Thief! by Malorie Blackman Read Free Book Online

back at Lydia, frustration written all over her face.
    ‘Lydia, that wasn’t very nice,’ Mum said quietly.
    ‘What wasn’t?’
    ‘Cutting her dead like that. Frankie obviously wanted to talk to you. She was trying to be friendly, which is more than can be said for that other one,’ Mum pointed out.
    ‘Well, I didn’t want to talk to her.’
    ‘Don’t be too proud to let her be your friend,’ Mum warned.
    ‘I hate her and Anne and everyone else at that rotten school.’
    ‘Now Lydia . . .’
    ‘I don’t want to talk about it,’ said Lydia stubbornly.
    She wished her mum would just drop the subject. Mum shook her head but took the hint and said nothing.
    ‘I’m your friend, Lyddy,’ Danny whispered.
    Moments passed before Lydia spoke.
    ‘D’you know something, Danny? In this whole, stinking town you’re the only true friend I’ve got,’ she replied.
    ‘Lydia, that’s enough. I’m sure you’ll find a way of showing everyone that you didn’t . . .’
    ‘Don’t start that again, Mum,’ Lydia interrupted. ‘It doesn’t matter – not any more. Danny’s the only friend I’ve got and he’s the only friend I want.’
    Lydia turned to where Frankie stood with Anne and her mum. Something inside her curled up into a very tight, painful knot and sat like a rock in her stomach. Lydia clenched her fists.
    ‘I’ll get my own back on you, Anne, and you, Frankie, if it’s the last thing I do. I swear I will,’ she said slowly.
    And she meant it.

Chapter Eight

The Accident
    Lydia’s mum wheeled the trolley back to the car, followed by Danny and last of all Lydia. They each picked up a carrier bag and started loading up the boot of the car.
    ‘Mum, I want to walk home,’ said Lydia when they’d almost finished.
    ‘Why?’
    ‘You’re always telling me to get more fresh air and exercise,’ Lydia snapped. ‘Well, that’s what I want to do.’
    Mum frowned. ‘Fine. You go for your walk – and maybe by the time you get home you’ll have walked the devil out of your backside!’
    Danny laughed as he always did whenever Mum used that expression. Mum’s lips twitched reluctantly.
    ‘As my mother used to say!’ she added drily.
    It was strange how Mum always quoted Lydia’s gran when she was annoyed! The ghost of a smile that flitted across Lydia’s face was gone as quickly as it arrived.
    ‘Can I go?’ Lydia asked, forcing herself not to snap or snarl or scowl.
    ‘Go on, then,’ Mum said. ‘Get walking! Just arrive back home in a better mood!’
    With a brief nod of gratitude, Lydia headed across the car-park. To get to the car-park exit wasn’t the easiest thing in the world. It was uphill all the way.
    ‘Lydia, don’t cut across the car-park. Go through the supermarket – it’s safer,’ Mum called after her.
    Lydia shook her head. ‘I’ll be OK,’ she called back. No way did she want to see Anne and Frankie again.
    ‘Mind the cars,’ Mum warned.
    Lydia nodded and carried on walking.
    ‘I must be crazy!’ she muttered to herself.
    It would be a long walk home, especially in the freezing cold, but at least it would give her a chance to be alone and think. The car-park was busy with cars coming to and from the supermarket but, although Lydia was careful to watch out for approaching cars, she was oblivious to everything else. She had too many other things on her mind.
    Think, Lydia – think ! she told herself sternly. How had Anne done it? How had Anne set her up?
    How would I plant something in someone else’s locker? Lydia wondered.
    Spy on them while they opened their locker to get the combination? No, that wouldn’t work. Anne would need eyes like a hawk to be able to work out Lydia’s locker combination from any distance. And if Anne had been close enough to see what it was, then Lydia was certain she would’ve seen her. Unless Anne had used binoculars . . . Lydia stopped walking and frowned. Binoculars! Was that it? Lydia shook her head and carried on