Force of Nature (Aaron Falk #2)(37)

Somewhere behind the hospital doors, Falk could hear the insistent beep of an alarm.

‘Daniel Bailey?’ he said.

‘Jill’s brother? He’s the chief exec. The men’s group came to our camp that first night and he took Alice off for a private chat.’

‘Any idea what it was about?’

‘Not really. I didn’t hear much. But Alice was asking how he had found out about something and Daniel said because he’d seen it with his own eyes. She kept asking, “Who else knows?” and he said, “No-one yet”.’ Beth frowned as she remembered. ‘Daniel said something like: “It’s about respect, that’s why I wanted to warn you”.’

‘Warn her?’ Falk said. ‘You definitely heard him say that?’

‘Yeah, but I’m not sure what he was talking about. It caught my attention because Daniel Bailey’s not exactly known around the office for his respect for women.’

‘Aggressive?’ Carmen said.

‘More dismissive, apparently.’

‘Right,’ Falk said. ‘What was his tone like that night? Did he seem angry?’

‘No, he was calm. But he wasn’t happy. It didn’t sound like a conversation he wanted to have.’

‘And how did Alice sound?’

‘Honestly?’ Beth thought for a moment. ‘I thought Alice sounded scared.’





Day 2: Friday Afternoon


‘Get down there, Beth.’ Alice pointed at the swollen river. ‘Quick. Before we lose it.’

Lauren peered over the bank. The small metal stove canister hung in its cradle of broken branches, quivering as the murky water rushed underneath.

Beth hovered at the edge of the bank. She mumbled something.

‘What’s that?’ Alice snapped. ‘What are you waiting for?’

‘I said, can’t we just light a fire tonight?’

‘They’re only legal at the first campsite,’ Alice said. ‘We’re going to need the canister to cook. Just climb down there and grab it.’

Beth’s eyes flicked to the river and back. ‘But how?’

It was a good question, Lauren thought. The bank was steep and muddy, plunging straight into the water. Surface debris collected around the broken branches like a filthy coat.

‘I’ll fall in.’ Beth was still frozen by the edge. ‘I can’t swim.’

Alice looked almost amused. ‘Seriously? At all?’

‘Not well.’

‘Jesus. Better not fall in then.’

A gust of wind shook the branches. The canister shifted a notch.

‘Perhaps we should leave it.’ Jill seemed to find her voice for the first time. She was watching the river warily. ‘I’m not sure this is safe.’

‘We can’t leave it. We need it. We’re stuck out here for days,’ Alice said.

Jill glanced at Lauren, who nodded. Alice was right. It was going to be a long time until Sunday without a working stove.

‘Beth!’ Alice snapped. ‘Get down there. We’re going to lose it.’

‘No!’ Beth’s cheeks were flushed and her eyes were bright. ‘Look, I’m not doing it, all right? I’ll fall.’

‘Don’t be so pathetic. There’ll be no dinner tonight without it.’

‘I don’t care! None of you even ate your bloody food last night! I’m not breaking my neck because you’re a bit hungry now.’

Beth stood firm, but Lauren could see that her hands were shaking.

‘You dropped it, Beth,’ Alice said. ‘You get it.’

‘You put it in my bag without telling me.’

‘So?’

‘So you get it.’

The two women were face to face. Beth shoved her hands in her pockets.

‘Jesus, Beth –’ Alice started.

‘I’ll go.’ Lauren had said the words before she quite realised it. Four pairs of eyes turned to her in surprise. She immediately wished she hadn’t spoken, but it was done now. ‘I’ll climb down. You all have to help me, though.’

‘Thank you.’ Beth’s face flushed darker with relief.

‘Are you sure?’ Jill edged further away from the bank. ‘Maybe we really should just –’

Lauren cut her off before she changed her mind. ‘No. I’ll get it. We do need it.’

She looked over the edge. The bank was steep, but it had one or two rocks and tufts of weeds that could be used as hand and footholds. She took a breath, unsure how to approach the task. Finally, she sat down and twisted to lower herself over the edge. The ground was cold and gritty against her palms. She felt a couple of pairs of hands holding her forearms and jacket as she scrambled down, the toes of her boots sliding against the muddy bank.

‘Good. We’ve got you,’ Alice said.

Lauren didn’t look up. She kept her sights on the canister, and the running water underneath. She stretched out her hand and her fingertips scraped air. Nearly. A gust of wind shook the branches and she saw the canister loosen in its nest.

‘I need to get closer.’

She stretched again, leaning against the pull of gravity, her toes sliding in the mud. She was close. Her fingers had just brushed the smooth metallic finish when something gave. A slip of the foot and suddenly she was weightless as she plunged through the branches. A crack and she was in the water.