Read The Deadly Game for Free Online

there was one from Lauren among all the usual spam.
    He opened the email from Lauren, and felt a jolt of disappointment as he read it. Hey Jake, Can’t do Skype today/tonight because I’ve got to go into the office for a meeting. In fact, it looks as if I’m going to be in meetings every day this week, because there’s a big Antarctic research expedition about to happen that we’re involved in. And — with the twelve-hour time difference between us — the best time will be after I’ve finished work at the end of the week. I suggest this Friday at 8 p.m. (when it will be 8 o’clock on Saturday morning for you). Will that be OK? Or is that too early for you? We can make it later — 9 a.m. or 10 a.m.? Miss you lots, S xx .
    Although he felt the disappointment of not seeing Lauren that night, even though it was only on a computer screen, he still felt a sense of elation and excitement about what he was planning to do: go to Glastonbury and find one of the hidden books. OK, it was a bit of a wild shot, very chancy, but he wanted to tell her and share that hope with her, even though he knew that if he attempted to, their systems would shut down — email, phone call, Skype, whatever he used. It was so frustrating! If only he could find a way.
    He clicked ‘reply’ and began to type:
    ‘Hiya Sam, Skype this Friday/Saturday will be great — I love the fact that we can actually see one another, and know you’re really there, and not just some figment of my imagination at the end of a keyboard.
    Then a thought struck him. Maybe there was a way round the bar on them. And this was a good time to test how far the censoring system worked. He added: 8 at night your time, 8 in the morning mine, will be great, as this Saturday I’m off to do some research into King Arthur and the Holy Grail .
    As he typed the words, he felt his chest tighten with nervous apprehension, waiting for his system to shut down . . . but it stayed connected. So far so good. Then, to test it further, he typed in, At Glastonbury .
    His whole body tensed, waiting for the familiar ‘click’ and his screen to go blank . . . but the connection stayed up! It had worked! Obviously, Glastonbury was seen as ‘safe’ when it was linked to King Arthur and the Holy Grail. Computer says Yes.
    He smiled to himself as he finished typing the rest of his message. Love you, Jake xx

Chapter 7
    Jake left his small block of flats the next morning filled with a new sense of determination and purpose. He was going to Glastonbury. He would find one of the buried books. He’d bring Lauren back to England. He was just thinking these thoughts as the driver’s door of the parked car he was passing jerked open, and a tall, tough-looking man in a dark suit got out of the car and stood directly in his path.
    ‘Get into the car, please,’ he said.
    ‘What?’ Jake said, bewildered.
    Although the man was smartly dressed, there was no mistaking the air of menace about him. Military type, thought Jake hurriedly. Special forces.
    ‘Into the car, please,’ repeated the man, and he moved a step closer to Jake, his hands clenching and unclenching as if he was about to grab him. Jake stepped back, putting his hands up to defend himself, even though he knew this man could break him in half.
    The rear door of the car swung open, nearly hitting Jake, and a cool calm voice said: ‘That won’t be necessary, Edward.’ Then, in a friendly tone, the voice added: ‘I’m here to offer you a lift to work, Jake.’
    Jake peered into the back of the large expensive-looking car. Alex Munro, chief of the London office of Pierce Randall, beamed back at him.
    ‘No thank you,’ said Jake coldly. ‘I think I’d rather take my chances on the buses.’
    Munro sighed.
    ‘Please, Jake. At the moment this is a genuine friendly gesture.’
    Despite the smile on Munro’s voice, and the lightness of tone, there was no mistaking the threat, in his ‘at the moment’. Jake looked at the tall,