‘Obviously they aren’t. Ian may have sent an all clear.’ They drew up outside the theatre and Ben unlocked the back door. ‘Hello!’ he called out, and switched the lights on in the scenery dock. Libby went to switch on the worker lights and auditorium lights from the prompt corner. There was no sign of Max. ‘Check the dressing rooms,’ said Ben. ‘I’ll go up to the control box.’ Libby, dreading what she might find, went to check the dressing rooms. They were empty of everything but make up and costumes. ‘Found him!’ Ben’s shout echoed through the building. Libby ran across the stage and up through the auditorium to the spiral staircase leading to the sound and lighting box. Arriving, breathless, at the top, she found Ben with a very sorry-looking Max, who was sitting in one of the swivel chairs with his head in his hands. Libby breathed a sigh of relief. ‘What happened?’ ‘He said he came in here to find something and before he knew what was happening something hit him over the head and that was that.
