Sharp Shot Read Free Page B

and just got
lucky.”“And we didn’t,” said Chance. “They might
send in ground forces to check. Let’s make sure there’s nothing left of
the Jeep, and we bury anything that we don’t take with us. We need to
travel light. With luck we can call in an extraction, but if not then it’s
still another hundred and fifty kilometres to the border. So the only
thing we’re taking with us apart from water and weapons and the first aid
kit is Mark, got it?”
    â€œWhat about this?” McCain asked, kicking Darrow’sheavy rucksack containing his souvenir statue.
    â€œYou check on the Jeep,” Chance told him. “Dex,
you do what you can to help Mark. See if you can stop the
bleeding.” He picked up the rucksack—it really was very heavy,
and there was no way they could take it with them and carry Darrow. Speed
was vital now. “I’ll bury this with the rest of the gear,” he
said.

1
The present day. Gloucestershire, England.
    Jade Chance was out jogging. The route she took—through the village
and back across the hills—was almost exactly six and a half kilometres.
She tried to run every day after school, and occasionally she persuaded
her brother Rich to go with her.
    But not this afternoon.
    When he was at home, Dad quite often joined her. Jade had expected
him to be slow and out of condition. He ate the most appalling rubbish, he
smoked—though less than he used to—and as far as Jade could tell he
drank only black coffee, beer and champagne. Sometimes together.
    It was November, so it was already dark when Jade got back. She’d
left Rich doing his homework, andhe was still at it when she returned.
    â€œDad phoned,” said Rich, without looking up. He was
sitting at the dining table in the main living room of the small cottage
the three of them shared on the outskirts of the small Cotswold village.
    â€œDid he say where he is or what he’s doing?” Jade asked,
going straight through to the kitchen.
    â€œNope.”
    â€œDid he say when he’ll be back?” Jade called as she
opened the fridge.
    â€œNope.”
    â€œDid he say where he’s put the tin opener?”
    â€œNope,” Rich called back. “But I did ask,”
he added after a moment.
    â€œLiar.” Jade started to unload the beer and champagne
from the fridge. “So why did he bother to call?”
    â€œDon’t know. That was something I didn’t ask.” Rich was standing in the doorway, watching Jade empty the
fridge. “I hope you’re not going to empty all that down the sink
again,” he said.
    â€œNo. But I don’t see why the fridge has to be full of Dad’s
booze. One bottle of champagne and two bottles of beer, that’s what he’s
allowed now. If you’ve finishedyour homework, you can go online and order
some real food and drink.”
    â€œYou mean healthy stuff.” Rich was smiling. “You
mean lettuce and carrots and things that only rabbits eat. You mean fruit
juice and bottled water.”
    â€œAmong other things.” Jade stood up and surveyed the
collection of bottles on the worktop. “That should do it. If we’re
left on our own to look after ourselves, we might as well eat healthily
and sensibly while we can. He could be gone for weeks. Are you sure he
didn’t say when he’ll be back?”
    Rich shrugged. “He’s working for Ardman. He could be anywhere
in the world for days or weeks or even months, I guess.”
    â€œAll the more reason to make the most of it.”
    â€œYeah,” Rich agreed. “I did an order yesterday,
anyway. They’re supposed to deliver it this evening. Don’t worry, I put us
down for some health food. Salad and fruit and vegetables. Oh, and I
ordered some Coke and burgers too. And we can have pizza tonight.”
He grinned at Jade’s horrified expression. “You can put extra
pineapple on