Whiff of Mystery Read online

  CONTENTS

  TITLE PAGE

  DEDICATION

  WILY SMELLS TROUBLE

  A RECIPE FOR DISASTER

  WILY PICKS UP THE SCENT

  A TRIP TO THE TOWER

  JULIUS BLOWS IT

  THE ONLY WAY IS UP

  THE BEIJING BREAK-IN

  THE GREAT ESCAPE

  WILY CRACKS THE CODE

  ENTER THE DRAGON

  EXTRACT FROM ‘A BRUSH WITH DANGER’

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  COPYRIGHT

  Wily Fox, the world’s greatest detective, was in Italy on a very important case. The famous perfume maker, Adolfo Aroma, was launching a new scent and he desperately needed Wily’s help. Only a week before, there had been a mysterious break-in at Adolfo’s house. Nothing had been taken, but Adolfo was on the alert and he couldn’t let anything go wrong at the launch tonight. He’d called Wily in to keep a lookout for possible thieves, but Paulo Polecat, Adolfo’s new head of security, was not being very helpful. Wily wanted to look at the guest list, but Paulo insisted it was “top secret”.

  “You’re getting right up my nose,” growled Wily.

  “Well, you’re sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong,” snarled Paulo.

  Adolfo sighed. The rabbit’s ears wilted sadly. “Please try to work together, my friends,” he said.

  Wily stared hard at Paulo. Paulo stared back.

  “Fine,” said Paulo, and handed Wily a piece of paper.

  “Much obliged,” Wily muttered.

  “Fantastico!” exclaimed Adolfo.

  Wily went and found a quiet corner of the room. He looked at the list – there were going to be at least a hundred guests.

  He clipped on a headset and started to talk. “Albert, can you hear me?”

  “Loud and clear,” replied Albert, his voice crackling in Wily’s ear.

  Albert Mole helped Wily on all his cases. He worked behind the scenes, creating clever gadgets and providing Wily with important information. Right now he was in his secret laboratory underneath Wily’s office in London.

  “I’m sharing the guest list with you,” said Wily. “Does anyone look suspicious?”

  Wily held the piece of paper against his smartphone screen until it beeped.

  Albert did a quick search. “Just three. Sending you their photos now.”

  “The first is Bianca Badger,” said Albert. “Fashion reporter for the Pisan Gazette. Will do anything to get a story. That includes breaking the law.”

  “She sounds fun.”

  “Next is Joey Weasel,” said Albert. “Former New York gangster. Claims he’s now an honest businessman, working in fashion.”

  “And what about the raccoon?” asked Wily.

  “Actually she’s a red panda,” said Albert.

  “Rou Red Panda. Owns the biggest fashion and perfume store in China. Hard as nails. Business rivals don’t last long.”

  “Thanks,” said Wily. “I’ll get the seating plan changed, so they’re all sitting near me.”

  “Hang on, Wily, there’s … that’s strange… Hang up immediately!” Albert gasped. “This line is no longer secure. I repeat – this line is no longer secure.”

  There was a click and then silence. Wily put away his phone. Someone had been listening in. But how? Albert was the best in the business – nobody had managed to tap their calls before.

  Adolfo Aroma and Paulo Polecat appeared behind him.

  “Happy with the guest list?” asked Adolfo.

  “Sure,” said Wily. “I just need to make a couple of changes to the seating plan…”

  It was showtime. The guests were all sitting in rows, chatting happily. At one end of the room there was a stage with a giant glittery SMELLISSIMO banner behind it.

  In the first row sat Rou Red Panda, Joey Weasel and Bianca Badger. Wily was seated one row behind them, watching and listening as they talked.

  “So, Joey, darling,” Bianca drawled, “how are you liking it in fashion?”

  “I hear you want to buy Adolfo’s business,” added Rou.

  “Is that right?” Joey replied. “Well, you shouldn’t believe everything you read in the papers. Especially hers.” He jabbed a furry finger at Bianca.

