Sitting Target by John Townsend Page B

books.”
    â€œIn a way,” Alex said. “After all, I’ve been spying on you, haven’t I? And now I want you to be a sort of spy, too.”
    â€œReally? Where?”
    â€œThe clinic. The Health Centre where you go. It has a few beds for special patients. One of them is my brother. He’s very sick and he’s got a police guard. That’s why I can’t get in to see him. We’re not meant to be in this country, you see. I’ll be arrested. So I need someone to go in for me. Someone that no one will suspect. Someone who won’t get caught getting the secrets. Before it’s too late.”
    Lee looked puzzled. “What sort of secrets?”
    â€œA list of names. Names of men from my country who try to kill us. You see, my brother and I escaped here. We told the truth about our leaders back home. Now they want us killed. My brother was poisoned before he could give me the names of the killers. We need to warn the world about what’s going on back home.”
    Lee was quiet for a while. “Even if I get what you want, how will it do any good?”
    â€œYou’ll save lives. We must post the truth online.And, like I said, I’ll pay you.” He pointed at the £20 notes he’d put by the cooker. “There’s £500 there. That’s the first half. You get the rest when you succeed.”
    Lee’s eyes widened. “Wow! A grand! Cool. That seems like easy money to me.”
    â€œMaybe,” Alex said seriously. “But there could be a risk.”
    â€œWhat sort of a risk?”
    Alex put down his mug and looked Lee straight in the eyes. “There’s a man known as Zeta. He will stop at nothing to kill us. I’ve never seen him but I’ll know him when I do. Part of his ear is missing. It was shot off. Now he’ll shoot anyone who gets in his way.”
    â€œSo, if I help you,” Lee said, putting down his mug, “will this Zeta be after me, too?”
    â€œHe won’t find out. We’ll keep it secret.” Alex rinsed his mug under the tap. “Let’s face it, if he ever did find out about you…” he dried the mug and looked up. “He’d shoot you dead.”

CHAPTER 3
THE MISSION
    The letterbox rattled. Lee looked up from his breakfast with a start. For the last two days he’d been on edge every time a sound came from the front door. His mum picked up the letters from the doormat.
    â€œI keep finding mud on this carpet,” she called to him. “Did you knock my pot plant off the hall table?”
    â€œI fell over, that’s all.”
    He looked back at the TV screen. Just more boring news stories. His mind began to wander.He wondered when Alex would get in touch with him again. There had been no word from him after he’d left with a, “You’ll be hearing from me soon.”
    Lee had put some of the money away in a tin under his bed. He was due at the clinic in a few hours but he didn’t know exactly what Alex wanted him to do.
    It was as if Lee’s thoughts flashed on the TV screen. There, right in front of him, was Alex’s face. Those same eyes were staring at him from the screen. It didn’t seem real. Nor did the news reader’s voice:
    Police say the body found shot dead on a train last night was this man. Details of the murder are still not clear. It seems he was Alexander Kinkova, thought to be on the run….
    â€œNot more shooting. I can’t stand all this bad news.” Lee’s mum switched off the TV and sat beside him. “What are you looking so glum about, love?” She touched his arm.
    Lee stared at the blank screen. He didn’t move. His mum kept talking. “Cheer up. I’m the one who needs to look gloomy. I’ve just got this. Another bill. They told me it wouldn’t cost much to fix the car. Look at it – £432. There’s no way I can afford that. Never.”
    She put her face in