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Matt’s eyes are still closed. He shakes his head slowly – but I don’t think it’s denial. Reality is hitting.
‘I never understood why my mother moved us so far away from him,’ he said. ‘I guess … she must have known all along. At least suspected. God. Was it you, then?’ Matt’s eyes flick to me. ‘Did you kill my father?’
I swallow. ‘Matt, he died of a heart attack.’
‘I don’t believe that.’
‘I had nothing to do with Glenn’s death. The news was as much of a surprise to me as to anyone.’
‘But you saw him that day.’ He says it calmly.
My stomach clenches. But I quell my initial reaction to say ‘no’. No more lying. ‘Yes, I did. That morning, as I was packing my bag for the race, I heard that Yasmin had passed away. That broke me all over again. I had to confront him. He had used me – my reputation – to lure Yasmin in. I felt responsible. He had made me complicit in his plans. I had to say my piece. But when I left, he was alive and well.’
Mariam stares at me, looking pale. She’s shaking uncontrollably now.
‘Your father’s death was not my fault,’ I repeat to Matt, watching carefully for his reaction. ‘Mariam needs help.’ I shift my bodyweight towards her.
‘Don’t move,’ he says. He pulls his backpack towards him. ‘You know, after the initial checks, they don’t bother looking at fun runner packs again. They don’t care if we carry extra food or take pills or bring a fucking kitchen sink.’
My breath catches in my throat.
He still wants revenge.That’s what Jason’s note had said. Now he’s got us right where he needs us. He’s heard the story. He’s got the answers he wants. And we are vulnerable. Weak. With nowhere to go.
He unzips the backpack and puts his hand inside. But what he pulls out is worse than a knife.
He’s got a gun.
45
Stella
We look up as Henry runs into the tent. ‘Another emergency beacon has gone off.’
Pete leaps to his feet. ‘Shit – Adrienne?’
‘No, but that woman she often runs with. Mariam. They could be together.’
‘Why didn’t Emilio come and get us?’ I ask Henry.
‘After he got Boones off to the hospital, he and Rachid drove straight back out into the desert again. Towards Jebel Tilelli. He wanted to be closer in case of exactly this, another beacon going off – but I insisted he take a radio to let us know.’
‘Fuck! It might take us hours to get to them.’
‘It’s getting lighter now – if you take the helicopter, you might even beat him.’
‘Great,’ I say.
It takes us minutes to grab our things.
‘It might not have anything to do with Matthew,’ Pete says, trying to reassure himself more than me. ‘Mariam could be pulling out for any number of reasons.’
‘Or it could,’ I say. I grab Pete’s hand, stopping him from leaving the tent. ‘Look, there’s not going to be much room in the helicopter.’
‘Right. Mac can stay behind.’
‘No way!’ Mac protests.
I wave him off. ‘Pete, stay in the bivouac. Coordinate with the police when they get here – show them all this evidence and get them ready to arrest Matthew when we bring him in.’