Mouse Read Online Free PDF

the back row. ‘She’s here!’
    ‘Who’s here?’ Vince said.
    ‘Her – can’t you see? The woman over there, sat all by herself on the back row. You know, fuddy-duddy hairstyle.’
    He realised she was pointing at the object of his desires. ‘You know her?’ he asked.
    ‘Oh yes, don’t you? She’s the Witch of Devereux Towers.’
    ‘The witch?’ he repeated, frowning. ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘Well, not exactly a witch, I suppose,’ she said with a giggle. ‘That’s what all the kids at school used to call her. She lives all alone in Devereux Towers , you know, that creepy old place in the middle of that field a few miles away.’
    ‘I know the place,’ he said. ‘I thought it was empty.’
    ‘It used to be. She’s been living there a couple of years now. Lives all alone, like I said. My mum says she’s a very strange one. Keeps herself to herself, doesn’t get involved with things, doesn’t like to talk to people. A regular little mouse, my mum says, hiding quietly away in the dark. The kids call her a witch because that’s what kids do. I’m not saying she’s got a cauldron or anything. Do you suppose she could be a witch?’
    He scowled. ‘Don’t be silly!’ he said. ‘Do you know her name?’
    ‘Laura Leach. All her family is dead. Some say she killed them and has them buried in the grounds of Devereux Towers , or walled them up or something. Cooked their hearts and ate them for breakfast. That’s what the kids say.’
    ‘Well that’s just stuff and nonsense,’ Vince defended. ‘She looks a very nice lady.’
    ‘Just saying, that’s all.’ She fell silent and then nudged him with her sharp point of an elbow. ‘Do you fancy her?’ she asked, a bright mischievous light in her eyes. ‘You do, don’t you? You fancy her like crazy!’
    ‘No I do not!’ he returned, a little too loudly because someone turned around and hissed at him to be quiet. ‘Stick to selling your ice creams, you silly girl!’ He stormed away up to the projection booth, his cheeks afire.
    He could hardly concentrate the rest of the evening.
     
    *  *  *  *

4
 
Casper Younge
     
    Laura Leach rose quickly, before the end credits came up, before the lights in the cinema went on. She wanted to beat the crowds of people tearing for the exits. Not that there were often huge crowds; but it was particularly busy tonight, being a new feature. She didn’t like to be caught up in the crush, having bodies pressed against her, touching, brushing sleeves. Didn’t like the rush of excited noise , the energetic chatting as people descended the purple-carpeted stairs to the foyer animatedly dissecting the film they’d just seen.
    She could have remained behind till last, but then she’d have to sit there all alone in the revealing glare of the lights, a spectacle for people filing past. That was worse. So she was the first out of the heavy swing doors, down the stairs and through the foyer, past the now-closed ticket booth and kiosk. First out into the warm night air.
    It was around 10.30pm , had only been dark for half an hour or so. She had a coat on but didn’t need it really, not with it being so warm, but without it she felt a little bit naked, a tad vulnerable. She found her car parked some way off in a side street. A blue Hillman Imp that had cost her more to repair and keep on the road than it did to buy. She could easily afford something far grander , she knew that, but that sort of thing would only attract attention and that was the last thing she wanted. The Hillman suited her needs just fine, when it behaved itself. She learned to drive whilst still at boarding school at the age of 16. Pestered her father like crazy to pay for lessons. Privately she saw it as a way of being able to drive home whenever she wanted, but of course that wasn’t going to happen. She was too young to be careering around in motor cars, her father had told her. So she passed her test and had to wait a long time before she