The Forgotten Child by D. E. White

Author:D. E. White
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2019-08-27T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

‘Fuck off!’ She turned and stalked away, tugging the angry dog, yelling for Milo, who caught the ball neatly in one hand and tucked it under his arm.

They left the beach, crossed the road and walked quickly across the winter-browned grass to the playground. When she glanced around Niko was striding across the pebbles with Gareth gesticulating wildly.

‘Who was that man, Mum?’ Milo wanted to know.

‘Nobody. Just someone I used to know,’ Holly told him shortly. ‘Do you want to get on the zip line before the others get here? Can you manage with your leg?’ When she turned back towards the beach, Niko was gone. Jesus, fifty grand … She couldn’t get her head around that. Niko was right, her brother had been a right tech nerd when he wasn’t using. He’d spent nights gaming, scanning the internet for opportunities to make a quick bit of cash, testing himself by hacking high-profile websites … It fit, but she didn’t want to believe it. It was another layer of complication.

Cathryn was pushing the stroller across the path towards the climbing frame, a gaggle of fretful children tagging along behind her. ‘You really want to be out in this, Holly? Hey, what’s wrong?’

She waited until the kids had fussed over Oreo, then swarmed across to the climbing frame. The youngest two were busy toddling round the swings. ‘Bloody Niko was here, with Gareth.’

Cathryn’s expression changed, her thin face twisted. ‘With Gareth? Why? Did he talk to you?’

Holly, leaving the kids to play, gave her the gist of the conversation, and told her about the possible sighting last night.

‘Fucking hell! And I suppose the Nicholls thought they might get a shot of cash if they welcomed Niko on board?’ Cathryn was scowling. The kids yelled and chased each other down the slide.

‘I suppose Niko didn’t come and see you?’

‘See me? You’re having a laugh?’ Cath was scornful. ‘He hasn’t been near me or his kid since he got out. Why?’

Holly hadn’t mentioned her conversation with Dev, and she figured that she could hardly tell Cathryn about the Nicholls’ real welcome home party without putting Bailey in danger, but she filled her friend in on Donnie’s plans.

‘If Niko allies with your family, then where does that leave the Mancinis, or my dad? They all work for the Nicholls now. It’ll turn nasty like it did before, when your mum died and your dad lost it.’ Cath’s face was pale and worried, and she was twisting a long strand of blonde hair between her fingers.

‘Yeah, I know. Jesus, there’s just too much going on, Cath. I know it must all fit somehow but I can’t work out how. Oh, and are you sure you never had a thing with Joey?’ After he’d hinted the other night, and Gareth had just mentioned something on the beach … Holly looked carefully at her friend.

Angel was whining, and Cathryn busied herself fumbling for a bottle of juice. ‘Here you go, sweets, and you better have a rest now.

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