Read Online Blue's Revenge by Deborah Abela - Free Book Online Page A

principal knows what has happened and understands that you’ll be away from school for a few days.’ He smiled gently. ‘By then everything should be back to normal.’
    Harrison walked over to Max and wiped her fringe out of her eyes. ‘Your mother will be fine, Max. With all the agents and resources we have on the case, she will be back home with you very soon.’
    Max saw in Harrison’s eyes that he would do everything he could to make this happen. She wanted to believe him, wanted everything he said to be true, but as her head ached and her chest felt locked in a twisting vice, what she wanted more was for this day to have never happened.

The lounge room filled with a blue flickering glow as the video played again. Always the same beginning and, no matter how many times Max watched, always the same end. The wedding, the laughter, the smiles, followed by the helicopter, the thick wall of smoke and her mother’s disappearance.
    She scanned the screen for any clue that would tell her who did it. The sight of a face, the calling out of a name. There had to be something, anything that would help her find her mum.
    Max came to the part where her mother joined Aidan at the altar. She looked so happy and confident. Like she was untouchable. That was the thing about her mother. She was so brave and outspoken that Max had thought those things would always keep her safe. Even after her parents’ divorce when her mother was so sad, she still looked strong. It never seemed possible that anything bad could ever happen to her.
    Max heard the first sounds of the helicopter as it approached the church, followed soon after by the chaos of screaming and scrambling guests. Finally the image tilted as the camera was dropped and, lying face up, recorded the glass-cutter doing its job. Feet jumped over the camera and knocked into it as the plumes of smoke filledthe room, until one sharp kick sent the image black.
    Again the same ending, and again her mother had disappeared.
    Max flinched as a gentle knock landed on the lounge room door.
    Ben entered carrying a tray with cheese on toast, two cups and a pot of tea.
    Max wiped her pyjama sleeves against her reddened eyes and tried to smile but it came out more as a grimace.
    â€˜Whenever things go wrong at the farm, Eleanor and I have this rule that we sit down and have a cup of tea and cheese on toast before we do anything. Not sure what it is, but afterwards even the really bad stuff feels better. Just between you and me, I think it’s the sitting with Eleanor that does it.’
    Ben hadn’t been able to talk to Max all afternoon and she knew his effort to be cheerful now was all for her.
    â€˜Thanks, but I don’t think I can eat anything.’
    Ben looked down at the toast and steaming tea. ‘You know what? Neither can I.’ He pushed the tray across the coffee table. ‘Maybe we’ll just do the sitting part.’
    Neither of them knew what to say next, butafter seconds had passed in silence, Max couldn’t stand it. ‘When are we going to hear from Steinberger and Harrison? It’s been ages and we haven’t heard anything.’
    â€˜They’ll contact us as soon as they can.’ Ben smiled. ‘They’re Spyforce, remember? They’re the best.’
    â€˜But what if something’s happening to her? What if she’s being hurt? What if …’
    Max stopped, afraid of what the real answers might be. She’d been finding it hard to stop her brain from imagining all sorts of terrible situations for her mother.
    â€˜Max,’ Ben said sadly, his hands squeezed in front of him, ‘I’m so sorry about today. I’ve been going over and over what happened and I should have saved your mum. I was standing right there and I …’
    Ben pressed his lips together tightly. Max had never seen him so sad.
    â€˜It’s all my fault, Max.’ His words were like sharp spikes