Hunted

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘I meant me, Red,’ Harry said, with another chuckle.

  Red? Was that a reference to my hair?

  Before I could say anything, he’d sped off again, only slowing as we reached the main road. I peered past him, round the wall. The police car, lights flashing, was parked out front of the building. There was no sign of the officers. Presumably, they were both still inside.

  Harry tugged at my arm, pulling me onto the street. I followed him across the road. We took a left, then a right, running all the way past the underground station at the top of the road and across the much bigger, busier road at the top into a park.

  Harry vaulted the park railings without any problem and darted into the shadow of some trees. I followed him, then bent over, trying not to pant too hard, as Harry leaned against the nearest trunk.

  I stood up. ‘Who the hell are you?’ I demanded. ‘How do you know my name? How . . . jeez . . . how did you know I was in that building?’

  ‘Hey, Red.’ Harry pushed himself up from the tree with a grin. ‘Didn’t your aunt and uncle teach you to say “thank you” when someone rescues you?’

  I stared at him, dumbfounded again.

  Harry pulled back his hood. The street lamp on the other side of the park railings shone across his face. High cheekbones and dark hair. He was more interesting-looking than conventionally handsome . . . His features weren’t precisely symmetrical and his nose was a little long while his eyes were set slightly wide apart. But there was something about him. Something that kept me looking.

  Harry took a step closer, into even brighter light, and I could see that his eyes were a startling blue.

  He raised his eyebrows. ‘You look good when you’ve been running, Red.’

  I curled my lip. ‘Don’t call me Red,’ I said. ‘And will you please answer my questions.’

  ‘Sure.’ Harry sat on the ground and patted the patch of grass next to him. I hesitated a moment, then sat down opposite.

  ‘My parents worked with your dad,’ Harry said matter-of-factly. ‘Dad was in IT . . . Mum was one of your dad’s research assistants. She was doing a PhD. They met, fell in love and had me.’

  I stared at him. ‘How old are you?’

  Harry grinned. ‘Exactly one year older than you.’

  ‘Your birthday is the same?’

  ‘Yeah . . . well, it’s at the beginning of February,’ Harry said. ‘Just like yours. My mum was made up when your mum got pregnant . . . said they’d have so much fun being mothers together.’

  ‘Your parents knew my mom as well as my dad?’ I said. ‘What are their names?’

  ‘Laura and Jason Smith,’ Harry said. ‘Actually, our mums knew each other really well. They were good friends.’

  I nodded. I couldn’t place Jason, but the name Laura definitely cropped up in my mom’s diary as one of her regular lunch dates.

  ‘I think my mum introduced your parents to each other,’ Harry explained. ‘And they went out together as couples, too . . . before and after we were born. There’s a picture at home of us playing together.’ He paused. ‘You look a lot better now than you did as a baby.’

  I blushed, remembering the photos and the red-raw skin I’d suffered from when I was little. Then I felt annoyed that he’d made me blush.

  ‘Well, all that’s an awesome nostalgia fest for you, but would you mind telling me how you knew I’d be—’

  ‘At the Hub?’ Harry interrupted. ‘My dad rang me . . . He . . . er, he lives abroad now. He said you’d hacked into the file on William Fox – your dad – in the murder database. He has some ace software that tells him when stuff like that happens. He said he knew it was you from the cameras in the street outside the public records office. He hacked those as well.’

  I shook my head. ‘How did he know I would come to the Hub?’

  ‘He guessed that once you learned your dad was murdered, you’d ask more questions and find out that all the recordings detailing who your dad thought was after him were held in the Hub archives.’

  My mouth fell open. ‘And he sent you along to . . . to help me?’

  ‘More to rescue you before the police arrested you actually. And to tell you that you won’t find what you’re looking for in that old MoD building.’

  ‘So where will I find it?’

  ‘Dunno,’ Harry said. ‘But I can tell you almost everything you want to know.’

  ‘You know who killed my dad?’

  Harry shook his head. ‘No, but I know who your dad suspected. He told my dad all about it. And my dad told me on the phone last night.’

  I stared at him. ‘Why does he want me to know now?’ I said.

