Alan Richards [Richards - Geminae

Alan Richards

Geminae

First published by Basset Publishing 2019

Copyright 2019 by Alan Richards

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

First edition

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V ladimir hadnt enjoyed the flight, he never enjoyed flying. He had been sent to the United Kingdom to deliver a speech at a conference in London on gene therapy. The conference would host scientists from around the world and as the worlds leading authority on the subject he had been encouraged to attend by the authorities in his home country of Russia. He didnt really have a choice. The plane taxied around the airport until it reached its final resting place. Once the seatbelt lights were extinguished he collected his cabin luggage and waited for the doors to be opened.

Once off the plane he cleared security, collected his luggage and exited the customs area into the arrivals hall. He looked along the row of people standing holding cards with the names of people on them. He had been told he would be collected. He finally spotted his name and walked in the direction of the young lady who was holding the card.

I am Vladimir Sokolov.

Hello Mr Sokolov. My name is Lyndsey.

Hello. You are here to collect me?

Yes. I will be looking after you during your stay in London. I am sure you would like to freshen up so if we head out of here we can get you to your hotel. After that I will be available to take you to the conference centre tomorrow.

Thank you, yes I would like to get to the hotel.

Lyndsey beckoned him in the direction of the exits and they started to walk with the flow of people trying to find their way out of the bustling mini city that was Heathrow airport.

Have you been to London before Mr Sokolov? asked Lyndsey.

Yes. I lived here for a while but it was a long time ago.

Its probably changed a lot since you were last here.

Yes, probably.

Once you have freshened up I can take you anywhere you would like to go. Sightseeing or something to eat maybe.

It is fine. I can find my way around London.

I am afraid I will need to accompany you on any trips away from the hotel.

May I ask why?

Lyndsey didnt answer, she just turned and smiled at him. Vladimir knew that it would be pointless to keep asking the question. He kept quiet, followed Lyndsey out of the terminal building and towards a blue car that was parked in front of it. The man sat in the drivers side got out as they approached and opened the boot. He took Vladimirs luggage and placed it in the boot. Lyndsey opened the rear passenger door for him to get in, closed it after he had made himself comfortable and made her way around the rear of the car. Opening the passenger door opposite where Vladimir was sat she climbed in next to him.

Lyndsey watched as the queues slowly made their way along the motorway that led from Heathrow airport into the centre of London.

How long will it take to get to the hotel? Vladimir asked.

With all this traffic about an hour, maybe an hour and a half. I would sit back and relax. she said with a smile.

She watched as Vladimir sat back in his seat and tried to make himself comfortable, he had already been sat on a plane for hours and now he would be sat for a few more hours.

Try and get some sleep if you like, Lyndsey said.

Yes I might try that.

She couldnt help but smile as she watched him close his eyes and start to sleep, at least it would stop him asking awkward questions. Lyndsey and Adrian had been charged with protecting Vladimir during his stay in London. He was a well known figure in the world of gene therapy and some of his opinions attracted wild criticism and threats from activists and church groups that believed any gene research should be banned.

Do you think we are still being punished for losing Alexa? asked Adrian.

Its been a year, so no. Anyway hes a nice man and it should be an easy week.

Oh great, you saying that is bound to mean the opposite will be the case.

Just drive and get us back to the hotel.

Lyndsey looked around the cars that were on either side of theirs as the queue of traffic moved a little quicker. Someone singing along to whatever was on the radio, a family obviously out on a trip; video screens in the back seats keeping the children occupied. They both disappeared into the distance as the lanes on either side of them started to pick up pace. A black Range Rover appeared next to them, the front of the car level with the drivers door. It kept pace with them, even though the outside lane was still moving faster than theirs She looked over, the inside lane was now moving faster, the middle lane appeared to be blocked and was moving very slowly compared to the other lanes. The Range Rover was still keeping pace with them.

Adrian, get in the inside lane.

Why?

Just do it.

But it filters to the M25 further down and will slow us down.

Just fucking move to the inside lane, she shouted.

Lyndsey shouting combined with the sudden movement of the car as Adrian jerked the steering wheel to the left and moved the car over to the inside lane jolted Vladimir from his slumber.

What was the point of that? he asked.

Wait.

For...

That, she replied as the Range Rover pulled over and filled the space that they had left.

What?

The Range Rover, its following us.

Lyndsey turned and looked out of the side window.

Male driving, female in the passenger seat. None of the faces are on the watch list that I recognise but the female passenger looks familiar. I cant work out where I have seen her before.

Lyndsey found she was staring at the female driver, she knew the face but couldnt place where she had seen her before... then it came to her, she worked with Alexa. She had been one of the three person team when they worked with Soteria to free Jane Torrance from her captors, why was... she hadnt seen the Range Rover speeding up the emergency lane of the motorway, she had been distracted by trying to place the female driver in the car beside them. She caught a glint out of the corner of her eye that focused her attention towards the second black Range Rover. The glint was the sunlight reflected off the semi automatic rifle that was now pointing straight at her.

GET DOWN, she shouted as she grabbed hold of Vladimir and pulled him to the floor of the car. The side window was shattered by gunfire.