As he took another step forward the victim’s face came into view. Her auburn hair was plastered against her right cheek. He squatted next to her and tilted his head to look into her lifeless eyes. ‘Oh my God,’ he whispered.
‘That’s what I was trying to tell you,’ Dave said, pulling him to his feet. ‘I’m sorry, mate. I almost had a heart attack myself, when I arrived. Took me a couple of seconds to realize it wasn’t her.’
Lockyer tried to focus, to move or speak.
‘Mike . . . are you all right?’
The iron clamp crushing his heart suddenly released its grip. He swayed as his senses rushed back to him. ‘. . . I’m fine. It isn’t . . . it isn’t her,’ he said, touching the chain around his neck, rolling the ring back and forth beneath his shirt.
‘No, it isn’t. I’m sorry, I handled that badly. I wasn’t sure what to say,’ Dave said with a shake of his head.
‘It’s fine, just knocked me off for a second, I’m fine . . . what else have you got for me?’
He tried to listen to Dave’s preliminary report but all he could think about was Megan. All he could see was her face.
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