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Chapters (60)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. 54
  57. 55
  58. Acknowledgements
  59. About the author
  60. Copyright

Gabriel continued, ‘As a rule I’m not a huge fan of killing kids unless absolutely necessary. Of course, it’s also true that being Catholic she was born a sinner, but I can’t hold that against her before she has had a chance to redeem herself.’

To this Chandler couldn’t find words, shocked into silence. His fugue was such that he was only stirred from it after swiping the pavement and knocking over a ‘For Sale’ sign, the wood shattering as he tore it apart.

‘Are you still there, Sergeant?’ said Gabriel, revelling in the power.

‘I—’

‘Surely it’s a simple decision. Isn’t it?’ said Gabriel. ‘It’s not like the people buried on the Hill, or some loudmouth stranger like Heath, mean anything to you. I mean, you’re a family man; a policeman, not a grief counsellor, aren’t you?’

Through his confusion Chandler understood he had to keep Gabriel on the phone. Another couple of minutes would be enough.

‘Hurry up, Sergeant. Make your decision.’

‘I need time.’

‘Time for what?’ The soft, mocking voice grew an edge. ‘This is an easy choice. Your kids – your own flesh and blood – in return for a man you don’t know. A man who you don’t even like, I’m sure.’

Gabriel had got that right. Even though he had been proved to be the innocent victim, there was nothing in Heath’s demeanour that Chandler had warmed to, nothing that marked him as a good person, a person worth saving. But, then again, who was he to judge? Chandler stalled some more.

‘I’ll need time.’

‘To decide something as simple as this? No wonder you can’t catch me.’

‘No. I’ll need time to get him out.’

Chandler was on Howe Street. Sixty seconds and he’d have Gabriel surrounded. Blow his head off if necessary.

‘You have one hour.’

‘No, wait—’ said Chandler.

Gabriel continued, ‘And if I meet any police, state, army, or that ex-partner of yours, I’ll just as easily kill them all. You see, Chandler, God, the police, or even the innocent cannot be allowed to thwart the Devil’s work.’

‘I want to see that she’s okay.’

‘And you can. Once you bring me what I asked for. And remember: you come by yourself. I’ll tell you where. I know you know your way around the woods.’

Chandler was on Crowe Street now, gunning towards the porch light, which guided him like a beacon.

‘What do you mean?’ asked Chandler.

But Gabriel was gone.

45