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Back Time for the Dead
Chapters (94)
  1. Cover
  2. Time for the Dead
  3. Dedication page
  4. Map
  5. Epigraph page
  6. Prologue
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. 64
  71. 65
  72. 66
  73. 67
  74. 68
  75. 69
  76. 70
  77. 71
  78. 72
  79. 73
  80. 74
  81. 75
  82. 76
  83. 77
  84. 78
  85. 79
  86. 80
  87. 81
  88. 82
  89. 83
  90. 84
  91. Epilogue
  92. Acknowledgements
  93. About the Author
  94. By Lin Anderson

His face reared up at her again, the darkness, the frantic fight, the blood, the smell.

She forced herself to focus instead on that day in the hospital tent when they’d brought in the soldier and his dog. Remembered how hard Sugarboy had fought to save the dog’s life.

Seeing Blaze in the bar that night when the helicopter had gone over had brought it all back. Not for the others, but for her and Sugarboy. He’d made a big fuss of the collie, staring over at her to remind her of what they had planned and why.

Sugarboy had been high that night. High and drunk, like the rest of them. Perhaps if he hadn’t been, things would have turned out the way they’d planned.

The three of them were huddled together now, discussing where on Skye each of them would go, while assuming she would stay here in the plantation.

After this, they would return to Afghanistan. Escape this horror for another one.

But what about her? If she went back with them, he would be there and her fear of him was worse than her fear of dying. And this time there would be no Sugarboy to protect her.

Maybe she could have a relapse, convince the psych doctor that she wasn’t ready for active duty yet? But he wouldn’t leave her at home.

What if she presented herself at a police station, told them the truth about Sugarboy’s death and what had happened in Afghanistan?

She was, she knew, a loose end that needed tying off, just like the wayward Sugarboy.

He called out that they were ready to go.

‘You okay staying here, Seven?’

That’s what he wanted, for her to stay put.

She wondered how long it would be before he came for her.

35

Back now in the square in Portree, Rhona opened the door for Blaze, who jumped out and immediately headed for the Isles hotel.

‘I guess Donald’s back,’ Rhona said.

Blaze gave an excited bark at the door, which was swiftly opened, and they watched as the big collie and his owner were reunited. Donald waved his thanks and the two disappeared inside.

Ushered into Lee’s office, Rhona and Alvis were presented with a welcome mug of tea each.

‘How’d it go?’

‘We found one of the medics, the girl, camped in the Sitka plantation just north-west of A.C.E Target Sports,’ Rhona told him.

‘In a plantation?’ Lee’s face was a picture. ‘Okay, she’d be out of the wind, but?’

‘Blaze led us to the camp,’ Rhona said. ‘The girl told us the others had all gone solo and off-grid. Apparently they split up yesterday.’

‘Which would eliminate them from our enquiries on the body?’

‘If she’s telling the truth,’ Rhona said.

‘And you’re not sure about that?’ Lee prompted.