The Broken Sun by Darrell Pitt

Author:Darrell Pitt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Text Publishing Company
Published: 2014-10-21T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Craaack!

A shot rang out, cutting across the sound of machinery.

‘No,’ the thief gasped.

He staggered backwards. Blood began to dribble from the hole in the middle of his chest. He took another faltering step before plunging off the elevator.

Someone jumped onto the roof and reached for Jack.

‘Hang on,’ Scarlet cried. ‘I’ve got you.’

She was just in time. Jack was ready to fade into unconsciousness. When the elevator slid to a halt, the trapdoor opened and Mr Doyle appeared, grabbing Jack’s other hand.

‘Are you all right, my boy?’

Jack could not reply. Everything turned to shadows as he was manhandled through the trapdoor and onto a stretcher. Racks of men’s clothing flashed by, then there was darkness.

When he next woke, Jack found himself in a small gas-lit room. He gingerly felt his face. He had bruises everywhere and his jaw was swollen. Where was he?

‘My boy?’

Mr Doyle was sitting in the shadows.

‘You must stay in bed,’ he said when Jack struggled to sit up. ‘Doctor’s orders.’

‘Where am I?’ Jack croaked. ‘What time is it?’

‘You’re in hospital and it is morning.’

‘The Broken Sun,’ Jack said. ‘And Gloria—’

‘We have retrieved the Broken Sun,’ Mr Doyle said. ‘There was a bag secreted in an alcove in the elevator shaft. It appears the thief was using the area as some kind of home.’

The door eased open.

‘Jack?’ Scarlet appeared. ‘Are you all right?’

Bursting into tears, she hugged him tightly. It hurt, but it was worth it. Almost.

‘Did you really jump from that elevator?’ Jack asked her. ‘Or did I just imagine that?’

‘She did,’ Mr Doyle said, frowning. ‘If I’d known she was going to do that, I wouldn’t have allowed her through the trapdoor.’

‘It’s a good thing she did,’ Jack said. ‘I couldn’t hold on any longer.’ He turned back to Scarlet. ‘Bubbly Blinkingbutt would be proud.’

‘Brinkie Buckeridge,’ she said. ‘And you’re welcome.’

‘And Gloria,’ he said. ‘Is she…?’

‘Unconscious.’ The detective let out a deep sigh. ‘Asleep in the same manner as Professor Clarke.’

‘I have to see her.’

‘You must rest.’

‘No.’

Mr Doyle gave in, helping Jack out the door. They all weaved up a flight of stairs to the next floor where Mr Doyle opened a door to reveal Gloria on a bed, staring up at the ceiling, her eyes half-open.

She looked like something dead.

Jack took her hand and tried to speak. ‘We’re here,’ he finally said, his voice cracking. ‘Mr Doyle, Scarlet and I are here.’

He started crying. He could not help it. After a time, he turned to Mr Doyle and said, ‘Is she going to be all right?’

‘The doctors have not been able to wake her,’ Mr Doyle said.

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