hurry!
 The station was completely deserted. Libby checked her watch, it had just turned six. Most sensible people would be fast asleep; she knew where she’d rather be. Connie was scanning up and down, clearly trying to spot her dad. All around them were mountains covered in trees.
 
 
 
 ‘I don’t know where he’s got to,’ Connie sighed. She sat down on her case and searched for her phone in her rucksack.
 Just then Miss Mousedale’s phone rang. Libby wondered if it was Connie’s mum ringing to tell them they were delayed. But the look on her aunt’s face suggested it wasn’t someone she wanted to speak to. Her aunt’s voice got louder. She was clearly upset about something. The only word Libby heard clearly was ‘forgery’. Before she could find out more, she spotted the headlights of a car in the distance.
 ‘Is that your dad?’ she asked.
 Connie’s face lit up. She jumped to her feet and started waving. The car swung into the station and a tall young man jumped out. He had the same wild hair as Connie. It had to be Connie’s brother, Libby thought.
 ‘Fergus, what are you doing here? Where’s Dad?’
 ‘Well, that’s a fine welcome.’ Fergus laughed, scooping up Connie and spinning her around.
 ‘Put me down!’ Connie’s face was