Dead Man's Gift 02 - Last Night Read Online Free PDF Page B

peep.’
    ‘But what if the machine bleeps anyway? They do it at random sometimes.’
    ‘It’s taken care of. As long as you don’t have anything metal on you, and you wear the vest under your shirt so no one can see it, there’ll be no problem at all.’
    Tim felt faint. These people – whoever they were – had the whole thing thought through. He knew that the security in the Commons was full of holes. It always had been. People – the public, staff – were in and out all the time with only minimal checks. He’d never worried that much about it, assuming like everyone else that no one would dare to launch an attack on Parliament, and now they were going to use him to do just that. He was conscious that his breath was coming in fevered gasps. ‘It won’t work,’ he whispered, conscious of the lack of confidence in his own voice. ‘You need something to detonate it with.’
    ‘Full marks again, Mr Horton. After you’ve passed through the detectors on the way to the hearing room, go into the men’s toilets on the left and enter the third cubicle. If it’s occupied, wait for it to become free. Behind the bowl, you’ll find a mobile phone attached to a small battery unit and detonator. It’s small enough to fit into the empty pocket of the vest. All you have to do is put it in the pocket and walk back out again.’
    ‘Jesus, I can’t do that …’
    ‘Of course you can. Your son’s life depends on it, remember? But be very careful with the detonator. It’s quite sensitive and we don’t want any premature explosions.’
    Tim’s legs felt like they were going to go from under him. He wanted to throw up. He wanted to charge out of this shitty little hotel room and run and run until he finally collapsed from exhaustion. Anything to make the pure terror that was surging through him go away.
    Jesus, Scope. I never liked you much. But if you can help me now, I’d do anything to repay you. Anything in the world
.
    ‘Be strong, Mr Horton. All you’ve got to do is walk into that committee room, sit down, act natural, and we’ll take care of everything else.’
    ‘What do you mean, act natural? You’re asking me to sit there and wait for someone to blow me and everyone else in that room to pieces. You’re asking me to die, for Christ’s sake!’
    ‘I’m not asking you to do anything,’ said the kidnapper coldly. ‘I’m telling you. If you want your son to live, you will act naturally, you will keep your fear in check, and when the time comes, yes, you will die. But so that your son can live. Remember that. This is for Max.’
    ‘You fucking bastard.’
    ‘I’m going to let that go as you’re under a lot of pressure. But watch what you’re saying or the next time your son loses a finger.’
    ‘I want to say goodbye to Max. I want to talk to him.’
    ‘That’s not possible.’
    ‘I’m not going to do it if I can’t speak to him.’
    ‘Don’t order me around, Horton. I’ll hurt your boy.’
    ‘You’ve already hurt him. How do I know he’s even still alive?’
    ‘Don’t raise your voice at me,’ snapped the kidnapper.
    There was a pause. Tim was breathing heavily, strangely exhilarated by his pathetic act of rebellion.
    The kidnapper grunted. ‘All right. Give me a phrase.’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘Give me a few words you want him to say. I’ll get him to say them, then play the recording to you down the phone. That way you’ll know he’s still alive. It’s the best you’re going to get.’
    For a good ten seconds, Tim couldn’t think of anything at all. His brain was that fuddled. ‘Ask him to repeat something he’d say when he was very small. I love you to the moon and back. Twice.’ He felt a lump in his throat. ‘It’s what he’d say to me when I put him to bed and read him a story. I haven’t done that in a while now. Tell him that I’m sorry I haven’t been around as much as I should, and that I love him more than anything.’
    There was a long silence at the