Page 119 of Tell No One
When Lincoln led them into the drawing room, all the men who’d arrived the previous day were in there, dressed in camouflage clothing, some of them drinking alcohol.At this time in the morning?Tag slipped his hand into Ahsan’s. On the coffee table were three small backpacks. In front of each were several items. A large bottle of water, a three-pack of Mars Bars, a packet of sandwiches, a compass, gloves, a red beanie, penknife and sunglasses.
Tag didn’t look for Delaney. He kept his gaze down. What if they had to choose what to take? Four items? Delaney had said Norbury liked even numbers. But he was going to make three of them run, though he probably didn’t care about the three of them being lucky, so maybe three items.What should I choose?
“Gentlemen, the three of you are going for a run,” Norbury said. “Six of us are going to chase you. You can choose three items from the pile and put them in your backpack. Do it now.”
Tag let go of Ahsan and moved forward. He chose the water, the chocolate and the gloves. He put each item in carefully, feeling round to see if he could find the tracker. He couldn’t. Ahsan chose the same as him. Lincoln just stood there.
“What’s going on?” Lincoln demanded. “Why am I being involved in this?”
“Choose three items, or they’ll be chosen for you,” Norbury snapped.
“This isn’t part of my job. If you no longer need my services, I’ll leave.”
“Do as you’re told.” Feely had come up behind him with a gun.
Ahsan yipped in distress.
Lincoln picked the penknife, compass and water, and put them in the backpack. His face was white. “I don’t understand,” he mumbled.
“You did not do your job well. You weren’t paid to fuck around with my pups and now you’ve messed up my plans.” Norbury shrugged. “So you pay the price.”
“I think Lincoln should have a sweater to make things fair,” Feely said and nodded at Kareem who took off his own sweater and offered it to Lincoln.
“You’ll get a thirty-minute head start.” Norbury smiled at each of them in turn. “Then my guests will be hunting you. Armed, in case you’re wondering.”
Tag jolted along with Ahsan. He didn’t have to pretend to be shocked. Hearing Norbury say it made it real.
“Hunting?” Lincoln’s eyes were wide.
“Yes.” Norbury nodded, no smile now.
“I don’t understand.” Lincoln looked round but no one here was going to help him.
“You two are very quiet,” the Frenchman said.
Tag and Ahsan stood pressed together.
“Shock,” someone called out and laughed.
“Maybe you better tell them again.” That was Delaney. “Explain. Maybe not sink into tiny brains.”
“This is fucked up.” Tag blurted. “That’s what you lot are. Sick fucks. And it’s even more one-sided if you see which way we’re heading. Call yourselves hunters, you wankers? How about giving us guns too?”
That caused much amusement.
“We need to split up,” Tag said in a whisper that he intended to be overheard by everyone. “Makes it harder for them.”
“This isn’t right.” Lincoln was still in denial. “You can’t hunt people. I’m not doing this.”
“Then you’ll be shot anyway,” Norbury said. “We’re giving you a chance to get away. If we haven’t found you by tonight, you can come back here and I’ll give you a reward.”
Tag could guess what that reward would be. No way would Norbury risk anyone talking about this.
“Little shit right,” Delaney said. “More obstacles is better. More fun. Draw curtain. No asking staff which way they go. We should spot anyway. We have radios. Can tell each other. Make this more of challenge.”
There were a few grumbles, but the curtains were drawn.
“Ready, steady, go,” Norbury said.
