Free Ghost of a Smile by Simon R. Green

generous bonuses all round.”
    â€œHold everything,” said Happy, raising one hand like a child at school. “We’re supposed to walk into a building that’s already killed a whole bunch of people? With no solid intel, no weapons, and no backup?”
    â€œThat’s the job, sometimes,” said JC. “And we don’t know that anyone’s dead yet.”
    â€œI’m not going in there without my equipment!” said Melody. “All my gear’s still packed up on the freight train!”
    â€œI have people bringing it here,” said Patterson. “But you’ll have to make a start without it.”
    â€œWhat am I supposed to do without equipment?” said Melody, sulking.
    â€œImprovise,” said Patterson. He didn’t smile.
    â€œI think we have to assume that something has gone seriously wrong with the latest drug trial,” JC said quickly. “Remember that case a few years back, when they tried out what they thought was a perfectly safe drug, and half the volunteers exploded? Could be something similar. You can only learn so much from computer modelling. Sooner or later, you have to shove the stuff into somebody’s vein and stand well back. Do you have any information on what MSI was testing?”
    â€œNo,” said Patterson. “The MSI spokesman is only telling us what he thinks we need to know. He’s currently hiding behind Proprietary Information. The Boss is putting together enough authority and influence to kick that door down, but it will take time. You should be able to find all the information you need in the building’s various computers. Feel free to look at anything you feel like and make as much mess as you need. You are all officially authorised to act like utter vandals and do any damned thing you feel necessary. That’s it.”
    â€œThat’s it?” said Happy. “What if we can’t sort this out? What if we all get killed in there?”
    â€œDon’t,” said Patterson.
    He turned sharply and strode back to his silver limo, gleaming at the curb like an expensive ghost in the night. The waiting chauffeur opened the door for him, Patterson disappeared inside, and, within seconds, the car was gliding smoothly away. Kim emerged from the shadows to make a rude gesture after it.
    â€œWhat an appalling person,” she said.
    â€œBe fair,” said JC. “I can’t think of anyone better suited to take on our enemies. That man could annoy anyone to death.”
    They all turned to look at Chimera House. It looked calmly back at them; a tall, imposing structure of steel, glass, and concrete. A building of almost staggering ugliness, with all the aesthetic considerations of a dead rat. It fit right in, in an area where form and function had taken over from pretty much everything else. Lights blazed from every window, but there was no sign that anyone was home.
    â€œCan you see anyone moving in there?” said Happy. “I can’t see anyone moving in there. Where are they?”
    â€œIf they were running drug tests, there should be people on duty at all times,” said Melody. “Apart from the test subjects, there should be doctors and nurses, scientists, support staff, building security . . . They can’t all be dead. Can they?”
    â€œKim,” said JC. “What do you see?”
    â€œNothing,” said Kim. “It’s like the whole building is standing in a shadow. A dark veil for someone or something to hide behind. What do you see, JC?”
    â€œOnly a building,” said JC. He turned to Happy. “Are you picking anything up, oh master of the mental miracles?”
    Happy shrugged unhappily. “Just a feeling . . . That what we’re looking at is an illusion. A facade. The smile on the face of the tiger.”
    They waited, but he had nothing more to say. He was shivering, and not only from the cold. The quiet of the empty street, and