Hunted by James Patterson Read Free Book Online Page A

and clogging up country roads on their bicycles, or organising law-flouting fox hunts, or snorting coke off call girls. This is news to you as well, isn’t it, Sergeant Barron?’
    ‘Sounds good to me,’ snarled Barron. ‘Tell me what to do and when I can start, and let me get on with it.’
    ‘Well, that all depends on the outcome of this particular encounter.’
    Once again Shelley sensed the indignation pouring off Barron and almost felt sorry for the man. Up until twenty minutes ago he’d beencock of the walk, anticipating a payday. Suddenly he was in danger of being usurped. True, he was a scumbag; it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. But even so, Shelley felt bad for him, especially knowing what he knew, which was that only one of them would be allowed to leave the warehouse alive. There were no winners or losers here, just two losers.
    ‘One of the most popular activities organised by The Quarry Company is a game based on the paintball model,’ Tremain was saying, ‘where we turn an experienced survivor loose in woodland terrain and our customers, bless their hearts, can experience the thrill of hunting human prey. Make no mistake: it’s proper sport. We encourage a visceral edge to the hunt.’
    ‘Is he allowed to fight back, this quarry?’ asked Barron, saving Shelley the trouble.
    ‘Indeed he is. The quarry’s objective is to survive. If he can reach a final flag, he wins himself a sizeable sum in addition to what we’re already paying him.’
    ‘And what are you paying?’ asked Barron.
    ‘Ten thousand,’ said Tremain. ‘Plus the same again if you can make it to the flag at the perimeter.’
    ‘So that’s it?’ Barron was unable to keep the excitement and greed out of his voice. ‘I just have to avoid getting shot with paint by a bunch of toffs, crack a couple across the jaw and collect my reward at the end of it?’
    ‘Exactly. What do you think of that, Captain Hodges?’
    Shelley needed to be careful, but didn’t want to appear as credulous as Barron. ‘I think that in order to make decent sport, it might be a little more difficult than this bloke thinks it is.’
    Tremain nodded. ‘Our players pay a lot of money in order to experience life on the edge, and we’d be failing in our duty if we didn’t have something up our sleeves – something to differentiate our experience from the average stag-do. Put simply, we have surprises in store for both sides. It’s why we have to provide the management with a constant supply of new quarry, in order to keep the games fresh and the surprises surprising. Any questions so far?’
    They shook their heads.
    ‘In that case, we should let the selection process begin. Don’t get too badly hurt now, will you?’
    ‘What do you expect us to do?’
    Tremain chuckled. ‘I expect you to fight. Winner takes all.’

CHAPTER 14
    STRAIGHT AWAY BARRON wheeled and threw a right, but Shelley anticipated it and stepped smartly to the side. His hips snaked as he whipped his head away and heard the whistle of Barron’s punch as it sailed past his head, and then he countered with a short and nasty extended-knuckle jab to Barron’s groin.
    The breath came out of Barron in a whoosh. For a second he was almost bent double and his eyeballs rolled upwards.
    ‘Strike one!’ called Colin with a short round of applause. The twins chuckled. Tremain stood with his arms folded, impassive.
    Barron squeezed his eyes shut, trying to dismiss the pain. Shelley feigned being off-balance, knowing he could have stepped forward and followed up the jab with a closing punch, but not wanting to make his victory too quick. He needed to best Barron, but not easily enough to raise the Quarry men’s suspicions.
    Barron drew himself up, raising his fists in a boxer stance. Shelley took up position, Krav Maga style, doing it for Tremain’s benefit.
    ‘Watch it, Barron,’ jeered Colin, ‘he’s about to get all Bruce Lee on you.’
    With a shout Barron lumbered forward and