Thieves Like Us 01 - Thieves Like Us Read Free

to be – some big elaborate wind-up. ‘You’re really going to do it? You’ll get me out of here?’
    ‘Do not let go of this till I say.’ Con closed Jonah’s fingers around the ampoule. ‘Phosphor caps are quite stable at body temperature, but away from the skin they cool quickly and …’ She puffed up her cheeks then blew out the air as if by way of demonstration.
    Jonah stared at his fist. ‘You used these to get in here.’
    ‘Amongst other things.’
    ‘Why’s it gone so quiet out there? What did you do to everyone?’
    ‘Your questions can wait.
We
can’t.’
    Patch nodded. ‘So are you coming, or what?’
    Jonah stared at them helplessly. ‘Who
are
you people?’
    ‘Maybe your best friends. Maybe your worst nightmare.’ Con’s eyes seemed to glitter as she gestured to the cell door, which still stood wide open. The shadowy corridor was waiting outside. ‘Want to find out which?’

Chapter Two
    Jonah’s heart started to race as he was pushed out of his cell. How many times had he trudged along this corridor, eyes down, trying to keep out of trouble? But suddenly the unit seemed like another world, strange and unreal to him. The lights were down low. Wisps of white smoke coiled about his ankles. He started to walk. Con had one hand on his shoulder, steering him onwards. It was unnaturally quiet, no one about, save for a few officers slumped against the walls or sprawled on the floor.
    He didn’t want to know if they were dead or just sleeping. His mind had locked on a single thought, bright like the glass pellet trapped in his sweaty fist:
You’re getting out
. Jonah was picking up speed now, his feet slapping down on the corridor, breaking into a stumbling run.
It’s really going to happen
.
    They were headed for the next wing. It seemed a roundabout route to the main exit. Jonah glanced back at Con, puzzled.
    ‘Not safe to go out the same way we came in,’ she told him. ‘The caps only stun. The screws we zapped will be waking up.’
    A turn in the corridor revealed a heavy iron doorblocking their way.
    ‘What the hell is this?’ Con looked at Jonah accusingly as if he’d put it there himself. ‘This wasn’t on the plans.’
    ‘Looks new.’ Patch sniffed. ‘Yeah, smell that oil. The lock’s still lubed.’ He plunged two delicate metal rods into the keyhole and shook his head. ‘They use five-pin tumblers and call a place secure. It’s a bleedin’ insult.’
    ‘Could you stop being offended and just pick the damn thing?’
    ‘What, Con?’ The door swung open and Patch smiled cheekily. ‘Couldn’t hear what you said. Too busy picking the damn thing.’
    ‘That’s faster than the screws manage with a key,’ said Jonah.
    Con shoved him through the doorway. ‘You can praise him later.’
    ‘Don’t let her boss you, Jonah,’ said Patch. ‘You can praise me right now. I can take it.’
    Con was pushing them both along the corridor now, forcing them into a run. Noise was starting up, hoarse shouts and swearing from the cells, jeering and laughter. When no screws slapped them down, they grew bolder, louder, started banging on their doors. Jonah could feel the fear and excitement building around him.
    ‘Animals,’ said Con darkly. ‘We should have drugged the whole lot of them, not just your block.’
    ‘You drugged my whole
block
?’ Jonah skidded to a halt. ‘How the hell did you –?’
    ‘Keep moving,’ Con told him.
    ‘We spiked the chicken and the tuna in the canteen,’ Patch told him, ignoring a glare from Con. ‘You’re a veggie, aren’t you?’
    ‘How’d you know that?’
    ‘Only four lettuce-lovers in your whole block.’ Again, Patch grinned. ‘Guess the other three sleep heavy.’
    ‘We knew noise like this would only make you more scared,’ said Con. ‘Harder work.’
    Jonah folded his arms. ‘Right. Nothing to do with the fact that you can’t do that creepy hypnotism unless it’s quiet?’
    ‘Mesmerism,’ she corrected him with a tight