Free Violent Exposure by Katherine Howell Page A

did this happen?’
    ‘Three weeks ago, I s’pose, for Aaron. Couple of months ago for Emil,’ Craig said. ‘They just kissed – what’s the big deal?’
    ‘Where did it happen?’
    ‘Out there in the plants.’
    Ella narrowed her eyes. ‘Did you actually see it?’
    ‘They told me.’
    ‘So you didn’tsee it,’ Dennis said.
    ‘They told me.’
    Yeah, Ella thought, and kids never lied, did they? Especially not kids who were already having problems. ‘Where’s Emil working now?’
    Craig shrugged. ‘Baker’s or some shit. I don’t know.’
    ‘Where is Streetlights?’
    ‘In the Cross. By Kellett Street there.’
    Ella wrote it down. Kerrie had said Suzanne was the one who organised for the boys to come here. Sheand Dennis would talk to the Streetlights people – maybe Suzanne had a friend there, maybe the blond man Kerrie mentioned – and also track down this Emil.
    After Craig had slouched his way out of the office, Ella told Dennis what Daniel Farley had said. ‘Aidan could be the next target. Might be worth putting surveillance in place.’
    Dennis nodded. ‘Call Daniel and tell him to stay with Aidan tillwe finish here.’
    She pulled out her phone. It went to voicemail and she left a message.
    Dennis went to the door and looked at the Streetlights kids who stood in a tight circle kicking the concrete in the sun. ‘Aaron Maguire.’
    A muscled boy with brown hair and an eyebrow ring spat on the ground then strolled over. In the little office, he folded his arms, bunching his biceps, and Ella watchedhim glance admiringly down at them.
    ‘You kissed Suzanne Crawford,’ she said.
    ‘Yep. So?’
    ‘When?’
    ‘Bout three weeks ago, I s’pose.’
    ‘How did it happen?’
    Biceps flex, glance down. ‘She’d fancied me for ages.’
    ‘She told you that?’
    ‘I can just tell.’ Flex, glance. ‘She came onto me when I was watering one afternoon. Came up and talked to me about the plants, checking me out close up, you know.I sprayed her a bit then sorta brushed it off, saying oh sorry, sorry. We were up real close and then she kissed me.’ He smirked.
    ‘Then what?’
    ‘Then she looked kinda flustered, and hurried off.’
    ‘Did either of you say anything? Talk about it later?’
    ‘Nup,’ he said. ‘I knew she’d be back for more sometime though.’ Flex, glance.
    ‘You know she’s dead.’
    ‘Yeah, you said.’
    Not a shred of emotion.

    ‘So I’m guessing she won’t be back after all,’ Ella said.
    ‘Plenty more fish.’ Flex, glance.
    Ella wanted to twist his ears right off his head. Before she could speak, Dennis said, ‘Who else did she kiss?’
    ‘I ain’t no snitch.’
    ‘Names.’ Darkness in Dennis’s voice.
    Aaron rolled his eyes. ‘Emil said she tongue-pashed him good. The others only wished she looked at them like she looked at me.’ Flex,glance.
    Smartarse little bastard. Her phone rang and she almost dropped it in her anger. ‘What?’
    ‘It’s Daniel.’ Alarm in his voice. ‘Aidan’s not here and there’s a smashed pane of glass in his door and blood everywhere.’

FIVE
    M ick woke at eleven thirty with a rumbling stomach. He pulled on shorts and a T-shirt and went downstairs to find a note in the kitchen. Gone to the park.
    He grabbed four slices of bread, yanked on his runners and slammed the door behind him.
    The park was one block down and half a block across. He jogged it, the bread going down in lumps, the sunlight making him squint when he looked aheadto try to spot them. Lachlan liked the swings best, and sure enough there he was, giggling away while Jo pushed him.
    Mick swung himself over the fence. ‘Hey.’
    ‘Mick!’ Lachlan shouted.
    Jo smiled. ‘Short sleep.’
    ‘Knew I was missing out on too much fun.’ Mick hugged her tight.
    The swing slowed. ‘Push!’
    ‘Sorry, mate.’ Mick pushed with one arm and held Jo to his chest with the other. ‘How areyou?’
    ‘Next question.’
    He tucked her head under his chin. He felt