Page 129 of Killing Mind

Tiff had no choice but to follow her friend.

One Hundred Seven

Although she’d never met him, Stacey knew she was looking up into the face of Kane Drummond who towered above them both. His expression was unreadable but it was on a face that was vaguely familiar to her already. A few things fell into place but now was not the time. They were here for one reason only.

‘Sophie’s in there, isn’t she?’ she asked, trying to steady her voice.

Kane said nothing.

‘You’re holding her against her will?’ Penn added.

‘It’s not what you think.’

Penn glanced around at the desolate warehouse and the locked container door.

‘Really? Hardly five star is it?’

Kane regarded them silently for just a few seconds before leaning forward and opening the door to the container. It wasn’t locked.

As the door opened a shaft of light reached out to them. Stacey blinked away the brightness that assaulted her eyes. As her sight adjusted her gaze rested on the unmistakeable form of Sophie Brown sitting upright in a dining chair. The second thing she noticed were the tearstains that travelled down her cheeks.

Stacey took a step forward, noting the similar pretty features and blonde hair of her older sister.

Kane placed a hand on her arm. ‘Look and wait.’

Inside the container was another table. On it were more bottles of water and packs of food. Additionally, there were three piles of what looked like freshly laundered and folded clothes. A fan was placed in one corner and a blow heater in the other. Stacey’s gaze wandered over to Sophie, her forearms held rigid against the arms of the chair; a cushion had been placed behind her back.

‘Wh-who’s there?’ Sophie asked, moving her head from side to side.

Stacey wanted to go to her, but Kane’s hand was still on her arm.

‘Pl… please… who’s there? Please take the blindfold off me so I can see you.’

Stacey’s mouth fell open.

There was no blindfold.

Sophie’s eyes were tightly closed.

‘Untie me, you bastard,’ she cried.

There were no ties.

Her arms and feet were free to move any time she wanted.

Stacey swallowed hard and looked at Kane.

What the hell was going on here?

One Hundred Eight

The dirt track deposited them at the shed and fenced area as the last rays of sun disappeared behind a hill. Stacey had been unable to locate any other means of entry on Google Earth due to overhanging trees. As Kim had noted the other day, there was no break in the fence line and the fence itself was ten feet high. Even after scaling it they would have a half mile jog to the farmhouse.

‘Bryant…?’ she said, looking to him and then the fence.

‘Ah, damn it. I need a new car anyway.’

He pulled the gear stick into reverse and backed up about fifty feet.