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Back Dead Horse Gap Save as PDF
Chapters (58)
  1. COVER PAGE
  2. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  3. DEDICATION
  4. Prologue
  5. One
  6. Two
  7. Three
  8. Four
  9. Five
  10. Six
  11. Seven
  12. Eight
  13. Nine
  14. Ten
  15. Eleven
  16. Twelve
  17. Thirteen
  18. Fourteen
  19. Fifteen
  20. Sixteen
  21. Seventeen
  22. Eighteen
  23. Nineteen
  24. Twenty
  25. Twenty-one
  26. Twenty-two
  27. Twenty-three
  28. Twenty-four
  29. Twenty-five
  30. Twenty-six
  31. Twenty-seven
  32. Twenty-eight
  33. Twenty-nine
  34. Thirty
  35. Thirty-one
  36. Thirty-two
  37. Thirty-three
  38. Thirty-four
  39. Thirty-five
  40. Thirty-six
  41. Thirty-seven
  42. Thirty-eight
  43. Thirty-nine
  44. Forty
  45. Forty-one
  46. Forty-two
  47. Forty-three
  48. Forty-four
  49. Forty-five
  50. Forty-six
  51. Forty-seven
  52. Forty-eight
  53. Forty-nine
  54. Fifty
  55. Fifty-one
  56. Fifty-two
  57. Fifty-three
  58. Acknowledgements

‘I know. I was thinking the guy with Collins could have said, I wonder if this will delay the Lorrimers’ plans for the subdivision, or for the sale?’

There was silence on the other end of the line. He could imagine Sterling thinking.

‘I’ve got it,’ she said finally. ‘It was the Lorrimers’ plans for White Winter Station.’ She groaned. ‘It was so simple. I can’t believe I didn’t work it out. And it makes sense.’

‘It does. Ryder and I are off to the council first thing in the morning.’

‘Well, this widens the investigation into Lorrimer’s murder, doesn’t it?’

‘Sure does,’ Flowers said. ‘I think a lot of people would be unhappy about that subdivision, sweetheart.’

‘Oh, stop it, Mitch. You’re talking to the real me now.’

‘Am I?’ he asked, feigning seriousness. ‘Who’s the act really for, Nerida—them, or all of us at Homicide? Which one’s the real you?’

She groaned. ‘You’re so annoying.’ But then she began to laugh, sounding more like herself. ‘It feels good to laugh. I miss that, miss the camaraderie of the squad,’ she added quickly.

Then before he had a chance to say anything, she went on. ‘So, why were you in the pub with Collins?’

He told her about the two guys arrested for supply along with Lorrimer.

‘Rodney Garrett?’ Sterling said. ‘And it was him at the pub with Heidi a couple of nights ago?’

‘So Collins said. What’s he like?’

‘Surly. Not very friendly, a bit like Heidi. I only spoke to them long enough to give her my condolences.’

‘Right.’ Flowers stood up and walked into the living room. ‘We should know more after tomorrow.’

‘I can’t wait to hear what you learn at the council.’

After a few more minutes they said goodbye, and Flowers hung up, his head spinning. The plane crash was the nucleus of the murder enquiry, but they were running this other job in the background, the death of Scruffy Freidman and the associated drug ring. Added to an already intriguing mix was the sale of White Winter Station and the past ill-feeling between the Lorrimers and the Buchanans, though he had no idea what that was all about or if any of it fitted together.

A message popped up on his phone. Last chance to join us for dinner. Be here in fifteen if you want first course. Ryder.

Flowers sat in front of his monitor and keyed in a reply. Appreciate the invite but heading to bed early. Say hi to everyone. Pick you up at 6 am. His thumb hovered over send. Ryder was the epitome of decency, and Flowers hated lying to him even about something as harmless as dinner. He stared at the computer monitor. There would be no early night for him, it was almost time to log on.

He hit send and picked up his headphones.

Fifteen