Lingard188

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got bad news for you."

"I can see that." ^{Her eyes widened. She felt that she had lived through this moment before.} Has something happened to Mr Blake?"

"Yes."

Footsteps above now.

"What is it? Is he dead?"

Mike nodded.

"He can't be dead," Sadie cried. "I saw him yesterday."

"Someone threw a petrol bomb into his housebedroom^house last night. He was killed outright^{The place went up in minutes and he didn't get out.}

"Oh no!" Sadie stared at him^Mike. It seemed^was impossible to believe.
It was a mistake, a dream, a nightmare.

"Swine!" said Mike bitterly^{, anger blazing in his eyes.} "He never hurt anyone in his life."

Sadie sat down at the table. "Is it true?" she asked. Now she
was beginning to know that it was. The knowledge was seeping through
to her brain.

Mike sat ^down beside her. "I'm afraid it's true," he said, quietl now.

Sadie was weeping with her head on the table and Mike's arms round
her shoulders when Mrs Jackson came in.

"What's going on?"

"Sadie's had a shock, Mrs Jackson."

Sadie lifted her head. "Mr Blake's been killed, Ma."

"Killed?" ^{Mrs Jackson put her hadn to her throat.}

"His house was bombed last night."

Mr Jackson came in with his shirt hanging^/over his trousers,
followed by Tommy in his pyjamas.