THE KILLING ROUTE

DI SARA RAMSEY

BOOK 28

M A COMLEY

Copyright © 2025 by M A Comley

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Formatted with Vellum

To my mother, gone but never forgotten. Miss you every second of every day, Mum.

My heart is breaking a second time with the loss of Dex, my beloved pup. But Tilly is heaven sent and healing it slowly.

This book is a work of fiction and is no reflection of real van life.

Happily, I’m a new camper van owner. I’d like to dedicate this book to a few of my very dear fellow camper van friends: Firstly, to the dynamic duo, John and Harry, who have recently taken me under their wings, they’ve been instrumental in helping me to achieve my dream of owning a van and touring Scotland, in particular, The Highlands. Not bad for a first trip, considering how apprehensive I was when I first bought Dexter, the van. Here’s to the many more adventures ahead of us, chaps. xx

Also, to one of my best friends, Terry, who has been nagging me, I mean, urging me for years, to take the plunge and buy a van. Hope to meet up with you, Robbie, and Flynn soon for an adventure of our own. xx

And to Nikki Ayling and her lovely family. We’ve been FB friends for years and recently met up at a local site for a fabulous weekend of laughter and tears. xx

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special thanks as always go to @studioenp for their superb cover design expertise.

My heartfelt thanks go to my wonderful editor Emmy, my proofreaders Joseph and Barbara for spotting all the lingering nits.

A special shoutout to all my wonderful ARC Group, who help to keep me sane.

PROLOGUE

Lucas surveyed his surroundings, dissatisfied with the way his life had panned out so far. Jobless and homeless weren’t exactly the labels he had intended to have at his age. He’d been forced to purchase a camper van as somewhere to rest his weary head. He’d been living in the clapped-out vehicle for the last few months. It rattled even when it was stationary, which annoyed the shit out of him. He was living on scraps, mostly scavenged from discarded takeaway containers he found lying around.

No, this wasn’t how he’d planned his life to turn out. Things had gone pear-shaped the moment he’d lost his mother. She died just two weeks after her breast cancer diagnosis. The council had proved to be heartless bastards in the circumstances. They’d forced him out of the flat because his name wasn’t on the lease. His mother had already benefited from a legacy lease when his father had died. He’d tried daily to plead his case, but no one at the council would listen. They repeated the same mantra: ‘There’s a waiting list as long as our arms, and you’ll be put at the end of it.’

Fortunately, his mother had a few thousand in savings that she handed over to him on her deathbed. She told him to buy a car and move to another area. He’d argued with her, said the money would be better spent elsewhere, meaning on her funeral plans, but she told him that was all paid for and insisted he should get on with his life.

He’d seen an advert in the local paper for an old camper van, and the rest was history. He’d driven it for two thousand miles since then without any bother, but over the last twenty miles or so, it had definitely developed a knocking sound coming from underneath. The problem was that he didn’t have the funds to feed himself, let alone repair the van he now considered his home.

He had to come up with a plan to rectify his current status, and quickly.

Whilst scrolling through several van life Facebook pages and seeing a lot of couples or friends out on the road, their smiling faces showing how happy they were, he realised that his solitary life had got boring. He decided to write a post.

Hi, I’m new to all this van life malarkey. I know one thing, though: life is too short to have regrets. I’ve got the camper and a plan for the future. All I need now is the right co-pilot who would be willing to tag along for the ride. Any takers?

My requirements are simple: the person needs to be spontaneous, up for adventure and not afraid to go off-grid. Please, no dull souls, no drama. Who’s up for it? Are you? Send me a message if you’re up for an adventure or two.

Lucas hit the Send button and cringed. Should he have added the final part to his message? Analysing his post, he wondered if he had come across as creepy. He thought about editing it but then decided to see what type of comments he received first.

It didn’t take long for the replies to start rolling in, along with lots of likes and laughing emojis.

Depends – are you a serial killer? with an added laughing emoji.

Define off-grid? Do you mean no Wi-Fi or civilisation? Asking for a friend. LOL

Sounds like the start of a horror movie… count me in!

Lucas smirked, and his pulse raced. They had no idea what was running through his mind when he’d placed the post.

Then came the private messages, one after the other.

First one: Hey, this sounds incredible! Where are you heading?

Second one: What’s the catch? Are we talking about a free ride here, or will I be expected to pay my way? Because at the moment, I’m skint, man!

Third one: I’d love to join! Been looking for a change… this life gets shittier every day… tell me more!

None of the messages stirred his insides, but then he received one from a Riley Shaw: Now this sounds interesting. Tell me more… Are you as wild as your post suggests? Or are you one of life’s wind-up merchants?

Lucas clicked on her profile picture. She had a confident, winning smile and piercing green eyes that held a wicked glint to them. His pulse ticked faster. He could tell she wasn’t just up for it; she seemed hungry for something more.

He typed back: I guess you’ll have to come and find out, won’t you?

And just like that, the wheels of fate started turning.

The conversation went back and forth, and Lucas discovered he had a genuine connection with Riley. It seemed she felt the same way. They weren’t flirting as such, but some of her messages had the same sort of vibe he was feeling. So, after sitting back for half an hour or so, during which time he read all the other comments that had been posted and glanced at the other messages he’d been sent, he plucked up the courage to invite Riley to join him on his future adventures.

He typed her a heartfelt message that read:

Hi, Riley, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you over the internet. I’d love to take things further with you. Umm… by that I mean, yes, I’d be happy to have you along for the ride. What do you say? Are you up for it?

Riley’s response. Hey, man. This is brilliant news. Where shall we meet up?

Where are you?

Riley: I’m in Nottingham. What about you?

Hereford. Can you catch a train to Hereford?

Riley: Sounds good to me. Let me sort out the times, and I’ll get back to you.

I’ll be here… waiting impatiently.

She sent a laughing emoji back, and that was the final message between them. As the silence filled the van, his heart ached to hear from her again.

Two hours later, his wish came true.

Hi, it’s me again. I can get the train tomorrow morning and be with you around eleven. How does that sound to you?

That sounds amazing. I’ll meet you at the station.

Okay. That’s great. My train gets in at two minutes past eleven.

I’ll be there. We’re going to have the time of our lives.

He ended the message, and that’s when the fear struck. Shit, shit, shit, what am I going to do now? I can’t uninvite her, can I? Why would I? She’s going to go berserk when she finds out how crummy this van is and that I haven’t got two quid to my name. Holy shitballs, what have I frigging done?

His inner voices went back and forth with each other, driving him to distraction for the next couple of hours, until he came up with another plan to smooth the way before he picked her up.

An hour later, he drove to the location and parked on the road outside the venue. He withdrew a mask that he’d brought along for the sheer hell of it and slipped it over his head. Lucas left the van with his sweatshirt hood up. He kept his head down and walked past the camera at the front of the building. There was a gate at the side. He slid the lock across to gain access and entered the courtyard of the pub where he used to work. It was approaching kicking-out time, and he knew that the staff would be busy cleaning up while Ray cashed up the night’s takings in the office at the top of the stairs.

Lucas chanced his arm and tested the back door. It was open. Ray’s wife, Carol, would be livid with him once they realised that’s how the intruder gained access to the pub. He tiptoed up the stairs, keeping one ear on what was going on downstairs with the staff, who were milling around, filling up the shelves and emptying the glass washer.

He pressed an ear to the office door. Ray was having a one-sided conversation, on the phone to one of his mates, no doubt. He tapped his foot while he waited patiently. Lucas peered over his shoulder, in case a member of staff crept up on him. He knew the likelihood of that happening at this time of night was zilch, because the staff had one thing on their minds: cleaning up and getting the hell out of there after a long shift behind the bar.

The room fell silent. Ray had ended his call. It was time for Lucas to make his move. He turned the knob and eased the door open. Ray was sitting at his desk, three piles of money in front of him. His old boss was concentrating so hard he neglected to hear Lucas enter the room. He closed the door behind him and poked Ray in the back.

Ray leapt out of his seat. “What the fuck is going on here?”

“Er… let me think about that for a moment. Ah, yes, you’re being robbed, mate.” Lucas tapped the crowbar in his left hand. “Put the money in the bag and hand it over.”

“And if I don’t?” Ray challenged. He puffed out his chest and sucked in his beer gut.

Lucas knew his ex-boss didn’t have it in him to retaliate.

“Do you really want to go there? Do it! Now!”

Ray reached for the cloth money bag and put a pile of notes into it. “There you go. I can spare that. Take it, and we’ll say nothing more about it.”

“Don’t take me for an idiot. I know you’re insured. You can claim the money back.”

Ray stared at him. “Do I know you? Have you worked for me?”

Lucas hesitated. Did Ray recognise him? He remained silent for a beat. “Money… bag… now! Or I’ll bash you over the head and take it all, leaving you needing hospital treatment. The choice is yours, mate.”

Ray heaved out a large breath and put the other two piles of cash inside the bag. He handed it over. “That’s a week’s worth of hard work in there. Thugs like you need to get a life. Work for a living instead of robbing from the likes of me—someone who puts in twelve to fourteen hours a day, seven days a sodding week.”

“Yadda, yadda, yadda. I know exactly how much you work — or don’t. Half your shifts are spent drinking with punters or watching telly in here. So spare me the sob story, you prick.”

Ray’s gaze latched on to his, and for an instant, Lucas thought he’d overstepped the mark. He snatched the bag from Ray. The man was reluctant to let go, so Lucas took a step towards him and raised the bar above his head, ready to clatter him with it. It was enough for Ray to rethink his actions and relinquish his hold on the bag.

“Cheers. Thanks for being so obliging.” Lucas turned and ran down the stairs. At the bottom, he glanced up to see Ray chasing him. “You might want to lock the back door in the future. If you don’t, I can guarantee that I’ll be back.”

“You bastard. You won’t get away with it a second time, so don’t bother coming back.”

Lucas laughed. “We’ll see. Enjoy the rest of your week; I know I’ll be making the most of mine.”

“People like you make me sick…”

“Whatever. I’m the one with the money in my pocket, man. See ya, and thanks for the cash. I’ll be sure to make good use of it.”

“Scumbag.”

Two members of staff appeared in the doorway of the pub.

Lucas threatened the women with the bar. “Don’t even think about it.” Then he bolted out of the back door and across the car park. He hid behind a group of shrubs until he thought it was safe to continue back to the van. After removing his mask and shoving the bag of money inside his zipped-up jacket, he set off, whistling a merry tune as he walked.

Now I’ve got the money to impress Riley when she joins me. It’s a shame I don’t have the time to take the van to the garage before we meet up. Maybe I can arrange that in the near future.

1

He treated himself to a full English breakfast at the supermarket close to the station in Hereford. His nerves jangled as he made his way across the road to meet Riley. He hadn’t heard a word from her since the last message she sent. The idea that she might renege on their deal was bothering him. The time was five minutes to eleven. He paced the platform back and forth until the train drew into the station and came to a stop alongside him. He stood sideways, eagerly watching the doors of every carriage as they opened. Eventually, he spotted her. He dashed the thirty feet to welcome her.

“Hey, Riley. It’s great to meet you. Can I help you with your rucksack? It’s bulging and looks really heavy for you to carry.”

Riley tutted and rolled her eyes. “I’m used to it. Let’s get one thing straight from the outset: I ain’t no wimp. I’m an independent woman and will continue to be one until my dying day. I’ll ask for help if I need it. Now, where’s your van? I’m eager to see it.”

He smiled and swallowed. Shit, she’s going to kill me! I hope her expectations aren’t too high. “It’s across the road, in the supermarket car park. Have you eaten?”

“I tend not to eat until mid-afternoon. I’ll grab something later. I need to watch my figure.”

“It’s okay. I’ll be doing that for you,” Lucas quipped.

Riley shook her head. “Bloody predictable, that is. I knew you were going to say something like that. I should have kept my mouth shut.”

Lucas chuckled. “Hey, I’m just joking with you. Let’s go. We have an adventure to plan.”

“Isn’t our future all mapped out already?”

“Oh well, sort of. I thought it might be good if we made plans together. It wouldn’t be fair of me to expect you to want to explore the same places I want to go, would it?”

“Yeah, I suppose that’s true. I’m excited to see your van. Does it have a name?”

“Dexter,” he said off the top of his head.

She stared at him and then tipped her head back and laughed. “Don’t tell me you named your van after a serial killer?”

Oh shit! No, no, no! “Oh gosh, I’ve never thought about it before. My parents had a golden Labrador when I was growing up. I named the van after him. I thought it was cool at the time; didn’t even think about the programme. Maybe I should rename it?”

“Don’t you dare. I think it’s pretty cool.”

They walked side by side across the road, and he stopped behind the van. She took one look at it, unhitched her rucksack, dropped it on the ground, and laughed so hard she ended up in a heap at his feet. “Oh God, I think I’ve pissed myself.”

“Hey, you’re hurting my feelings. It’s not that bad.”

She glanced up at him, tears streaming down her face. “Are you fucking kidding me? Maybe I should get on the next train out of here. You’ve misled me big time, thinking this piece of crap is going to be pivotal for our future adventures. There’s only one place this heap of shit is heading. That’s to the scrapheap.”

Lucas raised his hands in front of him. “He ain’t that bad. You haven’t seen the inside yet. I’ve spent a lot of money getting that right.”

“What’s the point in spending on the inside when the outside and under the bonnet are shit?”

“He runs like a dream,” he lied, offended by her reaction to his pride and joy.

“More like a nightmare. You’re deluded if you think I’m going to tag along for the ride.”

“What? I can’t believe you’d say that. You’re really hurting my feelings.”

“Tough. Like I said, you’re deluded. I bet this heap of shit won’t even make it to the end of the road, let alone across the country. What were you thinking? Not only buying this shit tip, but also putting that advert up in the Facebook group? I’ve been duped by you. Was that intentional?”

“No. Don’t be ridiculous. I’d never hoodwink you into believing all was hunky-dory. Hey, you’re as much to blame as I am. Why didn’t you ask to see a photo of the van before you agreed to come along for the ride?”

“Hey, don’t do that. Don’t turn the frigging tables on me. You’re the one at fault here. You’ve misled me into thinking you had a great vehicle and that we would have many exciting adventures ahead of us. Jesus wept, look at it. Are those frigging tyres even legal?”

Lucas’s anger bubbled inside. He turned his back on her and inhaled and exhaled a large breath. When he faced her again, he found her staring off into the distance towards the train station.

“What are you going to do? Give up before you’ve even sampled the ride… so to speak?”

“I don’t know. Don’t talk to me. I’m thinking. I hate being lied to.”

“I haven’t lied to you. Give me a chance to prove myself and Dexter to you.”

“Why should I, when all you’ve done so far is deceive me?”

“I haven’t, not intentionally. Oh, bugger, just do what you want. I have places I need to be. I feel stifled here in the city.”

“Go, leave me here. I’ll get the next train back to Nottingham. I’ve got no idea where I’m going to stay, though. I gave up my friend’s couch to come here. I doubt if he’ll allow me back in the house again after I told him a better offer had come my way.”

“I’m sorry. Looks like you don’t have any other options available then. Go on, give us a go. See how things go for a couple of days. I’m sure you won’t regret it.”

She raised an eyebrow. “I doubt if that’s true. I’m bloody regretting forking out for the train fare up here anyway. Seventy quid I’m out of pocket already.”

“I’ll reimburse you your fare.”

“How? Like you have two quid to rub together. If you had, you’d have spent it on this excuse for a van.” She let out a growl and jumped to her feet. “I’ll give it a week. The second this heap of shit breaks down, I’m outta here. Have you got that?”

He saluted her and grinned. “Loud and clear, ma’am.”

“Don’t ever call me that again. I hate it.”

“Another black mark against me. Sorry.”

“Shut up and show me the inside.”

He smiled and unlocked the side door of the van. She stuck her head inside.

“What do you think?” he asked.

“It’s passable. Where am I expected to sleep? And don’t tell me with you. It ain’t gonna happen.”

“No, no, okay, message received and understood. The seats fold down to form a bed, plus there’s another double at the rear. It’s curtained off.”

“I’ll take the double at the back. You can go through the hassle of making up your bed every night.”

Lucas raised his hands. “Hey, that sounds great to me. Thinking about it, I might nip back to the supermarket to pick up an extra quilt and pillows before we head off.”

“I hope you’re not expecting me to pay for them?”

“No. I’ve got some dosh on me. I’d better get some new bedding as well. Do you have any preference for colour?”

“The darker the better for me. I’m not a girly girl who prefers Barbie-pink stuff everywhere.”

“Actually, I didn’t think you were. Leave it to me. Why don’t you stay here and get comfortable? I won’t be long.”

“That’s a contradiction in terms right there, if you think I’m ever going to feel comfortable in here.”

His smile was laced with caution. He turned and rushed towards the supermarket entrance, then raced down the aisles where the bedding was on sale. There wasn’t a lot to choose from, but he picked a midnight-blue quilt cover that had an astronomical theme and was covered in stars, the moon and the sun. He went through the range of quilts they had for sale and finally decided on a mid-weight one that had an eleven-tog rating. The pillows on offer were either too soft or too firm, with nothing in between. He ended up doing eeny meeny between them, eventually landing on the softer option.

Next, he stopped off at the wine section and bought a bottle each of mid-range white and red, then he picked up a twenty-four pack of lagers and headed for the till.

The smiley cashier whizzed the items through the scanner and announced, “That’ll be eighty pounds and thirty pence, please.”

He gulped noisily. Had he not been in the fortunate position of having the extra cash at his disposal, he would have put the cover back. Suck it up, I can afford it. Hand over the money and get back to the charming Riley.

“Thank you. Do you need a bag?” the cashier asked after she accepted the four twenty-pound notes and change from him.

“No, I think I can manage. Thanks all the same.”

“Enjoy the rest of the day.”

“I will. You too.”

He rushed back to the van to find the door still wide open, which filled him with hope that Riley hadn’t run out on him. “Hi, I’m back. How are you settling in?”

“I’m not,” Riley snapped back. She was sitting on the bench seat, her elbows on the table and her hands tucked under her chin. “Oh, just ignore me. I’m a grumpy git at times, especially when things aren’t going my way. Show me what you’ve bought.”

He ignored her comment rather than dwell on it and placed the items on the table. “I hope you like the choices I’ve made.”

She picked up the bottles of wine and read the labels. “This one is a cheeky little number. Are we going to have a celebration dinner this evening?”

“That’s what I was thinking. Sorry, I should have filled up the cupboards. I have no idea what you like to eat.”

“I’m quite fussy. I can’t tell you exactly what I like and don’t like because I change my mind so often that I confuse myself at times.”

“Oh heck, that’s going to keep me on my toes, then. What about if we splash out on fish and chips later? My treat.”

She cocked her head to the side and studied him. “What’s with you splashing all this cash around? You wouldn’t be trying to impress me, would you?”

“Nope. Take me or leave me, that’s what I always say. I’ve never pretended to be someone I’m not.”

“Hmmm… that’s debatable. I still think you should have told me about this dump.”

“Maybe it’s a bloke thing. Yes, it’s a bit of a tip, but it’s a lovable tip, and it gets me from A to B, and further, if needed.”

“Yeah, I can believe that. I can see us having to push it now and then.”

“Are you having regrets?”

Riley contemplated his question for a few long seconds and finally said, “The jury is still out for me. Okay, what are your plans for this evening? I hope you’re not intending to park up here overnight?”

“No chance. They probably put the barrier down when the supermarket closes at ten. We’ll head off and see where the road takes us. There’s nothing set in stone. As long as we have a fish and chips shop nearby, we should be happy, shouldn’t we?”

“Yeah, I’m up for that. Where do you usually park up?”

“The odd lay-by here and there. Do you fancy a cuppa and a catch-up before we begin our adventure?”

“Why not? Do you want me to make the drink?”

“Okay, you do that while I get the bedding sorted.”

“What type of milk do you use?”

He opened the fridge and withdrew two pints of semi-skimmed milk. “If it’s not what you have, I can nip back and buy some more before we get on the road.”

“No, it’s fine for me. Tea or coffee?”

“I prefer coffee. Damn, I don’t think I have any teabags.”

“Don’t worry. I prefer coffee anyway. Do you take sugar? It’s bad for you.”

“Only one spoonful. Are you going to forgive me for that?”

“Fair enough. There’s enough sugar in our food these days not to warrant putting any excess in our drinks.”

Lucas grinned, sensing that she knew a lot about various subjects and that what lay ahead would be interesting, to say the least. “If you say so.” He opened the packaging and removed the quilt cover, which he shook out. He did the same with the quilt, and within minutes he’d tackled the job of assembling the new bedding.

“Here’s your coffee. I’ll lend a hand and do the pillows. You have good taste. The cover looks better than it did in the packet.”

“I agree. I’ll pop them on the bed.” He did that and returned to enjoy his coffee. “So, why don’t you tell me a bit about yourself?”

Riley wrapped her hands around her mug and stared at her drink. “There’s really not that much to tell.”

“Were you born in Nottingham?”

“Yes. Actually, no, we moved there when I was six months old. I was born in Leicester.”

“Are your parents still alive? Only you mentioned that you were sleeping on a friend’s couch, so I just wondered.”

“No, they’re both dead now. The Big C has a lot to answer for, doesn’t it?”

“Yep. I’ve lost a few family members over the years who have gone out the same way. Horrible disease, and what gets to me is the amount they’ve spent on research over the years, yet it doesn’t seem to be making any difference. One in two people… shameful statistic, right?”

“Yep, it’s sickening. It definitely makes you take a step back and assess your life. At least that’s what happened to me.”

“I take it you’re not working now, or you wouldn’t be tagging along with me on this adventure. So, what have you done in the past?”

“This and that. You name it, I’ve got my hands dirty doing it.”

He smirked. “I don’t suppose you’ve worked as a mechanic, have you?”

“I knew it. There’s something wrong with this crappy vehicle, isn’t there?”

“I didn’t say that.” He avoided eye contact with her. “I was just thinking of the future. Makes sense, right?”

She squinted at him as if she didn’t believe him, then pointed her finger and narrowed her eyes. “I’m warning you, if this vehicle breaks down on our very first trip, I’m outta here.”

“It won’t. Don’t be silly. It runs like a dream.”

“It better. What about you? How come you’ve chosen this life?”

He bowed his head as the memories of his mother lying on her deathbed filled his mind. “I was pretty much in the same situation, kipping in my mum’s spare room when she passed away. I was evicted from the flat because my name wasn’t on the lease. She left me a few grand and told me to put it to good use, so, at the time, I reluctantly bought Dexter. Then I lost my job. I worked at a pub not far from here.” He could feel his cheeks warming up as he recalled the incident that had happened the night before.

“How did you lose your job?”

“I had a tosser of a boss who never valued the staff working for him. He took us for granted and expected us to be grateful for putting up with his shit.”

“I know the type. The power goes to their head, doesn’t it? So how do you make money now?”

“I’ll get a job when the money runs out,” he said evasively.

“Why don’t I believe you? Come on, you’re going to need to be honest with me, or I’ll jump on the train again.”

He looked her in the eye and said, “Okay, let me put it this way, then: I’m prepared to do anything I have to if it means ensuring I spend the rest of my life on the road. Go on, say it, you’re going to jump on the train anyway, aren’t you?”

She reached a hand across the table and placed it on top of his. “No. I’d be foolish if I turned down this opportunity. Cards on the table, I’ve always longed to feel as free as I do now, with no ties to a job or where I live. I haven’t got any family members left, nor any decent friends I can sit down with and have a heart-to-heart about what makes me tick or if something is getting me down.”

“That’s great. We sound like we’re the perfect match.”

She withdrew her hand from his and wagged her finger. “No funny business. I need to get that out there right away.”

“Hey, that suits me. We’ll be best buddies in that case. When I said a perfect match, I didn’t mean romantically. I would never presume anything like that might happen between us.”

“Good, because I’d hate for us to get off on the wrong foot.”

“We haven’t. I think we’re going to make a terrific team, now that the ground rules have been put in place.”

“I agree.” Riley raised her mug, and he clinked his against it. “To us and our new adventures.”

“To us. Long may our friendship continue.” He stared at her, wondering if he’d done the right thing, not revealing the truth about the van and the fact that it had been limping along lately. It would be obvious from the get-go, as soon as he turned the key in the ignition, that the van needed work done. He aimed to get Riley on side before they came to that point. So, he asked her numerous other questions and saw her visibly relax in front of him.

“What about you? Any ex-girlfriends likely to show up, causing trouble?” Riley asked, her head tilting inquisitively.

“Not likely. None of them know that I’ve chosen to live in a van for a start. Besides, I haven’t really had that many over the years, so I think we’re safe there. How about you? Have you had any significant relationships up to this point? By the way, what age are you?”

“A lady never reveals her age, especially at the start of a relationship. No, I’ve had some one-night stands who have bored the pants off me over the last couple of years. Nothing to write home about really. They were keener on me than I was on them once my vision cleared the next day.”

“Ah, I get it. The evil drink lured you into a false sense of security, and bam… the reality struck the next morning, putting an end to the dodgy relationship.”

They both laughed.

“You really do understand. That’s exactly how it was. I’m getting itchy feet. Well, you know what I mean? I’m keen to get on the road and begin our adventure together.”

“Your wish is my command. The key to travelling is to ensure that we wash up and dry the plates and mugs. We need to stash them away for safekeeping. That’ll help keep the costs down, too. Why don’t you do that, and I’ll check the oil and water? I haven’t done that for a while.”

“Here? Wouldn’t it be better doing that at a petrol station? Talking of which, have you filled up yet?”

“Yes, you’re right. I’ll do it at the garage down the road before we head off.”

“One more question,” Riley said.

He nodded. “Hit me with it.”

“You’re not expecting me to tag along and not put my hand in my pocket, are you?”

“That wasn’t my intention when I placed the ad on Facebook…”

“Good. I’m a girl who prefers to pay her way. I’ve got some money with me, granted, not a lot, but maybe I can pick up the odd job here and there along the way. You know, cash-in-hand jobs, what do you think?”

“Again, we’re thinking along the same lines. The biggest expense for us is going to be filling Dexter up, paying for pitches if we have to, and then feeding ourselves. I’m pretty frugal; I don’t tend to spend much on myself. How does that sound to you?”

“Fine. Do you want me to put some money in upfront? Bearing in mind, I’ve just forked out for a train ticket to get here.”

“Let’s leave it for now. I came into a bit of money yesterday after I worked a job over the weekend. It paid really well for a change.” He felt like a pimple should sprout on his tongue after telling that lie.

“What type of job was it?”

“Acting head of security,” he lied. “I had to go over this firm’s security measures. It was woeful, inviting someone to break in and rob them. They were pleased with the guidance I gave them and even added a little bonus at the end of the session.”

“I’m impressed. You’ve obviously got the gift of the gab, then.”

“It comes and goes. I don’t tend to tax my brain that often, although when pushed, I’m cleverer than some have given me credit for over the years.” The dig was aimed at his ex-boss, who was probably still regretting taking him for a fool after being robbed.

Riley rose from her seat and gathered the mugs. “I’ll do the washing up. I’m so excited to get on the road.”

“Me too. The first stop is to fill her up, then.”

Riley ran the hot water and washed the mugs, then Lucas dried them and showed her where to put them.

Chores completed, he showed Riley up front and told her to get comfortable, ready for the ride. Then he crossed his fingers that the banging underneath the vehicle had disappeared while it had been stationary for a while. He started the engine. All appeared to be well as he slotted Dexter into first gear and left the car park. His relief was palpable. He switched on the radio.

“Hey, what music do you like?”

“Quite varied, mostly older stuff. The music of today is too base heavy for my liking.”

He shot a quick look her way and nodded. “Wow, you took the words out of my mouth. I’ve been telling my friends that for years. Give me the older stuff any day of the week. Who is your favourite band or singer?”

“Don’t shoot me for this, and Lord knows why I love them so much… but I’m a boy band lover.”

He smiled and raised his thumb. “Me too. I love Boyz II Men and NYNSC. As it happens, I have a CD here you might enjoy.”

“Really? I was dreading telling you. Most of my friends take the piss out of me when I start playing their music.”

He inserted a disc into the slot. “You’re going to love this compilation. I made it myself.” He turned left, then took a sharp right at the end of the road, heading towards the garage close to town. He drew up on the forecourt, filled the tank, checked the oil and water, and then pumped up the tyres. The whole procedure took around fifteen minutes to complete. Every now and again, he’d take a peek in the van to see how Riley was doing. It was obvious she was enjoying the music. She seemed relaxed and very comfortable in her surroundings.

He paid for the petrol and jumped back into the driver’s seat. “How’s it going?”

“It’s amazing. I’m so chilled. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way before. I had a feeling this would be the life for me. I’m so glad you posted the ad and that I had the courage to message you.”

He grinned. “It’s early days yet, but I’m glad you’ve come along for the ride. It can be a lonely existence, which is why I wrote the ad. I think we’re in sync with each other and believe we’re going to have a blast.”

“I’m in your hands. Where are we going?”

“I thought I’d show you around the area a little. Hereford is an amazing place to live and visit, surrounded by beautiful countryside, with lots of nooks and crannies for us to explore. Is there anywhere you’d like to visit in particular?”

“No, not really. I’ll have a look at the map and see if anything stands out. Don’t forget, you promised me fish and chips. Keep that in mind when planning our route.”

“Hark at you. I haven’t forgotten. Okay, let’s get this boy on the road.”

Lucas was relieved that the knocking which had caused his anxiety levels to rise before she arrived was a thing of the past. He had no idea what had caused it, not being mechanically minded in the slightest. He was praying it wouldn’t reappear in the future. If life meant breaking the law now and again, so be it.

As it was a sunny day, their first port of call was to explore the grounds of Hampton Court Castle. He treated Riley to her first ever cream tea, which she absolutely loved. They had a leisurely stroll around the grounds, the sun warming their faces. Life was good, and Lucas could only see it getting better with Riley by his side.

“That was brilliant. I think my whole outlook on life has changed since deciding to come on this journey with you. In the past, I suppose I would have found coming to a place like this boring. Now, because of the life changes I’ve been forced to make, I find it interesting being at one with nature.”

At that moment, a group of deer galloped across the field ahead of them. They both stood there, arms linked and mouths gaping open, until Lucas found his voice. “That was incredible. I’ve been coming here for a while, and I’ve never been privy to a display like that. You must be my lucky charm.”

Riley smiled and punched his arm gently. “Hey, maybe I am. What a great feeling it is to be alive today.” She twirled around on the spot, her blonde hair billowing in the breeze.

“You’re nuts. We’ll have to come back here again soon.”

“I’d love that,” Riley agreed. “There are dozens of areas we haven’t discovered yet. It’s a shame we can’t set up camp here tonight.”

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen. They lock their gates every night, and who could blame them? I have somewhere in mind, don’t worry.”

They walked leisurely back towards the van, and Lucas joined the traffic heading back into Hereford.

“What do you think of the area so far?”

“I absolutely love it. I can’t wait to explore the area. Will we be staying in Herefordshire, or are you planning to go further afield? Not that I’m complaining. I’m sure there’s an enormous amount to see in this region. Who knew the middle of the country, away from the coast, could be so interesting?”

“It’s underestimated, that’s for sure. Hey, that’s a good shout. Once we’ve explored this region, we could take a coastal route or two in the future.”

“If Dexter is up to it. I still have my doubts about that.”

“He hasn’t let us down yet.”

“This is only day one of the rest of our lives. How much does a new van cost?”

“How long is that proverbial piece of string again? It really depends. I picked this one up for three grand. A brand spanking new one can range from fifteen grand right up to eighty.”

Riley let out a whistle. “Wow, I bet an eighty-grander would have all the bells and whistles on board, eh?”

“And some. I had a nose around one, just out of interest. It was a mobile home as opposed to a camper van. All mod cons on board: a shower, toilet et cetera. It had six berths, loads of storage, and even a built-in garage for bikes. It was amazing. Can’t see me owning one of those in my lifetime, though.”

“That does sound incredible. Maybe we can stop off at a showroom and take a look one day. It’s always nice to dream, isn’t it?”

He laughed. “There are dreams and dreams. Yes, okay, we could do that later on in the week, although I reckon it might leave you feeling dissatisfied and grumpy coming back to good old Dexter.”

“Oops, I hadn’t thought about that. Maybe we’ll do it in a few weeks, once I’ve had the chance to see what Dexter has to offer.”

Lucas drove to the lay-by he had in mind. It was tucked away off the main road, so they would be assured of getting a good night’s sleep.

“This is cool. I don’t see a fish and chip shop nearby, though.”

He winked at her. “It’s a hidden gem. A few minutes’ walk from here on the estate behind us.”

“Ah, you’ve clearly got this all worked out. I’m getting hungry now; any chance we can eat soon?”

“They open at five, so it should be fine. I suppose it would be better to get over there early before the crowds descend. What do you fancy?”

“Haddock and chips. It’s my absolute favourite. What’s the batter like? Do you know?”

“The best I’ve ever tasted. Anything on the side for you?”

Riley giggled. “Oh, you mean as in mushy peas or curry sauce?”

“Yes. I parked my smuttiness at the door on the way in.”

“Mushy peas would go down a treat. Thanks.”

“Great job. Okay, I won’t be long. I’ll leave you the keys; you can lock the door after me. Trust no one as they say.”

“And yet here you are, putting your trust in me after only knowing me for a couple of hours. What if I decide to take off with Dexter?”

“Good luck with that one. There’s a certain way of driving him, and I’m the only one with the magic touch.”

“Okay, you’ve convinced me. Hurry back; I’m starving.”

Lucas picked up his wallet from the table and left the van. He heard the lock turn behind him. He upped his pace to get to the takeaway. Fortunately, there was no queue outside the shop. He wasn’t sure what to choose for himself, so he had a brief peep at the menu. He’d lived on crappy leftover takeaways for weeks now, so he decided to go the whole hog and have a large cod and chips with curry sauce.

While they completed his order, he went outside and scrolled through his Facebook feed. He found his post and added a comment to it.

Hey, guys. Guess what? Someone took the plunge to join me on my adventure. I picked her up from the station today, and we’ve had a blast so far. Fish and chips on the menu tonight. Don’t let it be said that I don’t know how to show a girl a good time. Sorry to those who missed out. If you get the chance to do it in the future, go for it. After all, life’s too short to have regrets, right? See ya later. My grub’s ready now.

The bell tinkled inside the shop, and the man behind the counter gestured for Lucas to collect his order. He paid and jogged back to the van, only to find Riley talking to another man who had pulled his camper van into the lay-by. He stopped and studied them for a moment. He didn’t know Riley that well, not yet, but he could tell she wasn’t happy about something. Lucas crossed the road, and as he got closer, he could hear the man shouting at Riley.

He bolted across the road to find out what was going on. “Is there a problem here?”

“This bloke just parked his van behind us and reversed into Dexter,” Riley said. She pointed at the bumper hanging off his pride and joy.

“What the fuck, man? I hope you’re going to pay for the damage you’ve caused?” Lucas said, incensed.

