Read Online Attrition of the Gods: Book 1 of the Mystery Thriller series Gods Toys. by P.G. Burns - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: P.G. Burns
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anything?”
Adam looks to Ember for support but she is staring at the sparse room that contains just two chairs around a low coffee table, a filing cabinet against a broken window and a curious black rectangle device with a matching black box.
“Is that an old-style plasma television and an early twenty-first-century Blu-ray device?” she asks in awe.
Raphael laughs. “You know your historic tech.”
Raphael goes over to the cabinet and pulls out a package. He turns to the teenagers and his eyes look a little manic. Sweat drips from his brow.
Ember finally shares a worried glance with Adam. Has she been stupid? She has just jumped in this man’s car minutes after meeting him. A man who on first sight seemed to have smoke billowing around his head and yet no one said anything about this. She is now in some derelict squat in a part of town that her father has warned her never to go to with a guy who looks like he’s on some serious drugs.
“Miss Jones, you look worried,” says Raphael. “I’m sorry, don’t be, you will understand in a minute.”
The tone in his voice relaxes Ember a little. Adam smiles at her and then turns to question Raphael. “What’s going on, Raphael? You seem a bit edgy.”
Raphael places a package onto the table. “Yes, sorry, it all must seem a bit strange but trust me, my mood is driven by excitement. You will not believe how long I have waited to open this.”
They all look down at a brown parcel no bigger than a book.
“What is it?” asks Adam.
“That is the last known correspondence from Shane Mills.” The two teens look at each other, Adam wide-eyed, his jaw on his chest. Ember’s raised eyebrows and slight shaking of her head expressed her scepticism.
“It is a recording he made over eighty years ago. Countless people have died protecting it, even though none have ever watched it. I have kept it for twenty years, hoping for this day.”
Ember is even more disbelieving now. Adam looks stunned. “Why hasn’t anyone watched it?” asks Ember. “Why would people die for something when they don’t even know what is on it? Plus if it’s authentic it would be priceless and highly illegal.”
“Oh, it’s authentic and they do know what’s on it, Miss Jones,” smiles Raphael. “ The Truth! That is what’s on it. The reason no one has watched it is because it wasn’t for them.”
He pushes the wrapped parcel over to her. Ember picks it up and reads the faded writing on the front.
For the attention of Miss September Jones .
It is signed in the same handwriting.
Shane Mills
Stoke Prison, present day
“Hear a lot, see everything and say nothing.”
Since the events of his first day, Shane has had a comparatively quiet couple of months. Besides the two horizontal thugs, Errol and Bird, both of whom had been moved up to the high-security wing for some previous misdemeanours, he has not had issues with any inmates. Of course, the fact that he so easily dispatched the two most feared prisoners on the wing did not go unnoticed and all the lags give him the utmost respect: a type of respect that only comes from fear. But Shane has not exploited his new-found status and he has been just happy to be left alone. This has confused most of the others. In prison the toughest guys call the shots; they make the rules, they get all the benefits and extras. But Shane is not interested in becoming the daddy; he just reads his books and has kept his head down. An unlikely friendship with the old Jew he had rescued from the pair of would-be assassins is something else that puzzles the inmates. These two have become strange cell-mates, competing in daily chess matches and whiling away the hours in conversation.
Shane sets up the chess board as he waits for Leo to join him. He has learned some fascinating facts about the old man over the last couple of months. Leo Verdi was the personal accountant assigned to Pope Benedict XVI. Shane feels Leo is still sussing him out
Adam looks to Ember for support but she is staring at the sparse room that contains just two chairs around a low coffee table, a filing cabinet against a broken window and a curious black rectangle device with a matching black box.
“Is that an old-style plasma television and an early twenty-first-century Blu-ray device?” she asks in awe.
Raphael laughs. “You know your historic tech.”
Raphael goes over to the cabinet and pulls out a package. He turns to the teenagers and his eyes look a little manic. Sweat drips from his brow.
Ember finally shares a worried glance with Adam. Has she been stupid? She has just jumped in this man’s car minutes after meeting him. A man who on first sight seemed to have smoke billowing around his head and yet no one said anything about this. She is now in some derelict squat in a part of town that her father has warned her never to go to with a guy who looks like he’s on some serious drugs.
“Miss Jones, you look worried,” says Raphael. “I’m sorry, don’t be, you will understand in a minute.”
The tone in his voice relaxes Ember a little. Adam smiles at her and then turns to question Raphael. “What’s going on, Raphael? You seem a bit edgy.”
Raphael places a package onto the table. “Yes, sorry, it all must seem a bit strange but trust me, my mood is driven by excitement. You will not believe how long I have waited to open this.”
They all look down at a brown parcel no bigger than a book.
“What is it?” asks Adam.
“That is the last known correspondence from Shane Mills.” The two teens look at each other, Adam wide-eyed, his jaw on his chest. Ember’s raised eyebrows and slight shaking of her head expressed her scepticism.
“It is a recording he made over eighty years ago. Countless people have died protecting it, even though none have ever watched it. I have kept it for twenty years, hoping for this day.”
Ember is even more disbelieving now. Adam looks stunned. “Why hasn’t anyone watched it?” asks Ember. “Why would people die for something when they don’t even know what is on it? Plus if it’s authentic it would be priceless and highly illegal.”
“Oh, it’s authentic and they do know what’s on it, Miss Jones,” smiles Raphael. “ The Truth! That is what’s on it. The reason no one has watched it is because it wasn’t for them.”
He pushes the wrapped parcel over to her. Ember picks it up and reads the faded writing on the front.
For the attention of Miss September Jones .
It is signed in the same handwriting.
Shane Mills
Stoke Prison, present day
“Hear a lot, see everything and say nothing.”
Since the events of his first day, Shane has had a comparatively quiet couple of months. Besides the two horizontal thugs, Errol and Bird, both of whom had been moved up to the high-security wing for some previous misdemeanours, he has not had issues with any inmates. Of course, the fact that he so easily dispatched the two most feared prisoners on the wing did not go unnoticed and all the lags give him the utmost respect: a type of respect that only comes from fear. But Shane has not exploited his new-found status and he has been just happy to be left alone. This has confused most of the others. In prison the toughest guys call the shots; they make the rules, they get all the benefits and extras. But Shane is not interested in becoming the daddy; he just reads his books and has kept his head down. An unlikely friendship with the old Jew he had rescued from the pair of would-be assassins is something else that puzzles the inmates. These two have become strange cell-mates, competing in daily chess matches and whiling away the hours in conversation.
Shane sets up the chess board as he waits for Leo to join him. He has learned some fascinating facts about the old man over the last couple of months. Leo Verdi was the personal accountant assigned to Pope Benedict XVI. Shane feels Leo is still sussing him out
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