The Deadly Game(12)

Although he felt the disappointment of not seeing Lauren that night, even though it was only on a computer screen, he still felt a sense of elation and excitement about what he was planning to do: go to Glastonbury and find one of the hidden books. OK, it was a bit of a wild shot, very chancy, but he wanted to tell her and share that hope with her, even though he knew that if he attempted to, their systems would shut down — email, phone call, Skype, whatever he used. It was so frustrating! If only he could find a way.

He clicked ‘reply’ and began to type:

‘Hiya Sam, Skype this Friday/Saturday will be great — I love the fact that we can actually see one another, and know you’re really there, and not just some figment of my imagination at the end of a keyboard.

Then a thought struck him. Maybe there was a way round the bar on them. And this was a good time to test how far the censoring system worked. He added: 8 at night your time, 8 in the morning mine, will be great, as this Saturday I’m off to do some research into King Arthur and the Holy Grail.

As he typed the words, he felt his chest tighten with nervous apprehension, waiting for his system to shut down . . . but it stayed connected. So far so good. Then, to test it further, he typed in, At Glastonbury.

His whole body tensed, waiting for the familiar ‘click’ and his screen to go blank . . . but the connection stayed up! It had worked! Obviously, Glastonbury was seen as ‘safe’ when it was linked to King Arthur and the Holy Grail. Computer says Yes.

He smiled to himself as he finished typing the rest of his message. Love you, Jake xx





Chapter 7




Jake left his small block of flats the next morning filled with a new sense of determination and purpose. He was going to Glastonbury. He would find one of the buried books. He’d bring Lauren back to England. He was just thinking these thoughts as the driver’s door of the parked car he was passing jerked open, and a tall, tough-looking man in a dark suit got out of the car and stood directly in his path.

‘Get into the car, please,’ he said.

‘What?’ Jake said, bewildered.

Although the man was smartly dressed, there was no mistaking the air of menace about him. Military type, thought Jake hurriedly. Special forces.

‘Into the car, please,’ repeated the man, and he moved a step closer to Jake, his hands clenching and unclenching as if he was about to grab him. Jake stepped back, putting his hands up to defend himself, even though he knew this man could break him in half.

The rear door of the car swung open, nearly hitting Jake, and a cool calm voice said: ‘That won’t be necessary, Edward.’ Then, in a friendly tone, the voice added: ‘I’m here to offer you a lift to work, Jake.’

Jake peered into the back of the large expensive-looking car. Alex Munro, chief of the London office of Pierce Randall, beamed back at him.

‘No thank you,’ said Jake coldly. ‘I think I’d rather take my chances on the buses.’

Munro sighed.

‘Please, Jake. At the moment this is a genuine friendly gesture.’

Despite the smile on Munro’s voice, and the lightness of tone, there was no mistaking the threat, in his ‘at the moment’. Jake looked at the tall, hard-looking man, Edward, who was still standing mutely just within grabbing distance of Jake, poised to pounce if necessary.

‘Come on, Jake,’ said Munro. ‘The buses are so unreliable and crowded these days.’

Jake hesitated, then climbed into the back of the car. Edward shut the rear door behind him, and then got into the front, behind the steering wheel. There was a glass partition between Jake and Munro, and Edward.

‘Relax, Jake.’ Munro smiled. ‘I really am just going to give you a lift to your office.’ He indicated a small cupboard set into the front of the luxurious rear compartment. ‘Can I offer you anything? Tea? Coffee? Juice?’

Jake shook his head.

‘No thank you,’ he said coldly.

The car started up and moved off.

‘So,’ said Jake. ‘What’s so important that it brings the head of the most powerful law firm in Europe to my door?’

‘The most powerful law firm in the world,’ Munro corrected him.

And that was no exaggeration, reflected Jake. Pierce Randall had entered his life after he and Lauren had recovered one of the hidden books. Jake had never been sure how much of his troubles since had been because of Pierce Randall and the power they exerted.

On the surface, they were one of the most respectable and prestigious law firms ever, with branches all over the world. Their clients included most of the top companies and the most powerful governments. But there was another side to their operation, a darker side. Their client list also included international organised crime, as well as dictators and tyrants from some of the worst and most dangerous countries in the world. And, when secret deals were done between the respectable multinational companies and governments, and organised crime or a dubious tyrant, Pierce Randall would be the intermediary, making sure the deals were done with no fuss and no publicity, and the huge financial rewards allocated discreetly, with no trace.