The Tower Grave by J.E. Moncrieff Read Free Book Online Page A

he was off to bed and most of the group agreed, setting off behind him.
                  “I’ll see you in the morning, John.” Jane said quietly beside him. “You’ve got a session with me at eight.” She smiled up at him and walked away, waving to the others.
                  “See you in the morning,” John replied as he watched her go.
                  “She’s well into you, mate,” Jake said into his ear. “What do you reckon?”
                  “I’ve got to concentrate, Jake,” he replied, lying.
                  “And it’s also maybe the last time you’ll ever see the twenty-first century! A girl like that; she’s nice, John. She’s really nice.”
                  “Yeah, she certainly is,” John replied as a smile crept across his face.
                  “Good decision,” Jake grinned back.

     
     
     
     
     
    Five
     
    5 th June 2014
    “Nice motors, Del,” said John as the Commander and Rich pulled up outside the house in two black Range Rovers to transport the team the short distance to the stables.
    “We just needed some off-road ve hicles to get around the site,” he replied, grinning. “No use having a job like this if you don’t make use of the funding. Any time any of you need to get about in here, just grab one. We have five available for the use of the whole complex and they’ll always be parked about somewhere with the keys in them.”
    John turned just in time to catch Chris’ expression of joy as the tyres spun on the dust and bounced across the field towards one of the barns. They pulled up outside the most distant outbuilding in moments as the large door slowly eased open and Jane stepped out dressed once more in her riding clothes. The air from the coast was cool on John’s face but the heat of the summer sun had already left Jane with a glow of exertion as they gathered around her.
                  “Welcome to the Equestrian Unit,” she said, smiling. “Come through and see what awaits you.”
                  The newly formed team stepped inside as the sound of eight wheels spinning across the turf faded outside and they were faced with six large horses standing calmly in their riding equipment. Behind them was a large open sandy area with what looked like show-jumping hurdles pushed to one side.
                  “Is that for us?” David asked, pointing at a pile of weapons and armour beside the hurdles.
                  “Eventually it will be,” Jane replied, turning and buckling a saddle that sat atop one of the horses. “Has anyone ridden before?” she called over her shoulder.
                  John raised his hand, trying to remember what he had learned from taking Holly to riding lessons when she was ten years old. He’d only made a few lessons himself, taking them when she did before having to stop when he was deployed on a job. She soon gave up the lessons when he stopped.
                  “I did about eight lessons, five years ago,” he said.
                  “Ok, and you, Charlotte?” Jane replied seeing Charlotte’s hand was also raised.
                  “All my life,” Charlotte said. “We had horses at home and I’ve grown up on them. My mum used to compete.”
                  “Excellent! Then it’s just you three from scratch.”
                  Jake snorted.
                  “Surely it’s not too bad?” he said. “I mean, I haven’t been on one before but I can ride a bike!” he said, laughing arrogantly.
                  “A bike, Jake? Wow, ok,” Jane replied loudly. “Well we’ll get saddled first then you can show us how it’s done eh, hard nut?” She smiled as she spoke but showed a hint of annoyance in her voice. “Everyone pick a horse and stand by it, please. If you want to mount, you two,