  “For goodness’ sake, Joey,” sighed Bianca, “everybody knows you’d sell your own mother for a piece of Aroma’s empire.”

  “And everybody knows you’d print any old rubbish to sell newspapers,” said Joey.

  Their argument was interrupted by a drum roll. The lights went down and a voice boomed from a loudspeaker: “Ladies and gentlemen, may I present … Adolfo Aroma!”

  Pink smoke filled the room and Adolfo appeared, dressed in a top hat and tails. He was accompanied by a pretty rabbit holding a bottle of aftershave on a cushion.

  The audience cheered.

  “And now,” declared Adolfo, “prepare your noses for the most scintillating scent, the most overwhelming odour, the most sensational smell of your lives. Smellissimo!”

  Adolfo removed the cork from the bottle.

  Glitter poured down on to the stage. Bianca Badger stood up and started to take photos. Wily glanced round to see if anyone was acting suspiciously – but everything seemed normal.

  Until Adolfo and the young rabbit started coughing. Then the front row started to splutter and the perfume maker hit the stage with a thump.

  Wily noticed a wisp of yellow smoke coming from the bottle. Then he was hit by the most revolting smell you could imagine. A mixture of old underpants, cowpats and rotten fish.

  Everyone started running towards the doors. Rou, Joey and Bianca had all vanished. But Wily couldn’t worry about them now – he had to help Adolfo. He breathed in deeply. When he was investigating the Case of the Pirate Penguins, he had managed to hold his breath for four minutes. He might have to do even better now.

  Wily pushed his way past upturned chairs and discarded handbags. His chest was getting tighter and his legs were getting weaker, but he kept on going, climbing over a passed-out piglet and an unconscious koala.

  He looked up at Adolfo, slumped on the stage. The perfume maker’s chest had stopped moving. Wily thought quickly – his legs were starting to buckle, but his arms were still strong. He could use his acrobatic skills.

  Wily gritted his teeth, crouched down and leaped through the air, landing on his arms. He pushed himself back up, did two backflips, a triple forward roll and landed right in the middle of the stage.

  He picked up the stopper with his mouth, did another forward roll and – still holding the stopper with his teeth – pushed it into the bottle.

  Instantly the yellow vapour seemed to disappear.

  Wily relaxed and took a big gulp of air. Then he dropped the perfume bottle, kneeled down and tried to get Adolfo breathing again. Almost at once he felt himself being bundled out of the way. It was Paulo Polecat.

  “Let me,” he growled.

  Paulo pushed down on Adolfo’s chest until the rabbit spluttered.

  “He’s going to be OK,” said Paulo, with a sigh of relief.

  Wily nodded, trying to get his breath back.

  “I saw what you did, Fox,” said Paulo. “You thought fast and moved even faster. Maybe you are good, after all.”

  Wily shook his head. “Not that good. I have no idea who did this. Or why.”

  At that moment, a young rabbit burst into the room.

  “Adolfo! Adolfo!” she cried. “It’s gone!”

  Wily and Adolfo stood staring at the empty safe.

  “So what was in there?” asked Wily.

  “The secret recipe for Utopia,” said Adolfo. “Only one bottle was ever made, by my father. It was presented to Princess Parmigiano on her wedding day. It’s the most beautiful scent in the wor
ld.”

  “You perfume guys always say that,” said Wily, examining a lump of mud on the floor.

  “This time it’s true,” said Adolfo. “It was my father’s greatest achievement. But it had an unfortunate side effect. Everyone who smelled it went into a trance. They just sat there smiling for days – it took one poor mouse a fortnight to snap out of it.”

  “Incredible,” said Wily. “That could cause a lot of trouble in the wrong hands. This break-in you had last week – do you think they were after the recipe?”

  “I honestly don’t know,” said Adolfo.

  “Well, at least they left some clues this time,” said Wily, pointing to a paw print on the carpet. “Central pad, five fingers, claws. Tooth marks round the safe – powerful canines. We’re dealing with a mustelid – otters, ferrets, weasels, red pandas, that kind of thing.”

