Instant Family Read Free

conference."
    "Yes?" She wasn't going to make it easy for him. Especially considering his earlier reaction to the suggestion, which on her part had
been more of a strong recommendation, he realized now. "Lock the young thug up, and throw the key away, for all I care," sounded
harsh and uncompromising in the extreme as the words resounded
in his head.

    "Do you think it might work for this kid?"
    Constable Wright nodded with a marginal increase of warmth
in her manner. "We see boys like Sebastian Gardiner all the time,
especially in the summer holidays. They're basically good kids.
They go out with their mates or fall in with a rotten crowd, and before they know it, someone's suggested something they'd never do
on their own. The ringleaders aren't the ones who get caught most
often."
    "I suppose we should give it a try." The sister's face flashed
through his mind. Very pretty. Young and vulnerable with soft, pink
cheeks under a mess of gold blond hair falling in disarray to her
shoulders. Obviously straight out of bed, bewildered, uncomprehending. The shock, the responsibility shadowed eyes that had already
seen too much sorrow. Then his cruel and vicious words hurled at
her. "I should apologize."
    "Yes."
    "Could I wait?"
    "It's up to you, but to tell you the truth..." She paused as if
deciding whether to say what she'd intended. Decided. "She could
be here for some time, and if I were Ms. Gardiner, I wouldn't want
to speak to you right now."
    Alex stared, and his skin prickled uncomfortably as her meaning
sank in. "I suppose not. I should go home. Thank you," he said
abruptly. Jeannie from next door was babysitting, but she was due at
work in the morning and wouldn't be sleeping too well on his couch.
    Chloe, still shaking with indignant fury at the monstrous suddenness of the attack and the complete demolition of her gross and irrational attraction to such a cruel individual, allowed Constable Burrows
to propel her around the corner.
    "I'm sorry about that, Chloe."
    "Horrible... horrible man." After the torrent of angry words, she
could barely speak now. The blue-clad arm still lay comfortingly
around her shoulders.

    "He was upset, but he had no call to say what he did."
    "He'll never agree to a conference, will he?" Chloe stopped and
gazed up into the gray eyes of her protector. He stepped back quickly
as if realizing how intimate his consoling gesture had been.
    "He may when he calms down." Constable Burrows paused with
his fingers on the handle of the door they stood next to. "Ready?"
    Seb sat slumped on a chair in the small interview room with his
head cradled in his hands. His expression changed from alarm to
delight when he saw Chloe appear from behind Constable Burrows,
then almost immediately collapsed into apprehension. Red-rimmed
eyes, a deep pink staining the cheeks contrasting starkly with alabaster
skin, rumpled T-shirt, shaking fingers now clutching and plucking at
the fabric. So young, so helpless and scared. Chloe spontaneously
held out her arms, and he launched himself clumsily into her embrace.
    "I'm sorry, Chloe, I'm sorry." Between sniffles. He was as tall as
she and bony under her fingers. How long since she'd held him,
hugged him? Or Julian.
    "What on earth were you doing?" She released her hold and stepped
back. "Who were you with? Julian said he had no idea. Does he? Or
has he been lying for you?"
    Seb stared at her, his mouth moving wordlessly. His cheeks had
deepened from pink to a dull red.
    "Tell me, Seb! You're the only one they've caught, and you're the
one who's going to be in court over this."
    "Court?" Seb's eyes flashed to Constable Burrows, who stood
watching with his back against the door.
    "What did you expect? That the people you robbed and whose
property you wrecked wouldn't mind?" Chloe glared at him as
the complete stupidity and insanity of the whole affair reignited the
rage.
    "I didn't rob anyone."
    "You tried," put in Constable Burrows.