Death Run Read Online Free Page B

the buildings were crumbling and cracked. The cobbles were split or missing. In the gap between the buildings Jade could see the sunlight reflecting off the water of a canal. The dark shape of a gondola drifted by, blotting out the sunlight for a moment.
    The building that the car was parked outside had once been grand and impressive. Flaking remains of gold leaf clung to weathered stone ornamentation round the entrance. The door was a rotting apology of damp wood. It creaked and complained as Jade eased it open. She stood for a moment, half expecting shouts and running men to respond to the noise.
    But there was nothing. Was this the right place? Or had they just abandoned the car and gone somewhere else?
    Jade went inside, pausing to allow her eyes toadjust to the lack of light. She was in a large entrance lobby. There was a booth on one side, steps leading up to a raised area at the back and then doors off. It took Jade a moment to realise where she was.
    She was in the lobby of a theatre. Slowly and quietly, Jade climbed the steps. The main doors were chained shut. She gave the chain a tug, feeling the rust rubbing away on her palm. But it was secure. A side door led to a flight of steps that swept round and up impressively. Except the carpet was worn through and the heavy rope handrails were rotten and frayed.
    Jade emerged into the upper circle of the theatre. She made her way quietly down to the front seats to get the best view of what was happening on the stage. The theatre might be old and disused, neglected and in need of repair, but on the stage were four men. Three of them were in carnival masks. All of them were standing round a fifth figure tied to a chair. The chair was facing away from Jade, towards the decaying backdrop of the stage – a faded painting of mountains and a castle. But even so she knew who it was – she recognised the profile and the tousled blond hair.
    â€œOh, Rich,” she sighed.
    The man dressed as Harlequin turned to look up at the circle – at Jade. She ducked down quickly. Had her words carried right to the front of the theatre? She risked a look over the low wall at the front of the circle. Harlequin had turned away again, but Jade knew she had better be very, very quiet.
    But the sound carried both ways, she realised, as the man who had removed his mask spoke. “Don’t worry. It won’t be long now.”
    â€œWhat won’t?” Jade could hear how nervous and frightened Rich was, though he was trying to hide it. “What are you going to do to me? Why don’t you just let me go – it’s not me you want.”
    â€œBut you may be useful.” The man’s English was perfect, only the slight accent gave away that he was Italian. “And anyway, it is not for me to decide.”
    â€œThen who?”
    â€œThe boss is coming. The big man.” He laughed and the sound echoed round the damp walls of the old theatre. “Doctor Plague will decide what to do with you. I wonder, what will be the treatment? Kill or cure?”
    The men all laughed at that. Jade gritted her teeth. Keeping low, kneeling on the floor in the aisle beside the front row of seats, Jade eased her mobile phoneout of her pocket. She checked it was set to silent, and selected ‘Send Short Message’ from the main menu.
    THE GOT RICH. DLD THEATER.
    COME HELP.
    She hoped Dad had his phone on. She hoped he knew what to do if he got a text message – Mum had never understood how her mobile worked apart from the phone bit. Jade wiped her eyes on the back of her sleeve as she waited. As she thought about Mum – and about Rich tied to a chair on the stage far below.
    The phone trembled in her hand. It took her a moment to realise it wasn’t just her hand shaking with emotion. She had a text, thank God!
    WHAT DLD THEATRE?
    Jade stared at the message. Then she sent back:
    DUNNO
    A moment later she got:
    OK. WHAT STREET?
    She almost yelled at the phone.