  “Well, let’s stop every … er … muscle-lid out there and search them!” said Adolfo.

  “That’s what Paulo’s doing,” said Wily.

  At that moment, Paulo Polecat walked in.

  “I’ve searched everyone from head to toe,” he said proudly. “No one’s got the recipe.”

  “I’m glad to see you two are working together at last,” said Adolfo.

  “Humph,” said Paulo, frowning. “Well, it’s an emergency, isn’t it?”

  There was a flash behind them. Wily and Paulo both spun round.

  Bianca Badger appeared in the doorway, holding up her smartphone. She was followed by Rou Red Panda and Joey Weasel.

  “So, Adolfo,” said Bianca, “do you think you’ll be able to recover from this disaster?”

  “I-I don’t wish to talk to the press right now,” stammered Adolfo.

  “If you want to sell your business, my offer is still on the table,” said Joey, with a grin.

  “Will Smellissimo still be available in stores on Monday?” asked Rou. “Because I have to say, the recipe needs a little work.”

  “Obviously that wasn’t Smellissimo,” groaned Adolfo. “The bottle was switched.”

  “Yes, and everyone in this room is a suspect,” said Wily. “After all, each one of you could benefit from this situation.”

  Bianca, Rou and Joey took a step backwards.

  “Are you saying that one of us is responsible?” huffed Bianca.

  “Not yet,” said Wily, “but when we find out who did this, we will lock them away for a very long time.”

  Paulo jostled Rou, Bianca and Joey out of the room.

  “Do you think it was one of them?” asked Adolfo.

  “I’m not sure,” said Wily thoughtfully. “And it’s not certain that the two crimes are connected. Let’s start with the theft of the Utopia recipe. Who would want to create a perfume that dangerous? And why? One thing I’m sure of is that whoever stole the recipe will try to make the perfume. And for that they’ll need ingredients. So what are the ingredients? Special flowers? Rare herbs? We need to go to where they are grown or sold and see who buys them.”

  “Ah,” murmured Adolfo, his ears drooping. “I’m sorry, Mr Fox, but my memory’s not what it was. I’m afraid I can’t remember.”

  “Oh dear,” said Wily.

  “But … I still have my magnificent nose!” said Adolfo, twitching it happily. “If I had a sample of Utopia, I could tell you what it contained.”

  “Well, you said Princess Parmigiano has the only bottle,” said Wily. “Sounds like I need to pay her a visit. And while I’m gone, perhaps you can find out what was in that stinky bottle. The one that knocked everyone out.”

  Adolfo nodded. “Good thinking, Mr Fox. Please tell Paulo to bring me the bottle on your way out.”

  As Wily walked off, he clipped on his headset. “Albert, is the line secure now?”

  “Yes, go ahead,” Albert replied.

  “I’m off to Venice,” Wily said. “Send me all the information you can about Princess Parmigiano.”

  “Will do,” said Albert.

  Wily reached the hallway of Adolfo’s house. A few animals were still making their way out past Paulo, who was standing by the front door.

  “I got rid of those three troublemakers,” said the polecat.

  “Good work,” said Wily. “I’m off to Venice, but let me know if anything suspicious happens here.” Paulo nodded. “And could you give that bottle of stinky stuff to Adolfo? He’s going to work out what was in it.”

  “Er … um…” Paulo stammered.

  “What is it?” asked Wily.

  “It’s gone,” said Paulo, looking embarrassed.

  “Gone?” said Wily.

  “By the time I came back in here, it had vanished,” said Paulo. “But it doesn’t matter, does it? What use is that foul-smelling gunk to anyone?”

  Wily frowned. “It’s called covering your tracks,” he said. “And our villain seems to be very good at it.” He patted Paulo on the back. “But don’t worry. I’ll soon sniff them out.”

  Wily was on the evening train to Venice. Albert had sent him a huge amount of information about Princess Parmigiano – documents, newspaper articles, audio files. She lived in the Palazzo Fandango on the main canal. She was an eighty-two-year-old antelope. She had been married to Prince Parmigiano until his death and since then she had married (and divorced) twice. The newspapers described her as “formidable” – in other words “completely terrifying”.

