The Case of the Missing Scientist by Anzy Irani (readict txt) 📖

I slowly ran my fingers over the dotted lettering. ‘Wanted,’ it read ‘identical female twins. Age: 14, Hair: Long and brown, Eyes: Brown. Names: unknown.’ I ran my fingers on the next lot of Braille. ‘Male Age: 26, Hair: Short and black, Eyes: Brown. Name: Richard.’ I turned around, and feel the police officer’s hot garlic breath on my face. I take hold of my walking cane and take a step back, before I faint.
“Good morning Mr. Pat,” I greeted him. “Why did you call the greatest detective at 4 in the morning?”
“P-P-Professor Albert has gone mi-mi- missing”
“That professor,” I mumble to myself, “when I’m not keeping my cane on him, he goes missing.”
“I-I-I’m sorry.” Pat said.
“Why are you sorry?” I asked.
“W-we have s-s-searched everywhere for h-him, but he has not been f-found.” Pat answered.


I limped home, putting my weight on my walking cane. “1, 2, 3, 4” I murmured to myself, carefully counting my steps. “18, 19, 20 and turn to the right. 1, 2...” “Hey there’s that blind guy talking to himself again!!” some drunk teenagers laughed, “Go get some real friends!” I ignored them like always, turn to the left, took 5 steps, and entered my house.


“Hi Albert! I’m home!!” I called to Albert. I got nothing in return. “Albert?” I started panicking, and searching for him. Then I remembered. Who would want to kidnap Professor Albert? I thought, maybe for his inventions? Why don’t they just break in, and steal them? All those questions gave me a headache. Sitting down on my arm chair, I thought of everyone that could’ve kidnapped him. The twins? Maybe... Richard? Possibly... Pat? Hmm... A loud knock on the door disturbed my thoughts. Startled, I made my way to the door, and opened it. “Wh-o-Who’s there?” I called out shaking. Ever since I have been blind, I have never opened the door. This was the 1st time. I got my cane, and tried to poke my invisible intruder. There was no one there, so I take a step forward. Crunch. What was that noise? I take a step back. Crunch. Hmm... I slowly bend down, and feel the ground. A piece of paper comes to my hand. What could this be? I pick it up, and gradually make my way inside.


]“Hello? This is Vaughn speaking. Can I speak to Mr. Pat please?”
“Good morning Sir, how are you?”
“Fine thanks. Can you make your way to my place please?”
“Sure I will.”
“Thanks. See you”
I sit back on my chair, and think of all the possible kidnappers. Another soft knock disturbed my thoughts. “Come in!” I said knowing that it was Pat. He noisily made his way in, and sat down onto a chair.
“What’s up Sir?” He asked breathing heavily.
“I’m going to give you the job of my assistant.” I said straightforward.
“S-S-Sir! M-Me!!” He exclaimed happily. Even though I couldn’t see his face, I could imagine it. Eyes twinkling, mouth shaped as an ‘o’ and so much excitement. “Yes Pat, you.” I told him. Was it really that exciting? “Now, I want you to go down to Albert’s workshop, and get all the inventions in sight. Remember don’t touch anything that has a yellow or purple sticky on them.” “Oka-ay” Pat sang as he thumped his way down into the basement. I slowly close my eyes, and go to sleep.


Click. Da Da Da Dum. Click. Click. Dum Dum Dum Daaa.
“What?” I said sleepily as I open my eyes.
“Hey Sir what’s this?” Click. Click. “Why can’t I see a picture? What is this? A type of camera?” I got up, and stretched. How long had I been sleeping for? Taking the lid of my watch, I felt the dots. 1:24 p.m. “Pat, how long have you been here for?’ I asked my new assistant.
“Uh a few hours. I came upstairs with his inventions, and you were snoring, so I got a packet of chips, turned the radio on, and played with the glasses. I knew it was wrong, but it was so tempting.” Pat replied, “Oh yea and I saw this envelope on this table, it said ‘To the human who lives with Albert.’ I presumed the human was you, so I didn’t open the envelope. Can I open the envelope please please pleeeease??”
“Yea, sure.” I said as I tried to calculate the hours in my head.
“Yay thank you! To Mr. V,” Pat started, “I know who’s got Albert. Call 5672431 for a message. Remember if you get the police involved, this guy is dead. Signed, Richard.”
Richard... I’ve heard that name somewhere. “Isn’t Richard that guy on the wanted poster?” “Yea it is... I think that Richard was the one who delivered this letter to your place...” Pat said sounding quite thoughtful, “I’ll try this number, and see if I get anywhere.”He got up, walked to the phone noisily, and dialled the number, “Hello... Hel... Hello?? Is... Is th... Is this Ri... Richard...?? What?? Hello? Noo!”
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Well there’s a guy here, that’s saying to meet him at the corner of Walkers Street at 2:00 sharp. He’s not going to wait for us.”
I felt the watch’s dots again. 1:45.If we left now, we would be just in time. “Get your keys Pat. We have 15 minutes to get there.” I got my walking cane, and tried to walk as fast as I could, which is not that fast.
“Ok. But don’t go that fast. Be careful! You’re going to trip up! Sir lo...!”
CRASH! Down I went. I heard cane rolling away.
“Uh Sir are you okay?” Pat asked sounding scared, “No broken bones?”
“Hmmm?” I asked confused, trying to get up, “Ow. Leave it. We’re going to be late.” “No don’t get up! I’ll call the ambulance. Stay there. Don’t move.”
Since my leg hurt a lot and my head was throbbing, I did what I was told to. “Hello? Can I have the ambulance please?” I heard Pat saying, “The address is 27 Hermit Road. Number is 5273984. Mr. Vaughn has tripped up and fell. Mhmm. Yes Mr. Vaughn. V-A-U-G-H-N, Okay, thank-you!”
I had no idea what was going on in their
conversation. All I knew was that my body was aching.


