The Seraphim Sequence: The Fifth Column 2 Read Online Free Page A

think they won’t shoot a woman.’
    His eye twitched, but he wasn’t as scared as she’d hoped and that annoyed her.
    ‘Even for an operative like you, one bullet in the brain and it’s all over,’ he said. ‘Don’t do anything stupid, Sophia. Lower the weapon.’
    Sophia breathed. In through the nose, out through the mouth. From the corner of her vision she could see DC had moved outward, his MP7 aimed at her head.
    ‘The Council has already made their decision,’ Dolph said. ‘Put down the weapon.’
    Sophia placed her pistol on the floor and stepped back. The security team moved around and cuffed her.

Chapter Four
     
     
    The bead curtain clacked as Jay entered the Pensioner, a smoky restaurant bar that had seen better days. Damien was behind him, politely declining a gram of weed from men in creased jeans and wet sneakers. Past the row of Greek gambling machines, a bizarre cross between taberat and pinball, Jay spotted her. She was the only person not eating a bowl of cheap spaghetti. But like everyone else here, she smoked restlessly.
    Jay let Damien into the booth first, then parked himself on the end. ‘How’s tricks?’ he said.
    He caught a slight smile, but it was gone in an instant. ‘Tricks are for kids,’ she said.
    Jay gave her half a grin. ‘Damien chose the place.’
    Damien appeared nervous. ‘It was the only place in five miles.’
    ‘The only place you can smoke in this country,’ Jay added.
    Nasira ashed her cigarette and brandished another. ‘How’d they get an exemption?’
    ‘They’re selling drugs out front, I don’t think that’s necessary,’ Jay said. ‘Anyway, he didn’t pick it for the smoking. They do killer bolognese.’ He slid the laminated menu toward her. ‘Cheap too.’
    Nasira ignored it. ‘I’ll pass on the carbs. Old habits die hard.’
    Jay grinned. ‘Right. Operative diet. Almost forgot since I’m not one any more.’
    She peered over the table at his stomach. ‘I see you already ate.’
    ‘Big breakfast.’ He quickly leaned forward. ‘You’re not doing a particularly good job at selling me your end of the bargain.’
    Nasira drew on her cigarette. She didn’t seem in any rush to answer. ‘I ain’t selling you anything, buttercup. Damien here gave you the down low. You already made up your mind but you came anyway.’ She tapped her cigarette over the ashtray. ‘That tells me you’re curious.’
    ‘You’re the only black woman here,’ Jay said. ‘I think everyone’s a little curious.’
    ‘How’s your resumé?’ Nasira said. ‘Would you like a LinkedIn testimonial?’
    ‘I’m fleshing it out nicely.’ He really didn’t want to give her more information than necessary.
    ‘We have paid work,’ she said.
    ‘I already get paid work,’ Jay said.
    Nasira drew on her cigarette. Smoke wafted over the table. ‘Not this well paid, you don’t.’
    ‘I’m not greedy.’ Jay folded his arms. ‘I earned quite enough from your last suicide mission.’
    ‘Not calling you greedy.’ She leaned forward ever so slightly. ‘Calling you a touch restless. I’m sure you’re eager to hit the sand again.’
    Jay bit his lip. ‘Itching.’
    Nasira raised an eyebrow at his crotch. ‘You should get that looked at.’
    ‘After how that last job turned out, you really think I’d be jumping at the chance for another?’ Jay said.
    Nasira didn’t answer, just watched. She was reading him. Seeing if he was bluffing.
    ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I do.’
    ‘You know what I’ve learnt since being here?’ Jay said.
    Nasira looked genuinely surprised. ‘You’re learning things now?’
    ‘I’ve learnt the point of life.’
    ‘That’s heavy,’ she said. ‘For you.’
    ‘I travel light.’
    ‘I ’ m all ears.’
    Jay looked around at the patrons, twirling spaghetti on forks and circling snooker tables. ‘These people … they have a normal life.’
    ‘An incredible observation,’ Nasira said. ‘Your skills are unparalleled.’
    ‘They