A Child in Need by Marion Lennox Read Free Book Online

only comfortable chair in the kindergarten. Itwas padded, with a high back, and he tossed a couple of cushions on for good measure. ‘It might take hours for the helicopter to arrive. If you’re not comfortable your muscles might cramp up and you’ll fall off your stool. Use this one.’ He pushed the chair against the window. Then, as Len hesitated, he threw a couple of blankets on top.
    â€˜Make yourself comfortable,’ he suggested.
    â€˜Why are you doing this?’ Len’s face was all suspicion.
    â€˜If you fall off the stool, chances are that gun will go off,’ Nick said bluntly. ‘Then you’ll have every cop in the country storming in. Neither of us wants that.’ And then he grinned. ‘And you let us have pancakes.’
    His smile was beguiling—even Shanni was beguiled, for heaven’s sake, and this man was a lawyer!—and it worked a treat. Len didn’t answer—he glared—but he grudgingly moved from his hard stool to the comfortable chair. And when Nick offered blankets, he threw them over his knees and almost managed a smile of thanks.
    â€˜It’ll get better,’ Nick said, and Shanni practically gaped in astonishment at the sympathy in his voice. ‘This isn’t the end of the world, you know.’
    â€˜What would you know about it?’ Defiance—but also fear.
    â€˜I know you haven’t killed anyone. I know you’re young and young offenders don’t go to jail. They go to remand homes where, if they want, they can learn a trade. I know there’s a heart under that tough exterior…’
    â€˜I can’t…’
    â€˜And you love cars,’ Nick said softly. ‘I can see that.’ He motioned out of the window to where the smashed grey Mercedes lay between them and the police. ‘If you have to steal cars, at least you steal cars with class. It’s taken a darn sight more skill to steal this baby than a cheaper job.’
    His dark eyes twinkled down at Len and it wasn’t just Len who was mesmerised. Shanni was speechless. This wasa whole new facet to the man. Up until now she hadn’t been able to see past the smooth exterior, but now…there was a human being in there somewhere. ‘If you’re willing to learn about mechanics while you’re in remand school, I’d bet there’d be luxury car dealers who’d be prepared to take you on,’ he said.
    â€˜Yeah? Like who?’
    â€˜Like my uncle,’ Shanni interjected, smiling up at Nick as if he was talking absolute sense. ‘He runs a dealership. I know one of his lads has a police record, but my uncle doesn’t care—as long as he keeps straight now and knows how to fix his engines.’
    â€˜He wouldn’t employ me.’
    â€˜You’d have to do your time first,’ Shanni said thoughtfully. ‘But if you put your time in the remand home to good use…’
    â€˜I ain’t going to remand school.’
    â€˜Hey, Len, just think about it,’ Nick urged gently. ‘While we sleep.’
    â€˜Another story, I think,’ Nick said as he returned to his mat. Shanni’s eyes were wide with appreciation.
    As were Nick’s. This woman was extraordinary. As he’d made Len warm and comfortable and soothed his terror, she’d given Len what he most needed—hope. Len was dead tired, and, if Nick’s guess was right, he was full of sleeping pills. Now all they had to do was set the mood—and Shanni was right onto that.
    â€˜How about if I read Goodnight, Goodnight ?’ she suggested.
    â€˜Harry’s asleep already,’ Nick said reluctantly. He’d lifted Harry into his arms again, unthinking, as if it was an instinctive movement. It was starting to feel as if the child belonged there.
    â€˜He might wake up if I don’t keep reading,’ Shanni said softly. ‘If I keep my reading going I’ll soothe him into