Molehunt by Paul Collins Read Free Book Online Page A

Anneke swept quietly from concealment and pinned him to the nearest wall in a chokehold, semi-paralysing him.
    She took a deep breath, pressed her lips to his ear: ‘Try anything, anything at all, and you’re dead. Nod if you understand.’
    After a slight pause the man attempted a nod, which was not easy with Anneke’s wrist hard up against his Adam’s apple. ‘I’m going to relax the pressure on your throat slightly, just enough for you to talk. Who are you? Who sent you?’
    The man’s words came back in a hoarse croak. ‘Esprin. Hurting!’
    Anneke blinked then peered more closely at the man and released him. He staggered slightly then glared balefully at her. His face was blotchy from the chokehold. Esprin rubbed his throat and checked that he could still move his head.
    â€˜Nice to see you again, Anneke,’ he said, his voice still wheezing. ‘Don’t you have a nicer way of saying hello?’
    â€˜It’s dark,’ she said simply. ‘You’ve … changed.’
    By the time they had sat down at a table in Obin’s and ordered Pixan shakes, Esprin was over her greeting. He was, after all, a fellow agent and was used to that sort of thing. Esprin was the same age as Anneke, but not a born field agent. In the year since she had last seen him, he had put on weight and looked soft and slow.
The kind of agent destined for a desk job at Command
, she thought. Field agents usually loathed deskwork. After a lifetime of danger and excitement working in exotic places it was hard to settle down to a career as a planner and strategist. Everybody knew that practical, experienced veterans were exactly what Command needed most, but her uncle was one of the rare exceptions who took this option.
    â€˜What are you doing here, Esprin?’ Anneke asked, still a little perplexed. Esprin was stationed on Lykis Integer, at RIM headquarters.
    The same RIM headquarters penetrated by the mole. Significant
, she pondered.
    â€˜Family,’ he replied, eyeing Anneke appreciatively.
    He and Anneke had dated a year ago. Briefly and, on Anneke’s part, pointlessly. Esprin had been like a besotted puppy dog. Indeed, he looked more like one now than he had back then.
    â€˜You’re looking good, Anneke. Real good. You’ve grown a bit.’
    Anneke changed the subject. ‘What do you mean, family?’
    â€˜Huh? Oh, yeah. My sister lives here. You didn’t know that, did you? I should have told you. You two would get on great. I got a call from her. Some kind of legal bind. She needed some help, so I figured I’d come out and lend a hand. Weird though. As soon as I spoke to the local council they backed right off. I have to tell you, we Rimmers don’t get that kind of respect on Lykis. We’re a dime a dozen, whatever that means.’
    â€˜So you’re heading home soon?’
    â€˜Well, maybe,’ said Esprin, throwing her what was meant to be a significant glance. ‘That all depends on what kind of reception I get here.’
    â€˜Don’t even think about it, Esprin. That was another lifetime.’
    He looked hurt. ‘It was only a year ago.’
    â€˜It was three dates and I only went out with you the third time because you told me you were dying of a terminal illness.’
    â€˜I was. It was love.’
    â€˜Well, pull that one again it
will
be terminal.’
    â€˜You’re being a bit harsh, aren’t you?’
    â€˜I just got back from the field.’
    He nodded. ‘So you’re uptight. Give me a break, here.’
    â€˜Actually, I don’t
need
adjustment buffer time.’
    â€˜Everyone knows you’re a super woman, Anneke.’
    Anneke finished her drink and stood up. ‘Esprin, I just realised I need to be alone.’ She suddenly stopped. She had that feeling again, that she was being watched. But this time it wasn’t Esprin, although he was certainly watching