Decoy Read Online Free Page B

Everything had happened so fast. This was hardly his usual line of work.
    â€œNine patients” he tried to say, “only nine patients.”
    â€œNine patients or nine beds?” Monsieur Blanc replied, quick as a flash. Ahmed pictured the ward, the prostrate figures, innocent in death, sleeping silently as the bullet split their foreheads.
    â€œPatients,” he said at last, “nine patients,” how could he be so stupid? The words dragged from inside of him. “So there was an empty bed?” Monsieur Blanc said. Ahmed nodded, unable to muster the strength for further explanations. The grip on his neck relaxed. Monsieur Blanc stepped away.
    â€œDr. Seladin, you put me in an awkward position. Very awkward.” He said, pacing up and down.
    â€œLet me tell you what I am prepared to do,” he wagged a finger in Ahmed’s direction. “My team will run some checks, pull whatever information we can from the lab’s remote servers. You will wait here. When we have a name you will go with my team and you will finish the job you were paid to do. Is that clear?” He stepped towards Ahmed, his round face up close, filling his vision.
    â€œ I said is that clear? ” Monsieur Blanc hissed, the words carried on a blast of rotten breath. Ahmed flinched, the putrid smell, mingled with the scent of rose water, like petals spread over open graves. The same smell you found on animals’ breath, a wolf, a jackal, something that feasted on raw meat.

6

    â€œJack, Jack can you hear me?” Jack looked up, a stiffness in his side. Concerned green eyes the colour of sand through a clear blue sea focused on him with a hushed intensity. Her hand supported the back of his head, a gentle, but firm hold. Amanda had never seemed more beautiful, one or two strands of blond hair had escaped her ponytail, a complex arrangement she managed to fix in place in a moment with a pencil. They tickled his neck. He smiled weakly.
    â€œSorry Amanda,” he whispered, “should’ve called,” she was feeling his pulse, looking intently at him. Didn’t respond. Professional mode.
    â€œI’m going to have to call an ambulance Jack, we need to get you examined.” He gripped her arm. The memory of the ward, the hospital beds flooding back.
    â€œNo, no Amanda. I’m alright. Just need a rest, some food. Maybe some clothes too?” he said, attempting the smile again. Amanda shook her head. She wasn’t smiling, was she just checking him over out of professional duty? Her hand felt around underneath the blanket, pulled at something, his gown. He raised his eyebrows, starting to feel better already.
    â€œThis isn’t standard hospital issue, at least not at any of the hospitals round here that I’ve worked in.” She said in an official tone, looking at the seam. “ Marcon Pharmaceuticals .” Still in professional mode, pulling away from him.
    â€œHang on, I know that name. Isn’t it a private research lab near Huntingdon?” She frowned, “Jack, tell me you didn’t put yourself forward for drug testing?” She said, exasperation in her voice. Eyes disapproving. He shrugged, before he could say anything she added “of all the stupid, stupid things. You can’t seriously have been that desperate for money?”
    Jack closed his eyes, his mind on the poker game, the money he’d lost. At last, the reason why he’d been in the ward. A two-week clinical trial to raise the money to settle the debt. How else was he supposed to get four grand in a hurry? On balance probably not the cleverest thing he’d ever done.
    â€œCome on,” Amanda said, shaking her head, helping him to his feet. “Let’s get you some breakfast. Then we’ll try and find you some clothes. If you’re good,” she added, a hint of a smile on her lips.

    As Amanda fried up bacon and eggs Jack wondered how much to tell her. The