Mystery at Silver Spires by Ann Bryant Read Free Book Online Page A

frightening him away by walking across the loft, so I stayed close to the top of the stairs, and began to pour water into the plastic tub from my bottle.
    I felt as though I was walking a tightrope that had worn down to a single thread; I mustn’t let myself break it and neither must I fall off. And yet as I tore the chicken into little pieces and put it beside the tub, I somehow sensed that Silver was there, around the corner, listening and maybe wondering.
    My voice was as thin and lilting as I could make it. “Silver! Come on!” Then I sat down cross-legged and waited in patient silence, my eyes fixed on the far wall. Please let him be here.
    After a couple of minutes my patience was rewarded, because a thin silver-grey face appeared. Anna told me that cats don’t like to see wide eyes because in the cat world it’s narrowing the eyes that’s a sign of friendship, and I could definitely remember Lana doing that. So I blinked a few times in slow motion while I kept murmuring Silver’s name. Then, very gently, I picked up a piece of the chicken and did the kissy noises again. It was tempting to throw the chicken towards him, but I thought even that might scare him away. Instead, I played my waiting game again, and, after at least a minute (which is a long time when you’re just waiting), I had an even bigger reward, because Silver began to pad over to me.
    â€œGood, Silver. Good boy,” I whispered over and over. And I tried to stay completely still. “Good boy… There you are…” I was holding my breath now, because he was so close to me I could have reached out and touched him, but I knew I mustn’t, however tempting it was. He was staring at the water in the little tub. And then he dipped his head and seemed to smell it. A moment later his tongue came out and he lapped away at it until there was not a drop left. His big eyes gazed back at me and it felt as though he was asking for more. I thought I might scare him away if I unscrewed the water bottle, though, so I made some more kissy noises instead, and still he kept his eyes fixed on me. I know cats have no expressions on their faces, but it truly felt as though he was imploring me.
    â€œGood boy,” I murmured again, then slowly, slowly, I stretched out my hand towards his face and felt his breath on my fingers as he sniffed.
    It was such a lovely surprise when he pushed his cheek against my hand and began to purr. It made me bolder and I stroked him properly, which he seemed to love, because he twisted and turned his head like mad, as though he couldn’t get enough.
    â€œSilver, look, chicken!” I gently picked up a piece and he sniffed it, then drew back, so I put it on the floor and in an instant he’d grabbed it and begun to gnaw at it. He didn’t want to take it from my hand, of course. I should have realized that. He’s not a dog, after all. As he tucked into the other little pieces of chicken, I poured more water into the tub, and in no time at all he’d lapped up the entire contents of my water bottle. It was true it was only a small one, but all the same he must have been really thirsty.
    â€œSorry, I don’t have any more, Silver. But I’ll bring you some next time I come. And more chicken too. Or whatever I can manage to steal from supper.”
    And as I talked and rubbed his head, he came closer, and then surprised me by stepping cautiously onto my lap. So I bent my head and he rubbed his face into my neck, which felt lovely and made me wish that he really could be my pet. My own special, secret pet.

Chapter Five

    We were hanging around outside waiting for the bell for the start of afternoon school. It was French first.
    â€œDid any of you manage to do the French prep?” Sasha asked.
    â€œNo,” said Emily flatly. “But then…what’s new?” She turned her palms up and tipped her head to one side with an innocent look on her face that