The Grasshopper's Child by Gwyneth Jones Read Free Book Online Page A

out running.
    What if somebody had locked the door in the wall?
    Nothing had changed. When she reached the lane she walked slowly, breathing deep. She needed to be calm and relaxed to make the right impression. At the doors of the Learning Centre a boy about her own age slipped by her: brown hoodie pulled well down over his face. She guessed he must be another Exempt Teen, and waited until he’d gone down a corridor before she ducked into the Access Booth. Once inside she took a last deep breath, entered the number and followed the prompts.
    An interview room appeared. She seemed to be in it, sitting on one side of a pale blue table, facing a door. It looked very like the room in her memory: the real place where she’d been interviewed, in the cloudy days after Dad died. She was alone this time. Someone had been with her the last time: a woman, but not Immy; or Verruca. The Police Inspector came in, sat down, and looked at Heidi across his joined hands.
    Was it the same policeman? She thought so. Would he remember her?
    He did remember. When she told him she wanted to visit her mum, he seemed perplexed: like Virtual Verruca when she discovered Old Wreck didn’t have a 3D biometric printer in the house. But unlike Verruca, he wasn’t hostile.
    â€˜Why are you asking me, Heidi? It’s not in my remit—’
    â€˜She had a breakdown. Wouldn’t you? She went out somewhere, she came back and found him like that, covered in blood. My mum did not kill my dad. I know she didn’t.’
    â€˜How do you know?’
    â€˜I just do, and that’s why I want to see her. She won’t talk to you, or anyone like you. People in authority scare her. She might talk to me. She might tell me what happened.’
    â€˜Heidi, if it’s about visiting your mother, you need to talk to your social worker. Ms Obigana, isn’t it?’ The Inspector seemed to look at the bare blue table-top for information.‘Immaculata Obigana? Or is it Verushka Zabata, now? I have two names.’
    â€˜Immy’s not my social worker any more. She was in an accident, the same day Dad got killed. That’s why she didn’t answer the phone. Now I only have Ms Zabata, and she’s not a social worker. She’s a placement manager for Indentured Teens.’
    â€˜I’m very sorry for what’s happened to you, Heidi, but—’
    Heidi said nothing. Keep it simple, said her instincts. You’ve told him why he should fix this for you. If you argue, he can argue back. She looked at him, hoping that silence would inspire him to admit the truth. And the truth was that he was Heidi’s only hope.
    â€˜One moment.’
    The Inspector left the virtual room, then he came back.
    â€˜All right, Heidi. I’ll see what we can do. I’ll need to send you a travel warrant, if this works out. I have your phone number. I’ll call you about that.’
    â€˜You can’t call me. I haven’t got signal. I’m in the country.’
    He frowned, but didn’t tell her she’d have to ask Ms Zabata. He was very calm. His bony, serious face had barely moved, except for a faint smile that flitted there each time Heidi spoke, like an apology. Excuse me for being so smartly dressed, sorry I’m so far above you . She hoped the frown was a good sign. She looked at his reddish hands, clasped on the spotless table, the left thumb uppermost. His nails were cut straight and buffed; a few black hairs grew on the backs of his fingers. He wore a wedding band; and a silver pin with initials on it, in his lapel. She couldn’t read the letters.
    â€˜If I can’t reach your phone, I’ll need the IP address of your placement.’
    â€˜I can’t get mail there. Could you send it here, to the Learning Centre? I’ll have an address on the Exempt Teens Register.’
    â€˜That will be fine. Don’t expect too much, Heidi. Your mother is not well at