“Are you joking? It’s a wreck; it belongs on the scrapheap. I barely touched it, and it dropped off.”

Lucas shook his head. “We’re going to have our dinner now before it gets cold. Are you parked up for the night?”

“I am,” the arrogant stranger replied.

“Then we can discuss this after we’ve eaten.”

“There’s nothing to discuss.” He shrugged and walked away.

Riley’s eyes widened. She jabbed a thumb in the stranger’s direction and mouthed, “Are you going to let him get away with this?”

Lucas thumbed towards the door. “We’ll talk about it inside,” he whispered.

He cast a final look in the stranger’s direction. They locked gazes before Lucas shook his head and followed Riley into the van. He closed the door behind him and put the fish and chips on the table, while Riley removed the plates from the cupboard above the sink.

“Why did you let him get away with that?”

“I haven’t. My dinner is more important to me right now. Calm down, eat your dinner, and then I’ll have a chat with him later. He said he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.”

Riley threw herself onto the bench, then immediately got to her feet again to remove the cutlery from the drawer. She returned to her seat and growled. “You’re a better person than me. I was getting worked up out there… it’s a good job you came along when you did. I was about to rip his head off.”

Lucas tore open the packets and plonked them on the plates. “I could tell things were getting heated between you two. You’ve got quite a temper on you, Riley Shaw.”

Riley stared at him without saying another word, then chewed her lip. “It has been known. I hate people taking advantage of me. He’s in the wrong here, not me. And for that reason, he should be punished.”

“Punished? How so? Accidents happen all the time when you’re on the road. Eat your dinner before it gets cold.”

Riley sat in silence and picked at her meal. She rubbed her chest with her knuckles. “I’m too worked up. I can’t swallow it; it’s stuck right here.”

“Why let him get to you like that? Brush it off as one of life’s… what? Indiscretions? I don’t know. Don’t worry about it. I’ll sort it after we’ve eaten. Trust me.”

She huffed and puffed and then sighed heavily. “If you say so. Why are people so hateful? He was nasty to me when you weren’t around. There was no reason to be like that. He backed into us, not the other way round.”

“Leave it. Please, you’re only going to get yourself worked up into a state.”

He watched Riley close her eyes and shudder when she opened them again. She stared at her fish and chips and then started picking at her meal.

Lucas tucked into his with vigour now that Riley had reverted to her chilled-out self again. He finished his dinner within five minutes. Riley was only halfway through hers.

“Don’t you like it?”

“It’s okay. I’ve had better. I wouldn’t rave about it, unlike someone sitting not two feet from me.”

“Damn, sorry. Maybe I’m more easily pleased than you are.”

“Or maybe I’m still too upset about what happened with that goon next door. Do you come across many idiots like that?”

“I suppose now and again. It’s like everything in this life. There are always those who try to spoil it for others. The world is full of them.”

Riley sighed again. “Yeah, you’re right. I think things escalated quickly because he thought I was a woman travelling alone. Misogynistic bastard.”

“More than likely. Do you want to stay here and clear up this mess while I go and have a word with him?”

“Aww… do I have to? I was hoping to get involved in an argument. They kind of make my day.”

He shook his head. “In that case, I definitely think you should stay here. I tend to be the type of person who avoids conflicts wherever possible.”

“Spoilsport. Maybe we’re not as alike as we first thought. Go on, do your worst with him then.”

“And you’ll stay here?”

Tutting, Riley rolled her eyes and took a sip from her glass of wine. “If I have to.”

“That’s a good idea.” He opened a can of lager and downed half of it in one gulp. “Dutch courage. It’s always a winner in my book.”

Lucas winked and left the van. He noticed there was loud heavy metal music coming from the stranger’s van. Christ, don’t say he’s going to be playing that shit until the early hours of the morning. Shoulders back, he knocked on the door. It remained closed, so he knocked louder the second time.

Eventually, the man opened the door. “Yeah, what do you want?”

“I said I’d come and have a chat with you after I’d eaten. Is it convenient?”

“I don’t know, is it?”

“It is for me.”

“Well, you’d better come in then. I’m in the middle of prepping my own evening meal, so you’ll have to put up with me doing that, unless you have any objections, that is?”

“No, not at all. Would you mind turning the music down a notch?”

“Actually, I would. I enjoy my music at full pelt when I’m cooking. It relaxes me.”

Lucas scratched his head and smiled. “Okay. About the damage you caused.”

“Take a seat. I’ll continue chopping the veggies. I’m having roast lamb tonight.”

“Nice.” Lucas sat on the comfy bench seat and repeated, “About the damage you caused.”

“To your wreck of a van? Yeah, sorry about that. I would have owned up to hitting it if your bitch of a girlfriend hadn’t started mouthing off at me. Women like that piss me off. You need to teach her when to keep her trap shut.”

“For a start, she’s not my girlfriend, and secondly, women have a right to be heard. It’s called equality.”

He stopped chopping the veg and shouted, “Don’t tell me you’re one of those blokes who is in touch with his feminine side?”

“So what if I am? I’m the type of man who is keen to show the women in his life respect. From what I witnessed earlier, you showed Riley little to no respect. Anyway, I’m not here to teach you some manners; I’m here to discuss what you intend to do about the damage you’ve caused to my vehicle.”

“Then you’re in for a disappointment, pal. I have no intention of handing over any money. Like I said before, I barely touched it, and the bumper fell off.”

Lucas seethed. He removed his phone from his back pocket. “I guess we’ll have to see what the police have to say about the incident then, won’t we?”

“Fill your boots. You’d better do it outside. They probably won’t be able to hear you complaining with this racket.” He laughed, peeled another carrot, then chopped it.

Lucas noticed he had good knife skills and wondered if he was a chef.

The stranger glanced up. “Are you still here?”

After a few seconds of holding the man’s gaze, he left the vehicle and slammed the door behind him.

The man shouted a stream of expletives but didn’t give chase. Lucas returned to his van to find an expectant Riley waiting for him.

“How did it go? Did you thrash it out with him? What about money for the repairs? Has he coughed up some dosh so we can get the bumper sorted out?”

Lucas inhaled a breath and let it out slowly. “No. He’s a right bastard. He refused to turn the music down while we held our conversation.”

“Ignorant prick. Did you ask him what his plans are for the night? Is he staying put or moving on?”

“I reckon he’s staying. He’s in there now, cooking himself a roast dinner. I can’t see him moving on after he’s had his meal. It’s the loud music that is going to drive me nuts, although, to be fair, we can’t really hear it in here, can we?”

As if on cue, the music grew louder.

Riley held her arms out to the sides. “He’s doing it on purpose, just to wind us up. Did you ask him to keep the noise down?”

“Yes, of course I did. He told me he needed his music loud while he was preparing his dinner. Let’s give him another half an hour. If there’s no improvement by then, I’ll go round there and have it out with him.”

“I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of leaving it that long. I think we need to stamp our authority on the situation sooner rather than later.”

He downed the rest of his can and considered her opinion for a few moments, then stormed out of the van, closing the door behind him. He knocked on the door of the man’s camper and waited for him to answer. He didn’t. Lucas banged again, and when there was still no response, he tugged the door open and marched in.

“Get out. You’re trespassing,” the goon shouted.

“Turn the frigging music down. Show your fellow campers some respect. There’s a code of conduct we adhere to, in case you’re not aware.”

“I ain’t new to this game. I know my rights. If you don’t like it, clear off!”

“We were here first. I’m asking you politely to work with me on this and to turn the music down.”

“Nope. It would appear we’re at a stalemate, so what do you intend doing about it? Oh, wait a minute, weren’t you going to call the cops on me? Or was that an idle threat of yours? I can imagine you’re the type to do that often when faced with adversity.”

“Bollocks. I’m going to call them now. I was hoping we could sort this out amicably, but I can tell how stubborn you are.” He turned his back and walked down the steps. Before he could put a foot on the ground, Lucas felt something wet hit his back. The bastard had thrown a pot of water at him and was laughing in the doorway.

Without thinking of his own safety, Lucas flew up the steps and charged the man. He knocked him off his feet and punched him in the face half a dozen times. The man tried to defend himself by raising his arms, but Lucas’s anger was second to none. They were lying underneath the table where the man had been preparing his dinner. Lucas kept hitting him with his right hand and felt on top of the table for the knife with the other. Suddenly, Riley appeared and grabbed the knife that had been out of Lucas’s reach. She plunged it into the stranger’s chest over and over. Lucas sat back, dumbstruck by the ferociousness of the attack.

“Stop, Riley, stop!”

It took another two stabs before Riley halted. She stared at the man and took a step back. “Oh my God! What have I done? I didn’t mean to do it. You have to believe me.”

“I do. I’m sorry it got to this point. We’re going to have to dispose of his body.”

“What? We can’t. Can’t we just leave him here and drive off?”

Lucas got to his feet and switched off the music in the hope that the silence might help him think more clearly. It didn’t. He paced the floor, his knuckles smarting from the punches he had delivered. Riley’s hands were covered in blood.

“God, look at the state of you. Are you all right?”

“I don’t know…” she stuttered as she stared at her hands.

He grabbed her arms and dragged her over to the sink. “We’ll clean up in here.”

“Then what?” she asked, tears sparkling in her eyes.

“I’ll figure that out later.” He helped her get the blood off and then dried her hands on the nearby hand towel. “I think I’ve got it all. How are you feeling?”

“Dazed and confused. I didn’t mean to do it. The red mist descended and…”

“Accidents happen.”

Riley stared at the victim and shook her head. “I never intended for it to end this way. I got carried away when I saw you striking him. You were reaching for the knife, weren’t you? Were you going to stab him as well?”

“I might have threatened him with the blade. To be honest, I’m not sure if I would have gone ahead and used it on him.”

“Are you blaming me for going over the top?”

“No. I didn’t say that. Look, we’re going to have to figure out what we should do about this mess. We can’t do it here, staring at him. Let’s go back to the van and work things out.”

“What if someone comes past? What if someone in the nearby houses saw either of us coming in here? Oh God, why did I let my temper get the better of me… again?”

“Again? What do you mean by that? Has this type of thing happened before?”

“No, no, no, forget I said that. I’m so confused I don’t know what I’m saying.”

“All right. Let’s go back to the van now.” Lucas led the way.

He tugged on Riley’s arm. She appeared to be transfixed by the dead body of the stranger.

What have I done? What have we done, pairing up with each other? I’m already regretting my decision.

2

Sara had only just arrived at work. She had locked herself away in her office and was dealing with her morning admin. Carla knocked on the door and entered the room, bearing a much-needed gift: a mug of coffee.

“You’re a lifesaver. Have you seen the amount of crap I have to wade through today? God, it’s really wearing me down lately.”

“You could do with a secretary to handle your admin duties. It might be worth asking for help. If DCI Banks can have a secretary, and he’s sitting behind a desk all day…”

“I get where you’re coming from; however, the likelihood of that happening is zilch.”

“How unfair is that? You’re expected to deal with all this shit, solve the crimes and run a team of officers.”

“I know. It’s not fair. It’s called life, and we have to deal with it. Don’t worry about me; ignore my whinging on the subject. I manage. It’s just that some days it becomes overwhelming. Anyway, it’s good to have you back with us. Hopefully, we’ll find time for a proper catch-up later. I want to hear all the details about your honeymoon.”

Carla tilted her head. “I ain’t going there. That’s just… weird that you would want to hear all the details of someone’s honeymoon.”

“No way, I didn’t say that. Well, maybe I did. What I meant to say was, I’m dying to hear about the places you explored on your trip to the Greek islands. Me and my big mouth. No, you can keep your bedroom secrets as just that, secrets.” She placed a cold hand against her flushing cheek.

Carla let out a full belly laugh and collapsed against the doorframe. “Oh gosh. Your face is a picture.” She put the mug on the desk in front of Sara. “I’ll let you get on.”

“I’m grateful for small mercies after that faux pas. Give me a shout if anything interesting comes our way. I’m dying to cast this lot aside and get my hands on a new case.”

“I’m sure you won’t have to wait long.” The phone rang in the outer office. “God, why does that always happen when we have a conversation of this nature?”

“What’s going on?”

“Jill is gesticulating that I’m needed. I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll be sitting here on the edge of my seat in the meantime.”

Carla left the door open, and Sara got back to work, opening yet another brown envelope from the urgent pile on her right. She’d already dealt with half a dozen emails that had come in overnight. She rubbed her temples as she read through the new directive from head office. It was another letter informing her to ignore the latest change that had come through and to revert to the original way of filing her paperwork. It could get so confusing at times, knowing where to send the relevant correspondence. She set the letter aside, rose from her seat and took her mug with her. She walked towards Jill’s desk. Carla was scribbling down some information on her pad.

“What’s that about?” Sara asked.

“A body has been found in a lay-by on the edge of town.”

“What are we waiting for? We should get over there right away. I’ll grab my jacket from the office.” Sara trotted across the room, hitched on her jacket and returned to Jill’s desk for further information. “What else do we know about this, Jill?”

“The details are sketchy at best, boss.”

“Okay. We’ll head over there now. It’s not too far. I take it the pathologist has been informed?”

“She has. She’s en route with her team.”

“You’ve got the address?” Sara asked Carla.

Her partner tapped her notebook and popped it in her jacket pocket. “I’m good to go when you are.”

They arrived at the scene to find a small crowd gathered at the edge of the estate.

“Bugger, we could do without the audience,” Sara said. “I’ll ask the uniformed officers to set up another cordon to keep them further back from the crime scene.”

“I can do that. Lorraine has just turned up. You should have a word with her.”

“Thanks, that’s great.”

Sara and Carla separated with the promise to meet up once their tasks had been actioned.

Sara approached Lorraine’s van with caution, knowing that the pathologist wasn’t at her best first thing in the morning. “Hi, how are you?”

“Do you want the honest answer, or the answer everyone expects in response to that question?”

“Oh heck, that bad, eh? What’s going on? Anything I can help with?”

“Nope, not really. Just life getting in the way.” Lorraine glanced around her, then leaned in and whispered, “Nothing a good lay wouldn’t put right.”

Sara laughed and then checked herself. “You’re impossible. We should arrange a girls’ night out… umm… on second thoughts, maybe that’s a bad idea if that’s your main objective. I can’t see my Mark being too happy about me accompanying you on a fishing expedition.”

“That’s a shame. I’m more likely to pull with you in tow.”

Sara frowned. “How do you make that one out?”

“Well, that’s always the criteria when on the pull, isn’t it? You need to take your ugliest friend with you.” Lorraine grinned and nudged Sara in the ribs.

Gobsmacked and affronted by her friend’s response, Sara was lost for words and failed to come up with an apt retort.

“Sorry, you know I love you and that I was only jesting. It’s still true, though.” Lorraine giggled.

“If you’ve quite finished, we’ve got a murder investigation to begin.” Sara glanced around her and spotted two uniformed officers standing by a group of shrubs. She pointed at them. “I’m assuming the body is over there.”

“Haven’t you found that out yet? You’re slacking,” Lorraine chided.

Sara ignored the comment and rounded the camper van parked in the lay-by to speak with the officers. Carla was with them, making the arrangements to increase the security at the scene.

“I think we’re going to need more bodies out here. Once the press gets wind of this…”

“I’ll call the station now, ma’am,” the older of the two officers said. He turned his back on them to make the call.

“Who found the body?” Sara asked. She stared at the man’s feet sticking out from underneath the shrubs.

The officer pointed at a man sitting on a chair, with a small terrier lying at his feet. “The old man over there. One of the residents was kind enough to make him a cup of tea and bring the chair out for him.”

“I’ll talk to him now and send him on his way.” Sara walked towards the grey-haired gentleman. She produced her ID. “I’m DI Sara Ramsey. Thank you for making the call to the station. I’m sorry you were the one who discovered the body. I can imagine how upsetting it must have been for you.”

He stroked his dog and shook his head. “It was horrendous. Little Bono here; he was the one who found him. I caught him barking and tugging at the man’s trouser leg. I thought it was a stick until I got closer and realised it was a dead person. I never thought I’d see the day I’d discover something like this. Hereford used to be a safe city to live in, not these days. The quicker I pop my clogs, the better. I’ve just about had enough of this shitty existence. What’s there to look forward to in this world now?”

“I hear you. Have you lived here long?”

“All my life. Hereford born and bred. I still live in the house where I was born. There are not many people who can say that.”

“That’s amazing. I think you’re the first person I’ve spoken to who is in that position. You must love it there?”

“I do. Of course, over the years, I’ve had to update it. But that’s enough about me. What about him? He hasn’t just passed out from drinking too much, has he? I was too scared to move him. I didn’t even check for a pulse. It was the young lad across the street, Troy, who came over and said he thought he was dead.”

Sara peered over her shoulder. “Which house?” She thought it was strange that the younger man hadn’t stayed with the old man.

“The one with the green door. He had an appointment at the dentist. I told him I would hang around for your lot to come.”

“Ah, okay. We’ll get a statement from him later. How are you feeling? Are you up to answering more questions?”

“I’m all right, love. Carry on, not that I know much more. Mrs Wyatt came over; she ended up in tears, she did. I told her to go back inside. Not something you expect to stumble on, is it?”

“I know you haven’t had a good look at the person, but do you think this is his van?”

“The door is open. Troy poked his head into the van and said it was in a mess. I told him not to go in there because it would contaminate it. I watch all the thrillers on TV; it’s easy to pick up police procedures from them.”

Sara nodded and cast another glance over her shoulder, eager to see for herself the state the van was in. “Have you seen the van parked here before?”

“I can’t say yes or no, not really. We find vans parked here all the time. They shouldn’t be allowed to just park up anywhere. It’s wrong, isn’t it?”

“Sometimes, yes. There are special places they can go. They’re increasing yearly, but you still get the odd driver who refuses to pay the site fees. It’s something we, as a Force, are keen to crack down on.”

“I can understand that. As homeowners, we’re saddled with paying large council tax bills, while people living in vans get away scot-free without putting their hands in their pockets.”

“Exactly. Anyway, that’s a conversation for another day. When you found the body, did you happen to see anyone else hanging around?”

He paused to think. “No, I can’t say I did. I called out for help once I realised it was a body, and the neighbours rushed to assist me. I wanted to be the one to make the call to the police, though. I’m always keen to assist the local constabulary when I can.”

“And we’re grateful for that.”

Carla joined Sara.

“All actioned?” Sara asked.

“Yes, all done. The desk sergeant is sending another four officers out here,” Carla confirmed.

“Sorry, sir. I didn’t catch your name. I should have asked before; it’s very remiss of me.”

The old man waved away her apology. “Don’t worry. You had other things on your mind. I’m Cedric Knox.”

“Pleased to meet you, Mr Knox. Why don’t you and Bono go home now and get some rest? If you give me your address, I can ask one of these officers to drop by and get a statement from you.”

“Thank you, I’d prefer that. I’m feeling a bit tired now. I live at twenty-six Winchester Drive, just around the corner there. I was on my morning walk with Bono. We can’t go that far these days, not with my bad legs. He’s a good boy. I’ll take him out again this afternoon, if I’m up to it.”

“You just take it easy. Do you want me to get one of the officers to give you a lift home?”

He struggled to get to his feet. Sara helped by holding him by the elbow.

“No. I’ll be fine. Thanks for the help. I hope you find who did this soon.”

“We hope so, too. Take care of yourself and little Bono. He’s such a sweetheart.”

“Yes, he is. I’m hoping we’ll leave this world together.”

Sara rubbed his arm. “I know how important a furry companion can be at your age.”

“At any age. I’ve had dogs all my life. I could never be without one. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad dog.”

“It’s the way you treat them. Take care,” she repeated, watching him waddle his way through the estate. “Bless him. He reminded me of my granddad. He had a terrier called Barney right up until he died. Mum and Dad rescued Barney; he only lasted another year or so after Granddad passed away.”

Sara and Carla returned to the car and collected two protective suits. They stepped into them, keeping the blue booties off until they reached the scene.

“How’s it going?” Sara asked Lorraine, who was crouched next to the victim.

“I’ll let you know when I’ve had the chance to assess the scene properly. My team is going to take plenty of photos, and then we’ll pull the body out. We could do without the audience gawping at us from over there.”

“Can you erect a tent?”

“I think we’re going to have to if your lot can’t get them moved on.”

“I’ll have another word with them. It might be a good idea to get the tent erected as soon as possible, because the journalists will probably be all over the area soon.”

“Great, just what I didn’t want to hear,” Lorraine grumbled, stomping off to get her team sorted.

“What’s first for us?” Carla asked.

Sara checked on the crowd behind her. “What if we ask around and see if anyone else has anything to add? I think we should run the plate on the camper van first.”

Carla withdrew her phone and rang the station. “Jill, it’s Carla. Can you run a plate for me?”

Sara left her partner to it and walked around the side of the van to peer inside. “Holy crap! It’s a bloodbath.”

“That it is.” Lorraine crept up behind Sara, startling her. “What I don’t understand is why the killer would kill him in the van, then dispose of his body in the open, well, half in the open.”

“Fair point. I’m as perplexed by that as you are. Carla’s just running the plate. At least that should tell us who he is.”

“We can search the body for ID to corroborate the fact once the tent is up and he’s been pulled out into the open.”

“I’m going to start asking the crowd. They might know him. My thoughts are that he’s probably from out of the area if this is his mode of transport.”

“I’m inclined to agree with you.”

Carla joined them. “The van belongs to Daniel Foster. Jill is carrying out an in-depth search on him now.”

“Brilliant. Take a look,” Sara suggested to her partner.

Carla took a few steps towards the door, popped her head inside the van and let out a whistle. “Holy shit! Why move him?”

“Exactly. We wondered the same. Let’s start questioning the crowd. They might have an insight into this for us.”

Their suits rustled as they walked.

“Damn, we’re going to have to waste another suit each,” Sara said.

“We couldn’t have known what we’d be dealing with,” Carla replied.

“You’re right; it is what it is. You start that end, and we’ll meet in the middle.”

Sara began questioning the crowd, most of whom informed her that they had shown up after the police had arrived. She requested that if they couldn’t add to the investigation, they should leave the area. Most of the people she spoke to were compliant with her wishes, but there were the odd few who chose to remain, seemingly with nothing better to do with their time.

“Anything of use?” Sara asked when they reached the middle of the crowd.

“Nothing. You?”

“The same.”

They walked back to the crime scene as the techs erected the tent.

“Need a hand?”

Lorraine touched Sara’s arm. “Leave them to it. The more hindrance they get, the longer it’s going to take. Why don’t you take the time out to renew your suits? We should be good to go in five to ten minutes.”

“We’ll do that.”

Sara and Carla returned to their vehicle and removed their suits. Sara thought it would be best if they left it a while before they put on another one. They watched the three techs heave the tent into position and secure it in place.

“I wonder if they go camping in their spare time.”

Carla chuckled. “Trust you. I was going to say that I’d rather holiday in a camper van than a tent, but under the circumstances, I won’t bother.”

“Glad you reconsidered. I can’t get around the killer, or killers, risking being seen just so they could dump the body. It doesn’t make sense, does it?”

“Not in the slightest. Unless whoever killed him thought about stealing his van, if the victim in the bushes is Daniel Foster, that is.”

Sara frowned. “What? And they decided against it after the mess they made? I can see your logic. It would take a while to clean up the mess, wouldn’t it?”

“Exactly. On the other hand, I might be talking out of my arse. Let’s face it, it wouldn’t be the first time.”

Sara grinned. Her eye was drawn to the crowd. Two vans pulled up, and a group of journalists shoved their way to the front of the onlookers.

“Great, that’s all we need.”

“They’re quick off the mark.”

“Too quick, some might say.”

“Vultures, the lot of them.”

“Now, now, they have their uses, when it suits us.” Sara surveyed the area with a fresh eye. She gestured with a nod beyond the crowd. “I don’t want to point for obvious reasons, but is that a shop in the distance?”

“Yes, that’s right. What are you thinking?”

“Maybe they have CCTV we can take a look at.”

“Chancing your arm there. Even if they have, I reckon it would be too far to get a good angle on the incident.”

“Worth a try, right?”

“In other words, you want me to go and ask the question?”

Sara grinned and waggled her eyebrows. “You took the words right out of my mouth.”

Carla groaned and set off. She skirted the edge of the crowd to avoid getting pounced on by the journalists.

Sara watched as the tech team secured the tent and announced to Lorraine that it was ready for her. Lorraine faced her and gestured for her to join them. Sara grabbed another suit from the boot and slipped it on. She tore back to the crime scene. With the tent masking their movements, the tech team pulled the body out into the open. Sara approached the victim and glanced down. He was a man in his early thirties.

“Does he have any ID on him?” was her first question.

Lorraine crouched beside the body and searched his pockets. “Keys and phone here. I can’t find a wallet, not yet.”

“So, it was a robbery gone wrong?”

Lorraine tutted. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

“The keys. Can I have a look? Do you think they belong to the van?”

“Probably. Put some gloves on first.”

Sara snapped on some blue nitrile gloves. Lorraine threw her the keys, and Sara tested them in the van’s door. She returned to give Lorraine the good news. “They fit, which points to him possibly being Daniel Foster. I’ll need to confirm that using his social media or through police records.”

“He’s been stabbed multiple times, which would account for the amount of blood in the van. I know you’re going to ask which wound killed him next.”

“And what would your reply be?” Sara said, more out of hope than expectation.

“That I’ll need to get him back to the mortuary before I can give a definitive cause of death. I think we can take it as a given that the number of wounds would have definitely contributed to the end of his life.”

Sara nodded. “I’ve sent Carla off to check if the shop across the way has any CCTV footage that might help us.”

“It might be too far. Those cameras aren’t really known for their quality at the best of times.”

“Ain’t that the truth?”

Carla returned a few minutes later with the news that the owner of the shop had recently renewed his security cameras after his premises were targeted by vandals. She waved a disc at Sara. “I’ve got the footage.”

“Have you seen it?”

“Yes, he was really good. Keen to help the police. He’d already viewed the footage and was waiting for a member of staff to arrive before coming over and telling us about it.”

“And? What does it show?”

“There was another van here, and before you ask, no, the camera didn’t pick up the plate number.”

“That’s a shame. What are you saying? It was a dispute between van drivers?”

“Possibly.”

Sara placed her finger and thumb on either side of her chin. “I wonder what that was about.”

One of the techs approached them. He had a bottle of beer in his hand. “We found this in the bushes, close to where the body was found.”

“Great stuff. Let’s bag it and get it analysed at the lab,” Lorraine said. “Anything else nearby?”

“Nothing yet. We’re still searching. I just thought you would want to know about the bottle.” He placed the item in an evidence bag he was holding in his other hand.

“Keep searching,” Lorraine instructed.

The tech placed the evidence bag beside Lorraine’s holdall and returned to the crime scene.

“I could do with watching that footage,” Sara said.

“Do you want to pop back to the station?” Carla asked.

“I might go back to the shop. Seems a shame to leave the scene. We’ll put it on the back burner for now. I wouldn’t want to waste yet another suit. What else have we got, Lorraine?”

“Apart from the stab wounds, I can’t see any other damage. Correction: there are grazes on his face, as though he’d been in a fistfight. Maybe that’s how it started, and then escalated, with the killer picking up a knife to finish the job.”

“Sounds plausible. Can you give me a rough time of death?”

“I suppose my rough guess would be that the attack happened between six and ten last night. Rigor has well and truly set in.”

Sara and Carla watched as Lorraine carried out her assessment of the victim’s injuries.

“Did he put up a fight himself? Anything under his fingernails?” Sara asked.

Lorraine lifted the victim’s hands one by one to study them. “I can’t see anything. They’re a bit grubby. I can smell onion, as if he had been preparing food.”

Sara nodded. “I noticed that. There were veg peelings on the table and two pots on the stove. Not sure what was in them; I didn’t enter the van to have a closer look.”

“Maybe the killer surprised him when his back was turned, as he was preparing the veg. I’m never sure how secure those camper vans are. I think people tend to leave their doors open… well, this might be the result of careless security on the owner’s part.”

Sara and Carla remained with Lorraine for the next ten minutes while she continued to assess the victim, after which Sara announced, “Do you need us any more?”

Lorraine chuckled. “Nope, you’re free to go.”

They went back to the car, removed their suits and dumped them in the waiting black sack.

“We’ll go back to the shop first,” Sara said.

The shop owner was only too pleased to help them out. “Becky, mind the shop for me. I won’t be long. Ladies, if you’d like to come this way.” He led them through the shop to the tiny office at the rear, where he played the footage for Sara and Carla. “You can see here that two people got out of the van. They waited until it was dark. You can just make out that they entered the van behind theirs.”

The street was dark, but the couple were wearing some light clothing that was easily detectable. The nearest streetlight was around twenty feet away, so that wasn’t much use.

“They’re struggling to carry something. Here they swing whatever they were carrying and then walk away.”

“That’s where the body was found, under the shrubs. This is really helpful. It’s a shame we can’t make out the number of the van. It seems like an old one; would you agree?” Sara asked.

Carla nodded in agreement. “Definitely. Compared to the one sitting in the lay-by now, which begs the question: if the motive was to rob the victim, why didn’t the killers take his van?”

“Yep, that’s one of the many unanswered questions running through my mind. I want to thank you for giving us the footage and allowing us to come back and view it on your system, rather than go back to the station.”

“It makes sense if you want to stay in the area to question the residents. Let me know if I can do anything else for you.”

“Did you know the victim? Do you recognise either of the vans?”

The shopkeeper shook his head. “I can’t say I do. Without a close-up of the victim, I wouldn’t be able to tell you, sorry.”

Carla removed her phone from her pocket and scrolled through Facebook. She typed in the victim’s name and angled the phone towards Sara. “Is that him? It’s quite a common name.”

“It looks like him.”

Carla showed the shopkeeper a photo she’d found on Foster’s page. “We believe this is him.”

The man frowned and then raised a finger. “Yes, I think I’ve seen him in here a few times. Not sure how long ago it was, but he’s definitely bought supplies here. Does it say on there where he lives?”

Carla checked his address. “It says Hereford, so he must be local. We’ll get the team at the station on it.”

“It seems strange that he’s got a van. Do you think he lives in it?” the shopkeeper asked.

“I would have thought it unlikely if he’s from the area,” Sara replied, “but we can’t rule anything out at this stage of the investigation. Thanks again for your help.”

Sara and Carla left the shop.

Sara’s phone rang as they walked back to the crime scene. “DI Sara Ramsey.”

“Hi, boss. It’s Jill. I’ve got the victim’s address for you.”

“Brilliant. Let’s have it.”

“Ten Stanley Court. Shelwick.”

“Roger that. We’ll head out that way now. Thanks, Jill.”

“You’re welcome.”

Sara ended the call and walked towards the car. “Wait, I need to arrange to get the statements taken from Cedric, Troy and Mrs Wyatt. You go back to the car; I’ll catch up with you in a sec.”

She threw Carla the keys and crossed the road to speak with two of the uniformed officers. Task completed, she returned to the car and drove out to Shelwick. Unfortunately, the house was empty. Sara knocked on the neighbour’s door. A woman in her sixties answered.

Sara showed her ID. “Sorry to disturb you. I’m making enquiries about your neighbour, Daniel Foster.”

The woman wiped her hands on the tea towel she was holding. “Oh, what about him?” She glanced at the road behind Sara. “His van isn’t here, so he must be out.”

“Yes, that’s right. Can you tell me when he was last at home?”

“I can’t. I’ve just come back from Kent. I was staying with my sister for a few days. Is there something wrong?”

“We need to contact a member of his family. Does anyone else live at the address with him?”

“He has a lodger. A nice young man called Adam. He works in the evenings at the local pub and is at university during the day. I think he has classes three days a week. Actually, this might be one of them. Have you tried knocking?”

“Yes, there was no answer. We’ll try again later. Do you know if Daniel has any family in the area?”

“I believe his sister lives over in Worcester. She comes to visit him a few times a month. You’re worrying me now. Is Daniel all right?”

“Thanks for your help. We’ll try to track down his sister. Do you happen to know her name?”

“Lisa. She’s just got married, not sure what her surname is now.”

“Thanks again for your help.” Sara smiled and returned to the car. “Can you pull up Foster’s Facebook page for me? The neighbour told me he has a sister over in Worcester. There’s a lodger called Adam staying at this address.”

“Okay. I’ve got a sister called Lisa here.”

“Yes, that’s her. Maybe we can drop her a message via Facebook. What do you think?”

Carla groaned. “I’ve never really liked that idea. We could drive over there and see her in person.”

“I was trying to save time. You’re right. Let’s see if Jill can locate an address for her.” Sara rang the station. “Sorry, Jill. Me again. Daniel Foster has a sister living in Worcester. She’s called Lisa. The neighbour told me that she’d recently got married, so her surname will be different. Can you try to find her for me?”

“Will do. I’ll get back to you, boss.”

In the distance, Sara spotted a pub. “That might be worth a shot.”

“I agree. It’s not like we have anything else to go on just yet.”

Sara started the engine. She drew into the pub’s car park seconds later. It was still only ten-thirty, too early for the pub to have its doors open yet. Fortunately, there was a man moving some barrels around at the back of the pub.

“Hello, there. Are you the landlord?”

“I am. Jack’s the name. Who wants to know?”

Sara and Carla showed him their warrant cards.

“DI Sara Ramsey, and this is my partner, DS Carla Jameson. Would it be possible to have a quick chat with you? I appreciate you’re busy at the moment.”

“You’re in luck. I’ve just shifted my last barrel. Can I ask what this is about?”

“One of your possible punters. Daniel Foster.”

His brow furrowed. “Okay, I know Daniel. Come in. I need to continue to set up the bar during the chat, if that’s all right with you?”

“Yes. Go for it.”

“Can’t get the staff these days, not since the blasted pandemic.”

“Sorry to hear that. So you have to run the place on your own?”

“I can fill the evening shifts, but no one wants to work during the day. Pain in the rear. I’m about ready to throw in the towel. The costs to run a place this size are spiralling out of control. The government, no matter who gets in, couldn’t give a toss about businesses that are just managing to scrape by.” He tutted and held his hands up. “Sorry. You don’t want to hear my woes. Can I get you a coffee?”

“No, we’ll leave it. Sounds like you have enough to do. Why don’t we give you a hand for a few minutes?”

He laughed. “Are you sure?”

Sara nodded. “Are you up for it, Carla?”

“Why not? Tell us what to do.”

He pointed to the crates of juice sitting on the floor in front of the fridges. “They need to be wiped and put in the fridge.”

“I’ll wipe and you load,” Sara said. This wasn’t how I planned to spend my day. C’est la vie.

Carla knelt on the kneepad provided.

“This is amazing. I have to say, no police officer I’ve ever met has offered to lend a hand.”

“All part of the job. What can you tell us about Daniel?”

“He’s a regular. He’s all right. Why are you asking? Has he got into bother?”

“Is he likely to?” Sara asked.

“He’s had a few drunken confrontations in here over the years. Nothing that I would class as major. Heated arguments at the most.”

