Force of Nature (Aaron Falk #2)(76)

‘Are you deaf?’ Alice said. ‘We need to save the torches.’

‘Why?’ Beth’s voice floated from her shadowy corner. ‘They’ll be searching for us tomorrow. This is our last night.’

A laugh from Alice. ‘You are kidding yourself if you think there is any chance they’re going to find us tomorrow. We are so far off track they won’t even begin to look here. The only way we’re being found tomorrow is if we walk out and present ourselves to them.’

After a moment, the torchlight disappeared. They were in blackness once more. Beth whispered something under her breath.

‘Something to say?’ Alice snapped.

No answer.

Jill could feel a headache starting as she tried to think through their options. She didn’t like the cabin – at all – but at least it was a base. She didn’t want to go back out there, where the trees jostled for space and sharp branches scratched her, and she had to strain her eyes for a path that kept disappearing under her feet. But out of the corner of her eye, she could also see the mattress with its strange black smear. She felt sick at the thought of leaving; scared at the thought of staying. She realised she was shaking, with hunger or cold, she wasn’t sure, and she made herself take a deep breath.

‘Let’s check the bags again.’ Her voice sounded different to her own ears.

‘For what?’ She wasn’t sure who had spoken.

‘Food. We’re all hungry and that’s not helping anything. Everyone check your bags, pockets, whatever. Really carefully. We must have a muesli bar or packet of peanuts or something between us.’

‘We already did that.’

‘Do it again.’

Jill realised she was holding her breath. She heard the rustle of fabric and zips being undone.

‘Can we use the torches for this at least, Alice?’ Beth switched hers on before waiting for an answer. For once, Alice didn’t argue and Jill sent up a silent prayer of thanks. Please let them find something, she thought as she dug around in her own bag. One single victory to lift spirits until morning. She felt someone step closer to her.

‘We should check Beth’s bag.’ Alice’s voice was in her ear.

‘Hey!’ The torch beam bounced off the walls. ‘I can hear you, Alice. I haven’t got anything in my bag.’

‘That’s what you said yesterday.’

Beth swung the beam across the room and shone it in Alice’s face.

‘What’s the problem?’ Alice flinched but didn’t waver. ‘That’s what happened, wasn’t it? You lied and said you didn’t have food last night. When actually you did.’

The sound of breathing. ‘Well, I don’t tonight.’

‘So you won’t mind if we check.’ Alice took a fast step forward and pulled Beth’s bag from her hand.

‘Hey!’

‘Alice!’ Bree cut in. ‘Leave her. She doesn’t have anything.’

Alice ignored them both, opening the bag and thrusting her hand in. Beth grabbed it from her, pulling so hard Alice’s arm was wrenched back.

‘Jesus! Watch it!’ Alice rubbed her shoulder.

Beth’s eyes were wide and black in the torchlight. ‘You watch it. I’ve had it up to here with your shit.’

‘You’re in luck then, because I’m sick of this. All of it. I’m walking out at first light tomorrow morning. Whoever wants to come, can come. The rest of you can stay here and take your chances.’

Jill’s head was pounding now. She cleared her throat. It sounded unnatural and strange.

‘I’ve already said, we’re not splitting up.’

‘And as I’ve already said, Jill,’ Alice said, turning to her, ‘at this point, I don’t care what you think. I’m going.’

Jill tried to take a deep breath, but her chest was tight. It felt like there was nothing in her lungs. She shook her head. She’d really hoped it wouldn’t come to this.

‘Not with the phone, you’re not.’





Chapter 19



Falk was back behind the wheel before first light. He pulled up outside Carmen’s apartment block. It had been dark when she’d left his place seven hours earlier, and it was still dark now. She was waiting on the pavement, ready to go, and she didn’t say much as she climbed in. They’d said it all the night before after the call from Sergeant King.

‘How did they find the cabin?’ Falk had asked, when Carmen had hung up.

‘A tip-off, apparently. He didn’t go into detail. Says he’ll know more by the time we get up there.’

When Falk had called the office, there had been a silence on the other end of the line.

Do they still think they’ll find her alive? Falk didn’t know. If they find her alive, she might start talking about all kinds of things. Yes, she might. You’d better go up. Don’t forget we still need the contracts. No, Falk wasn’t likely to forget.

He and Carmen again took turns driving. Like before, the roads were largely deserted as they passed now-familiar paddocks but this time, Falk thought, the journey seemed a lot longer.

As they at last neared the entrance to the park, Falk saw the green glow of the service station sign and pulled in. He thought about what the guy at the till had said last time. Once you find the belongings or shelter, body’s always next. He blinked now as he went through the service station doors. There was a woman serving behind the counter.