Ultimate Weapon by Chris Ryan Read Free Book Online Page B

a pair of angry bulls again. ‘I’m going to look for Sarah as well,’ growled Jed. ‘We can do it together, or we can do it separately. It’s your choice.’
    A slow smile started to spread across Nick’s lips, but there was not a hint of humour or warmth in it. ‘OK,’ he replied. ‘But just so I can keep an eye on your thick skull.’
    ‘Jesus, just so long as you both get out of my kitchen,’ said Lana, her tone exasperated. ‘I’ll be relieved when Sarah gets back. She’s the only person who can knock any sense into either of you.’
    The lab was a grey Victorian building, on one of the side streets leading away from the Milton Road. Nick had only visited the Cambridge Institute of Advanced Physics once before, picking Sarah up before one of their regular dinners. It looked like a miserable place to work. A series of gloomy corridors, punctuated by small offices, overflowing with books and papers, and five big laboratories bristling with more pipes, tubes and measuring devices than the inside of an aircraft carrier. ‘I’m looking for Professor David Wilmington,’ said Nick to the man at the front desk.
    ‘And you are?’
    ‘Nick Scott,’ said Nick. ‘Sarah Scott’s father.’
    Jed was standing at his side. From the flat, they had walked straight here. Most of Sarah’s time was spent atthe laboratory. If anyone was likely to know where she had got to, it was her professor. Who knows, Jed had remarked as they stepped inside, maybe they just sent her to a conference. She might have forgotten to tell anyone.
    ‘He’s busy,’ said the receptionist. He was a man in his fifties, with balding grey hair, a cheap black suit, and a white shirt open at the collar. From his manner, Nick guessed he was just punching the clock until he collected his pension. No point expecting him to help. ‘It’s urgent,’ he said flatly.
    ‘The professor said he was busy all –’
    ‘Listen,’ interrupted Jed, leaning forward on the desk, ‘tell him we just need a few minutes.’
    The expression on the man’s face suggested even speaking was too much trouble. He sighed, picked up the phone, then whispered into it. ‘His meeting is important,’ he said, looking back up at Jed. ‘You’ll have to make an appointment for next week.’
    Nick slammed his fist down. ‘Listen, mate –’
    ‘Easy,’ said Jed, grabbing Nick by the arm.
    The man looked shocked. ‘We’ll arrange another time,’ said Jed quickly.
    He walked from the building, steering Nick out of the door. Somehow the old man was going to have to learn to control his temper, thought Jed. But not from me.
I’m hardly the guy to start delivering tutorials in anger management
.
    ‘There’ll be another way in,’ said Jed as they stood on the pavement. ‘This place is about as secure as Hyde Park on a Sunday afternoon.’
    They started walking around the perimeter of the lab. There was a bicycle stand at its front, with around thirty bikes chained up to it. Around the back, there was a small car park with a collection of Hondas, Renaults and Volkswagens. A back door led into what looked like a canteen. Jed pushed the door open and stepped inside. The smell of the food hit him in the face: a mixture of overboiled potatoes, fried onions and stewed beef. Jesus, he thought.
The grub in this place must be even worse than in the army
.
    Apart from two people sharing a coffee, the canteen was empty at this time of the morning. It was just after eleven, and most of the scientists were working in their labs. Jed paused to ask for directions, and was told to take the second corridor on the left. He’d find Professor Wilmington’s office there. Jed and Nick walked quickly through the building. They passed two people on the way, but nobody paid any attention to them. Jed hesitated for just a second outside the door, then knocked twice. Without waiting for a reply, he turned the handle. Seize the moment, he reminded himself.
It might not come again
.
    ‘It