Ostrich Boys Read Online Free PDF Page B

to think Ross may have purposely caused the accident. That he intended to ride into the car. On purpose.”
    I still didn’t get it. I waited for him to explain.
    He lifted his glass to drink again, but there was only the tiniest of drops left. It took an age for it to dribble along the inside of the glass to his open mouth. All I could do was sit there and watch. At last he put the glass down on the counter.
    “He was your friend, Blake. I’m sure he talked about lots of things with you that he’d never dream of telling his mum and me. I’d very much appreciate your honesty. Do you think Ross could have taken his own life?”
    I felt like I’d been punched. The air was knocked out of me.
    “No!” I said it immediately, didn’t even have to think about it.
    Then, when I was able to think for a second or two: “No. No way. That’s …” I shook my head as hard as I could. “No.”
    Mr. Fell’s eyes searched mine.
    “No,” I repeated.
    He seemed to snap out of himself. He stood upright. “Good. Exactly. That’s exactly the way I feel too.” He gave me a clenched smile. “Thank you for that. I think I can understand why the driver would rather believe … But Penny, it’s upset her terribly, I’m afraid.”
    “Ross wouldn’t have,” I said. Not just to Mr. Fell and Caroline, but to myself as well.
    “Good. Thank you, Blake. Thank you.” His smile widened behind his beard as he fortified himself. He nodded at me. “And wonderful to see you again. Tell Kenny and Sim they’re both welcome here anytime too. Tell them to be sure to come and see us. We want to keep up with what you’re up to, don’t we?”
    I gave the urn a guilty glance.
    “This house would feel even stranger without the three of you getting under our feet.” He was talking far too much and was in a hurry to move on, wanting the subject changed. “In fact, tell Kenny I need his help, can you? A favor. He’s the one who’s good with the old computers, isn’t he? Mine’s gone a bit loopy, you see, and whisked my novel awaysomewhere. I’m sure it’s still lurking in the damn thing, hidden in a file God knows where. But Kenny’ll be the one to sort me out, won’t he? Yes, he’s the chap. A good few years I’ve been working on that novel and I’m not going to give up on it now, by God.” His laugh was too loud.
    I nodded vaguely. I was fighting to get my head around what he’d asked me about Ross and didn’t give a toss about his precious novel or broken computer. He’d lit a fuse in my head; I could feel its hot fizz and sputter.
    “So, well, let yourself out when you’re ready.” He came over and shook my hand again. “Good to see you, Blake. Good to see you’re well.” And he held on a little too long for comfort. I saw his eyes were wet, shiny, and I had to look away, scared and embarrassed he might cry in front of me.
    When at last he let go, he said, “Caroline, love, would you bring a fresh jug of water for your mother? I’ll see if I can get her up for a bit.” Then he ducked out of the kitchen and headed back upstairs.
    It seemed to be a real effort for Caroline to let go of the urn. She took a clear plastic jug from one of the cupboards and moved over to the sink.
    “Did you hear this thing about Ross too?” I asked.
    “It’s a lie.” She ran the tap, filled the jug with cold water. “My mum’s really suffered since Ross’s accident, and this has made her even worse. Of course the driver doesn’t want it to be his fault. I’ve tried telling them, but my dad wanted to ask you too.”
    I could feel myself getting angry. Maybe if he knew his son as well as I did he would never have had to. I looked at Ross on the table.
    Caroline stepped toward the door through to the hall. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
    Blinking and focusing on what I was meant to be doing here, I realized this was my last chance to steal Ross. And I even reached out for the urn in my eagerness, like I was reaching for the