Dark Game (Merikh Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

constantly swept the room as though looking for someone to pounce on. He greeted Davids and they began a conversation in the hushed tone everyone adopted in old banks.
    I turned back to the ATM and tried to take it all in. Somewhere in the mess of wires tumbling out of the box was the secure network link back to the central system. Assuming I could find it, I could at least make an attempt at troubleshooting, even if I had no real idea how it all worked.
    From my spot on the floor I could see through the window and across the street to the diner. They were serving breakfast to a handful of retirees and there were three waitresses on duty. Claire moved around the place quickly, greeting everyone warmly and keeping things moving along. She didn't seem to have been affected by the confrontation the night before and I was surprised to find that I was pleased. I’d barely spared a moment to consider what would happen after I escaped, and once I was far enough away from Trevor and his goons I’d felt ashamed of myself for running.
    I’d have to learn more about the relationship between Trevor and Claire if I hoped to get a handle on the situation. We hadn't spent much time on the social aspects of the town once we found what we thought was our opportunity, but now we would have to explore everything.
    I was drifting, avoiding dealing with the job at hand. I dragged my eyes back to the machine and forced myself to focus. I couldn't power it down for fear of setting off an alarm somewhere, because Stephen would blame me if we got into trouble for tampering with it. This meant that I’d have to dig around inside a live system to find the cable I was looking for. I didn't relish the idea of accidentally knocking something out of where it was meant to be and potentially frying one of the boards. Or frying myself.
    The muted conversation between Davids and Slimy Joe came to an abrupt halt behind me and I spared a glance, more to avoid the ATM than anything else.
    Trevor's bodyguards had entered the bank. They were tall, well-built men in dark suits, obviously trying to look like badasses and pulling it off with aplomb. One remained at the door as though keeping watch while the other bypassed the two businessmen and walked up to Patty's window just as she arrived. He placed a briefcase on the counter and spoke too softly for me to hear.
    Patty stepped back and turned to fetch Stephen, but he was already there. He took over the transaction, taking the case and handing the goon a receipt before hurrying to the stairs down to the old vault, disappearing from view. Petty stepped back into her position and waited for the man to leave. He paused for ten seconds, staring at her until she looked away, then turned and headed for the door.
    I made sure I wasn't obvious as I watched them leave, keeping my eyes locked on the open ATM hatch and using my peripheral vision. Still, I caught the goon looking at me and smiling a knowing smile.
    The bodyguards left and crossed the street to the diner, going around the side and down the alley to the rear entrance. One of them pounded on the door and they waited for a few seconds for Claire to dash away from the table she was serving and let them in.
    As soon as the door was unlocked they barged in and slammed it shut behind them.
    “I'm about to do something stupid,” I said. I was on my feet and out the door before Mouse got a chance to answer.
    “What's happening?”
    “Those bodyguards just let themselves into the diner. They've got the waitress trapped in her back room.”
    “And you're going to be a hero.”
    “I'm not going to just sit here and stare at an ATM while they do…whatever it is they're planning on doing.”
    “Keep in mind you're supposed to be undercover. And you don't know what they're capable of.”
    “I know.”
    “Good, then go do your thing.”
    I crossed the road, squinting against the bright sunlight until I stepped into the alleyway. When I reached the door I stopped