Chapter Twelve

“Fine then. Shoot him.”

Matt stared at Stacey, “What?!?”

“Shoot him. Go ahead. Knock yourself out.” Stacey’s voice was soft. “It’s what we wanted you to do. Do it. You clearly remember the whole task.”

“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!” James was shaking so hard that Matt didn’t have a clue where he would shot him if he did.

“You really think we would send you in here without any back-up, Klein? We’re not that heartless…” She stood up, but he didn’t notice. “Just shoot him and get it over and done with. Then we can get out of here.”

James forgot Matt for a second and lashed out with one foot. It caught Stacey in the stomach and she literally flew across the room. “I’m not that easily manipulated!!”

Stacey stood up easily, much to Matt’s shock, “Oh, well. It was worth a try.” Matt stared at her. His head was about to explode. He had no idea who was on which side!

James adjusted the guns, his grip a lot steadier now. “Put a lock-down on the house,” he commanded.

“Why? I thought they were meant to come back to find us dead. They won’t be able to if they can’t get in.”

“I need some time to think. PUT A LOCK-DOWN ON THE HOUSE, NOW!!!”

Stacey began to move slowly back round to the computer, Matt noticed she was limping slightly. She sat down again. “It may take a while.”

“What?” James asked coldly, clearing thinking she was trying to mislead him again.

“Well, you have to remember that this house it very high-tech. There are a lot of systems to override.”

“Just do it!” James pressed the gun to the back of her head. Matt could see the hatred in his eyes. He could tell that the guy he’d always considered to be his best friend would like nothing more than to put a bullet into the Scot’s head at that moment in time.

Stacey typed furiously. The room was in silence for the next five minutes or so, with only the sound of her fast typing. Then she pushed back from the computer- her chair had wheels so it wasn’t that much of an effort. “I can’t do it.”

“What?”

“I’m on the page. But I’m not locking myself in this house with you. I’d rather you put a bullet in my head to be perfectly honest.” On the huge monitor, Matt watched as the pointer moved towards the cancel option.”

“No!” James cried. “I’ll do it!” He pulled Stacey out of the chair and threw her back so she was beside Matt.

“No!” she cried. But it was too late. James had already stabbed down on the ‘commence’ button.