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Normally she would have loved to stay for tea, but she couldn’t face it right now. She needed time alone to think about what Claudia had told her.
    “Come tomorrow then,” said Cai. “She can, can’t she?”
    Claudia nodded. “Antonia’s always welcome here. She doesn’t need an invitation.”
    “Thanks, I’d like that,” said Antonia.On the way home Antonia stopped halfway up Sandy Bay Road to look down at the beach. It was still like an enormous jumble sale, staffed by tiny blue figures that had to be the police. The beach was cordoned off with blue and white incident tape that rippled in the sea breeze. A tiny figure sat on the edge of the promenade, sketching away. Sophie. Even at this distance there was no mistaking Antonia’s best friend.
    I’ve two best friends now
, Antonia decided.
Sophie and Cai
.
    She was pleased that Sophie didn’t mind her spending time with Cai at Sea Watch.
    “Why should I mind?” Sophie had answered when Antonia asked her about it. “Cai goes round with Toby at school so it’s not like you keep leaving me out.”
    Antonia took a last look at the beach. With the stricken
Princess Romana
lying at the mouth of the bay and the lost cargo still littering the beach, Sandy Bay had never looked so full. Yet to Antonia, knowing her dolphins were far out at sea, the place felt empty.
    “Please hurry and clear up the mess,” Antonia urged the tiny policemen down below as she continued walking home.
    Straight after an early tea Antonia put her swimming things in a bag along with Dad’s mobile phone. Her swimming teacher had moved her up a group to train with the squad and the session lasted for two hours.
    “Don’t forget to ring me on the landline when you’ve finished and I’ll come and pickyou up,” said Mr Lee, jangling his car keys.
    “Can I come too?” asked Jessica.
    “No, darling,” said Mrs Lee. “It’s time for your bath.”
    “Aw!” squeaked Jessica. “Not fair.”
    “Never mind, Jess, it’ll soon be the weekend and your lesson,” said Antonia.
    The swimming pool was a short drive away. As Mr Lee pulled up outside Antonia had a strange sensation that Spirit needed her. Seconds later her dolphin charm began to tremble.
    “I’ll watch you run in,” said Dad. “Wait inside for me when you’ve finished. It’ll be too late for you to come out on your own.”
    “OK,” said Antonia, only half listening.
    Whatever could Spirit want? It must be areal emergency for him to call her at this time of the evening.
    “Spirit, I hear your call,” she whispered under her breath as the dolphin charm vibrated more strongly. Antonia climbed out of the car just as the charm began to whistle.
    “Have fun,” said Dad.
    “Thanks,” she called, and waved.
    Antonia raced inside the swimming-pool building, a plan forming in her head. The lady at the desk smiled at her as she approached.
    “Swimming squad?” she asked.
    “Er, yes.”
    “Name?”
    “Antonia Lee,” said Antonia, trying to ignore the vibrating charm and its high-pitched whistle. “I can’t swim tonight. I just came tosay that something’s come up, but I’ll be here next week.”
    “Thanks for letting us know. I’ll pass the message on to your coach,” said the lady, picking up her pen.
    Gratefully Antonia hurried back outside. Dad had gone home and she had a couple of hours before he was expecting to pick her up. Heading left down the street Antonia ran all the way to Claudia’s. She wondered if she should call at the house and ask permission to use Claudia’s beach, but decided against it. What if Cai answered the front door? Besides, Claudia would know from her own necklace that Spirit needed help. Antonia stopped a few paces away from Claudia’s shut gates to get her breath back. Then quickly she let herselfin and crept down the side of the house, keeping to the edge of the garden so the bushes would mask her. The Sea Watch building was locked up for the night. Antonia hurried past it,