Promise of Hunters Ridge

by Sarah Barrie

  ‘I’ll do my best. Actually, on that whole not dying thing …’ Indy followed her and pulled out a chair at the table. ‘I’d like to try to stay fit, maybe lift some weights. But there’s no gym in town.’

  Mia paused with her hand on the fridge door, then turned and rummaged in a drawer. Finding what she was looking for, she tossed Indy the spare key. ‘Not between five and seven or four and six.’

  ‘Thanks, Mia, that’s—wow!’ She stared in disbelief at the keychain with its gem-encrusted camera bauble.

  ‘Client gave it to me.’

  ‘Must have been a very happy client.’

  ‘He was hoping I’d sleep with him. Do you want to train now? I’m going to run outside.’

  ‘Yeah. Great, ta. Do I need to insure this before I borrow it?’

  ‘Turn it into jewellery or something. Seemed wrong to throw it out, but I shudder every time I look at it.’

  Indy carefully put it on the table. ‘I could start with a run. Mind some company?’

  ‘Let’s go.’

  Mia ran around the track at a comfortable speed and Indy kept up, pacing her with Jasper at their heels. She could see Indy’s gaze travelling all over the property, as though mentally mapping it.

  ‘What’s down there?’ Indy asked, pointing to the track that led into the bush.

  ‘About fifty metres in, it forks. If you head left it’s Ally’s farm, right takes you to the river.’

  ‘Can we check out the river?’

  Mia turned and headed through the bush.

  ‘This is as far as it goes.’ Jasper crashed right into the river, splashed around.

  ‘Pretty spot.’ But after a quick look, Indy didn’t seem interested in admiring it. ‘So you’ve got your driveway to the main road, and this track that leads here or to Ally’s. Is that it? No other trails or easy access in here?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘How quickly can you make it to Ally’s on foot? Not the farm—the house.’

  Mia grinned. ‘Want to find out? Let’s go.’

  They ran down the driveway and onto the road. She slowed, knowing what was ahead, and Indy wordlessly dropped back to match pace as they turned the corner that brought Cam and Ally’s driveway into view. ‘What do you think?’ Mia asked, looking up the hill.

  ‘I probably shouldn’t air what I think.’ But challenge stirred in Indy’s eyes. ‘Twenty bucks says I beat you.’

  ‘You’re on.’ Mia took off, Indy on her heels. Jasper trailed behind.

  About halfway up, both women were struggling.

  ‘I want to swear,’ Indy puffed. ‘But I can’t breathe.’

  Mia tried to laugh, couldn’t. And she was no less of a mess by the time she reached the top than she was the time before. Indy didn’t fare any better. There was a loud whistle as they staggered the last few steps, and Mia caught sight of Cam sitting on the veranda with Lee.

  ‘You know,’ Indy warned Cam in between dragging air into her lungs, ‘I normally hurt men who wolf whistle.’

  ‘That doesn’t really surprise me about you,’ he replied.

  Mia somehow got her feet up the steps and sat beside him. ‘How about a big sweaty hug?’

  ‘Not even with you,’ he said as Ally came out carrying Chloe.

  Ally shook her head. ‘You’ve got Indy doing it now?’

  ‘She bet she could beat me. But … I don’t actually know who won,’ Mia replied.

  ‘No idea,’ Indy agreed. ‘But I bet Rob wouldn’t make it up here.’

  ‘Is that what this is about?’ Cam asked.

  ‘She’s been sussing the place out,’ Mia replied. ‘Entrances, exits, distances …’

  ‘It’s not exactly safe down there by yourself,’ Indy said.

  ‘Don’t you start,’ Mia said.

  ‘You’ve got a spare room waiting for you here,’ Ally said.

  ‘And I’ll take you up on that if necessary. In the meantime, I’ll just turn up at dinner time,’ she said with a grin.

  ‘Yes, I’m teaching you to cook pasta tonight. I haven’t forgotten.’

  Indy sent her a dubious look. ‘You can’t cook pasta?’

  ‘Yes, I can boil pasta! It’s the sauce she’s showing me how to make.’

  ‘Right.’ Indy stretched. ‘If we don’t keep going so I can cool these muscles down slowly, I’m not going to be able to walk tomorrow.’

