Blood Ties by Sophie McKenzie Read Free Book Online Page B

starving. I usually had a couple of sandwiches when I got in from school, then a big tea later. But Rachel hadn’t eaten so much as a biscuit yet – and no one had offered me anything either.
    At last Mrs Smith told us to clear our homework away and set the table. Rachel brought out these shiny knives and forks, then some long-stemmed wine glasses and cloth napkins.
    I was feeling more and more awkward. The last thing I wanted was to sit down with Rachel’s weird parents and have some kind of formal dinner. On the other hand, I had to ask about my dad.
    Plus, I was so hungry now it felt like my stomach lining was eating itself.
    At last Mrs Smith plonked two bowls on the table – one, a steaming bowl of rice, the other full of a meaty mince dish.
    ‘Richard,’ she called. ‘Supper’s ready.’
    She indicated I should sit on one side of the table. ‘So what does your father do, Theo?’ she said in this high, brittle voice.
    ‘Er . . . er . . . my dad died,’ I said. ‘A long time ago,’ I added, embarrassed by the wide-eyed look of concern spreading over Mrs Smith’s face.
    ‘Oh, I am sorry,’ she said. Then she shouted ‘Richard’ again.
    Mr Smith appeared grumpily in the door. ‘Bit early, isn’t it?’ he said.
    ‘Well. As you’re home.’ Mrs Smith gave this false-sounding, tinkly little laugh. ‘And as Theo’s here.’
    Mr Smith glared at me as he sat down. ‘When do you have to leave, Theo?’
    The sub-text was obvious. How quickly can I get rid of you?
    I took a deep breath. ‘I’ll have to go after dinner,’ I said slowly. ‘But I was wondering if I could ask you about the genetic research clinics you worked at again.’
    Rachel’s mum’s mouth dropped open.
    Mr Smith shrugged. ‘I told you, I wasn’t involved in any of the actual research.’
    ‘I just wondered if you knew anyone else who was. Involved, I mean. Like one of the scientists. Maybe I could talk to them about the research they were doing back then.’
    Mr Smith stared at me.
    Crap. Even to my own ears I sounded phoney. I mean, I was good at science. I always had been. But the idea that I might be so into a science project that I’d actually go and interview real-life scientists was beyond ridiculous.
    Still, now I’d started, I might as well go on.
    ‘Did you ever meet that guy called the Gene Genie?’ I said, trying to sound casual. ‘I read about him on the internet. I think his real name was Elijah Lazio?’
    Mrs Smith’s shiny fork clattered onto her plate.
    ‘Elijah Lazio?’ Mr Smith shook his head. ‘I know the name, but we never met.’
    I was sure he was lying. He’d worked at the man’s clinic, for goodness’ sake.
    I nodded. ‘Okay. Maybe you remember some of the people he worked with.’ My heart hammered. ‘Er . . . there was one guy, one of the researchers I think.’ I paused, as if trying to remember. ‘James Lawson?’
    Mr Smith pressed his lips together, then stretched them into a completely unconvincing smile. ‘Never heard of him,’ he said.
    Again, I was sure he was lying. But why? And what did I say now?
    I ran my hand through my hair. And then it happened. This look crossed Mr Smith’s face. Immediately he covered it. Turned away and started talking to his wife, who was still sitting rigidly at the end of the table.
    I looked down at my plate. Suddenly my hunger had vanished. Because the look that had crossed Mr Smith’s face was unmistakable.
    Terror.
    Pure, total, terror.
    What the hell was going on?

 
14
Rachel
    Theo left straight after dinner.
    He stood at the front door, staring at me with those serious brown eyes, like he was trying to tell me something but couldn’t because of Dad hovering nearby. Then he pushed a tiny, folded piece of paper into my left hand and squeezed my fingers tightly over it.
    ‘See you,’ he said under his breath. It was half a statement, half a question.
    My heart thumped as he let himself out of the door. My hand where he’d touched it felt