The Dead Lie Down (Adam Lennox Thrillers: Book One) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Clare paused. "She's right you know."
    Adam raised a finger. "Don't you start."
    Clare raised her arms in mock surrender. "Okay, turn into a martyr, see if I
care, just don't do the long face thing, it doesn't suit you."
    She returned to the computer, leaving Adam slouching in the guest chair, fingers
steepled in front of his face, lost in thought but ill at ease.
    His meditation was broken when Gerry's head appeared round the door of his
office waving his hand for attention.
    "I've got 'Houses for the Homeless' on the phone, wanting to know if we can set
up a charity parachute jump to raise funds and create some publicity."
    "When do they want it arranged for?" asked Adam.
    "Third weekend in September," replied Gerry.
    Adam thought briefly. "Tell them we'll do it."
    Gerry hesitated. "We do it for free again?"
    Adam nodded. "It's the least we can do."
    Clare
and Gerry exchanged glances before Gerry disappeared briefly to give their
answer. When he reappeared in the main office Adam went into business
mode.
    "Clare, who did we use last time?" he asked.
    A
swift reference to a vast desk diary provided the answer.
    "We used North Weald last time. I'll ring them in the morning and see if they're
available."
    "Make sure that they get the landing zone right this time," said Gerry. "Last
time they landed somewhere where the photographers couldn't get at and caused us
no end of aggro."
    Clare grinned. "I'll check it out. Who's going to do advertising?"
    Gerry raised a hand. "I'll sort that. Who's going to cover it on the day?"
    Adam cast a look around the assembled company.
    "Don't look at me," protested Gerry, shaking his head with enthusiasm. "I'm
taking Joan to Paris that weekend."
    Adam did an impersonation of a fish out of water as his jaw dropped to
floor.
    "Gerry. You're frightening me. What have you done with the selfish partner I had
who needed a map to get to the kitchen sink."
    "Wiseass," replied Gerry in his worst American accent.
    "Seriously Gerry," said Clare in disbelief. "You're taking your wife to
Paris?"
    Gerry raised his hands in surrender. "Okay. Okay. I give in. She threatened to
throw out my 70's Rock collection."
    Adam adopted a look of abject horror. "Not the Cream and Zeppelin?"
    Gerry looked downcast. "Tull, Genesis, Floyd, the lot."
    Adam, with a great deal of dramatic flair got up and put his arm around Gerry,
and attempted to maintain a serious face with mounting difficulty.
    "You're obviously under a great deal of stress and I understand entirely.
Consider yourself out of the running."
    He turned to Clare who was already shaking her head. It was unclear whether it
was in pity at the charades going on in front of her or not.
    She held up the diary in her hands. "That weekend I'm at Bisley for the Olympic
trials."
    Adam looked crestfallen and put on his best game-show host voice.
    "Can I tempt you with double time?"
    "No."
    "
A cheese grater with juicer attachment?"
    "Uh uh." A firm shake of the head.
    "A four burner barbecue with spit roast?"
    Clare
entered into it. "Golly Adam that's so tempting." She chewed a fingernail to
give the impression she was actually considering it.
    There was a long pause.
    "Do you want to phone a friend?" enquired Adam. "Perhaps even ask the studio
audience? I'm going to have to hurry you now."
    Clare, in danger of getting the giggles shook her head. "No."
    Adam, disappointed that his fine acting skills hadn't had the desired effect,
adopted funereal tones. "Can I take that as your final answer?"
    Clare replied with an emphatic "Yes".
    Adam folded his arms in resignation. "Then I guess it's me," he conceded.
    Hey. It wasn't as if he had a social life anyway, he decided. Not since Fran
died anyway.
    She was gone. He slumped on
the stairs. His hoarse voice crying out her name. But there would never be an
answer. The distant echoing voice from the man in blue...'didn't
suffer......driver didn't stop......ambulance called from offices' but the words