An Explosive Time (The Celtic Cousins' Adventures) Read Online Free PDF Page A

the room. The only sound now was that of water sloshing noisily in the unseen oversized bath, and the ragged breathing of the otherwise motionless detective.  
    Carrie’s hands flew to her mouth, Uncle Derek would never forgive her for this, it didn’t help that Wren was almost on his knees beside her, struggling to keep his mobile phone steady as he convulsed with laughter.
    Torn between sympathy and her own giggles, Carrie took a couple of steps towards her best friend’s dad, thinking of all the times he’d allowed her and Lizzie to stay up a little bit later, given them lifts to the local pool, waited patiently for the school disco to end and generally treated her as a fifth daughter.
    ‘Uncle Derek.’
    She broke the spell and brushing her aside, Crombie stormed over to Wren, and wrestled the mobile from him to pound it under a muddy boot.
    ‘Crombie! My phone!’ Wren could barely get the words out through his giggles. For the briefest of moments Crombie’s hand hovered dangerously around Wren’s face. Clenching his fist, still not looking at Carrie, he clumped down the stairs. Suddenly furious with Wren, Carrie slapped him.
    ‘Stop it. Stop it! We’ve really embarrassed him. Poor Uncle Derek.’ She scuttled down the stairs after Crombie, aware Wren followed still hiccupping with laughter.

Never Smile at a Crocodile.
     
     
    Crombie waited for them in the kitchen, colour returning slowly to his face. Ducking his head to peer up and out of the rear window, straining as if he could magically see over the flat roof extension, he shuddered.
    ‘Crocodile. You’ve got a crocodile in your bath.’ He told them; as though somehow the giant reptile had crawled in through the front door and lumbered up the stairs before running a shallow bath and taking up residence without anyone noticing.
    ‘Cariad, make Uncle Derek some more tea.’ Wren steered Crombie over to the table, easing him into a chair. ‘Actually, its an alligator, it’s fairly easy to tell the difference...’ Realising he was being treated like a geriatric Crombie shrugged Wren’s supporting arm away, shoving violently. Wren retreated to the doorway, well out of reach.
    ‘Shut up. You’ve got a thumping great beast up there with a jaw full of large pointy teeth. I don’t give a shit what you want to call it. It’s lethal.’ Crombie raised his eyes upwards, as though the beast would come through the ceiling at any moment.
    ‘It isn’t lethal, not unless you provoke it.’
    ‘Lethal.’ Crombie repeated firmly. ‘It nearly gave me a heart attack.’
    Wren giggled, thinking Crombie had made a joke.
    ‘Son, I mean it. My poor old ticker.’ Crombie’s hand crept over his chest. ‘Thanks sweetheart.’ He said to Carrie, accepting the mug of tea from her, dipping his head to sip without bothering about sugar this time. Maybe he was afraid his hands would tremble too much to operate the tiny tongs.
    After a stern look from Carrie, Wren began apologising profusely.
    ‘Crombie, I’m so sorry, I tried to tell you ...’
    ‘Shut up. I’ll do the talking. Shut the hell up now, else I’m on the phone to the ...’ He stopped to think of who would be responsible for sweeping up stray alligators. ‘RSPCA.’
    Wren dissolved into fits of giggles again, at the thought of some old dear coaxing a six-foot alligator into a cat box.
    After a second or two Crombie allowed himself a brief smile. ‘I’ll have you both sectioned.’ He warned.
    Colour began to return to his face though; taking a seat opposite him Carrie tried a sympathetic smile.
    ‘Sorry Uncle Derek, I really didn’t think you’d look in there.’
    Crombie grimaced. ‘I don’t know what you’re doing mixed up with this - or that.’ He pointed to Wren, still propping up the doorframe ‘but I want an explanation and it’d better be good.’
    ‘Uncle Derek thinks I’m leading you astray.’ Wren said, a tone of hurt innocence in his voice.
    The air prickled as the two men