The Legacy

look over at Sheila, unable to offer her any hope, any reassurance.
    He stumbled and the guard behind him kicked him angrily, told him to be careful, told him not to make any trouble. He took out his walkie-talkie. ‘Mr Samuels, sir. I’ve got them. The boy and the girl. We’re on corridor W3.’ He listened to instructions.
    ‘Yes, sir,’ he said, and put the device away. Sheila was whimpering; al Jude wanted to do was to reach out, to protect her. But he knew he couldn’t. He had failed. There was no use pretending.
    Another guard appeared in front of them and looked quizzical y at the first.
    ‘I’m taking them to Room W467,’ the first explained. ‘Mr Samuels’ orders.’
    The second guard shook his head. ‘Hil ary Wright is here. She has ordered that al guards report directly to her,’ he said. ‘I’l need to cal up.’
    ‘Directly to her?’ the first guard asked sarcastical y. ‘Since when do we fol ow the Secretary General’s orders at Pincent Pharma?’
    ‘Since now,’ the second guard said.
    ‘Wel , I’m cal ing Mr Samuels,’ the first insisted. Jude watched him put his gun back in its holster. ‘See what he has to say about this.’
    ‘You don’t understand,’ the second guard said. No gun, Jude noticed. Maybe strapped to his ankle. Stil , it would take time to pul it out. He looked at Sheila. They had to try, didn’t they? Even if they died in the at empt. Maybe that would be bet er. ‘It doesn’t mat er what he says,’ the second guard continued. ‘She’s the boss now.
    She’s in Mr Pincent’s office. She –’
    Jude took his chance, grabbing Sheila and running down the corridor. They tore round the corner, heading for the West exit. He could hear the guards charging after them, yel ing at them to stop. Shouting that they would shoot. Stil Jude ran, his heart pounding in his chest. He only needed a few minutes. He could lock down the system, close the doors, shut off the cameras. He could do something. He could get Sheila out. Get the others out, too. It couldn’t end like this. He couldn’t be a failure, an also-ran, the person who led Peter, Sheila, Anna, the children to their deaths. Not without a fight. Not without . . .
    ‘Stop! Or we fire!’
    He stopped, fel to the floor. Sheila screamed. The noise, louder than anything he’d ever heard. A shot. A bul et. Then another one. Crack! He felt his chest. He wasn’t hurt. Sheila? Had they shot Sheila? He opened his mouth and a strange sound came out, barely human. He grabbed her, pul ed her towards him. ‘No. Sheila, no.’
    ‘She isn’t hurt, Jude.’
    A voice. A familiar voice. A voice he once trusted. He looked up. Pip and Derek Samuels were walking towards them. He edged backwards, turned. On the floor Samuels were walking towards them. He edged backwards, turned. On the floor behind him the guards lay slumped in pools of blood. His chest constricted. He looked back at Pip. ‘You,’ he said hoarsely. ‘It was you. You told Peter to come. You told Richard about the ring.’
    ‘Yes,’ Pip said, his blue eyes looking intently at Jude. ‘And you came, Jude. I knew you would. Give me the ring, please.’
    Derek was pointing his gun at Jude. He looked around desperately but there was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Hating himself, he handed the ring over.
    ‘You knew I’d bring Peter and Sheila,’ Jude said miserably. ‘Like lambs to the slaughter. To him.’ He looked at Derek Samuels with angry hostility. ‘To this monster.
    Your friend.’
    Pip looked at the ring, his eyes shining, and put it on. Then he glanced over at Derek. ‘A monster,’ he said thoughtful y. ‘Yes, I suppose he is. But then again . . .’
    He looked back at Jude, holding out his hand to help him up. Jude ignored him, turning instead to Sheila, who was staring at Pip in horror. ‘It’s time,’ Pip said. ‘It’s time for the truth to come out, Jude. Wil you come with us?’
    ‘Never,’ Jude said bit erly. ‘I trusted you. Everyone trusted you.’
    Pip smiled sadly. ‘Yes, Jude, I know.’ Then he turned to Derek. ‘Wil you bring them, please?’ he asked.
    Derek looked at him for a moment, then quickly moved over to Jude and Sheila, taking their arms, pul ing them up, then pushing them down the corridor towards the lift.
    .

Chapter Twenty-three
    The silence was electrifying as the lift containing Pip, Derek, Jude and Sheila shot up to the fifth floor, to Richard Pincent’s suite. Jude felt as though he’d been