Free Dory's Avengers by Alison Jack Page A

her family in Italy, Louis went over to the row of computers supplied by the inn for customer use. Knowing that Louis was a computer novice, Dexter came over to help him get started, and soon left Louis with the most popularsearch engine at his service. Hunching over the computer, Louis squinted through his glasses and typed in ‘St Benedict family’.
    Immediately a list of options appeared on the screen; most offering more information on the St Benedict scheme, or potted histories starting with the birth of the Sponsorship Scheme over a quarter of a century earlier. Finally, Louis found a site more suited to his needs and, after glancing around him, clicked on ‘William St Benedict and family: Images’.
    There he was: William St Benedict surrounded by his family. Most recent pictures were of Lord William and his daughter Rosanna. Occasionally, they were joined in pictures by a self-conscious-looking teenager. According to captions she was ‘Lady Marina St Benedict, age 18’, who clearly didn't like to be photographed and was usually pictured looking at her feet. No son, though. Running his hand absently through his thick, white hair, Louis clicked on the ‘Refine your search’ option at the top of the page and looked for images from further back in time.
    Bingo! ‘The St Benedict family in happier times’, said the caption, ‘before the disappearance of Lord William's beloved wife, Isabelle (née Isabelle Farrell) and the subsequent breakdown of his son, Theodore.’
    Staring at the screen in disbelief, Louis realised two things. One was that Lord William's absent wife was Izzy Farrell. The same Izzy Farrell who used to visit her family in Applethwaite many years ago when Louis was a child, shaking off the trappings of her privileged lifestyle for a while in the sheer pleasure of being home. Izzy Farrell: Chris's sister, Abi's aunt, mother of…
    The other realisation was that Louis knew the mystery man's identity. Of course he did! Izzy Farrell had a son pretty much Louis's age, with whom Louis had shared many happy days when they were children. Memories crowdedinto Louis's head, including a solemn childhood ceremony he and Izzy's son had performed in the branches of a huge old tree to proclaim themselves blood brothers and friends for life. Louis shook his head in disbelief that he could have forgotten.
    â€˜Dory,’ he whispered, using his childhood nickname for the boy he'd always thought of as Theo Farrell, ‘it's you!’
    Many miles south, Louis's words echoed clearly round Theo's head. Clenching his fist in triumph, he allowed himself a small ‘Yes!’ of celebration, before glancing at the security camera in the corner of the room as if he expected it to be shaking from side to side in disapproval.
    Closing the search engine down carefully, Louis composed himself a little before saying his farewells to Dexter and Jess, still the only people in the bar, and leaving the pub. He was just thinking that maybe the day wasn't going to be a complete disaster after all when a gleaming BMW shot by, soaking Louis with the muddy contents of a puddle. That wasn't actually what sank his mood right back down to the depths, though; rather it was the sight of Max Barrington, smirking as he drove past with Abi Farrell laughing in the seat beside him.
    Back in the pub, Jess watched her daughter driven off by the cocky young man to whom she'd been introduced earlier, noticing with dismay that poor Louis got a soaking as the car sped past him.
    â€˜Did you meet this Max character on Saturday, Dex?’ she asked, looking over her shoulder.
    â€˜Al did,’ replied Dexter. ‘Max was writing some piece about the Sponsors’ Fair, and he grilled Al for a time about the organisation of the event.’
    â€˜What did Al make of him?’ asked Jess neutrally, walking back to the bar.
    â€˜Didn't like him at all. Found him rude and more than a little