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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

While Heath continued to scream into the gag, Nick remained pliant. ‘Where is everyone?’ he asked.

‘Gone to witness Gabriel’s arrest,’ said Chandler, pushing Heath into the back of the police car. Before he could do the same to Nick his young colleague held his hands out.

‘You said you needed me, Sarge. For the plan. So you can take these off.’

‘Not yet,’ said Chandler.

He didn’t need any more surprises. He needed time.

48

Chandler drove back towards the dirt car park where they had gathered earlier to follow Gabriel back out to his burned-out lair. This was the designated meeting point and it now made perfect sense. This place was as much a cruel memory to Gabriel as it was to him.

At the beginning.

As he snaked the car up the dirt road, Chandler explained the full situation to his passengers, that Gabriel had taken Sarah and Jasper hostage and wanted Heath in exchange for them. He then explained the plan as Heath, through the gag, made his feelings quite clear on what he thought about being the bait, his stubborn kicks against the back of the driver’s seat as expressive as words. But Heath’s role was merely to be present at the exchange. It was Nick’s help that Chandler required. He hoped that now Nick had a complete understanding of the situation, the young man would do his job. If everything went to plan, Nick would be the real hero.

If everything went to plan. The lack of assurance made Chandler almost throw up.

Not wanting to come to a complete halt in case Gabriel was tracking the movement of the headlights as they approached, he slowed to a crawl before the car park came into view, stretching over to unlock Nick’s cuffs. There was a tense second as Chandler waited for his reaction. If he decided to resist . . .

But his young constable didn’t make any move to attack, opening the door of the car and diving out of the slow-moving vehicle, disappearing swiftly into the darkness, his heels only briefly flashing red in the glow of the brake lights.

Chandler continued his slow crawl to allow Nick time to get into position. He was terrified. This was the first time that he had allowed Nick out of the station, to participate in an operation, and his life, Heath’s life and the lives of his children were all on the line.

He hit the brakes at the entrance of the car park and scanned it for any sign of activity. Nothing moved apart from the gradual spread of condensation on the inside of the windows. Reaching back he pulled the old shirt from Heath’s mouth. His prisoner gasped for air.

‘Where are we?’ he demanded.

‘Close to where this all started,’ said Chandler.