Read The Set Up for Free Online Page B

matches off the counter.
    ‘Well, I tracked down a boy called Edward O’Brien a couple of months ago, but he wasn’t interested in my help.’ Jack shrugged. ‘There’s a girl out there somewhere, too. I’m still trying to find her, but it’s not easy. I don’t even know her name. You see, William destroyed all his scientific notes before he died. The identity of the four babies implanted with the Medusa gene was in those.’
    ‘So how are you going to find her?’
    ‘Fergus knows who she is. William told him before he died.’
    ‘How can you be sure?’
    ‘Well, Fergus knew about you , didn’t he? And I know he’d spoken to Edward O’Brien, ages before I tracked him and his family down – frightened the wits out of the poor boy.’ Jack shook his head.
    ‘Oh.’ My head was reeling again. It hadn’t occurred to me for a second that there might be other people with the same ability as me. A knot of disappointment curled itself up in my chest. If I was honest, I’d kind of liked being the only one who could move objects without touching them.
    ‘So did this boy – Edward whoever – have telekinetic powers too?’ I said, flatly.
    ‘No.’ Jack shook his head. ‘He didn’t tell me much, but I’m sure of that. Anyway, William was adamant that the gene didn’t work in isolation . . . that character traits, environmental factors, all sorts of random elements would determine how the Medusa gene developed. It’s highly unlikely all four of you will have the same abilities.’
    ‘So what other ways might the gene . . . come out in someone?’ I asked.
    Jack and Dylan exchanged glances.
    ‘Most likely in some way that reflects other aspects of their personality,’ Jack said. ‘At least, that was William’s theory. There aren’t that many options . . . Mind-reading is one though . . . as is being able to predict the future.’
    ‘Wow,’ I said. ‘That’s amazing.’
    Jack nodded. ‘All four of you are likely to have a distinct and incredible psychic talent.’
    ‘You only told me about two of the others,’ I said. ‘A boy called Edward O’Brien and a girl you don’t know anything about. Who’s the fourth?’
    Jack glanced at Dylan. She was still holding the box of matches. She drew one out and struck it. She gazed deep into the flame, then held up her finger.
    ‘Dylan’s the fourth teenager with the Medusa gene,’ Jack said, softly. ‘Dylan?’
    Dylan glanced at me out of the corner of her eyes. ‘If I see danger coming, I can protect myself from getting hurt. Watch.’
    I stared, as Dylan slowly moved her finger into the fire. She held it there for several seconds, her expression impassive, then slowly withdrew it. She held the finger up so I could see it clearly. It was unmarked.
    I realised I’d been holding my breath and let it out.
    ‘Never fails to bowl me over.’ Jack grinned at me.
    I nodded, feeling I was expected to say something.
    ‘How did you do that?’ I asked Dylan.
    She shrugged. ‘Jack showed me how to focus on my breath. I just do that, and it feels like my body gets this protective coat – like a second skin.’
    ‘Does it only work when you know you’re in danger?’ I said, genuinely interested.
    ‘At first it did, but now I can do it whenever I want.’ Dylan smiled coldly at me, her slanted green eyes narrowing like a cat’s.
    I nodded, wondering if she always sounded that arrogant.
    Jack leaned forward. ‘Nico, I wonder if you would consider doing a favour in return for me . . .er, helping you develop your own abilities.’
    My hand unconsciously went to my pocket. I felt the thick edge of the folded ten-pound notes. ‘What’s that?’ I said.
    ‘You have better access to Fergus’s papers and computer files than anyone else in the world,’ Jack said, intently. ‘As I explained, he undoubtedly knows who the fourth person with the Medusa gene is – but the girl herself is probably developing her abilities with no idea about what’s going on. You