Read Online Exo: A Novel (Jumper) by Steven Gould - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Steven Gould
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else. Hundred dollar okay?”
“Singapore or U.S.?”
“U.S. dollar.”
Lucas smiled. “Very okay.”
Davy traded the cash for the phone, battery, and thumb drive, and shook Lucas’s hand.
* * *
Back in the pit the “doctor” was up again, limping gingerly around the edge of the island. Davy thought his limp was less pronounced and, considering that the man hadn’t really pointed a loaded weapon at his mother-in-law, Davy was glad he hadn’t dropped him from any higher.
He jumped down to the island, thirty feet behind the man.
“Is it your ankle or your knee?”
The man jerked around at Davy’s voice and dropped to one knee as his leg gave way again.
Davy winced. He felt a little guilty but he was pretty sure the man had intended to use the Taser on Millie. Then there was the knife. He wasn’t sure what that was about.
“Ankle,” said the man.
“I wouldn’t have used the Taser if I’d known the gun was empty.”
The man shrugged. “You didn’t know that until after you got it, right? So maybe I could have threatened you with it.”
“You were thinking that far ahead?” Davy asked.
“Well, no. Training—you don’t drop your weapon.”
“Why’d you unload it?”
The man shut his mouth.
“Did they tell you to? I mean, the scenario was obvious. Threaten the mother to keep her still, then Tase my wife, hoping that would give you enough time to use the hypo. But I don’t see how having an unloaded gun fits that scenario.” Davy kicked at a small rock. “So why empty, Mortimer? Is that what they call you? Mort? Morty?”
The man grimaced. “Hunt. They call me Hunt.”
“So that’s your real name? Not an agency-issued alias?”
“That’s my name.”
Davy noticed Hunt hadn’t said that’s my real name . It reminded him of what he’d told Cent when they were living in New Prospect. Don’t think of it as a false name. Think of it as who you are now. “They must give you a lot of grief at the agency for that. Or is it something you try to live up to? And where’s your agency ID? The folded one in the blue case, name up top, photo below?”
The man didn’t say anything.
“You ever hear of the Daarkon Group?”
The man’s eyebrows went up. “I … have.”
Davy jumped within two feet of the man. “Do you work for them?”
The man’s hands were up in a guard position instantly and he lashed forward toward Davy’s shin with his good leg, but Davy wasn’t there.
Davy was impressed. The man’s face hadn’t flinched at all, just dropped slightly below the upraised hands. Lots of training. Years, probably. Davy resolved to keep his distance.
From four feet behind Hunt, Davy said, “Well, do you?”
Hunt dropped his hands back down and pivoted slowly on his buttocks until he could see Davy. “Can you believe anything I say? For what it’s worth, I don’t work for the Daarkon Group.”
“Where did you hear about them?”
Hunt tilted his head to one side and eyed Davy. After a moment, he said, “I read it in your file.”
My file ? “Oh, really? Is this from eighteen months ago?” That was when Davy had discovered Daarkon, following links from twenty years before. Millie had passed the group to FBI agent Bekka Martindale after Hyacinth Pope escaped prison.
“I shouldn’t say.”
Shouldn’t ? “You already told me there was a file. Kinda late, isn’t it?”
“Perhaps.” Hunt sighed. “The first entry was eleven years ago. That’s when they first filed incorporation papers in California. They got put in the file because many of their directors were affiliated with Lawrence Simons.” Hunt watched Davy carefully as he said the name.
Despite his best efforts, Davy felt his mouth go tight. “Did I react enough?” With an effort he relaxed his face. “Are you agency or not? We’re talking my old NSA file or its descendants, right? I’m actually thinking you aren’t with the Daarkon Group or, if you are, you aren’t aware of
“Singapore or U.S.?”
“U.S. dollar.”
Lucas smiled. “Very okay.”
Davy traded the cash for the phone, battery, and thumb drive, and shook Lucas’s hand.
* * *
Back in the pit the “doctor” was up again, limping gingerly around the edge of the island. Davy thought his limp was less pronounced and, considering that the man hadn’t really pointed a loaded weapon at his mother-in-law, Davy was glad he hadn’t dropped him from any higher.
He jumped down to the island, thirty feet behind the man.
“Is it your ankle or your knee?”
The man jerked around at Davy’s voice and dropped to one knee as his leg gave way again.
Davy winced. He felt a little guilty but he was pretty sure the man had intended to use the Taser on Millie. Then there was the knife. He wasn’t sure what that was about.
“Ankle,” said the man.
“I wouldn’t have used the Taser if I’d known the gun was empty.”
The man shrugged. “You didn’t know that until after you got it, right? So maybe I could have threatened you with it.”
“You were thinking that far ahead?” Davy asked.
“Well, no. Training—you don’t drop your weapon.”
“Why’d you unload it?”
The man shut his mouth.
“Did they tell you to? I mean, the scenario was obvious. Threaten the mother to keep her still, then Tase my wife, hoping that would give you enough time to use the hypo. But I don’t see how having an unloaded gun fits that scenario.” Davy kicked at a small rock. “So why empty, Mortimer? Is that what they call you? Mort? Morty?”
The man grimaced. “Hunt. They call me Hunt.”
“So that’s your real name? Not an agency-issued alias?”
“That’s my name.”
Davy noticed Hunt hadn’t said that’s my real name . It reminded him of what he’d told Cent when they were living in New Prospect. Don’t think of it as a false name. Think of it as who you are now. “They must give you a lot of grief at the agency for that. Or is it something you try to live up to? And where’s your agency ID? The folded one in the blue case, name up top, photo below?”
The man didn’t say anything.
“You ever hear of the Daarkon Group?”
The man’s eyebrows went up. “I … have.”
Davy jumped within two feet of the man. “Do you work for them?”
The man’s hands were up in a guard position instantly and he lashed forward toward Davy’s shin with his good leg, but Davy wasn’t there.
Davy was impressed. The man’s face hadn’t flinched at all, just dropped slightly below the upraised hands. Lots of training. Years, probably. Davy resolved to keep his distance.
From four feet behind Hunt, Davy said, “Well, do you?”
Hunt dropped his hands back down and pivoted slowly on his buttocks until he could see Davy. “Can you believe anything I say? For what it’s worth, I don’t work for the Daarkon Group.”
“Where did you hear about them?”
Hunt tilted his head to one side and eyed Davy. After a moment, he said, “I read it in your file.”
My file ? “Oh, really? Is this from eighteen months ago?” That was when Davy had discovered Daarkon, following links from twenty years before. Millie had passed the group to FBI agent Bekka Martindale after Hyacinth Pope escaped prison.
“I shouldn’t say.”
Shouldn’t ? “You already told me there was a file. Kinda late, isn’t it?”
“Perhaps.” Hunt sighed. “The first entry was eleven years ago. That’s when they first filed incorporation papers in California. They got put in the file because many of their directors were affiliated with Lawrence Simons.” Hunt watched Davy carefully as he said the name.
Despite his best efforts, Davy felt his mouth go tight. “Did I react enough?” With an effort he relaxed his face. “Are you agency or not? We’re talking my old NSA file or its descendants, right? I’m actually thinking you aren’t with the Daarkon Group or, if you are, you aren’t aware of
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