At The Detective's Office

The steets are empty in the little town of Valleby. It is four-thirty in the afternoon and already dark. The snow is melting. It is February.
A light is shining in Maya's basement window. Two children are sitting down there keeping warm. Billy and Maya. They are almost the same age and go to the same school.
Now they are on holidays. Neither Billy nor Maya wants to go outside and play. They have other plans.
"I just know something's about to happen," says Billy.
"Hmmm," murmurs Maya. She is reading.
Billy and Maya have an office in Maya's basement. They have their own armchairs and sit around a big wodden table. There are thick detective books lying everywhere. Thay belong to Maya's father. Billy abd Maya usually sit down here and read. Now they are on holidays, and trying to find out everything they can about how police and thieves work.
Billy and Maya are friends and partners. They run a Detective Agency. Billy and Maya's Detective Agency. Do you know what a detective is? Well, a detective is a kind of police who wears plain clothes. Detectives sneak around and watch suspicios people, taking photos and spying on them binoculars. In the end, the villain gets caught.
"I wish we had a really exciting case," says Maya.
"I think the thieves are on holidays too," sighs Billy
Billy and Maya have a cupboard in their office. This is where they keep their detective gadgets:

• A camera with a flashh - for taking photos in the dark.
• Binoculars - for seeing things in the distance.
• A magnifying glass - to check for fingerprints.
• A mirror - to see round corners.
• False noses and wigs - to disguise themselves.
• Torches - for finding their way in the dark.
• A safe - for all the money they earn.

But the safe is empty. Nothing has happened for a long time. Billy and Maya put notices up all over town. On lampposts and doors, their notice says:

Billy and Maya's Detective Agency

No job too big, or too small

Lost wallets, run-away cats

Low prices (+ tax)

While Billy and Maya are waiting for something to happen, they read their detective books. Maya wants to tell Billy about something in her book. A story about a thief who kidnaps dogs from outside shops. Then he rings up the dogs' owners and says they have to pay a ransom if they ever want to see their dogs again. Maya gets angry just thinking about it. Suddenly there is a knock at the door! Billy and Maya look at each other. Who could that be?