Read The Omen for Free Online Page B

to accompany us to church."
    Mrs. Baylock tensed, offended by Katherine's tone of voice. The child felt it too, moving closer to his nanny as she gazed up at his mother from her position on the floor.
    "Has he been to church before?" Mrs. Baylock asked.
    "I don't see what that has to do . . ."
    "Kathy?!" called Thorn from downstairs.
    "In a minute!" she called back.
    She gazed harshly at Mrs. Baylock; the woman gazed back calmly.
    "Get him dressed at once," said Katherine.
    "Excuse me for speaking my mind, but do you really expect a four-year-old to understand the gibberish of a Catholic wedding?"
    Katherine sucked in her breath.
    "I am Catholic, Mrs. Baylock, and so is my husband."
    "I guess someone has to be," the woman retorted. Katherine stood stunned, outraged by the open defiance.
    "You will have my son dressed," she said tightly, "and in the car in five minutes time. Or you can start looking for another job."
    "Maybe I'll do that anyway."
    "If you choose."
    "I'll think about it."
    "I hope you do."
    There was a tense silence, then Katherine turned on her heel to leave.
    "About going to church ... ?" Mrs. Baylock said.
    "Yes?"
    "You'll be sorry you took him."
    Katherine left the room; within five minutes, Damien appeared, dressed and ready, at the car.
    The drive carried them through Shepperton where the new highway was being: constructed, creating a massive traffic jam, which added to the charged silence within the Thorn limousine.
    "Something wrong?" asked Thorn as he observed {Catherine's expression.
    "Not really."
    "You look angry."
    "Didn't mean to."
    "What's it about?"
    "Nothing much."
    "Come on. Out with it."
    "Mrs. Baylock," said Katherine with a sigh.
    "What about her?"
    "We had some words."
    "About what?"
    "She wanted to take Damien to the park."
    "Something wrong with that?"
    "Instead of church."
    "Can't say I disagree."
    "She did everything she could to keep him from coming."
    "She's probably lonely without him."
    "I don't know if that's good."
    Thorn shrugged, gazing at the construction beside the car as they inched along in the snarled line of traffic.
    "Can't we get around this, Horton?" he asked.
    "No, sir," Horton replied, "but if you don't mind, I'd like to speak my piece about Mrs. Baylock."
    Thorn and Katherine exchanged a glance, surprised at Horton's request.
    "Speak away," said Thorn.
    "I hate to do it around the little one."
    Katherine looked at Damien, who was playing with the laces of his new shoes and apparently oblivious of the conversation.
    "It's all right," said Katherine.

    "I think she's a bad influence," said Horton. "She's got no respect for the rules of the house."
    "What rules?" asked Thorn.
    "I didn't want to go into specifics, sir."
    "Please."
    "Well, for one thing, it's accepted that the staff eats meals together and takes turns washing the dishes."
    Thorn glanced at Katherine. Obviously it was nothing serious.
    "She never eats with us," continued Horton. "She apparently comes down when we're all finished and takes a meal by herself."
    "I see," said Thorn, feigning concern.
    "And she leaves her dishes for the morning help to do."
    "I think we can ask her to stop that."
    "It's also expected that after lights-out the staff stays inside," continued Horton, "and I've seen her on more than one occasion in the small hours of the morning going into the forest outside. It was still dark out. And she was definitely walking quiet so no one would hear."
    The Thorns pondered all this, both puzzled.
    "Seems strange . . ." muttered Thorn.
    "This part's indelicate and you'll have to excuse me," continued Horton. "But we've noticed she doesn't use any bathroom paper. By the toilet, you know? We haven't had to change it since she arrived."
    In the back seat, the Thorns again glanced at each other. The story was getting bizarre.
    "I add two and two," said Horton. "I think she does it in the forest. And I think that's uncivilized. It is if you ask me."
    There followed a silence; the Thorns were