“Did they result in violence?” Sara wiped another bottle of orange juice and passed it to Carla.

“No, not at all. I usually step in. You get a feel for when it’s about to kick off. The punters know that I want this to be a friendly pub. I don’t want them to feel threatened whilst sipping their pints. It’s worked so far. I’ve been here fifteen years, and I can count on one hand the number of major fights I’ve had. All of them were caused by people visiting the area, not by the regulars.”

“Okay, that’s interesting.”

“Interesting how? Are you telling me he’s in trouble for fighting?”

Sara tutted. “Okay, I’m going to tell you what’s happened, on the proviso that it doesn’t go any further. We haven’t told his next of kin yet.”

“No, you’re not telling me Daniel is dead, are you?”

Sara kept wiping and passing the bottles to her partner. They rattled together as Carla filled the shelves in the fridge.

“Sadly, yes. His body was discovered in a lay-by on the other side of town.”

“In a lay-by? In that van of his? He spent more time in that thing than he did at home.”

“We believe he was attacked in the van and then his body was disposed of by the killers in the shrubs close to the lay-by.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “Jesus, that’s just insane. I know he could be a bit of a bugger at times, but bloody hell, why would anyone want to kill him?”

“That’s what we’re trying to find out. When was the last time you saw him in here?”

“Two nights ago. He told me he was intending to go off in his van for a couple of days. Sounds like he didn’t make it that far.”

Sara shrugged. “Apparently not. I’m sorry if this news has come as a shock to you. What we really need from you is a possible address for his sister.”

His mouth turned down at the sides, and he shook his head. “Sorry, no can do. I know he had one and that she lives in Worcester, but that’s as much as I can tell you. Hang on, I seem to remember him telling me she got married last year.”

“Long shot… I don’t suppose you know what part of Worcester she lives in? Or who she married?”

“Again, sorry, no. I haven’t got a Scooby Doo. Wait, wait, wait just a minute. Adam: he’s his lodger and a part-time barman in the evenings. He’ll more than likely know. Do you want me to call him?”

“Or could you give me his number? It might be better coming from me.”

“Absolutely. Let me find my phone.” He searched the counter and the shelves at the back of the bar. Nothing. “Now, where did I put the damn thing? I brought the crates up, and a supplier rang me. Where was I when I answered that call?”

“Do you know your number? I could ring it for you,” Carla said. She rose to her feet and kicked out her legs to relieve the cramp in them.

“God, why didn’t I think of that?”

He recited his number, and Carla rang it. A phone buzzed beside Sara, making her jump out of her skin.

“Sorry about that. It’s my ringtone.” He grabbed the phone and punched in his password, then located Adam’s number for them. “Here you go.”

Sara added the number to her phone. “Thanks, you’ve been really helpful. Can you manage the rest of the bottling up by yourself?”

Jack winked. “Unless you can spare me another thirty minutes.”

“Sadly not. We have a serious crime to solve.”

“I hope you get to the bottom of it soon. It’s unnerving having a killer on the loose.”

“We’d better get on. Thanks for chatting with me.” Sara smiled and made a dash for the back door, exiting the same way they had entered the premises.

Carla was close on her heels, stifling a giggle.

“Pleasure meeting you, ladies. Appreciate the help. Your secret is safe with me.”

“Grr… why do men need to know the ins and outs of a duck’s arse?” Sara grumbled under her breath.

They got outside, and Carla laughed. “You crack me up.”

“And without even trying. I’m going to ring Adam.”

“What if he’s in a lecture?”

“I guess I’m about to find out.” Sara rang the number, and it continued to ring until Adam answered on the fourth one.

“Yeah, make it quick. I’m busy.”

“Is that Adam?”

“That’s right. I said make it quick.”

“I’m Detective Inspector Sara Ramsey. I’m making enquiries regarding Daniel Foster. I’ve been told by your neighbour and your boss at the pub that you’re his lodger.”

“I am. And?”

“Can you tell me his sister’s address in Worcester?”

“No. Next question. What’s this about? Why can’t you ask him?”

“When was the last time you saw him?” Sara pressed.

“Two days ago. He was just setting off on a new adventure in his van. Look, I’m in a lecture, and I’m getting the evils from Mr Thomas.” With that, he hung up.

“Charming. I suppose we’ll have to do it the hard way. Hopefully, Jill will get back to us with some news soon.”

They returned to the car just as Sara’s phone rang. “Spooky!”

“And some,” Carla agreed.

“DI Ramsey. How may I help?”

“Hello, ma’am. It’s Jeff, back at the station.”

“Hi, Sergeant. Any news for me?”

“I’ve had several cars out on patrol close to the area where the crime was reported, and one of my teams has informed me that they’ve found another camper van, which appears to have been abandoned about a mile or so away.”

“Can you give us the location? Do you know who the vehicle is registered to?”

He gave her the postcode. “Yes, the van is registered to Edward Kamer from Bury. I’m still trying to source a contact number for him. I’ll get back to you on that one. Do you want my men to remain at the scene?”

“That would be great. We’ve finished what we were doing, so we’ll shoot over there now. It shouldn’t take us too long to get there.”

3

Fifteen minutes later, Sara drew up behind the older-style camper van. “Is it the one from the footage? I can’t tell, can you?”

“I’m not an expert on them, so I wouldn’t like to commit.”

“Ditto. Right, let’s see what the inside can tell us.”

They both snapped on a pair of gloves as they approached the vehicle. The two officers greeted them with a nod and a smile.

“Is it open?” Sara asked.

The taller officer opened the door. “We’ve had a brief search around but couldn’t find anything that might hint at what happened. Looks like it was just dumped here.”

“The sergeant is still doing his best to find out more information for us,” Sara said.

She stepped into the van. It was clean and tidy, with nothing really out of place, leading her to have the same opinion as the other officers, that nothing untoward had taken place inside the vehicle.

“Why would the owner leave it? Unlocked, as well. All very peculiar, especially after the other ‘vanner’ being killed up the road. Something doesn’t add up.” She went back outside to survey the area surrounding them. Unfortunately, this time there were no houses or shops nearby, so no chance of finding any CCTV footage to assist them.

“What are you thinking?” Carla asked.

“You want the honest answer to that?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know. There’s got to be a link to the murder. What that link is, I’m struggling to comprehend. We don’t even know if this was the van captured on the video from the crime scene.”

“Should we get it towed in, just in case?” Carla suggested.

“I think so.” Sara’s phone rang. She turned to the uniformed officers and asked, “Can you get that arranged for me?”

“Leave it with us, ma’am.”

She answered the phone. “Hello, DI Ramsey.”

“It’s Jeff again, ma’am. I managed to do some further digging, and I’ve discovered the owner was rushed into hospital at the weekend.”

Sara glanced at Carla and raised an eyebrow. “Was he attacked?” she asked Jeff.

“No, he suffered a heart attack.”

“Heck. Where is he? Hereford Hospital?”

“That’s correct.”

Sara paused, mulling it over. “Hmm… we were thinking that maybe this van had a connection to the one we’ve got footage of at the crime scene, but the timings are out if the owner has been in hospital since the weekend. How is he? Did you ask?”

“They told me he’s recovering well, and they’re hoping to release him in a week or so.”

“Okay, let me have a think about this, Jeff. We might pop over there and question him. Thanks for letting me know.”

“You’re welcome. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.”

“I will. I’ve asked your men here to get the van towed away. It’s unlocked, and it would be better to get it off the road, especially with the owner being in hospital.”

“Good idea.”

Sara ended the call. “Very strange. Apparently, the owner suffered a heart attack at the weekend. They intend to keep him in to monitor him for the next week.”

“If that’s right, then the cases can’t be connected, can they?”

“But the coincidence is still there. How many crimes have we had where the owners of camper vans have been involved, and in the same week?”

“Fair point. What do you want to do? We’ve still got to track down Foster’s sister. The next of kin call should be our priority.”

“I agree. There’s nothing we can do regarding the owner of this van, not if there hasn’t been a crime committed. I think I’ll send Craig and Marissa to the hospital to question him. That covers that angle while we deal with the investigation. Can you give them a call? I want to have another look around inside, just in case.”

Carla fished her phone out of her jacket pocket and made the call. She joined Sara a few moments later. “All done. They’re on their way over there now. Have you found anything?”

“No. I’ve looked everywhere, not that there are many nooks and crannies for me to search. Maybe we’re barking up the wrong tree. It’s still going to leave me with a niggling doubt in my mind. Come on, let’s head over to Worcester. Hopefully, Jill will get back to us with Lisa’s address en route.”

They stepped out of the van.

“We’ll leave this in your capable hands, Officers.”

“You do that, ma’am. The tow truck is on the way.”

“Glad to hear it.”

They returned to the car.

“Can you give Jill a call? See what she’s managed to find out, if anything. Not that I’m eager to find out.”

Carla rolled her eyes. “I can tell.” She rang the station. “Hi, Jill. It’s Carla. Sorry to pester you. The boss asked me to give you a ring to see if you’ve located any info about Lisa Foster, or whatever her new name is.”

“I was about to call you. I think I’ve located her. Going through her social media accounts, her job was listed as being a packer in a warehouse. I did some further digging through some of her posts, and she’s mentioned that O’Callaghan’s were going on a work’s trip to the seaside. I’ve just given the firm a call, and yes, she still works for them. Her married name is Grant.”

“You’re amazing. Can you send the address to me?”

“Doing it now.”

Carla’s phone pinged. She read the text. “I’ve got it. We’re on our way over to break the news to her now. Have Craig and Marissa already left?”

“Yes, about five minutes ago.”

“Great job. We’ll be in touch soon.”

“Good luck.”

Carla ended the call. “Everything appears to be slotting into place. I wonder if Lisa will be able to shed any light on what has happened to her brother.”

“Let’s hope she can, but my gut is telling me otherwise. We could do without travelling to Worcester, but that’s the way it goes, eh?”

“Yep. I might rest my eyes a little during the journey.”

“Cheeky mare. You could always drive and let me catch up on some sleep. I haven’t had much of that lately.”

“How come? Is there something wrong with Mark?”

Sara sighed. “No, Mark’s fine. He’s fully recovered from his cancer scare. Sorry, I thought I told you. My neighbour, Mavis, died a few days ago. Ted is beside himself. He’s going to be lost without her.”

“How awful. I remember you telling me she was sick. You’re really close to them, aren’t you?”

“They’ve been amazing since the day I moved in. There are certain people in this life that you’re just drawn to. Ted and Mavis have been really supportive of me from day one. They regarded me as their daughter, too. I shall miss her.” An unexpected tear dripped onto her cheek, and she wiped it away. “Damn, I thought I’d done all my crying last week. I have the funeral to attend in a few days. Ted asked me and Mark to go over the funeral plans with him. It was tough for all of us, but I think we’ve put everything together the way Mavis would have wanted it.”

Carla laid a hand on her arm. “I’m sorry. You should have told me.”

“I got involved with work. We tend to put our emotions to one side and get on with the job in hand, don’t we? Well, I do. It’s been a blessing in disguise in that respect, a welcome distraction.”

“You’re the ultimate professional, something I’m keen to emulate. The trouble is, I can never switch off from my problems, as you’ve probably noticed over the years.”

“You’ll get there. You’re getting better. How’s married life treating you and Des?”

Carla shrugged. “It’s no different to how we were before the wedding, which is a relief. So many people have told me that their husbands changed after he slipped a ring on their finger. You didn’t have that problem with Mark, did you?”

“No, not at all. Maybe you’re listening to the wrong people. I always say life is what you make it. I’ve suffered some significant losses over the years, but I made a promise to myself to enjoy all that life has to offer. We’ve been put on this earth for a reason, and when our time is up, there’s nothing we can do about it. Just make the most of your life, Carla, while you’re young enough to do it.”

“I’m trying. We both are. We’re saving hard; our main aim is to pay off the mortgage quickly and rid ourselves of the huge debt we have every month.”

“That’s a good idea, as long as it’s not too restrictive for you. Don’t forget to put some funds aside to enjoy life a little.”

“All part of the plan. Actually, we’ve booked a mini-break to Scotland in a couple of weeks.”

“Go you, and just back off your honeymoon, too. I see the saving side of things is going well, then.”

“Ouch, I deserved that. Okay, forget I said anything. We’ll get ourselves sorted one day, I promise.”

“It’s your life, Carla, to do with as you please. But don’t tell me in one breath that you’re going to do something, and in the next, that you’ve booked a mini-break at the other end of the country.”

“All right. My mistake, sorry. And for your information, Scotland isn’t the other end of the country.”

“Okay, you’ve got me there.”

The car fell silent. Sara put the radio on rather than let anything fester between them. They arrived in Worcester forty minutes later. The warehouse was on a trading estate at the edge of town.

“Hello, how may I help you?” the blonde receptionist asked.

Sara and Carla flashed their IDs.

“Sorry to trouble you,” Sara said. “Is it possible to speak with Lisa Grant, please?”

“Do you know what department she’s in?”

Sara tutted. “Sorry, I don’t.”

“Why don’t you take a seat? I’ll see if I can find out for you. It’s not a name I’m familiar with.”

They wandered over to the small waiting area and took a seat. The receptionist left her desk and returned with a man in a suit a few moments later.

“Hi, I’m the manager here. Mr Paulsen. How can I help?”

“DI Sara Ramsey and DS Carla Jameson. We were hoping to have a quick chat with Lisa Grant, if it’s possible?”

“She’s busy at the moment. Can’t this wait until after her shift has finished?”

“We’d rather not. It’s an urgent matter. We’ve come from Hereford to see her.”

“Is she in trouble with the police?”

“No, it’s nothing like that. We have some news we need to share. I appreciate how inconvenient this might be for you, but we won’t keep her long.” Although I have no idea what state she’ll be in after we’ve spoken to her.

“Very well, if you can assure me this will be a one-off.”

“Absolutely.”

“If you come through to one of the offices, you can have a chat with her there.”

They followed him down a long corridor to an office at the end, which contained a large conference table.

“This won’t take long, will it?” he asked.

“No, we hope not. Thank you.”

He left them to it and went to fetch Lisa. Sara and Carla sat on the opposite side of the table, so they had a perfect view of the door.

Five minutes later, a young woman wearing jeans and a blue tabard entered the room. “You wanted to see me?”

“Are you Lisa?” Sara asked.

“I am. Have I done something wrong? I’ve never had to have a conversation with the police before. I’m really worried about this.”

“Please, don’t be. We’re not here to read you the riot act. Take a seat, Lisa.”

Sara chewed the inside of her mouth, contemplating how she should begin the conversation. “We’re here today to inform you that your brother, Daniel Foster, has passed away.”

“You what?” She ran a hand over her face. “You’re not serious. He can’t be dead. He just can’t be.”

“I’m sorry. His body was found this morning, close to his van.”

“What are you saying? Why are the police involved?”

“Because your brother was attacked by someone and subsequently died from his injuries.”

She covered her face with her hands and sobbed. After a while, her arms dropped to the desk and she asked, “This can’t be true. Not Daniel. How did it happen?”

“We’ve only just started our investigation. We’ve managed to obtain CCTV footage from a shop close to the crime scene; it’s been sent to the lab to be analysed. We’ve questioned a few people who live in the area, but they neither saw nor heard anything. When was the last time you spoke to Daniel?”

“At the weekend. He was talking about going off on one of his adventures again in that van of his. He was always taking off. He loved it. It was his release after a long day at work.”

“What was his job?”

“A mechanic for the local bus company. He found it stressful, working six days a week. That’s why he bought the van. He only drove it locally and chose to go further afield when he was on holiday from work. God, I can’t believe he’s gone.”

“What type of character was he?”

“I got on great with him, me being his younger sister, but he had a bit of a short fuse at times. His patience waned a lot. He didn’t make friends easily.”

“What about his lodger, Adam? Do you know much about him?”

“He rented a room. Daniel laid down the ground rules when Adam first moved in. So far so good, as far as I know. Why? Has he got something to do with this?”

“No, not as far as we can tell. I just wondered if he’d fallen out with either him or anyone else lately.”

“I don’t think so. He really didn’t confide in me that much. He was the type who preferred to keep himself to himself. Van life was the perfect life for him. He was testing it out to see if he might prefer living in the van rather than having a house and all the costs involved in keeping it.”

“How long had he had the van?”

“About a year, give or take.” She shook her head. “He used his life’s savings to buy it and never looked back. He really enjoyed being on the open road. He said it was liberating, even told me I should consider buying one. Ha, we’ve only just got married and don’t even own our own home, so that idea would be a long way down the line for us. I can’t believe he’s gone. Our parents only died last year, within months of each other. They both had different forms of cancer. It was horrendous, watching the light fade in their eyes and the weight drop off them. Cancer sucks. I’ve lost so many family members to it, and even a few friends.”

“I know what you mean. I’ve just lost a dear friend to it, too. I’m really sorry for your loss. Is there anything else you can tell us?”

“Like what? I don’t know anything.”

“Was he any different when you last spoke to him?”

“No, not at all. He was his usual grumpy self with an added bit of humour thrown into the mix. He sounded normal; that’s all I can tell you. Why would someone want to kill him?”

“I really can’t answer that at this time. We’re aware that there were two killers. From what we can tell, the two vans were parked behind each other in a lay-by.”

“So, you know who did this, then?”

“We’re not a hundred percent certain; that’s why we’ve sent the footage to be analysed. Had he mentioned anything about having a run-in with some other ‘vanners’? I’m not sure if that’s the term for people who like camper-vanning or not.”

“Yeah, I’m not sure either. No, when he rang me at the weekend, he wasn’t on the phone long. He just asked how we were getting on with our mortgage application. I told him it was a no-go with the lenders we had spoken to. He said that was a shame and not to give up trying. That was basically it. He hung up not long after he told me he was setting off for a few nights of freedom.”

“Do you know if he was intending to meet up with anyone while he was on the road?”

Lisa shook her head. “No, he wasn’t the type to get tied down like that. Being in his van gave him the freedom to do what he wanted and when. He hated sticking to routines, said he had enough of that at work. Bloody hell, it’s just sinking in now, hitting me that I won’t ever see him again. I never expected that his love of having a van of his own would lead to his death. It doesn’t seem possible, does it?”

“It takes all sorts, I suppose. You’d be surprised by some of the motives we’ve dealt with over the years.”

“What happens now?”

“The forensic pathologist will perform a post-mortem on your brother. She’ll contact you afterwards and will release the body to you.”

“Oh God, this sounds bad, but what am I supposed to do with his body?”

“Sorry, poor wording on my part. What I meant to say was that your brother’s body will be released to the undertaker, then you’ll have to deal with him to sort out the funeral arrangements.”

“Bugger. I wouldn’t know where to start. Daniel was the one who dealt with my parents’ funerals. He insisted.”

“There will be people there who will guide you through the process. They’ll also inform you where to apply for support with funding the funeral.”

“Oh right. Thanks very much. I didn’t know that. I suppose I’d better get back to work now. Mr Paulsen warned me not to be too long. Does he know what you were coming to see me about?”

“No, we didn’t tell him. Do you want me to have a word on the way out?”

“If you wouldn’t mind. It might keep him off my back for two minutes.”

“A bit of a tyrant, is he?” Sara stood and tucked her chair under the desk.

Carla and Lisa did the same.

Lisa glanced over her shoulder and lowered her voice. “You could say that. Truth be told, I’m looking for another job. I can’t wait to leave here. He definitely takes his pound of flesh from the workforce every day.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

They reached the door, and Sara opened it to find Mr Paulsen walking at speed towards them.

She turned to face Lisa and mumbled, “Good luck in your search for another job.”

“Thanks.” Lisa squeezed past Sara and Carla. She kept her head down and hurried past Paulsen.

“All finished, I see,” Paulsen said to Sara and Carla.

“Yes. Thank you for allowing us to speak with Lisa. She wanted us to tell you what the visit was about.”

“Oh, she did? And?”

“And, we had to share the unfortunate news that Lisa’s brother had died.”

The shock on his face was easy to read. He gulped and shook his head. “Oh, er, that’s different. I apologise if I appeared to be a bit off with you. I thought your visit was related to a crime she had committed.”

“No, not in the slightest. We appreciate your apology. If you could keep an eye on Lisa during the afternoon. My advice would be to let her go home early.”

“I can’t do that. We’re on a tight schedule, and I need all hands on deck.”

“Let’s hope you never find yourself in the same situation, Mr Paulsen. Thanks for your time.” Sara nudged Carla. “We should be going. We have an investigation to deal with.”

They left him with his mouth gaping.

“That told him,” Carla said once they’d left the building.

“Some men deserve to be slapped down occasionally, and I’m just the girl to do it.”

Back at the station, they arrived at the same time as Craig and Marissa. Jill made them all a drink.

“How did you get on at the hospital?” Sara asked.

“Poor bloke is still suffering,” Craig replied. He slumped at his desk, his hands on his head. “He told us that he felt ill while he was driving, so he pulled over into the nearest lay-by. He passed out and ended up with his forehead blasting the horn. The next thing he knew, he was in hospital. The nursing staff told him that he’d passed out after suffering a heart attack, and just by chance, a motorist was driving past and pulled over. He called for an ambulance and began CPR. He was an off-duty police officer so relied on his training to save him.”

“He was lucky to be found. We went to the site, and there aren’t houses around there. So, no one attacked him or confronted him?”

“No, nothing like that at all.”

“Okay. Let’s put that part of the investigation to bed and down to pure coincidence. Carla and I went to the pub, close to where Daniel lives. The landlord gave us a character rundown on him and told us that his lodger works at the pub. We spoke to Adam briefly. No joy there. Then, we drove over to Worcester to tell Lisa Grant, Daniel’s sister, that he’d passed away. She was shocked to learn the news. She also told us that Daniel could be a grumpy sod at times. He used his van often, usually around Hereford, but went further afield during his time off from work. She couldn’t tell us if he’d fallen out with anyone lately because he kept himself to himself. We find ourselves reliant on what the tech team come up with once they’ve viewed and assessed the CCTV footage.”

“What about the bottle?” Carla reminded her.

“Ah, yes. Foster’s body was found shoved under a group of shrubs. One of the techs also found a bottle of beer, which has been sent to the lab for further analysis. Who knows if it’s connected or not? That about sums up where we are at the moment. Witness statements are being collected from the nearby neighbours, but after speaking to them earlier, there was nothing else they could add, unless something has come to mind to any of them after we left.”

4

Lucas woke after one of the most restless nights of his life. His mind had been working overtime long into the early hours of the morning. He lifted his head to check if Riley was still asleep. She was. She’d been zonked out all night. That fact alone bugged the hell out of him. How could she sleep when his mind had been constantly on the go, replaying the image of them killing the stranger who had dared to have a go at them? His only crime against them was being a selfish and ignorant bastard. Now he was lying in the mortuary, his life snuffed out at barely thirty-five.

Bile emerged and burnt his throat. He leapt out of bed and bent over the toilet to empty his stomach. The noise and the movement of him clambering around woke Riley.

“What the fuck is going on? Where’s the fire?”

“Sorry I woke you. I’ve just been sick.”

She turned her back on him and grumbled, “Bloody useless. Can’t stand a man who can’t handle his drink.”

“Sod off. This has nothing to do with the beer I consumed. I’ve had the image of us killing that bloke playing on my mind all night long. Haven’t you?”

“Nope. Now shut up. I need my sleep.”

He stared at her. The lack of empathy she’d shown pissed him off. It’s my van, you’d do better to remember that, lady. He might have thought it, but what worried him was that he might not be able to say the words out loud if push came to shove and they fell out with each other. Lucas made himself a coffee without offering Riley a cup and went back to bed. After he drank it, he slid under the quilt and slept for another couple of hours.

The smell of bacon woke him up. Well, that and the clatter of dishes and drawers opening and closing to remove the cutlery.

“Oh, you’ve surfaced at last. Now all the hard work has been done.”

“Sorry, you should have woken me. I would have made breakfast for us.”

“I’m quite incapable.” She grinned and flipped the bacon in the pan. “How do you like your eggs?”

“Cooked preferably.”

“Ha-bloody-ha! Fried or scrambled?”

“Fried for me. Less washing up to do, since you can cook them in the same pan as the bacon.” It smelt wonderful. He was glad that he’d stocked up at the supermarket while waiting for her train to arrive. “I’ll lay the table. But first I’ll have to put my bed away.”

“I was hoping you’d say that, unless you want to eat outside. The sun is out. It would seem a shame not to make use of the nice weather.”

“Good shout. I’ll get the chairs and the collapsible table out. Let the camping experience begin.”

“Umm… I thought it already had. By the way, I had the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a while last night. The bed is really comfy.”

“I’m glad you did. I had one of the worst night’s sleeps I’ve ever had.”

“Oh no, we can swap beds tonight, take it in turns to have the decent bed.”

“It had nothing to do with the bed. I just couldn’t switch my brain off. All I could see was us killing that bloke.” The bile rose again. He rushed out of the van and threw up on the grass verge outside.

Riley chased after him. “Are you all right?”

He wiped the sweat from his brow. “I will be, once I get over the initial shock of what we did.”

“Funny, that. You were fine about it last night when we parked up here.”

“I don’t think I was ever fine about it. I accepted it for what it was.”

“Oh right, my mistake. Do you want this breakfast or not?”

She turned and ran back into the van, leaving him gobsmacked, not for the first time, by her blasé attitude.

He joined her and made them both a coffee. She served up the bacon, sausage, eggs and beans and took the plates outside. Lucas collected the cutlery from the table and gingerly stepped down from the van without spilling their coffee.

Riley raised her mug and bashed it against his. “To us and what lies ahead of us today.”

“Let’s hope we end the day without taking someone else’s life,” he muttered.

“Why say that? You’re such a killjoy. Eat your breakfast before it gets cold.”

They tucked into their breakfast. Despite being sick, Lucas was surprised to find he had a healthy appetite.

“So, tell me, what’s on the agenda for today?” Riley asked, swilling down a mouthful of coffee after finishing off her breakfast.

He pushed his empty plate to one side and relaxed back into his chair, holding his mug in both hands. “I’m not sure. I was going to ask you what you fancied doing.”

“We’re going to need to find somewhere else to park this evening, so why don’t we visit some of the sites you’ve already earmarked this morning?”

“Sounds good to me. Are you up for a walk or two?”

“Yes, I love walking. I’ve got hiking boots with me.”

“Right. I’m keen to keep my steps up.”

“How many do you do a day?”

“Between ten and fifteen thousand.”

“Blimey. I thought I was doing well, but not in comparison to you. I usually fit in between seven and ten thousand a day. But I’m eager to test my limits, especially in this lovely weather. I might rethink that notion when the winter arrives.”

He waved his hand. “It becomes second nature after a while. Rain or shine, it doesn’t bother me.”

“Where can we go?”

“There’s a forest not too far from here. We can have a ramble around there. I haven’t been up there for a while.”

“Sounds ideal to me.”

“We’ll have to pay for the parking, but there’s a café around there as well, so we can grab some lunch while we’re up there.”

“Great. I’m all for having a good blowout after I’ve had a bit of exercise. I’m looking forward to it already. Is it far?”

“About twenty minutes to half an hour. There’s no need for us to rush off. Don’t forget, we have to clean up first before we can consider getting on the road.”

“Can I have a shower?”

“Yes, there should still be enough hot water in the tank. I’ll grab one later after we’ve topped up our supplies.”

Two hours later, they arrived at Queenswood Arboretum and set off on their adventure.

“I’ve paid for three hours, which will give us plenty of time here.”

“It’s a lovely area. Nice to see so many motorhomes and camper vans in the car park. Do you think they’ll let us park here overnight?”

“I doubt it. They probably lock the gates at night.”

“That’s a shame. It would be a magical experience to stay here in the dark.”

“Don’t worry, I haven’t let you down yet. I’ve got a few places in mind where we can try later. For now, let’s enjoy our surroundings. Are you ready?”

“Definitely. I’ll fill up my water bottle first.”

“Can you do mine for me?”

He handed her his old faithful that had seen better days.

“I haven’t seen anything this ancient in years.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, sorry. I need to treat myself to a new one. They’re all the rage nowadays, so there are lots to choose from. I saw one the other day at the supermarket that was huge. It had instructions marked on it, telling you when to take a drink throughout the day, which is fair enough, but if you filled the bottle in the morning, the water would get warm as the day went on. Not my idea of fun, drinking it when it’s lukewarm.”

“Yeah, I tend to steer clear of those. I have a smaller bottle that is insulated, so the contents remain either hot or cold all day, or near as dammit.”

“I’ll see how we go. Next time we go shopping, I might invest in a new one. Are you ready to ramble?”

“I’m so excited. This should be what life is about, getting out into nature at the drop of a hat.”

“Yeah, provided you have the funds behind you to pay for necessities, like eating out.” He laughed.

“I’ll be all right for a few weeks. How do things stand with you?”

“I’ve got a bit tucked away, but I’m always up for grabbing more.”

“Another conversation we need to have on our way around. I can’t wait to head off.”

“If we’ve got the essentials, there’s nothing stopping us, is there?”

They high-fived each other. For a split second, his mind stayed on what lay ahead of them, rather than returning to yesterday’s horrors.

The walk reinvigorated them. They paused at the viewing point to take in the spectacular landscape: the black mountains in the distance, their peaks disappearing into the wispy low clouds.

He faced Riley and was pleased to see the awe written across her face. “Good choice, eh?”

She surprised him with a peck on the cheek. “It’s amazing. You’re amazing. I’m so glad we teamed up. We’re going to have the best time ever in the months ahead.”

“Let’s hope so. We can take this route down; it’ll take us the long way back, which will add to our step count. Are you getting hungry yet?”

“No. But I’m sure I’ll be ravenous by the time we’ve weaved our way through the woods. I love it here, there’s so much to see. What a cool place to bring kids.”

“Absolutely. They have a Gruffalo trail here. I would have loved the opportunity to explore this place as a kid.”

“It’s pretty spectacular for an adult. I can’t even imagine what it would be like for a child. I never went to places like this during my childhood. My parents were right stick-in-the-muds in that respect.”

“That’s such a shame. Mine were okay. They preferred going abroad for holidays, which didn’t really appeal to me. This country has such a lot to offer, if only people would be open to exploring it more. I know the weather isn’t always up to scratch in the UK, but even on a dull day, this place still touches my heart.”

“I can see why. There are a lot of people milling around here. Great place to bring a dog, too. Have you ever owned a dog?”

“No, my parents had a Yorkie when I was little, but Rex definitely owned us, not the other way around.”

“That’s so funny. Have you ever thought about getting one?” A hopefulness filled her eyes.

“The thought never crossed my mind. Maybe we could adopt a pup along the way, once we’ve been travelling for a few weeks. Why don’t we see how we get on together first?”

“Yay, that would be super cool. Hey, we’re getting on great together. I’m having a blast, aren’t you?”

It confused him that she had conveniently forgotten what had happened the day before. “Umm… the jury is still out for me after what happened yesterday.”

“Oh, yes. Of course. Sorry, that part slipped my mind. How insensitive of me. Whatever must you think of me?”

“It’s okay. We shouldn’t forget what we did, though. I’m not proud of my actions, and I don’t fancy repeating them anytime soon.”

“Perish the thought,” she said.

But the way she’d said it made Lucas pause and stop walking. “I’m not convinced you understand how much trouble we could get in if the police realise we did the deed.”

“It’ll be fine. How are they going to know? That prick can’t tell them.”

“DNA evidence. Have you considered that? We might have left some at the scene. It’s not like we were extra cautious, is it?”

Riley had carried on walking ahead of him. She stopped, faced him and chewed her lip. “God, don’t say that. I didn’t even think about it at the time. Shit!” She slammed her clenched fist against her thigh. “Shit, shit, shit!” she repeated over and over.

Several people walked past and frowned.

“Everything all right?” a man asked.

“Yes, it’s all right. My girlfriend has just realised she’s forgotten to pack her hairdryer for the trip.”

The man laughed. “Typical. What would women do without the bare necessities in life?”

“Exactly.” Lucas waved the couple off. “Stop bringing attention to yourself. We’re going to need to keep below the radar if we don’t want to get caught.”

“Sorry. I didn’t think.”

“That much is obvious.”

They continued on their stroll.

“It’s a good job we decided to bring the knife with us,” Lucas said. “There’s going to be DNA evidence all over that.”

“Phew, that was good thinking on your part. Thank you for probably saving our lives in that respect.”

“You’re welcome.”

They continued to take the various routes around the woodland for the next hour or so.

Lucas glanced at his Fitbit. “Wow, we’ve just gone over the ten thousand steps mark. That was easy.”

“I’m not surprised. We must, must come here again. I think it’s one of my favourite-ever places to visit.”

“That’s great. I had a feeling you’d enjoy it here. Shall we get some food now?”

“Sounds great. What sort of food do they serve?”

“Mainly burgers and sandwiches. We could have a burger and chips, or something like that. It’ll save us cooking tonight. We’ve still got to find somewhere suitable for us to stay, which might test us later.”

“You’ve got it all worked out, Mr Organised.”

“I try my best. I’m reluctant to just park up in a lay-by now, after yesterday’s debacle, shall we call it?”

Riley laughed. “Good word. I like that.”

They entered the café, and Lucas ordered two burgers and chips along with two flat white coffees. They found a free table at the rear, facing the door. Riley watched the next customers enter and take a seat. It wasn’t long before all the tables were full.

“We only just made it in time,” Lucas said.

Riley was miles away. She didn’t respond. Her gaze was flitting from table to table. He patted the back of her hand.

She shook her head as if drawing herself out of a daydream. “Sorry, my mind was elsewhere. This place is nice. I hope the food matches the atmosphere.”

“It does. I’ve been here a few times and never had cause to complain about anything yet.”

The waitress appeared with their food within ten minutes of Lucas putting in the order.

“The service is always excellent, too.”

Riley’s eyes widened. “Wow, this is amazing. Not sure if I can eat all these chips.”

“Give me a shout if you can’t. I’m always up for a challenge.”

They started on their meals, and it wasn’t long before Riley’s gaze began to wander again.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Nothing. Just looking. It’s a hobby of mine. I like to people-watch wherever I go.”

“That sounds creepy to me.”

She laughed. “Hardly. It’s good to try and suss people out. Come on, we’ll play a game.”

“A game? What sort of game did you have in mind?”

“The girl at the table behind you, she’s got long red hair. What do you think her job is?”

“Huh? How the frigging hell would I know, and how are we going to find out?”

“I know. I’ve been earwigging their conversation while we waited for our food.”

“Smartarse.” He took a bite of his burger and glanced over his shoulder at the redhead. He faced Riley again and considered the woman’s career choices. “What about a carer? Or a nurse maybe?”

“You’re way off the mark with that thought. Keep trying.”

He took another look at the woman and sighed. “I don’t know. A manager of sorts?”

“Try an estate agent. Apparently, she sold over twenty properties last month.”

“Wow. I bet she’s in for a huge commission cheque at the end of the year.”

