The Second Sister: The exciting new psychological thriller from Sunday Times bestselling author Claire Kendal. Claire Kendal

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СКАЧАТЬ Thorne makes it hard to breathe. The possibility of Luke knowing about him makes it even harder. But I manage to keep the pictures out of my head.

      ‘I need to do what I think is best for you, Luke. It’s going to depend on what I find out. And you need to be prepared for the possibility that this might be nothing at all – that’s what’s most likely.’

      ‘I guess that’s the best agreement I can get.’

      ‘You guess right.’

      His forehead creases. ‘There’s something else that bothers me,’ he says.

      I am beginning to think I may actually be sick. ‘Tell me.’ I realise I’m holding my breath.

      ‘Granny says you didn’t do well enough on your exams because you didn’t go back to University afterwards.’

      Afterwards. He never says ‘after Mummy disappeared’ or ‘after Mummy vanished’. There is before. There is after. The thing in between is too big for him to name.

      But at least he isn’t worrying about Jason Thorne. This is easy, compared to that. ‘I did go back,’ I say. ‘But they made special arrangements for me to do it from a distance so I could help Granny and Grandpa take care of you.’

      ‘But Granny says you should have done better. She says you wanted to be a scientist, but I heard her telling Grandpa that Ted was distracting you even before you moved back home. It’s not really Ted’s fault, is it?’

      ‘It’s nobody’s fault, and I wanted to be a biology teacher, not a scientist. But I don’t any more. The charity work is important – it means so much to me.’ I smooth his hair again, silky like yours, silky like mine. This time, I am not ambushed by an image of Thorne grabbing you by it.

      ‘It was my fault,’ Luke says. ‘You wouldn’t have messed up your degree if it weren’t for me.’

      ‘Luke,’ I say. ‘Look at me.’ I tip up his face. ‘Being your aunt is the best thing that has ever happened to me. That is definitely your fault.’

      ‘And Mummy’s,’ he says.

      ‘Yes. And Mummy’s. I miss her so much and you are the only thing that makes it hurt less. Looking after you taught me more than those lecturers ever could. I wouldn’t have wanted to do anything else. It’s what I chose.’

      His head whips round. ‘There’s that coughing noise again.’ We both listen. ‘And that’s a different sound. Like somebody tripped in the leaves.’

      ‘Probably someone on their morning walk. Someone clumsy with a cold.’

      ‘Should we look?’

      ‘They’ll be gone before we get there.’ I take his hand. ‘If it’s really a spy, he’s not very good, is he?’

      ‘Not as good as me. Plus he won’t know what he’s up against with you.’

      ‘Let’s go in. Granny promised to make pancakes for breakfast.’

      ‘I’d better tell Granny and Grandpa about what we heard.’

      ‘We can tell them together. And you know that if anybody comes near the house, one of the cameras will pick him up. I’ll check the footage before I leave. You don’t have to worry.’

      He nods sagely. ‘Can you stay for the afternoon and take me to my karate lesson?’

      ‘I’d love to. I’ll have to rush off as soon as you finish though. I promised Sadie I’d go to her party.’

      ‘Is it her birthday?’

      ‘It’s to celebrate moving in with her new boyfriend.’

      Luke wrinkles his nose. ‘Ted says Mummy never liked Sadie.’

       She thinks everyone is out to get her – she’s the most bitter person ever born.

       She talks behind everyone’s back and it’s just a matter of time before she turns on you.

       She’s always telling herself she’s a victim but she’s actually the aggressor.

      These were your favourite warnings to me about Sadie. You made your assessment when she was four and never saw any reason to change it.

      My friendship with Sadie has certainly lasted beyond its natural life. I try to explain why. ‘I’ve known her since my first day at school.’

      ‘Like Ted.’

      ‘Yes. But she doesn’t have many friends. She gets mad at people and drives them away.’

      ‘So you feel sorry for her?’

      ‘Kind of. I guess I always have.’

      ‘What if she gets mad at you?’

      ‘It’s probably only a matter of time before she does. I’m too busy to see her much – I suppose that reduces the opportunities for her to find fault with me.’

      ‘Don’t go. Stay here with me and Granny and Grandpa.’

      ‘That is tempting. But she’s really nervous about the party. She has hardly anyone of her own to invite and she’s scared Brian will think that’s weird. It’ll be all his doctor friends.’

      ‘Fun,’ he says. ‘Not.’

      ‘Definitely not as fun as your karate lesson.’

      ‘They’ll let you watch me. I’m getting better. You’ll be proud.’

      ‘I’m already proud. Can I join in?’

      He shakes his head no solemnly, partly not wanting to hurt my feelings, partly amazed by my silliness. ‘It’s for kids, Auntie Ella. Plus I’d have to pretend not to know you because you’d show off. You’d execute a flying spin and kick my teacher in the face with a knockout blow.’

      ‘Never.’

      ‘I don’t believe you.’

      ‘Well, maybe a little knifehand strike to the ribs.’

       The Costume Party

      Sadie is passionately kissing Brian. She is pressing her breasts against his chest. I am standing in front of the two of them in Brian’s crowded kitchen, trying not to appear disconcerted – only a few seconds ago the three of us were politely talking.

      ‘Autumn in New York’ is playing, telling me about how new love mixes with pain, making me think of you as Sadie cups Brian’s cheek with one hand and traces his lips with the index finger of the other. She stares into his handsome-in-a-geeky-way face and strokes his dark hair. ‘You obsess me.’ Her whisper is deadly serious.

      ‘And СКАЧАТЬ