Vengeance Child by Simon Clark Read Free Book Online Page A

with this in the morning.’
    â€˜But where does the boy stay?’
    â€˜He can stay with me at the hostel.’
    â€˜The terms of the visit don’t allow that. Besides, there’s no room at the hostel. The dormitories are being redecorated. There’s accommodation for your staff, that’s all.’
    Laura snapped back. ‘What do you suggest? That he sleeps under a bush?’
    â€˜I’m suggesting that he returns on the ferry.’
    Victor saw the blaze of anger in Laura’s eyes. Watch out Mayor Wilkes, she’s just about to go for your jugular.
    The mayor added breezily, ‘If that boy doesn’t get along with the others then it’s clearly a recipe for disaster if he stays.’
    Laura closed in. ‘All these children have been through hell. Not just last week, but for every week of their lives. They all need a holiday. I won’t stand by while people I care about are run off the island like two-bit thugs.’
    From his Mr-High-and-Mighty stance, Mayor Wilkes huffed. ‘I merely said that in the interests of harmony—’
    Victor interrupted. ‘He can stay at White Cross Farm. There’s plenty of room.’
    â€˜You mean, stay with you?’ Laura turned that glare on Victor – a glare that reminded him of a lioness ready to attack anything that threatened her cubs.
    â€˜We have rules relating to children’s accommodation.’ Mayor Wilkes wore a smug expression. ‘The boy must return on the ferry.’
    Victor smiled. ‘More precisely, I’m suggesting that Jay stops with my sister and her husband. Both have childcare clearance checks. They’ve experience of fostering children as well.’
    Laura still resisted. ‘I won’t have him staying by himself.’
    â€˜Then you stay with us, too. There are spare bedrooms.’ He read her expression. Grinning, he added, ‘That’s right, although my sister runs the place I’m the lunatic sibling who they keep chained up in the attic.’
    Lou grinned too. ‘That’s perfectly true, the man is a lunatic. But Victor’s the kind of lunatic you can trust with your life.’
    He put his arm round her shoulders. ‘Thank you, Lou. I’ll take that as a compliment.’ He glanced at Mayor Wilkes. ‘Well?’
    â€˜Look, I’m fine with this if Nurse Parris is. Besides, I’m late for a meeting.’
    Victor nodded, ‘Say hello to the golf club guys for me.’
    Scowling, Mayor Wilkes marched on to the ferry, while gesturing to the crew to cast off straight away.
    Victor took in the view of the stars coming out in the sky. ‘It’s going to be a beautiful night.’ He added another holdall to the six he already carried. ‘Lou, I’ll see you in the Three Impostors at nine. First cider’s on me.’
    Chuckling girlishly, she followed her party in the direction of the village.
    Laura didn’t appear impressed. ‘So you can charm Lou.’
    â€˜Lovely Lou. I’m sure she’s an angel in human form.’ He paused. ‘Only us three left. You can accept my offer to stay at my sister’s farm, or there’s always the ferry back to the mainland.’ Its motor coughed into life.
    Laura scowled. ‘For one night only . I’ll sort out a place for Jay tomorrow. The children are just overtired.’
    He acknowledged the statement with a nod. ‘Follow me.’
    For the first time the boy spoke. ‘Where’s he taking us?’
    When Laura smiled her face turned from winter to spring. ‘To a farm. That’s where we’ll be staying.’
    Victor led the way along the shoreline path. He dropped off holdalls according to the address labels as he went. Behind him the boy talked quietly to Laura, thinking Victor couldn’t hear.
    â€˜Laura. I’m frightened.’
    â€˜There’s nothing to be frightened of. There might be animals at the farm.