Killing Eva Read Online Free Page A

evidence of a substantial part of Stefano’s work with him. But it was several months ago and he knew from personal experience that, if his work had fallen into the hands of another scientist, it would already be on the market – but it wasn’t, so it couldn’t have. Perhaps the procedure had killed the man, and Stefano’s secrets had died with him. The only other key in the system belonged to a woman connected to Stefano’s ex-business partner – but she had been set up remotely using a sample and the entire test system had not been run on her. Not yet. That was the next step for both projects, a new test subject, someone within Stefano’s control – otherwise this woman remained the only person who could be used to activate Veritas. He often wondered whether she was aware of her importance, whoever she was.
    Regardless, it looked as if Stefano’s key was still going to be the first of its kind to make it onto the market. And without his English partner, the revenue would be his and his alone.
    Feeling satisfied, Stefano finished shutting up his lab. The rest of the building was almost entirely dark, it was late. He was just about to input his code into the main door to the lab when he stopped. He felt someone was watching him.
    Ridiculous, he thought but, nevertheless, he moved his body to block the keypad.
    Then, he silently left through the back entrance. He was not in the mood for a conversation with the jolly security guard.

THREE
    â€˜Her name is Eva Scott. She is resident in London. We found her yesterday.’
    Two sharp-suited men in a darkened room gazed at a projection of Eva’s face on the wall opposite.
    â€˜She’s pretty.’
    â€˜Hmmmm.’
    â€˜Is there anything full length?’
    A snap of the projector and the image changed again. This time, the shot captured all of Eva, straight backed, hair shining in the wintry morning sun as she waited at the mobile coffee stand under the glass canopy in her oversize coat.
    â€˜What would you suggest that we do?’
    One of the men, who wore a slim-cut grey tweed, turned away from the image on the wall. He was not a young man anymore, he felt the effort of middle age underneath his fading Mediterranean tan. He reached for a thick cigar and rolled it between his fingers before cutting and lighting it. He could feel his younger colleague becoming frustrated, both by the smoking indoors and the time he was taking to respond. He sat down at an enormous walnut wood desk and took several long, luxurious puffs on the cigar. His colleague said nothing.
    â€˜What would you suggest we do, Paul?’
    The younger man was a new addition to the team. He was an untested quantity and no one had taken kindly to such a late arrival, especially one so unexplained. Nobody intended to make things easy for him – he had an excess of ambition written all over his face.
    This time, it was the younger man’s turn to respond slowly. He leaned against one of the antique bookshelves in the library, knowing full well that his disrespect of the priceless furniture would drive the older man mad.
    â€˜Well, I know less about this business than you,’ he appeared to concede.
    The older man nodded and continued to smoke.
    â€˜But it seems to me she is a loose end. Her presence at Waterloo Station – was it really a coincidence, given her history?’
    The smoke in the room was thick now, hanging blue and fragrant in the warm morning air.
    Neither of the men spoke for some time, as the effect of the younger man’s words began to sink in.
    Suddenly, the subject was changed. ‘What have you planned for the man?’ asked the elder, still working his way through the cigar.
    A noticeable ripple of excitement travelled through the younger man and he moved quickly to sit opposite the desk.
    â€˜I’d like to eliminate him. Now that she,’ he gestured at Eva’s worried face, ‘has surfaced, I