“Good afternoon Sir.”
I woke up dazed. “W-W—“
“It’s 6:40 sir.” Pat said interrupting me, as well as answering my question, “You tripped over a book that was lying around, I called the ambulance, and they said you need to rest, and you’re not allowed to use your leg. I have to stay with you, and go wherever you go. By the way, I made myself a packet of microwavable noodles. ”
“Ri-Ri-Richard?”
“No I didn’t go to Walkers Street, I had to stay here with you!” Pat said, “I’ll try that number now, and see what I get.”
“Hmm...” I said not bothered to say anything. I made myself comfortable on the couch, closed my eyes and listened to the soft Beethoven that was playing on the radio. Beep Beep Beep. I sighed. The beeping of the phone was ruining my favourite part of the 5th Symphony. “Hello Vaughn. I have Albert. Since you didn’t come to Walkers at 2, I’ll give you another chance. Come to Maple Avenue at 8 p.m, with $300, 000.” I sighed again. How could Pat put the phone on speaker and ruin the beautiful music? And where am I going to get $300, 000 from? Feeling annoyed, I carried on listening to the message. “—Albert.” Had I had just missed an important part of the message? It was good that Pat was there to listen to the message for me. “Hey Pat,” I started, “what d—“ He cut me off.
“Sir! Sir! We’re we going to ge--” I cut him off.
“Pa-at just listen.” I said sounding like a 2 year old, “First of all, what did the message say?”
“Well it said to come to Maple Avenue at 8 p.m with $300, 000.”
“And what did it say after that?” I asked, hoping that he had heard it.
“Umm... It said something about Albert...??” Pat guessed.
“So you didn’t hear the message?”
“Sorry Sir.”
In my head I was screaming. How will we find Albert now??
“Pat what’s the time?”
“Ummm 7:00.”
“Okay I want you to go to the nearest shop, and buy two or three games of Monopoly.” I told him.
“Sir, we don’t have time to play games. We have to try and get that money!!” Pat said.
“Just do as your told Pat.” I said angrily. Why did I choose him to be my assistant? I can’t fire him now... I put my feet up, closed my eyes, and listened to Don Giovanni.


I’m ba-ack!!” Pat sung, “What do I do now?”
Back so early? I thought. For the fourth time that day, I checked the time. 7:20. “Find an empty suitcase and get every single note from the game. When you have got all of them, tie them up in rubber ban—“
“Oh I know what you’re doing now sir,” Pat said interrupting me once again, “You are so smart.” Maybe that’s why I’m the detective and you’re the assistant! I thought. “Okay done!” Pat said. Wow that was quick.
“Did you remember to put some real notes on top?” I asked.
“Yes. All done and ready to go sir.” Pat replied. Once again, checked the time. 7:40. “Um Pat, how long will it take us to go to Maple Ave?”I asked Pat. “Umm in car, 5-10 minutes, walking 15-20 minutes. “
“Let’s go!!” I exclaimed getting up just when the NZSO played the last note of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.

When the car stopped, I jumped out of the car, and landed onto a patch of soft grass. “Are we here?” I asked Pat. Pat mumbled a yes in return. I followed his voice, and nearly tripped up the kerb. “Sir-r!” Pat said sounding annoyed, “please don’t break anything! I can’t do this detective work alone!” I was about to say something in return, when there was a gruff voice. “Vaughn!” it said, sounding like Richard, “Give me the case right now with the full money!”
“Throw him the case Pat.” I said. I heard a thump of the case hitting the ground, then a skid, as the case slid across the road.
“Get the case” Richard whispered. Then there was a shuffle, then a car roaring away. “Pat.” I said, “Where’s Albert?” There was a silence. “Pat?”“I’m s-sorry Sir.” Pat said, sounding scared. “They didn’t give Albert back.” “What!?!” I screamed, not caring about who had heard me, and who hadn’t, “Who were they?? Who was with Richard??” I asked Pat.
“Sir, it was Richard and the twins. But how do you know it wasn’t just Richard? How do you there was someone with him?” Pat asked confused. I ignored him, walked to the grass and sat down with my head in my knees, thinking. How could Richard do this? I sat there what felt like hours, when Pat finally said “Sir, I think we should be heading home now.” I stood up, limped my way to the car, and sat down.
“Sir we’re here.” Pat said a