A Time to Run

  About A Time to Run

  The hunt is on

  A GRUESOME GAME

  A madman is kidnapping women to hunt them for sport.

  A FRANTIC SEARCH

  Detective Janine Postlewaite leads the investigation into the disappearance of Samantha Willis, determined not to let another innocent die on her watch.

  A SHOCKING TWIST

  The killer’s newest prey isn’t like the others. Sammi is a cop. And she refuses to be his victim.

  A RUN FOR YOUR LIFE

  A stunning, tautly written thriller from police officer and writer, J.M. Peace.

  Contents

  Cover

  About A Time to Run

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter 01

  Chapter 02

  Chapter 03

  Chapter 04

  Chapter 05

  Chapter 06

  Chapter 07

  Chapter 08

  Chapter 09

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Acknowledgements

  About J.M. Peace

  Copyright page

  For my family – for giving me the space to shoot for the stars.

  ‘SHHHH,’ went the breeze as it rustled through the trees at Yonga State Forest. Whispered secrets in the wind, Sylvia Notting thought idly. She loved afternoon rides through the bush, letting her horse amble along the rough trail while her kelpie scrambled and snuffled. Ziggy was always on the go. He ran backwards and forwards across the trail, flushing out birds and lizards. Sylvia could hear him scrabbling in the dirt behind a large eucalypt as she rode slowly on.

  ‘Come on, Ziggy,’ Sylvia called.

  The dog crashed through the undergrowth and burst out on the track in front of her, something large in his mouth. It was not just a stick. She reined her horse to a stop and swung out of the saddle.

  ‘Ta, Ziggy,’ she said, holding out her hand. The dog dipped his head and looked away, not happy about surrendering his find. Sylvia grasped the end and gave it a little shake till Ziggy released it. She turned the pale flat object in her hand so it caught a shaft of afternoon light.

  A bone. Sylvia was intrigued.

  More accurately, a scapula.

  A shoulder blade.

  Friday 4:04 pm

  ‘You can go to hell!’ Sammi yelled. She turned on her heel and walked to the bedroom.

  ‘I’m already there!’ Gavin shouted back.

  Sammi slammed the bedroom door hard enough for the old casement windows to rattle. She heard an echoing slam from the back door, and knew Gavin would be heading out with his running shoes and the dog lead. That was his standard cooling-down tactic after they’d had an argument. He’d go for a marathon-length run until the anger was gone. Sammi was pretty sure their dog looked forward to their fights, just for the exercise.

  They had been together for just over three years, and fighting for just under three of those. Neither of them took it personally. There was something to be gained by yelling and venting instead of keeping things buried. Even the neighbours knew well enough now to ignore the blow-ups.

  The noise rarely lasted long anyway. They would go their separate ways for a couple of hours, Gavin for his run, and Sammi to find a friend to whom she could vent about Gavin. She was quick-tempered, but once the initial outrage was past, she put everything into perspective and moved forward.

  This time was different.

  He’d gone too far, trying to control her life and undermine her independence. His arrogance infuriated her. To deal with this, she needed more distance between them than the local coffee shop.

  She stuffed a few clothes in a bag, the red mist of anger still over her eyes. Right now, she needed to cool off – away from Gavin, away from small-town Angel’s Crossing. Her bag packed, she reversed out of the driveway, the car wheels spinning just a little on the gravel, and headed south, the car stereo blaring.

  She checked the time. Twenty past four. Even while she was packing her overnight bag, she knew where she wanted to go. As soon as she cleared the outskirts of town, she called Candy. It was Friday afternoon and she was fairly certain what sort of reaction she would get from Candy when she told her she was on her way.

  ‘Woo hoo, girls’ night out!’ Candy said, her voice pitching even higher than usual in her excitement.

  Candy was an old school friend, the only one Sammi stayed in touch with. Their lives had taken very different directions, but they had enough in common, besides their shared history, to keep the friendship going. Candy was single and still living the life Sammi had left behind after university. It was parties, booze and men for Candy, usually in that order and as often as possible.

