Sure Fire by Jack Higgins Read Free Book Online

I’d love for it to be possible for you to just move in here and settle down and all of us to carry on as if nothing’s changed. But that isn’t possible. Things have changed – changed radically, for you and for me. We need time to come to terms with that, and to make it work.” He leaned forward and looked at them both intently. “And I do want it to work. I really do. I want to get this right, for all our sakes.”
    â€œCruel to be kind?” Jade wondered.
    â€œNothing so calculated,” Chance told her. “I just need time to sort things out.”
    â€œSo you dump us at boarding school so you can get your work done.”
    Chance sighed. “I suppose that’s what it comes down to. I know you don’t like the idea – I don’t like the idea either – but I’m afraid that’s how it has to be.”
    â€œBut why?” Rich demanded.
    â€œI’ll tell you why as soon as I can,” he promised. “Really I will. You don’t know me, but I’m asking you to trust me. This is the best way. Till the end of term – a few weeks. Then we’ll discuss it properly.” He nodded to Rich. “And I mean discuss it. And we’ll decide together what to do next, what’s best. As a family. Deal?”
    Neither Jade nor Rich said anything.
    â€œLike I said,” Chance went on. “I don’t expect you to like it. But I hope you’ll trust me enough to take my word.”
    â€œThat’s not fair,” Jade said.
    â€œI’ll tell you what’s not fair,” Chance said quietly. “I could have ignored the call from Mrs Gilpin. I could have told her that I never even saw mychildren, or that I don’t think they’re mine at all, or that I’m just not interested in my own kids. They don’t want to know me, so why should I want to know them – look after them? Put myself out for them? Change my entire life for them? Just because they lost their mum and there’s no one else. But I didn’t. Because that wouldn’t be fair. It really wouldn’t.”
    Both Rich and Jade were looking down at the floor. By the time they looked up again, Chance had gone.
    â€œMaybe we should give him a break,” Rich said to Jade. “Give him back his phone and cigarettes.” Rich could sense Jade tense. “You can’t keep blaming him for what happened to Mum.”
    â€œJust because he suddenly goes all slushy and says he cares doesn’t mean it’s true.”
    â€œHe said we’d talk,” Rich pointed out.
    â€œYeah, after he’s packed us off to school. Then what? A live-in nanny for the holidays so he can get on with this important job of his? So he can build his career without being distracted . Well, Mary Poppins we don’t need.”
    â€œI’m going to tell him you took his mobile and hisciggies,” Rich decided. “And the lighter.”
    â€œCreep!” Jade made to grab Rich, but he was already on his way to the study.
    They heard the phone ring and both stopped, close to the study door.
    The door was open a fraction and they could hear Chance’s voice from inside.
    â€œNo, not at the flat,” he was saying. “Too many… distractions right now.”
    â€œHe means us,” Jade mouthed at Rich.
    â€œI know,” he mouthed back. “We shouldn’t be listening,” he whispered. But neither of them moved away from the door.
    â€œI have it safe,” Chance was saying. “I’ll bring it with me. Be happy to get it to someone who knows what to do with the stuff. I can’t risk them finding it.”
    â€œDoes he mean us again?” Rich murmured.
    Jade shrugged.
    â€œHalf an hour then,” Chance was saying. “Somewhere safe where we can talk and I can hand it over to you. Don’t come here, though, whatever you do… Because I’m telling you.” He sounded angry now.