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Back The Dead Line Save as PDF
Chapters (87)
  1. Cover
  2. By the Same Author
  3. Dedication Page
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. 49
  53. 50
  54. 51
  55. 52
  56. 53
  57. 54
  58. 55
  59. 56
  60. 57
  61. 58
  62. 59
  63. 60
  64. 61
  65. 62
  66. 63
  67. 64
  68. 65
  69. 66
  70. 67
  71. 68
  72. 69
  73. 70
  74. 71
  75. 72
  76. 73
  77. 74
  78. 75
  79. 76
  80. 77
  81. 78
  82. 79
  83. 80
  84. 81
  85. Acknowledgements
  86. Also Available by Holly Watt
  87. The Hunt and the Kill

‘I believed Dr Greystone when he told me we were helping people.’ Emily’s voice rose higher. ‘He’s a respectable doctor. And then you . . . You . . .’

‘I am sorry,’ Casey repeated. ‘But you have to tell me what is going on, Emily. Why is Dominic back at Tilney Cottage?’

Emily swallowed. ‘I told you.’

‘No,’ said Casey. ‘We don’t have any more time for lies, Emily. What is happening at the cottage?’

Emily stared at her.

‘I can help you,’ said Casey. ‘But I have to know what is going on.’

Casey waited, staring at the scuffed magnolia walls. At last, Emily stood up. She walked to the bathroom, splashed water on her face. Then she came to the bathroom door, calmer now.

‘A man came to the house.’ Emily swallowed. ‘He broke in while we were asleep. When we woke up he was in our bedroom, his torch in our faces. It was terrifying. Completely and utterly terrifying. You don’t understand . . . You couldn’t. And now he’s at the house with Dominic, while I . . . He said I could leave the cottage. I could go and get the baby. But Dominic had to stay, so I had to do whatever they told me. Dominic . . .’

‘What does he want?’ asked Casey. ‘Who is he working for?’

‘I don’t know.’ Emily sagged. She was wearing a black top, buttoned to the neck, and old jeans. She looked exhausted, bruised. Casey felt a twist of pity, almost protective.

‘Did you get his name?’

‘No.’ A quiet syllable. ‘Why couldn’t you just leave us alone? Why did it have to be us?’

‘I think I might know who is behind it all,’ said Casey carefully. ‘We think we have an address.’

Emily glanced up, eyes dull. ‘I don’t know,’ she said. ‘I don’t know anything at all.’

‘Look,’ said Casey. ‘You’re safe. Go to London. Go straight to the Post offices. I’ll tell my colleague Hessa that you’re coming in. We will get Poppy to you as soon as possible, I promise.’

For a second, they stared at each other.

‘It’ll be OK,’ said Casey, trying to smile at her.

‘But . . . Dominic . . .’

‘I’m going to get him out,’ said Casey. ‘I’ve got to hurry, Emily. I’ll give you the address of the Post. I am sorry. But I promise it will all be OK.’

Casey turned, made for the door, and she didn’t even know if she was lying.

71

71

It was still dark when Casey and Miranda reached the grand old forest where the poachers once hid, the shadowy ponies blinking blind in the headlights.