“They’re rip-off merchants. All estate agents are.”

“Yeah, you’re not wrong. My parents always tried to sell their properties themselves. Some they managed because there was a lot of demand for that type of property, but the others had to go through an estate agent and were always sold below the market price. That was before dad gambled our home in a game of poker and we ended up in a council house.”

“Ouch, a double whammy then.”

“You could say that. Most estate agents are crooks. You rarely meet a genuine one who is keen to help their customers obtain the right price for all the hard work they invested into their property.”

“That’s true. What about her friend, the brunette? What do you think she does for a living?”

He took another look behind him and studied the redhead’s friend. “Hmm… I’m not sure. Works in a pub maybe, as a barmaid?”

Riley raised her thumb, her mouth full of chips. Once she’d chewed them, she smiled and said, “Congratulations, you’re getting the hang of this. Now be quiet; I want to tune in to a few more conversations.”

“Go for it. I’m enjoying myself here. It’s great I managed to get one right.”

Riley strained an ear as she ate. Lucas continued with his meal until Riley asked her next question.

“Okay, why don’t you try the man at the next table? The one wearing glasses.”

He twisted in his seat to observe the man and then faced Riley again. “Hmm… he’s a bit tricky. He looks intelligent. What about a teacher or a lecturer at university?”

Riley’s eyes widened, and she raised her thumb a second time. “Congratulations again. See, this people-watching lark is addictive, isn’t it?”

“You’re not wrong. Shove up, I’m going to come and sit beside you.”

Riley shuffled along the bench seat. They both tuned in to different people’s conversations on either side of them as they finished the rest of their meals.

“I’ve got one,” Lucas said excitedly. “The bloke at the far table on your right with the balding head. What do you think?”

“Let me think. Maybe a solicitor?”

“Nope.”

“Do I get a second chance?”

“Go on then.”

“An entrepreneur?”

“Nope. He’s an architect.”

“Ah, okay. That was a good one. Shall we up the ante? Play a different game?”

Lucas frowned and looked at her. “What sort of game?”

She lowered her voice and whispered behind her hand, “I’ve got an idea. A fun one…what about picking our next victim?”

His knife and fork clattered onto the plate. He stared at her as if she’d lost her mind. “Are you for real?”

Her grin broadened to reveal her perfectly straight, white teeth. “Come on, play the game.”

“No, I refuse to do it. Weren’t you listening to me earlier?”

“Might have been. Come on, where’s your sense of fun gone?”

Lucas was beside himself, caught between a rock and a hard place. Was Riley testing him? Was that what this was about? “I didn’t sign up for this. Last night was the biggest mistake of my life. Why can’t you understand that?”

Riley shrugged. “It’s just a game,” she said in an annoying, singsong voice.

Lucas downed the last of his coffee and left the café without saying another word. Riley caught up with him and tugged on his arm, spinning him around to face her.

“What’s wrong with you?” Riley shouted, getting in his face.

Lucas held his hands up in front of him and backed up two paces. “Hey, you’re too much. Get back, you’re intimidating me. I didn’t sign up for this.”

“For what? It was an innocent game. End of.”

“I’ve had enough. I’m going back to the van. You can do what you like.” He marched towards the vehicle.

“Lucas. Lucas, come back. Don’t do this.”

He ignored her, seething that it had come to this. Now he had a lot of thinking to do. Over the last ten minutes, he’d seen a different side to her. He’d dismissed her attitude before, but would he be able to do it going forward? He wasn’t sure. What have I done?

He reached the van before her and jumped inside. Lucas closed the door behind him, hoping to have a breather for a few seconds away from Riley.

Moments later, she opened the door and came marching through it. “You’re not seriously thinking of ditching me, are you?”

“No. But you need to get those wicked thoughts out of your head. At the moment, I’m having serious doubts as to whether I’ve done the right thing or not. I don’t want to feel that way. We were getting on fine… or so I thought. I helped to cover up your mistake last night. I have no intention of doing it a second time.”

Riley threw herself onto the bench seat. “I’m not asking you to. How many times do I have to say it? It was a game. You put an end to it before it could get underway. Jesus, I’m sorry, all right? I’ve given up a lot to come here. Why can’t you give me the benefit of the doubt? Yesterday was a huge mistake, but let’s face it, that bastard deserved what he got.”

Lucas’s head jutted forward. “What? He was an impatient twat who is now lying in a mortuary fridge, through no fault of his own.”

“Bollocks to that. What do you mean through no fault of his own? You’ve got a bloody short memory if you’ve convinced yourself that’s true.”

“Let’s agree to disagree on that count. What I’m saying is, that was a one-off, the only time I intend to kill someone. You hear me?”

“Yeah. That’s cool with me.”

Silence filled the van. Lucas removed a lager from the fridge and downed half of it.

“Should you be drinking? We’ve got to get on the road soon.”

“One won’t hurt me. Help yourself if you want one.”

“I don’t. We’ve just had a coffee at the café.”

“I know. This is to help me calm down.”

“I’m sorry if you think I’m a nuisance, Lucas. I didn’t mean for things to deteriorate between us.”

“Didn’t you?”

“No. I didn’t,” she shouted, incensed. She shot out of her chair and ran outside. “I’m going for another walk. It’ll give us both time to reflect and calm down.” She slammed the door, not giving him the chance to respond.

He gave it a few seconds and then took his can of lager outside. He raised his face up to benefit from the sun’s rays.

Is this it? Is there any way back for us? Or has she lost the plot? Do I have it in me to swallow my pride and give her another chance? What if she takes the piss again? What then?

The questions continued to go back and forth in his mind. By the time Riley returned half an hour later, he was no further forward in his thinking.

“Are we friends?” she asked.

“I’m not sure. Maybe we should draw a line under last night and start over. I’m eager to give this a go, but I don’t want any hassle. Van life is an easy-going way of life for those willing to throw themselves into it.”

“I’m sorry. I agree. Please, Lucas, can’t we put this behind us now?”

He rubbed a hand around his chin and exhaled. “Okay. If we both promise to behave ourselves.”

Riley smiled and rushed forward to hug him. She squeezed him so tight, she took his breath away. He hugged her back and kissed her forehead without realising what he was doing.

She glanced up at him. “I’m sorry. I’d hate it if we fell out about this.”

“I would, too. Let’s get on the road. We still have to find somewhere to park up for the night. I have somewhere in mind; however, I’m not sure what the facilities are like there.”

“I don’t mind. We could give it a go.”

They headed towards Leominster. Lucas knew there were wonderful fishing pools out at Docklow but couldn’t remember if they allowed camping on site. It might be worth a try. Riley fell asleep in the seat beside him. It gave him extra thinking time during the journey. He’d never found himself in such a dilemma before. He liked Riley, he really did, but there was still something dangerous about her. He hadn’t picked up on it the first day; everything had been rosy when he’d met her at the station. It was her blasé attitude that he found incredibly hard to handle. He was used to people being upfront and honest with him, but he wasn’t getting that with Riley. There was something niggling him about her, as though she was holding back about something.

What he did know was that she had a thirst for the bizarre, if there was such a thing. He had a flashback to the way she had attacked the stranger the night before. Whereas he was eager to teach the man a lesson, and indeed was in the process of doing so, she had picked up the knife and didn’t appear to think twice about stabbing him, not once but dozens of times, until Lucas had stopped her. He should have pounced on her sooner. The truth was that he’d found himself caught up in the moment and unable to think straight. By the time he finally came to his senses and took the knife from her, it was too late. The bloke was dead. Then there was the game she’d played at the café. It had started off innocently enough but quickly descended into something that he struggled to get his head around, leaving him to question if he’d done the right thing putting the advert on the camper van page in the first place.

On the straight part of the main road, he glanced sideways to study her. Angelic she wasn’t, although she did come across as sweet-natured most of the time. There were still times when a certain glint of mischief seeped into her eyes.

She stirred, and he quickly averted his gaze back to the road. Riley stretched out and yawned.

“Sorry, that was rude of me to fall asleep.” She checked her watch and flicked through the information. “Wow, I’ve done thirteen thousand steps already today. No wonder I’m knackered.”

“You had the extra walk… after we fell out with each other.”

“So I did. You’re right, it was easy getting our steps in around the forest. I loved it there. We’ll have to go back there again, and soon. Unless you’ve decided to drop me off at the nearest police station while I’ve been sleeping?”

He smiled. “Don’t think it didn’t cross my mind. You’ll be pleased to know that I successfully talked myself out of it.”

She rested a hand on his arm and squealed with delight. “You won’t regret it. I’ll behave myself from now on, I promise you.”

“You’d better. This trip was supposed to be about us having fun together. All we’ve done so far is attract trouble and be antsy with each other. If that continues, then it would be better if we parted company.”

“It won’t. You have my word that I’ll think twice before doing anything silly again. I’m determined that we enjoy each other’s company and have further adventures, like we have experienced today.”

He quickly faced her and smiled, then returned his gaze to the road ahead. “You’re going to love Docklow. I discovered it by chance a few years ago. We might go there tomorrow, what do you reckon?”

“I don’t mind. Maybe we can go to Docklow before we get on the road again tomorrow. It could be our little adventure for the day.”

“I was thinking along the same lines.” Lucas turned on the music, and they sang along to the lyrics of ‘End of the Road’, hoping it wouldn’t be the end for them, not before they’d had a chance to explore the immediate area some more.

Suddenly, the banging started underneath the van once more.

Riley twigged that something was wrong and switched off the music again. “What the fuck was that?”

“I don’t know. I think I should pull over.” He peered ahead of him and spotted a lay-by not far away. He indicated and slowed the van down. After parking up, he hopped out with Riley right behind him. “I think it’s coming from under here. I’ll have a proper look.”

“Are you a mechanic?”

“Not really, but I’ve tinkered with a few cars over the years.”

“That definitely sounded as though it would need more than just tinkering to fix it.” She groaned and stepped back from the main road, arms folded.

He didn’t have it in him to look at her again, knowing that he was telling her lies. He wriggled underneath the van, giving her the impression that he knew what he was doing. Nothing could be further from the truth. After a few minutes of checking what he thought might have made the noise, he determined that he was none the wiser. He couldn’t see any leaks under there, and nothing looked out of place to him at all. It was a mystery, and one he didn’t know the answer to, but he had a feeling that if he took the van to the garage, it would more than likely cost a pretty penny to get it fixed and back on the road again.

I’ve got the money. I should just bite the bullet and do it. What if the garage is booked up and can’t get around to fixing it for a while? Bugger! Why does life have to be so challenging all the time?

He emerged from underneath the van and brushed himself down.

“Well?” Riley demanded.

“I can’t see anything wrong. Saying that, I’m not an expert, though.”

Riley took a step towards the van and kicked out at the tyre. “I told you it was a heap of shit. I had reservations from the start whether it would make it very far.”

“Hey, don’t say that. These things happen.” He crossed his fingers behind his back and lied, “This is the first time anything like this has happened since I bought it.”

She faced him and stared at him through narrowed eyes. “Are you telling me the truth?”

“Yes. I swear I am.”

Riley held her arms out to the sides. “What now?”

“We need to get to the nearest town and see if we can get a mechanic to have a look at it for us.”

“Good luck with that one. It didn’t sound as though Dexter has got it in him to take us very far.”

“Oh, ye of little faith. Dexter hasn’t let me down yet. Come on, the sooner we hit the road, the better.”

They jumped back into the seats up front, and as Lucas turned the key in the ignition, he held up his crossed fingers that Dexter would start again. He did.

“That’s a relief. We’ll take it nice and slowly for now. Any sign of us having more problems, we’re going to have to pull over again.”

“I’ll keep my fingers and toes crossed in the meantime,” Riley said.

The knocking continued underneath the van. Lucas couldn’t tell if the noise had got worse since he’d last heard it or not. He heaved out a sigh and kept the speed at forty, which ended up ticking off the drivers of the cars behind them. They were overtaken more than a dozen times by irate drivers, who displayed their displeasure by giving them the finger. Riley sat in the passenger seat, giving them the finger back with both hands.

Lucas laughed. “I think you’re enjoying that a little too much.”

“Sorry, maybe I am. They’re all tossers. I bet they’ve forgotten what it’s like to own an older vehicle that is prone to breaking down.”

“I wouldn’t say Dexter is prone to breaking down,” he corrected her.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to cause any offence.”

“Apology accepted.”

During the drive, Lucas tried to remember where the garages were in Leominster. Eventually, he decided to take a punt on the small one he knew on the edge of a trading estate. “Stay here. I won’t be long.”

“I’d rather stretch my legs. I’ll leave you to it and go for a walk. Do we need anything from the shop?”

“Maybe you can pick up some more milk. Check if we need any sausages or bacon for the morning.”

“I think we’re all right, but I’ll have a look.”

Lucas dashed inside the garage to have a quick word with the mechanic. He kept a watchful eye over his shoulder to make sure Riley kept to her word about leaving him to it.

“You’re lucky, this is my last customer of the day. I need to put the tyre back on first. Have you got time to wait?”

“Trust me, I don’t think the van will make it very far, not without being fixed.”

The mechanic raised his eyebrow and completed the job on a Nissan Juke. He drove it off the ramp and parked it on the forecourt out front. Lucas handed him the key to Dexter, and the mechanic revved the engine a few times, then drove the van onto the ramp. He got underneath to survey the damage. It didn’t take him long to figure out what the problem was.

“It’s the driveshaft. I thought it was when I drove it in.”

“Sounds expensive, is it?”

“Between five and seven hundred off the top of my head. Parts will be around three hundred, labour two, plus VAT of course. I can do it now if you want to go ahead.”

Lucas beamed. “That would be great, if you could. Wow, I thought it would cost a lot more than that.”

“I could charge you more if you wanted me to.”

They both laughed.

“I mean, it’s still costly. I just imagined the bill running into thousands. Not to rush you or anything, but how long do you think it’ll take?”

“A good couple of hours. You could take a walk into town with that stunning girlfriend of yours.”

“She’s a friend. Okay, we’ll do that. She’s just popped to the shop down the road to buy some supplies.”

“Friends? Off on your travels, were you?”

“Off on an adventure or two. We’re testing the water to see how we get on with each other. Well, we were until Dexter decided to show me up.”

The mechanic chuckled. “Vans have a tendency to do that now and again. It’s not bad for its age. I’d say you’ve got a few hundred thousand miles in it yet.”

“That’s great to hear. They’re real workhorses, aren’t they?”

“They are indeed. Right, I’d better get on, otherwise you won’t get back on the road today.”

“Riley would love that… not.”

Lucas left the garage and bumped into Riley coming out of the shop. “We’re in luck; he can fit us in today. He’s working on it now.”

“Wow, that’s music to my ears. I thought we’d have to hang around for a few days until he had a slot open. Did he say what was wrong with it? More to the point, can he fix it?”

“It’s the driveshaft. He’s given me a rough estimate of between five and seven hundred.”

“Bugger. Can you afford that?”

“Only just. It’s going to put a dent in my savings,” he lied, not for the first time that day.

“I wish I could contribute. Maybe we should consider hanging around here and getting part-time jobs to help cover the costs for a while.”

“We’ll discuss it later. For now, we’re going to go for another stroll around the town. He wants us out of the way for a while.”

“Can I drop this lot off at the van first?”

“Why don’t you ask the shopkeeper to put them aside for you and tell him we’ll pick it up on our way back?”

“Good thinking. I won’t be long.”

When Riley returned, she looped her arm through his, and they set off into town. It turned out that Riley was a girl with expensive tastes. She pointed out a few outfits she liked in some of the boutiques, and he cringed when his gaze dropped to the price below each of the mannequins. He dragged her away from that part of town. They found another café and bought coffee and cake to see them through the rest of the day.

Two hours later, they returned to the garage, picking up the shopping en route, to find Dexter sitting on the forecourt. Lucas had a mixture of fear and excitement running through him.

I hope he’s managed to fix it and for the price he quoted. I need my money to last, and it won’t if I have to keep shelling out on repairs to old Dexter.

“You get inside. I’ll go and settle the bill.”

“In other words, keep your nose out of my business,” Riley replied.

Although she was smiling, he sensed an edge to her tone.

“Not at all. It’s the manly thing to do to take care of the money side of things, isn’t it? Unless you want to pay the bill? By all means, feel free.”

“I don’t, thanks. I’ll be a good girl and do as I’m told then. How’s that?”

He grinned. “That’ll make a change. Shall I chalk it up?”

“You cheeky shit. I’m not that bad.”

“That’s debatable.”

Riley jumped aboard to put the shopping away. Lucas searched the garage for the mechanic. He found him out the back in a tiny office that had paperwork strewn across the desk.

“Don’t mind the mess,” he apologised. “I do the paperwork as and when I have a chance to do it.”

“You could do with a secretary to help you out, mate.” Lucas wondered if Riley might be up for the job but was too scared to suggest it without running it past his travelling companion first.

“I wish. I used to have a girl who worked about twelve hours a week. It was all I could afford to pay at the time. She left to work at the supermarket down the road because she wanted more hours.”

“That’s a shame. It’s hard running a business like this on your own.”

“I can’t deny that. Still, that’s not your problem; it’s mine. Let me finish off working out your bill for you. I shouldn’t be too long. There’s VAT on top, sorry, I should have mentioned that before.”

Lucas shook his head. “It’s all good, don’t worry. Everything is taxed these days. Bloody government, thieving bastards.”

The mechanic glanced up. “Unless you want to settle up with cash?”

“I can do that. What about a guarantee for the work?”

“I can still give you that. If you have any further problems with it just give me a shout. Okay, let’s call it a round five hundred then. How does that sound to you?”

Lucas withdrew the money from his wallet and handed over five hundred and forty pounds. “Here’s forty quid extra for slotting us in at short notice. I really appreciate it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course.”

“Great stuff. Here’s my card. If you ever need more work done, just give me a call.”

“I’ll do that. Thanks again.”

“Good luck on your adventures. I must say I’m a tad envious of you. It’s always been an ambition of mine to buy an old van, refurbish it, and then take off somewhere.”

“Do it. It’s brilliant, and I’m finding it extremely liberating.”

“I’m just too busy. I might revisit the idea in a few years, when I’m closer to my retirement.”

“Something to aim for in the future. Thanks again, mate.”

The mechanic waved them off, and Lucas continued on their journey to the campsite he mentioned, relieved that the knocking had now been dealt with and was a thing of the past, he hoped.

“He did a decent job. The gods are looking down on us. I’m surprised he could fit us in so soon,” Riley said. She put her feet on the dashboard.

He cringed but didn’t have the heart to tell her off for disrespecting Dexter.

“Very lucky to have stopped off at that time. He was snowed under with paperwork. He mentioned he used to have a secretary for about twelve hours a week, but she jumped ship to work at the supermarket when she needed more hours.”

Riley turned his way. “What are you suggesting? That I should work there?”

He shrugged. “Maybe. It was your idea for us to get part-time jobs in the area.”

“I’ll tell you what would make sense: you working there and me applying for a job at the supermarket up the road.”

“Me? I’m not a bloody secretary.”

“Neither am I, but you seemed to get on well with the bloke, so what would be the harm in you shuffling around some paper for twelve hours a week?”

He drove and thought at the same time. Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea after all. I wonder if the mechanic would be up for it. Maybe I can drop back and see him tomorrow. I might not be the type of person he’s looking for.

“I can see your mind working overtime now. It makes sense, doesn’t it? Hey, you might even be able to persuade him to do more van repairs on the cheap.”

“To be fair, I think he gave us a good deal back there anyway.”

“Great. Even more reason to stay on good terms with him then, right?”

“Let me think about it. The campsite is just up ahead. If I remember rightly, they have serviced pitches. We can top up the water et cetera, for an added cost, of course.”

“Nothing is for free, not these days.”

“True enough. Ah, here it is now.” He pulled off the main road and drove through the gated entrance of the park.

“What about here?” Riley pointed at a spot not too close to any of the other vans.

“I think it’ll be perfect. I’m going to pay at the office. They’ll give me a rundown of what we can and can’t do on site.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“You can hook up the water. On second thoughts, leave it. I’ll do that when I get back. Just sit back and relax.”

“I might go for another walk to see what’s available here.”

“You’ve got the walking bug. That’s good to see.”

“I have today. Whether that lasts remains to be seen. I won’t be long.”

They parted at the door and set off in different directions. Lucas paid the fee of twenty pounds fifty to the girl at reception.

“You need to vacate the pitch by ten in the morning. If you decide to stay on, you’ll need to pay before ten as well.”

“That’s fab. Thanks.”

“Enjoy your stay. The small shop on site closes at six and opens again at nine in the morning.”

“Great to know. We should be okay for supplies, though.”

The woman smiled, and he left the office. He could see Riley close to the van. She was talking to a woman of a similar age who was slim and had short blonde hair. He couldn’t help wondering what they were talking about. Could he trust Riley to behave herself? He got closer and overheard some of their conversation. Riley was telling the newcomer how fortunate she was to have met Lucas, and that they were getting on really well together.

“Is this him?” The newcomer pointed in his direction.

“Lucas, this is Megan. She’s just arrived from Manchester.”

Lucas extended a hand. “Hi, Megan. Are you travelling alone, or is your other half somewhere?”

“No. I got divorced last year. This was my present to myself.” She patted the back of a larger mobile home.

“Wow, what a stunner. I bet that set you back a pretty penny,” Lucas said, then apologised. “Sorry, don’t tell me. It was rude of me to mention it.”

“I don’t mind. My mother passed away a couple of years ago. I had the money invested. Good job I did; my ex fleeced me good and proper. He drained our joint bank account, racked up thousands of pounds’ worth of debt, and my home was repossessed. So I withdrew the money from my investments and splurged on this.”

“Amazing. So, you live in it full-time, then?” Riley asked.

“I do. I’ve only had her two or three months and don’t regret getting her at all.”

“Do you work?” Riley asked.

“Yes, from home.” Megan smiled. “It’s wonderful to be on the road, a different part of the country within a few hours’ drive. I’m enjoying exploring what England, Wales and Scotland have to offer for now. I’ve promised myself I will be going further afield in the future. Ireland, France and Spain are on the cards for the early part of next year.”

“Wow, that would be so cool, wouldn’t it, Lucas?”

He glanced over his shoulder at Dexter. “It would be a dream come true, maybe in the future. I think Dexter would raise an objection or two if we ventured over the border to Scotland, let alone jumping on a ferry to Europe.”

“We can dream, though,” Riley was quick to add.

“I’m about to set up a fire pit for the evening,” Megan said. “I checked with the woman at reception; she said they had no objections to me doing it. Why don’t you join me for something to eat later? It’ll only be bangers and mash.”

Riley glanced at Lucas, a mischievous sparkle in her eye. “We ate at lunchtime, but if you have a spare sausage going, we wouldn’t say no. We’ll bring a bottle of wine and some beers if you like?”

“Sounds perfect. Come over when you want.”

Lucas and Riley returned to the van.

“That van of hers is amazing, stunning, beautiful…”

“All right, calm down,” Lucas said. He stared out of the window at the remarkable specimen and couldn’t help the dissatisfaction seeping into his bones. “It is beautiful. You’ve got to put that to one side. Dexter will serve us well if we look after him.”

“Yeah, he showed us that today.” Riley flopped into the chair and crossed her arms tightly.

Lucas thought it best to give her some space. “I’m going to top up the water.”

“Whatever,” she shouted after him.

An hour later, Riley got her head out of the book she was reading and peered out of the window. “Hey, I think Megan is ready for us. The fire pit is going, and she’s turning the sausages on the barbecue.”

“We should take a wander over there. I’ll grab the wine and the beers.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Riley slip her hand into her backpack, remove something and pop it into her pocket. Lucas presumed it was a tampon and that it was Riley’s time of the month because she went to the loo not long afterwards.

Megan was pleased to see them. “I’ve got some chairs in the garage. I’ll get them.”

“In the what?” Riley asked, gobsmacked.

Lucas tutted. “I told you, some of the larger vans have garages on board. I think it’s cool. Megan, tell me where they are, and I’ll get them for you.”

“On the left-hand side, it’s open. Excuse the other junk in there. I had to get rid of a lot of my personal belongings, but there’s only so much you can throw out or give to charity. The rest had to come with me.”

“That’s the trouble when you’ve owned a house. This is severe downsizing, isn’t it?” Lucas agreed. He went to collect the chairs and set them up around the fire pit.

Megan turned the sausages on the barbecue like an expert, while Riley poured the wine. Together, they made an excellent team.

Megan served up baked beans and mashed potatoes she’d cooked in the microwave along with the barbecued sausages. The evening went swimmingly until Megan stood up to poke the fire and toppled over.

Lucas shot out of his seat to save her from falling and cast Riley a suspicious glance. “Oh heck, are you all right?”

Megan held a hand to her head. “I haven’t eaten all day. Maybe my sugar levels are still on the low side.”

“Or the wine’s gone to your head.” Riley laughed. “Why don’t we call it a night? That way you can get some rest.”

Swaying a little, Megan nodded and groaned. “I really shouldn’t have done that. Sorry, guys. Maybe if you stay another night we can get together again tomorrow.”

“To be honest, we’re not sure what our plans are for tomorrow yet, are we, Lucas?” Riley said.

“That’s the beauty of living on the road; we’re free spirits, aren’t we? Nothing is regimented. Can’t think of anything worse than sticking to a routine.”

Megan raised a thumb. “I totally agree. It’s the freedom I feel so content with. If you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to have to call it a day now.”

She tottered unsteadily again, and Lucas reached out to hold her upright.

“Let me help you get in the van. I’ll clear this lot up and put the fire pit out.”

“You’re too kind, thank you so much. I’ll make it up to you tomorrow, if we’re still here.”

“We’ll see.”

“I’ll help you inside, Megan,” Riley offered. She hooked arms with Megan and helped her into the motorhome.

Lucas hung around by the door in case he was needed.

Riley let out a low whistle. “Oh, my goodness. This is like Buck Palace compared to our little effort.”

“Hey, less of the insults,” Lucas shouted. “Dexter ain’t that bad.”

Riley gave him one of her you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me kind of looks, which he chose to ignore. “We’ll be fine in here. You get on with clearing up outside.”

He mock-saluted her and set about cleaning up and dampening down the fire pit. Riley joined him around five minutes later.

“She’s out for the count. What a wonderful van this is. Wouldn’t it be fabulous to be on the road with all the luxury it has to offer?”

“It would. But unless we win the lottery, it ain’t going to happen.”

“Yeah, shame about that.”

Riley gathered the dirty plates and glasses together and took them inside Megan’s motorhome. She emerged with a dissatisfied expression on her flushed face.

“Penny for them?” Lucas nudged her and asked.

“I’ve just told you. I’ve never wanted something so much in my life before. I keep imagining us travelling down to the coast and out on the open road, without a care in the world about breaking down in a clapped-out van.”

He rolled his eyes and exhaled. “You sure know how to kick a man when he’s down.”

She hooked her arm through his. “Sorry, I wasn’t having a go, honestly. It’s just that now my head has been turned…”

“What? There’s not a damn thing we can do about it.”

A glint appeared in her eyes, and she wiggled her eyebrows. “Isn’t there?”

He titled his head. “What are you thinking? Don’t tell me you want to jump ship and team up with Megan?”

Riley screwed her nose up and shook her head. “Nope, that’s not on my agenda.”

Confused, he asked, “So, what is?”

She invited him to take a seat and leaned in to tell him her plan.

Shocked, he pulled back and sat there staring at her. What the fuck…?

“Let’s see what tonight brings, shall we?” Riley said.

5

Sara had called the morning meeting and was running through the status of the investigation. As usual, at this stage in a case, there wasn’t much for them to go on. “We’ve got to concentrate on finding this van.” She pointed to the photo of the camper van that she had pinned to the board. “That’s the key. I know that’s obvious, but if we don’t find it, we’re up shit creek. I’m sure this is the killer’s vehicle.”

Jill and Marissa had teamed up and were busy trawling through the camper van pages on Facebook to get a better angle on how these people lived their lives.

“How have you got on, ladies?”

“It truly is a different way of life these people lead,” Jill said. “There are an awful lot of them living full-time in their vans these days compared to years gone by.”

“Are we talking gypsies here?” Sara asked.

“Not in the traditional sense, it’s a lifestyle choice, not a cultural community. There’s a wide range of people doing it, including some who are retired and have taken the plunge to downsize. They seem to be the ones with the more expensive motorhomes. Then there are younger men and women who have gone all in to buy a camper van like the one we’re currently searching for.”

“How many are we talking about in this area?”

Jill shook her head. “I think that would be impossible to say, boss. These people don’t tend to put down roots as such. They travel from county to county, generally not staying in one place for long.”

Sara sighed. “Not the news I was hoping to hear. That’s why it’s imperative that we find them before they get the chance to move on.”

“The odds aren’t in our favour,” Carla said. “What if they did the deed, killed Foster and immediately took to the road? Thinking logically about it, it’s what I would do.”

“Yes, you’re right. However, I’m not prepared to give up hope on finding the buggers just yet.”

“I wasn’t suggesting we should.”

“Craig, I need you to really, and I mean really, concentrate on the ANPRs in the area.”

He shrugged. “I’ll do my best, but without a number plate to go on, that’s going to be extremely difficult to pull off, boss.”

“Believe me, I know. I’m confident that you’re the man to do it, though. Give it your best ever shot for me.”

“I always do. Leave it with me.”

The phone rang on Jill’s desk. “Just a minute. I’ll pass you over to her.” She covered the mouthpiece and whispered, “It’s Jeff, on the front desk. He’d like a quick chat with you, says it’s urgent.”

“All right. I’d better take it in my office.” Sara rushed through the doorway and threw herself into her chair. Her phone rang. “Hi, Jeff. What can I do for you?”

“It’s not good news, ma’am. We’ve got another murder on our hands within the camper van community.”

“Shit. That’s not what I was expecting you to say. You’d better give me the details.”

He gave her the address of a campsite out in Leominster. With her pad in hand, she returned to the outer office to apprise the team of what had happened. “Come on, Carla, we’d better get over there and see for ourselves what’s going on.”

Carla downed the rest of her coffee and slipped into her jacket. “There’s never a dull moment around here, is there? If the public have the perception that all coppers do all day long is shuffle paper around their desk, nothing could be further from the truth, could it?”

“Speak for yourself,” Craig grumbled.

Sara passed him and squeezed his shoulder. “You’ll get your chance, one day.”

“I hope it comes soon,” he replied.

“It will. Keep digging, folks,” Sara shouted over her shoulder as she left the office.

“Hey, I’m going as fast as I can. It’s not like she’s going anywhere, right?”

Sara turned at the top of the stairs and stared at her partner. “You really think that question warrants an answer?”

“All right. Sorry, I was out of order.”

They ran down the stairs and jumped into Sara’s car. She decided to use the siren to get them through the traffic, which, for some reason unbeknown to them, had built up. They found out why a few miles down the road. There had been an accident. Sara jumped out of the vehicle to see what was going on. Two men in their thirties were arguing with each other, and their significant others were trying to restrain them.

Sara rushed back to the car. “We need a police presence out here immediately. Can you sort it, Carla?”

“On it now.”

Sara raced back to the warring gentlemen. “I need you both to calm down. I have a patrol car on the way. Why don’t you tell me what happened?” She didn’t really have time to go over the ins and outs of who had caused the accident but felt obliged to see if anyone was injured.

“It was this tosser’s fault. He came hurtling out of the side road without checking if there was any cars coming his way first.”

Sara had to bite her tongue rather than correct his English. “Okay, chaps, you’re holding up the traffic here. Is there any way you can shake hands and pull your cars off to one side? Unless either of you is injured.” Neither of them looks hurt to me.

“I’m not injured, but this bloke is refusing to hand over his insurance documents,” the taller man said, sounding more and more irate.

“Because I don’t have to. Now, if a copper were to ask me, that would be a different matter entirely.”

Sara groaned inside. Really? What idiots. She held out her hand. “Then you’d better show them to me.”

The man went back to his car, reached over and removed the documents from the glove compartment. He returned and slapped them into Sara’s outstretched hand.

She studied them and then said to the other man, “They’re all in order.”

A siren wailed at the back of the queue. “I’ll leave you in my colleagues’ capable hands. All I ask is that you move your vehicles to the side. We need to keep the traffic moving, gents.”

Both men groaned, expressing their displeasure.

Sara ran through the details of what had happened when two uniformed officers appeared. “They’re moving their vehicles. You might want to keep a close eye on them, just in case one decides to drive off or they get into another argument. I wouldn’t put it past them.”

“We’ll do that, ma’am. Thanks for your help.”

“My pleasure, not that we could get anywhere, not with them blocking the damn road.” Sara jogged back to her car.

A few of the other drivers thanked her for her intervention. She gave them the thumbs-up, and as soon as the two drivers involved in the accident shifted their cars, the traffic started to flow again, albeit slowly because of all the rubbernecking going on.

Carla placed a hand over her heart and fluttered her eyelashes. “My hero.”

Sara jabbed her in the leg. “Stop taking the piss. Something had to be done. They were about to rip each other to shreds.”

“Typical men, once the testosterone is on show.”

“Well, it doesn’t wash with me.”

“Obviously. You had them eating out of your hand.”

“And you’re cruising for a bruising if you don’t stop taking the piss out of me.”

“Would I?”

“Yes, you know it doesn’t take much.”

They drove for twenty minutes and eventually arrived at the campsite. Sara checked in with the girl on reception, who appeared completely shaken by what was going on.

“I’ve never had this happen before. It’s all… too awful for words. I’ve informed my boss. He’s on his way over, but he’s driving back from Wales. He’s told me to hang on and deal with the situation for a few hours until he gets here.”

“Don’t worry. If you feel up to telling us, it would help the investigation get underway, but if you don’t, then…”

“No, I want to tell you.”

Carla withdrew her notebook from her pocket and jotted down the events as they unfolded.

“I reported for duty at my normal time, about eight-fifty. I usually help set up the shop a bit before I come over here and get the reception area ready. We tell the campers they have to vacate the site before ten unless they drop by the office and pay for another day. Well, the van in pitch eight hadn’t paid. I took it upon myself to wander over there to remind them to pay for a second night. The door was unlocked, so I poked my head in. There was no response. I saw someone was still in bed. I felt awkward about waking them, but the boss comes down heavily on me if the transactions aren’t put through the till at the right time.”

“And he can tell that, can he?” Sara asked, intrigued to learn that.

She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Yes, he knows everything there is to know about this place. I don’t know how he manages to do it, but he does. I’m here all the time, and I can’t seem to keep on top of things.”

“So, this person was lying in bed. Did they respond?”

“No, the woman was covered with the quilt. I tried talking to her, but when I couldn’t wake her, I thought there must be something seriously wrong with her. I tentatively pulled back the duvet and… oh God, I’ll never forget… her eyes… staring up at me like that. It was so eerie. Spooky almost.”

“Had she been at the site long?”

“She arrived yesterday evening. Umm… the thing is, she was in the wrong van.”

Sara and Carla stared at each other before returning their gazes to the receptionist.

