B2 English Reading – Short Story & Vocabulary Quiz
Dr. Thorne, a corrupt therapist, tended to take advantage of his clients’ trust for personal gain. He had been planning an extraordinary heist for months. His target: a priceless, antique clock belonging to his wealthiest patient. He had enjoyed himself immensely, imagining the clock being hung on the wall of his own house.
He arranged a “home session” in order to get the clock stolen. He had the house’s security system examined beforehand, but his patient had had a new, sophisticated network installed just days before. “This can’t be happening,” he muttered, realizing his initial plan was destroyed. He was allowed to move freely around the house, but the new system meant he couldn’t be careless.
He would rather have had a simpler target. He neither found the clock easily nor managed to disable the alarms. A sudden squawk from a parrot, which was covered in bright green feathers, startled him. The parrot, a noisy companion, had spotted him. Dr. Thorne ought to have known that a bird would be a more reliable guard than any camera. His face, usually so calm, was now a mask of terror. The police were called, and his illegal activities were revealed. His career was destroyed. It certainly wasn’t worth doing the crime, he realized, if the outcome was public disgrace. He was now guilty, and there was no remedy for that.