To Catch a Thief

Ella and her brother Simon were excited. They were flying with their parents to a fantastic place – Rio in Brazil. It was carnival time in Rio and that night there was going to be an amazing street party. Everyone was going to be wearing wonderful costumes in the most amazing colours.

When they finally arrived in Rio and got to their hotel, they were amazed by all the interesting people they saw. While they were waiting at reception, they saw a tall, elegant woman in a black dress. She was wearing diamonds on her fingers, on her shoes, on her clothes and in her hair. "Wow!" said Ella, "Look at her! Who is she?" "That's Diana Diamond, the famous film star," said the manager. "The diamonds are famous too - they cost thousands of pounds!"

Later that evening, Ella, Simon and their parents were just sitting down to dinner when suddenly they heard someone screaming. "Oh! My diamonds! Where are my diamonds?" Diana Diamond ran into the hotel restaurant. "Somebody has stolen my diamonds!" she screamed. Ella was looking out of the window when she noticed a man in a black cat costume running away with a black bag thrown over his shoulder. While he was running, a huge diamond ring fell out of the bag. Ella jumped up from the table. “Look there goes the thief!” she shouted and ran out of the hotel. Simon ran after her.

In the street, there were hundreds of people wearing colourful costumes. Everybody was dancing and singing and the music was very loud. "Quick!" shouted Ella, "After him!" Ella and Simon ran after the black cat. It was difficult to keep sight of him and to follow him through the crowd. "There he is!" shouted Simon. "He's heading towards the airport!" They ran fast but the man ran faster. Suddenly the black cat tripped and fell to the ground. Ella and Simon jumped on him and held him down until the police arrived and took him away.

"Oh thank you, thank you," said Diana Diamond later. "My wonderful diamonds - I have them back again. You must come to my special carnival party on the roof of the hotel and watch the fireworks." It was the best party ever!