“Are you sure?” Sara asked.

“Oh yes. Definitely. She showed up with one of those really expensive motorhomes. Hang on, I can give you more information about it.” She walked over to the register and ran her finger down the list. “Here you go, here’s the make and model number, plus the registration number. It’s a requirement the boss implemented a little while ago.”

“That’s brilliant. Take down the information, Sergeant. We’ll get it circulated right away.”

Carla scribbled down the details and then walked away to inform the team back at the station.

When Carla rejoined them, Sara asked the receptionist, “What do you think went on here? Do you know if the victim knew the person or people owning the van she was found in?”

“The three of them were all chatting happily last night. The lady I found… dead came over and asked if I would mind if she set up a fire pit and cooked on a disposable barbecue. I was going off duty and said she could do what she liked, within reason.”

“Would you recognise the two people who joined her?”

“Yes, I think so. Although, I’ve never really thought of myself as Miss Marple or any of the other detectives I see on TV.”

“It’s just for future reference, after we’ve found them.”

“Yes, I’d like to do anything to help. It’s criminal that someone can take another person’s van just because they like the look of it.”

“And you suspect that’s the case here?”

“Don’t you? Her mobile home was only a few months old. Have you seen the state of where I found the victim?”

“Not yet. What sort of cameras have you got on site?”

“I’d call them basic because we haven’t had any reason to use them over the years.”

“Not even as a deterrent?”

“Nope.”

“Can you show us where the van is located? Obviously, we won’t be able to step inside, not until the pathologist gives us the go-ahead. I noticed she’s not here yet. I’ll give her a call and see how long she’s going to be.” Sara turned her back on Carla and the receptionist. “Hi, Lorraine, how long before you get here?”

“Have a word with that beaver of yours; it’s as eager as ever.” Lorraine laughed, amused by what she’d said. “I should be there within ten minutes. There was an accident causing mayhem on the outskirts of Hereford.”

“I know. We had to deal with the same accident on our way over here.”

“It’s a real pain in the arse, and your lot don’t seem to be doing anything about it.”

“Are you sure? I’ll send over some more men to help ease the congestion. Do your best to get here sooner.”

“I’ll try. It might be less if the wind is behind us.”

Sara raised a finger to check. “Nope, you’re out of luck. The wind is non-existent today.”

“Clever dick. I take it you’re already at the location?”

“I thought that much was obvious. Carla and I are going to get our suits on and have a root around, if that’s okay with you?”

“You know the procedure by now. Make sure you wear some gloves.”

“Don’t worry, it’s all in hand.” Sara giggled.

“Ha-ha, very droll. I believe I’ve mentioned this before over the years: I wouldn’t give up your day job, love.”

Sara lowered her voice. “Piss off. See you soon.”

“See, there you go again. First, you’re telling me to piss off, and in the next breath, you’re saying ‘see you soon’.”

“Give me strength.” Sara groaned and hung up.

“It sounds like Lorraine was on form,” Carla observed.

“Yep, God help us. We’ve got the go-ahead to enter the camper van.”

Within minutes, they were suited and booted and entering the van. The woman was lying in the bed. She had a large gash to her throat.

“Jesus, why kill her? Why didn’t they just steal her van and sod off?”

“Where would the fun in that be? Maybe they’ve got a thirst for it. Neither of us has said it yet, but do you think this is the van we’ve been searching for?”

Sara nodded slowly. “I reckon it is. Once we’re finished in here, I’m going to take a few pics from outside and send them to Craig. Let’s have a quick hunt around first.”

“We didn’t ask the receptionist if she had the info about the people who booked this van in.”

“That’s true. We’ll chase that up once we’ve had a look around. If they moved on in a hurry, the odds are they’ve left a few clues behind.”

The van was quite small, not many nooks and crannies as far as they could see.

“What about underneath the van?” Carla asked. “Do you think there’s a trapdoor in the floor?”

“Your guess is as good as mine. It does seem tight in here. I can’t believe two people lived in here full-time.”

“Maybe it was a no-brainer for them, nicking the other van and leaving the owner in here.”

“That’s what’s bugging me. They must be risk takers. They would’ve had to place her body in here, knowing that there were other campers all around them.”

“Yeah. I wonder if the cameras on site picked up what time they left.”

“I’ll check with the receptionist. I can’t see a lot of blood around, can you?”

Carla shook her head. “Do you think she was killed elsewhere and her body dumped here before they scarpered with her van?”

“Yep. Maybe they carried her in here using the bedding, taking their quilt or quilts with them. It’ll be up to the forensic team to give us the answers to that one. Hopefully, they’ll be able to find some DNA in the van.”

“Fingers crossed. They’re devious shits, heartless buggers to boot, if they can kill a young woman within hours of meeting her.”

“Which is why it’s imperative we track them down. As much as I hate doing them, I think I’m going to have to call a press conference when we get back.”

“Because they’re mobile and could be anywhere by now, driving from one county to the next?” Carla asked.

“Exactly. God, I’ve got a dreadful feeling that we’re just never going to get close to them.”

“Stop it! That’s a ridiculous thing to say this early on in the investigation.”

“I know. I don’t think we’ve ever come across killers this evil before. We have no idea what their agenda is or, come to that, what their motive is likely to be.”

“I would say their motive is greed, pure and simple. Shocking that they seem not to care about being caught. This seems to be a very busy site.”

“Yeah, you’re not wrong. I hope this little episode doesn’t damage their reputation from now on.”

“It’s the risk any business has to take,” Carla said.

A vehicle’s door slammed outside.

“I bet that’s Lorraine now.”

Sara and Carla left the camper van to investigate.

“Good morning to you both on this bright, sunny morning,” Lorriane said, too chirpily for Sara’s liking.

“It never bodes well when you show up at a crime scene in a good mood,” Sara said.

“You know how to dampen a girl’s spirit, Inspector. I’ll get suited up, and you can show me what we’ve got.”

Sara paced the area until Lorraine reappeared from the back of her van. There were two other SOCO vehicles present. Each of the team members presented themselves, wearing the obligatory protective suits and gloves.

“There isn’t room to swing a cat in there,” Sara advised. “So you might need to enter the vehicle in shifts.”

Lorraine climbed the steps to the camper van, with one of the techs close on her heels. “Blimey, you weren’t kidding, were you?”

Sara suppressed a snigger. “We might as well change out of our suits and start asking around to see if there were any witnesses.”

“What about the receptionist? We should start there; she might have a name and address for the van owners.”

“Unless they supplied her with false information.”

They stripped off and deposited their suits into the black bag that had been attached to one of the SOCO vans.

“We’re back,” Sara announced.

The receptionist was busy typing away on her keyboard and failed to see them enter her office. A hand covered her chest. “God, you scared the sh… sorry, the life out of me. I wasn’t expecting you to come back so soon. Is everything all right?”

“Yes. We need to leave the crime scene to the experts now. Perhaps you could help us out with more information about the camper van owners? You kindly gave us the details of the victim’s motorhome. I know we don’t need the exact information about the camper van, with it still being on site, but could you at least give us the name of the owner and possibly their address?”

The receptionist left her desk and moved behind the counter. She ran a finger down the register. “Yes, here it is. I have a Lesley Harper of four Saltcoats Drive, Humber, Hereford.”

“And you definitely said there were two of them? A male and a female?”

“Yes, but I didn’t take her details down. The boss only requires one name for registration purposes.”

Sara made a mental note to take down the vehicle’s plate number on the way out. “Carla, can you feed back that information to the team, please?”

Carla nodded and left the reception area.

Sara glanced through the window at the ten other vans on site. “Has anyone left this morning?”

“No, they all paid yesterday, either to spend an extra night or because they’d pre-booked to stay the week. It’s not uncommon. Not everyone likes to move from site to site every couple of days. We have a lot of regulars who book for the week and then go out during the day to explore the local area, using this site as their base.”

“I understand. Are the campers aware of what’s happened here today?”

“It was hard keeping it from them… I’m sorry, it was such a shock finding the woman dead, I screamed and collapsed into a heap once I stepped outside and the fresh air hit me. The guest in the van directly opposite came running to assist me. He thought I had slipped and hurt my leg. I told him that I had found one of the guests dead. He was as shocked as I was. It wasn’t long before word got around. I managed to prevent them from going in the van. I know how vital it is to keep a crime scene clean.”

Sara smiled. “Don’t tell me, you watch a lot of TV police dramas and true crime programmes.”

“Yes, I do. But also, my father was in the Force until he died—that was two years ago, although it still seems like yesterday.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Would I know him? Was he stationed at Hereford Station?”

“No, he was a local bobby, as they used to call them. He was at the small station in Leominster, although he did work alongside officers from Hereford on a major case in the area not long before he died.”

“I’m sorry. He didn’t lose his life whilst on duty, did he?”

“No. He suffered a heart attack one night. The guilt will remain with me until my dying day. We’d fallen out about something trivial the weekend before and weren’t speaking. I had it in my mind to ring him when I got back from work that night, but when I got home, I found two plainclothes officers sitting in their car, waiting to see me. They gave me the news, and that’s when my whole world fell apart. They told me that he hadn’t reported for duty the day before, and his colleagues at the station hadn’t been able to contact him. They sent an officer to his house and found him lying on the kitchen floor, his phone just out of reach.” Tears dripped onto her cheeks.

“You have my deepest sympathy. There’s nothing worse than losing a parent. It’s truly devastating.”

“I never really knew my mum. She left Dad when I was ten. Thought the grass would be greener on the other side and went off with a man she’d been seeing behind my dad’s back.”

“Ouch, that must have been tough for you and your father to deal with?”

“It was. It meant that our relationship was that much stronger, which is why I will always feel guilty about falling out with Dad the weekend before he died. I can’t even remember what the argument was about. Nuts, isn’t it?”

“It’s better not to dwell on things. I’m sure your father loved you until he took his last breath.”

She removed a tissue from her sleeve and blew her nose. “I hope so. That’s what my friend said. I’m Tina by the way. I wasn’t sure if I’d told you that already.”

The door opened, and a tall man wearing khaki chinos and Nike trainers walked in.

“Oh, hello, Mr Pritchard. This is Detective Inspector Ramsey, was it?” Tina asked, unsure if she’d got Sara’s name right or not.

Sara nodded and extended her hand to the man. “That’s right. Thank you for coming over to see us.”

“I was due to return from Wales in a few days, so coming back early to sort this mess out really isn’t a bother. Do you know why this happened?” His head swivelled between Tina and Sara.

“I was just getting Tina’s take on things.”

“What are you doing to find these people?” he demanded.

“We’ve issued an alert to find the motorhome that was stolen. I’ll be holding a press conference when I get back to the station. That will help us to get the information out there countrywide, so the likelihood of them getting very far is virtually zilch.”

“Thank God for that. They need to be caught as soon as possible. The camping community will be up in arms if the police fail them. I can tell you that for starters.”

“Don’t worry, we have no intention of resting on our laurels during this investigation. We’re aware of the gravity of the situation and never take someone losing their life lightly.”

Pritchard ran a hand through his greying hair. “I didn’t mean it to come across as if I were saying the police are useless. Sorry about that. I’m just worried about how something like this might affect the future of this site.”

“That’s totally understandable. Hopefully, we’ll have the criminals banged up in a cell within a few days. Tina has given us the relevant details for the van, and as I’ve already said, there’s an alert out there for it. They won’t get far, I can assure you.”

“The trouble with them nicking a motorhome is that they have virtually everything they need on board, unlike the camper van they owned. Yes, Tina made me aware that they had swapped the vans and killed the owner of the motorhome. I’ve been in this business for over fifteen years, and not once have I ever heard of something like this happening. I once had a couple of guys who played a game of poker on site, and one of them lost his camper van to his opponent. That could have turned nasty, but it didn’t. Another guest warned me what had happened, and I was ready with my finger paused on the phone to dial nine-nine-nine, but there was no need to do it in the end.”

“The things people are willing to put up with for a stake are amazing, aren’t they? We’re not talking a few pennies to put one of these vehicles on the road, are we?”

“Sadly not, not these days. Is there anything else you need from us?” Pritchard asked.

“Tina mentioned you have cameras on site. Would it be possible for me to view the footage?”

“I can get that sorted for you right away. Tina, can you make us a drink, please?”

“Of course. What would you like?”

“Coffee, white with one sugar, if you don’t mind,” Sara replied.

“I won’t be long. I’ll pop over to the shop to buy some fresh milk.” Tina left the office.

“Why don’t you come through to my office out the back?” Pritchard asked.

She joined him, and he led the way to another smaller office and offered her a seat.

“I’ve got the cameras linked to my computer. I’ll just select the right date and time, and we should be good to go.”

Within seconds, thanks to his expert use of the keyboard, he had the footage up on his computer screen. “Granted, they’re not the best images you’ll have ever seen, but at least they’ll give you an insight into what happened.” He ran through the footage.

Sara shook her head as she watched the crime unfold before her eyes, if a little grainy in parts. “Goodness me. Hard to imagine someone having the front to carry out such a heinous crime in the open like this.”

“I must admit, when Tina rang me to tell me what had occurred, I was shocked. Appalled first that it had taken place here but also sickened that it had taken place at all. Why do you think they’ve done it? Greed? Jealousy because their own vehicle was crap?”

“Possibly. It seems the most likely. Tina mentioned seeing the killers sitting with the victim, chatting with her before her shift ended last night. Hard to imagine what might have gone on to make the killers hate the victim so much.”

He heaved out a breath. “Let’s face it, it doesn’t take much these days to piss people off, does it? You must see it all the time in your line of work.”

“We do. It’s a very different world we live in these days. More so after what we went through during the pandemic. It saddens and horrifies me that people risk everything to obtain what they need, disregarding the consequences. That’s the impression I’m getting with these two. Can you do me a favour and give me a copy of the footage? I’ll drop it off at the lab to see if they can enhance the images for us.”

“Do you want to view the rest of it first?”

“Hello, is anybody here?” someone shouted from the reception area.

“In here, Tina,” Pritchard shouted back. “That’ll be our drinks arriving.”

Tina entered the room with two mugs of coffee. Carla was immediately behind her.

“Sorry, did you want a cup?” Tina asked.

“Thanks. Coffee, white with one,” Carla replied. She took a seat next to Sara. “What are you up to?”

“We’re going through the footage on the cameras. It’s not the best, but I’m sure the lab will be able to enhance it for us. We’ll drop it off on the way back. How did you get on?”

“An alert has been issued for the area and the surrounding counties. If it’s a strange vehicle to them, they might not want to stray too far in it, not until they get used to driving it.”

Pritchard waved his hand from side to side. “Actually, just because they look huge, it doesn’t mean they’re difficult to drive. They’re really quite easy. If I had just killed someone, not that I ever would, of course, I’d be inclined to get the fu… sorry, I’d put my foot down and get as far away from the area as possible. Do you know what their agenda is?”

“Apart from stealing the van? We’re not sure. I don’t mind telling you that we’re investigating another crime that happened a few days ago within the camper van community. We’ve been on the lookout for a van very similar to the one the victim was found in. Again, we only have grainy CCTV footage guiding us at the moment, no plate number or make of the van to follow up on. I don’t believe in coincidences and have a feeling the killers have struck again. This time, their crime is more heinous than the first one they committed. Not that we should compare crimes; that’s not what I was saying at all.”

“What are you saying then?” Pritchard asked, his brow furrowing deeply.

“That the crimes appear to be getting worse. That’s not unheard of with killers like these.”

Pritchard sighed, then sipped at his drink. “Let’s see what the footage shows us.”

They watched, peering through the darkness, as the couple helped Megan to her motorhome.

“Hang on, does she seem ill to you?” Sara asked her partner.

“Maybe they drugged her.”

Sara raised a finger. “Gosh, maybe. Bloody hell, this is getting worse by the minute. So, the woman was kind enough to ask the killers to join her for the evening, only for them to drug her drink?”

“That’s it in a nutshell, judging by what we’re seeing. It didn’t take them long to knock her out. It’s still reasonably light at the time.”

Sara nodded. “Can you whiz ahead for us, Mr Pritchard?”

“I can.” He fast-forwarded until the camera time clicked over to midnight.

They could see the other vans on the site were all in darkness. The killers must have been watching for the last van to put out their light before they made their move.

“There, in the bottom left-hand corner,” Sara said, pointing at the screen. “You can see two figures skulking, making their way over to the motorhome.”

“Did you see the light catch something in the shorter one’s hand?” Carla asked. “Maybe it was the knife they carried out the deed with. They came prepared.”

Sara shook her head as unexpected tears welled up. She swallowed down the knot that had forced its way into her throat. “Shocking. Their intent is clear. Jesus, why did they have to kill her? If all they wanted was her motorhome, what gives the killers the right to take her life as well?” She slammed her clenched fist on her knee. “Sorry, it sickens me. That young woman had her whole life ahead of her, and because two greedy bastards took a liking to her mode of transport, they decided to befriend her and kill her within hours of her sharing her food with them.”

“It seems that way,” Carla confirmed. “Although, none of this makes sense to me. This world is getting crazier by the day.”

“Hold on. What’s going on now?”

They watched the taller of the two suspected killers return to their old camper van.

“That must be the man,” Sara said.

“What’s he doing?” Carla asked.

They both shuffled forward in their seats.

“Any chance you can zoom in a bit for us, Mr Pritchard?” Sara asked.

He did, but the image became distorted and harder to make out. “That’s not going to work, is it?”

“No. Can you take it back?”

“Consider it done.” The image returned to what they were viewing before. “Maybe it’s not as bad as we first thought it was. Saying that, the darkness isn’t helping much.”

“That’s true. He’s carrying a large object.”

“It’s a quilt,” Carla said, her eyesight a touch better than Sara’s.

“It’s as we suspected. They swapped quilts and probably carried the victim’s body back to the van, wrapped in her own quilt.”

“How devious of them to even consider doing that,” Pritchard said.

The three of them watched the suspected killers carry the heavy quilt back to the camper van.

“There’s definitely a body inside,” Sara said. “The gall of doing something like this at night when there are lots of witnesses around them.”

Carla heaved out a breath and shook her head. “It’s what we’ve come to expect from the killers, after what happened to their first victim.”

“Oh, care to tell me more?” Pritchard asked.

“On another piece of CCTV footage, we caught an argument between the victim and the van owners. The camper van pulled off, and a dog walker found the victim’s body in the bushes the next morning. We have the footage, but again, it’s very grainy and currently with the techs. They’re doing their best for us at the lab.”

“Why didn’t they nick the other guy’s van, if that was their motive with this victim?”

“Good question. Maybe they didn’t fancy it,” Sara said.

“The motorhome was only registered a few months ago. I ran the details when the booking was made. It’s a classy home, and the woman added in the comments when she made the booking that she’d just started living in it full-time.”

“That’s great information. Thank you.”

Pritchard hit the Play button again, and together they watched the two suspects high-five their way back to the motorhome. Within seconds, they started up the engine and drove off.

“A quick question for you, sir,” Sara asked. “Do you have many people leaving at that time of night?”

Pritchard shook his head. “No. The thing is, I’ve been considering having a barrier installed. I wish I hadn’t delayed now.”

“Why haven’t you got one?”

“The need has never arisen before. I don’t like the guests to feel they can’t come and go as they please, although we do have signs up asking the campers to have consideration for their neighbours and not to arrive too late in the evening or set off too early in the morning. I’ve been carrying out some extra research lately, trying to improve our services for the guests who stay here. A few of the campsites I’ve visited have got a barrier in place. I’m going to organise that right away. I know that’s like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted. Damn, I hope this won’t tarnish the good reputation we’ve built up over the years.”

“I’m sure it won’t.”

“Ah, but can you guarantee it?” he pressed.

Sara shook her head. “You know as well as I do that there are no guarantees in this life, except death. Sorry.”

He started the camera again. The motorhome drove past, and it looked as though the driver gave a thumbs-up and the passenger blew a kiss to the camera.

“Sick shits!” Carla said.

Sara nudged her partner’s leg.

Carla issued an apology for her language.

“Hey, you don’t have to do that,” Pritchard said. “I’ve got a few choice names for the bastards running through my head at present. I still can’t believe this all took place on my site. I’ve worked tirelessly over the years to make this one of the best sites in the area, and now… all that effort will probably be wasted.”

“Honestly, please don’t think that way. I’m sure your guests will understand that this is a one-off.”

“Will they? How do we know this will be a one-off? You know as well as I do that once this investigation appears in the press or on the news, there is a good chance scumbags out there will try to imitate the crime, maybe not going the whole hog and killing the motorhome owners, but they’ll definitely be tempted to steal the vans or homes. Anything for a quick buck, right?”

“Possibly. The only thing I can suggest is that you tighten your security. Put up extra signs stating there are several hidden security cameras on the site. Also, I’d make having that barrier installed a priority.”

“That’s going to be the first thing on my agenda. I’ll get the surveillance cameras updated and add more throughout the site, as well as put up the extra signage. Good shout, thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Would it be possible for us to get a copy of the footage? We can drop it off at the lab on our way back to Hereford.”

“Of course. Here’s another quick question for you: do you know how long the tech guys are going to be here? It’s just that the guests will probably want to know.”

“At least a day or two. I’m sure they’ll be out of your hair soon.”

“Great stuff.” He inserted a USB drive into the side of his computer, downloaded the footage, and then handed it to Sara.

“You’ve been very helpful. Will it be okay if we interview some of the campers now?”

“Go for it. I’m guessing the more people you speak to, the quicker you’re going to catch those warped individuals.”

Sara held up her crossed fingers. “We hope that’s the case.”

He showed Sara and Carla back to the main entrance. They spotted Lorraine at her van, so Sara and Carla jogged over there to see how things were progressing.

“How’s it going?” Sara asked.

“It’s going. Neither one way nor the other at this time. How are you getting on?”

Sara removed the USB drive from her pocket. “We’ve got footage from the camera; as usual, it’s a bit grainy. We’ll drop it off at the lab on our way through. From what we can gather, the victim, Megan Cole, invited the two killers to share a meal with her. Sometime later, they assisted her into her motorhome. At first glance, it looked like she wasn’t feeling very well, but we suspect they probably drugged her because one minute she was fine and the next she wasn’t. Later, just after midnight, when all the lights were out in the other vans, they made their move. They crept over to the victim’s motorhome; we believe one of them was carrying a knife. A few minutes later, the male killer returned to this van to collect a quilt, which they used to transfer the victim. The man then returned to the motorhome. After that, they drove off, but not before he waved at the camera and she blew a kiss.”

“So, the motorhome was where they carried out the deed? That would explain the lack of blood spatter in the camper van.” Lorraine stared off into the distance. “Why the fuck did they feel the need to kill her? Just because they wanted a better home? That truly is the lowest of the low.”

“Envy, one of the seven deadly sins,” Sara said. “Right, I just thought I’d bring you up to date on things. We’re going to see what else the other campers can tell us and then head back to the station. I’m going to call a press conference for this afternoon. I’m determined to get these buggers, and quickly, before they get a thirst for killing people. Let’s face it, if they can kill a woman just so they can have a better place to rest their heads at night, you have to wonder what else they’re prepared to do.”

“We’ve seen it happen so many times over the years; let’s hope we’re not dealing with a serial killer duo.”

“God, I hope not,” Carla chipped in. “We’ve had our fair share of those over the last few years.”

“Haven’t we just,” Sara agreed. “We’ll let you know if anything else surfaces during our interviews.”

“I’d appreciate it. Good luck, ladies.”

Sara and Carla walked over to a group of campers. They showed their warrant cards. “Hello, everyone. I’m sorry if this incident has spoilt your stay here. We hope the SOCO team won’t hinder the rest of your holiday too much. If you don’t mind, the sergeant and I would like to interview you all about what you saw, if anything, regarding the incident.”

A rotund man with a full beard stepped forward. “We’ve been stood around discussing that for the past thirty minutes or so, and to be honest with you, none of us can tell you much apart from the fact that we all saw that poor woman entertaining the two people who owned the camper van. To think the couple killed the young woman hours later… well, it’s shocked us all. Hasn’t it, folks?” he asked the crowd.

“Yes, indeed.”

“And some.”

“Absolutely unbelievable and uncalled for, if you ask me,” a woman at the side said.

“Would it be all right if we took statements from you all? We’re hoping to catch up with the suspects soon. The more evidence we have against them, the better when the case goes to court.”

“Yes, we’ve all said we’d be willing to do what is necessary to bring the couple to justice.”

“Sergeant, can you get a patrol car out here?” Sara asked Carla.

Her partner backed up several paces and made the call.

“We’ve already put out an alert on the motorhome,” Sara said. “Did any of you speak to the suspected killers?”

“I did,” a petite woman said. “They asked me how long I had been here. I told them only a few days. Actually, it was the man who asked me that. The woman seemed distracted, her eye drawn to the young lady… who they ultimately killed.”

Sara hitched up an eyebrow. “So, you think it was the female who instigated things?”

“Who knows,” the petite woman replied. “I don’t profess to know what goes on in a killer’s head.”

“Of course.”

Carla returned. “They should be here within ten minutes,” she whispered to Sara.

“Thanks. Can you continue here? I need to get on to the press officer back at the station before we do anything else.”

“Sure, go for it.”

Sara moved away from the group to make the call. “Hi, Jane, it’s DI Sara Ramsey.”

“Hi. I haven’t heard from you in a while. What’s up, Sara?”

“I’ve got an urgent request to hold a press conference, today if you can squeeze one in for me.”

“I’ll look at my schedule. We’ve already held one this morning, first thing. A boy went missing yesterday, and the parents, understandably, are anxious about his whereabouts. Sorry, you don’t want to know about that. Okay, what about three o’clock, if I can wangle it? The journalists aren’t going to be happy about coming to the station twice in one day. What I’m saying is, be prepared to take some flak from them.”

“Nothing new there then. Three o’clock would be wonderful. It gives us enough time to finish up here and drop some evidence off at the lab on the way through. Thanks, Jane, you’re amazing.”

“I’ve never let you down yet. I’ll confirm by text. I appreciate how busy you must be out there.”

“Thanks, Jane. See you later, if you manage to pull it off for me.”

“I will. Have no fear.”

Sara ended the call. It was true. Jane had never let her down in all the years she’d known her. She returned to the group and did her best to allay the fears of the campers once the realisation hit them.

“What if they strike again? Several people have put the word around in the community, you know, on the Facebook pages,” the man acting as spokesperson for the group said.

“That’s brilliant news. Thank you for doing that. As to whether they will strike again, I have to say it’s unlikely, given that they’ve already got what they need: a better home to travel in.”

The man nodded. “It was a stunning home. Greedy gits… no, that’s too mild for them. I’m keeping the lid on the language I use in front of the ladies present.”

“I completely understand. I’m sure we’re all thinking the same. As an officer serving for over twenty years now, I have to tell you this is the first incident of this nature that we’ve come across.”

“I hope it’s the last,” the man said, and several of the other campers agreed with him.

Sara excused herself and Carla from the group. “The uniformed officers should be here soon. We need to have a chat with the pathologist and her team now.”

“Thank you,” the spokesperson said. “I know the police get a bad rap from the public these days, but we want to thank you for treating our concerns with kindness and understanding.”

Tears misted Sara’s eyes. She laid a hand on the man’s forearm. “Thank you for saying that. It’s always nice when a member of the public thanks us for doing our job.”

“Hey, it was well deserved. I’ve always said a copper’s job must be the hardest on this planet, especially when dealing with morons taking lives just because they want someone’s van.” He shook his head.

“We’re going to do our very best to bring the killers to justice, I promise.”

Sara and Carla headed over to the camper van.

“Lorraine, are you at a convenient spot to have a quick chat?” Sara’s phoned sounded. It was a text from Jane, confirming the time of the conference.

“Two seconds, and I’ll be with you.” Lorraine appeared in the doorway. “The good thing is, we’ve got dozens of prints for you. Have you run the plates yet?”

“It’s all in hand back at the station. As soon as the patrol arrives, we’re going to shoot off, unless you need us to hang around?”

“I don’t.”

Sara smiled. “That told me.”

“Must get on. I’d like to get the post-mortem completed by the end of the day. Have you traced the next of kin yet?”

“Another thing on our to-do list. Thanks for the reminder, not that it was needed.”

6

Regrets were prominent in Lucas’s mind as he drove on the open road.

What have we done? I’ve never thought about killing someone before. Now two people are dead. Jesus, how did it come to this? Mind you, it was worth it to get our hands on this beauty. I hope the cops don’t catch up with us.

“Penny for them?” Riley asked.

“I was just going over things, that’s all.”

“Are you having regrets?”

“Maybe. We’re going to need to protect ourselves.”

Riley faced him and frowned. “Against what?”

He quickly glanced her way and tutted. “What do you think? Against the police tracking us down, numpty.”

She slapped his forearm. “Don’t call me names. If I hadn’t come up with the plan of drugging Megan and stealing her beautiful motorhome, we wouldn’t be living it up in luxury and would still be crossing our fingers every time we got on the road in that tip of yours.”

“All right, I’m aware of that. You don’t have to keep rubbing it in my face every five minutes.”

“God, you do like to exaggerate, don’t you? What did you have in mind to protect us? Hey, do you think something like this would come with the added extra of stealth mode? It seems to have everything else, including the kitchen sink and a nifty garage.” Riley laughed.

“I wish. It would make our lives simpler if it did. No, I’m thinking we need to switch the plates over. If we don’t, this van is going to be the hottest on the road.”

“Shit! Why didn’t I think of that? You’re right, that’s got to be the top priority for us now. Pull over at the next junction.”

“All right, bossy knickers. I was going to do it anyway.”

“Good.”

He noticed that Riley appeared more comfortable in her seat as she hadn’t even propped her feet up on the dashboard yet, a sure sign that she was relaxed. The next junction emerged up ahead. He indicated and joined the slip road. He took a right towards the town centre. “We don’t want to go too far. The ANPRs will be on full alert for us by now. If we keep either to the open road or on the outskirts of town, we should get away with it. For how long, I’m not sure.”

“You’re such a pessimist. If we switched the plates over, there will be no stopping us.”

“You seem pretty confident about that fact.”

“I am. Trust me. We’re on a roll now, and it’s mainly down to the choices and decisions I’ve made.”

He didn’t bother arguing the toss with her. Sticking to a few of the smaller roads, he pulled up outside a rundown property and pointed at the rusty heap of a Ford Cortina sitting on the drive.

“Go to the end of the road. You’re sticking out like a sore thumb here.”

He did as he was told; Riley had a point. “I hope there’s a toolbox on board, it’s the one thing I forgot to pick up before we ditched my van.”

“I’m sure there must be one somewhere. I bet, knowing what Megan was like, that all the tools have pink handles.”

“You reckon? I guess we’ll find out soon enough.” He switched off the engine and left his seat. “Don’t just sit there. Help me look.”

“I’ll search inside; you’d be better off taking a gander in the garage.”

“Good call. Check every cupboard and wardrobe you can find. If nothing else, it’ll be a good exercise to find out what else she packed in here. She mentioned that she had trouble downsizing, so I’m expecting to find all sorts of goodies buried here, there and everywhere.” He stepped out of the van and unlocked the garage using the key that was dangling on the keyring. There, sitting next to the chairs he’d been in charge of collecting and putting away again after they’d used them, was a pink toolbox that he hadn’t noticed before.

I can’t say I’ve ever thought about seeing a pink one lying around.

He removed a Phillips and a flat-headed screwdriver, just in case and locked the garage door after him. “I found one. I don’t like to admit that you’re right, but you were.”

Riley sniggered. “A pink toolbox—how predictable of her. The question is, did it contain the tools you need for the job?”

He held up the two screwdrivers. “It did. I won’t be long.”

“What? You’re crazy if you think you can get away with doing that in broad daylight.”

He cringed. “I hadn’t thought about that. Bugger, it’s going to be hours before we can come back here and do it.”

“We haven’t got hours. I want to get on the road again. I hate all this hanging around. Some nosy neighbour will probably be window-twitching to see what we’re up to. Do you think you can do it quickly?”

“I’ll remove the back one first. That should give me a rough idea of how long it’ll take to get them both off. Then I’ll have to replace them with our plates.”

“Sounds like a nightmare. What if the screws are rusty?”

“They shouldn’t be, not these days.”

“But you can’t guarantee that either. Go on then, you’re going to have to do it.”

He hopped out of the motorhome, removed the back and front plates from the vehicle, then casually strolled down the road to the Cortina. Starting at the rear of the vehicle, he switched the plates over with relative ease. He paused to survey the area before he repositioned himself to remove the front plate. At that moment, a woman pushing a pram rounded the corner. He ducked down and swore under his breath. He’d only just made it.

Shit! That was close. Why does life have to keep throwing these curveballs my way?

The woman passed, singing softly to her baby. When he thought she was out of range, he shuffled down the side of the car and peered over the bonnet to see her disappearing up a lane on the opposite side of the road. He glanced up and saw Riley gesturing for him to get on with it.

Piss off. It’s not your neck on the line, love.

Ignoring her, he unscrewed the plate and replaced it with the one from the motorhome. Then he stood, shoved the plates under his jumper and strolled back down the road to where Riley was waiting for him. “Don’t start. I nearly got caught by that woman.”

“You didn’t. She was too wrapped up caring for her sprog. Come on, I’ll help you.”

“You can keep a lookout for me. It shouldn’t take long now.”

Within five minutes, they were on the road again.

“I’ve had a thought,” Riley said.

Lucas inwardly groaned, already wary whenever she had a thought she wanted to share with him, as it often led to them breaking the law. “Go on, I’m all ears.”

“I brought Megan’s phone with me. I thought it might be fun messing with the cops for a bit.”

He slammed on the brakes and stared at her. “Are you out of your mind?”

“What? Don’t be so ridiculous, it’ll be fun. I promise to switch the phone off when it’s not in use. There’s no way they’ll be able to trace it if I do that.”

“Seriously? You’re one twisted bitch.”

She chuckled. “Yay, you’re getting to know me better. That should come with a warning.”

“What are you on about?”

“The warning should be for you to never try and double-cross me. We’re in this together, right?”

“I think I realise that by now. Why would I?”

“Hmm… time will tell. You were lost deep in thought earlier, or had you forgotten that?”

“No. I was busy weighing up what our next move should be. It’s obvious we’re going to need to keep on our toes if we want to avoid being captured by the police.”

“You worry too much. Right, time to hit the road again, unless you fancy parking up for a cuppa? I spotted some cinnamon buns in the cupboard whilst I was searching for the toolbox.”

“Sounds good to me. Give me ten minutes. I saw a lay-by on the way in, just off the slip road.”

Riley gave the thumbs-up and then picked up Megan’s phone from the centre console. “Now, what shall I write?”

Lucas pulled up a map of Hereford on the satnav system. “We’re here. If you can mention that we’re on the other side of the city, that would be a start. Just be careful not to stay on there too long, in case the cops are tracking her phone.”

“I bet they don’t even know she’s dead yet.”

