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Back The Midnight Man Save as PDF
Chapters (70)
  1. Title Page
  2. Contents
  3. Copyright
  4. Praise for Caroline Mitchell
  5. Also by Caroline Mitchell
  6. Dedication
  7. Epigraph
  8. Prologue
  9. 1
  10. 2
  11. 3
  12. 4
  13. 5
  14. 6
  15. 7
  16. 8
  17. 9
  18. 10
  19. 11
  20. 12
  21. 13
  22. 14
  23. 15
  24. 16
  25. 17
  26. 18
  27. 19
  28. 20
  29. 21
  30. 22
  31. 23
  32. 24
  33. 25
  34. 26
  35. 27
  36. 28
  37. 29
  38. 30
  39. 31
  40. 32
  41. 33
  42. 34
  43. 35
  44. 36
  45. 37
  46. 38
  47. 39
  48. 40
  49. 41
  50. 42
  51. 43
  52. 44
  53. 45
  54. 46
  55. 47
  56. 48
  57. 49
  58. 50
  59. 51
  60. 52
  61. 53
  62. 54
  63. 55
  64. 56
  65. 57
  66. 58
  67. Epilogue
  68. Acknowledgements
  69. About Caroline Mitchell
  70. About Embla Books

Elliott tugged on her arm before cupping the side of his mouth. He didn’t want to say this in front of his mummy. She was upset enough as it was. Sarah looked to Maggie, who took the hint without being asked. Allowing them some privacy, she walked a few steps down the hall. He wished he could explain what had taken root inside him. Jahmelia was past being cold, or hungry, or feeling anything at all. Her eyes were closed, and she had no more tears to shed. She was still alive. But not for very long. Her light was growing dim.

‘Please. Find Jahmelia,’ Elliott whispered, as Sarah bent to his level. ‘It’s too cold outside. Tomorrow is too late.’

As Sarah met his gaze her eyes were shiny with tears. ‘I’m trying, but I don’t know where she is.’

‘You will. Soon.’ Taking a step back, he looked at his mother then back to Sarah. ‘Thank you for the vouchers. You need to go home now.’ Only then did he realise that the darkness he’d felt wasn’t around him. It was coming for Sarah. That was all he knew. But Sarah was brave like Daddy. He hoped she would be OK.

‘Elliott?’ Maggie returned, resting a hand on his shoulder. ‘Are you alright?’ As he turned to his mother, he inhaled a breath of icy night air.

‘I’m OK now, Maggie,’ he said. He hugged her goodnight and said goodbye to Sarah. The pain of the scary feelings surrounding Jahmelia had faded. She would be found by tomorrow. The Midnight Game would soon be over. He hoped she would be alive.

50

Sarah flicked on the light switch, peering down her long, lonely hall. Still no sign of Sherlock. A lump rose in her throat. A feeling of gloom told her he was never coming back. As for Jahmelia … Elliott’s message had been given with such a sense of sincerity, that she had indeed come straight home. Unwrapping her new scarf, she hung it with her coat. Her hair was damp from the thick blanket of fog which had settled over Slayton. This wasn’t a night to be outside. As she looked into the hall mirror, Sarah saw her mother’s eyes staring back at her. Only now could she see the resemblance. At times like these, the absence of her family caused her physical pain. She touched her own reflection. What she’d give for one more moment with her mum. To hear the sound of her voice. The touch of her kiss …

Her phone beeped with a text. It was Richie, and she was grateful for the distraction. Her job had become a lifesaver in so many ways.

Extension granted to keep Abraham in custody. Still going no comment. He’s bedded down for the night. More interviews in the morning.

Sarah’s fingers pecked the screen as she drafted a reply.