Alcock,Vivien

A Kind of Theif

Terror.
When the policemen come to the house to arrest George Forest, Elinor can't believe that her own father is guilty of a crime. Then, just before he is taken away, he slips a baggage claim receipt into her pocket. Afraid of arousing suspicion but proud that her father trusts her, Elinor secretly obtains her father's locked briefcase.
Then suddenly, Elinor's stepmother decides to go back to Italy. Elinor and her younger brother and sister are split up and sent to stay with relatives.
Elinor feels guilty about keeping the briefcase; she fears it contains stolen money. What should she do with it? Does her possession of it make Elinor "a kind of thief"?