The Truth About Celia Frost Read Online Free

investigation.”
    “Why? I know all there is to know about it. We’ve coped with it just fine up till now. I don’t want Celia being poked and probed by you lot.”
    “We have no intention of doing that,” Dr. Ross said calmly. “But what if there’s a treatment that could change Celia’s life?”
    “I’ve been into all that. Her condition isn’t treatable!” Janice’s voice was rising.
    “Just let me do a blood test and we could start to get some facts. Wouldn’t that be great? Isn’t that the best thing for Celia?”
    Celia jumped up. “Yes, yes,” she pleaded. “Do the blood test, do it right now. I want to know.” She stretched out her uninjured arm towards Dr. Ross, but Janice pulled it
away sharply.
    “I absolutely don’t give you permission to take blood or anything else from my daughter. I appreciate your concern but there really is nothing for you to be worried about.
We’ve managed for fourteen years without you people interfering and, as you can see, my Celia is fine. So if you’ll excuse us, we have to go.”
    Janice took tight hold of Celia’s hand and marched her past the flabbergasted doctor.
    The boredom of the patients in the waiting room was momentarily lifted as the gown-clad girl was dragged past them, protesting loudly.
    “Mum, let me go! I want that blood test!”
    “Shut up, Celia. I know what’s best for you.”
    As they stepped out through the sliding doors of the department they were greeted by Mr. Powell, who’d been waiting anxiously.
    “Miss Frost,” Mr. Powell began earnestly, “I can’t apologize enough for what’s happened to Celia. We’re all appalled and let me reassure you that the boy in
question is being dealt with by the police and I am recommending his permanent exclusion.”
    “We have to go, Mr. Powell,” Janice said without stopping.
    “Yes, of course. Have they discharged her? That’s just great. Please, Miss Frost, I’ll phone you, we’ll have a meeting. You need to be reassured that our school is a safe
place for Celia and it would be good to clarify a few things about her medical condition.”
    “Celia won’t be back for a while.”
    “Quite right! She should take a few days off to recover. I’ll see you soon, Celia,” he called after them as Janice ordered Celia into the nearest taxi.
    On reaching their house, Janice immediately marched to her bedroom and pulled out an array of holdall bags from under the bed.
    “What are you doing?” Celia asked in alarm.
    “I’m packing up.”
    “Packing up what?”
    “As much as we can carry. We can’t stay around here.”
    “What are you talking about? I’m not moving! Not again. Please, Mum, not again!” Celia begged.
    “You’ll do as you’re told, young lady! This place isn’t safe for you. No way can we stay here with violent thugs attacking you at school.”
    “But it was a one-off. It’s not like it’ll happen again,” Celia protested.
    “You don’t know that! That boy might come after you. We can’t afford to take any chances.”
    Tears of resignation welled up in Celia’s eyes as she headed for the door. “I’m going to say goodbye to Mary then.”
    “Mary? The old woman across the road?” Janice said, puzzled.
    “Yeah. She’s always been really nice to me. I can’t just go without telling her.”
    “You’ll have to. We haven’t got time for goodbyes. Now, get your stuff!”

Being a policeman had not worked out for Frankie. He had soon discovered that he and the criminals often shared the same set of morals. His habit of supplementing his income
with bribes from suspects had led to him resigning from the force before he was investigated.
    Anyway, he never felt bad about his sideline. He did his job, he helped put his fair share of people behind bars – regardless of whether they were guilty or not – and he was always
useful to have in the interview room. Sometimes all it took was one look at PC Byrne to loosen a suspect’s tongue; sometimes it