Midnight for Charlie Bone (Children Of The Red King, Book 1) by Jenny Nimmo Page B

a basket of rolls on the table and a bottle of wine. Paton's large wineglass was half full. The only light in the room came from a single candle sitting on an ornate silver candlestick in the center of the table.
                Uncle Paton squinted past the candle flame. Eventually he saw Charlie hovering in the shadow by the door.
                "Come in, dear boy,” said Uncle Paton. "Do you like chicken?"
                "Do I?" Charlie pulled up a chair. "Right now I'd eat almost anything." His uncle passed him a chicken leg on a plate and asked, "How was your day?"
                "Horrible." Charlie told Paton about Miss Ingledew's keys, Manfred Bloor, and the nasty experience of being hypnotized.
                Uncle Paton dropped his fork. "Do you mean to tell me that those boys were trying to prevent you from reaching the bookshop?"
                "That's exactly what I mean," said Charlie. "Manfred's going to get the key from Miss Ingledew before I can, and then he's going to come looking for the case. Everyone seems to be looking for it."
                "That sweet lady needs protection," Paton murmured. "Tell me, Charlie, why are you so determined to keep this troublesome case?"
                "Whatever is in it was swapped for a baby I want to swap it back again so Miss Ingledew can see her niece. It doesn't seem fair, does it, that the baby's only relative can't find her?"
                "I wonder why it never occurred to that charming lady that she could have exchanged the case for the child?" Paton mused.
                "She just got it," Charlie said. "Before that she was tricked, put off, and lied to. By the time she got the case, she'd given up searching."
                "You do seem to know a lot," said Paton. He took his empty plate to the sink. "Charlie, you're going to be out of action next week, so I shall return the keys to Miss Ingledew for you. If she finds the right one, I shall give it to you when you come home for the weekend. But I think you should show me the case. I want to be there when you open it. As a precaution."
                “A precaution?" asked Charlie.
                "Who knows what that thing contains?" said Paton. An adult should be on hand. Don't you agree?"
                "I suppose." Charlie was beginning to get a gnawing pain in his stomach again. This time it was because Paton had mentioned his being away for a week - imprisoned at Bloor's Academy.
                "Uncle Paton, why do I have to go to Bloor's just because I'm endowed?" asked Charlie.
                "So they can keep an eye on you. They wouldn't dare let you go anywhere else, in case you start using your talents without their knowing it. They like to be in control."
                "I suppose you went to Bloor's?"
                "Of course," said Paton.
                “And did you enjoy it?"
                "?Enjoy' is not the word I'd use. I got by I kept my head down and they left me alone, more or less." Paton sighed. "I suppose that's always been my trouble. I've kept my head down when, occasionally I should have put it up. Oh, well. Perhaps it's not too late."
                There was a creak outside -the door flew open with a bang and the light came on. Grandma Bone stood on the threshold. She glared at Charlie, saying, "What's this? A midnight feast? Bed, Charles Bone! You'll finish those questions in the morning.
                School on Monday How are you going to cope without sleep?"
                "Good night, Grandma! Good night, Uncle Paton!" Charlie scurried past his grandmother. As he climbed the stairs he could hear her shouting at Uncle Paton.
                "What's going on here, Paton? I can't trust you anymore. Whose side are you on? Answer me!"

CHAPTER 8
    BREAKING THE