The Hunt for Atlantis by Andy McDermott Read Free Book Online Page A

Nina caught a glimpse of the driver’s eyes. They betrayed a flash of … concern? “We’re making a slight detour first.”
    “Where to?”
    “It won’t take long.”
    “That’s … not really what I asked.”
    The two men exchanged looks. “Aw, hell,” said Starkman, his Texas accent growing stronger. “I was hoping to get there first, but…” He turned in his seat, reaching into his jacket and pulling out—
    A gun!
    Nina stared at it in disbelief. “What’s this?”
    “What does it look like? Thought you PhDs were supposed to be smart.”
    “What’s going on? What do you want?”
    Starkman held out his other hand. “Your notes, for a start.” The gun was pointing at her chest. Numbly, she handed him the folder. “Too bad you didn’t bring your laptop. Guess we’ll have to pick that up after.”
    “After what?” His silence and stony expression brought her to a horrible realization. “Oh my God! You’re going to kill me?”
    “It’s nothing personal.”
    “And that’s supposed to make me feel better?” Desperate, she looked around frantically for any way to escape.
    She tugged at the door handle. It moved, but only a little. Child locks. Even though she knew it was pointless, she threw herself across the seat and tried the other door. It too refused to open.
    Trapped!
    Panic rose inside her, constricting her chest. Her green eyes wide with fear, she looked back at Starkman.
    His expression had changed to one of surprise, his gaze flicking away from Nina to the rear window—
    Whump!
    Nina was flung forward as something rammed the Bentley from behind. Starkman’s breath whooshed from his mouth as he was slammed against the dashboard. He angrily shoved himself upright and aimed the gun at the rear window. Nina shrieked and dived out of the line of fire.
    “It’s Chase!” Starkman shouted. “Son of a bitch!”
    “How the hell did he find us?” the driver asked.
    “I don’t give a shit! Ram that Limey bastard off the road and get us out of here!”
    The Bentley swerved sharply. Nina slid over the smooth leather, banging her head against the door. Above her, Starkman swung the gun, tracking something outside.
    Another impact!
    This time it came from the side, the two-ton car lurching violently as metal crunched and twisted. Through the window Nina saw another vehicle, a large black SUV.
    Starkman fired. Nina screamed and clapped her hands to her ears as the side window blew apart in a hail of glittering fragments. The SUV dropped back sharply, tires howling. Wind whipped through the broken window.
    Two more shots rang out from Starkman’s gun, the rear windshield shattering and spraying Nina with chunks of safety glass. Car horns hooted furiously, the sound rapidly Dopplering away behind them as the Bentley accelerated. The driver swore and swerved again to dodge something, sending Nina slithering back across the seat.
    “Go right!” Starkman shouted. Nina barely had time to brace herself before the Bentley screamed into a sharp turn.
    “Shit!” the driver gasped as the car hit something with a flat thud. A person, Nina realized with horror. Shouts and screams came from outside as somebody tumbled from the car’s hood. But the driver didn’t stop, instead struggling to keep the Bentley under control as he accelerated again.
    Starkman fired two more shots. Nina heard the other vehicle’s powerful engine revving behind them. As he took aim again, the gun was right above her.
    She grabbed his wrist with both hands and pulled his arm down, sinking her teeth into the flesh of his hand as hard as she could.
    He let out a roar of pain—and fired.
    The flash was blinding, and the noise, just inches from her head, momentarily overpowered all her senses. The bullet slammed into the back of her seat.
    Starkman pulled his hand free. Huge colored blobs danced in Nina’s vision, afterimages from the gun’s muzzle flame. Her hearing started to return in time to hear more gunfire.
    But not