A Child in Need by Marion Lennox Read Free Book Online Page B

didn’t!
    â€˜So how about you, then?’ he demanded, changing tack. Talking about him made him feel like running a mile. ‘Surely your family—your uncle with the car dealership—wouldn’t seriously think about employing such a kid?’
    â€˜There’s no hope for him if someone doesn’t,’ she said sadly. ‘So maybe it’s just as well there are people like my family in the world. People who care.’
    â€˜People who’ll get walked all over.’
    â€˜Says you.’ She shrugged. ‘The nice magistrate who tries so hard not to be. Nice, I mean.’ And then she smiled, letting him off the hook where he was beginning to squirm. ‘Anyway, maybe…’ She cast a long look across at Len—and another at Harry. ‘While we have both our children sound asleep, I think it’s time we got ourselves out of here, don’t you?’
    â€˜I couldn’t agree more. I’ll get the gun.’
    It was time to leave. But there was a part of him—a part which he didn’t understand in the least—that didn’t want to leave at all.
    There was no choice. Move…
    But when he went to hand over Harry, the child’s arms tightened like a vice, and if Nick had tried to disengage him he would have woken and sobbed.
    So when the kindergarten door opened and Shanni, Nick and Harry emerged, to the huge relief of the waiting constabulary, it was the new town magistrate who was holding the baby, and it was the kindergarten teacher who was holding the gun.

CHAPTER THREE
    A ND after that it was over—sort of. Police officers surged into the building and emerged with one dazed sixteen-year-old who looked half asleep and as if he didn’t know what was happening.
    â€˜Please look after him,’ Shanni said softly as he emerged, handcuffed and secured. ‘He’s just a scared kid.’
    But the police were taking no chances. He was taken away, sirens screaming, while Nick and Shanni blinked in the unaccustomed daylight and Harry stirred in Nick’s arms and started to sob.
    A woman—in her late twenties, dishevelled and fearful—emerged from the crowd and tried to take him from Nick’s arms. ‘Harry. Oh, baby, we’ve been so worried. Come to Wendy.’
    This, then, must be the woman in charge of Harry’s home within the orphanage, but Harry was unimpressed. He clung desperately to Nick, and as she tried to take him he screamed.
    But Nick had had enough. There was nothing more he could do. He unfastened the desperate fingers and placed the weeping bundle of baby into the woman’s outstretched arms.
    â€˜He’s all yours.’
    â€˜No! I want to stay. I want to stay with my Nick.’ Harry was screaming with desperation, and Shanni reached forward to hug him.
    â€˜Harry, don’t worry. Nick’s staying here for two years. Maybe we can visit…’
    He had no intention of travelling down that road. No way!
    â€˜We can visit you, Nick?’ Shanni asked, and something snapped.
    â€˜I don’t think so.’
    â€˜Why ever not?’ She sounded astounded.
    This was blackmail, he thought desperately. He had to get out of here—fast! And it was kinder to be blunt.
    â€˜See that mountain up there?’ He’d had more than he needed of this emotional heart-pull. What a way to start a new life! ‘Harry, look at the mountain,’ he told him. He raised his voice. ‘Now!’
    He could still get through to him. Harry stopped sobbing for long enough to stare up to where Mount Borrowah towered over the town.
    â€˜That’s where I live,’ Nick said flatly—definitely. ‘I’m sorry, mate, but visiting me’s impossible.’ He softened then, just a little. ‘But it was great to meet you. You be good for Wendy, now.’
    And he turned away before he could see the child’s face crumple into despair.
    Then followed the police