Fifteen.  Elly.

Elly looked out of the study window, Mr King was getting out of his car and after pulling a briefcase from the back seat he walked towards the house, a grim expression on his face. She turned towards Nick who was frantically trying to lock the drawer, but his hands were trembling so much he kept fumbling with the small key.

“Hurry up,” she begged, “he’s nearly at the front door.” She looked back out the window but she couldn’t see where Mr King was, a second later she heard the front door open and then slam shut; heavy footsteps on the parquet floor of the hall were heading their way.

Nick finally managed to lock the drawer and replace the key in its box, he went towards the door but Mr King’s voice could be clearly heard just outside the study. Elly looked around, but there was nowhere to hide, any moment now they would be discovered. She couldn’t think of a single reason that would explain them being in the study. There was only one option left, she tried to open the large sash window but it was too heavy. Nick, realising what she was doing, ran across to help.

Between them they managed to push it up high enough for them to squeeze through. Elly climbed up onto the window sill, swung her legs through the gap and dropped down onto the lawn. Nick scrambled after her and they managed to pull the window closed and duck down out of sight just as Mr King entered the study.

Feeling very relieved but with her heart still thumping, Elly and Nick crawled around to the side of the house where they collapsed back against the wall.

“You all right?” asked Nick, giving her a shaky smile. “That was a bit too close for comfort.”
“I’m fine,” she replied, “but I really need to go home now, my dad’s girlfriend had a baby last night, but he’s not doing very well. I want to find out if there’s any news; Dad said he’d phone if there was.
“All right, I’ll walk you home. It’s a good excuse to stay out of the house for a bit longer. Hey, wait a minute; your dad’s girlfriend? That makes the baby your brother, right?”
“Half-brother, technically,” she said smiling.
“That’s cool; I’ve always hated being an only child, did you?”
Elly nodded, well that was how she felt now and together they walked down the gravel drive; through the gates and then turned in the direction of her house. 

They walked in silence for a while, the sun was shining again and it was very hot. Steam was rising from large puddles that they had to keep stepping around, Elly’s throat felt very dry and she longed for a glass of Nan’s ice-cold, homemade lemonade.  Thinking about that just made her feel even more thirsty; so she tried to think of something else.

“Nick, any idea what your dad and Clifford are up to?”
“I’d guess it’s something to do with planning permission for the quarry, but that’s already been granted by the Council; so I don’t know why they’re still meeting up.”
“What if the planning permission shouldn’t have been granted,” said Elly thoughtfully, “what if they’re covering something up? Something that could save the forest?”
“Well, that’s hardly likely is it? They check these things very carefully, and if there had been a rumour of a cover-up then why didn’t your mum and the other protestors look into it? Has she ever mentioned anything odd about the way it was handled?”
“No,” said Elly, “but if it was covered up completely then no-one would know would they? No-one except Clifford and your dad, and they wouldn’t say anything. I think we need to have a look at the Planning Department at the County Hall.”
“Have you gone mad? It’s one thing to sneak into my father’s study, but poke around the Council offices? We’d get caught for sure.”
“We need to go in during the day to check it out, maybe we could hide in the toilets or something until it’s closed…Well, we can have a look can’t we?”
“Elly! I think I’m a bad influence, what’s got into you?”

Elly had been so engrossed in their conversation that she hadn’t been paying much attention to where they were, she suddenly realised that they had stopped in the middle of the playing field that backed onto the leisure centre. A few boys were playing football nearby but apart from that the field was empty.

Two of the boys suddenly ran across to them, Elly realised with horror that it was Sam and Baz. They looked in disbelief at Nick and Elly, “What you doing with her?” asked Baz, “and looking so friendly, she’s not your new girl-friend is she? Thought you had better taste mate.”

Nick didn’t say anything, he glared at Baz and then without warning he punched him hard on the nose. Bright red blood spurted out, covering Baz’s chubby face’
“You’ve broken my nose, you’ll pay for this.” he said thickly, holding both hands up to his face.
Sam seemed unable to take it in; he kept looking at Baz then back at Nick, his mouth opening and closing like a goldfish.
Nick stared at Baz, a look of disgust on his face. “You deserved it,” he said. “Come on Elly, I’ll take you home.”
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