Genius Squad by Catherine Jinks Read Free Book Online

kitchen.
    ‘Sorry about that,’ said the detective. ‘That shouldn’t have happened. Some kind of glitch.’
    ‘Hazel’s the one you should apologise to,’ was Fiona’s tart response. ‘It’s her house, after all.’
    ‘Yes.’ Saul nodded in agreement. ‘Where is she?’
    ‘In there,’ said Fiona, jerking a thumb. ‘Counselling her foster-kids. Are you finished with Cadel now?’
    ‘I think so. I don’t think there’s much point trying to continue, in these circumstances.’
    ‘Then don’t feel you have to hang around,’ Fiona declared – quite rudely, in Cadel’s opinion. The detective must have shared this view, because he fixed Fiona with such an intent, questioning look that she was compelled to elaborate. ‘Those poor kids in there have had some very bad experiences involving the police,’ she explained. ‘They don’t respond well to any kind of police presence.’
    ‘No,’ Mr Greeniaus said thoughtfully. ‘I’ve just been told about Thomas Logge’s experiences with the police.’ He turned to Cadel, and reached into his jacket. ‘Listen,’ he said. ‘I want you to call me if you’re worried about anything. Do you have a mobile phone?’
    ‘No,’ Cadel answered.
    ‘Well – take this anyway.’ Saul crossed the room, holding out a small white card inscribed with his name, rank and contact numbers. He pressed it into Cadel’s palm. ‘Night or day, you call me. Understand?’
    But Fiona was bristling.
    ‘He’s not supposed to talk to the police unless I’m present!’ she protested. ‘You know that!’
    ‘Ms Currey, this is only a precaution,’ the detective replied. ‘In case there’s a problem like the one we just saw. Or something similar.’
    ‘He wouldn’t have had a problem if there weren’t so many police hanging about all the time!’
    ‘That’s non-negotiable.’ Saul spoke flatly. ‘We can’t afford to leave him alone. You should understand that by now.’ He extended his hand, which Cadel shook for the second time. Though Fiona received only a nod, there was a gleam in Saul’s quiet gaze as he said goodbye to her. ‘I don’t want to outstay my welcome,’ he remarked, deadpan. ‘So I guess I’d better be leaving.’
    Then he walked out the door.
    ‘Well!’ said Fiona, heaving a sigh. ‘I’m glad he’s gone, at last!’
    But Cadel wasn’t. For some reason, the detective’s withdrawal had left him feeling vulnerable and exposed. Perhaps it had something to do with Mace, and his toxic temper.
    Cadel was uneasy about his foster-brother’s state of mind.

FIVE
    When he returned to his bedroom after saying goodbye to Fiona, Cadel discovered that he was too late. Mace had already been there. With Janan and Hazel finally out of the way, Mace had scanned the room, seen Cadel’s rescued computer monitor, and emptied half a can of lemonade into its air-vents.
    ‘He can’t call that a joke!’ Cadel cried, upon reporting this crime to Hazel. ‘It’s deliberate sabotage! How am I supposed to use it now, when its guts are full of sugar?’
    ‘I’m sorry, dear, I’ll have a word with him.’ Hazel was apologetic but distracted. Though the police were long gone, Janan remained curled up under his bedclothes in a state of shock. Hazel didn’t know what to do. She had left a message with his case worker. ‘Mace isn’t really angry with you,’ she said. ‘He’s upset about the police coming here.’
    ‘Well, that’s not my fault!’
    ‘I know.’ Hazel patted Cadel’s shoulder. ‘You have to understand, Thomas is very mixed up. He’s hitting back because that’s all he’s been taught to do. You’re such a clever boy, Cadel, I know you’ll be able to fix your computer. I know you’ll cope, you’ve so much sense. Just put yourself in Thomas’s shoes for a moment, that’s all. When he looks at you, he can’t help feeling clumsy and stupid in comparison, so he lashes out.’
    ‘And what am I supposed to do in the meantime?’
    ‘Just be