Chandler could see that Gabriel was relieved, all nervousness and fear gone now that he was, in his mind, a free man, now that they had discovered the evidence incriminating Heath. But as yet the scrap of material was the only connection they had, important but circumstantial.

They set off back towards the car park. Soon he and Gabriel were alone with nothing but the trees, scrub and small talk to keep them company.

‘It’s a huge place,’ said Gabriel as they crested a small rise.

‘Very,’ replied Chandler. ‘What do you plan to do now?’

Chandler waited for an answer, but got another question in return.

‘Do you come out here much?’ asked Gabriel. Before Chandler had a chance to answer Gabriel continued, ‘Probably not, I suppose. Too easy to get lost out here. Say I got lost how long would you – as in the police – spend searching for me?’

Chandler knew the answer all too well but didn’t say. Gabriel hadn’t been lost, he’d found his way out. One of the lucky ones. ‘Until we found you.’

‘Really? You lost anyone out here in the past?’ After asking the question he stopped so abruptly that Chandler almost bumped into him. ‘This place . . . I dunno, it gives me the creeps. Like there are ghosts haunting this hill. Could have easily been mine if I hadn’t escaped. But I suppose you have ghosts too, Sergeant.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Haunted by people that you put in jail wrongly or failed to help?’

Chandler wondered what Gabriel was getting at. Was he aiming for the false imprisonment angle? Whatever it was, the conversation had turned very morbid for a now free man.

‘I try. That’s the best I can do,’ said Chandler.

‘That’s not an answer, Sergeant.’

‘Things happen and we try to rectify them.’

‘And if you fail . . . ?’

‘I try not to fail.’

‘Very noble,’ said Gabriel, sarcasm dripping behind the smile.

Chandler decided to search for his own answers. ‘Why do you think Heath chose you?’

Gabriel shrugged. ‘Could have been anyone. Anyone hitching that road.’

‘But it wasn’t. It was you.’

‘It was,’ sighed Gabriel.

‘You mentioned God earlier. Do you think he helped you escape? Why do you think he chose you to get captured in the first place?’

‘I suppose he has a plan for me.’

‘And what is that plan?’

‘I’m not sure. Something I have to do, have to continue. Or something that I must stop.’

‘You’ve stopped Heath.’

Gabriel paused as if considering this. ‘Not yet.’

‘What do you mean?’

Gabriel looked back towards the now out-of-sight graveyard. ‘I suppose I need to testify, don’t I? Get him behind bars for good.’

‘Not if we get lost out here ourselves,’ said Chandler directing him towards the burned-out shack and then the car park.

A quick call to Jim allowed Chandler to meet the car further down the forest road, out of sight.