  ‘Okay.’ Mia refilled her bottle at the tap at the side of the house. ‘I’ll be back later, Ally.’

  ‘Around six,’ Ally said. ‘Nice to see you, Indy.’

  ‘Ally’s teaching you to cook?’ Indy asked as they walked back down.

  ‘I thought it was about time I learned. Living in the city there’s not much call for it. Out here it’s different. I can’t exist on toast and cereal forever.’

  ‘I’m not very good at it either. I tend to live on microwave meals. Especially at the moment with the hours being so crazy. Besides, you should see the dodgy kitchen in the little rental I’m staying in.’

  ‘That’s not helpful.’

  ‘All part of the job.’

  ‘What made you become a cop?’ Mia asked.

  ‘It was cop or criminal.’

  Mia glanced at her in surprise. ‘Seriously?’

  ‘Seriously.’

  ‘What kind of criminal?’

  ‘Break and enters, mostly.’

  ‘You never can tell about a person.’

  ‘You really can’t.’ They grinned at each other.

  ‘Was that before or after you came to Australia?’

  ‘Before.’

  ‘And they still let you become a police officer?’

  ‘Yeah—I never got caught. Largely, once I was here, due to Ben’s help. You know, going down this hill’s not much better than up once your legs have turned to jelly.’

  ‘Almost there. What did Ben do?’

  ‘He hadn’t made detective back then, but he was a good cop. Only a couple of years in the force and other police were looking to him for advice and help with cases. Anyway, I’d bolted over here because I couldn’t be where I was anymore, but I had nothing: I’d scammed my airline ticket but had to leave everything else behind. I had five American dollars in my wallet. I got off the plane and broke into a corner store the same night so I could eat.

  ‘Ben was in the neighbourhood investigating another crime and saw me going through the window. He arrested me, then he took me to McDonald’s and bought me a Quarter Pounder meal. I was so damn grateful for a meal and a shoulder I ended up blurting out my story. He told me I had two choices: rip people off for the rest of my life or change. I was streetwise and I was smart but I didn’t have any qualifications, so I decided I’d have a go at being a cop. Ben helped me through all the paperwork and processes to make that happen. Even found me a temporary job until my citizenship finally came through.’

  ‘That’s amazing. But it doesn’t sound much like Ben.’

  ‘He saved my life. I don’t know where I’d be now if he hadn’t found me that night. And it’s not just me. You know he’s been involved in young offenders’ programs for years, right? He goes in and mentors kids who get themselves in trouble and don’t have anyone else. Some of their stories are a lot worse than mine. He turns them around. He makes a difference.’

  ‘I didn’t realise.’

  ‘He’s a good guy, Mia,’ Indy said as they reached the road. ‘Why don’t you ask him his story one day?’

  ‘We got as far as high school and a redhead.’ A truck rattled past and Mia automatically lifted a hand in greeting. The wave was returned.

  ‘Who’s that?’

  ‘The old guy who lives two properties along from mine. His name’s Dave.’

  ‘Do you know many of your neighbours?’

  ‘I don’t really know Dave. Everyone just waves at everyone around here, or says hi, depending.’

  ‘Country town,’ Indy said with a nod. ‘Friendly.’

  ‘I know this might sound silly, but
I feel safer out here than in the city. If anyone around here sees Rob, they’re going to recognise him. In the city, even with the warnings on the telly and his butt-ugly scarred face, he’s less visible. People don’t look, they don’t pay attention.’

  ‘Yes, but the police are two minutes away in Surry Hills, not twenty—at best.’

  They arrived back at the cottage to the sound of the phone ringing, but before Mia could pick it up it went to messages. She flicked it on speaker as she walked past.

  A woman. Her stomach dropped.

  ‘He says … he says to say, maybe the baby will be number one.’

  Mia closed her eyes as the screaming started.

  Indy moved quickly, calling Ben.

  ‘They’re already on it,’ she said when she hung up. ‘Are you okay?’

  ‘Yeah. Do you need to go?’

  ‘Can’t. I’m playing vet receptionist, remember?’ Mia could see her frustration. ‘I’ll get started on the weights instead.’