“Bollocks. They’ll know because of the ten o’clock slot. Don’t forget, we should have left the site by then. I bet the receptionist was the one who found the body while chasing up an extra night’s fees.”

“Okay, I hear you. Now be quiet, I need to concentrate.”

Lucas turned right at the end of the estate and drove back to the lay-by. It was around a ten-minute journey. He left his seat, made them both a coffee and searched the cupboards for the packet of buns Riley had mentioned. He gave Riley her mug and a plate. She was still tapping out a message on the phone.

“Give it a rest, you’ve been at it for ages now. You’re asking for trouble.”

She grinned at him and switched off the phone. “All done. I was having a good crack with some of the vanners in a few of the groups. I found some pics online that others had posted, added them to a post and made out that Megan was having a blast, meeting up with people she would consider friends for life.”

He took a huge bite out of his bun. After he’d finished his mouthful, he said, “You’re unbelievable. What the hell are you thinking? Do you want us to get caught?”

“Give me a break. I know what I’m doing. They won’t be able to trace the phone. I bet they haven’t even thought about looking for it yet.”

“Really? For your information, it’s the first thing coppers search for these days.”

“And how do you know that?”

“It’s called common sense, something that you appear to be lacking in right now.”

“Screw you. I can’t wait to see what the response to my post is later.”

“Much later. Don’t you dare turn it on again, not yet. I’m warning you, the cops will soon find us if you’re tempted to switch that thing on again too soon. Why don’t you log in using your own Facebook account? If you’re a member of the group, you’ll be able to see all the comments on the post.”

“Wow… now that’s what I call thinking outside the box.”

“I’m not just a pretty face who is along for the ride. I do have my uses now and again.”

She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “You sure do. That was a clever idea of yours, switching over the plates. That’ll keep the cops off our backs for a while.”

“That’s the point I was trying to get across to you. Don’t screw it up by posting from her phone. It needs to remain switched off at all times.”

“Not all the time. I’m still going to have some fun with the cops. Life would be so dull if we didn’t.”

“Eat your bun, and we’ll get on the road again.”

They ate and drank, during which Riley read out some of the comments that had them both in stitches.

“Go on, admit it, you’re having a blast, aren’t you?” she asked.

He tried to suppress a smile but failed miserably. “Don’t push your luck. I mean it, it’s important for us not to let down our guard. The technology the police use these days will soon help them home in on our whereabouts, whether you keep posting false clues or not. Not all coppers are stupid, not in my experience anyway.”

“We’ll see how true that is over the next week or so. Where are we going?”

“I’m not sure. I’ve got a few sites in mind. It depends on how tired I feel later as to which one we decide to head to for the night.”

“Do we have to use a site? Can we stop in a lay-by now and again? It’ll save on site fees. Otherwise, our money is going to run out quicker than we anticipated. Plus, people on a site are more likely to be on the lookout for the motorhome.”

“That’s true. Your idea about getting a part-time job should still be uppermost in our minds, too.”

Riley sipped at her drink and then wrinkled her nose. “I hate work… just saying.”

“I don’t think anyone truly enjoys it.” He held out his hand to her. “Have you finished?”

Riley handed him her mug and plate. “Thanks, that filled a hole. It should see us through to this evening. Have you thought about what we’re going to do for dinner tonight?”

“Not yet. I might stop off at the supermarket to top up with a few supplies. I wouldn’t mind a jacket potato and chilli. I could knock it up later.”

“Anything with a tomato base is better left to mature for a day or two. It enhances the flavour,” Riley said.

He pulled a face at her. “I know that. All right, I could knock up the chilli for tomorrow and get us a pizza for tonight. How does that sound?”

“Yummy. I’m all for it.”

Lucas checked out the nearest supermarket on his phone and put the postcode into the satnav. He drew into the car park. “It’s so long, I’m going to need to take up two spaces.”

“Do what you have to do. Shall I come with you?”

He hopped down from the driver’s seat. “You don’t have to. Actually, it might be an idea for you to stay with the van.”

“That’s what I was thinking.”

“Anything else you need?”

“I don’t think so. The van seems pretty well stocked up for now.”

“Good. The less money we spend, the better. I won’t be long, and stay off Megan’s phone.”

“Yes, sir. Don’t worry, you don’t have to keep repeating yourself. I got the message the first time.”

“Did you? We’ll see how that pans out.”

He left her to her own devices for a while. After buying the supplies they needed, Lucas rushed back to the van. He was relieved to find Riley having a snooze in the passenger seat. She stirred when he opened the van and began putting the items he’d bought in the fridge.

“Did you get everything we needed?”

“I did. Do you want a quick drink before we hit the road again?”

“Why not? I’ll do it. We can’t have you doing all the work, can we?”

They chatted over their cup of coffee, neither of them touching on the subject of how they had killed Megan. Afterwards, Riley rinsed the mugs and put them away. Lucas checked they had enough fuel and planned out the route he wanted to take to get to their next location. According to his calculations, it was less than forty minutes away. They would take a leisurely drive up there, now that the van was unlikely to be detected by any newly installed cameras Lucas was unaware of since his last journey along that route. Ever cautious, he’d keep his eyes open, just in case.

“Have you been to the next site a lot?” Riley asked. She removed her phone from her pocket. “Don’t worry, this is my phone.”

“Glad to hear it, and yes, I’ve been there a few times. The campers are usually a friendly bunch who live in their vans all year round. Of course, you’ll get the odd one who will pitch up on their way to another campsite further north. I think you’ll like it; it has great views.”

“I’m desperate to get to the coast. Any chance that will happen soon?”

“I’ll tell you what I’ll do. Once we’ve stopped, I’ve prepared the chilli for tomorrow and we’ve had our pizza this evening, we’ll watch a bit of TV. Then you can decide where you want to go. How’s that?”

Riley rubbed her hands together excitedly and beamed. “That sounds like a brilliant evening ahead of us. It’s bound to keep us out of trouble, which will be a bonus.”

Lucas glanced at her. She returned to scrolling through the posts on Facebook. He shook his head, wondering if trouble was her middle name and what the evening ahead really had in store for them. He hoped her problematic nature came in waves and wasn’t a regular occurrence. He wasn’t sure if he’d be able to cope with that on a full-time basis.

Another reason for us both to get a part-time job, so we can have a break from each other. Yes, we’ll stay on the road for a few more days, and then I’m going to put my foot down and insist that we both earn our keep. The money I have stashed away isn’t going to last forever. I should imagine the motorhome will be a gas guzzler compared to my old van, especially if we head over to the coast.

“You’ve drifted off again. What were you thinking?” Riley asked.

“Nothing, not really, only that we’re going to need to find some work for both of us soon.”

“Blimey, can’t we live a little first? I thought being on the road with you would be exciting.”

He faced her and said, “And when I wrote that ad on Facebook, I didn’t anticipate becoming a killer overnight. So, I guess that makes us even.”

“Touché. I’m sorry things have turned sour; it wasn’t my intention to…”

“What? To kill people? Or to kill an innocent woman and steal her van?” he added quickly.

Riley exhaled and tipped her head back. “I’m sorry, and no, whether you believe me or not, that was never my intention. But hey, we can’t undo what we’ve done, and look around you, this is a million times better than your old heap of junk.”

“Your logic can be off-the-wall at times, just saying.”

She laughed and appeared to take his remark as a compliment.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Riley switch phones and pounced right away. “What did I tell you about using that thing? You’re asking for trouble if you keep using it.”

“I’ll be two ticks. I just want to answer some messages from her friends that have popped up. It won’t hurt for them to think she’s still alive, will it?”

“I can’t understand your logic, thinking that way. Why don’t you leave well alone?”

“And why don’t you stop treating me like a teenager you can bully every five minutes? For your information, I’m a grown woman with a mind of my own.”

And a dangerous mind at that. Get on with it. I suppose it’s better to use it while we’re on the road rather than when we park up somewhere. Either way, I get the impression that you’re going to lead the police to our door sooner or later, Riley.

“What? No wise words in retaliation?” she taunted.

“Nope, nothing worth repeating. I’ve said my piece; that should be enough. If you’re not willing to take my advice on board, don’t come running to me when the police show up at our door.”

“I won’t. Do you know why? Because it’s not going to happen.”

“We’ll see.”

7

Sara made it back to the station with half an hour to spare. She left Carla updating the rest of the team on what they had learnt from their trip to the crime scene, then made her way into her office to make the notes she needed to prepare herself for the press conference. She was determined to put out enough information to spark someone’s interest, like a family member or a close friend of either of the suspects. She made a quick call to the forensic team.

“Hi, it’s DI Sara Ramsey. I’m about to go on air soon to make a plea to the public for help. I don’t suppose you’ve got any footage that has been enhanced for me to use, have you?”

“As it happens, we do. I’ve managed to improve the pictures of the suspects significantly. I think you’ll be pleased with the results. I’ll email them to you now.”

“I could kiss you. That’d be amazing, thanks so much.”

“You’ve got me all flustered now, Inspector. Expect to hear from me soon.”

“Thank you. Sorry, I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“No, what you did, without realising it, was make my day.”

They both laughed, and Sara ended the call. She took a sip from the coffee Carla had brought her not long after they had got back and read through the notes she had prepared one final time before she left the office and made her way downstairs. Jane was waiting for her in the anteroom.

“Thanks for arranging this so swiftly, Jane. Were the journalists very upset about coming back for a second time today?”

Jane leaned in and said, “Tough if they were. They either want the story or they don’t. I can’t see them being that hard on you in there. I’ll be by your side as usual. I’ll slap them down as and when I feel it’s needed.”

“My hero, or should I call you my guardian angel instead?”

“Neither. It’s called doing my job, Sara. Sounds like you’ve got a tough case on your hands. I’ve set up the computer if you need to share any images with the crowd.”

“Thanks. One of the techs has just sent me pictures of the two suspects, which I’m eager to get out there. My team are running them both through the system now. It’s far too early to get any joy from that yet.”

“Maybe someone will recognise them and help solve the case.”

“We don’t always have a good hit rate with press conferences, but this one might be a different story. I’m hoping someone in the camper van community comes forward once it has been aired.”

“Wouldn’t that be amazing? Do you know anything about the killers?”

“Very little. We need to stop them before they get a thirst for killing people. We’ve seen it happen all too often over the years.”

“Yes, we’ve had our fair share of serial killer cases lately, haven’t we?”

“That’s the downside to relying on press conferences to get the word out there. If anyone with anger issues hears that serial killers are getting away with their crimes, they might think they can get away with it too.”

“Let’s hope that doesn’t happen this time around. Like you say, if these buggers are mingling with the camping community, I’m sure someone will do the right thing and let you know their whereabouts. Shall we make a start?”

“Yes, let’s do that before my anxiety gets the better of me. You know how much I detest being in front of the camera.”

Jane laughed. “You should be used to it by now.”

Sara cringed. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.”

The conference ran smoothly enough, and the journalists, well, most of them, behaved themselves throughout, which came as a huge relief to Sara. The public had no idea what a chore performing in front of the cameras was to mere mortals like her.

After the conference ended, Sara thanked Jane a second time and flew up the stairs to the office. She heard the phone ring as she pushed open the door.

It’s too soon for anyone to contact us; the bulletins haven’t been aired yet.

The phone call turned out to be a false alarm. It was someone from head office chasing up some paperwork that Sara should have sent back to them the previous week. After the woman hung up, Sara dashed through to her office and checked her in-tray. She found the paperwork still sitting in the tray, and her cheeks flushed. She signed it, added a brief apology for the delay and put it in an internal envelope, ready to send later.

After the conference aired on the afternoon news on the radio, Sara received a call from a woman living in Bristol, Annabelle Weaver.

“Hello, Miss Weaver. How may I help you?”

“I’ve just heard the conference on the news. I looked up the images of the suspects you posted on the internet. I had a feeling it was her.”

Sara sat upright in her chair, her interest piqued. “Do you know the suspects?”

“I know one of them. She’s called Riley Shaw. She’s guilty of stabbing my brother. The police down here have been looking for her. They’re a bunch of twats. I told them she wouldn’t hang around in this area, but they didn’t believe me. She often told me that she wanted to get on the road and travel around the UK in a camper van. That’s what made me sit up and listen to the conference. I can’t be arsed to listen to the news most days.”

“Did your brother survive the attack?”

“Barely. He had to have a kidney removed.”

“When did this happen?”

“Two weeks ago. She’s been on the run ever since. Someone said she was sleeping on a friend’s couch. The police got there too late. She’d left that morning, and now you have her causing mayhem on your patch. You have to find her, and soon. She’s a seriously evil bitch.”

“Thanks for the information. Can I ask why she stabbed your brother? Was it in self-defence?”

“No, it bloody wasn’t. She wanted him to buy her a ticket for a concert, and he refused. She’s a lazy bitch. Hasn’t had a job in years. She was on benefits for a while until she changed address. I reckon that’s the reason she got on the road because she hasn’t found another way of claiming benefits, not without a fixed abode.”

“What else can you tell me about her?”

“She’s twenty-eight, going on twelve. She went out with my brother for six months. She turned his world upside down in that time. She’s a manipulative, narcissistic type. She did everything she could to keep Stuart away from the family. The bitch had the audacity to call our family toxic, when all the time she was filling Stu’s head with utter nonsense. What’s more, the idiot believed her. He handed money over to her every day. When I asked him why, Stu said he felt sorry for her. She spun him a line about not being fit to work. It was a load of bullshit. The lies roll out of her mouth like there’s no tomorrow. Wicked through and through. You have to catch her. I was going to add, ‘before she gets out of hand’, but it’s too late for that, isn’t it?”

“We’re hoping the camping community will give them away. Do you know how she met up with her ‘associate’, shall we call him?”

“I don’t. I’m sorry, I wish I knew. I just had an inkling that you were talking about her during the conference.”

“Well, I’d like to thank you for getting in touch with me. Would you be prepared to give the local police a statement?”

“Absolutely. I’m at work until six; they can come and see me in the evening.” She gave Sara her address.

“They’ll be in touch with you soon. Thanks for calling, Annabelle.” Sara hung up and shot out of her chair. At the doorway, she told the team, “I’ve been given the name of the female: Riley Shaw. Let’s see what we can find out about her.”

“Might be worth putting a trace on her phone,” Carla suggested.

“Talking of which,” Craig said. “I’ve been going through the Facebook groups, and I spotted this post from Megan Cole that was put up a couple of hours ago.”

Sara frowned. “Could she have scheduled it before her death?”

“As far as I know, you can’t schedule a post, not unless you run a group page,” Craig informed her. He pulled up a map and pointed out the area the images in the post showed.

Sara frowned. “That’s a heck of a distance. Out of our area.”

Craig raised a finger. “I thought the same until I scrolled through the page and saw the same photos used in another post from last week.”

Sara’s frown deepened. “Are you saying that this Riley has copied the photos and is pretending to be somewhere she’s not?”

“My thoughts exactly, boss. She’s trying to lead the police astray. I’ve put a trace on Megan’s phone. She’s probably got it turned off, but as soon as she posts something else or switches the phone on again, we should get a proper location for them.”

Sara patted him on the shoulder. “Full marks for you on that one, Craig. Keep me informed.”

“I will.”

8

Lucas drew up at the site around four-thirty. He hopped out of his seat, checked in at reception under a fake name, then returned to begin chopping the veg for the chilli.

“You’re keen. Hungry, are you?”

“You could say that. I’ll prep some more veg to add to our pizza. They never put enough topping on for my liking.”

“I agree. Can I lend a hand?”

“Why not.” He grinned and passed her two onions. “I need one sliced, and the other one finely chopped.”

“Bastard. Why do I get all the crappy jobs around here?”

He chuckled. “Hardly. Just get on with it and stop whingeing.”

She removed a teaspoon from the drawer and popped it into her mouth.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Lucas asked.

“It’s an old wives’ tale. Stick a spoon in your gob and it’s supposed to stop the tears from forming.”

“Well, good luck with that one. I found some goggles in Megan’s toolbox if you want me to fetch them?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. This is a tried-and-tested method for me.”

Lucas was amazed that she didn’t shed a tear throughout the chore. He was also annoyed that his own eyes were watering, as if he’d peeled the onions himself. He kicked himself for trying to fool her.

“Anything else I can do?”

“Nope, that’s enough. Dinner won’t be too long. Do you just want pizza, or shall I open a tin of beans to go with it?”

“Beans for me. Thanks. Do you want me to turn on the TV?”

“Yeah, let’s see if the police have discovered Megan’s body yet. They’re bound to by now, but who knows?”

Riley flicked through the channels. “I think it’s too early for the local news.” She put on The Chase instead.

“That’s fine. I like to test my wits against the chasers when I can.”

“Do you ever do any good?”

“Mostly yes, occasionally no. If that’s not a contradiction.”

“It is, but I’ll let you off. A friend of mine went on the show a few years ago. She said Bradley Walsh was super friendly with all the contestants.”

“Wow. Did she win?”

“She was the only one left and had to complete the final round on her own. She ended up getting thirteen questions right but was up against The Beast. It didn’t take him long to wipe the floor with her.”

“That’s a shame. It must be getting close to the end now.”

“Then the news is on at six, right?”

“Yep. Dinner should be ready by then.”

“Good. I’m going to have a quick wee and wash up. I’ll sort the cutlery out in a minute.”

“Don’t worry, it’s all in hand.”

He put the pizza under the grill and watched the final round of the game show. He liked to test himself and was thrilled when he got fifteen of the questions right.

Riley came out of the bathroom, her hair wrapped in a towel. “Oh, it’s finished. How did they do?”

“They lost. Another question or pushback and they would have smashed it. Was there enough hot water?”

“Yes, I didn’t bother having a shower; I just washed my hair. I’ll dry it later.”

“The pizza is ready.” Lucas sliced it in half and served up the beans on two plates. He delivered the meal to the table just as the news headlines came up. “Shit! That’s my old van on the screen.”

“It was to be expected, considering we dumped Megan’s body in there.”

“I know, but seeing it on the TV kind of brings it home to me. Bugger, they’ll know who I am now.”

“What? Are you kidding me? Didn’t you think to register the van in a different name?”

“Why would I?” He glared at her. “I had no intention of killing two people.”

She dropped her knife and fork and snarled, “And that’s my fault, is it? You frigging wanted this motorhome as much as I did. Don’t you dare play the innocent with me.”

He fell quiet, scooped some beans into his mouth, then picked up a slice of pizza. The trouble was, there was a lump the size of an iceberg lodged in his throat, and he had trouble swallowing it. He went to the sink and filled a glass with water. Even sipping the cool liquid didn’t help to shift the lump. “God, why did I go along with your plans?”

“You what?” Riley charged at him and slammed her fist into his back, knocking the wind out of him. “Don’t you dare put the onus on me for what you did.”

“Correction, what we did. You twisted my arm every step of the way. I’ve never hurt anyone in my life before.”

“What crap. It was all too easy for you. Don’t give me that bullshit.”

“I’m not. It’s official, you’re a bad influence on me.”

She stared at him and then flew into his arms and planted a kiss on his lips. Any breath he had left in his body had now completely vanished. He tried to push her away, unsure whether he wanted this or not, but she stuck to him like glue. In the end, she ground him down, and they ended up sharing a long kiss. At the same time, Lucas continued to listen to the bulletin going on behind him. He heard her name mentioned and released himself from her grasp to concentrate on what the news anchor had to say about Riley.

“What the fuck? Why didn’t you tell me?” He faced Riley.

Her gaze dropped to the floor, and she shrugged. “I can explain. It was an accident. You have no idea what I had to put up with. He was a cheating bastard. I found him in bed with a work colleague. They were both laughing at me. I couldn’t take it any more, so I stabbed him when he was least expecting it. I regretted my actions as soon as I did it. But it was too late. He ended up in hospital, and I had to go on the run. He was evil; he would have lied about me just to put me behind bars. They were at fault, the pair of them, not me.”

He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. Then his gaze was drawn back to the TV to see the image of both of them leaving the murder scene in the motorhome. “Shit! We’ve got to get out of here before someone recognises us.”

“I’m not going anywhere, not until I’ve eaten. What are the odds that people will see the news tonight?”

He closed his eyes and sighed. “Err… we’re here, watching it, aren’t we? You say the most ludicrous things at times.”

“Christ! What is wrong with you? Stop blowing things up out of all proportion.”

His head jutted forward, and his anger seared his veins. “You’re nuts! You’re dumb if you think we won’t end up behind bars soon.”

“I’ve already warned you not to call me names. While we have wheels, we can outrun the police.”

“By what they’ve just said on the news, and what you neglected to tell me when we first started messaging each other, you’re experienced at being a wanted person on the run. I’m not. This is all new to me.” He ground his teeth. “It’s the deceit that I’m struggling to deal with. Why? Why did you answer my post? To help you get away? Avoid being caught by the police? I didn’t sign up for this. I’m furious with myself for allowing you to pull the wool over my eyes. I regret ever getting involved with you.”

Riley put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “What are you saying? And please, don’t hold back.”

“I don’t know. I wish I did. One thing’s for sure: because of your actions, I’m up to my neck in deep shit.”

Riley snarled and jabbed a thumb at her chest. “My actions? How dare you? You wanted to kill Megan as much as I did, if only to get your hands on her vehicle. So don’t blame me for that one.”

He shook his head, lost for words. There were plenty on the tip of his tongue, but it was as if his mouth was frozen solid, unable to say what he was thinking.

She came hurtling towards him and beat his chest with her fists. “Answer me,” she screeched.

He raised a hand, ready to strike her. He’d never felt the need to hit a woman before, but she was having an inexplicable effect on him, and it was driving him crazy. One minute he really liked her, and the next, he couldn’t bear the sight of her.

“Go on, I dare you,” she challenged him after a moment’s pause.

He turned his back and rested his hands on the sink. “Get out of my sight.”

“What? You can’t mean that. Please, don’t kick me out. Think about it overnight, and we’ll discuss it again in the morning. If you still feel the same way, you can drop me off at the nearest station, and I’ll get out of your hair. You’ll never have to see me again, I promise.”

Her plea appeared to have been genuine enough. He shrugged and relented. “This is your final warning. I don’t need all this shit in my life. I’m a carefree bloke, most of the time. Because of what we’ve done, I’ll be forever looking over my shoulder, trying to escape the police.”

Her chin dipped, and she muttered an apology: “I’m sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen. I got carried away.”

“Carried away? That’s putting it mildly when two murders have been committed. We need to put our heads together and try to figure out what we’re going to do next.”

“Do you think we should pack up and leave? Maybe spend the night in a lay-by instead?”

“Let’s keep our heads down and our wits about us for now. If we stay here, we’re less likely to stick out like a sore thumb. Let’s finish off our dinner. I’ll eat mine by the window. If I think something is amiss, then we’ll leave.”

“Okay, and Lucas… I truly am sorry for involving you in all of this.”

“And so you should be. Are there any more secrets in your past that I should be aware of?”

Her gaze met his. “No, I promise. There’s nothing else in my murky past that will shock you.”

“What state did you leave your ex in?”

“He was in hospital. I believe he had to have a kidney removed. I have no idea if the operation was successful or not.”

“I’m guessing it must have been, otherwise they would have reported his death on the news. Here’s another warning for you: I might come across as a soft touch, but when my back is against the wall, nothing could be further from the truth. Just like you, I’ve been known to have an evil streak, too.”

“Noted. Do you want to tell me more?”

“Nope. I prefer to keep an air of mystery around me, if only to keep you on your toes.”

“I understand. I agree, I should have been more open with you from the beginning. I regret my actions now, big time.”

He laughed. “Yeah, and why is that? Because you’ve been found out.”

She grinned. “Come on, our dinner will be getting cold.”

“It’s too late for that. I’ll stick mine in the microwave.” He collected his plate and zapped his dinner for two minutes, then sat up front in the driver’s seat to survey his surroundings. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary as yet. There was a lot of light ahead of them. He suspected the other campers would gather around, nattering and comparing notes about other campsites in the coming hours. He was determined not to get involved and lie low for now. His only source of concern was the receptionist. When he’d booked in, she was the only one to have had a good look at him. Now he was left wondering if she was the type to switch on the news or go through life shutting the dramas of the world out. He decided she would fit into the latter category.

“That was delicious,” Riley said. She flopped into the passenger seat and rubbed her flat stomach. “It was far too much for me. I’ve left a little slice if you want it?”

“I never say no to pizza.”

She flew out of her chair and returned with the food. He suspected she was trying too hard to make it up to him.

We’ll see if that changes. I have a feeling this is all for show. It’s not going to stop me from sleeping with a knife under my pillow, just in case. Who knows what the conniving bitch has up her sleeve? Bring it on, baby. I’ll be ready and waiting for you.

He continued to assess his surroundings while Riley sat to catch up with the soaps she’d missed out on since she’d joined up with him. He hoped that wouldn’t become a habit. He couldn’t think of anything worse than spending the evening watching inane stories about other people’s day-to-day lives.

Several of the older campers joined up outside one of the motorhomes. They raised a glass of wine, probably toasting each other’s health. Lucas watched their conversation flow. There was plenty of laughter thrown into the mix as well, so his fear soon subsided. Despite this, he felt like he was living on his nerves and made the call at eight o’clock to move on.

“What? At this time of night? Are you crazy? Where do you intend going?”

“Why all the questions? This doesn’t feel right. I know it’s going to be a waste of camp fees, but if it means I’ll sleep better tonight, then so be it.”

Riley sighed and cursed under her breath. Since eating dinner, she had changed into her PJs and was ready for bed. “Do I have to get changed again?” she asked in a whiny tone.

“No, there’s no need for you to do that. The other campsite is just up the road. It’s a free one, open to everyone.”

She seemed puzzled. “Huh? Why didn’t you choose that one instead?”

“I don’t know. I thought I was doing the right thing at the time, unaware that we were about to become headline news on every bloody news channel under the sun. Some things in life you just can’t predict, right?”

“I guess. If that’s another dig, I’m sorry.”

“It wasn’t. Stop being so sensitive.”

It didn’t take them long to pack up and get on the road again. The reception was still open. Lucas made out they had a family emergency they needed to attend to, and the receptionist offered them a partial refund. Lucas was surprised that the lies continued to roll off his tongue. It felt unfamiliar to him, and he hoped he would never get used to it.

Half an hour into their journey, Riley asked, “Are we nearly there?”

“It’s not far now. If I remember rightly, it’s only another five minutes or so.”

“Ah, okay. I promise I won’t keep asking.”

“Good. There’s only so much a man can take of that whining voice of yours.” He added a grin to soften the blow.

She smiled, appreciating him winding her up. “Cheeky sod. I’m glad we’re back on speaking terms, at least.”

“Until the next time you mess up.”

She poked her tongue out at him. “Now that comment was uncalled for.”

“Whatever.” He grinned again.

She reached over and slapped him. He returned his gaze to the road and indicated.

“Here we are. It was closer than I anticipated it would be.”

“I’m sad I never got to see the views at the previous place.”

“This one has the river running past it.”

“How cool is that? I love the sound of it already.”

Lucas trundled down the long winding track. A forest lined the road on either side of them, which opened out to magnificent views. The site was situated at the base of the Black Mountains.

“Holy crap! I can’t believe you took us to the other site and didn’t think to bring us here. This place is simply amazing.”

“It’s better than I remember it, and yes, it’s totally fantastic, but without the added amenities on hand.”

“Who gives a shit about them? Seriously, I’m blown away by this, Lucas. Thank you for opening up my eyes to what’s available out there.”

He wagged a finger. “Behave yourself.”

She tutted and rolled her eyes. “There’s no need for you to lecture me over and over. I’ll behave. You have my word.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “We’ll see. I’m going to go for a walk while it’s still light. Do you want to join me?”

She glanced down at the PJs she was wearing. “I could get changed and be ready to go in five minutes.”

“Go on then, don’t let me stop you.”

She let out an excited whoop, gathered the clothes she’d taken off earlier and ran into the bathroom. He took the time to ensure everything was as it should be and then searched for his hiking boots.

Riley emerged from the bathroom and announced she was ready. “Ooo… good idea. I’ll get my hikers on as well.” She ducked down and took in the view ahead of them. “Simply stunning.”

Lucas left the motorhome first. He took in a lungful of fresh air and stretched the kinks out of his back. He’d been driving a lot today, and it was showing in muscles he never knew existed. It was time to loosen up a bit, something that would have been out of their grasp at the previous site, although they would still need to be careful.

He searched his rucksack for a couple of caps and threw one at Riley. “You’d better wear this in case anyone sees us. It’ll help to disguise you, hopefully enough for people to question whether they’re making a mistake or not.”

“If I have to. For your information, I hate wearing hats. Can’t see why so many people like them. But as you say, needs must.” She went back to the bathroom to adjust the cap in the mirror. “Can’t I wear it backwards?”

“No, that will be defeating the object. You need the brim to disguise your face.”

“Speak for yourself, my face is beautiful.”

He groaned. “Are you ready for the off? It’ll be getting dark in about an hour. I could do with some exercise. We haven’t got anywhere near our step count today, and I feel kind of stiff.”

“I know what you mean.”

They set off towards the river and walked along it and into the woodland they had passed on the way in. A man in his fifties was coming down the path towards them. He didn’t move over and grunted when Lucas bumped into him.

“Hey, why don’t you show some respect to other hikers?” the man muttered.

Lucas raised an eyebrow at Riley but kept a lid on the retort that had settled on his tongue. “Bloody cheek. No idea what his problem is, silly twat.”

Riley laughed but had the sense to keep the noise down. “I thought you said campers are a friendly bunch?”

“Like everything in this life, you get the odd git who tries to spoil things.”

“Sod him. Hey, I know we haven’t got very far, but do you think we should head back now? Or at least get out of the forest? The light is fading quicker in here.”

“You’re right. Let’s turn around. That miserable git should be far enough ahead of us by now, so he shouldn’t cause any bother on the way back.”

“Can you take the lead? I’m not confident enough, not with my hiking skills at an all-time low.”

Lucas squeezed past. Riley took the opportunity to peck him on the cheek.

“What was that for?” he asked, surprised.

“For being an all-round decent human being and for giving me one last chance.”

He smiled. “You’re welcome. Just so we’re clear, I meant what I said. Don’t screw it up.”

“I won’t.”

They made it back to the clearing and spotted the old fella just ahead of them.

“We’ll branch off to the right, towards the river. He looks like he’s going back to the site.”

“Makes sense to give him a wide berth. The wider the better.”

They continued to walk by the edge of the river, stopping now and again to take in their fantastic surroundings.

Riley put an arm through his. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to stay here forever?”

“It’s doable. I’m guessing you’d soon get bored of the place, though.”

“Not a chance in hell. This place has definitely captured my heart.”

“The only thing that might prevent us from hanging around here is if we’re recognised.”

“Hmm… we’ll have to make sure that doesn’t happen, then, won’t we? Where’s the nearest town, do you know?”

“About ten miles at a rough guess. Why?”

“We could nip into town and buy a wig or two, or get our hair changed, either with different cuts or, better still, we could buy some hair dyes. It’d be a start.”

He thought over the proposal and nodded. “Okay, we’ll head over there first thing. How’s that?”

“Great. I need a glass of wine now. Are you up for a beer?”

“I never say no to a beer.”

When they got back to the motorhome, they found the old man they’d had a minor disagreement with checking out their vehicle.

“Leave this to me. You go inside.” Lucas unlocked the door and let Riley in.

She was about to object, but he jabbed a thumb towards the door. Once she was tucked inside, Lucas caught up with the man.

“Is there a problem?”

The man eyed him up and down warily. “I don’t know, is there?”

“Sorry, I don’t understand what you’re getting at.”

“How can you two afford one of these?” He pointed towards the motorhome.

“Wouldn’t you like to know? Anyway, what’s it got to do with you, old man?”

The man’s eyes narrowed. “There’s something fishy going on here. I’m getting the impression you and your girlfriend are up to no good.”

“That’s bollocks. Which one is yours?”

He gestured towards an older van, not dissimilar to the one Lucas had recently ditched.

“I rest my case. Jealousy will get you nowhere, man. Now move along and leave us in peace.”

“Or what? Are you threatening me? If so, bring it on. I haven’t had a good tussle in a while, not since my army days. You’re a wimp, that’s what you are. You don’t have the balls to take on an experienced fighter like me.”

“I couldn’t give a toss what you think of me. You’re the one standing here causing trouble, not the other way around. Now, do us both a favour and bugger off.”

“Is everything all right here?” the man in the camper van next to them shouted.

“Yes, I was just telling this old codger to stop bothering me. My girlfriend and I prefer a quiet life, and this man is hounding me.”

“Come on, Eric, leave him be. What harm is he doing?”

“Something ain’t right, Stan. You know me. I can sense trouble brewing from a mile off.”

Stan laughed. “That’s true enough. Why don’t you both agree to give each other some space and learn to live together?”

“Because his attitude sucks, and I don’t think he and that girlfriend of his have a right to live here with us decent folks.”

“That’s bloody charming, that is. The truth is, mate, you don’t know us from Adam.”

Eric tapped his nose with his finger. “I’ve got a good snout for trouble, and you guys are it, with a capital T.”

“Eric, leave them to it,” Stan insisted. “They’re not doing any harm.”

“Yet, Stan. Okay, I’m out of here. Don’t come running to me if things turn bad. Remember the group of teenagers we had to deal with last year? That’s all I’m saying.”

“We all remember, and we will be forever grateful to you for sorting that issue out at the time, Eric. But they were rowdy individuals, and the situation got out of hand swiftly.”

“Yes, and I was the one who sorted it out. None of you lot could be bothered or had the balls to get them to leave.”

“All right, Eric, you’ve made your point. I’m going inside now. Goodnight, folks.”

“Goodnight, Stan, thanks for trying to keep the peace,” Lucas called after him. He faced Eric and said, “Look, man, we’re not here to cause trouble. We’re here to make the most of our lives. We won’t be able to do that with you constantly breathing down our necks, thinking there’s something going on when there clearly isn’t.”

“Says you. I’ll be watching you. I can sense there’s something dodgy about you.”

“You couldn’t be more wrong, pal. We won the motorhome in a competition. Search online, there are dozens given away every day of the week.” Lucas didn’t know if he was spouting the truth. He remembered one such competition popping up on his Facebook feed now and again. However, it seemed to appease Eric.

The man grunted, took another glance down the side of the vehicle and returned to his own van. “Your sort never last, not in this way of life. Step out of line and you’ll soon find out the hard way.” He rearranged the deckchair outside his van to face Lucas’s and poured himself a mug of coffee from the pot sitting by the fire.

Christ, you’ve got more front than Blackpool beach, man.

Lucas hopped back into the motorhome.

“Well, how did it go? Did you give him what for?”

“Why? I thought we were supposed to be behaving ourselves. That was the agreement.”

“Sorry, yes. But everyone has their limits. He’s a grade-one tosser. I saw the other man join in the conversation. Did he act as a peacemaker between you? By the time I thought to open the window to listen to your conversation, you’d all stopped talking.”