  ‘How long since we’ve done this, girl?’ Candy said. ‘It will be great. We’ll dress like sluts and drink till we chuck. By the end of the night, you’ll be like, “Gavin who”?’

  A night out with Candy was a trip down memory lane, taking Sammi back to the days before work and relationships and mortgages. A few years ago, it had been like this every Friday night – two girls out on the town, painting it red. Then the next morning they’d punish themselves by going for a run, sweating out the sins of the night before.

  Sammi was settled down now and had no regrets about her choices. But sometimes she just wanted to let her hair down, to break out of the rut and pretend to be someone else for an evening. She didn’t do it often anymore, especially if she had to work the next day.

  Which reminded her – her next shift was at noon tomorrow. She did some quick calculations in her head, factoring in the three-and-a-bit hours it took to get to Candy’s house from Angel’s Crossing. So she would have to leave Candy’s by 8:30 at the latest the next morning, pop home for a quick shower and then go to work. Knowing the way Candy’s nights usually turned out, she’d be lucky to have three or four hours’ sleep. Oh well, she’ll just have to fill up on coffee and hope for a quiet day. It was time to cut loose. The guys at work wouldn’t mind as long as she showed up, everyone had a lazy day once in a while.

  ‘When are you going to be here? I get off work in about an hour,’ Candy said.

  ‘I’ve just started driving, I’ll be there by half past seven.’

  ‘OK, I’ll have the margaritas in the blender and Aretha on the stereo. I’ll see you soon.’

  Candy was still whooping as Sammi hung up. She smiled a little and eased back in the driver’s seat. Just what she needed.

  Friday 6:20 pm

  Gavin put his feet up on the coffee table and cracked a beer, a wet towel around his waist and his hair sticking out at all angles. It would probably annoy Sammi if she saw him leaving a wet patch on the couch, but he was still cranky about the way she had blown up at him.

  God, she’d been mad. When he had just tried to be practical. Sometimes she just took everything the wrong way. He had only suggested that they merge their bank accounts, but she’d acted like he was trying to steal her money. It was just common sense, making it easier to pay the rent and bills.

  Three years together, and she still didn’t trust him? See a future for them? They fitted together perfectly. He loved her spirit of adventure, her willingness to give anything a go. They even shared the same temper – quick to flare up but no hard feelings afterwards.

  Gavin had jogged around the outskirts of town for nearly two hours to give Sammi some space. He was a little surprised to see her car gone when he returned. She hadn’t even left a note.

  He waited for a bit. This time, he’d definitely leave it to Sammi to make the first move to patch things up. She was the one who had ove
rreacted.

  He took another sip of beer and belched loudly because there was no one to tell him off.

  Friday 7:30 pm

  A night out with Candy required ruby-red lipstick, lots of stamina and an iron-plated liver. Candy liked men – all men – and didn’t seem to want to look for that special someone. They had drifted apart, emotionally as well as geographically, when Sammi settled down with Gavin. Although they spoke on the phone or texted, they seldom saw each other in person and rarely did Sammi surrender completely to Candy’s plans for a night out like tonight. But it was easy to pick up where they left off.

  Candy prided herself on her appearance. She could be too drunk to remember her home address at two in the morning, but would still touch up her make-up beautifully. So it didn’t surprise Sammi when Candy answered the door looking like she’d just walked out of a beauty parlour. After over three hours in the car, Sammi felt bedraggled.

  ‘Hey, girl,’ Candy said, giving her a big hug. ‘You look like you could use a drink. Lucky for you, I have one ready right here.’

  Sammi smiled. ‘Ahh, you know how to make me forget my troubles.’

  ‘So, what happened?’ Candy asked.

  Sammi sighed. ‘Just the usual. Gavin being an arse. I need to blow off some steam.’

  ‘So is it over?’ Candy asked, just a hint of eagerness in her voice. Sammi was sure Candy would welcome ‘Sammi the single girl’ back with open arms.

  Sammi looked at her in surprise. ‘Of course not. It was just a little fight. Nothing, really. I wanted to be somewhere else tonight. Let my hair down.’

