Thomas and Friends: Mystery on the Golden Arrow

During lunch, which was delicious to all concerned, Goldie couldn't help but feel she'd spotted something odd in what had happened. The coach in which the cake was stored also had passenger seating, and this meant that the passengers could have a clear view of the cake itself.

Therefore, making off with the cake without anybody noticing would have been very difficult, as surely somebody would have heard the noise of it being picked up and moved about, right?

None of this seemed to be making sense. Could they all just be not very observant?

Wait a moment. Not very observant...

Goldie then had a brainwave as she mulled over the evidence in her head.

"What if they're in on it?" she said, suddenly, out loud.

Argyle glanced up in surprise. "In on what?" he asked.

"The passengers in the catering coach somehow didn't notice the cake being taken away, which is very strange owing to the sight lines and the fact that moving a large cake takes a lot of effort. So, I'm beginning to wonder if the passengers in the catering coach were in on the entire scheme."

"What would they gain from stealing a cake?" Sunny asked. "This has to be one of the most bizarre crimes I've ever seen."

"Well, there was that time a group of crooks stole ice cream from Penmere," Argyle reminded her. "And the missing brake van debacle all those years ago."

"That was only about two years ago," Sunny said. "Oh well. I guess wierder things have happened."

Goldie sighed. "The closer I seem to get to solving it, the further away the resolution gets. Somebody keeps moving the goalposts, and I wish they'd stop doing it."

She went back to her lunch. "I know we can solve this. But we have to work quickly, as the culprit must be caught before the train gets back to Waterloo tomorrow!"

Goldie returned to the catering coach that afternoon to continue the investigation, as she simply wasn't prepared to let this one rest. She continued to interview people to try and figure out who might be the thief, or who might know who it was.

Unfortunately, her efforts drew her to a blank on that front. They all had watertight alibis, and each of them could account for what they were doing at the time of the cake being taken. The more they thought about this case, the less things made sense.

So, it was back to square one. Goldie returned to the main coach and looked again over her notes to try and figure out what to do next. The problems were only going to continue manifesting if she simply left this to fall apart, and as such she needed to ensure that she could figure out who was behind this nonsense.

As she mused over her notes, Sunny walked up to her. "Mom?"

Goldie looked up. "Yes, Sunny?"

"I've been doing some thinking about the case myself, and I've noticed something which might be a potential lead."

"What is it?" Goldie was keen for any evidence which may help her along.

Sunny thought for a moment. "There's a slightly odd man who was wearing a scarf last night during the journey. Indoors. Inside a climate controlled coach."

Goldie thought, and then recalled this rather odd sight. "Yes. I noticed him too. I thought it was odd too, but didn't say anything or do much about it. Has he done something odd?"

Sunny nodded. "His scarf was done up in a distinctive knot yesterday, but today it's set loose for some reason. That seems like a slightly odd thing to do."

"Wearing a scarf indoors at all is weird, but that's besides the point." Goldie jotted something down. "Thank you, Sunny. I think that's given me a new lead."

Sure enough, Goldie encountered him in one of the parlour cars, where he was reading a newspaper.

"Excuse me, do you mind if I sit here?" Goldie asked.

The man looked up from his newspaper. "Sure. I presume you're wanting to interview me?"

Goldie took a seat, but was slightly surprised. "How did you know?"

"The train's resident Poirot sitting opposite you suggests as such," the man said, putting his newspaper down. "I'll just say that dress really suits you."

"Thank you," Goldie replied, before turning back to her notebook. "I know you were in the coach with us during the incident, but may I ask about your scarf?"

The man nodded. "Oh? This thing? I bought it in Oxford Street a few years ago. Reminded me of my barnstorming days. Of course, that's all a long time ago."

"My daughter noticed you had it in a Windsor knot yesterday, but worn loose today. May I ask why?"

The man nodded. "I'll be happy to answer. I've been wearing it so my wife can easily find me- it's easy to get lost and lose track of family members when everybody is dressed to the nines. As for why it's loosened, I was feeling a bit hot so loosened it."

Goldie nodded. She knew this wasn't the lead she was looking for, but it at least cleared up something strange. "Thank you for your time."

"No problem," the man said. Once she was out of earshot he went back to his newspaper. "Her husband's a lucky guy. Corporate heir, perhaps?"

Goldie returned to the coach and once more sat down, seemingly defeated. "Well, that drew a blank as well," she sighed. "He had a perfectly rational explanation for all of that. We're nowhere near closer to figuring this out."

"What if it's somebody nobody would suspect?" Argyle suggested. "That was always the rule in Agatha Christie; the killer was the last person you suspected, and the person who was being highlighted as the suspect was usually innocent."

"The last person you suspected," Goldie said to herself. "Argyle, you're a genius! You've just given me another lead!"

She collected her things and set off on her way. "The train manager and I are going to have a little talk."