“You’re unbelievable. Yes, the other man stepped in before things got heated. It’s all sorted; there’s no need to worry your pretty head about anything.”

She peered out of the window, and Eric’s gaze latched on to hers. “Sorted my arse. I saw him change the direction his chair was in. That guy has got a bee in his bonnet about something. Do you think he knows who we are?”

“I doubt it. He wanted to know how we could afford a van of this calibre. I told him we won it in an online giveaway.”

“Good thinking. I’ve seen those before. So why do you think he’s still staring at us?”

“Because he’s a sad old man with nothing better to do than make people’s lives a misery. And for your information, he’s ex-army. Something you need to be aware of before you get any rash ideas.”

“Wow, that would be cool if he wasn’t so vile. His van is naff, isn’t it? A bit like your old one.”

“It probably serves him well and has done for many years. These days, more and more ex-servicemen are finding themselves homeless. At least he’s done something about it and hasn’t ended up living on the streets. We’ll keep him at arm’s length for now, just in case.”

“If you say so. My vote would be to bring him down a peg or two. I overheard the threat he made to you.”

Lucas tutted. “It wasn’t a threat as such, more of a warning. We should heed that if we’re intending to keep our heads down. I’m beat. I know it’s still light, but I’m going to bed.”

“What about your beer?”

“I can have it in bed. I said I would get back to some mates who have messaged me lately. There’s nothing stopping you staying up to watch the TV.”

“If you’re sure. Thanks, I’ll keep the volume down. Let me know if you can hear it.”

“Go for it. I’m going to take a shower first. Glad we topped up the water at the previous site.”

“We’ve got a river close by. I might take a dip in the morning before we head into town.”

“Whatever floats your boat, no pun intended.”

He showered, put on his night-time shorts and contacted his mates, who had sent nosy messages asking if he and Riley had got it on yet. He only managed to answer a few of them because his eyes started drooping. The last day or so had taken more out of him than he’d thought. He raised his head to check on Riley. She was busy watching some crap on TV whilst sipping her wine and tucking into a huge bag of crisps. He wondered where it all went. She would put a hungry horse to shame, and somehow, she still maintained her slim figure.

Damn, I forgot to get a knife from the kitchen… just in case she decides to come after me during the night! It’s too late now. She probably thinks I’m already asleep. She’ll be fine. I think we sorted things out and took the heat out of the situation. I can’t see her harbouring any thoughts to hurt me. I have my uses. I doubt if she would be able to drive the van anyway. That thought would probably be uppermost in her mind.

9

Infuriatingly, it was the following day before any proper leads came in to Sara and the team. She took a call from a man professing to be the brother of one of the suspects. Sara was in the middle of dealing with the post first thing. Her attention was drawn away from the onerous chore when the man, Matthew Harlow, gave her a detailed background on Lucas Harlow.

“I don’t know how relevant this information is going to be,” he began. “We haven’t spoken to each other in over two years. Back then, Lucas was easy-going with a touch of defiance lingering. He used to listen; I’d even go so far as to say he sought advice from me. In those days, he valued my input. That was until our father passed away and he told me to shove my well-meant advice where the sun doesn’t shine. He told me he’d only listened to what I had to say over the years to keep our father onside and happy.”

“I see. What about his travelling companion? What can you tell me about her?”

“Nothing. It was news to me that he had a girlfriend, if that’s what she is. He’s never really been the type to settle down with a girl. He spent most of his younger days going from one bed to the other. Maybe he’s matured since I last saw him, although listening to the reports on the news… well, if they’re to be believed, maybe he hasn’t changed a bit.”

“Where do you live, Mr Harlow?”

“In Manchester.”

“Ah, I was going to say I’ll pop round and see you, but that’s a bit far.”

“Is it true? What they said he’s done?”

“Yes, I’m afraid so. Well, when I say that, we don’t actually know the truth. For all we know, it might be his companion who is to blame for killing the two victims. However, we believe he may still have played a major role in the crimes.”

“Yeah, I can understand that. I obviously saw the photo you shared of him and that woman smiling. Quite frankly, it turned my stomach. What callous bastards. How can they take someone’s life, sorry, two lives, and gloat about it? Because that’s how it came across to me.”

“Which is why I put the appeal out there. I’m sure you can understand my need to capture them both quickly. In my experience, it doesn’t take much for killers to get a thirst for taking another person’s life and for them to go on a killing spree.”

“Damn, don’t say that. I thought I knew him inside and out, but apparently not so much, not since we last saw each other.”

“Can you tell me how long he’s been on the road? Living in a camper van?”

Carla came into the room, and Sara scribbled down the suspect’s name: Lucas Harlow. She covered the mouthpiece of the phone. “Do a search on him. I’m speaking with his brother. He’s giving me a rundown of what he’s got up to in the past. See if the van is registered to Harlow, you know, the old van where the victim was found.”

Carla nodded, grabbed the piece of paper and ran out of the office. In the distance, Sara heard her issuing orders for the team to drop what they were doing.

“Sorry, you were saying, Mr Harlow?”

“Not much. He used to tell me years ago that it had always been his ambition to live in a van, travel the length of Britain and possibly venture over to Ireland to explore all that the UK had to offer. He had the chance to buy a cheap van about five or six months ago I think it was.”

“Do you have any idea how he would be funding the trips?”

There was a pause on the other end of the line. “He used to joke about holding up a bank or two if he was strapped for cash.”

Sara puffed out her cheeks. “So, what you’re telling me is that he would be willing to do just about anything to fulfil his dreams. Is that correct?”

“Possibly. Oh, I don’t know. I would never have put him down as someone who would kill another person. How wrong was I? It would appear that a drastic change in his personality has occurred since I last saw him.”

“What do you think the reason for that could be?”

“For him going off the rails? Pass. I know he was close to our father once upon a time. I’ve always tried to do my best in this life, but now and then, he would go above and beyond, as if he were constantly seeking my father’s approval. If that makes sense. Maybe losing our parents has had a worse effect on him than I realised.”

“Sometimes losing a loved one can definitely send a person off the rails. However, we have received reports that his travel companion has a police record, so, giving your brother the benefit of the doubt, maybe he’s been led astray by her.”

“I wouldn’t put it past Lucas to be easily led, especially if a night in the sack is involved. Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. It’s just that going by his past record with women… it’s hard not to come to that conclusion.”

“It does sound feasible. Thinking back to your past conversations with Lucas, not the sexual side of things, but the fact that he was keen to travel, can you tell me if there’s anywhere in our area that he preferred to visit? Perhaps somewhere he mentioned where he would like to settle down?”

Harlow fell quiet for a moment or two. “Sadly, I can’t think of anywhere, not off the top of my head. Can I call you back if anything comes to mind later?”

Sara’s heart sank. For the briefest of moments, she’d thought she was onto something. “Yes, of course you can,” she replied, hopefully disguising the disappointment in her tone. She was about to end the conversation when Matthew gasped. “Has something come to mind?” she asked eagerly.

“Yes, it has. He loves living in the Hereford area. One of his favourite spots, where he used to go camping for the weekend to get away from it all, was a campsite out at Symonds Yat. As far as I can remember, he loved the remoteness of the area. He used to describe it as an isolated clearing close to a forest.”

“Sounds intriguing. Is it an actual campsite, one that would be recognised on a map?”

“I can’t honestly remember, sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologise. Thank you for at least giving us a lead, a glimpse into your brother’s background. If you think of anything else I should know, will you contact me? I’m out more often than not, but there’s always a member of my team manning the office. You can speak to any one of them if I’m not around.”

“I’ll see if anything else comes to mind and get in touch. You won’t hurt him, will you? I’m sure his actions weren’t intended. Sorry, that sounded crass. If this woman has been the instigator in all of this…”

“Don’t worry. We’re all Taser-trained. Hopefully, provided things don’t escalate, your brother and the woman he is with will do the decent thing and give themselves up once we locate them. With the information you’ve given me, let’s hope that’s not too far in the future.”

“Good luck, Inspector. When you do finally catch up with him, will you tell Lucas I’m willing to put the past behind us? I have some funds left over from Dad’s inheritance; I can use them to pay for a solicitor if he needs me to.”

“That’s kind of you. I’ll be sure to let him know, if we find him. Thanks for contacting me.”

“It was good speaking with you.”

Sara ended the call and shot out of her chair. “Well, that was an interesting call. His brother has told me where Lucas Harlow might be heading. Craig, can you pull up the Hereford map on the large screen? Let’s see if we can source the location. He said it was at Symonds Yat. An isolated area, close to a forest. He wasn’t sure if it was a designated campsite or not.”

Craig and Carla joined Sara at the screen, and together they scoured the map.

The eagle-eyed Craig was the first to spot the possible location. “This might be it.”

“Who’s up for taking a trip out there?”

“I’d be up for it,” Craig said enthusiastically.

“Okay. Can you pass over what you were doing to Marissa, Craig? If that’s all right with you, Marissa?”

“Yes, boss. I’m almost done here.”

“Can I just draw your attention to something important before I leave?” Craig said. He returned to his desk, expecting Sara and Carla to follow him.

“What have you found?” Sara asked.

“As soon as Carla gave us Lucas’s name, I began searching the camper van groups and came up with this post.”

He enlarged the post on the screen, and Sara read it aloud.

“Oh my, so he put a call out for someone to share his dream of travelling with him. Maybe that’s how they met. I bet he didn’t even vet Riley before they met up. Is she the one at fault here? The one who has been causing mayhem, leading them to kill two people? If the van the second victim was found in belonged to Lucas… Did we check that out by the way? If it belonged to him, did she show her dissatisfaction, leading them to go after Megan Cole’s motorhome?”

“I can answer your question about the van being registered to Lucas. It wasn’t. However, it was registered to a Ned Harlow,” Craig replied.

“Bugger, that’s how he escaped our attention. That in itself was a devious move to throw us off the scent, right?” Sara asked.

“Possibly,” Carla admitted. “I don’t think we’re going to be able to answer all of the questions you’ve thrown at us, not until we find them and bring them in for questioning.”

“I’m keen to get out there. Some of this is making sense now, like the fact that they used Megan’s phone to pretend they were miles away. They’re craftier than we’re giving them credit for. We’re going to need all our wits about us to arrest these bastards. Jill, I’m going to need you to keep on top of their phone situation. Maybe we can add all their phones to the mix now. Get the location for all three phones, just in case they decide to dump one of them.”

“I’ll get that sorted for you, boss.”

Sara nodded, finally pleased with the headway they had suddenly made in the investigation. Now all they had to do was capture Riley Shaw and Lucas Harlow. How difficult could that be? It didn’t matter what it took. She was determined to get on top of the situation as soon as possible. “We should all sign out Tasers, just in case. Keep us informed, ladies. I sense we’re closing in on the suspects now. I hope I don’t end up with egg on my face, saying that.”

“We’ve got this,” Craig said.

“I agree. I can feel it in my… oops, maybe I should spend a penny before we head off.”

They laughed as Carla sprinted from the room.

“I fear the sergeant has downed one too many coffees this morning. Actually, now she’s put the thought into my head… not wishing to treat you like a toddler, Craig, but do you need to go, as well?”

He laughed. “I’m fine. I can go behind a tree if I need to.”

“Too much information,” she called over her shoulder in her haste to leave the room.

They arrived at the location and split up to start questioning the campers who were on site.

Sara knocked on the door to a nice motorhome. “Hi, sorry to trouble you. I’m DI Sara Ramsey of the West Mercia Police Force. We’re in the area today, searching for a young man and woman. Their names are Riley Shaw and Lucas Harlow. Have you seen them?” She showed the man, who was in sixties, the photo that had appeared on TV.

He frowned. “Oh, heck, yes, they were here yesterday. He got into an argument with Eric over there. We think they’re the ones who caused the damage to his van.”

Sara glanced over her shoulder to a man of a similar age. He was checking the tyres on his vehicle. They were all flat. “That’s great. Thanks, I’ll have a chat with Eric.”

“Glad to be of help. People like that shouldn’t be allowed to get away with disrespecting others the way they have.”

“I agree.” Sara smiled and walked across the grass to Eric’s camper van. She showed her ID again. “Are you Eric? The gentleman in the motorhome told me you’d had some trouble overnight. Is that right?”

“Yes, unfortunately. I knew they were going to be troublemakers the moment I laid eyes on them.”

Sara showed him the photo of Lucas and Riley. “Are these the two you’re talking about?”

He tilted his head. “That’s right. What have they been up to? Go on, surprise me.”

“We’d like a word with them about an ongoing investigation.”

“Reading between the lines, they’ve been up to no good, haven’t they?”

“Yes. They’re suspects in a murder investigation.”

“What the… I knew it.” His arms flew out to the sides, and he spun around to face the open land behind him. “The little shits. I could tell they were wrong ’uns the second I laid eyes on them. I tried to tell Stan that last night. I’m so cross with myself. I had a few beers and got myself wound up after having an argument with the bloke last night. I woke up this morning nursing an almighty hangover and found that my tyres had been slashed by the buggers.”

“Did you see them do the damage to your vehicle?”

“I didn’t need to see them do it. I know it was them. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I admit I’m a mouthy git at times, but that doesn’t give anyone the right to slash my damn tyres. It’s going to cost me around five hundred quid to put right. I’ve had to call the garage down the road. They’re coming out to replace the tyres for me, and then…”

Sara’s heart raced. “No, don’t tell me.”

He grinned, showing off tea-stained teeth. “They can’t get away with this. I’ll string them up from the nearest tree if I get my hands on the fuckers.”

Sara raised a hand as Carla joined her. “We don’t appreciate vigilante justice, sir.”

“I’m sure you don’t, but sometimes, well, it’s just called for. They were smug bastards. They shouldn’t be allowed to get away with this. Did they rob that motorhome they’re travelling in? I bet they did. I questioned them about it. He told me they had won it in one of those online competitions. I knew he was lying.”

“Yes, they stole it. Unfortunately, they killed the owner of the vehicle and left her body in his old van. Actually, it’s very similar to yours.”

“You mean clapped out and ready to be scrapped? And before you turn your nose up at my van, you should know that it’s got over two hundred thousand miles on the clock and still going strong. You shouldn’t give up on vehicles just because they’re a few years old. All that scrap waste has to go somewhere, you know.”

“I know, and I totally agree with you. Did they hint at where they were heading next?”

“No. I got the impression they were keen to stick around, but if they know the police are on their tails, they’ll more than likely remain on the road. Why haven’t you caught them yet? How long have they been on the run?”

“All week. The first murder—yes, they’ve killed two people of the camping community—happened at the beginning of the week.”

“Wowser, the gall of them, showing up at campsites, still causing problems for regular campers. Someone needs to teach the fuckers a lesson. Excuse the language, ladies, but I’ll soon be five hundred quid out of pocket.”

“I’m sorry you ran into trouble with them. We’re closing in on them; we’ll be the ones to deal with it, sir, not you.”

Eric cocked an eyebrow and muttered, “If you say so. You can’t stop me travelling around the area, though.”

“No, you’re right, we can’t. What we can do is prevent you from taking actions into your own hands.”

“Is that right? And how do you propose doing that?”

Sara sighed. “We’ll arrest you, for your own safety, if we have to.”

He groaned. “Arrest me for what? I ain’t done nothing.”

“I’d rather not go down that route, sir. However, I can see how worked up you are, and I’d be willing to put my pension on the line if it meant keeping you safe.”

“You daft mare. There’s no need for you to do that. Those two need to be taught a lesson, and I’m just the man to do it. I’m ex-army… we have ways of making people talk.” He grinned again.

Sara couldn’t hold back any longer. She laughed and shook her head. “Not on my watch, you don’t. Like I said, we’re closing in on them, mere hours behind them. Let us do our job before you entertain going after them.”

Eric continued to face the other way, taking in the view. “They’ve spoilt this place for me. I’ve lived here on and off for the past five years or so, and…”

“Sorry to hear that. Perhaps knowing that they’ve been arrested for the crimes they’ve committed will eventually put things right again for you. Watch this space.”

He faced Sara and Carla. “I doubt it. What utter scumbags they are. Why did they kill the woman? Just to get their hands on her vehicle?”

Sara nodded.

“That’s just sick. That woman probably saved most of her life to be able to afford a monster like that, only for those morons to come along and take it from her. How did they kill her? Bump her over the head? Hit her too hard, did they?”

Sara’s gaze drifted behind him to take in the stunning view. “No. It was a deliberate act that was clearly thought out before they attacked her.”

“Premeditated then? Why am I not surprised? And to think, we slept through the night in our beds, unaware that there were a couple of serial killers sleeping in the pitch next door.”

“When you put it like that…” Sara began. “Please, if there’s anything else you can tell us, we’d appreciate it. I’d rather you not get involved. They’re extremely dangerous. That should be enough of a warning for you.”

He ran a hand over his stubble. “And so am I.” He held his hands up and admitted, “I’ve killed a few enemy fuckers in my time… during my army days.”

“That’s different. You were at war, serving your country.”

“Yes, I served in Iraq. I was there when they brought down that tyrant, Saddam Hussein.”

“Thank you for your service. That belongs in the past. You’re going to need to allow us to find them. I repeat, do you have any idea where they’re likely to go next?”

“The nearest town is about ten miles away. Answer me this: has that image appeared on the news yet? And no, before you ask, I haven’t got a TV.”

“Ah, I see. Yes, I called a press conference yesterday, asking the public for their help. The story was aired on the news from around five and into the evening.”

“Have you had many sightings of them? I should imagine the answer to that is no, because most ‘vanners’ prefer not to watch the news. It’s far too depressing for them. Being out here in the country or by the sea is what life should be about.”

“I envy you your freedom. However, people really shouldn’t block the news out of their lives in case something like this comes their way.”

“Whilst I agree in one respect, surely it’s up to the individuals how they want to lead their lives.”

“It is.”

He raised a finger. “Do you want to hear what my next move would be?”

Sara folded her arms. “Do tell, I’m all ears.”

“If they know their mugs are all over the TV and papers, they’re bound to want to change their appearances, don’t you reckon?”

Sara mulled over his suggestion. “You’re right. So they would head to the nearest town to collect further supplies.”

“Now we’re singing from the same hymn sheet,” Eric said.

“Where do you think they would go afterwards? They’re not going to come back to this campsite after doing that to your vehicle, are they?”

“I’m guessing they know what would happen to them if they did. Sorry, I wouldn’t hold back.”

Sara glanced behind her, then leaned in and lowered her voice to say, “And I, for one, wouldn’t blame you. Off the record, of course. I’ll let you get on. Will you be around later? We’ll need to take a statement from you.”

“I’d rather not. I deal with this type of thing myself, always have over the years. In most cases, the police have been worse than useless.”

“I’m disappointed to hear that. When we arrest them, we’re going to need all the help we can get to show a jury what the suspects have been up to over such a short period of time.”

He tapped his foot and stared at the damage Riley and Lucas had done to his tyres. “Okay, you win. I’ll give you my number; perhaps one of your lot can take a statement from me over the phone. How about that?”

“You’ll still need to sign it.”

“Bummer. What about if I drop by the nearest station and give them a statement?”

“That would work. Thanks for reconsidering. The more ammunition we have to fling at them…”

“Yeah, I get that. I’ll do my best once my tyres get sorted. You could always chip in for the cost of repairs.”

Sara smiled. “If only I had the budget… We’ll let you get on.”

“Let us know when you track down Bonnie and Clyde, won’t you?” he called after them, his tone full of sarcasm.

Sara and Carla continued walking. Craig was still doing the rounds, checking to see if any of the other campers either saw or heard anything.

“I’m thinking we should call it a day here and head into town,” Sara said. “What do you reckon?”

“I’m inclined to agree with you. It’s got to be worth a shot.”

Craig turned to look their way. Sara gestured for him to join them.

He jogged over. “Yes, boss? I’ve just got one more camper to ask.”

“Did anyone see anything?”

“Nothing.”

“I’d leave it then. We’re going to take a trip to the nearest town. Eric is under the impression that Riley and Lucas will try to alter their appearance somehow.”

He nodded vigorously. “That would make sense to me.”

“Let’s go.”

They dashed back to the car.

Craig removed his phone. “The nearest town is ten minutes north.”

“Great. We’ll try there. Does anyone want to stop off for lunch?”

“We can grab something from the baker’s later,” Carla replied. “I’m all right for now.”

“Craig?” Sara asked. She glanced up at her rearview mirror to see him shaking his head.

“I’m fine for now.”

“That’s unanimous, then. I don’t need anything either,” Sara said.

She drew up in Morrison’s car park. They couldn’t see the van parked, but they still checked the supermarket, just in case. They split up, searched the entire store aisle by aisle, then returned to the car feeling deflated.

“Did we make the right move?”

“There’s no reason for us to think otherwise,” Carla replied.

“Would it be worth driving around for a while?” Craig suggested. “They’re travelling in a pretty distinctive vehicle. Between us, we should be able to spot it easily enough.”

“Good idea. You two keep your eyes peeled while I drive.” Sara set off. She didn’t bother checking some of the narrow side streets. Instead, she gave each of them a cursory glance as she passed. Eventually, she pulled into a parking spot by the river. “Nothing at all. Okay, there’s a baker’s opposite. We’ll grab something to eat and then get on the road again. What do you fancy?”

“Tuna mayo for me.” Carla removed a tenner from her purse.

“Ham and cheese on white for me, please, boss.” Craig also offered a tenner.

“To drink?” Sara asked as she got out of the vehicle.

“Can of Diet Coke.”

“I’ll have the full-fat variety,” Craig added.

“Right, while I’m gone, can you two search the map of the surrounding area? See where they’re likely to go next.”

“Within a ten-mile radius, or do you want us to check further afield?” Carla asked.

“Maybe twenty miles, just in case.” Sara closed the door and crossed the road. She placed the order, her mind working overtime as she waited.

How far have you got? You know we’re going to be on your tails. Are you likely to stick to the campsites or venture off-grid? What is your endgame? Why stick around here at all? Why haven’t you taken off up to Scotland or over to Wales by now? Is it your intention to toy with us, play your silly games and make a mockery of the police, in particular my team? Or is there something far more sinister afoot here? I’m taking a punt it’s the latter. If that’s the case, you won’t get far. We’ll nail your arses to the wall soon, mark my words. People like you, who think you can get away with the most heinous of crimes, never do. Not where my team are concerned.

With the order ready, Sara handed over the cash and took the carrier bag from the assistant. “Thanks very much.”

“No, thank you for your custom. Enjoy the rest of your day,” the assistant called after her.

If only you knew. Sara had worked herself up into a state. By the time she got back to the car, her lunch had very little appeal for her. “What have you come up with? Anything?”

Carla and Craig both angled their phones her way and pointed out the possible sites available in the area.

“Should I do eeny meeny? Which do you think is more likely?”

Craig tucked into his sandwich and, with his mouth full, said, “I think they’re more likely to stay away from the larger sites. I did spot a few clearings they might consider heading for.”

“Where are they?”

Craig showed her on his phone. There was one in particular that stood out to her.

“I’m going to make the call and aim for this one. It was something his brother said. Given the last location we tried, the surrounding area was just what his brother described to me. If that can be emulated a second time within the twenty-mile radius, then I think they’ll head for that location.”

“I agree. This area here is worth a punt then, isn’t it?” Craig enlarged the image on his phone.

“So, if I drive in this direction, we should join the main road, and that will lead us there, right?”

“Sounds okay to me,” Craig replied.

Sara started the engine. “Hold on tight then, folks. We’re off again.”

10

Lucas drove to the location, taking in his surroundings. Riley was in the passenger seat, having a quick snooze. They had recently had yet another argument, which had ended with her falling quiet and dozing off. It was all becoming tedious now. He was having major doubts whether they would last another week, let alone a lifetime together! Again, not for the first time, he asked himself why he had placed the ad on Facebook for a travelling companion and, furthermore, why he hadn’t bothered to get references for Riley before jumping feetfirst into accepting her. Still, he had realised long ago that he was in too deep, and there was no going back now.

The argument this morning, on their way into town, had been about the way Riley had snuck out during the night and slashed the tyres on the old git’s van, just for the sake of it. She’d woken him up laughing. When he’d asked what she’d done, a sinister grin had contorted her features, and she had confessed. He’d shot out of bed and got dressed, not bothering to go to the bathroom or to take a shower. She was still laughing when he’d started the engine and left the campsite.

“You’re such a twisted bitch. What possessed you to do that? It could cost him anything between five hundred and a grand to replace his tyres.”

She’d flopped into the passenger seat and shrugged. “That’ll teach him not to mess with strangers in the future, won’t it?”

“You’re unbelievable. It makes me wonder what you’re capable of doing to me if you can do something like that to a complete stranger.”

She’d smiled and placed a hand on his forearm. “While I’m getting my kicks elsewhere, you don’t have to worry.”

He stared at her and averted his gaze back to the road once more, his mind racing.

And there it is… I’m definitely taking that as a warning. I’ll be sleeping with a knife under my pillow for the foreseeable. What the actual fuck!

Once they had collected the supplies they needed from the supermarket, Riley dyed her hair a copper red and then offered to dye his blond hair black. He’d looked at himself in the mirror and could hardly believe the change in his appearance. It made him more confident that other people wouldn’t recognise him from the photos the media had put out. He’d breathed out a sigh of relief.

The new pitch was three miles ahead. He couldn’t help wondering what the day held for them. Was it going to be a case of them keeping their distance from the other campers, if there were any at the site he’d chosen? He would make sure they parked far away from the others if there happened to be anyone else around. That way, Riley wouldn’t be able to cause more mischief and mayhem. He shook his head as memories of what had gone on during the past week flowed through his mind.

Where did it all go wrong? Why did I allow the murders to happen? Because I’ve got no backbone. Well, that’s about to change. It has to. She can’t be allowed to get away with anything else. I won’t allow her to.

Riley stirred beside him. “My hair stinks, and my eyes are sore.”

“Not my fault. If a disguise wasn’t needed, then you wouldn’t be going through the discomfort, would you?”

“All right, grumpy shit! I wasn’t asking for your opinion. Are we nearly there yet?”

“I know you weren’t. Yes, another couple of miles and we can put down roots again. This time, can you make sure you behave yourself?”

She faced him and showed off her pearly whites. “I might do. It depends on whether anyone ticks me off.”

“You’re incorrigible. Please, please do your best to avoid getting into bother. There’s a reason we’ve dyed our hair, and you need to keep that fact under your belt. Don’t go mentioning it to anyone.”

“What do you take me for? For your information, I finished in the top five at school.”

“Really? Or is that another lie sent my way to pacify me?”

“Screw you. Believe me or don’t—see if I bloody care. I’m going to clean up the bathroom.”

“You what? It’s been hours since we dyed our hair. It’s a permanent dye, for fuck’s sake. You should have cleaned it up as soon as possible.”

“I did, sort of. There are bound to be some splashes here and there that I’ve missed. My eyes were killing me at the time. They still are. Thanks for asking. I appreciate your concern, or should I say lack of it?”

He didn’t bite, just kept his focus on the road ahead. Riley left her seat and opened the bathroom door. She muttered, “Shit!” and ran the water.

Crap! Another bloody mess I’ll have to sort out when we stop. What is wrong with her? She’d try the patience of a saint.

“Everything all right back there, is it?”

“Yes, fine. You keep your eyes on the road and leave the cleaning up for me to do.”

“That’s what I’m worried about,” he shouted back.

“Ha-bloody-ha!”

The landscape changed ahead. He knew the entrance to the site would be just around the corner. He slowed the vehicle down and indicated left. He followed the track down to a wooded area at the bottom. It wasn’t quite as pretty as the last spot they’d stopped at, but it still offered spectacular views. It felt comfortable and not strained being there, so far. Lucas found a suitable pitch down by the river and drew the vehicle to a halt.

Riley came to investigate. “Wow, I hadn’t realised we had arrived. This is another stunning location. I might go for a walk.”

“Not until you’ve finished your chores.”

She pulled a face at him. “I have, so there! Are you still annoyed with me?”

“No.”

“Yeah, right. You could have fooled me. Anyway, you’re not my boss. I’ll clean it up when I get back. I’m in desperate need of some fresh air right now.”

He shook his head. Once she got an idea into that head of hers, it hadn’t taken him long to clock that she dug her heels in and did what she wanted to do. “I’ll get my boots on and join you. I could do with stretching my legs as well. That is, if I’m welcome to come along?”

“Sodding hell. What is wrong with you? It’s your life. You can do what you want. You don’t have to ask my permission.”

He refrained from saying ditto to her. They got ready and locked the motorhome on the way out. Three other vehicles were parked up around them, but well away from their motorhome. What happened upon their return would depend on whether another camper or two decided to show up. They walked towards the river.

Riley wet a handkerchief and draped it around her neck. “That’s better. It’s hotter than I thought it would be. I might take a dip later. Are you up for it?”

“Nope, it’s a bit too nippy for me.”

“Coward. It’s good for you.”

“What? In that the cold shocks you into submission? I’ll give it a miss all the same.”

They continued their walk, and before long, they ended up in the wooded area.

“This is fabulous in here, out of the heat of the sun.”

“Yep, I have to admit, it’s a welcome relief.”

Their walk lasted for over an hour. Then they decided to make their way back to the pitch. They reached the edge of the forest, and that’s when Lucas spotted it.

“Fuck!”

Riley rushed to stand beside him. She uttered the same word. “What’s he doing here? It is him, isn’t it?”

“Yep, he must have got the local garage to change the tyres at the site. I reckon he’s come looking for us.”

“Fuck, don’t say that.”

“Sorry, but what else am I supposed to think?” Lucas ran his hand through his hair and paced back and forth as he tried to come up with a solution.

“Well? Have you thought how you’re going to get us out of this situation?” Riley screeched at him.

“Keep your frigging voice down. He’ll hear you.”

“Bollocks. What are you going to do about this?”

“Me? Why does it always come down to me to sort out the frigging mess you make? I’m sick and tired of doing that, day in, day out. You’re a nightmare to live with.”

“Fuck off! I’m not to blame here. You should have had the balls to deal with him in the first place. He’s an old man, for fuck’s sake. What harm can he do?”

He stared at her, flummoxed by her reaction. “You’re out of your mind if you think I’m going to go out there in the light. Are you forgetting he’s ex-army?”

“I can’t believe you fell for that. He’s all mouth and no trousers.”

“Get a fucking grip! You slashed his tyres. He’s hardly going to welcome us with open arms, is he?”

“I don’t give a shit. What I don’t want to do is spend the rest of the day hiding in this forest. So either you make the move, or I’ll go back on my own. FYI, I’m not scared of anyone.”

“That much I have figured out for myself. Just give it another five minutes; it looks like he’s only just arrived. He’s still sorting himself out.”

Riley folded her arms and heaved out half a dozen impatient sighs. He felt the need to stand between her and the exit. Eventually, she shoved past him and stepped out of the forest.

“Riley, don’t do this. Come back here.”

But there was no way he was going to persuade her to do the right thing. He glanced over at Eric’s camper van to see him making his way to the river. Riley changed direction and marched towards him.

Fuck! Why doesn’t she leave well alone?

He followed Riley. She upped her pace to get to Eric. Lucas walked faster, but he was no match. He ended up jogging to keep up with her.

“Riley,” he warned under his breath. “Don’t do it.”

She peered over her shoulder without adjusting her speed, and he recognised the devious twinkle in her eyes.

His stomach twisted into knots.

I can’t let her get near him; I know that look. I’m aware of what she’s capable of, and it doesn’t matter if there are witnesses either. He’s going to get what’s coming to him. Maybe I’m going about this the wrong way. Should I shout and warn him?

It was too late. She had reached him. Eric was filling a container with fresh water from the river. He didn’t see Riley until…

Lucas ran full pelt towards the pair of them. Riley had a knife in her right hand. He didn’t have a clue where it had come from.

“Eric, watch out.”

Eric turned just in time. He caught Riley’s hand mid-flight and removed the knife. “What the fuck are you doing? I knew you were nuts, but this is insane. The cops are right behind me. They know who you are and are coming for you.”

Lucas pulled Riley towards him, out of Eric’s grasp. “We’ve got to get on the road again,” he urged. “I’m sorry, Eric. This has all got out of hand.”

“You’re telling me. You need to keep this bitch of yours on an extra-tight leash.”

Out of nowhere, Riley produced a second knife. She flew at Eric. This time, his reflexes were nowhere near quick enough. Determination showed on her face as she stabbed Eric in the chest—not once or twice, but three times. Eric crumpled into a heap at the edge of the river. Riley took off, running towards the motorhome.

Bloody hell, here we go again!

Try as he might, Lucas couldn’t catch up with her. Luckily, none of the other campers saw what had happened. He stood at the top of the steps, peering out to see if Eric was moving. He wasn’t.

Shit, that’s murder number three. Where is this all going to end? I can’t deal with her any more. This isn’t what I signed up for. I could be next, the way things are going.

He entered the motorhome to find Riley sobbing at the table, her head in her hands.

“Why?” Lucas asked. “Why do that to him? He wasn’t doing any harm out there.”

“I don’t know what came over me. I’m sorry. Please forgive me?”

“I’m going to call for an ambulance. I can’t leave him out there dying. If it gets us into bother, then so be it. I’m sick to death of being on the run, living with a crazy woman.”

Riley lunged at him. He tore out of the van before she could stab him, too. He ran to the water’s edge to check on Eric and removed his phone from his pocket. In the distance, the motorhome started up.

What the fuck.. she’s going to take off without me. I don’t even know if she drives. Sod it, I’m between a rock and a hard place.

Without a second thought, he stuck with his original plan and rang nine-nine-nine for an ambulance. He gave the operator the postcode of where they were and watched the motorhome kangaroo-jump from where it had been parked on the pitch up the track towards the main road. It wasn’t going that fast, and if his conscience wasn’t pricking him about Eric, he might have caught up with Riley. He groaned.

“Can she frigging drive that thing?” Eric asked.

“I’m not sure if she can drive at all.”

“Holy crap! Get after her, lad. I’ll be fine. You’ve done the right thing calling an ambulance for me. If that idiot reaches the road… we both know how that is going to end, don’t we?”

“Are you sure?”

“Go. And I meant what I said: the coppers are on your tail.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because I’m a decent guy. These are superficial wounds. I can tell deep down that you’re a good chap. Get the van off her. In her hands, it could become a killing machine.”

Lucas didn’t hang around. He took the shortcut across the grass. It didn’t take long for his lungs to start objecting, but he forced himself to up his speed, and before long, he was running alongside the motorhome, banging on it for Riley to pull over. “Put your foot on the middle pedal; it’s the brake. Do it. If you hit the road, you’re going to end up having an accident. Riley, listen to me.”

She seemed terrified and was shouting something that he couldn’t hear.

His lungs burned more and more. The pain was excruciating, and the sound of the traffic rumbling past on the main road scared the crap out of him. He tried one last time to make her see sense. “Riley. Hit the middle pedal.”

She finally listened to him and acted upon his instructions. He stopped running and put his hands on his knees to recover his breath.

