Page 102 of Sisters

The techie guy answered: ‘They can’t speak. Too busy eating each other’s faces.’

A bark of laughter came from Santini. ‘Serious? The dirty bastard.’

‘What a player, eh?’

‘Can’t trust those Scandis to keep their dicks in their pants.’

Baroni did her best to ignore them. Damn Fredrik – this was definitely not what they’d discussed. What the hell did he think he was playing at? She tried to clear her head, to block out the other officers so she could think, but they were like a pack of hyenas.

‘Quiet!’ she barked.

This elicited raised eyebrows but Baroni hardly noticed. She got up and moved over to the screens. On one of them, a young woman was hurrying down the road towards the B & B. It was Abby.

Baroni’s heart began to race. She pushed the button on her radio. ‘Suspect in view.’

SEVENTY-EIGHT

‘On it,’ said Santini, all attention now, his voice coming up on Baroni’s radio.

‘She’s coming down the main street, north to south, towards the B & B,’ replied Baroni. ‘She’ll be in your sight in about thirty seconds.’

‘Got her!’ said Santini. ‘I am exiting my vehicle.’

Baroni watched on the screen and saw what Santini could see – Abby was nearing the B & B. She wasn’t alone on the street, though; a large group of women with their young children were pouring out of the village hall. In moments, they had surrounded Abby: kids, prams, teddies, mothers.

‘I can still see her,’ said Santini.

‘No,’ said Baroni. ‘Wait.’

‘I’ve got her in my sights.’

He what?Baroni scanned the screen but Santini wasn’t far forward enough to be on camera and she couldn’t see what he was doing. ‘Do you have your weapon?’ she barked.

‘Directed right on the suspect,’ said Santini.

There were dozens of children around. What was he thinking? Baroni watched and waited, mentally urging the young mothers to move on. They laughed and talked and attempted to cajole their children along in an orderly fashion. It was like watching people trying to herd cats.

‘Get back in your car,’ said Baroni.

‘I can get to her,’ said Santini. ‘Make her hand herself in.’

‘I said return to your vehicle!’

There was silence.Jesus!Baroni had no choice but to yank off her headset and exit the van. She jumped into the road and up ahead saw Santini pressed low to the road, his gun raised at the crowd ahead. Somewhere amongst them she caught a fleeting glimpse of Abby.

‘Lower your weapon immediately,’ she said into her radio. ‘I am right behind you and that is an order.’

Santini flicked his head back and sullenly dropped his arms. Furious, Baroni searched again for Abby, but she’d gone. She marched back to the van, looked at the screens as the mother and baby group subsided.

She grabbed the radio. ‘You see where she went?’

‘No,’ said Santini. ‘You should have let me intercept,’ he said sourly.

‘Maybe she went into the B & B?’ said the techie cop.

Merda!It was time to find out.

SEVENTY-NINE