Hunted by Sophie McKenzie Read Free Book Online Page B

building.’
    ‘So where will I find it?’
    ‘Dunno,’ Harry said. ‘But I can tell you almost everything you want to know.’
    ‘You know who killed my dad?’
    Harry shook his head. ‘No, but I know who your dad suspected. He told my dad all about it. And my dad told me on the phone last night.’
    I stared at him. ‘Why does he want me to know now?’ I said.
    Harry sighed. ‘My parents thought you were better off not knowing the truth, but as you’ve found out that William Fox was murdered, they reckon you deserve—’
    ‘Wait a minute,’ I said. ‘You’re saying your parents believe my dad was murdered?’
    ‘Of course.’
    ‘They don’t think he was paranoid and suspicious, like everyone else?’
    Harry nodded.
    I sat back, stunned. All my life people had been down on my mom and dad, saying that he was some sort of weirdo who couldn’t cope with normal life outside his lab while she was neurotic and hysterical. Here, at last, were people who’d been their friends. Who had believed them.
    ‘So who did my dad think was trying to kill him?’
    I braced myself for Harry’s answer. Would it be Ketty’s family? Or Ed’s?
    ‘The others,’ Harry said. ‘The other scientists who knew about your dad’s work on the Medusa gene.’
    What?
    ‘But—’
    ‘They wanted to steal the basic gene sequence – the code for the gene – and work out how to copy it themselves.’
    Other scientists.
    I thought quickly back to what Patrice had actually said about ‘the others’. She’d only told me she’d assumed Mom meant the others with the Medusa gene in their family.
    ‘So my dad wasn’t . . . didn’t think he was being targeted by the families of the other people with the Medusa gene?’ I said, relief and confusion rushing through me in equal measure.
    ‘Not at all.’ Harry wrinkled his nose.
    ‘So which scientists did he suspect?’
    ‘They’re called Milton and McKenna,’ Harry said. ‘But Dad doesn’t want you taking any more risks and going after them.’
    ‘It’s not his decision.’ My voice rose and, despite the late hour and the danger we’d just escaped from, I struggled to quiet it. ‘If my dad was murdered, I’ve got a right to know and—’
    ‘Keep your hair on.’ Harry grinned. ‘I don’t think you realise what you’re dealing with here.’
    ‘I want to speak to your dad,’ I said, springing to my feet. ‘He’ll have to tell me. I’ll make him.’
    Harry snorted. ‘Yeah, right. Listen to me, Red. My parents cared about your parents. They were gutted when they died. And when you got taken out of the country. Believe it or not, you really matter to them.’
    ‘Then why’ve I never heard of them before?’ I demanded.
    ‘Who would have told you?’ Harry said. ‘I’m sure Jack Linden and Geri Paterson wouldn’t want you anywhere near them. Remember, my parents are just about the only people who didn’t think your dad was a total paranoid loony.’
    ‘Your parents know Jack and Geri as well?’
    ‘Of course. They all met Geri through the original Medusa Project and Jack hung out with them a lot. I met him once when I was little. He was really close to your dad when they were young . . . er, he’s your godfather, isn’t he?’
    I nodded. ‘I met him a few months ago when Geri brought him in to work for her,’ I explained. ‘But Jack betrayed the Medusa Project – he stole the Medusa gene formula, then tried to sell it to this big-time crook called Blake Carson. Afterwards, Geri Paterson had Jack arrested, so he’s in jail now.’
    I was hoping to shock Harry with this bit of news, but he just nodded.
    ‘Yeah, I know. My mum and dad always said Jack was a chancer. But you’re wrong about him being in jail. He did some sort of deal with the government a few weeks ago apparently . . . went off to another country in return for keeping quiet about you guys.’
    ‘Oh.’
    I was reeling. How could this boy I’d never met know so much about my life . . . so