CHAPTER ONE: ANOTHER CASE SOLVED!

CLING! The jail cell door clanged shut, trapping the Serpent inside. (The Serpent used to be the best and most wanted jewellery thief in Australia.) Big Detective David turned to William and said, “Congratulations, Will! You have just captured the best thief in Australia!” He shook Will’s hand and beamed at him.

“I hope you... you...,” David’s face fell. “Now, what was I going to say?” He paced around the room a few times, his index finger planted on his chin. Suddenly, his face lit up. He waved his hand in the air and exclaimed, “Ah yes! Now I remember! I do hope you haven’t forgotten about this year’s Detective of the Year awards!”

William thought for a moment, then said, “That’s right! It’s on the 30th of July on the 888th floor of RADB!”

“Exactly right!” said Big Detective David. “I will see you there, I presume?”

“See you there!” grinned William. And with that, he walked out of the jail and started to head back home.

*****

William Barker, head detective of the RADA (Royal Australian Detective Agency) lived in a large, 36 storey apartment, found in the big, busy streets of Queensland, Australia.

It was a small apartment with 1 master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom. The living room was sizable, compared to the tiny kitchen/dining room. He was happy with it, though.

*****

In another part of the ‘Sunshine State’ lived a young man of 29, with the same glasses and eye colour as William (who we will revisit in a minute.) He served as a spy for the TESA (Thunderstruck Elite Spy Agency), and his name was Harry Wilson (Code name – Yrrah.)

His target had been sighted at the RADB 3 weeks ago and he was determined to catch him. On the 30th of July...

CHAPTER TWO:

AND THE AWARD GOES TO...

A white Mazda zoomed down the busy and bustling main street of Brisbane, a police car chasing it down. It was Melbourne, all right!

The RADB was only 3km away from where the amazing William Barker was standing- just outside Mr. Likeez Ice-Cream Parlour, where Will was enjoying a cheap, $5 choc-mint ice cream.

Once Will’s face was smothered in green and brown paste, he headed off towards the 888th floor of the RADB.

Only about 800m away from the huge double-doors of the Royal Australian Detective Building was 10 workers piling a thick, grey, oozy paste onto the paving. There was no barricade to the paste at all. Provided that William had not seen the wet cement, he kept on walking, whistling ‘Tiptoe Through the Tulips’ as he did so.

SQUELCH!!! An awful lot of noise sounded from the thick, grey paste. William stopped whistling and took in his surroundings. He had stepped in the wet cement. He was completely, undoubtedly and utterly stuck.

*****

Plan X was a go. Harry Wilson was hidden behind the door of the performance room of RADB. Inside the room was a lectern with several important-looking pieces of paper on it. A microphone on a stand was standing near the lectern, which Big Detective David would soon announce the Detective of the Year Award winner into.

In front of the stage were 49 chairs full of detectives and one empty seat, which would not be filled.

At that second, Big Detective David appeared from behind the red velvet curtains and the hall burst into applause. Big Detective David stepped up to the lectern and microphone.

“Welcome to this year’s Detective of the Year awards. Every year, a detective who has shown exceptional dedication to detectiveness receives this trophy.” He held up a huge golden trophy that looked like it had been polished a million times in the last 5 minutes.

“And so, without further ado, I shall announce this year’s winner. This year's winner is..........” Big Detective David paused for dramatic effect. “William Barker!” There was a round of applause and Harry stumbled into the room. Harry's heart was beating as fast as a lion's feet chasing an antelope. David whispered to Harry, “This is the part where you collect the award!” Harry just stood there, more frozen than a frozen yoghurt.