The Mystery of Smugglers Cove (The Mystery Series, Book 1) by Paul Moxham Page A

the door. I’m going to shoot the lock.”
    Waiting a moment, the inspector took his pistol and fired. The bullet split the lock in two and it fell away.  
    Will rushed forward and entered the room. He was greeted by three smiling faces.
    “Great job!” Joe yelled.
    “Smashing!” Sarah shouted.
    “You’re the best,” Amy said and she reached forward and hugged the red haired boy.
    Will hugged back. “Thanks, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the police.”
    Inspector Price stepped into the room. “Are you all okay? I have an officer who used to be a medic—”
    “Thanks, but no thanks,” Joe replied. “The crooks didn’t harm us, thank goodness.”
    “Good to hear. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to see what’s happening with the search.”
    After leaving the children in the charge of a police officer, he headed downstairs. He spotted Sergeant Wilmore near the staircase. “Have you searched the entire premise?”
    “Yes,” Sergeant Wilmore replied with a thick cockney accent.
    “And?”
    “We found a few printing presses in the basement, but that’s all.”
    “No money?”
    “No. And, without any documents or money, those printing presses will not be enough to convict those men.”
    “We still can convict them for kidnapping, but we still need to find where that money went. We can’t have so many counterfeit notes in circulation.” Inspector Price paced back and forth. “There must be something we are missing. Go out and get everyone in here. And get me Mr Spencer. I want to talk to him.”
    “Yes, sir.” Sergeant Wilmore hurried to the front door. He spotted a number of police officers gathered around a police van and hurried towards them.
    Reaching it, he paused as five crooks, handcuffed, were pushed inside the vehicle and locked in from the outside.
    “Listen up, men,” the sergeant said. “Inspector Price wants everyone inside on the double.”
    “What about the crooks?” a police officer asked.
    “Leave two men to guard the van, but get the rest to come inside. Oh, and has anyone seen Mr Spencer?”
    Everyone shook their heads.
    “Okay. Never mind.” Sergeant Wilmore left them and headed up the driveway.
    ~
    By the time the children had descended the staircase, they found the ground floor abuzz with police officers as they ransacked the rooms.
    Joe spotted the inspector as he exited the study. “What are you doing?”
    “Trying to find some solid evidence to put these crooks behind bars and track down the counterfeit notes,” Inspector Price replied.
    “But what about the printing press in the basement?” Will asked.
    “We found those, but nothing else.”
    “What about the study?” Amy said.
    “Nothing.”
    Will shook his head. “There must be something else. Does my dad have any ideas?”
    “I haven’t spoken to him yet.” Inspector Price glanced around. He spotted the sergeant. “I thought I told you I wanted to speak with Mr Spencer.”
    Sergeant Wilmore nodded. “I know, but I couldn’t find him outside, so I assumed that he was already inside.”
    Inspector Price nodded and yelled out to everyone. “Does anyone know where Mr Spencer is?” No one replied, so he tried a different question. “When was the last time anyone saw him?”
    A young police officer raised his hand. “Just after I had spoken with Sergeant Wilmore. I was coming inside just like you had instructed when I saw him. He told me that he wanted to check up on something before seeing you.”
    “Check up on what?”
    The man shook his head. “I don’t know. But that was the last time I saw him.”
    Will ran to the front door and flung it open. He called out in his loudest voice. “Dad!” He waited for an answer.
    There wasn’t any. Will looked back as the inspector and the others walked up. “He must be in trouble.”
    Inspector Price nodded as he suddenly thought of something. He looked towards the police van that was parked by the garage. He called out to the sergeant.