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

exchanged glances over her head and for a fleeting moment Carrie felt annoyed with Crombie for bursting in and adding even more complications to her life, and Wren for insisting on treating everything as a joke. She let out a sigh of frustration, gazing over Uncle Derek’s shoulder into the tiny rear garden. From this angle, she could see over the wall and Wren’s mural, to the cherry red metal staircase landing of a warehouse behind. A Victorian warehouse, built to impress. The fire escape staircase climbed six flights high, each storey had eight windows, all arching to a more expansive height than their front door.
    Dimly reflected in their own kitchen window glass, she watched a wraith like Wren slumped against the kitchen door frame, arms disappearing behind his back, fidgeting nervously. His reflection winked at her, and her gaze moved on hurriedly, flickering upwards to the fanlight, a window above the door meant to provide secondary light to the gloomy passageway that served as an entrance hall to the house. That needs a good clean she thought absently. Sighing again she tried to explain.
     
    ‘Uncle Derek; give us two, maybe three days and that poor creature will be in a sanctuary, with other alligators, and I promise you won’t have to worry about it anymore.’
    Carrie jumped as he rammed a fist against the table.
    ‘Sod that thing! I’m more interested in the elephant. Do you know how much they’re worth? Someone’s stolen a very valuable asset from the circus up there.’ He pointed in the direction of the Scrubs. ‘How d’you think that’s gonna look when it gets in the press? An eight ton elephant nicked in the middle of London and the Met can’t find a trace of the bastard!’ Looking down at her fingernails, Carrie bit her lips, on the verge of confessing all to Uncle Derek when Wren spoke.
    ‘An eight ton elephant has no business being in London. It belongs on the African Savannah. You of all people know that Crombie.’ He’d been waiting for this moment, to pay Crombie back.
    ‘Jesus Christ son.’ Crombie rubbed at his eyes, then pushed his hands through his hair with vehemence. ‘Don’t you lecture me! I’m not here to discuss animal welfare, and what happened in Africa stays in Africa. The fact is that elephant is valuable property. I’m guessing that thing.’ Crombie jabbed a finger skywards ‘is worth a bob or two an’ all. There must be at least a dozen handbags in that skin.’
    Carrie gulped miserably, turning to Wren for support. Pacing into the room he pulled out the chair next to her, taking her hand as he sat down and murmured. ’It’ll be ok, Cariad, don’t look so worried.’
    ‘Son, you’ve got more front than the wall of China. Carrie happens to have a conscience.’ Crombie patted her other hand, Carrie pulled away from both of them, fearing a tug of war would break out. But she edged a little closer to Wren, hoping this small gesture of support would soften his manner.
    ‘Go back to the circus Crombie. Look for an old guy, about my height. He’s got a tattoo across his forehead. The word “Killer.” Get him on his own, he’ll confirm what I’m going to tell you. He can’t talk. He’s got no tongue. He used to be a sword swallower.’ Wren smiled grimly at that.
    ‘That beast as you call it is usually kept in a metal trunk. They’ve been organising dog fights. Only they don’t put their pit bulls up against it. They’re too precious to risk. You tell me Crombie, any reports of pets going missing recently?’
    Crombie’s face drained, he clutched at his mug. ‘You are shitting me. You cannot be serious.’
    Wren leaned back on his chair, tipping it back. ‘You’d think wouldn’t you? That poor animal up there is someone’s warped idea of entertainment. “Killer” reckons they put three or four moggies in with it, take bets on which one’s going first, how long it’s going to take - sometimes the cats manage to last twenty minutes. Tell your