Jealous Storm, Jack Stroke [best sci fi novels of all time .txt] 📗

gazed down at the contorted figure. Ralph was definitely dead.

“I warned you.”

People below moved out from under the entrance’s roof, trying to get a look at what had happened.

Great. Now Amber would have to find somewhere else to hide.

7

Amber sat by the pool, pretending to be someone else. It wasn’t working. She had never been the type of person able to sit by a pool or on the beach all day and do nothing. It was boring. How did others manage it for hours on end?

A cooling shadow indicated someone had moved between her and the sun. Amber waited for them to make their way past. When they didn’t she opened her eyes.

“We have been waiting for you to come inside,” Mother said. She looked quite comical, barely an inch of skin showing. Her customary sunglasses matched with a broad-brimmed hat and scarf wrapped around her face for good measure.

“Soon,” Amber said. “I’m just trying to get some sun.”

“We hope you have applied sunscreen.”

“Nope. That’s the whole point.” Amber pointed to her neck, red from Ralph’s attack. “Trying to make it so the rest of my body matches that.”

“Why? For your Paradise Cove friends?”

“You don’t have to say it like that. And yes, for them.”

“Why? Would they even notice?”

“If I returned home with significant bruising around my neck? Yes, certainly. If I’m head to toe red, not so much.”

“Is this how it is going to be from now on?”

“How what is going to be?”

“This new attitude of yours? Reckless Amber?”

“Chill Amber. And the plan worked, didn’t it?”

“Define worked.”

“I planted the tracker on Gomez.”

“True. You also brought a huge amount of unwarranted attention on yourself, killing his right-hand man.”

“No one knows that was me. For all anybody knows Ralph jumped out of the window.”

“Jumped. Right.”

“You are one of the reasons for the new attitude, Mother. Like it or not you helped create Chill Amber.”

“Oh, so we are to blame?”

“No one is to blame. You’re the person who told me I had to be less uptight and stop trying to control every little thing. That’s just what I’m doing.”

“Are you sure? Because from where we are standing it looks more reckless and cavalier.”

“Mother… There was no good way out of the building. I planted the tracker and I made it out of there eventually. That’s the important thing, yes?”

Mother briefly turned her head in the sun’s direction before scampering off without another word.

There was no pleasing some people. Amber stroked her cheek. It was tender to touch. She would be sore tomorrow. Perfect. The sunburn plan was coming together nicely.

8

The bounce of the ball echoed through the Scout Hall. The slap of synthetic rubber against the floorboards.

Ben glanced over his left shoulder. Vaughan had his hand at the small of his back, positioned between Ben and the ring. Ben jabbed left, staying where he was, seeing if Vaughan would take the bait. He didn’t. Ben jabbed again, tossing in a head fake this time. Fake left to sell it, drive right. The head fake got him. Ben had a clear line for the basket. He drove hard.

Vaughan recovered quickly, managing to get in front of Ben. Ever the wily opponent. Not much good, but smart. Able to read the play. He was too late. Ben had momentum on his side. He ploughed right into Vaughan’s chest, sending him flying backwards.

“And one!” Ben said as he finished with his right hand, an easy layup in the end.

On the floor Vaughan punched his open palm, indicating a charge.

“No chance,” Ben said. He stuck out a hand and pulled Vaughan to his feet.

“I think I’m going to have to stop playing with you.”

“Why? Because you’re no good?”

“Yeah, that and you’re too big for me. You’re strong as an ox now.”

A smile teased Ben’s mouth no matter how much he tried to hide it.

Vaughan wandered over to grab his water bottle. The intention may have been to only have a quick drink, yet he couldn’t stop himself sliding down the wall and slumping to the floor.

“Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask. Do you know any self-defence moves?”

“Yeah,” Vaughan said. He stuck up both hands. “I know: ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, please don’t hurt me…’ And ‘the runaway’.”

The ball bounced around the ring and in as Ben practised his jump shots.

“Any real stuff?”

“What’s all this for?”

“Oh, I did some basic self-defence stuff a few months back.” He positioned himself in a fighting stance. “It was cool. I want to learn some more.”

“Sorry, can’t help. I end up on my back playing basketball against you. I would have no chance in a fight.”

Vaughan took a big swig from his bottle. “What’s it all for? The weights, the fitness, the self-defence.”

“I don’t know. Just interested, I guess.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Do you ever feel like you’re just ready for something, you know? You’re just, like, just waiting for it to happen?”

“Yeah, I guess. What are you waiting for?”

“I don’t know. Life.” Ben took an easy layup at the ring. “I’m thinking of getting a job. With Amber.”

The silence that followed was accentuated by the empty space around them.

“Really?”

“Sure. Thinking about it.”

“What, in logistics?”

“Yeah. Why not? Amber thought she might be able to get me some work.”

“Is that what you want?”

“I think so, yeah. It would be cool. Be good to earn some money.”

“Just be careful.”

“Why?”

Vaughan put thought into his phrasing. “Amber is great and all, but you don’t want to end up like her.”

“I thought you liked Amber.”

“Sure, I like Amber. I like her a lot.”

“But you’re telling me not to end up like her.”

“I am. She’s a bit… She’s Amber. She’s odd.”

Ben nodded, striding over, bouncing the ball. “Keep playing?”

“Nah, you’ve kicked my butt enough for one day. Playing against you is much harder than I like to work generally.”

“Do you think you two will stay together? You and Amber?”

“Not sure it’s my choice.”

Ben helped Vaughan to his feet.

“I don’t know if it helps at all, you know, with all this waiting and stuff, but I find the more I