Without Looking Back Read Online Free

Papa’s Reverend Green, so who do you want to be?’
    They were all seated on the floor around the Cluedo board, waiting for him. Louis knelt down to join them. ‘Professor Plum, of course,’ he said, forcing a smile.
    Half an hour later, when Max discovered that the murder had been committed by Mrs Peacock, with the lead pipe, in the conservatory, Papa said, ‘All right, folks. Let’s start getting ready for bed.’
    ‘I’m not in the slightest bit tired!’ Max exclaimed. ‘Oh, come on, let me finish my game!’
    ‘I already said it wasn’t negotiable, Max,’ Papa said sharply. ‘I want everyone to have showered and brushed their teeth in exactly twenty minutes. I’m going to finish the washing-up,’ and he left.
    On her hands and knees, Millie was carefully putting the pieces away, humming to herself, unbothered by the ridiculously early night and just happy she was getting to go to bed at the same time as everyone else. Max threw himself onto the sofa and switched on his PS3.
    ‘Papa’s going to get annoyed,’ Louis said.
    Max didn’t move.
    ‘Max!’
    He glanced up, his face angry. ‘This is totally unreasonable of him,’ he complained. ‘What difference does it make if we go to bed this early? We won’t be able to sleep anyway.’
    ‘We can try.’
    Millie jumped up. ‘Bags I get the bathroom first then,’ she said, running out.
    Max narrowed his eyes at Louis. ‘Why are you taking his side all of a sudden? What’s wrong with you anyway?’
    ‘Nothing.’ Louis looked quickly down at the carpet and began collecting up the Cluedo pieces that Millie had left behind.
    ‘What’s wrong with you?’ Max said again.
    Louis looked up hotly. ‘Nothing!’
    ‘Liar. You’ve been crying. I can tell. Your eyes were all red when you came in.’
    ‘Oh, shut up,’ Louis muttered hurriedly, busying himself with the Cluedo box.
    ‘Fine, don’t tell me then.’ Max turned back to his PS3.
    It was another hour before they finally all got to bed, and even then Max was still grumbling and playing his GameBoy underneath the covers. From the box room next door, they could hear the rise and fall of Papa’s voice as he read Millie a bedtime story, and the evening sunlight slanted through the half-closed shutters. Then Papa came in and sat down on the end of Louis’ bed.
    ‘Boys, are you packed?’
    ‘Yes.’ Max sounded fed up, as if he was tiring of this whole surprise thing already.
    ‘Yes,’ Louis said.
    ‘Are you sure? Even your toothbrushes? Have you checked the bathroom?’
    ‘You’re beginning to sound like Maman!’ Max protested, still playing his GameBoy. ‘We’re only going away for the weekend.’
    ‘I don’t want you to leave anything behind,’ Papa said. ‘Have you put out your clothes for tomorrow? I’mgoing to wake you at the last minute, so we’ll only have quarter of an hour to leave the house.’ He got up, went over to Max’s bed and tried to prise the GameBoy from his hands. Max hung on grimly, still fighting with the buttons, saying, ‘One more second, one more second, I’ve nearly killed him!’
    ‘Max . . .’ Papa began in a low, warning voice.
    ‘OK, OK!’
    Papa bent down to kiss him. Max grumbled and complained that there was no way in hell he was going to be able to fall asleep. Then Papa came over to Louis’ bed.
    ‘Night-night, Louis.’
    As Papa bent over him, Louis reached up round his father’s neck and pulled him close. He breathed in his warm, slightly sweaty smell. He never wanted to let go.
    ‘It’ll be all right, Loulou,’ Papa whispered in his ear. ‘It’ll be all right. I promise.’

Chapter Two
    ‘ COME ON, EVERYONE, up, up!’ The overhead light snapped on, blinding them, and Louis groaned and pulled the duvet over his head. But within seconds, Papa was pulling it off him, right off him, and tugging his arm.
    ‘Come on, Louis, go and wash your face right now. Come on, come on!’ Papa’s voice was low, urgent, forcing Louis to get