Hunted: BookShots by James Patterson Read Free Book Online Page B

Shelley decided to finish him. But this time he underestimated his opponent. Everything about Barron so far had said street-scrapper, but he had some boxing smarts and dipped his left shoulder, throwing a feint that Shelley fell for, hook, line and sinker.
    Bang! The right hook came fast and from nowhere and caught Shelley clean on the temple – hard enough to knock him to his knees on the warehouse floor. He was too dazed to stop what happened next, as Barron did what Shelley, foolishly, had failed to do, taking full advantage of his opponent’s incapacity and following up fast.
    Again . Bang! Shelley’s vision went black as Barron threw a left that caught him above the bridge of the nose. A vicious kick to the ribs sent him sprawling.
    He cursed his own stupidity, pledged not to make that mistake again and then slapped his hands to the ground to stand. Above him, Barron had turned away, thinking himself victorious.
    ‘There,’ he was saying to the Quarry men, ‘I think you’ll find that settles it.’
    ‘No, I don’t think so, Sergeant Barron. Your opponent has a little fight left in him yet,’ said Tremain.
    Barron turned back.
    ‘No ribs broken, I hope, Captain Hodges?’ called Tremain. ‘Is the nose all right?’
    ‘Here, hold up,’ protested Barron. ‘It’s me you should be worried about.’
    ‘Oh, I am indeed worried about you, Sergeant Barron. Your opponent looks extremely upset.’
    Shelley hated himself for what he had to do next. As well as providing Tremain and company with their sport, he was sending Barron to his death. And though Barron was a scumbag, he was still a down-on-his-luck human being and he didn’t deserve this.
    There was nothing Shelley could do about that – nothing except make it easier for him.
    The bones of the cranium take almost two years to fuse together from birth. As a result, there are particular areas that stay vulnerable for an adult’s entire life. An index and middle finger jabbed at the precise spot induces instant unconsciousness. You have to know exactly where and exactly how hard; you have to know exactly what you’re doing. Fortunately, Shelley knew what he was doing.
    It wasn’t a move he wanted to show the four Quarry men, so he danced around a little, bringing Barron’s back to them before throwing his punch. Aiming at the side of Barron’s head, Shelley’s fist became a two-fingered jab, striking the spot precisely. Barron took three unsteady steps backwards and then, as his eyeballs rolled back once again, sank messily to the concrete.
    The Quarry men looked at Barron, until it was beyond doubt that he was unconscious.
    Tremain looked up at Shelley. ‘Well, that really is that, then. I hereby declare the selection process at an end. Congratulations, Captain Hodges.’
    Shelley indicated towards Barron. ‘What happens to him?’
    ‘Oh, don’t worry about him. When he comes round we’ll see that he’s adequately recompensed. Who knows? Perhaps yourpaths will cross at some point in the future. Now, I hope you have no objection to us whisking you away right now?’
    His expression politely dared Shelley to object.
    Shelley shook his head.
    ‘Excellent. If you’d like to step into the car. Colin, if you wouldn’t mind staying here and taking care of Sergeant Barron, that would be most appreciated.’
    Colin’s eyes glittered. At least the unconscious Barron would know nothing about it , Shelley thought. He climbed into the car, taking a seat beside one of the twins.
    The other leaned in and Shelley saw the jet-injector in his hand.
    ‘Arm,’ the twin said and Shelley did as he was told, baring his arm.
    This is it , he thought as the injector gun came close to him. He had no idea what would happen next. No idea if he’d have an opportunity to alert Claridge. No idea if he’d even wake up from the injection they were about to give him. All he knew for sure was that there was no turning back.
    He belonged to The Quarry Company now.

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