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Charlotte

It was really quite exciting, Charlotte thought, as she sat next to Jacob and listened to the members of the committee hash out their plan. The hardest part had been convincing them about what James actually had planned, but Aunt Marjorie had backed Jacob up about some of James’s previous nefarious deeds, and once they were all onboard, it was amazing to see the ideas flowing back and forth.

‘The plaza outside the church will be big enough,’ Tom said.

‘We can set up a police road block,’ said Mark Bobbins, ‘and just keep an eye out for his car.’

The door opened, and Kelly came with Clive behind her. Charlotte let out a whoop and clapped her hands, as the rest of the committee turned round.

Kelly winked at Charlotte, and Clive gave her a thumbs up. ‘He said he can do it,’ Kelly said to Charlotte, as they pulled up a couple of chairs and sat down.

‘Just let me know the time and the exact wording you’d like me to use,’ Clive said, nodding at Regina Clover, who gave him a scowl.

‘We never should have let the local station be privatised,’ she moaned.

‘But you’re good for the emergency alerts?’ Tom asked.

Regina looked like an ice cream about to melt. ‘Just for you,’ she said.

A group of old women were sitting on an adjacent table, having breakfast. One of them turned round and sneered, crow-like, at the festival committee.

‘You lot think he’s going to fall for this plan of yours? You’re out of your mind.’

Marjorie gave her a smile. ‘Do you have any good suggestions, Barbara?’

‘You can’t just shift the whole thing,’ Barbara said. ‘He’ll sus it. You need a decoy.’

‘She’s right. A couple of fake performances, maybe a stall or two,’ Pete said. ‘I volunteer the van to take one for the team. I’ll whack a bit of salt in the coffee in case any of his minions get thirsty. With a bit of luck, they might dissolve.’

‘Something to replace the scheduled performances, but not so obvious,’ Marjorie said. ‘Barbara, you’ve still got a touch of youth about you. With a bit of make-up, you could probably pass for a schoolgirl.’

‘You really think?’ Barbara turned to the women beside her. ‘Marguerita, Tiffany, how about it? We could call in the whole Brentwell Silvers Association for a bit of costume karaoke. As long as it’s snowing, we’ll all look fourteen.’

Jacob suppressed a snigger, and Charlotte tapped him on the thigh. The other old women at Barbara’s table seemed delighted by the idea.

‘Are we on then?’ Tom asked, looking around the group. ‘There’s a few details to be ironed out, but do you think we can pull this off?’

‘Absolutely,’ Marjorie said. ‘An illusion to fool the illusionist.’

A cheer went up from the group. Charlotte glanced at Jacob, who grinned.

‘You’re a genius,’ he said.

After the committee had dispersed and Jacob had gone to work, Charlotte pulled Kelly aside on the high street outside.

‘I have another problem,’ she said.

‘I’ve got to be quick,’ Kelly said, glancing at her watch. ‘I’m on shift in half an hour.’

‘It’s about Jacob.’

‘Have you told him yet? You know, about you and you-know-who?

‘I’ve told his mother, and she thinks he’ll be fine with it.’

Kelly patted her on the shoulder. ‘She’s probably right. He’s completely smitten with you. You can tell just by looking at him. You could probably tell him you were born on Mars and he’d just shrug and ask you want the food was like.’