Mr Grey snorted. ‘Connor, this is now beyond personal. Which means anyone associated with you is a target, especially family and loved ones.’ He coughed into the back of his hand, wincing in pain, speckles of blood appearing on his lips. Connor went to make a move, but the gun was on him in a heartbeat. ‘Sit down!’ the man ordered. ‘As I told you at the insect market in Shanghai, the snake always gets the mouse –’
‘Tea anyone?’
Mr Grey discreetly hid the gun in his lap as Connor’s gran entered with a tray loaded with biscuits, china cups and a steaming teapot. She poured out a cup for Mr Grey. ‘Milk? Sugar?’ she asked.
‘Black, two spoonfuls.’
Connor’s heart pounded as his gran heaped in the sugar, gave the tea a good stir and passed Mr Grey his drink.
‘Thank you,’ said the assassin with a tiger’s grin.
Connor desperately tried to catch his gran’s eye, to silently warn her, as she poured her own cup. But she seemed oblivious to his palpable alarm. ‘Help yourself to biscuits, you two,’ she said before settling into the armchair opposite Mr Grey.
A long moment of uncomfortable silence ensued. Mr Grey eyed the three of them with cool calculation. Connor could see the barrel of the gun poking out between his leg and the side of the armchair, its sights targeted on Charley as she sat frozen in her seat. Then his gran broke into a smile and toasted their guest.
‘Chin-chin!’ she said, raising her cup to her lips.
Mr Grey returned the gesture and sipped his tea.
‘So, you’re one of Connor’s teachers?’ asked his gran.
‘You could say I’ve taught him a lesson or two.’
‘What’s your speciality subject?’
‘History,’ replied the assassin, adding with a devious smile, ‘I’m very interested in dead people.’
Mr Grey took a long draught of his tea, his eyes not leaving Connor. The assassin seemed to be enjoying drawing out Connor’s torment at their perilous situation. Connor thought about tackling the assassin while he was off-guard and drinking his tea. But the sofa was soft and low and difficult to get up from. Connor couldn’t be certain that he’d cross the living room fast enough to prevent Mr Grey shooting Charley first.
‘What period of history in particular?’ his gran asked. ‘I’ve always been fascinated by the Victorian age, such a time of invention and social change. Queen Victoria herself was a truly remarkable woman. Did you know that she was an accomplished linguist?’
‘Yes, I did,’ grunted Mr Grey.
‘How silly of me, a man of your intelligence,’ said his gran. ‘I understand that she spoke fluent English and German, and studied French, Italian and Latin too. Am I right in saying that later on in life she even learnt the Indian language of Hindustani? I find that incredible …’
His gran droned on and on, the assassin nodding curtly at appropriate moments. Then, growing bored with the conversation, he drained his cup and set it aside, almost missing the saucer.
‘More tea?’ asked Connor’s gran brightly.
‘No,’ said Mr Grey, his head drooping forward. ‘It was a little … strong for my liking.’
‘How about a biscuit then?’ She picked up the plate and thrust it towards him.
Mr Grey waved it away. ‘No … slank you …’ he slurred, his eyes narrowing. ‘I’ve come … to exterminate a mouse …’
‘Oh, I can assure you, we don’t have mice in my house.’
‘But we get the occasional rat, don’t we, Gran?’ said Connor, frantically trying to hint at the danger they were all in. He tensed, Charley’s eyes widening in alarm as Mr Grey fumbled for his gun.
But the weapon slipped from the assassin’s grasp and fell on to the carpet at his feet. Connor’s gran didn’t seem at all surprised at the sight of a loaded weapon in her house. Mr Grey groggily reached for it, slumping sideways in his chair … before passing out entirely.
‘Phew!’ said his gran, putting down the plate of biscuits. ‘I was starting to get worried there. I’d given him enough of your mother’s sleeping tablets in that tea to knock out a horse!’
Connor and Charley both stared at her in astonishment.
‘You knew he was an assassin?’ asked Connor breathlessly.
Rolling her eyes at him, his gran rose from her chair and picked up the gun. ‘I always knew you’d bring your homework back with you one day!’ she replied. ‘Now, Charley, be a good girl and call the police before he wakes up.’
The waves rolled in, glassy, even and glistening in the California sunshine. They peeled in perfect lines from the tip of the San Clemente pier all the way to the golden sands of the shoreline, transforming from a pure aqua green to a foaming white froth. A surfer at the edge of line-up paddled hard and caught a clean break … he rode the wave in, but lost his balance halfway and was axed by the lip of the wave. Drilled under the water, the unfortunate surfer was barrel-rolled until he bobbed to the surface, spitting and gasping.
‘Aren’t they a little big?’ said Connor, eyeing the waves dubiously.
‘For you maybe,’ Charley shot back as she made the final checks to her adapted surfboard.
‘What if you get into trouble?’
‘That’s what you’re here for. You’re my bodyguard, aren’t you?’ She teased him with a wink.