  Mia headed for the shower, upset and angry. The baby might be number one? That wasn’t the deal. Rob was changing the rules. He really did intend on forcing her to kill. He was pushing her into it.

  You’ll know what it’s like to kill.

  But how could she kill Ben?

  CHAPTER

  15

  ‘It took the local police seven minutes to get there and they were blocking roads as they went. He still got away,’ Ben told Indy. He’d called in because she’d threatened to turn up at the station if he didn’t. And he’d bought them both a burger, because he hadn’t eaten and Indy was always up for fast food. ‘The location was close to the outskirts of town, a small acreage. I suppose he would know the area pretty well too.’

  ‘Ponytail gone?’

  ‘Yeah, and the number is there, on her back. He’s collecting trophies and taunting us.’

  ‘And now he’s in Mudgee, which is way too close to Hunters Ridge.’

  ‘Yep. A check of the victim’s computer shows she’d organised a lunch with another poster boy two days ago.’

  ‘Why lunchtime meetings?’

  ‘He can follow them more easily, scope out the area in daylight, pick the best time to go in. That would be why the meeting times are the same, but the murders are two days later and apparently random: he knows when the girls will be home and what time of the day or night there’ll be fewer neighbours home.’

  ‘This has to stop. I hope he likes my profile. If he doesn’t contact me …’

  Ben didn’t want to say he hoped Rob wouldn’t. But a very real part of him hoped for exactly that. ‘We’ll just have to wait and see.’

  Indy placed a plate in front of Ben and put her burger on another. Then she sat and bit into a chip with a satisfied groan. ‘It’s terrible. But it’s good. Where’d you go yesterday?’

  ‘I thought it would do Mia good to take her mind off everything.’

  ‘You did something with Mia? She didn’t mention it.’

  ‘Yeah. Why would she? And why the shock?’

  ‘Two reasons. One, you were gone all afternoon. If I’d known you two were alone together that long, I might have been tempted to call out a search party in case one of you was dead.’

  ‘I don’t want her dead.’

  ‘It wasn’t Mia I was worried about.’

  He grinned. ‘You make it sound like she doesn’t like me.’

  ‘I think she doesn’t want to like you,’ Indy said. ‘There’s a difference.’

  ‘And you’ve come to this brilliant conclusion based on …?’

  ‘Because two, we were talking about you earlier, and she didn’t mention it.’

  ‘You were talking about me?’

  She smiled wickedly. ‘Yep. Where’d you take her?’

  ‘We went to a local winery. I bought you some wine.’

  ‘Thanks. Under different circumstances, I’d remind you not to get too close to the case, but after all this time I think that’s probably a redundant sentiment, so good for you. It’s got to be easier to keep her alive if you’re getting along.’

  ‘I think so too.’

  ‘I told her about how you’d saved me from a life of crime.’

  ‘You did?’

  ‘Yeah, and how good you are to those kids you mentor. All sorts of stuff.’

  ‘Indy …’

  ‘Why not? Is it a secret?’

  ‘Not exactly but—’

  ‘Oh, and about her secret—that thing you say she’s keeping to herself? I think it has something to do with Ally’s baby.’

  She had his full attention. ‘Why?’

  ‘Because our latest vic’s message was “maybe the baby will be number one”.’

  ‘So she’s running out of time. She can make it stop, it’s her fault, the next one might be the baby … He wants her to do something.’

  ‘Then why wouldn’t she say so?’

  ‘Depends on what it is.’ And that frightened him. He checked his watch. ‘I should go talk to her before it gets too late.’

  ‘It is too late.’

  ‘She’ll be awake. Enjoy the burger.’

  He made the drive to Mia’s and saw her lights were still on, though it was difficult to tell through the thick curtains drawn tight. Did she ever turn those lights off? Ally had always slept with a light on. Was that what Mia was doing these days?

  Jasper might not have been about to rip an intruder in half, but he had a decent bark on him. By the time Ben had gotten out of his car, Mia had the door open a few inches. His gaze moved from her limited clothing to the serious handgun clasped in her hand. Lust came sharp and fast over the fear, the concern. He pushed it back.

