The Age of Misadventure by Judy Leigh

Author:Judy Leigh [Judy Leigh]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2019-01-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

I let them in and Jade marches across the room and sits on the sofa, still in her coat. Luis stands behind her, leaning on the back of the furniture. He looks tired. Nanny gazes at him, grins and adjusts the silver dress. Bonnie picks at her newly manicured nails.

Jade is clearly angry. ‘We had to wind down after that man spoke to us. He threatened us. He’s a weirdo. He asked where Adie was, where you were, Mum, and Aunty Bonnie. I said I’d no idea.’ She turns on my sister. ‘Aunty Bonnie, this is terrible. What’s Uncle Adie going to do about it?’

I butt in. ‘How did he threaten you?’

Luis sighs. ‘We are stuck between rocks and hard places. He say he can make my career short. He say he hope I don’t break a leg in the next match.’

Jade huffs. ‘I said if anyone harmed Luis I’d break their bloody neck. He told me to pass that comment on to Uncle Adie, because he might find his neck was on the line next. Or …’ She looks at Bonnie and clamps her lips together.

‘He knows where we are, then?’ Bonnie murmurs.

‘Not necessarily.’ I change the subject as Jade shoots me a look. ‘We’re safe here, aren’t we? I mean, no one knows we’re living here.’

‘Where can I buy a dirty big knife?’ Nanny sits upright. ‘One of those massive Kalashnikovs.’ I try not to grin at her mistake: even I know it’s a rifle, but Nan is serious. ‘You can get those anywhere on the black market, can’t you? If he came in here, I’d cut his—’

‘Adie says he’s got money in a secret place in London.’ Bonnie wriggles in her seat.

Jade snaps, ‘Then why doesn’t he just pay Beddowes what he owes him and we can all live quietly?’

Bonnie shakes her head. ‘He says Beddowes is a crook.’

I stop myself from bursting out laughing. She glances round the room, ready to make an announcement.

‘So, I’ve decided. I’m going to see Adie on Saturday and we’ll get the money and go away. Beddowes won’t find us. Adie’s smart. You’ll all be all right then, once we’ve gone.’ She pouts and shows me sad eyes.

‘You must be out of your mind.’ Jade folds her arms. ‘Uncle Adie must owe him loads – Beddowes means business. He won’t let you get away with the money. He thinks it’s his.’

‘We can go abroad.’

I stare at Bonnie and breathe in sharply. It’s typical of my sister’s good nature. She’d let Adie drag her away overseas just to resolve the problem; she’s ready to trust him again. It takes me a second to decide that I won’t let her do that. Nanny has the same thought. She pokes Bonnie with a long finger.

‘Running away is no good, Bonnie. We need to do what everyone should do with bullies.’

‘Take them on and fight them.’ Jade’s face is tight: she means business.

Nan murmurs in agreement.

‘We can tell the police.’

Luis has a point. I nod.

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