The party began to move. As Mitch ushered onlookers out of the way Gabriel’s attitude reminded Chandler of a dead man walking, taking his last steps before meeting his executioner, the grave silence broken only by the shuffled steps of the condemned. Chandler took up position as the suspects passed each other, barely six feet between them, closer than they had been since falling off the ridge together.

In a flash, Gabriel was free. With a dip of his shoulder he evaded Mitch’s grasp, the cuffs that had been attached to his wrists sliding to the floor as he moved towards Heath who was propped rigidly on the pew.

The speed of the move took everyone by surprise. Chandler stood stunned as if he’d witnessed a magic trick unfold in front of his eyes, Gabriel’s hands free of the chains, the escape artist wowing his audience into momentary inertia. Gabriel threw himself at the other man and wrestled Heath to the floor, trying to jam the serrated edge of a set of keys into his throat. Heath’s screams wrenched Chandler from his stupor. Shoving Gabriel’s lawyer out of the way, he launched himself at her client.

The tackle was good, forcing Gabriel off his prey and knocking both Gabriel and Chandler into an out-of-control roll, sweeping bystanders off their feet and causing him to lose hold of Gabriel, who slipped from his grasp.

As Chandler picked himself up off the faux marble floor, Gabriel was already up and sprinting for the door. Roper blocked the exit, reaching for his gun. Gabriel flew at him, hitting Roper in the midriff, knocking him over and relieving him of his firearm in one move, disappearing out of the church hall and into town.

Reaching the door, Chandler drew his gun. Lining the steps and car park, a mass of scared and eager reporters, cameramen and locals confronted him. Gabriel scampered across the tarmac parting the crowd by waving his stolen weapon in the air. Raising his own, Chandler aimed for Gabriel’s legs, confident of hitting his target from this range. But as soon as Gabriel passed, the crowd closed in, the reporters turning to pursue the suspect, cameramen lugging their equipment, trying to keep up with their lead reporters.

‘Out of the way,’ yelled Chandler, bumping into one of the cameramen, his recording equipment swinging back and forth like a wrecking ball. Breaking through the main group, suddenly a line of sight opened up. Chandler got ready to shoot, but Gabriel disappeared around the corner of the station.

Chandler set off after him, Tanya, Jim and a motley crew of Mitch and his team close behind, the rabid press and a few determined locals also. Mitch’s high-pitched and less than commanding cry of ‘Get him!’ rose above the sound of footsteps and excited squeals.