Read Online July by Gabrielle Lord - Free Book Online

beingrelieved she was alive, and confused as to why she had stopped speaking.
    ‘Nobody knows exactly. When you get up at five o’clock, pray nine times a day, work in the kitchen or the garden, read for half an hour and then go to bed after tea, there isn’t much to say, really. In fact, talking with you like this is the first lengthy conversation I’ve had for a number of weeks. Since querying a greengrocer’s bill.’
    Somewhere, not far away, I heard the sound of a door banging. It made me jump.
    ‘What’s wrong?’ she asked.
    ‘I heard a noise,’ I said. ‘Sounded like a door banging in the wind.’
    ‘Oh dear. That’ll be the side entrance door! Matthew always forgets to close it!’
    ‘Matthew?’
    ‘The young man who sometimes helps with the heavy work in the yard. He’s inclined to be a bit forgetful. His mind’s always on that motorbike of his—Blue Streak—and never on his work. He dotes on that machine like a mother on a baby.’ Sister Jerome sighed. ‘I’d better go and lock the door.’
    She vanished to go and close the door. I pulled out my phone and called Boges again.
    Finally, he picked up.
    ‘I spoke to Winter,’ I said. ‘Now before you get mad, just listen to what I have to say.’
    ‘Go ahead,’ he said, unsurprised.
    ‘According to Winter, there’s something written on the Jewel. Something revealing that concerns the Ormond Singularity.’
    ‘She’s dreaming. There’s nothing written on it. We would have seen it by now if there was. Hang on while I get it.’
    I waited until Boges returned. ‘Like I said. There’s nothing written on it. That girl is trouble . Why would you believe her?’
    ‘Have you got a magnifying glass?’ I remembered Dad taking a magnifying glass to his photos. ‘Surely you have something like that lying around in your room?’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘Please just get one and go over the Jewel really carefully. All over. There might be something that we’ve missed. Winter also warned me that Sligo has a few leads on my location. I’m hoping no-one’s on their way here.’
    ‘You’re at Redcliffe?’
    ‘At Manresa Convent , can you believe it? Millicent’s a nun! She goes by the name of Sister Mary Perpetua!’
    Boges’s deep laugh echoed down the line. ‘Bet you didn’t see that one coming!’
    ‘I sure didn’t, but it’s no laughing matter—apparently she hasn’t spoken for twenty years!’
    I heard Boges exhale, frustrated, on the other end of the line, putting a quick end to his laughter.
    ‘Somehow, I have to break through the wall of silence. Otherwise this trip will have been a waste of time.’
    ‘What makes you think she’ll speak to you?’
    Sister Jerome wandered back into the kitchen.
    ‘Gotta go, Boges. Promise me you’ll go over the Jewel with a magnifying glass?’
    ‘Why should I? Just because that sneaky girl, Winter, wants to hook you back onto the line?’
    ‘Just do what I say. Please,’ I said, then hung up.
    ‘The side door was wide open!’ said Sister Jerome, once I’d buried my phone back in my pocket. ‘Anything could have blown in! Just as well your ears are sharp. I think that door needs attention. I don’t think it’s always Matthew’s forgetfulness. I’ll have to have a word to Sister Mary Bertha. She’s the handyperson round here when we’re left to our own devices. She’s as strong as an ox!’
    Sister Jerome hung the laundry key on a peg on the wall. Among the collection of keys beside it, I could see a set of car keys on a Saint Christopher key ring. The minibus, I thought. The nuns must have outings after all.
    ‘I’ve also just spoken to Mother Superior about you,’ Sister Jerome continued, ‘and because ofthe weather and because you’re the nephew of one of the sisters, she says she’s happy for me to make up a bed for you.’
    ‘What about seeing my aunt? I really need to speak to her. Even if she won’t answer me.’
    ‘Let’s talk about it in the morning. It’s getting