"L. Lee Lowe - Mortal Ghost" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lowe L Lee)

'Mum's already spoken with Social Services.'

Jesse stubbed out his cigarette. He rose.

'Let's go,' he said. 'I want my gear.'

'Jesse --'

He turned his head away. He didn't want her to see the expression in his eyes. Soon after the fire he'd learned
it was better not to show his feelings. Sometimes he even stopped feeling them that way. Without a backward
glance he hurried through the café.

Jesse was standing by the bike rack where they'd tied Nubi when Sarah joined him.

'You waited,' she said.

'Tell me what your mother said to the Social Services people.'

'Let's go into the park and talk about it.'

'Don't play games with me, Sarah.'

She stared back at him, not in any way cowed. 'You're overreacting.'

'Just talk.'

'Sorry, but I don't think you're headed for a career in Hollywood.' She narrowed her eyes in appraisal, then
allowed a grin to flirt with her lips. 'Nope. Forget about it. Plus you're too blond to be a Mafioso.'

It was not like him to waffle so much. When that bastard had hit him for the last time, Jesse had been gone
within the hour. And it would have been sooner if he hadn't waited till Mal went out. Jesse would never forget
the satisfying sound of all those bottles smashing, the delicate model ships crunching underfoot. Mal had
never built anything in his life. The entire collection had been his father's work, but Mal had come to believe
his own lies. He'd loved those ships as if he'd laboured over each bit of rigging himself. Pathetic, really. While
Angie was at work -- usually the night shift -- Mal would give the latest woman a proper guided tour. Jesse
shivered in spite of the heat. The noise they'd made. Mal hadn't given a damn if Jesse overheard. He'd even
been proud of himself, bragged about it, flaunted himself as a proper man. Until the next morning when
Angie usually found the wrong cigarettes or strands of hair -- 'do your tarts have to use my hairbrush?' -- once
even a pair of knickers. Mal had been good at feeling sorry for himself, and grovelling too.
Chapter 4 28
'Come with me,' Sarah urged. 'Just hear me out. I promise not to stop you from leaving if that's what you
really want.'

As if she could.

She untied Nubi's lead and ran across the street into the park, the dog leaping at her heels. Jesse hesitated, then
set off after her. It would be better to know what was happening with the authorities, he told himself.

As soon as Jesse passed the imposing ivy-covered pillars and descended the steps giving on to a wide gravel