Deadly Code Read Online Free PDF Page B

there,’ a man's voice called.
    Esther gave a whimper. As the door swung shut, Spike took a quick look. A thickset figure was framed in the doorway.
    Esther's eyes were wide with fear.
    'Who was it?'
    She was shaking, her words rattling through her teeth. Spike suddenly realised she thought the intruder had come looking for her.
    'We have to get away from here,' she pleaded.
    He took off his jacket and put it round her. 'It's okay. I think it was the Flintstone guy from next door,' he lied. 'He probably came to give me a kicking for taking the baby again.'
    Relief flooded her face. 'Are you sure?'
    He nodded. 'We'll come back tomorrow. He'll have given up by then.'
    Spike ran it over in his mind. His own fear of discovery had started just after he met Esther. Bags, the Big Issue seller, had shown him a photo. It didn't look like him and even Bags didn't recognise him from it. In the photo his hair was short and neat In the photo, he was fourteen.
    'Looks like a computer nerd,' Spike had said, trying to sound casual. 'Who's looking for him?'
    'A Yank. Gave me a twenty to keep a lookout.'
    'Easy shit.'
    'Yeah. Wish he was looking for me.'
    Bags had a phone number to call. He waved it in front of Spike like another twenty.
    'So if you see the nerd?'
    'Sure.'
    If an American was looking for him, it had to be something to do with his father. A cold knot formed in Spike's chest.
    He'd been even more careful after that. If it hadn't been for Esther he would have left Glasgow, gone to London. They would never find him there.
    They bedded down in the park under a tree, Esther curled against him, he holding his body a celibate inch away. Eventually she slept and he listened to the soft sound of her breathing.
    She had told him once that the voices were there in her sleep, weaving their way into her dreams. He imagined people attached to these disembodied voices and routinely killed them to set her free, but they always came back to haunt her, especially when she was nervous or frightened.
    The voices were sent to punish her. That's what she believed. Punish her for what?
    Spike had no idea who the guy in their flat had been, but it wasn't their neighbour. He had been convinced it was somebody looking for him, but Esther thought the man had come for her and it had frightened the wits out of her.
    Who was Esther afraid of? Some old boyfriend who'd been bad to her? Spike hated the thought of someone hurting Esther. He hated the thought of someone else being with her.
    Spike felt his cock harden and immediately pulled back from the warmth of Esther's body.
    He spat his distaste for himself into the grass.
    'Heh.' She was awake and watching.
    He jumped up and walked towards the bushes, afraid she would see his erection.
    When he re-emerged, she was ready to go.
    They went back to the cafe.
    Esther was listless and Spike sensed she had entered that other world. The world of voices that told her she was shite, a nothing who didn't deserve to live.
    ‘Esther?'
    She didn't respond.
    'Esther! Look at me.'
    She lifted her head.
    'We'll find somewhere else to stay. Don't worry.'
    She gave him a small smile.
    When he met her after her rehearsal, she was transformed. There was no rush to find a place, she told him excitedly.
    'Sean says we can stay at his while his girlfriend's in California. That'll give us time to find somewhere decent.'
    It didn't sound right to Spike. Why would this Sean guy offer Esther a room while his girlfriend was away?
    'I don't think that's a good idea. He'll ask about me.'
    'I told him you were my young cousin from up north. He doesn't mind.'
    He doesn't mind. He doesn't mind. The words blew Spike's brain. Sean might not mind but Spike fucking well did.
    'We don't need Sean. I'll find us somewhere.'
    But she wasn't listening.
    'Please, Spike. Sean gave me the key. We could at least take a look.'
     
    A big black cat met them in the hall. Esther bent down and rubbed its head.
    'Sean says it's called Chance.'
    The cat