The Face of Clara Morgan: a gripping and chilling psychological suspense thriller by J.A. Baker

Author:J.A. Baker [Baker, J.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloodhound Books - crime, thriller and mystery
Published: 2021-07-18T16:00:00+00:00

18

Alex swings his legs out of bed, his vision blurred, eyes fogged up with sleep. His hair is tousled, a musty smell emanating from it. Last night was a laugh. No real harm done, apart from Mr Rose falling over. He got back up, though. He wasn’t seriously injured or anything. More a case of his pride being dented than anything else.

They never did get to Miss Bennison’s house. Too busy legging it home, stopping every couple of paces to catch their breath, their laughter at their antics ringing into the night sky. Dane’s not so bad – a bit sullen and sometimes difficult to decipher but deep down he’s a good mate, not the type of lad Alex would ever have thought of pairing up with, but then, sometimes it’s good to broaden your horizons, mix with people who aren’t necessarily like you. He doesn’t want to become like his mother – boxed into a small predictable corner. It’s a big wide world out there. He wants a bit of diversity, to have friends with differing opinions, not be the stereotypical middle-class teenager everybody expects him to be. He’s better than that. More accepting and open-minded.

Alex showers, dresses and turns to head downstairs. Joss stands on the landing, her hair piled high on her head, her pyjamas concertinaed up the back of her legs.

Their dad emerges from the bedroom, immaculately dressed, hair combed back and smelling of aftershave. ‘Now then, you two. Do you fancy scrambled eggs for breakfast?’

Alex nods. Joss gives a nonchalant shrug followed by a ‘Yeah, suppose,’ before disappearing into her room and slamming the door.

Alex remains still, allowing his dad to pass him, then follows Joss into her bedroom. He stands at the door, checking over his shoulder, making sure his dad is out of sight before speaking. ‘That thing you said about Mr Rose – well you know, about him pressing himself up against you – is it true? Because if it is, we need to do something. File a complaint. It’s serious that sort of stuff, you know.’

Joss says nothing and turns away, her expression impassive. Alex waits, clenches his fists, unclenches them repeatedly. Why is his sister so difficult to read? Nothing is ever easy with her, the slightest of questions a drawn-out battle, as if any attempt at conversation is an attempt to pry into her sad little world.

‘Dunno,’ she says finally. ‘Probably. He certainly didn’t try to move away when I was standing next to him. Why do you ask?’ She pulls out the tight band from her hair and runs her fingers through the long strands, staring in the mirror at her reflection and frowning.

‘No particular reason,’ Alex says softly, thinking about last night at Mr Rose’s house, thinking that his sister doesn’t seem overly disturbed by the event. The purported event. He doesn’t know a great deal about how most girls would react if this happened to them. He supposes that many would be horrified, too scared to

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