The Last Enemy(58)

‘What?’ she said, surprised.

‘It’s true,’ said Jake. ‘I held it in my hand.’

Lauren continued to stare, awed.

‘The Index?’ she stressed. ‘The actual book itself?’

‘Yes.’

Lauren grabbed him tightly to her.

‘I was sure you were dead!’ she said. ‘I was certain he’d kill you when he found out you were just guessing, and there was no Index!’

‘Well, I’m here!’ Jake reminded her.

‘Yes, but . . .’ Lauren shook her head. ‘I still don’t understand how that happened.’

‘Nor do I,’ said Jake. ‘But hopefully someone will tell us.’





Chapter 29




The flat was well stocked, and the next morning they were able to prepare breakfast for themselves. No sooner had they finished than there was a ring at the door. Jake opened it. His escort from the previous night, Gerald, was standing there.

‘I hope you had a good night’s rest,’ he said. ‘Mr Findlay-Weston would like to see you. When you’re ready, I’ll take you to him.’

‘We’re ready now,’ said Jake. The sooner we get to the bottom of this, the better, he thought.

Jake and Lauren followed Gerald back down to the underground car park, passing the armed police officer on duty at the lift. A car was waiting for them, a Merc.

‘A bit more luxurious than the last vehicle I was here in,’ observed Jake.

They drove through parts of London Jake didn’t recognise, until they neared an area he did.

‘We’re in Greenwich,’ he said. He pointed out through the window. ‘There’s the Royal Observatory. And the park.’

The car zigzagged through some quiet side streets, until it pulled into the car park outside a small building, with a sign that read: ‘Lansdowne Medical Centre’.

‘Gareth?’ asked Jake.

‘He’s been undergoing some treatment,’ said Gerald.

‘Is he all right?’ asked Lauren.

‘I’ll let Mr Findlay-Weston tell you that himself,’ he replied.

He opened the doors for them, then headed towards the main entrance. As they followed him, Jake noticed that, as at the safe house, there was an armed police officer on duty.

Gerald flashed an ID card at the officer, who stepped aside and let them enter.

Inside, the building was like a small cottage hospital, but very high-tech. Lots of medical apparatus and staff, but no sign of the usual waiting areas.

It’s a hospital for top-level security cases, realised Jake. People like Gareth.

They walked along a narrow corridor until they came to a door marked ‘5’. Gerald tapped at the door, and then opened it.

Jake and Lauren saw Gareth lying in a hospital bed, attached to a monitor. The big surprise was seeing Sue Clark sitting on a chair beside Gareth’s bed. She got up as she saw them, and headed for the door.

‘Hi,’ said Jake.

Clark nodded briefly in greeting, unsmiling, then brushed past them and walked away, towards the exit.

‘I’ll leave you together,’ said Gerald, pushing the door shut.

‘How are you?’ asked Jake.

Gareth gave a smile.

‘Take no notice of all this paraphernalia,’ he said, gesturing at the medical equipment. ‘I’m perfectly fine, but the powers-that-be won’t believe me until the medics tell them I am. Please, sit down.’

‘We haven’t bought any grapes or anything,’ said Jake. ‘We didn’t know where we were going.’ Then, anxiously, he asked, ‘Are you going to be all right?’

‘According to the doctors, a few days’ rest and I’ll be fine.’ He looked at his bandaged hand and sighed. ‘Of course, I shall always be missing a finger, but that’s a small price to pay for being alive.’

‘What was Sue Clark doing here?’ asked Lauren.

‘I asked her to come and see me,’ said Gareth.

‘She didn’t seem very friendly today,’ observed Lauren.

‘Don’t be too condemning of her,’ said Gareth. ‘She saved your lives. And mine.’

Jake and Lauren looked at Gareth, puzzled.

‘How?’ asked Jake. ‘Guy smashed our phones. There was no way to trace us.’

‘Dan’s sister, Gemma,’ said Gareth.

Suddenly Jake realised. ‘Gemma went to see Sue Clark!’

‘And Sue Clark offered her money if she would keep an eye on you and report back to her what was going on.’

‘Gemma would be good at that,’ said Lauren. ‘Dan told us she is always eavesdropping.’ She smiled. ‘I think she’d make a good spy.’

Gareth didn’t smile at the suggestion.