  Harry sighed. ‘My parents thought you were better off not knowing the truth, but as you’ve found out that William Fox was murdered, they reckon you deserve—’

  ‘Wait a minute,’ I said. ‘You’re saying your parents believe my dad was murdered?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘They don’t think he was paranoid and suspicious, like everyone else?’

  Harry nodded.

  I sat back, stunned. All my life people had been down on my mom and dad, saying that he was some sort of weirdo who couldn’t cope with normal life outside his lab while she was neurotic and hysterical. Here, at last, were people who’d been their friends. Who had believed them.

  ‘So who did my dad think was trying to kill him?’

  I braced myself for Harry’s answer. Would it be Ketty’s family? Or Ed’s?

  ‘The others,’ Harry said. ‘The other scientists who knew about your dad’s work on the Medusa gene.’

  What?

  ‘But—’

  ‘They wanted to steal the basic gene sequence – the code for the gene – and work out how to copy it themselves.’

  Other scientists.

  I thought quickly back to what Patrice had actually said about ‘the others’. She’d only told me she’d assumed Mom meant the others with the Medusa gene in their family.

  ‘So my dad wasn’t . . . didn’t think he was being targeted by the families of the other people with the Medusa gene?’ I said, relief and confusion rushing through me in equal measure.

  ‘Not at all.’ Harry wrinkled his nose.

  ‘So which scientists did he suspect?’

  ‘They’re called Milton and McKenna,’ Harry said. ‘But Dad doesn’t want you taking any more risks and going after them.’

  ‘It’s not his decision.’ My voice rose and, despite the late hour and the danger we’d just escaped from, I struggled to quiet it. ‘If my dad was murdered, I’ve got a right to know and—’

  ‘Keep your hair on.’ Harry grinned. ‘I don’t think you realise what you’re dealing with here.’

  ‘I want to speak to your dad,’ I said, springing to my feet. ‘He’ll have to tell me. I’ll make him.’

  Harry snorted. ‘Yeah, right. Listen to me, Red. My parents cared about your parents. They were gutted when they died. And when you got taken out of the country. Believe it or not, you really matter to them.’

  ‘Then why’ve I never heard of them before?’ I demanded.

  ‘Who would have told you?’ Harry said. ‘I’m sure Jack Linden and Geri Paterson wouldn’t want you anywhere near them. Remember, my parents are just about the only people who didn’t think your dad was a total paranoid loony.’

  ‘Your parents know Jack and Geri as well?’

  ‘Of course. They all met Geri through the original Medusa Project and Jack hung out with them a lot. I met him once when I was little. He was really close to your dad when they were young . . . er, he’s your godfather, isn’t he?’

  I nodded. ‘I met him a few months ago when Geri brought him in to work for her,’ I explained. ‘But Jack betrayed the Medusa Project – he stole the Medusa gene formula, then tried to sell it to this big-time crook called Blake Carson. Afterwards, Geri Paterson had Jack arrested, so he’s in jail now.’

  I was hoping to shock Harry with
this bit of news, but he just nodded.

  ‘Yeah, I know. My mum and dad always said Jack was a chancer. But you’re wrong about him being in jail. He did some sort of deal with the government a few weeks ago apparently . . . went off to another country in return for keeping quiet about you guys.’

  ‘Oh.’

  I was reeling. How could this boy I’d never met know so much about my life . . . so much that I didn’t?

  ‘There’s something else,’ Harry said. He gazed at me, his bright blue eyes intense. ‘Apart from your mum, my parents were the only people your dad trusted.’

  ‘So?’

  ‘Before he was killed, your dad told them that he’d left the Medusa gene formula with his brother – your Uncle Fergus.’

  ‘I know – that was the formula I was talking about . . . the one Jack stole.’ I shivered, remembering how terrified I’d been when I realised what Jack was up to . . . and how the four of us had nearly died . . . how Ketty had even thrown herself off a cliff to save Nico’s life. ‘The Medusa formula was destroyed, then.’

  ‘No.’ Harry shook his head. ‘There’s another copy. My dad calls it the Medusa code.’

  ‘What?’ I said. ‘How do you know?’

