Force of Nature (Aaron Falk #2)(12)

‘She’s getting the dance award,’ Alice said.

‘That’s nice.’

‘Hmm,’ said Alice, who Jill knew held a master’s degree in business and commerce.

Jill glanced at Lauren. She’d never met Lauren’s daughter, but knew she was also an Endeavour girl. She’d overheard the woman complaining about the fees more than once. Jill dug deep, but could not dredge up the girl’s name.

‘Do you need to get back too?’ she said, finally.

A pause. ‘No. Not this year.’

At that moment there was a small cheer, and Jill turned with a flutter of relief to see the sisters brandishing the flag.

‘Well done, ladies,’ Jill said, and Bree beamed. Even Beth was smiling. It changed her face, Jill thought. She should do it more.

‘At last,’ Alice said, not quite far enough under her breath. She hoisted her pack onto her shoulders. ‘Sorry, but we’re really not going to make it before nightfall if we don’t move.’

‘Yes, thanks, Alice. You’ve said.’ Jill turned to the sisters. ‘Nice teamwork, girls.’

As Alice walked away, Bree’s smile held bright and firm. The single twitch at the corner of her mouth was so slight that if Jill hadn’t known better, she might have thought she’d imagined it.

Alice had been right. The campsite was pitch black by the time they arrived. The last kilometre of the hike had been done at a snail’s pace, picking their way along the path by torchlight and stopping every hundred metres to check the map.

Jill had expected to feel relief when they reached the clearing, but she felt only exhaustion. Her legs ached and her eyes felt strained from peering into the gloom. It was difficult to tell in the dark, but the site seemed larger than she’d expected. It was surrounded on all sides by swaying gums, their branches black fingers against the night sky. She could see no stars.

Jill set her pack down, glad to be free from the weight. As she stepped back, her heel caught on something and she stumbled, landing hard on her tailbone with a cry.

‘What was that?’ A light flashed in Jill’s eyes, blinding her. There was a tiny laugh of surprise, bitten off before it began. Alice. ‘God, Jill. You startled me. Are you all right?’

Jill felt someone grasp her arm.

‘I think you found the fire pit.’ Bree. Of course. ‘Let me help you.’

Jill felt Bree buckle a little under her weight as she clambered to her feet.

‘I’m fine. Thanks.’ Her palm felt grazed and raw, and she thought it might be bleeding. She reached for her torch but found her jacket pocket empty.

‘Damn.’

‘Are you hurt?’ Bree was still hovering.

‘I think I dropped my torch.’ Jill looked where she’d fallen, but it was too dark to see.

‘I’ll get mine.’ And Bree was gone. Jill could hear the sound of rummaging through a bag.

‘Here.’ The voice came out of nowhere, close to her ear, and Jill jumped. Beth. ‘Take this.’

Jill felt something placed into her hands. It was an industrial metal torch, long and heavy.

‘Thank you.’ Jill fumbled until she found the switch. A powerful beam sliced through the night, boring straight into Alice. The woman flinched and raised a hand to shield her eyes, her features harsh and exposed.

‘Jesus, it’s a bit bright.’

Jill took half a beat longer than necessary to drop the beam from Alice’s face to her feet. ‘It looks like it does the job. We might be glad of it later.’

‘I suppose.’ Alice stood with her feet captured in the circle of light, then took a single step to the side and disappeared.

Jill swung the beam slowly across the site. The white light stripped out most colours, washing everything with monochrome shades. The path they’d walked along looked thin and uneven, and the fire pit at her feet was black at the centre. A silent circle of trees grew all around, their trunks luminous under the beam. Beyond, the bushland was black. A shadow caught Jill’s eye as she swept the light along and she stopped. She moved the beam back, more slowly this time.

A slender figure stood motionless at the very edge of the clearing and Jill jumped, nearly stumbling again and sending the light bouncing in a crazy pattern. She caught herself, steadying her hand. The light shook very gently as she focused the beam.

Jill breathed out. It was only Lauren. Her tall, thin frame was almost absorbed by the vertical lines of the trees and the dark space beneath them.

‘Lauren, my God, you gave me a fright,’ Jill called. Her pulse still felt a little fast. ‘What are you doing?’

Lauren stood frozen, back to the group, staring into the darkness.

‘Lau–’

She put up her hand. ‘Shh.’

They all heard it at once. A crack. Jill held her breath, her ears ringing in the void. Nothing. Then another crack. This time the broken rhythm of debris snapping underfoot was unmistakable.

Jill took a fast step backwards. Lauren turned, her face grey in the stark light.

‘There’s someone out there.’





Chapter 5



‘Daniel Bailey?’ King said, looking from Falk to Carmen. ‘Why are you looking at him?’

The wind threw clouds of dust and leaves into the air and on the far side of the road, Falk could see the group of searchers disappear into the bushland. Melbourne felt a long way away.