‘It’s the end of the chase. Of course I am. Plus, if I catch Eliza, I’ll be able to hold it over the commander and the whole department for the rest of my life. They kicked me off the case.’ She glanced across at Murphy. ‘But I need to do it without anyone else getting hurt. Seriously, stay behind me.’

‘I don’t care if she shoots me. Hell, I’ll be bait. Just find Jasmine.’

‘Don’t give me that horseshit. Jasmine needs you alive, she needs her dad.’

Murphy grunted.

‘Is your head in the right place for this?’ said Gabriella. ‘What if Eliza tells us Jasmine is already dead?’

‘Then I’ll kill her.’

‘You know I can’t let —’ began Gabriella, but Murphy had abruptly stopped. She slowed down. ‘What’s the problem?’

‘Eliza’s been shot . . .’ he said slowly. ‘For all she knows she’s dying.’ He looked back. ‘All she cares about right now is killing the person responsible for Denni’s death. She’s gonna go back for Madison.’

The blood drained from Gabriella’s face. She looked down at her Glock. ‘Con’s unarmed.’

CHAPTER 55

CON

Con bounced on the balls of his feet, looking in the direction Gabriella and Murphy had gone. He was terrified for them, feeling useless, lost among the pines, no idea how to reach the path. He usually had an excellent sense of direction, but this bush was labyrinthine.

Madison lay down on a fallen tree, her arm over her eyes.

Con heard the crack of a twig right behind him and then the butt of a rifle crashed into his head.

He fell to his knees, but fought to stay upright.

He turned, vision blurry, to see Eliza standing over him, her white dress bloody and torn. The rifle was trained on Con’s chest, held in the crook of her elbow, even as her other arm hung limp at her side, blood dripping from her fingers.

A strange anxiety filled him. The anxiety of impending, inevitable death.

But still, Con crawled towards Madison, who looked at Eliza in horror.

‘Come here, Madison,’ said Con, voice shaking.

‘Don’t move, either of you,’ said Eliza.

He clawed his way forward, the world lurching in a swirl. He reached out a hand and Madison helped him to his feet, her terrified gaze never leaving Eliza.

‘I don’t want to kill you, Con,’ said Eliza. ‘Just her.’

‘Eliza, listen to me,’ Con called, throwing his voice as far as he could, letting it echo through the trees. His head pounded from the effort.

‘There’s no point shouting. Madison will be dead long before they find us.’

‘I won’t beg anymore . . .’ Madison clutched Con’s side. ‘Now everyone will know it was you.’

‘And you’ll be dead,’ said Eliza.

Con pushed Madison behind himself, sucking in shallow, nauseating breaths.

‘You have every right to be angry,’ said Con. ‘Every right to blame Madison.’