  ‘Your dad told my parents he was leaving one copy of the Medusa code with his brother and one copy . . . somewhere else. That’s why my dad really sent me here tonight. Because the scientists who were after the Medusa gene code fifteen years ago have found out that there’s another copy and they’re coming after it. My dad wanted to warn you.’

  ‘Warn me?’ I said. ‘Why? I don’t have it.’

  ‘That’s where you’re wrong, Red.’ Harry raised his eyebrows. ‘Your dad left the second copy of the Medusa code with you.’

  8: The code

  Harry’s blue eyes pierced through me.

  ‘You didn’t know you have the code?’ he said.

  ‘I told you, I don’t have it,’ I said, more bewildered than ever. ‘At least I don’t see how I can have it. How could I have a copy of a complicated scientific code and not know?’

  Harry shrugged. ‘Dunno, but my dad says those scientists, Milton and McKenna, have just found something your dad wrote years ago which says you have it. So now Milton and McKenna are after you.’

  I stared past him to the park railings and the deserted road beyond. It was a warm night, but the breeze made me shiver. I had very little that belonged to either of my parents – basically, just the items in my mom’s mother-of-pearl box. They’d died so long ago . . . I couldn’t imagine what this note of my dad’s could say or where the code for the Medusa gene could be – or why anyone would be so convinced that it was definitely still in my possession.

  ‘So I’m being hunted for something I don’t understand and can’t locate.’

  Harry stood up and held out his hand to help me. ‘That about sums it up, Red.’

  I took his hand, irritated. ‘I told you, don’t call me that.’

  Harry grinned as he pulled me up. I stumbled as I rose, bumping against him. My cheek brushed against his shoulder. I could smell the soap he used, feel the rough cotton of his jacket.

  I gripped his arm to steady myself and looked up. He was staring at me, our faces close together.

  Too close.

  I pulled away, my force field automatically turning on.

  Harry looked at me, puzzled. ‘What’s up?’

  ‘Nothing.’ I released the force field. ‘I should get back to the station.’

  I desperately wanted to be on my own, to have time to think.

  ‘Sure.’ Harry walked towards the fence. ‘So what’s it like having this Medusa gene? Has it kicked in properly yet?’

  I suddenly wanted to impress him with my ability. ‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘I’ll show you. Hit me.’

  ‘What?’ He stared at me.

  ‘Go on,’ I said. ‘Try and hit me. Punch my face.’

  Harry took a step back, shaking his head. ‘No,’ he said.

  He looked really alarmed. I swallowed. Jeez, I was messing up.

  ‘Okay.’ I looked around, determined to find something to impress him with. ‘Look.’

  I hauled myself onto the fence and scrambled to the top. Then I turned around. ‘Watch this.’ I let myself fall backwards, force field engaged. In the second before I landed on my back, unharmed, I heard Harry gasp.

  I shut my eyes as he hurdled over the fence himself. He landed lightly on the pavement and rushed over. I could feel him kneeling beside me, his face close to mine again. ‘Dylan? Are you all right? Dylan?’

  I opened my eyes. He was right there, his face next to mine, dark hair falling over those wide, startlingly blue eyes.

  ‘Hey, chill, Harry,’ I said. I meant to mock him lightly, but the words came out real harsh.

  Harry sat back, his expression part embarrassed, part annoyed.

  ‘That’s what you can do?’ he said. ‘Fall backwards off fences?’

  I swallowed. ‘I can protect myself from any physical harm,’ I said. ‘Provided I can see the danger coming – or know exactly where it is. And provided it isn’t too big, like a really powerful bomb. Then I can’t stop it – at least I haven’t so far, though I’m working on it.’

  Jeez, now I felt like a six-year-old, talking his ear off.

  ‘Right.’ Harry got to his feet. ‘Let’s get going, then.’

  We walked in silence for a moment. It was the middle of the night, but there was still a steady stream of cars along Euston Road. I asked Harry about his life. He told me more about his parents and where they worked abroad and how he’d snuck out of his boarding school to find me. It still felt a bit awkward between us, but at least he smiled at me a couple of times.

  Don’t ask me why this mattered.

