Cupcake Wars! Read Online Free Page B

mess already!”
    Angela wiped her dirty face and looked around her. There was quite a bit of mess. Soil was scattered across the lawn along with a number of plants that Angela had uprooted. There was no sign of any jewels. Still, Angela was sure that Mr Monk had buried something. Why else would he be digging in his garden?
    Suddenly Laura let out a shriek. A car was coming this way.
    “Quick!” she cried. “He’s back! Run!”
    “There’s no time,” said Angela, dropping the spade. “Hide in here!”
    They made it in through the garage door just as Mr Monk’s car pulled up on the drive. They found a smelly old blanket and crawled underneath, hardly daring to breathe. Mr Monk’s heavy footsteps came up the drive.

    Angela’s heart was pounding. The footsteps stopped, then seemed to go past the door.
    Angela and her friends crouched still, listening.
    “Has he gone?” hissed Laura.
    “I think so,” whispered Angela.
    “Let’s get out while we can,” said Maisie.
    Keeping the blanket over their heads, they began to tiptoe forward. It was difficult to see where they were going.

    “Where’s the door?” whispered Laura.
    “SHHH!” hissed Angela. “It’s over—OUCH!”
    They’d walked into something. Angela looked down. She could see a pair of large feet wearing brown leather sandals. Help! Only one person she knew wore sandals like that.
    The blanket was whipped out of their hands. Mr Monk stood over them, his tiny moustache bristling.
    “ARRGH!” screamed the girls.
    “WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?” yelled Mr Monk. “I should call the police!”
    “Don’t!” whimpered Laura. “We didn’t do anything.”
    Angela tried to sound brave. “If you call the police, we’ll tell them what weknow,” she said.
    “What?” snapped Mr Monk.
    “We’ve seen you, creeping around in black, wearing a balaclava,” said Angela. “You’re a burglar!”
    “A burglar? Is that what this is about?” said Mr Monk. “Not that it’s any of your business, but these are my decorating clothes. I was painting the bedroom ceiling and I didn’t want paint in my hair. That’s why I was wearing a balaclava.”
    Angela felt her stomach sink. “But the silver candlesticks…”
    “Mine,” said Mr Monk. “And they’re not real silver.”
    “And you dug up the garden to hide all your loot!” said Angela.
    “Oh, yes, the garden,” said Mr Monk.He marched them across the lawn to the spot and pointed. “That’s the flower bed I dug yesterday to plant with tulips,” he said. “It was meant to be a special surprise for my wife. But someone has destroyed it!”

    Angela opened her mouth, but for once nothing came out. The flowerbed was just a flowerbed and Mr Monk wasn’t a burglar. Right now, though, he looked pretty mad.
    “Right, here’s the choice,” he said. “We can go and tell your parents what you’ve been up to – or else…”
    He held out the spade.

    Angela gulped. “You wouldn’t … bury us?”
    “Don’t tempt me,” said Mr Monk. “No, I want this flowerbed tidied up and all the tulips replanted. And it had better be perfect. Mrs Monk’s due home at four o’clock.” He marched off back to the house.
    Angela picked up the spade.
    “ANGELA!” moaned Maisie. “What did we tell you?”
    “You never listen,” grumbled Laura.
    Angela pulled a face. “It wasn’t my fault. Anyone can make a mistake.”
    She looked at the flowerbed. They had better get on with it, she thought. Digging up a big pile of earth, she threw it over her shoulder.
    “ARGHHH!”
    “ANGELAAAAAAAA!”
    “Oops!” said Angela. “Sorry!”



Extracts

    Angela Nicely might look like she’s made of sugar and spice and all things nice, but nothing could be further from the truth!
     
    Whether it’s proving that her Head Teacher wears a wig, trying to outdo her rival, Tiffany Charmers, or finding herself out of her depth on a spa weekend, she’s determined to make a splash!

Chapter 1
    It was nine o’clock on