Page 132 of Killing Mind

Sophie tipped her head at the unfamiliar sound of a woman’s voice. There was something Kane had said that she might be able to work with.

‘Don’t mention Sammy. She can’t take that yet.’

Stacey nodded her understanding and approached cautiously.

‘Hey, Sophie, my name’s Stacey and I’m a friend of your mum and dad.’

Her face tightened.

‘Listen, I don’t know Jake but I think he might be wrong about your parents.’

‘They proved him right,’ she spat.

‘By taking Sammy first?’ Stacey asked.

She nodded.

Of course the master manipulator had turned that around to poison her mind. Both girls were in the cult and yet they’d chosen to get Sammy out and not her.

‘Ah, but I know why they did that. Your mum told me that you were the stronger of the two of you. That’s why they took Sammy first.’

Sophie shook her head. ‘No that’s…’

‘Sophie, I have no reason to lie and I’m sure Jake thought he was helping, but even your dad said you’d be stronger and would cope better. They trusted in your strength and asked Kane to get you as soon as he could. They knew Sammy was weaker than you.’

Stacey could see that Kane was uncomfortable with her lying, but the spell that had hung fast for days needed to be broken and the only way to do that was to cast even just a shadow of doubt on Jake’s words without calling him a liar. She would not accept that accusation. That could come later but right now all that was needed was an entry point, a way to reach the girl inside.

‘Sophie, I’m going to untie your ankles and your wrists, okay?’

Sophie nodded.

Stacey leaned down and fussed around her ankles making sure she made contact with the skin. She repeated the process around the wrists.

She stood and leaned over the trembling girl, who hadn’t moved an inch.

‘Now I’m taking off the blindfold.’

Stacey touched the girl’s cheeks gently and then fumbled at the back of her head.

‘Okay, sweetie, it’s all gone. You’re totally free now.’

With a hammering heart Stacey touched the girl’s hand.

‘Come on, Sophie, please look at me. Trust me that the blindfold is gone.’

Sophie finally opened her eyes.

One Hundred Ten

Kim knew she was just metres away from the cabin. A roaming torchlight and the low hum of voices told her she was getting close.

Being forced to walk slowly and carefully had given her mind a chance to clear. For the life of her she hadn’t been able to work out the link to the death of Derek Noble, their third victim. He had no connection to the college or any of the victims. But for his body to be found in the same place as Tyler had to mean something. And now she knew what it was.

She stood perfectly still as she reached the trees that circled the cabin. Two Victorian street lamps either side of the wooden structure lit up the small clearing and the leaves already being shed from the overhanging branches. Two figures sat on a fallen log. The glint of something in the lamp light confirmed her suspicions.

She was close enough to hear every word.

‘I’m sure he’ll be here in a minute,’ the redheaded girl said.