Cyber Terror by Malcolm Rose Read Free Book Online Page B

he didn’t jump in shock. He was practised at keeping his composure.
    Jordan whispered directly into his ear. “I’m Jordan Stryker. Someone’s told you about me, haven’t they? I’m here to protect you.” His words were lost to
everyone else in the murmur and occasional giggle coming from the bemused audience.
    Phil turned towards Jordan and nodded. “Yes. But how do I know you’re...”
    Jordan was scanning the rest of the hall. Someone else was sneaking towards the front. It was a big man and he was stumbling around in the blackness. His right arm was stretched out in front of
him, as if holding something, but Jordan couldn’t make out what it was. The object was cold. It didn’t have an infrared signal.
    Quickly, Jordan extracted his ID and phone. He used the faint glow from his mobile to illuminate his identity card.
    “Okay.”
    “Grab my arm,” Jordan whispered. “I’ve got to get you out of here right now.”
    One of the officials called, “I’m sorry about this. Are you all right, Captain Lazenby?”
    “Yes,” he called out.
    “Someone’s coming this way,” Jordan said quietly to the pilot. “It’s too risky here. Follow me before...”
    There was a thump as the approaching man accidently kicked the end of one of the benches.
    Phil’s reply was also hushed. “All right.”
    Jordan led him to the end of the raised platform.
    “Captain Lazenby?” the mayor called out.
    He said, “I’m just... It’s okay. No worries.”
    “Steps down here,” Jordan whispered. But when he looked up, he realized he wasn’t going to get Phil Lazenby to the side door before the man closed in on them.
    Jordan could make out his features now. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with very short hair and prominent ears. He was wearing a suit and tie. In his extended right hand was a gun.
    Phil Lazenby came down the steps slowly and unsteadily, feeling each one first with his foot.
    When he reached the bottom, Jordan didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to give the gunman any clues on the pilot’s position. Jordan simply grabbed Phil’s arm and urgently
tugged him towards the door.
    But the guy with the gun would crash into them before they reached it.
    Jordan stepped forward, raised his artificial arm and brought it down somewhere between the man’s right elbow and wrist. There was a piercing cry of pain and a clatter as the weapon hit
the floor.
    Jordan kicked the gun away, then thrust the door open and dragged the Captain through it as quickly as he could. Behind him, the chamber erupted with quizzical cries. In the next room, Jordan
slammed the door shut and looked around. His night vision picked out a heavy table. He dragged it across the doorway to delay anyone who tried to follow them.
    “Come on,” Jordan said. “We’re not safe yet. If he finds his gun...”
    “Gun?” Phil spluttered.
    “Yes. He was aiming a gun at you.”
    “But... How do you know? How are you...?”
    Jordan didn’t want to explain about his capabilities. “Always been good at seeing in the dark. Come on. I’ll guide you again. There’s a door over there. It’ll be a
way out.”
    “Yes,” the pilot agreed. “It’s where we came in. It goes into a corridor that leads back to the entrance.”
    “Good. We’ve got to get out.”
    “But what’s going on?”
    “I’ll tell you – in a minute.” He tugged Captain Lazenby’s arm. “This way.”
    The foyer was in chaos. There was enough light coming from the lamps in the square to stop officials bumping into each other, the furniture and the pillars, but not enough of a glow to see
exactly what was going on. Jordan and the pilot slipped out unnoticed.
    “Round the back,” Jordan said, breaking into a jog. “You’ll be okay in my car.”
    Reluctantly, the pilot followed at a trot.
    When Jordan came to a halt and the Jaguar door clicked open, Captain Lazenby let out a short gasp. “This is yours?”
    Jordan nodded. “Get in. I’ll lock it from out here