  She disappeared behind the door, and as he reached the veranda, reappeared wrapped in a dressing gown, minus the weapon.

  ‘At least no one will sneak up on you,’ he said, still desperately trying to remove the image from his head. ‘How are you doing?’ As he stepped past her the scent she was wearing only made things worse.

  ‘I’m doing better than you by the look of it.’

  He ran a hand through his untidy hair and concentrated on why he was here. ‘Sorry, I haven’t been back to the motel room since going to Mudgee.’

  ‘Is that where she was?’

  ‘Yep. Where’d you put the gun?’

  ‘Hmm?’

  ‘I may have been somewhat distracted by the lacy singlet and satin boxers but I definitely saw the handgun.’

  ‘So you saw a gun. Why do you want to see it again?’

  ‘I want to know where it is before I start asking questions.’

  ‘Oh.’ Mia poured herself a glass of wine, lifted the bottle.

  ‘No, thanks.’

  She sat, tossed back her hair and folded her legs under her on the lounge. Then she took a decent swallow of her wine as though preparing for battle. ‘Right. What have I done this time?’

  ‘I want you to tell me what Rob meant by the baby comment.’

  She studied her glass. ‘It was just one of the many threats he made that night. You know, Ally’s having a baby, wouldn’t mind playing uncle … or something.’

  ‘Mia?’

  She looked up from her wine. ‘Yes?’

  ‘What did he mean by the baby comment?’

  That beautifully annoyed look came over her face. ‘Did I not just answer that?’

  ‘You lied.’

  Her gaze went back to her glass, but she said nothing.

  ‘Rob made a point of making that threat. He wouldn’t do that based on a throwaway comment. He’s pressuring you for something.’

  He watched her brow lift as her eyes took on a challenging gleam. ‘Is he?’

  ‘What does he want, Mia?’

  She got to her feet and walked a few steps. ‘You’re hassling me again. Where will we end up this time, the chocolate factory?’

  ‘If you like. But how about for now we stay on track. This case is difficult enough without having all the information. Anything you tell me cou
ld make a difference.’

  ‘The only difference telling you will make will be to make things worse.’

  ‘And it’s bad enough, isn’t it? How many glasses of wine have you already had tonight? You’re clearly upset, and the bottle’s nearly empty. Whatever he’s holding over you is hurting you. How can telling me make things worse?’

  ‘This is not about me.’

  ‘No, it’s about Chloe. Rob had you tied up for almost an hour. He and those other bastards were all over you but you got away. Why?’

  ‘Because I rubbed my wrists raw and got them out of the knots.’

  ‘After Rob had already left. He left you alive when he knew we were coming because Carter told him not to kill you. But Rob wouldn’t leave things that way—he had to think he was getting something out of it. He let you live. In his eyes, you owed him. So he told you to do this thing for him or he’d come after the baby. And he’s given you five chances to get it done.’

  ‘Looks like you’ve got it all figured out.’

  ‘It’s logical. Come on, Mia. What was it? What did he tell you to do?’

  ‘It wasn’t like that.’ She turned her back on him and walked around. ‘Chloe wasn’t supposed to come into it at all unless I went to the police. He changed the rules. He told me not to talk to you—told me what would happen if I did, and then because of these phone calls, he’s making me talk to you.’

  ‘He’s manipulating you into doing what he wants. What does he want?’

  She dropped her head back and stared at the ceiling. ‘He wants me to kill.’

  ‘Who?’

  She turned back around and the look on her face told him the answer before she said it.

  ‘You.’

  Her confirmation of his suspicions set him on his heels. But he kept his voice calm. ‘Tell me how that played out.’

  ‘He was delirious from the wound on his face, pissed off you’d found the hunt site. He wanted to kill me. He really wanted to kill me. But he fully believed he was going to get the rest of the hunters back together and still use me for the next hunt—that it would just be, I don’t know, delayed.

  ‘He knew he couldn’t take me with him and still get out of there; the cars were already coming in. So he started talking about the baby Ally was going to have and me not giving him any trouble when he came back for me, because if I did, if I told you, he’d take it out on Chloe. The only way out for me was to get you out of his way. Then he promised never to come near us again.’