Sudden Death Read Online Free

through the crack. His dad was sitting at his desk, the phone to his ear as he pushed something with a pencil. Jake couldn’t see what it was.
    ‘I just can’t believe Andy’s been murdered.’ A pause. ‘I know, I know, I’m jumping to conclusions.’
    His dad swung slightly in the chair and Jake saw what was on the desk. Chernoff’s napkin, still stained with food.
    After listening for a moment, his dad looked up towards the ceiling. ‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘I’m not ready to take on another job. But someone’s going to pay.’ His dad paused then shook his head before responding. ‘Jake’s only just moved in. I can’t up sticks and ship out – not with everything that’s going on.’ Another pause. ‘You too, Sam. I’ll be waiting.’
    His dad hung up. He put the napkin into an envelope, sealed the top, and walked towards his bookcase. Jake fought the urge to scurry back upstairs.
    His dad pulled out two books and placed them on the floor. Then two more.
    What’s he doing?
    Soon there was a messy stack of twenty or so books.His dad seemed to be inspecting the back of the shelf very carefully. Then a metal door swung open.
    A safe! Jake had never known they had one. His dad knelt down and looked to be tying his shoelace. His foot was concealed behind the pile of books. When he straightened up, he was holding a gun.
    Jake’s breathing stopped. The gun must have been in an ankle holster. It had been there all night. All through dinner. All through the conversation with the detective.
    Why does he have a gun?
    Jake remembered his dad’s words.
Another job. Someone’s got to pay.
    My dad might be a killer.
    Jake swallowed drily. It couldn’t be true. Could it?
    The doorbell chimed.
    Jake darted from the door and ran up the stairs. He reached the middle step and turned as his dad emerged from the study. He was carrying the envelope.
    ‘Oh!’ he said. ‘I thought you were in bed, Jake.’
    ‘I heard the bell,’ Jake replied, taking a few steps back down.
    His dad got to the door first. On the step was a man dressed in leathers and wearing a helmet. In the street outside, under the driving rain, was a motorbike with its lights on. His dadhanded the rider the envelope, nodded, and closed the door.
    ‘Who was that?’ Jake asked.
    ‘Just a courier,’ his dad said breezily. ‘Player contract, y’know. Lawyers rest for no man. Sleep well, hey.’
    A draught blew in from the door, making Jake shiver. His dad seemed like an actor, reading lines. How could he lie so easily? ‘Sure,’ Jake said, trying to control his voice. ‘I’m just going to get a glass of water.’
    As he filled his glass in the kitchen, he heard the door to the study click shut.
    Could he trust anything his dad said any more?
    An hour later, Jake was playing an online boxing game when he heard an engine outside. His first thought was
Police.
They’d probably run checks by now and realised his dad wasn’t telling the truth earlier. Maybe they’d already found evidence linking him with Chernoff’s death. Would they search the house? Find the gun in the safe? Traces of poison? Jake’s mind reeled. He imagined his dad being led away in handcuffs. A part of him thought:
That’s what you deserve.
    He went to the window. Outside, a sleek black Mercedes had pulled up. A man climbed out of the driver’s seat and put up an umbrella. He opened the rear door for another man, obviously his boss. Together, they made their way towardsthe front door of the apartment. Jake left his bedroom and hopped down the stairs. The bell rang just before he got there. He opened the door immediately.
    Jake recognised the man standing in the doorway straightaway. He was short and wiry, wearing a black dinner jacket and bow tie. His face had shifting, suspicious features. The face from the newspaper article.
    Igor Popov.
    Jake couldn’t tell if it was the chill from outdoors, or something else. The temperature seemed to drop five degrees. Behind