Page 74 of The Twins

“You just don’t want us to kick your ass for letting her out of your sight,” Cillian said.

“Yeah, there is that.” Phil folded his arms and grimaced.

We sat in silence for a few minutes and then turned left onto a narrower, bumpier road.

Dalton’s phone rang, and he answered it. “Mitch?”

I leaned forward, gripping the seat in front so I could hear.

Dalton tapped the screen, switching it to speaker.

“Where are you?” Mitch asked.

“Just coming up to the spot her phone is meant to be.”

“Ah good. I can’t see anything suspicious in the local area but I’ll keep at it.”

“Cheers.”

“And this Conner guy she went to see in prison,” Mitch said.

“Yeah, what about him?” Dalton said.

“He was Reg Jacks’ cellmate.”

“What?” I gripped the seat in front of me. “You mean this was a setup, even from prison they managed to get her where they wanted her.”

“Seems that way, mate, sorry.” Mitch tutted. “Fucking bastards.”

“Should be here. The phone.” Jamie pointed forward and then slowed the vehicle. He came to a stop.

I slid open the side door and jumped onto the grass verge.

What I wanted was to find Rebecca there, with her phone in her hand, enjoying the countryside and the sunshine, a spontaneous solo picnic maybe.

But of course that wasn’t the case.

Cillian pulled out his phone and called Rebecca.

A tinny ringing to my right.

Quickly, I stomped through the wheat field, following the sound. And then, sure enough, with my heart sagging, I spotted it. Alone. Unanswered. The screen flashing Cillian’s name.

“It’s here.” I held it up, still scanning the area and hoping to see her striding toward me with her pretty face lit up in a smile.

“Clues?” Jamie called.

“Not that I can see.” I retraced my steps, searching for anything that might give us a lead.

“Fuck.” Cillian set his hands on his hips and studied the horizon in a slow spin. “Where in the name of the Lord is she?”

“I don’t think she’s far,” I said. “These roads are crap, who would go miles on them?”

“Yeah, I think you’re right.”

I pointed over Cillian’s shoulder. “What’s that over there?”

“A barn I reckon,” Dalton said at my side.