Riley appeared at the door. “I’m sorry. I’ve been watching you drive it. I thought I could handle it. I was wrong. Please, don’t be mad at me.”

He recovered and climbed aboard. “We need to get on the road. The police are coming this way.”

“Why? Did you call them?”

“No. I called for an ambulance, but if they report that Eric’s injuries were due to him being attacked, or should I say stabbed… also, Eric told me the police aren’t far behind him.”

“Did he dob us in?”

“I think they showed up at the campsite. They know who we are. They’re not dumb. We’re the dumbasses for thinking we could get away with all of this.”

She covered her face with her hands and sobbed. Heartless as it was, he had very little, if any, sympathy for her. He knew what he had to do, and that was to get on the road straight away.

“Stop spouting tears. It’s not going to get you anywhere. Strap yourself in. It’s imperative we get out of here, now.”

He’d never seen her move so quickly. She threw herself into the passenger seat and urged him to get on the road. “What are you waiting for? Let’s get out of here.”

A siren sounded up ahead.

“Shit! It might be too late.”

Shocked, she pleaded, “Don’t say that. Put your foot down. We still have time to make our escape.”

“I’m not so sure, but I’m going to do my best. Hold on tight.”

At the junction, he saw the ambulance in the distance come over the brow of the hill and take a left turn. He heaved out a relieved sigh. “We’re safe, for now.”

She sniffled and placed a hand on his forearm. “But for how long?”

“I haven’t got a crystal ball. I can’t answer that. All we can do is hope that we get away before the police arrive.”

“I’m so sorry, Lucas.”

He was aware of how cheap her words could be, but in this instance, he genuinely believed her apology. He held his hand out. She slipped hers into it. He squeezed it and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek.

“I believe you. I’m not ready to give up just yet.”

Her smile was the most lacklustre he’d seen since their adventure had begun. He returned his hand to the steering wheel and put his foot down on the accelerator, keen to get to the next site.

11

The desk sergeant contacted Sara as soon as the news came in.

“Give me the postcode, Jeff?”

He read it out, and Carla added the details to the satnav. “It’s only up the road from us.”

“We’ve got it, Jeff. We’ll be in touch if we need backup. Can you make the rest of my team aware? Get them to keep chasing up the suspects’ phone details.”

“I’ll do it now. Good luck, ma’am.”

“Thanks.” Sara ended the call. “Hopefully, we won’t need it.” She glanced at the satnav. The site was fifteen minutes up the road. “Hold on tight, Carla. Hit the button for the lights.”

The blues and twos allowed them to get to the location in half the time.

“Wow, thank goodness the main road was reasonably empty,” Craig said, his eyes wide with fear throughout their journey.

Sara drew up alongside the ambulance, and the three of them shot out of the car.

“I’m DI Sara Ramsey…” she started before she realised who the victim was. “Eric, what the… are you all right?”

“He’s been stabbed in the chest three times. Luckily, the wounds weren’t too deep,” the female paramedic told her.

“I’m all right,” Eric replied. He tried his best to offer Sara a smile.

She stepped closer and put a hand on his shoulder. “Who did this?”

“It was the girl. The bloke rang for the ambulance; he was as shocked by the attack as I was. She’s the one causing all the trouble. She took off in the motorhome; she can’t drive. I told Lucas to get after her. He was prepared to stay with me until the paramedics got here, but I told him he needed to stop the motorhome before it reached the main road.”

“And did he?”

“Yes, he kept shouting at her to put her foot on the brake.”

“Is Eric going to be all right?” Sara asked the paramedic who was tending his wounds.

“Yes, we’re going to take him to hospital. They’ll need to x-ray him to see the extent of the damage. There’s only so much we can do out in the field.”

Sara pointed a finger at Eric. “And no objecting either. I have a few more questions I need to ask, if that’s okay?”

The paramedic glanced up at Eric and asked, “Is it?”

“Yes. I want to help you find the culprits.”

“How long has it been since you last saw them?”

“A rough estimate would be around fifteen to twenty minutes. Like I said, Lucas rang for an ambulance, and it took him a few minutes to get the motorhome back under control before they hit the road again. You’re wasting time. You should be out there looking for them, not sitting here with me checking if I’m okay.”

“We’re going to call for backup.” Sara peered over her shoulder. “Craig, can you arrange that for me?”

“On it, boss.”

“One more question before we go, Eric. Where do you think they’ll go now?”

He shook his head, his gaze drifting back towards the exit. “My guess is they’d stay on the road for a while, possibly head for the coast, but I might be completely wrong about that. Won’t your cameras be able to pick them up?”

“Probably. We’ll get on to it. Thanks for your help. You take care of yourself, you hear me?”

“Yes, ma’am. Go, you’re letting them get away.”

Sara patted him on the arm. “Don’t worry, we’ll catch them.”

“You won’t, not if you don’t get a move on,” Eric insisted.

Sara stepped away. “We should get back on the road. We can make up the time using the blues and twos; we should be on their tail within minutes.”

“The only trouble with that scenario is that we don’t know which direction they’re heading in,” Carla said.

Craig pulled out his phone and showed them the map. “There’s only one main road until they get to this location. That’s where it opens up and turns into four possible options for them to take.”

“What are we waiting for?”

They ran back to the car. Sara put her foot down, and the wheels spun, scattering the gravel behind them. “Oops.”

“Less haste, more speed,” Carla reminded her, not that she needed it.

“Where are the backup teams coming from, Craig, do you know?”

“I should imagine Jeff will be busy ringing around the local stations in the area. He knows how important it is for us to find them. Sending them from the station would take an eternity to get here, even if they travelled with their sirens on.”

“I’m glad we decided to head out this way today. All we need now is to find the buggers, and that’ll be job done.”

“Ha, I like your optimism,” Carla muttered.

“Meaning?”

“Meaning that we’ve been two steps behind them for most of the day, and they’ve still managed to get away from us.”

“All right, there’s no need to rub it in. See what I have to put up with day in, day out, Craig?” Sara said, her gaze quickly darting to her rearview before returning to the road ahead.

Sara’s phone rang. She answered it through the hands-free buttons on her steering wheel. “DI Sara Ramsey.”

“Boss, it’s Jill. I’ve got a possible location for the suspects. I’m getting the same coordinates for Megan’s and Riley’s phones. They’re both active at this time.”

“Great news, Jill. Where are we talking about?”

“They appear to be at a standstill close to the river. The road might be easy to miss, so you’re going to need to keep your wits about you.”

“We’ve got the location on the map. Cheers, Jill.” Sara ended the call, then she switched off the siren. “We’re relatively close. The last thing we want to do is alert them.”

“Craig and I will keep an eye open for the road. I reckon it’s more like a dirt track than an actual road.”

“I agree,” Craig said. “I’ve got it up on Google Earth now. Carla is right. It’s super narrow, probably a farmer’s track, although it leads to another stunning location. If Harlow’s been camping in the area for years, he probably would have discovered the place by accident.”

“Sounds logical. How far do you think we are?”

“Five minutes at the most,” Craig confirmed.

Sara remained vigilant regarding her surroundings and prepared herself for taking the turn. Her heart pounded when Craig tapped her on the shoulder.

“I think this is it up ahead, boss.”

Sara signalled to turn left and eased the car into the narrow road. “Really? Are you sure this is the right track? How the heck would they get a motorhome up here?”

“Maybe preventing it from getting damaged wasn’t a high priority for them,” Craig replied.

“Jesus, I hope my paintwork doesn’t suffer with these brambles poking out everywhere.”

“I think that’s the least of our worries,” Carla mumbled.

“Easy for you to say. It’s not your car.” Sara followed the track up a slight incline and came to a stop at the top. “I think the element of surprise is called for. If I leave the car here, it’ll block the route out, that is, if there isn’t another track they can take off one of the fields.”

“There probably is, but we could pounce on them before they twig what’s happening and make a run for it,” Craig suggested.

“Okay. Are you ready for this?” Sara asked.

The three of them left the vehicle with their Tasers in hand. They followed the track down the hill to the bottom. That’s where it split into two.

“Left or right?” Sara asked. “It doesn’t matter. Craig, you take right; Carla and I will go left. Let’s put our phones on vibrate before we set off. We’ll contact each other as soon as we locate them.”

They all put their phones on vibrate and went their separate ways.

Sara and Carla continued along the track.

“I can hear water running,” Carla whispered.

“Jill said the phone location was by the river, so this could be it. Are you ready for action? Don’t hold back. If they try to run, either of them, we’re going to take them down. I’m determined not to let them get away, not again.”

“Gotcha.”

They walked another few hundred yards before something white came into view, tucked behind a hedge.

Sara pointed. “Is that the roof of the motorhome?”

“I think it is. Shall I give Craig a call?”

“Yes.” Sara tiptoed further towards what they suspected to be the vehicle.

There was an open gate off to the left, suggesting that was probably how they had gained access to the field. They waited a few minutes for Craig to join them, then made their move. Sara leaned in to catch snippets of the heated conversation going on. She could make out two voices, one male and one female. She sensed they were close to taking the suspects down now, unless they were mistaken and the vehicle belonged to another couple.

Stop talking yourself out of it. It’s them, it has to be. Why would another couple come here and try to disguise their van behind the hedge?

She led the rest of her team to the gate. Sara peeped around the corner and saw a young man and woman sitting outside the motorhome. Once they laid eyes on them, Sara imagined it was going to kick off. This was where the element of surprise ended.

She pointed at just beyond the hedge. “They’re both there, sitting in their chairs and enjoying the sunshine as if everything were normal.”

Carla shook her head and whispered, “Sounds about right.”

“Do you want me to see if there’s another entrance into the field?” Craig asked.

“No, I think we should stick together. It’s all or nothing. We’re armed. They won’t be expecting to see us sneaking up on them.” Sara inched forward to peer around the hedge once more. She exhaled a breath, raised her Taser and gestured for Carla and Craig to join her. She stepped into the field.

The first word out of the couple’s mouths was, “Shit!”

“Police. Taser-armed. Run and we will fire.”

“What do you want from us?” Lucas asked. His voice had an innocent tone to it.

“Lucas Harlow and Riley Shaw, you are under arrest for two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”

“Bollocks, you’ve got nothing on us. We’re not who you think we are,” Riley yelled. She placed her hands on the arms of the chair, as if about to launch herself out of her seat and make a run for it.

“And you expect us to believe you?” Sara asked. “We’re aware that you’ve recently dyed your hair with the intention of avoiding being captured.”

“We haven’t,” Riley shouted. “You’ve got nothing on us. My father is high up in the Force; he’ll be livid when he finds out you’re harassing innocent people.”

“Innocent people don’t murder two other campers and steal one of their vans, sorry, motorhomes. Constable, run the plates for me.”

Craig kept his weapon trained on Lucas and made the call to the station. “Hi, Jill. I’ve got a registration for you to check.” He read it out and waited for Jill to respond. He turned his phone to speaker so Sara and Carla could hear the response.

“I’ve got it. It’s a Ford Cortina, registered to a Richard Yates in Ludlow.”

“That’s good enough for us, thanks, Jill. We’ve located the suspects; we’re making the arrests now.”

“Oh no, you’re not.” Riley bolted out of her chair.

“Leave her to me. It’ll be a pleasure,” Carla shouted and took off after her. “Stop or I will fire. Stop right there. This is your final warning. Stop!”

When Riley refused, Carla fired the Taser. The suspect dropped to the ground, her body shuddering as forty thousand volts surged through her.

“Hey, there’s no need for that,” Lucas yelled.

“Stay where you are, Harlow, or you’ll get the same medicine,” Sara said. “Craig, help Carla. I’ll keep an eye on him.”

Craig darted across the field to assist Carla. He helped Riley to her feet. She was still spouting her mouth off and struggling to get out of Craig’s grip.

He tugged on her arm and shouted, “Pipe down! Stop making matters worse for yourself.”

“Leave us alone,” Riley hissed.

“Give it a break, Riley. They’ve caught us; there’s nothing we can do about it now,” Lucas called out to her.

“Keep your mouth shut, you idiot. And when it comes to the interview, go down the ‘no comment’ route.”

Lucas rolled his eyes at Sara as if to say, ‘See what I’ve had to put up with during my time on the road with her?’

Sara had to suppress the giggle that had settled in her throat. Riley really was a piece of work. It was obvious she had been the one in charge and had used Lucas, but until Sara got to the truth, she needed to keep a lid on her opinions.

“Craig, can you get in touch with the backup teams? Make them aware of our location. They can come and pick these two clowns up and take them in.”

“Don’t you dare disrespect me by calling me a clown,” Riley screeched.

Sara turned her back on the young woman, not interested in the slightest in what she had to say.

“Oi, you. How dare you turn your back on me like that? Who the fuck do you think you are?”

Sara set a smile in place and faced the outspoken woman. “I’m the crap cop who has just nailed you and your boyfriend’s arses to the wall. And yes, that was figuratively speaking, although that can be arranged when we get back to the station. So, my advice would be for you to button it, Miss Shaw.”

“For your information, she’s not my girlfriend,” Lucas piped up.

“Shut your mouth, moron,” Riley snarled, her lip curling. “What did I say? Don’t tell them anything.”

Sara slapped the cuffs on Lucas.

“Why shouldn’t I?” he said. “All this is down to you. I wanted no part in any of this.”

“He’s lying. Don’t believe the fucker. He put out a plea for someone to join him on an adventure of a lifetime. When I met up with him, he told me what his plans were, the main one being to kill someone and take their motorhome. He’s to blame for the murders, not me.”

Sara cocked an eyebrow. “Really? Are you sure about that? Because the witness statements are mounting up and, surprisingly, when speaking to everyone involved, they all say that you were the one calling the shots, not Lucas. Don’t worry, though, you’ll both be serving time for the crimes. You have my word on that.”

“Screw you. Call yourself a detective? You can’t see further than two feet ahead of you. He’s the one who had me over a barrel, not the other way around. He was keeping me away from the train stations in the area, so I couldn’t escape him.”

Sara tutted. “Give it a rest. Save it for the interview. You’d better have a good memory for all the lies you’ve told to get to this stage.”

“Lies? How dare you? It’s the truth, I tell you, the absolute truth.”

Sara switched off. Craig and Carla removed Riley from the field, allowing Sara to have a quiet word with Lucas.

“We saw your post on Facebook. Is it true? Was all this down to you?”

“No, please, you have to believe me. She’s got a screw loose. Since she murdered Megan, I’ve slept with a kitchen knife under my pillow in case she came after me.”

“Eric told me that you tried to save him. Why didn’t you prevent Riley stealing the motorhome, and then return to help him?”

“Good question. I’m sorry, I can’t give you an answer to that because the fear of getting caught took over. He told me that you were close on our tails. I’m sorry. I have huge regrets about what has happened this week, most of them… no, make it all of them, stem from me placing that stupid ad.”

“Why didn’t you get any references from her? She was on the run for putting her ex in hospital.”

“She told me it was self-defence and that he was abusive towards her… Oh God, don’t tell me that was another one of her lies?”

“It was. She went on the attack for no reason. He’s now a kidney short.”

“Shit! Thank God he survived. I thought I was doing the right thing when I placed that ad; I never expected to be living on the edge like this. She definitely brought out the worst in me.”

“Don’t say anything else, not until we’re back at the station. I’ll tell you this: if you’re open and honest with us, the Crown Prosecution Service will more than likely make a deal with you and probably offer you a lesser sentence. Of course, that’s if you want one.”

“Thank you. It would seem I have a lot to consider on the way back to Hereford. Will I be travelling in the same car as Riley?”

“No, I’ll ensure that doesn’t happen. I can get Craig to accompany you back to the station if you want.”

“I don’t mind. It was the thought of sharing a car with her that was scaring the crap out of me. Watch her eyes; they change all the time. It’ll become clear when you’re pushing her buttons. She’s easy to read in that respect.”

“Thanks for the warning. We’ll keep you separated until the patrol cars arrive to take you back to the station.”

“Thanks. I don’t think I could stand listening to her whining voice another second.”

“Have you regretted all the time she’s been with you?”

“Sometimes. I suppose there were days when I caught a fleeting glimpse of the real Riley, or should I say a compassionate side of her, but it was gone as soon as it showed up. Between you and me, I’ve never met a woman as calculated and evil as her, and I assure you, I’ve dated a few dodgy women over the years.”

Sara smiled. “I bet.”

Sirens wailed. Sara realised the patrols wouldn’t be able to get past her vehicle, so she instructed Carla and Craig to take Riley back to her car. She let them go ahead a few feet before she escorted Lucas back down the track to join them.

“Just do the right thing during the interview, Lucas,” she whispered, careful not to let Riley overhear their conversation.

“I will, I promise. People need to know what she’s really like, how manipulative she can be. I fell for it for a while, hook, line and sinker.”

“What are you saying to her?” Riley shouted at him.

“Nothing. I was asking if I could have a drink. So, why don’t you wind your neck in, woman?”

“Screw you, arsehole.”

The officers standing on the other side of Sara’s car saw them and rushed to assist them. As promised, Sara ensured that Craig travelled in the back with Lucas. She gave him strict instructions not to question the suspect or record anything said en route, knowing that if Craig did, a solicitor could rule his statement inadmissible as it was taken under coercion.

“Well, that turned out to be one of our easiest arrests, come the end,” Carla announced as Sara reversed the car down the track back to the main road.

“Hush, I’m concentrating. The fewer scratches I end up with on my paintwork, the happier I’ll be about arresting them.” Once they’d reached the main road and were following the patrol cars back to Hereford Station, she felt relaxed enough to answer her partner. “As it happens, I was thinking the same thing. There’s something to be said about using the element of surprise now and again on a suspect, or in this case, two suspects. What do you make of her?”

Carla sniggered. “Wild and adventurous seems to sum her up nicely. Isn’t that what Lucas requested in his ad? In that respect, she didn’t let him down, did she?”

“True. That old adage, ‘Be careful what you wish for’, comes to mind.”

They arrived back at the station. Sara had a word with Jeff, the duty sergeant, and left him to process the suspects.

“Give me a shout when they’re ready to be interviewed. I think we should start with Miss Shaw first.”

“I’ll let you know. It should take about twenty minutes to half an hour. I’ll put the call in for a duty solicitor to attend.”

“Brilliant, thanks, Jeff. I’m in dire need of some caffeine to replenish my supplies before I can handle sitting across the table from her.”

He laughed.

Upstairs, Jill and Marissa congratulated them on a job well done.

“Hey, we couldn’t have done it without your help, ladies, so don’t forget to give yourselves a pat on the back as well. Now, all we need to do is gather all the evidence together to ensure justice is served and the suspects receive adequate punishments for their crimes.”

“Plus, make sure all the witness statements are up to date,” Carla said.

“Can you deal with that for me? I’m going to give the hospital a call. I need to know how Eric is.”

Jill was already at the drinks station, making everyone a cup of coffee. She delivered a mug to Sara, who was going through the post she’d missed earlier that day.

“Thanks, Jill. I meant what I said out there. Without you telling us where to find them, they probably would have got away again, and who knows how long they might have kept escaping capture?”

“All in a day’s work, boss. It seems to me that Riley Shaw is guilty of not thinking further than her nose at all times. If she hadn’t tried to be clever, using Megan’s phone, well, I doubt if we’d have caught them.”

“All came good in the end, thankfully. Can you close the door on the way out?”

“Consider it done.”

Sara made the call to the hospital. Instead of remaining at her desk, she sat on the edge of it, sipping her coffee as she stared out of the window at the fantastic view.

I’m glad we caught them before they truly had the nerve to go off-grid. The expanse of wild terrain in our county is astounding. If they had been cannier in the options they had chosen, I doubt if we’d ever have caught up with them. Foolish people. They should have hit the open road ASAP instead of visiting well-loved areas in the region. That proved to be their downfall. I suppose that type of deviousness comes from experience. Talking of which…

Sara had been on hold, stuck in the long queue to the hospital switchboard. “Hi, yes. I’m DI Sara Ramsey. I’m calling to get an update on a patient who was brought in with stab injuries.”

“What was the patient’s name?”

“Eric Dempsey.”

“Ah yes, he’s being assessed at the moment.”

“Can you tell me how long that’s going to take?”

“The Accident and Emergency Department are under strain today. If he’s not classed as a priority, then it might be a few hours.”

“Blimey, since when was a stabbing incident not classed as an emergency?”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean it to come across like that. We’ve had our share of burn cases and even a heart attack or two to deal with this morning.”

“Okay. Thanks for your help. Can I call back later?”

“Of course you can. Sorry the news isn’t better.”

“No problem. Send him my best wishes if you can.”

“I will. Goodbye, Inspector.”

Disappointed, Sara tore herself away from the view, answered a few emails vying for her immediate attention, and then knuckled down to make some notes for the interviews she was eager to hold. Thirty minutes flew past. Her phone rang on her desk. She had an inkling who it would be.

“Sorry to trouble you, ma’am,” Jeff said.

“You’re not. Has the solicitor arrived, Jeff?”

“She has.”

“Okay, if you show her through to an interview room, she’ll want a word with Shaw before I come down.”

“I’ll sort that out now, ma’am.”

Sara ended the call and reread her notes. Although, judging by what Shaw had advised Lucas to do when they’d been picked up, she was left in no doubt whatsoever about which way the interview was going to go. A few minutes later, she left the office and collected Carla on her way downstairs.

Sara knocked on the door and opened it. “Are you ready for us?”

“We are, Inspector,” Miss Greenwood replied.

Sara and Carla entered the room and sat opposite the suspect and her solicitor. Carla said the usual verbiage to start the proceedings under Shaw’s watchful gaze.

“Before we begin,” Miss Greenwood said, “my client has something she’d like to say.”

Sara tilted her head and smiled. She had an idea what was coming next. “And what might that be, Miss Shaw?”

“That Lucas made me do it. He lured me in with that ad of his, promised me a good life on the road, full of adventures. But the truth was, he had murder in mind. I had to go along with it because otherwise he threatened to kill my family.”

“We’ll be sure to take that on board, although, saying that, I have to tell you that Lucas has already given us a totally different account. Therefore, it is my belief that one of you is lying.”

Riley opened her mouth to speak, but Sara silenced her with a raised hand.

“Before you say anything else, you should also be aware that we have several witness statements corroborating Lucas’s side of the events.” She watched Riley’s eyes blaze with anger. Lucas had been right; you could tell a lot from the young woman’s expression and, more importantly, her eyes.

“He’s lying. They all are.” Riley jabbed a thumb between her breasts. “I’m the one telling the truth, I swear I am.”

“When you were both arrested earlier today, why was it you who told Lucas to go down the ‘no comment’ route? An innocent person would never have offered that advice to their accomplice.”

Her gaze burned into Sara’s, and the colour rose in her cheeks.

“Why have you suddenly gone quiet? Because, admit it, you’re the guilty one? The one who instigated the crimes? Who had a hand in both murders? Be careful how you answer. This interview will be used as evidence against you. Furthermore, don’t forget your final victim is very much alive and willing to give us a statement about the incident that happened today.”

Riley rolled her eyes and spewed the words Sara had been expecting since she’d entered the room. “No comment. Lucas is the guilty one. The sooner you idiots realise that, the better.”

Miss Greenwood leaned in and whispered something in her client’s ear. Sara suspected it was to reprimand Riley for her use of language.

Riley pulled away, looked Greenwood up and down and sneered, “And you can get lost. I don’t need your pathetic advice. In fact, you might as well leave now because, as far as I’m concerned, this interview is over. You’re getting nothing else out of me other than those two magical words.”

Sara faced Carla and shrugged. “In that case, Sergeant, you can bring this interview to a close.”

Riley stared defiantly at Sara.

“Are you going to attend the next interview with Mr Harlow, Miss Greenwood?” Sara asked the solicitor as they all stood to leave.

“My associate is on his way, Inspector.”

Riley was escorted from the room by the officer at the rear and taken back to her cell. She didn’t go quietly.

“I predict she’s going to be trouble for you,” Miss Greenwood said.

“Don’t worry, we’re used to dealing with people like Miss Shaw. I believe Lucas Harlow has hinted that he’s willing to fill in the blanks for us. He’s keen to get his side of the story across, so I wouldn’t bother advising him to go down the ‘no comment’ route. It fell on deaf ears when Shaw tried.”

“My associate should be here soon. He’ll need a quick chat with him before the interview begins.”

“We can arrange that. Can I get you a drink?”

“No, I have to get back to the office.”

Sara and Carla left Miss Greenwood in the room, making notes about how her interview with Riley had gone. They stopped off at reception to see if the other solicitor had arrived. He had, and Sara introduced herself.

“Ryan Womack, pleased to meet you.”

Sara showed him to the room where Miss Greenwood was.

Jeff sent an officer to fetch the suspect.

“How do you predict this going?” Carla asked.

“Very well, unless he’s had second thoughts whilst he’s been sitting in his cell.”

Carla glanced at her watch. “I hope not. I was hoping to get away on time tonight. Des and I have started having date nights to keep the marriage fresh. It seems to be working so far.”

Sara chuckled. “You’ve only been married a few months.”

“And?”

Sara shook her head. “And nothing. You do what you need to do to keep the spark alive.”

With that, Lucas and the officer escorting him passed by the doorway. Lucas gave Sara a tentative smile.

“That bodes well,” Carla said.

“We’ll see. We’ve had this type of thing backfire on us before, haven’t we?”

“That’s true.”

They left it five minutes, then made their way back down the corridor to the interview room.

Once the questioning began, Lucas, against Womack’s advice, revealed all. At the end of his confession, he let out a sigh of relief.

“Do you feel better now you’ve got that off your chest?” Sara asked him.

“I do. It’s the truth, no matter what Riley has told you.”

“Thank you for being open and honest with us.”

Sara gestured for the officer to return Lucas to his cell.

“Can I ask what happens next?” he asked before he left the room.

“You’ll be remanded in custody until the trial date has been set.”

“Will you have a word with the CPS, like you promised?”

“I’ll contact them before the end of the day. I never go back on my word.”

“Thank you. You seem like a decent copper. I hope that doesn’t sound too condescending?”

Sara smiled. “It doesn’t. Take care, Lucas.”

He nodded, and the officer guided him out of the room by his elbow.

Sara shook Ryan Womack’s hand in reception. “Thank you for attending today.”

“My pleasure. Glad you got the truth out of one of them.”

EPILOGUE

Sara was exhausted, both physically and mentally, by the time she got home. Waiting on his doorstep to see her was her neighbour, Ted.

“Hello, Ted. How are you doing?”

He seemed anxious about something. “Good evening, Sara. I appreciate you’ve probably had a busy day, but I wondered if you and Mark could pop round later to go over the final details for the funeral.”

“Of course. Give us about an hour to have dinner and clean up.”

Tears brimmed in his eyes. “I don’t know what I’d do without you two.”

“Nonsense. We’ll see you later.”

Two days later, Sara and Mark both took the morning off work to attend the funeral of their dear friend and neighbour, Mavis. It was a quiet affair; the couple had no other children. Sara hooked her arm through Ted’s and asked if he was all right.

“I think so. It was a beautiful service. Now the hard part begins… coping without her.”

Sara hugged him. He squeezed her tightly in return.

“We’re always here for you, please remember that. You’re as much part of our family as I am of yours.”

“I need to thank your father and Margaret for sending those fabulous flowers.”

“They told me to pass on their apologies for not being here, but their trip to Spain was extended due to the ferry being cancelled because of the high seas.”

“I understand. Shall we make our way over to the hotel? Mavis would be the first to welcome some good food and fine wine.”

“Absolutely.”

The hotel was a few minutes’ walk away. They decided the fresh air would do them good. Once they were seated, Mark raised a toast to Mavis.

“Gone, but we’ll make sure she’s never forgotten, eh, Ted?”

Ted nodded with fresh tears in his eyes. “Until we meet again, the love of my life.”

Sara reached for Mark’s hand. She hoped their love would stand the test of time, just as Mavis and Ted’s had.

THE END

Thank you for reading The Killing Route, which is the final book in the DI Sara Ramsey series.

While I have your attention, have you read any of my other fast-paced crime thrillers yet?

Why not try the first book in the award-winning Justice series, the first book is Cruel Justice

OR THE FIRST book in the spin-off Justice Again series,

Gone in Seconds

Maybe you’d prefer my thriller series set in the stunning Lake District, the first book is To Die For

PERHAPS YOU’D PREFER to try one of my other police procedural series, the DI Kayli Bright series which begins with

The Missing Children

OR MAYBE YOU’D enjoy the DI Sally Parker series set in Norfolk,

Wrong Place

OR MY GRITTY police procedural starring DI Nelson set in Manchester, Torn Apart

OR MAYBE YOU’D like to try one of my successful psychological thrillers I know The Truth or She's Gone or Shattered Lives

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH M A COMLEY

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ALSO BY M A COMLEY

Blind Justice (Novella)

Cruel Justice (Book #1)

Mortal Justice (Novella)

Impeding Justice (Book #2)

Final Justice (Book #3)

Foul Justice (Book #4)

Guaranteed Justice (Book #5)

Ultimate Justice (Book #6)

Virtual Justice (Book #7)

Hostile Justice (Book #8)

Tortured Justice (Book #9)

Rough Justice (Book #10)

Dubious Justice (Book #11)

Calculated Justice (Book #12)

Twisted Justice (Book #13)

Justice at Christmas (Short Story)

Prime Justice (Book #14)

Heroic Justice (Book #15)

Shameful Justice (Book #16)

Immoral Justice (Book #17)

Toxic Justice (Book #18)

Overdue Justice (Book #19)

Unfair Justice (a 10,000 word short story)

Irrational Justice (a 10,000 word short story)

Seeking Justice (a 15,000 word novella)

Caring For Justice (a 24,000 word novella)

Savage Justice ( a 17,000 word novella)

Justice at Christmas #2 (a 15,000 word novella)

Gone in Seconds (Justice Again series #1)

Ultimate Dilemma (Justice Again series #2)

Shot of Silence (Justice Again series #3)

Taste of Fury (Justice Again series #4)

Crying Shame (Justice Again series #5)

See No Evil (Justice Again series #6)

To Die For (DI Sam Cobbs #1)

To Silence Them (DI Sam Cobbs #2)

To Make Them Pay (DI Sam Cobbs #3)

To Prove Fatal (DI Sam Cobbs #4)

To Condemn Them (DI Sam Cobbs #5)

To Punish Them (DI Sam Cobbs #6)

To Entice Them (DI Sam Cobbs #7)

To Control Them (DI Sam Cobbs #8)

To Endanger Lives (DI Sam Cobbs #9)

To Hold Responsible (DI Sam Cobbs #10)

To Catch a Killer (DI Sam Cobbs #11)

To Believe the Truth (DI Sam Cobbs #12)

To Blame Them (DI Sam Cobbs 13)

To Judge Them (DI Sam Cobbs #14)

To Fear Him (DI Sam Cobbs #15)

To Deceive Them (DI Sam Cobbs #16)

To Hurt Them (DI Sam Cobbs #17)

The Truth Will Out (DI Sam Cobbs #18)

Forever Watching You (DI Miranda Carr thriller)

Wrong Place (DI Sally Parker thriller #1)

No Hiding Place (DI Sally Parker thriller #2)

Cold Case (DI Sally Parker thriller#3)

Deadly Encounter (DI Sally Parker thriller #4)

Lost Innocence (DI Sally Parker thriller #5)

Goodbye My Precious Child (DI Sally Parker #6)

The Missing Wife (DI Sally Parker #7)

Truth or Dare (DI Sally Parker #8)

Where Did She Go? (DI Sally Parker #9)

Sinner (DI Sally Parker #10)

The Good Die Young (DI Sally Parker#11)

Coping Without You (DI Sally Parker #12)

Could It Be Him (DI Sally Parker #13)

Frozen In Time (DI Sally Parker #14)

Echoes of Silence (DI Sally Parker #15)

The Final Betrayal (DI Sally Parker #16)

Garden of Bones (DI Sally Parker #17)

Web of Deceit (DI Sally Parker Novella)

The Missing Children (DI Kayli Bright #1)

Killer On The Run (DI Kayli Bright #2)

Hidden Agenda (DI Kayli Bright #3)

Murderous Betrayal (Kayli Bright #4)

Dying Breath (Kayli Bright #5)

Taken (DI Kayli Bright #6)

The Hostage Takers (DI Kayli Bright Novella)

No Right to Kill (DI Sara Ramsey #1)

Killer Blow (DI Sara Ramsey #2)

The Dead Can’t Speak (DI Sara Ramsey #3)

Deluded (DI Sara Ramsey #4)

The Murder Pact (DI Sara Ramsey #5)

Twisted Revenge (DI Sara Ramsey #6)

The Lies She Told (DI Sara Ramsey #7)

For The Love Of… (DI Sara Ramsey #8)

Run for Your Life (DI Sara Ramsey #9)

Cold Mercy (DI Sara Ramsey #10)

Sign of Evil (DI Sara Ramsey #11)

Indefensible (DI Sara Ramsey #12)

Locked Away (DI Sara Ramsey #13)

I Can See You (DI Sara Ramsey #14)

The Kill List (DI Sara Ramsey #15)

Crossing The Line (DI Sara Ramsey #16)

Time to Kill (DI Sara Ramsey #17)

Deadly Passion (DI Sara Ramsey #18)

Son of the Dead (DI Sara Ramsey #19)

Evil Intent (DI Sara Ramsey #20)

The Games People Play (DI Sara Ramsey #21)

Revenge Streak (DI Sara Ramsey #22)

Seeking Retribution (DI Sara Ramsey #23)

Gone… But Where? (DI Sara Ramsey #24)

Last Man Standing (DI Sara Ramsey #25)

Vanished (DI Sara Ramsey #26)

Shadows of Deception (DI Sara Ramsey #27)

The Killing Route (DI Sara Ramsey #28)

I Know The Truth (A Psychological thriller)

She’s Gone (A psychological thriller)

Shattered Lives (A psychological thriller)

Evil In Disguise – a novel based on True events

Deadly Act (Hero series novella)

Torn Apart (Hero series #1)

End Result (Hero series #2)

In Plain Sight (Hero Series #3)

Double Jeopardy (Hero Series #4)

Criminal Actions (Hero Series #5)

Regrets Mean Nothing (Hero series #6)

Prowlers (Di Hero Series #7)

Sole Intention (Intention series #1)

Grave Intention (Intention series #2)

Devious Intention (Intention #3)

Cozy mysteries

Murder at the Wedding

Murder at the Hotel

Murder by the Sea

Death on the Coast

Death By Association

Merry Widow (A Lorne Simpkins short story)

It’s A Dog’s Life (A Lorne Simpkins short story)

A Time To Heal (A Sweet Romance)

A Time For Change (A Sweet Romance)

High Spirits

The Temptation series (Romantic Suspense/New Adult Novellas)

Past Temptation

Lost Temptation

Clever Deception (co-written by Linda S Prather)

Tragic Deception (co-written by Linda S Prather)

Sinful Deception (co-written by Linda S Prather)