Read Online Ben Hope 05 - The Shadow Project by Scott Mariani - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Scott Mariani
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occupants. Shannon?s guys had already got comfortable, slouching on the leather armchairs with their feet up on tables and bags, cases, clothing, shoes and magazines scattered about the main sitting area. Their laughter and conversation died down abruptly as Ben and Dorenkamp walked in. Ben met the six pairs of hostile eyes and his first thought was to ask himself why he wanted to cringe with embarrassment on behalf of someone else?s team. Shannon really could pick them.
If Dorenkamp noticed the change in the atmosphere or was shocked by the mess, he didn?t show it. Peeling back the sleeve of his jacket, he looked at his watch.
?I?m pleased to see you are making yourselves at home, gentlemen. I must return to Herr Steiner?s meeting. Dinner will be brought to you at seven thirty.?
He was about to leave, then seemed to remember something. ?One other point I should make clear to you all,? he said with an apologetic smile. ?I am unaware whether there are any smokers among you, but I should make it clear that smoking is strictly disallowed anywhere within the estate.? He pointed up at the ceiling, and Ben saw there was an alarm discreetly blended into the plasterwork. ?It is very sensitive, and it makes quite a noise, believe me.? Dorenkamp smiled again. ?Now, gentlemen, I shall leave you to settle in.?
With Dorenkamp gone, the atmosphere settled quickly into frosty silence as the rest of the team watched Ben resentfully. He ignored them and went about exploring the accommodation. Each team member had his own bedroom with en-suite shower room. There was a communal sauna room, Jacuzzi, and a well-equipped gym with stationary bikes, running and rowing machines, weight bench and racks of dumbbells. The separate dining area had a long table and seven chairs. Everything was neat, precise and laid out with the utmost thoughtfulness.
?Never had a gig like this before,? Ben heard Jackson say as he walked back into the living area. ?Awesome.?
?Shame Rupert couldn?t be here, though,? Neville said in a pointed stage whisper that was plainly intended for Ben to hear. Ben said nothing.
Dinner was served promptly at seven thirty by three waiting staff in white jackets. The chicken casserole was simple but smelled great, and with it came five bottles of good wine. Ben filled up a plate, grabbed one of the bottles and went off to eat alone in his room. It might not be helping his popularity with the group any, but there wasn?t much he could do about that. He wasn?t here to make friends. No matter what, he knew they?d keep resenting his presence there until Shannon took over. Which couldn?t happen soon enough.
Let?s just get the damn job done , he thought to himself.
Chapter Eleven
At the same moment, Adam O?Connor was walking into a hotel room on the edge of the city of Graz, Austria. He dumped his travel bag and briefcase on the narrow bed, stared out of the window at the flickering neon sign of the bar across the road, then slumped in an armchair and closed his eyes.
Everything had gone exactly as the kidnappers had said it would. The room had been reserved for him, his key ready and waiting. The fat, greasy-looking guy behind the reception desk had taken only the most cursory look at his passport. No paperwork, no register to sign. Just a key and a grunt and a nod towards the lift. He wondered if the whole hotel staff were in on this too. The bastards probably were. He wanted to grab the television and shove it through the window, set the whole damn building on fire, run screaming through the streets.
But he had to do as they said. Now all he could do was wait. Wait and think about his thirteen-year-old son, imprisoned Christ knew where.
The whole journey, he?d been unable to stop thinking that Sabrina was bound to call the cops. What if she did? What if they found out what was happening? Rory would die.
And Adam wasn?t fool enough to imagine that Rory wasn?t going to die anyway, if he just blindly went along with the kidnappers?
If Dorenkamp noticed the change in the atmosphere or was shocked by the mess, he didn?t show it. Peeling back the sleeve of his jacket, he looked at his watch.
?I?m pleased to see you are making yourselves at home, gentlemen. I must return to Herr Steiner?s meeting. Dinner will be brought to you at seven thirty.?
He was about to leave, then seemed to remember something. ?One other point I should make clear to you all,? he said with an apologetic smile. ?I am unaware whether there are any smokers among you, but I should make it clear that smoking is strictly disallowed anywhere within the estate.? He pointed up at the ceiling, and Ben saw there was an alarm discreetly blended into the plasterwork. ?It is very sensitive, and it makes quite a noise, believe me.? Dorenkamp smiled again. ?Now, gentlemen, I shall leave you to settle in.?
With Dorenkamp gone, the atmosphere settled quickly into frosty silence as the rest of the team watched Ben resentfully. He ignored them and went about exploring the accommodation. Each team member had his own bedroom with en-suite shower room. There was a communal sauna room, Jacuzzi, and a well-equipped gym with stationary bikes, running and rowing machines, weight bench and racks of dumbbells. The separate dining area had a long table and seven chairs. Everything was neat, precise and laid out with the utmost thoughtfulness.
?Never had a gig like this before,? Ben heard Jackson say as he walked back into the living area. ?Awesome.?
?Shame Rupert couldn?t be here, though,? Neville said in a pointed stage whisper that was plainly intended for Ben to hear. Ben said nothing.
Dinner was served promptly at seven thirty by three waiting staff in white jackets. The chicken casserole was simple but smelled great, and with it came five bottles of good wine. Ben filled up a plate, grabbed one of the bottles and went off to eat alone in his room. It might not be helping his popularity with the group any, but there wasn?t much he could do about that. He wasn?t here to make friends. No matter what, he knew they?d keep resenting his presence there until Shannon took over. Which couldn?t happen soon enough.
Let?s just get the damn job done , he thought to himself.
Chapter Eleven
At the same moment, Adam O?Connor was walking into a hotel room on the edge of the city of Graz, Austria. He dumped his travel bag and briefcase on the narrow bed, stared out of the window at the flickering neon sign of the bar across the road, then slumped in an armchair and closed his eyes.
Everything had gone exactly as the kidnappers had said it would. The room had been reserved for him, his key ready and waiting. The fat, greasy-looking guy behind the reception desk had taken only the most cursory look at his passport. No paperwork, no register to sign. Just a key and a grunt and a nod towards the lift. He wondered if the whole hotel staff were in on this too. The bastards probably were. He wanted to grab the television and shove it through the window, set the whole damn building on fire, run screaming through the streets.
But he had to do as they said. Now all he could do was wait. Wait and think about his thirteen-year-old son, imprisoned Christ knew where.
The whole journey, he?d been unable to stop thinking that Sabrina was bound to call the cops. What if she did? What if they found out what was happening? Rory would die.
And Adam wasn?t fool enough to imagine that Rory wasn?t going to die anyway, if he just blindly went along with the kidnappers?
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