Free Little Croker by Joe O'Brien Page A

turned towards Larry.
    â€˜I suppose so. It might give me a chance to get to know some of his friends.’
    Those words were music to Larry’s ears. In Larry’s mind, Jonathon and Danny had spent a lot of time together over the past few weeks, and Larry didn’t like that at all. So the idea of Jonathon having a sleepover at Sebastian’s house was very appealing!
    Little did Larry and Regina know that they had just given the green light to ‘Operation Larry’!

Chapter 17
According to Plan
    T he two cousins had to be very careful not to slip up and say anything that might draw suspicion on the morning of their trip, and so they kept their distance from each other.
    Everything was going nicely to plan. Larry said his goodbyes to Jonathon at breakfast, as he knew that he’d probably be gone by the time he’d get home from work. He left in fairly good form, probably because he didn’t have Danny glaring across the table at him.
    Danny was deliberately still in bed.
    The coach wasn’t leaving Littlestown until five o’clock, which suited Danny and Jonathon perfectly.
    Danny said his goodbyes to Regina and Jonathon at lunch time. He made out that his coach was leaving at two o’clock, and he wanted to go home first to check on his dad’s house.
    As Danny strolled out the driveway, little did his aunt realise that stuffed into his training bag were Jonathon’s good clothes for the disco.
    The only thing that Danny was telling the truth about was the fact that he was going home first. But not just to check on the house — Jonathon’s training bag was in Danny’s house, and that had to be collected.
    At three o’clock Jonathon started banging on Lowry’s bedroom door.
    ‘Come on, Lowry!’ he yelled. ‘It’s time.’
    Lowry left him waiting there for a few minutes. She resented the fact that Trinity had roped her into being a part of ‘Operation Larry’ and wanted Jonathon to know that although she would help, it would be under protest.
    The door opened.
    Jonathon had his mobile phone ready.
    ‘Mum’s in the back garden. I’ll ring you in about two minutes.’
    Lowry just stuck her tongue out at Jonathon and waved her phone in front of him. Then she went out to the garden.
    ‘It’s freezing out here, Mum. Would you like me to fetch you a cup of tea?’
    Regina was planting some primroses in the rockery.
    ‘That would be lovely, darling.’
    Lowry looked up to the bedroom window, where Jonathon was peeping out.
    Immediately her phone rang.
    ‘Hi, Trinity!’ said Lowry, slightly above her normal tone, just for her mother’s benefit.
    ‘Okay! Yep! Super! I’ll be over in a while. I’ve just got to make my poor freezing Mum a cup of tea. She’s out in the garden fiddling with her rockery.’ 
    Lowry wasn’t surprised to notice that Regina was listening, and she turned up her performance. She’d always wanted to be an actress.
    ‘I’m not bringing brat features with me. Mum can drop him over later.’
    ‘What’s that, darling?’ interrupted Regina.
    Lowry made a big huff.
    ‘Hold on, Trinity – nothing Mum!’
    ‘If you’re going over to Trinity’s now, you can bring your brother with you.’
    ‘Muuum!’ screeched Lowry.
    Lowry said goodbye in a cross voice and hung up her phone. Jonathon smiled down at her from the bedroom window.
    ‘Operation Larry’ had moved to the next level.
    * * *
    Regina gave Jonathon his instructions going out the door and a big, sloppy, motherly kiss.
    ‘Don’t cause any trouble, darling,’ insisted Regina. ‘What time will you be home tomorrow? Let me know and I’ll pick you up. Have you got your phone?’
    ‘I’ll be okay, Mum. I’ll make my own way home, I’m nearly thirteen,’ huffed Jonathon.
    ‘I’ll ring you tonight, darling, to see if you’re okay!’ called Regina as Jonathon crunched across the driveway.
    * * *
    Danny was thrilled when he saw Jonathon getting off the bus in Littlestown.
    ‘Animal!’ cheered