The Mystery of Miss King Read Online Free

because of my name, Vi King,” she laughed. “But the team will have to do without me for a while. So will the museum, though at least I can continue with some work at home.”
    â€œYou work at the museum?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
    â€œYes. There’s to be a Viking exhibition soon and I’m making the life-sized models for it. There are bits of them all over the house and the shed at the moment. That’s Freya’s hair on the end of the banister. It will go on a real Viking skull as soon as the clay I’ve used to model the features dries out. I’ve already finished her body.”
    â€œOh,” I said, trying to take everything in. “I saw a bone in your bag the other day.”
    Miss King laughed again. “That was for Thor. I collected it from the butcher’s on our early-morning walk. Trouble is, Thor’s not getting his regular walks now, and he’s really bored. He’s learned how to open the front door and, a week ago, he nosed open the latch and took off.
    â€œI finally caught up with him in Dr Sphinx’s garden. Thor likes Dr Sphinx’s cats, but they’re not so keen on him! And now he’s making a real mess digging around in my garden. Unfortunately, there’s nothing I can do about it till my leg mends.”
    Suddenly everything became clear. The foot, the bone, the skull and the holes in the garden. Even the kind of magazines Miss King had ordered.
    I felt a bit silly about my suspicions and was really glad she didn’t know whatI’d been thinking. Then I had one of my brilliant ideas. That happens to me sometimes. I think I may be an undiscovered genius.
    â€œI play football, too,” I said.
    â€œI know,” smiled Miss King. “I saw your photo in the paper. Your team won the inter-schools’ championship. Well done.”
    â€œThank you. But now, after all the excitement, things are a bit dull. We’ve never played American football at school. Do you think, if I walked your dog for you, you could come and teach us?”
    â€œHmm,” Miss King was thoughtful. “That’s a good idea, and I certainly know where we could borrow the necessary equipment. I’d like that, and Thor would love the walks.”
    â€œI’ll have to speak to Mr McGregor, our coach, but I’m sure he’ll agree. He loves any kind of sport.”
    At school, I went to see Mr McGregor right away. As I thought, he was really keen.
    â€œGreat idea,” he said. “Ask Miss King to call me and I’ll see what we can arrange. Perhaps we could start lunchtime practices again.” Then he went off, whistling.
    I went off to my classroom, late again.
    Miss Dodds’ eyes narrowed when I arrived. “Well,” she said. “What kept you today? And I don’t want one of your usual silly stories.”
    â€œOK,” I said, and missed out the ‘I thought Miss King might be a body snatcher’ bit, and went straight to the ‘I went to see Mr McGregor to tell him one of the people on my paper round was interested in teaching us American football’ bit.
    Then I waited for the explosion.
Too much football and not enough work! How do you expect to pass exams
? Etc, etc.
    But the explosion didn’t come. Instead, Miss Dodds actually smiled. “American football? Now there’s an exciting game. I wouldn’t mind having a go at it myself. Well done, Jonny. That’s a great idea.”

    What
?
    The class were stunned into complete silence. And I still haven’t got over it.
    Mr McGregor arranged to collect Miss King at lunchtimes and our coaching started right away.
    In exchange, I took Thor out for long walks along with our dog, Brutus. They were great company for each other, and Thor stopped digging holes in Miss King’s garden.
    Miss King was really pleased and insisted on giving me some money to add to my bike fund.
    â€œYou deserve it,