Page 130 of Killing Mind

‘Ready?’

Kim nodded as he changed gears and hit the accelerator.

Kim braced herself as the shiny metal fence hurtled towards her. The sickening sound of metal on metal met her ears as sparks flew around them. The car hit resistance for just a second before the metal fencing was ripped from its post and flew across the front of the car.

‘Jeez, Bryant. Woody would be so proud of the steadying influence you have on me.’

‘More worried about explaining it to the wife to be honest,’ he muttered, getting the car onto the line of tarmac that led all the way to the house.

Bryant kept up the speed and pulled up short at the front of the house. A group had gathered hearing the noise of the approaching car.

Kim recognised one woman in particular and headed straight for her. Everyone else moved aside.

‘Sheila, where’s Tiffany?’

‘Who?… I don’t…’

‘Please don’t lie. Kane told us everything. Now, where is she?’

Kim didn’t have the time to explain.

‘Meditating with Jake.’

‘Where?’

Sheila nodded towards the wooded area at the foot of the hill.

‘A cabin about a quarter mile in.’

Kim hesitated for just a second.

‘For what it’s worth, your daughter misses you very much.’

She didn’t wait for a response but Sheila’s words followed her.

‘Stick to the path. There are traps…’

Kim threw her hand in the air to signal that she’d heard.

‘What exactly are they trying to catch?’ Bryant asked, as they hit the trodden-down path, leaving the lights of the Farm behind.

‘Ssh…’ Kim said, knowing their voices would carry in the silence.

The path into the woods was barely discernible and was only a couple of feet wide. Although it was only dusk the towering trees blocked out the last of the fading light.

‘Stay behind,’ she advised her colleague, who was taking the torch from his pocket.

‘Too bright,’ she said, taking out her mobile phone. One slip and the beam would light up the whole area alerting Jake to their presence. She wanted the element of surprise on her side.

‘Hang on, guv, what’s that hanging?…’

‘Bryant, don’t veer…’

Her warning came too late as she heard the thud of him falling to the ground, dead leaves crunching around him.

‘What the hell?’

‘Fuck, Bryant, what have you?…’