Unti Peter Robinson #22 by Peter Robinson Read Free Book Online Page B

I was being careful, you know, but they had CCTV, store detectives, the lot. Took me in a room in the back and scared the wits out of me, pushed me about a bit, threatened me but stopped short of hitting me, then they called the police. Wanted to make an example of me.” She gave a harsh laugh. “A ­couple of hundred years ago they’d have sent me to Australia, and there’s some countries in the world today where they’d chop my hand off, but all I got was probation. I was lucky, I suppose. Child Care were round like a shot, of course, but I managed to hang on to Ian, if only because his dad had no interest in taking custody of him. God knows what I’d have done if I’d lost Ian. It was a bad time in my life. A very bad time. But it’s over now. I only needed the one lesson.”
    Pity that doesn’t work for everyone, Annie thought, feeling some of her skepticism slough away. “And now?” she asked.
    â€œI’m doing a part-­time course. Travel and tourism. Eastvale College. Ever since I was a little girl I’ve dreamed of seeing the world. I’ve got a part-­time job at GoThereNow—­you know, the new travel agency in the Swainsdale Centre—­just taking bookings for stag weekends in Prague or Tallinn and stuff. There’s not much money in it right now, but when I’ve finished the course, if I do well, I’m hoping to start leading some tour groups of my own. Today’s my day off.” She picked up a thick book about the history of Rome from the low coffee table. “Just doing a bit of homework. The history of the Coliseum.”
    â€œWon’t you be away a lot?” Annie said. “If you’re leading tours. What’ll happen to Ian?”
    â€œI’ll take care of Ian, don’t you worry about that. Michael and I will. We’ll work it out. Maybe they can come with me? Michael can take photographs for travel magazines.”
    â€œSounds ideal.”
    Alex shrugged. “Besides, there’s school, and the neighbors are great. Well, most of them. Michael helps a lot, too, of course.”
    â€œHow did you meet Michael?”
    â€œIt was a year ago. He was up at the college seeing if he could get into a photography course through the back door. He likes taking pictures. Drawing, too. He’s very good at both, got a real eye. He did those.” She gestured to the photographs and drawings on the wall that Annie had thought were bought prints. The castle ruins at night. Someone, Mick’s father perhaps, shearing a sheep. The river falls in full spate. A charcoal head-­and-­shoulders sketch of Alex. Annie had an eye for good art and photography herself, and these were very good indeed. She told Alex so.
    â€œThank you, but to be honest, he might have the talent, but he doesn’t have the qualifications, not even A levels, so they turned him down. He spent too much time off school helping out around the farm when he was a young lad. He doesn’t have the right equipment, either. All Michael has is an old Cyber-­shot. About six pixels. They’re up to sixteen or more these days. He needs a better camera, a DSLR, with all the lenses.”
    â€œYou understand about that sort of stuff?”
    Alex cocked her head and gave Annie an appraising glance. “Of course. I’m not stupid. Look, we’re poor but we’re not destitute, you know. We both work, when we can. We’re careful with what we have—­have to be—­but he’ll get a new and better camera soon, especially if he gets into college and I make some progress in my job.”
    â€œSo you met at the college?”
    â€œStudent pub. He was a bit depressed when he came in, and I was serving behind the bar—­my previous part-­time job. The place was nearly empty. I was revising for my exams. We got talking over a ­couple of drinks. He told me about his mum leaving and how miserable he