Force of Nature (Aaron Falk #2)(85)

‘Barely.’

‘Shit. I’m still up near the site. On the rangers’ hut landline, reception’s always crap –’ He cut out. ‘Is that better?’

‘Not really.’

‘Never mind. Look, I’m on my way back. Are there any state officers there with you?’

‘No.’ They were the only ones in the reception area and the carpark was mostly deserted. Most officers must still be up at the site. ‘Just us.’

‘Okay. Mate, I need –’ Static. Nothing.

‘Wait. I lost you there.’

‘Jesus. Hear me now?’

‘Yeah.’

‘We’ve found her.’

There was a rattle of white noise. Falk breathed in and breathed out.

‘You get that?’ King’s voice was quiet.

‘Yes. I got that. Alive?’ Falk knew the answer before he asked the question. Next to him, Carmen stood frozen.

‘No.’

The word still came like a punch to the chest.

‘Listen.’ King’s voice was fading in and out. ‘We’re driving back now, quick as we can, but I need a favour. Who else is there?’

Falk looked around. Carmen. The ranger behind the desk. Margot Russell and her social worker in the kitchen with Jill and Lauren. The twins in the carpark. Ian Chase locking up his van and walking away. He relayed the list to King. ‘Why?’

More static. Then King’s faraway voice. ‘When we found her body, we found something else too.’





Day 4: Sunday Morning


The moon dipped behind a cloud, casting Alice Russell into shadow as she disappeared around the side of the cabin.

Across the clearing, the watcher stepped out from behind the wall of eucalyptus trees, fumbling with a trouser zip. The faint whiff of urine, hot against the cold ground. What time was it? Nearly 4.30 am, the wristwatch’s glowing figures reported. A swift glance at the cabin showed no movement there.

‘Shit.’

The watcher wavered, then ducked around the side of the cabin. The clouds parted and the long grass glowed silver and empty. The wall of trees was still. Alice was already out of sight.





Chapter 25



Two backpacks lay on the ground by the rear wheels of a rental car. The car boot was wide open, and the twins were arguing in low voices, their heads close. The wind caught and lifted their hair, mingling the dark strands. They turned their heads in unison, the argument shrivelling to nothing as Falk and Carmen approached.

‘Sorry, ladies.’ Carmen kept her voice neutral. ‘We need you to come back inside the lodge.’

‘Why?’ Beth looked from one to the other, an odd expression on her face. Surprise, perhaps. Something else, maybe.

‘Sergeant King wants to speak to you.’

‘But why?’ Beth said again.

Bree stood silently next to her sister, her wide-eyed gaze darting from face to face. She held her bandaged arm against her chest. Her other hand rested on the open car door.

‘Bree’s got an appointment,’ Beth said. ‘We were told we could leave.’

‘I understand that, but you’re being asked to stay. For now, at least. Come on.’ Carmen turned towards the lodge. ‘You can bring your bags.’

Falk watched the twins exchange a glance he couldn’t read, then reluctantly pick up their backpacks. It seemed to take Bree a long time to shut the car door and walk away. They trudged over to the lodge. As they passed the kitchen window, Falk could see Jill and Lauren staring out. He avoided making eye contact.

Carmen cleared the handful of searchers from the lounge area and ushered the twins inside.

Jill and Lauren had come out into the lobby now, their faces long with curiosity. Falk shut the door on them and turned to the twins.

‘Take a seat.’

He and Carmen sat down side by side on the ancient couch. Bree hesitated, then curled up in a chair opposite. She was picking at her bandage again.

Beth stayed standing. ‘Are you going to tell us what’s going on?’

‘Sergeant King will explain when he gets here.’

‘When will that be?’

‘He’s on his way.’

Beth glanced out of the window. In the carpark, an off-duty searcher had his two-way radio to his ear. He listened and gave a shout, calling over two others who had been loading something into a car. He pointed at the radio. Word was spreading, Falk guessed.

Beth looked at him. ‘They’ve found her. Haven’t they?’

The floorboards creaked and settled in the silence.

‘Is she dead?’

Falk still said nothing and Beth threw a sideways glance at her sister. Bree’s face was frozen.

‘Where? Near the cabin?’ Beth said. ‘It has to be. There hasn’t been enough time since they found it to search much further. So she was there the whole time?’

‘Sergeant King will –’

‘Yeah, I know. You said. But I’m asking you. Please.’ Beth swallowed. ‘We deserve to know.’

Falk shook his head. ‘You’ll have to wait, I’m sorry.’

Beth paced over to the closed door. She stopped in front of it and suddenly turned. ‘Why aren’t Lauren and Jill in here as well?’