Toxic Treacle by Echo Freer Read Free Book Online

been round to pick up my stuff,’ he bargained.
    Angel stepped out from the corner of the house, looked up at Monkey and folded her arms as though disapproving of the whole business.
    â€˜I can let you in, you know,’ Mov Bailey said. ‘Jane put me on the iris recognition so I can keep an eye on the place.’ She chuckled. ‘Keep an eye on it! I’ve just seen the funny side.’ She was still laughing to herself as she opened the small gate between the two properties and shuffled round. ‘You only had to ask, you know.’
    Angel dodged back into the shadows quickly and Monkey slid down the roof as the elderly nurturer reached up on tiptoe, placed her eye against the small scanner on the wall and turned the handle on the door. Monkey did his best to stifle a smile of relief. ‘Mind you shut it firm when you’ve done,’ she said, shuffling back towards her own house. ‘It don’t close proper sometimes.’ Then added, ‘I don’t use all her electrics. Only when I’m cold, like now. Mine’s one of the early turbines. They’re not very efficient, you know. Jane used to let me use hers sometimes when she was at work. It’s not stealing, she used to say, more like sharing.’
    Once the elderly neighbour had gone back into her own home, Monkey propped open the door, then sought out Angel and led her towards the house, grinning. ‘It’s not breaking and entering if we’ve been let in officially!’
    â€˜You’re despicable!’ Angel said as they entered the dark kitchen. ‘I don’t want any part of this.’
    Now that they were in the relative safety of the house, Monkey relaxed a little.
    â€˜Look, I’m sorry - OK? I’m really worried about Tradge and I needed someone I trusted to come with me. I should’ve come clean with you from the start but I didn’t think you’d come.’
    â€˜Too right I wouldn’t have come!’ Angel retorted. ‘Anyway, now you know that he’s graduated early, we can get going.’
    She turned towards the door to leave but Monkey caught her hand and pulled her to face him.
    â€˜You don’t get it, do you? Tragic hasn’t graduated early. The school would’ve known if he had. And Jane hasn’t got any aunts either - or a sister. Tragic used to moan about the fact that he never got any presents for his birthdays except from his nurturer because she didn’t have any other family - either in town or in the rurals. And anyway, who do you know who lives in the rurals these days? Unless they’re geriatric or been sent to The Farm.’
    Angel looked confused. ‘So what’re you saying?’
    â€˜I don’t know what’s going on or why they’ve left but I’m not giving up until I find out where he is and that he’s all right.’ He looked her in the eye as he spoke. ‘But, if you want...’ He stopped mid-sentence.
    Flashing along the hallway, through the glass of the front door was the intermittent red searchlights of a stealth. They heard the sigh of the air-brakes as it drew to a halt, then muffled voices and footsteps headed down the path towards the house.
    â€˜Shiltz!’ Monkey whispered urgently.
    Suddenly, a loud banging noise echoed down the hallway. He could make out the silhouettes of at least four Security officers through the glazed front door.
    A female voice boomed through the mail-slot. ‘Jane Patterson? Security. Open up!’

Secrets, Codes and Hiding Places
    â€˜Quick!’ Monkey grabbed Angel’s hand and pulled her towards a door that opened off the kitchen. There was a padlock near the top, but it was hanging open and the door was slightly ajar. ‘Down here!’
    There was a cellar under the house that Monkey remembered from a few years earlier. When he and Tragic had been younger, they’d gone down there once to play hide and seek. It was the only