Free Jimmy Coates by Joe Craig Page B

appeared in the grounds of the building. They were scurrying away, towards the gate. Viggo’s campaign staff were abandoning him.
    â€œIt’s a stampede!” said Helen, as they watched the trail of figures swell into a crowd, then a rush for the gate. Soon they would all be gone. “The building’s empty, Chris,” Helen continued. “They couldn’t have got out of here faster! Apart from us, there’s nobody here!”
    â€œThat’s not quite true.” The voice came from the shadows of the corridor behind Georgie and Felix. They both let out a startled gasp. It was a woman’s voice, delicate but insistent. “You’re not alone, Mr Viggo.”

“Who are you? How did you get in?” Saffron Walden fired out her questions. At the same time she jumped to one side so she was blocking the new woman’s view of Viggo. Jimmy knew instinctively she was in the firing line.
    Saffron pulled her mobile phone from her pocket and hit two keys.
    â€œStop,” said Viggo softly.
    â€œI’m calling security,” Saffron replied, pressing her phone to her ear.
    â€œIt’s too late,” said Viggo, guiding Saffron aside. “She’s already here. That means security is already compromised.”
    Finally the woman stepped through the doorway, into the light. Jimmy was surprised to see that she wasn’t much taller than himself. Her small, round face was framed by hair so black it seemed to swallow all the light in the room, while her skin was a deep olive brown. It was a contrast to the bright white of her wool coat, which entirely enveloped her.
    â€œHe’s right, Miss Walden,” the woman announced, cocking her head to one side. “Security is… compromised.” There was a twinkle in her eye that sent a shiver through Jimmy. It immediately reminded him of Miss Bennett, another woman full of smiling cruelty. But there were differences – this woman’s voice was much harsher and couldn’t hide her anger, or she chose not to. It was in the downward curve of her mouth and the tense lines round her eyes.
    â€œWhat do you want?” asked Viggo. Something in his tone made Jimmy study his expression. Viggo was afraid, but trying to hide it.
    â€œDo you have it?” The woman asked the question with a quiet intensity. She was staring directly up into Viggo’s face, ignoring everybody else in the room, but the assassin in Jimmy noticed that she had positioned herself so that nobody could get behind her or leave the room without her being in the way.
    â€œWhat?” A look of shock crossed Viggo’s face.
    The woman snorted. “Do you have it?”
    â€œLet’s talk alone,” Viggo said, almost pleading.
    â€œWe don’t need to talk, Mr Viggo. I just need to know the answer: do you have it?”
    Jimmy watched Viggo’s eyes flick across the faces of everybody else. Why was this woman dangerous? She certainly seemed hostile, but Jimmy had confidence in his skills. He could already feel that buzz in his blood, his second soul putting every fibre on alert. The side of her skull , it seemed to whisper to him. Two fingers. One jab. He could see the exact spot, just above her ear. It may as well have had a target painted on it. Take her down, but keep her conscious.
    His programming was straining for action. Every second of delay was a second in which the potential danger increased. Still, Jimmy fought to hold himself steady. Wait , he begged himself. He was gripped by curiosity – about Viggo. In the seconds since this woman arrived, Viggo had revealed more about himself than he had in the last six months. Jimmy was desperate to find out more.
    â€œYou know I don’t have it,” said Viggo, between gritted teeth.
    He’s trying to seem strong , Jimmy thought, but even from a couple of metres away he could pick out the rapid movement of Viggo’s pupils and the man’s shallow,