Connor pulled on his rash shirt. He didn’t know what he was so nervous about. Although he’d never surfed before, it was Charley who was taking the biggest risk. After only two months of intense therapy, she’d decided to visit her home beach in San Clemente in an attempt to conquer her first wave. Thanks to the physio sessions and her growing proficiency with the neuro-chip, she was gaining more control over the lower half of her body. She couldn’t walk yet. She might never walk. But she was determined to surf.
‘Are you coming or not?’ asked Charley.
Connor’s phone buzzed with a text. ‘Hang on a sec.’ He picked up his mobile from his towel and read the message.
Shanghai surprise! Like my bike?
A photo downloaded of Zhen sitting astride a gleaming Chang Jiang 750cc motorbike with sidecar, her company logo Shanghai Surprise emblazoned on the side. She was grinning and giving the camera a big thumbs up. Evidently the US government agent hadn’t lied when he said that Zhen would be taken care of.
Smiling, Connor texted back an emoji of a thumbs up, along with a reply:
Must remember to post that review on TripAdvisor!
Ever since Amir had provided unrestricted access to Equilibrium’s servers, MI6 in combination with other intelligence agencies around the world had systematically infiltrated the clandestine criminal organization and arrested those involved. One of the first and most significant to fall was the Director herself, then the Chinese cell was swiftly rounded up and put behind bars. When Connor heard the news, a peace settled in his heart. His duty to his father was done.
It also meant that Zhen was once again safe in her own country – and she was clearly doing a roaring trade as a tour guide. In fact, the world as a whole was a safer place thanks to the sacrifices made by a few unknown and unnoticed individuals. While Buddyguard’s role in Equilibrium’s downfall would remain unacknowledged, Connor was under no illusion. Bodyguards would always be needed and would always make a difference. But, for the time being, the world could carry on without the need for his services.
He turned back to Charley. ‘Hey, look at this. It’s from Zhen!’
But her wheelchair was empty. Connor’s eyes followed the groove in the sand to where Charley had entered the water. She was supposed to have waited for him.
But Charley, independent and determined as ever, was already halfway out, paddling her adapted surfboard into the wash. She duck-dived, nosing the tip of her board beneath an approaching wave, and carried on paddling, the action as natural as breathing for her. Connor scrambled to get his gear together. He was attaching his leash to his ankle when he heard a scream. He looked up in panic, his eyes scanning the ocean for Charley,
praying that she wasn’t already drowning.
But it had been a scream of delight as Charley caught her first wave. Lying down on her board, she leant into the ocean surge, staying just ahead of the peeling tube of water. Like a pro, she rode the wave all the way in to shore, skimming over the foam to Connor. The smile on her face was wider than the ocean and brighter than the sun in the sky.
‘I’m actually surfing!’ she yelled, splashing the water around her. ‘Surfing!’
Before Connor had a chance to respond, she’d pivoted her board and was paddling back out. Connor watched her go with a swell of pride. He knew how much this moment meant to her. Despite the constant barriers life had put in her way, she’d never given up hope. She’d battled every obstacle to achieve her dream. He truly admired her for that.
Charley had told him her life story, and there was a piece of advice she’d once been given that had helped carry her through her darkest times. It had stuck in Connor’s head too. We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.
Well, whatever cards he’d had in the past, Connor had certainly been dealt an ace with Charley. Spurred on by her daredevil antics, Connor picked up his own surfboard and dived headfirst into the waves after her.
Connor has completed his final mission. I too have completed my assignment with this last book in the series … or is it? A door has been left open for further adventures, but it will be down to you, my readers, to make this happen. Fans of the Young Samurai series have relentlessly promoted those books to their friends and are soon to be rewarded with a ninth book! So, young bodyguards, are you up to the challenge?
In the meantime, I must thank all those who have supported me through the creation of this bulletproof series:
Charlie Viney, my agent, friend and mentor, we still have a long way to travel.
Tig Wallace, my editorial assassin, your sharp mind and pinpoint attention to detail are two of your greatest weapons.
Wendy Shakespeare, the one Puffin I can always rely on.
My bulletproof team at Puffin – Helen Gray, Rebecca Booth, Lucie Sharpe and everyone else who has a hand in making the series a success.
All the librarians and teachers who promote my books and tirelessly work to enhance children’s lives with the pleasure of reading.
A special mention must go to Shanghai Insiders (www.shanghaiinsiders.com) and my guide Luca who took me off the beaten track and introduced me to the underbelly of Shanghai and some great locations for this book. Riding a sidecar through the Shanghai streets is an experience of a lifetime!
And, most important of all, my two shining lights – Zach and Leo. You are my inspiration and my happiness. I promise to protect and care for you with my life.
Stay safe.
Chris
Any fans can keep in touch with me and the progress of the Bodyguard series on my Facebook page, or via the website at www.bodyguard-books.co.uk
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First published 2018
Text copyright © Chris Bradford, 2018
All rights reserved
The moral right of the author has been asserted
Cover illustration by Larry Rostant
ISBN: 978-0-241-33467-6
Fugitive Page 27