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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

Nick spoke up. ‘Maybe he’s using the same means to get out as he did in.’

‘Unlikely,’ said Chandler, but pleased that his young constable wasn’t afraid to get involved. ‘He came in by bicycle, according to his statement. But check for any reports of a car, bike, tractor, any vehicle, having been stolen today.’

Luka and Tanya exited just as Nick confirmed there were no reports of a vehicle having been stolen. Chandler had suspected as much. In a town this small anything as severe as grand theft auto, even grand theft bicycle, would have been pounced on immediately. It served as a reminder of just how serious things had become. From being relatively starved of action, they now had a potential killer in custody and another on the run. As life tended to do to Chandler, it never rained but poured, plague then flood, a wife, then none, no kids, then two to care for on his own.

But this flood threatened to overwhelm them all before they had a chance to draw breath.

Fifteen minutes later and he had confirmation that Luka, Tanya and Jim were in position and that all was quiet. He knew that it would be stupid of Gabriel to exit via the main roads – if he hadn’t gone already – but it was the least they could do. The least expected of him by Mitch.

Nick was slumped behind the front desk, a picture of frustration.

‘I’ll get you out there soon,’ said Chandler, hoping it was on something a little more routine than this.

‘When? How often does this happen?’

Chandler sought to comfort him. ‘Put it this way, Nick. I never expected this kind of thing to happen here and it did. So if it can happen here, it can happen anywhere and the best way you can help right now is by staying behind that desk at the centre of things. You might not think that you’re seeing action but we can’t leave the phone unmanned and the place unguarded, especially with one suspect in custody and another out there who might have tried to kill him. If he tried once there’s nothing to say he won’t try again. You might not be on the front line out there, but you are in here. Now get a description of Gabriel to the state police.’

Nick nodded, sitting up in his chair.