The Paradise Trap by Catherine Jinks Read Free Book Online Page A

I’m hiring a proper maid,’ Coco finished. ‘And don’t for God’s sake let the cats anywhere near it!’
    ‘I won’t,’ Sterling promised, snatching up the runaway arm. As he shuffled out of sight, Coco pursed her lips at his receding figure, her expression formidable. But when she turned back to Holly, she looked smug.
    ‘It’s for his own good,’ Coco declared. ‘If I wasn’t firm, he’d never finish anything. He’s always getting distracted.’ She sipped at her drink. ‘Now. Where was I?’
    ‘You were saying that all men are children.’
    ‘Yes. Exactly. I rest my case.’
    Holly heaved a sorrowful sigh. She was still fumbling with her chocolate wrapper. ‘I don’t think Marcus is very childish,’ she lamented. ‘He spends all his time hunched in a chair like a little old man. He never talks, he never runs around, he never gets excited about anything except his wretched computer games . . .’
    ‘ Mum! ’ It was Marcus. He burst into view, panting and red-faced and clutching the little white dog. His glasses were so warm and sweaty that they’d misted up. ‘I couldn’t . . . call you . . .’ he rasped. ‘No signal . . . dropped the phone . . .’
    ‘Marcus?’ Holly exclaimed, stiffening with alarm. ‘What’s wrong?’
    ‘Newt . . .’ he groaned. ‘Edison . . .’
    ‘What about them?’ Coco said sharply.
    ‘They’re both . . . stuck in . . . the cellar . . .’
    ‘What cellar?’ Holly rose from her inflatable lounge, which made squeaky, rubbery, fart-like noises. ‘Sit down, sweetie, you look terrible. What happened to you?’
    ‘Nothing,’ said Marcus. Suddenly he noticed his mother’s glossy nails, false eyelashes and caramel-coloured fake tan. Her hair was the usual sandy shade and her eyes were still green, but . . . ‘What happened to you ?’
    ‘I had a makeover,’ Holly admitted. Meanwhile, Coco was struggling out of her own inflatable lounge.
    ‘Now listen, Marcus.’ She sounded impatient. ‘What exactly is going on?’
    ‘I told you,’ Marcus replied. ‘Newt and Edison are stuck under our caravan.’
    Coco gasped. Her eyes widened with horror as she clapped a hand over her mouth.
    ‘They’re what ?’ Holly shrieked. Glancing from face to face, Marcus suddenly realised that he hadn’t been clear enough.
    ‘Oh – I don’t mean they’re squashed , or anything,’ he added quickly. ‘I don’t mean the caravan’s fallen on them. They’re in the cellar, that’s all. And they won’t come out.’
    ‘But Marcus—’ Holly began. Marcus, however, wouldn’t let her continue.
    ‘There’s a cellar, Mum! I swear to God!’ he insisted. ‘If you don’t believe me, come and have a look!’
    ‘Marcus—’
    ‘I thought I was hallucinating, only I wasn’t! Because Newt saw the same thing I saw! And so did Edison!’ Marcus blinked back tears, cleared his throat and fixed his pleading gaze on Coco. ‘You’ve got to come,’ he begged. ‘They won’t listen to me. The whole thing’s so weird – I didn’t know what to do.’
    ‘It’s all right, Marcus. I’ll come.’ Coco shoved her manicured feet into her high-heeled sandals. ‘I’ll come and I’ll give them both a piece of my mind. Since they’ve obviously played some dreadful trick on you.’
    Marcus considered this theory for a moment, then dismissed it. ‘I don’t think so . . .’ he mumbled.
    ‘I’ll come too,’ said Holly. ‘If there’s anything wrong with our caravan, the buck stops with me.’
    ‘How far is it? A long way?’ asked Coco.
    Holly hesitated. Her son bent his gaze to Coco’s high heels.
    ‘I don’t think you’ll be able to walk there,’ was his conclusion.
    ‘Then we’ll take the golf cart.’ Coco teetered towards the living room. ‘ Sterling! ’ she called. ‘ Where are you? I need the keys to the golf cart! ’ Over her shoulder, she added, ‘No dogs in the house, Marcus. Meet me out front . . .’

14
    THE FIRST DOOR ON THE LEFT
    M ARCUS WAS TIRED