  ‘Well, I’m your girl,’ Candy said. ‘I like Gavin but you were more fun before you met him.’

  Sammi smiled. ‘Just so we’re clear – I am still with Gavin and I am not going to pick up some bloke tonight. We didn’t break up, I’m just breaking out. One night only.’

  ‘So . . .’ Candy said, doodling a love heart in the condensation on her glass, ‘is Gavin The One?’

  Sammi nodded immediately. ‘Yeah. I couldn’t imagine being with anyone else. It’s very comfortable,’ she answered.

  ‘You say that like it’s a good thing,’ Candy countered.

  ‘It is,’ Sammi said, surprising herself. ‘It’s comfortable because we fit together. We can lean on each other and trust each other. I don’t want awkwardness or nerves or strange mysteries. Being with Gavin is like being at home in your favourite slippers.’

  ‘If you say something corny about him being your best friend, I’m going to bitch-slap you,’ Candy squealed.

  Sammi laughed. ‘I guess love is a bit corny . . . unless you’re in it,’ she said, only half-teasing Candy.

  Candy groaned and rolled her eyes.

  ‘I know it wouldn’t suit you,’ Sammi continued. ‘But it’s exactly what I’m looking for. I really should tell him that.’ She was surprised to hear the regret in her voice.

  ‘Don’t you dare talk yourself out of a big night out!’ Candy said. ‘You’re here with me now. Remember all that stuff you said about letting your hair down for a night?’

  Sammi smiled. ‘All good for tonight. I’m going to have a few drinks, do a little dancing and make dirty comments about the boys trying to pick you up. And I’m going to be at work by midday tomorrow,’ she said.

  Candy laughed, a giggle that burst out and threatened to infect Sammi. ‘Close enough. I’ll take what I can get. Hey, are we going for a hangover run in the morning?’ sheasked.

  ‘Are you going to get up at six?’ Sammi replied.

  ‘Nah,’ Candy said. ‘Look at us, we’re growing up.’

  It was about quarter to eight when the first call from Gavin came in. Although the anger had ebbed away during the long drive, Sammi still wasn’t prepared to answer when she saw his name flash up on the screen of her phone. She was all geared up for her big night out now, and any call with Gavin would kill the party mood.

  Candy looked at her expectantly as she picked up her phone. Sammi changed her mind and put it back down again.

  ‘He can talk to the message bank,’ she said.

  Candy reached over and clinked glasses with her. ‘Good on you, girl!’ she said.

  After the phone had rung for the fourth time while they were getting ready, Sammi knew she couldn’t keep ignoring him. She reached to pick up. Candy was too quick and grabbed it first.

  ‘I just need to let him know I’m OK and not coming home tonight. I don’t want him to worry,’ Sammi said, holding her hand out for the phone.

  ‘I’m not going to have him talk you into going straight back home,’ Candy said. ‘Leave it to me.’ She pushed the answer button.

  ‘Gavin sweetie, I’m keeping Sammi tonight. You can have her back tomorrow,’ she said with a giggle. ‘It doesn’t matter. We’re going out tonight and she won’t be home till tomorrow and there’s nothing you can say to change that because you’re not going to talk to her just now. We’re a bit too busy having fun, so you can stop calling. She’ll be home tomorrow . . . don’t worry . . . bye now, sweetie.’

  Sammi smiled.

  Candy put the phone on the table. ‘All sorted. You are forbidden from thinking about Gavin for the rest of the night. Tonight, it’s just you and me and the hotties of Brisbane.’

  They clinked glasses one more time.

  Friday 7:46 pm

  Gavin grimaced as he hung up the phone. He had recognised Candy’s squeaky voice. He didn’t particularly like her. She was trouble.

  So . . . Sammi was having a night out in Brisbane. He knew the sorts of things Candy got up to; Sammi had told him second-hand stories of Candy’s exploits and some had made him blush. Sammi wasn’t like that and he trusted her, but it still made him uneasy.

