KERI Part 3: Keri Karin (Child Abuse True Stories) by Ward Kat

Author:Ward, Kat [Ward, Kat]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Biographies
Publisher: Child Abuse True Stories
Published: 2014-01-13T05:00:00+00:00

23. Gregory

The next morning I slipped the two paintings and three line drawings into a large envelope – the contents of which (old letters and the like) I left scattered all over my bed. When I put my coat on, I tucked the envelope under my arm beneath the coat. I could use my elbow to grip if there was any sign of the slender package sliding out. I only had to hide it for a short way between the front door and the turning out of the drive into Moor Lane. Nobody queried it or even appeared to notice.

I hurried up Moor Lane, along the Wraysbury Road and into the town, where I turned into the small side-street heading toward the gallery. At eight thirty in the morning there were only a few people going about their business. Outside the gallery, two pints of milk in glass bottles looked incongruous and out of place beside the door, next to which was the display window where an enormous painting had been placed. I picked the milk up and pressed the doorbell.

When nobody came to the door after five minutes, I rang the doorbell twice more and stood close to the door trying to see past the display painting and into the gallery itself. A couple walked down the street arm in arm and openly stared at me before turning to each other to speak in soft voices. After a further ten minutes, I set the milk down and turned away. Clearly, Gregory either was not at home or did not wish to see me. Before I left the street I looked up at the three floors of windows above the shop front. All were firmly closed.

I knew, even if I hurried, I would be late for work. Irritated beyond measure, I marched angrily away from the gallery and set off across the bridge and down the Causeway towards work. The usual rush of people had thinned to the last few stragglers. By the time I reached Gordon Road, I was the only person walking along the road and there were very few vehicles.

I mumbled an apology and claimed I had overslept when I arrived at work. Alexander Copeland grinned and winked at me. Puzzled, I turned away and went to hang my coat up. When I came back to my desk, Alexander walked past me and went out into the warehouse. The receptionist leaned toward me and whispered, “He knows you didn’t oversleep. When you weren’t here, he telephoned your home and they said you had left at the normal time. He’s been worried about you.”

I had a sensation as if my heart had actually done a somersault inside my chest. Alexander had called Norman Lodge! I sank down onto my seat and put my hand to my throat.

“It’s all right, he isn’t angry with you. Don’t worry, Keri.”

I cleared my throat and replied, “It’s not him I’m worried about. I’ll have some awkward questions to answer later on.”

Margaret called

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.