Chaos Theory by Graham Masterton Read Free Book Online Page B

the spidery man.
    ‘On the contrary. Something’s very serious. You’re obviously not cops. So – if you don’t get off my girlfriend’s property right now, you and Kwongo here are going to be in very serious trouble.’
    ‘I don’t think you understand the position you’re in, Mr Flynn.’
    ‘Oh – I understand all right. I understand that I’ve had more than enough of you for one lifetime, and I’m less-than-politely requesting that you leave. You, and those two guys indoors. I’m guessing by the matching sedans and the matching suits that you all belong to the same scout troupe?’
    The front door suddenly opened and the black man appeared. ‘She says she don’t have it.’
    ‘Do you believe her?’
    ‘Oh, sure,’ said the black man. ‘I believe her.’
    Noah immediately stalked over to him and seized him by the lapels. ‘What are you doing to her? Have you touched her?’
    He forced the man backwards and banged his head against the side of the door before losing his balance and lurching sideways. But the spidery man snapped, ‘Mr Flynn! Hold it, Mr Flynn!’
    Noah let the black man drop on to one knee, and turned around. The Hawaiian-looking man was holding open one side of his coat to reveal that he was pointing an automatic at him.
    ‘John here will shoot you if you cause us any trouble, Mr Flynn.’
    Noah didn’t say anything, but cautiously raised his hands. He had a deep respect for firearms, especially when they were pointing in his direction.
    ‘Let’s go inside, shall we?’ said the spidery man. ‘Kind of public, out here on the street.’ Across the road, the old woman in the blue saggy dress was standing at her window, watching them. ‘You first, Mr Flynn.’
    Noah walked through the narrow hallway that led to the back of the house, and the three men in grey suits followed him. The Shaker-style kitchen was filled with sunshine, and a vase of sunflowers stood on the window ledge.
    Jenna was sitting tied to one of the wheel-back chairs, next to the butcher-block table. Arranged on the table in order of size were six or seven knives – carving knives, vegetable knives and boning knives.
    ‘Noah?’ she said, in a high, frightened voice. ‘Noah – what’s going on? They said they wanted your medallion. They said they’d kill me if I didn’t give it to them!’

Seven
     
    N oah turned to the spidery man and demanded, ‘What the hell is this? Who are you people?’
    ‘You really don’t need to know that,’ said the spidery man. ‘You already know far more than is healthy for you, believe me.’
    ‘I don’t know nothing about anything! This is crazy!’
    The spidery man held out his hand. ‘The medallion, Mr Flynn.’
    Noah lifted the P R C H A L medallion out of his shirt pocket and held it out. The spidery man snatched it, gave it a quick sideways glance, and dropped it into his own pocket.
    ‘You see? That wasn’t very difficult, was it? There was no need for anybody to be unpleasant.’
    ‘So – you’ve got what you came for,’ said Noah. ‘You can go now.’
    The spidery man carefully ran his fingers through his black, slicked-back hair, as if he were searching for phrenological bumps to predict his immediate future.
    ‘Problem is, Mr Flynn, that you and your young lady here both know the significance of this medallion.’
    ‘What significance? I just told you! I don’t know what the hell it is or what’s written on it or what P R C H A L means or nothing!’
    ‘You know much more than you think you know. And that is why I have to make sure that this all finishes here. Today. Now.’
    The spidery man clicked his fingers, and the black man and the Hawaiian approached Noah from either side and seized his arms. Noah tried to struggle, but the Hawaiian pushed the muzzle of his automatic hard against his right cheekbone.
    The spidery man came close to Noah, reeking of menthol.
     
    ‘You want it sooner, Mr Flynn, or later? The choice is entirely