  Friday 9:10 pm

  By the time they were ready to leave for their night out, it was just about Sammi’s usual bedtime. The margaritas had given her a warm fuzzy feeling and she was ready to enjoy herself.

  Candy showed Sammi where the spare key was as they were leaving so she could get in any time. Neither had to wait for the other. There had been many nights where Sammi had found her own way home because Candy had picked up. It didn’t bother her. She wasn’t the type to rely on anyone.

  Both girls were already fairly tipsy as they climbed into the taxi. Sammi knew she would have to slow down or she wouldn’t last the night. That was easy – they hit the dance floor as soon as they went into the first club. Sammi let the buzz sweep her along, enjoying the music, the crush, buying obscenely overpriced cocktails, watching Candy strut her stuff and the men sniffing around. For the first time that day Sammi relaxed. She and Candy had similar senses of humour and shared lots of laughs. They moved from one club to the next, Candy’s decisions based on where the hottest-looking men were headed.

  By two in the morning Sammi had slowed down further and had been on water for the last two rounds. She propped herself on a vacant barstool and watched as Candy bounced across to her. She moved in close, raising her voice in Sammi’s ear in order to be heard over the thump of the music.

  ‘See that cute guy over there, the one in the red shirt? His name’s Matt. Or it might be Nat. And he’s a got a friend who’s pretty hot too. Anyway, he’s a property developer and drives a Porsche and he wants us to come to another bar.’

  Candy lowered her voice and Sammi strained to hear her. ‘The place is a bit of a dive, but close to my house, so we’ll be nearly home. Time to take a ride in a Porsche!’

  Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed Sammi’s hand and dragged her towards Candy’s newfound friend. The foursome wove their way through the thinning crowd and out into the fresh air.

  Sure enough, Matt did drive a Porsche, but it was an SUV rather than a sports car. Matt’s friend Wayne ended up driving so Matt could cosy up to Candy in the back seat. That left the front passenger seat for Sammi.

>   ‘Are you drunk?’ Sammi asked Wayne without preamble, as he slid into the driver’s seat.

  ‘Loosen up, girl!’ came the cry from the back seat.

  ‘I’m sober, just here for the ride,’ Wayne assured her as he revved the engine. Sammi tried to ignore the sounds of passion coming from the back seat and made polite conversation with Wayne, who seemed amused by the whole situation. Sammi made sure to mention her boyfriend; she didn’t want Wayne to get the wrong idea. Besides, she was tired and just about ready to call it a night. Glancing towards the backseat, she guessed she’d be going home alone.

  They pulled into the carpark of what appeared to be a tavern. Sammi didn’t know Brisbane very well, and had no idea how far they were from Candy’s house. She knew her address though and that – along with a taxi ride – would soon have her hunting for Candy’s hidden house keys.

  As Matt and Candy untangled themselves and climbed out of the back seat, Sammi looked around. It wasn’t the sort of place she would have thought a high-flying property developer would choose. It seemed more a pub than a club. A neon sign with a faux English pub picture declared it to be the Lion’s Head.

  As if reading her thoughts, Matt said, ‘It’s not much, but it’s perfect for this time of night, I think. It’s a bit quieter, so we can ditch the crowds and get to know each other.’

  He pinched Candy’s bottom at that remark and she giggled. ‘Also, Candy said you guys live at Forest Lake, so it’s close to home for you.’

  Let him think Candy and Sammi lived together. That was fine by her. He was probably hoping his next stop would be Candy’s bedroom.

  They went inside, Sammi’s eyes adjusting to the dim lighting. There were a few people at the bar, a handful on the dance floor. It was that time of night when people either hooked up or went home. Candy and Matt went straight to the dance floor, wrapped their arms around each other and swayed as they kissed.

  Wayne moved closer to her, talking over the music and suddenly his hand was resting on her lower back just above her bottom. She flicked it off and turned so he was looking at her shoulder. Part of Sammi felt a stab of jealousy, wishing Gavin was here and she had a set of strong arms pulling her close, instead of Wayne with his sweaty hands and body odour.