13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison Read Free Book Online Page B

herself.
    “Thirty pounds is my final offer,” the man said stiffly, all pretense of friendliness gone. He was undoubtedly riled by Fabian’s last comment.
    “Hey!” The bus driver called out. “If you don’t stop harassing those kids you’ll be leaving the bus at the next stop!”
    The antiques dealer stood up, red-faced. “I’ll get off now.”
    Tanya held out her hand for the compass, and was shocked as the man slammed it into her palm. A guttural growl sounded from his throat as he stalked to the front of the bus. The driver halted abruptly, even though there was not a stop anywhere in sight, and the man got off.
    “Good riddance too,” the bus driver muttered as they pulled away, leaving the antiques dealer behind.
    “I think I must have had too much sun,” Fabian said, shaking his head. “I could’ve sworn… no, never mind.”
    “No, what?” Tanya asked.
    “Just as he got up, I thought I saw his watch ticking backward,” Fabian said with a laugh. “Stupid, I know. Anyway, he was far too pushy. The compass must be worth something after all—and probably a fair bit more than he was offering.”
    He paused and scooped something up off the floor with a crow of delight. “Look! Silly old fool must have dropped this when he was flashing his cash!” He presented Tanya with a crisp twenty-pound note. “It must have come loose when he pulled that wad out of his pocket. Here, you have it. Buy yourself a new watch.”
    “I can’t take that,” said Tanya. “It’s stealing… sort of.”
    Fabian rolled his eyes. “As if. You’re never going to see him again, so it’s not like you can return it. Give it to charity if it makes you feel that bad. Or give it to me. I’ll spend it. But I reckon it serves him right. I doubt he’ll even miss it.”
    Tanya slipped it in her pocket, not knowing what else to do.
    By the time they reached their stop the color had started to return to Tanya’s cheeks. As they walked down the lane toward the manor she realized that for the first time, she was actually looking forward to getting back to her grandmother’s house. However, when they reached it ten minutes later, there was a shock in store.
    Warwick’s Land Rover was parked in the courtyard, the trailer at the back stacked high with books. Tanya knew in an instant that he had begun clearing out the library without her, and it appeared that most of the job was already done. She raced inside, leaving Fabian behind. The library door was open, and Warwick was standing at the writing desk with his back to the door.
    “Why didn’t you wait for me? I said I’d help!”
    Warwick glanced over his shoulder and shrugged. “I thought I’d get a head start.”
    He turned away from her again and continued to pack a large box. Tanya glanced around. Of all the books that had been in the library the day before, less than half of them remained. It was clear Warwick’s “head start” meant he must have begun clearing the room the moment she had left the house. She moved aside as he strode past her, carrying books out to the trailer.
    “What are you going to do with them, anyway?” she asked, unable to keep the anger out of her voice.
    Warwick grunted over his shoulder, not even bothering to stop. “Charity shop.”
    Tanya surveyed the rows of remaining books. None of the titles there looked as if they would be of any use to her.
    “What’s going on?”
    She turned and scowled. Fabian had appeared behind her.
    “Your father has decided to get rid of every book in the house,
that’s
what’s going on!”
    Fabian blinked. “What for?”
    Tanya did not answer. Instead she left the library and ran upstairs: there was no point in staying to help now. On the way past the grandfather clock she heard the lodgers tittering, and forced herself to refrain from kicking it.
    Once in her room she threw herself down on the bed, gasping as something dug painfully into the top of her leg. It was only then she remembered the compass.