Too Young (The Jewel Project #1)

Chapter 6.1 - Sunglasses and Screwdrivers

Chapter Six

Sunglasses and Screwdrivers

Sam's gaze shot from face to face, from rifle to rifle. Mad scenarios played inside his head, from Mexican drug lords to movie sets, but deep down inside he knew what this meant. His past had finally caught up with him. There was no other explanation for it. Flashback from running through the mall and dodging bullets filled his vision.

"Well, well, well." A mocking voice broke through the silence and the armed men shifted.

A tall, well-built man reached the front of the group. He wore an impeccable black suit, scarlet shirt and tie and a top hat. His hair was jet black, his eyes dark blue behind his glasses and he had a goatee.

He grinned at Sam as though expecting recognition. Sam racked his brain, but, even if there was something slightly familiar about the man, he couldn't remember seeing him before. But that didn't mean that he couldn't guess who he was. He'd never imagined Snitch Gravel looking like this. He'd always thought him to be a mean, skinny, tall, hunched old man, rubbing his claw-like hands.

The man's sneer disappeared. "You have no idea who I am."

Sam shook his head, though he wasn't sure if that meant 'no, I have no idea who you are' or 'no, I know exactly who you are'. Christine whimpered behind him and Sam squeezed her hand, trying to calm her down.

"Help!" she called out.

As if they had one mind, the armed men pointed their rifles at her. Snitch Gravel raised his hand and they lowered their guns.

Footsteps and crashes came from Sam's room and it took seconds for Kyle and Jerry to barge in the hallway, the door to their room blocking the group of armed men from view for a few seconds. They both skidded to a halt. The door slammed behind them and they stared from Sam and Christine to the army. The doors of the other two rooms opened as the rest of the group came out.

Tina and Alice shrieked, while Professor Palmer hurried to pull Christine out of harm's way. Professor Harris however made his way to Sam, but stopped abruptly once he caught sight of the army's leader.

The man watched Harris through narrowed eyes. "You didn't tell them anything."

"I didn't think you'd get here so fast," Harris said stiffly.

Sam stared from one man to the other. What the hell? Harris and Snitch Gravel knew each other and were on speaking terms? Suddenly, grave robbing wasn't the biggest problem with this quest. What if Harris had actually recruited them to deliver them to Snitch Gravel?

Snitch Gravel shook his head. "You underestimate me, James. And these three." He nodded towards Sam, Jerry and Kyle. "They have no idea what they've really gotten themselves into, do they? You haven't told them about the agency or about me."

Sam turned to Harris. What agency? What was going on?

"I didn't see the point to—"

"Scare them?" The man raised one eyebrow. "But surely, they should be scared. They must know me by name and reputation, at least. I did, after all, try to kill them at some point."

Sam's breath caught in his throat. He wished he could stare at the man as innocently as Kyle was, but he'd just confirmed his greatest fear.

"Snitch Gravel?" Jerry asked, his voice barely louder than a whisper.

The man sneered. "See? They do know who I am."

"Who...? What...?" Kyle stared from Sam to Snitch Gravel.