Page 109 of We Chase Shadows

‘And we came straight out,’ says Lee. ‘Both armed. But no one in sight.’

‘We must have searched for a half-hour,’ says Ernesto. ‘Then Lee spotted something.’

‘Just a flash of yellow,’ says Lee. ‘I guess this guy’s hair.’

‘We both start firing,’ says Ernesto. ‘But this guy doesn’t fire back. We look at each other like “Did we hit him?” So we’re calling out, and nothing.’

‘And we crawl over,’ says Lee. ‘And then I see the blood.’

‘So, Lee, he motions to me,’ says Ernesto. ‘And we both stand up, and we see straight away the guy’s dead. I think you say “brown bread” in this country.’

‘No,’ says Rosie. ‘We also say “dead”.’

Steve is out of his car and hurrying over.

‘My God, I love it when Steve runs,’ says Rosie. ‘I feel like I’m on safari.’

‘Anything on him?’ Amy asks.

‘No ID,’ says Ernesto. ‘Key card to a hotel.’

He shows Amy a white plastic card, now blood-stained. It has an elaborate THR symbol on it.

‘The Hunter’s Rest,’ says Amy. ‘Whoever he is, that’s where he’s staying.’

‘Okay,’ says Ernesto. ‘We go to The Hunter’s Rest.’

Amy nods. ‘We need to find out his name.’

Steve reaches them and puts his hands on his knees as he looks at the corpse. He holds up one of the hands to let Amy know he needs a second.

‘He’s the guy,’ says Steve. ‘Who beat up Tony. Same guy.’

‘What?’ says Amy.

‘How do you know?’ asks Rosie. ‘Just because of the hair?’

Steve is still catching his breath. ‘Felicity got his photo.’

‘Felicity?’ says Amy.

‘I don’t think we’ve been keeping her busy enough,’ says Steve. ‘Where’s Vern?’

‘In my wine fridge,’ says Rosie.

‘Good, he’s safe,’ says Steve.

‘Who killed him?’ says Rosie. ‘I don’t quite understand.’

Ernesto looks out to the treeline. ‘We were outside in two minutes. Someone could have made it to the trees.’

‘Someone quick,’ says Lee.

‘We should really go and let Vern out,’ says Rosie.

‘He’s okay in there for now,’ says Amy.

‘I’m not worried about him,’ says Rosie. ‘I’m worried about my wine.’