Scotland Hard (Book 2 in the Tom & Laura Series) Read Online Free Page A

especially if he covered his tracks behind him. Complaints from parents would probably come to Saunders desk. Tom dreaded to think how Saunders might deal with any truly persistent parent. There was only one problem with this theory as far as Tom could see.
    “Who does the Brotherhood work for? The Hungarian Empire? The French?”
    Tricky sneered. “They does it for dosh. The Brotherhood ain’t working for anyone, but number one.”
    ‘Was it just about money? Was it that simple?’
    “ Who are the other children?”
    Tricky counted out on his fingers.
    “There’s me, Alice and Ebb, short for Ebenezer. We’re all a bit odd, magically speakin’. Alice ’s a telepath who can send messages into anybody’s ‘ead. She shouts a lot. Ebb’s a Precog, but only for five seconds ahead, but real reliable like, an’ all the time.”
    “How did you get in my room and where’s Laura?” Tom asked. As he asked his questions, Tom saw the boy wince as if he had been hit hard on the head.
    “Got to go, someone’s comin’,” Tricky said urgently. “I wish Alice ‘ud learn to whisper and not shout at me.”
    Tricky was back behind the tapestry before Tom could react. Tom thought it was a stupid place to hide and went to drag Tricky out. When he lifted the tapestry the wall behind was free of the boy. All he saw was wooden paneling from floor to ceiling.
    Tom might have begun tapping the wood to try to find the secret passage, but he heard the sound of his door being unbolted and decided that lying in bed was a better place to be found, rather than tapping on the walls like a lunatic. He was still naked and there might even be a woman on the other side of the door.
    He pretended to wake as the door opened. A butler in his fifties held open the door as a young maid entered the room. She carried a tray laden with food, her head was down and she stared at the floor as though it might jump up and bite her if she glanced away.
    “Good morning, sir. I trust you enjoyed a fine night’s sleep,” the butler enquired as though he might be interested in the answer. He was immaculately dressed, clean-shaven and well spoken.
    “I seem to have mislaid my clothes,” Tom said apologetically. “You don’t happen to know where they I might find them?”
    The maid giggled and then went silent as if she sensed the frown the butler bestowed on her, though she certainly couldn’t have seen it. She tensed her neck as if waiting for a blow, but it did not come.
    “Your needs will be attended to shortly, sir,” the butler told him gravely. “If sir is in need of relief you will find a night jar beneath the bed. I’m afraid I must leave you now and be about my duties.”
    The maid placed the breakfast tray at the bottom of his bed and backed away. As she ducked under the butler’s arm he clipped her head with his free hand. The girl uttered a small cry of pain as she disappeared from sight.
    Tom was planning to ask about Laura, but the butler left the room and the door swung shut behind him. Tom heard a bolt being pushed home and knew he was locked in again.

4.    Cover Up
     
    “You get a better breakfast than we do,” Tricky accused as he reappeared from behind the tapestry and made a beeline towards Tom’s tray.
    “And I would like to point out that I am bigger than you, and a lot hungrier,” Tom replied making it clear with a sweep of his arm that the breakfast was for one. “Do you know where Laura is?”
    “Your girl’s next door. She’s pretty without ‘er clothes,” Tricky said, completely oblivious to the shocked look Tom gave him. “I’ve bin watching ‘er on and off all morning.”
    Tricky made a rapid hand gesture suggesting he had been doing more than just watching Laura. However, Tom knew that he had more important things to worry about than Tricky’s perversions. He shoveled his breakfast into his mouth as fast as he could. Once he had eaten, he would do something about the situation. His first priority