I, Spy? (Sophie Green Mysteries, No. 1) (Sophie Green Mystery)

beat the crap out of him. Talking comes later.”
    “I second that,” Tom said. “Where is he?”
    Sweet little Tom. He’s about four inches shorter than me and as skinny as a supermodel. He couldn’t win a fight against Tammy.
    I followed them over to the gents and waited outside. Then Tom trudged to the door, looking moody, and said, “He says you’re stronger than me.”
    I bit back a laugh. He was right.
    The gents was just like the ladies, only the ladies didn’t have urinals. Still, it felt like alien territory. I was glad there was no one else in there.
    Sven was indeed slumped on the floor and there was, indeed, a puddle of vomit all around him. And you know, maybe it was the scent of urine or the vomit in his hair or the fact that the fucker had tried to drug me, but suddenly he wasn’t so cute any more.
    I picked up Sven’s feet and looked at Luke. “Just out of interest,” I said, “are we going to carry him all the way through the bar?”
    “Out this way,” Tom said from the entrance, pointing to a side door. “The van’s out here.”
    We shoved Sven in the back of the bandwagon and stood there looking at him.
    “Now what?” I said.
    “I have to get back,” Tom said. “We’re getting paid for two whole sets and Chalker’ll kneecap me if he don’t get his money.”
    I hugged Tom. “Thanks for your help.”
    He kissed my cheek. “Any time.”
    “We’ll take him to the office,” Luke said firmly as Tom disappeared inside and the door shut out the sound. “Sophie, go and get your car.”
    I did as I was told, and we hefted Sven into the back.
    Luke looked at my wrist, where the handcuff bracelet still shone. “He didn’t notice that, either. Have you got yours?”
    “Is this appropriate?”
    He grinned. “For Sleeping Ugly here. In case he wakes up. Cuff him to the seat belt and keep the doors locked. I’ll follow you.”
    “How come I get him stinking up my car?”
    “I have nicer upholstery.” Luke chucked me under the chin. “I’ll see you there.”
    I made a face and got into the car, revving far harder than was necessary, and sped out of the car park and off towards the airport. Sven was completely silent and still in the back. I wondered if he was dead. I wondered if I cared.
    An hour or so ago, I fancied him completely. I couldn’t believe he’d asked me out. This golden god, wanting me? Little old (well, okay, but big young doesn’t have quite the same ring) me?
    And then what? He drugged my drink. Was he a dealer? Was he going to rape me? Did I have anything in the car I could use to hurt him?
    Luke pulled up behind me as I got out of the car and stood looking at Sven.
    “Still think he’s cute?”
    “No. I’m going for ‘vile’ now.”
    “Right there with you.”
    I unclipped the cuffs from the seat belt, refastened Sven’s wrists behind his back, and we carried him up the ramp to the office. Luke swiped his red pass, keyed in a code, and we were inside.
    “Okay,” he said as I blew bits of hair out of my face. “Remember how when you came in the first time and you were all disappointed it wasn’t more James Bond?”
    “I never said that!”
    “Hell, I did when I first saw it. Anyway. We do have something here that’s kind of cool.” He dropped Sven’s head on the floor with a satisfying thud, lifted a big file from the bookshelf by Alexa’s desk, and fiddled with something on the wall.
    Then the bookshelf parted in two, sliding away over the wall, cascading files and bits of paper onto the floor, to reveal a small elevator.
    I gaped. Luke grinned. “Pretty cool, huh?”
    “How is it possible you didn’t tell me about this?”
    He shrugged. “You didn’t ask.”
    I narrowed my eyes. “I’m asking now. Where does it go?”
    “Downstairs. The bunker.”
    We dropped Sven on the riveted steel floor and Luke swiped his card, keyed in his code and spoke his name into the microphone above the control panel.
    There was a bleep, then we started moving.
    “When we have a little more time, we’ll set up your voice recognition,” Luke said. “Lexy cannibalised an early voice recog phone to make this.”
    Clever Lexy.
    The doors opened, and I looked out on the reason why SO17 had to hire someone as inexperienced as me.
    There was money in here. Lots and lots of money.

Chapter Fifteen
     
    “Jesus H,” I said, stepping over Sven into the bunker.
    “I know,” Luke said.
    “This is why SO17’s broke?”
    “Well, it has something to do