  As we reached the station, Harry asked if I had any idea where the code might be and I started thinking about that again. Was it written down somewhere among the possessions I’d inherited from Mom and Dad? Suddenly I felt Ed push into my mind.

  Dylan? His thought-speech was urgent. Where are you?

  What? Why? I stopped walking. Beside me I could sense Harry turn and gaze around the station concourse, but I couldn’t have turned to look at him even if I’d wanted to. Ed’s mind-reading is a powerful thing. Impossible to tear yourself away from unless he lets you go.

  Ketty just woke me. She’s had a vision of Geri demanding to know where you are. She’s not sure when it’s going to happen, but she thinks sometime in the morning. You need to get back here fast.

  I’m gonna catch a train. The first one goes at 5.30 or so.

  That’s not for another hour. Ed sounded like he was freaking out.

  There’s nothing I can do. Cover for me, will you? Say I’ve gone for an early morning walk or something.

  ‘Dylan, would you like a cup of tea or coffee? There’s an all-night café over there,’ Harry’s voice interjected.

  Who’s that? Ed asked.

  I could feel him start to poke around my thoughts.

  Get out of my head.

  Fine. Just get back as soon as you can. With a thought-spoken grumble, Ed’s presence vanished.

  I turned to Harry. He was staring at me.

  My stomach cartwheeled.

  ‘What were you doing just then?’ he said. ‘Your eyes were really focused, but it was like you couldn’t see.’ He sucked in his breath. ‘Were you communicating telepathically with someone?’

  ‘Er, yeah,’ I said, feeling awkward. ‘It’s one of the others with the Medusa gene . . . they, er, he . . . he can, er, mind-read.’

  ‘Impressive,’ Harry said. ‘Are you and he . . . you know?’ He gazed at me intently.

  ‘Me and Ed?’ I made a face. ‘No way.’

  ‘Right.’ Harry raised his eyebrows. ‘So where are you going now? Are you going back to this Ed and the others with the Medusa gene? Are you all staying with the head person . . . Geri Paterson?’

  ‘What’s with all the questions?’ I snapped. ‘You studyi
ng for an exam on my life?’

  ‘No.’ Harry frowned. ‘You know you’re really rude. I saved your ass back there.’

  My breath caught in my throat. Harry wasn’t the first person to tell me I was rude, but this was definitely the first time I minded hearing it.

  I shrugged. ‘You were real annoying.’

  Harry gazed at me a moment longer. ‘Fine,’ he said. ‘No questions.’ He fished a piece of paper out of his pocket. ‘I’ve written my phone number on this,’ he said. ‘In case you find the Medusa gene code and want to talk to my dad about it.’

  I took the paper, torn between relief that he was giving me his number and a slightly sick feeling that he was about to go.

  ‘Thanks.’ I smiled.

  Harry’s face lit up – a great, beaming smile that made his eyes crinkle. Here, in the station’s bright artifical light, I could see that the irises were very pale, ringed with a darker blue . . . almost indigo. He glanced at the train announcement board.

  ‘Your platform’s up,’ he said.

  ‘You’d better piss off, then,’ I said.

  Harry’s grin deepened. ‘See you later, Red. And watch out for Milton and McKenna.’

  I walked across the concourse to my train. All the way I wanted to look back to see if he was watching me. But I forced myself not to.

  As I sank into my seat on the train, I felt my body relax. Jeez, how come I’d been so tense? Thank goodness that was over. Now I could concentrate on working out where this code was.

  I thought about it for most of the journey home . . . trying to make sense of what I’d heard. According to Harry, Milton and McKenna had murdered my dad and were now after me. They already, clearly, had my phone number. It was obviously them sending the texts, though I wasn’t sure whether they were trying to put me off investigating my dad’s death or trying to stop me from finding the Medusa code. It surely wouldn’t be too long before they tracked me down. Maybe the only reason they hadn’t attacked the cottage already was because Jez and Alex and Geri were all there.

  My heart beat faster at the thought. I knew I should tell Geri what I’d found out, but if Geri knew I somehow had the code, then she would want it, too. And I didn’t trust her with it. I mean, I didn’t think she was about to sell it as a weapon or anything, but she would definitely pass it on to the government agents she reported to. And then who knew how it would be used?