Free Close Range by Nick Hale

half of it,
Jake thought.

10
    J ake’s mum drove to the church more slowly this time. He thought she must still be in shock.
    ‘Maybe you should listen to Dad,’ Jake said. ‘Granble can find another photographer, can’t he?’ He rushed to add, ‘Not as good as you, obviously.’
    ‘Reputation counts for everything in this business, Jake. You quit one job, prove yourself unreliable, no one will hire you again.’
    Jake dropped it.
    ‘Anyway,’ his mum continued, smiling, ‘enough about me. You and Abri seem to be getting on pretty well.’ Jake felt his cheeks redden. ‘And from that blush, I’m guessing you quite like her.’
    Jake rolled down the window. ‘I’ll do you a deal, Mum. I won’t mention Granble, if you don’t mention Abri.’
    ‘Sounds fair,’ she said, laughing to herself. ‘But whatshall we talk about?’
    This is my chance,
Jake thought.
    He fished Randy Freemore’s card out of his pocket. ‘Have you heard of Olympic Advantage?’
    ‘Nope.’
    Jake went on to explain how Mr Freemore had been at the San Siro, and had given him the card. ‘It’s like a camp for athletes of the future, in Florida. Really intensive – they teach you everything.’ Jake was getting excited just talking about it. ‘Not just the sport itself, but lifestyle, nutrition, physio …’
    ‘A football camp?’ interrupted his mum.
    ‘Yes, sort of, but so much more …’
    ‘In
Florida?’
She said the word like it was the moon, or something. Jake could see from her frown that she didn’t share his enthusiasm.
    ‘What’s wrong, Mum?’
    They’d reached the church and she pulled up outside, killed the engine and looked straight at Jake.
    ‘I’m not sure I’m happy about you heading so far on your own.’
    ‘I won’t be on my own. There’ll be other players, from all over the world …’
    ‘That’s what I’m worried about,’ she said. ‘Football’s big business. Everyone wants a piece of the pie. I’m notsure I want
you
being that pie, Jake.’
    ‘Mum, what are you talking about? This is a chance of a lifetime!’
    ‘Let me talk to your dad about it, eh?’
    Oh, so you’ll work together when you’re trying to stop me doing something!
    Jake climbed out of the car to let his temper cool. He was afraid of saying something he shouldn’t.
    There were a few crushed cigarette butts on the ground by the side door of the church, but no sign of Hector or the other electricians. In their place stood two security guards in polonecks and pale blazers. If they had guns, they were hidden. They eyeballed Jake and his mother as they approached. Jake wondered why they weren’t watching the front door, but he guessed it was probably bolted shut. One way in, one way out. Easy to guard.
    They were waved inside.
    Jake was immediately disappointed: no sign of Abri or the other models. Jake couldn’t see Granble anywhere, but there were plenty of his lackeys rushing around, and his chief goon, Jaap, stood motionless, still handcuffed to the briefcase.
    One hundred million dollars worth of diamonds was a lot to lose.
    ‘Let’s get started, shall we?’ said his mum. Jake hung back out of the way, while she unpacked her camera and rearranged the supplementary lighting and screens near the altar. Jaap came forwards with the case, fiddled with the code and clicked it open. Jake, along with everyone else, found himself stepping closer to see.
    Marissa stepped forwards, and took off what looked like a protective cover.
    A collective gasp sounded across the sanctuary.
    Jake had seen diamonds before, in jewellery shop windows, and on wedding rings, but nothing compared to the contents of the case. These weren’t even rocks – they were
boulders!
    The case was lined with black velvet. Laid out against it was a necklace strung from stones the size of Jake’s thumbnail and bracelets made with hundreds of delicate diamonds. Other smaller pieces surrounded a stone as big as Jake’s palm.
    He didn’t even know