The Soul Prophecy by Chris Bradford

Author:Chris Bradford [Bradford, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780241326732
Publisher: Penguin Random House Children's UK
Published: 2022-02-03T00:00:00+00:00

28

We decide to wait until dusk falls and the staff car park empties before we make our rescue attempt. In the meantime, Tarek has hacked into the centre’s computer system. To my relief, he confirms Phoenix is registered there as a patient. Allowing myself the smallest of smiles, I imagine the joy of our imminent reunion: I can almost picture the look of surprise and elation on Phoenix’s face when he sees me. Having been forced apart, the thought of being with my Protector again after so many months and such a frantic escape to America is not only uplifting, it also gives me the last bit of courage and determination I need to go through with our daredevil plan.

‘According to their files, he’s being held in the acute stabilization wing on the east side,’ Tarek says, turning his laptop to show us a map of the building. ‘He should be in here, room B12. Night security guards patrol the corridors and there’s a nurses’ station at the end of each wing.’

‘What’s our best way in?’ asks Jude.

‘Unless you want to make a scene with the guard on reception, I’d suggest the service door on the south-east side,’ says Tarek. ‘I’ve disabled the alarm.’

‘OK, let’s go,’ orders Jude, climbing out and heading round to the boot of the car. Popping it open, she pulls out a small backpack and a loaded Taser from a weapons box. As she slips the gun into her pocket, along with some plastic wrist ties, she sees me looking at her. ‘Always pays to be prepared,’ she says in response to my unspoken question, and she hands me a black hooded jacket, gloves and a face mask. ‘Here, put these on. We don’t want to be identified.’

As I put them on, it dawns on me that we’ll likely be arrested if we fail tonight. But, since I’m already on the run for the suspected murder of my own parents, I guess being charged with breaking and entering is the least of my worries. Still, my heart pounds a little harder at the prospect of extricating Phoenix from a secure mental health facility.

Tarek looks in the boot for his own jacket, but Jude puts a hand on his shoulder and shakes her head. ‘Tarek, you stay here.’

His face falls. ‘But –’

‘I need you to keep an eye on the security cameras,’ she explains, ‘and be ready if we need to make a quick getaway.’

He sighs as Jude hands him the keys. ‘At least I get to drive the car, I suppose,’ he says grudgingly. Pocketing the keys, he delves into the boot and opens a small briefcase containing a comms set. He passes each of us a discreet earpiece. ‘So we can stay in touch.’

Jude and I fit the tiny devices into our ears as Tarek takes the comms set and settles himself into the front seat of the car with his laptop. ‘I’ll follow your progress on the security cams, and temporarily block each feed the security guard can see as you go,’ he explains, his voice coming clearly through my earpiece.

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