  Wily sat back in his seat and stared at the fields whizzing by. Somehow he had to persuade the princess to hand over the only bottle of Utopia in the world. But how?

  An hour later the detective arrived in Venice and headed straight for the Palazzo Fandango. Light was shining from every window, animals were moving around inside and the sounds of music and conversation filled the air. Wily sprinted up the main steps and reached a set of huge double doors. He knocked loudly.

  A butler wearing a white mask decorated with sequins and feathers opened the door. “Deliveries are round the back,” he barked.

  “I’m here to see the princess,” said Wily.

  “You can’t be, you don’t have a mask,” said the butler. “This is a masked ball.”

  “I’m such a fool,” Wily replied quickly, putting on a posh voice. “I thought it was a fancy-dress party. I don’t suppose you have a spare mask, do you? I’m Baron Browntail – the princess’s nephew’s second cousin twice removed.”

  The butler sniffed. “Of course, sir. You should have said, sir.” He beckoned Wily inside a large hallway and handed him a tiger mask.

  Wily put on the mask and entered the gigantic ballroom. It was full of animals, most of them dancing, all of them wearing masks. How would he find Princess Parmigiano among this lot? He needed a plan – and fast. It had been almost four hours since the theft at Adolfo’s launch. The villain could be gathering the ingredients to create Utopia right now.

  An animal – probably a pony – in a clown mask waltzed by. Wily knew the princess was an antelope and that she was in her eighties. But there was no way for him to spot her among all the masked faces – he’d have to sniff out the princess instead.

  Wily moved around the room, carefully picking up the different scents of the guests. He smelled seal and dog and even eagle.

  After a couple of minutes, he caught his first scent of antelope. But this one was leaping and prancing – she was not eighty-something. His second antelope was male and his third was talking in a strong Russian accent. Finally, in a corner, he located an antelope resting on a walking stick. She was wearing – of all things – a fox mask.

  Wily walked towards her. “Princess Parmigiano?” he said. “I’m here for your help.”

  “I don’t know any Princess Parmigiano,” drawled the voice behind the mask.

  “Please,” whispered Wily. “It’s about Utopia. Thousands of animals’ lives could be in danger.”

  Wily watched the eyes behind the mask blink slowly.

  “Humph,” she said. “Come with me.”

  Wily whipped off his mask and followed the
princess out of the ballroom, along a corridor and up a winding staircase, taking in his surroundings for possible clues as they went. Soon they reached a large set of double steel doors. The princess removed her mask, tapped a number into a keypad and the doors slid open.

  Wily found himself in a large pink room. There were shelves on every wall and bottles of perfume on every shelf. The doors of the room slid shut. At the same time, Wily felt something move beside him. He spun round and saw that the princess had lifted up her cane and was aiming it at his head.

  “Right, Signor Fox,” she growled, “suppose you tell me what’s really going on. There’s a tranquillizer dart in my walking stick, so don’t pull any stunts.”

  “OK, OK,” said Wily, holding up his hands. He quickly explained why he was there.

  The princess lowered her walking stick very slowly.

  “Fine,” she said, “but if you’re a detective, prove it. Find the bottle of Utopia.”

  Wily looked at the princess and then at the endless shelves of perfume bottles. Wonderwhiff. Le Pong Parfait. Mega Scent. It would take him days to examine all these bottles. Then he had an idea. When the princess wasn’t looking, Wily stamped the ground hard with his foot.

  “Earthquake!” he gasped, as the perfume bottles tinkled.

  “W-what?” stuttered the princess, glancing anxiously across the room.

  Immediately, Wily ran over to an alcove. Sitting on a small shelf was a grubby bottle with no label. “Utopia!” he said with a smile.

  “W-what? H-how?” stammered the princess.

  “The moment you thought there was an earthquake, you looked over here, checking that your most precious bottle was safe,” said Wily.

  “Humph,” said the princess coldly. “Well done.”