Look Closer by Rachel Amphlett

Author:Rachel Amphlett [Amphlett, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC031000 FICTION / Thrillers / General, FIC030000 FICTION / Thrillers / Suspense, FIC031060 FICTION / Thrillers / Political
Publisher: Rachel Amphlett

24

Will hurried from the back of the church, having finally found the right door, and slipped out the vestry.

He ignored the woman leaving the churchyard with her black Labrador in tow, a shocked expression crossing her face as he picked up his pace and tore past her, the white and black robes of the parish rector billowing from his shoulders.

He charged across the car park and round the back of the building, the stolen robes flapping behind him, his footsteps spraying gravel across the paintwork of the stationary car in front of the porch.

Will cleared the stile in one swift movement, and ran, expecting a shout closely followed by two men with guns at any time.

As he rounded the corner, the footpath began its steady drop towards the village pub, and he slid to a stop.

Tearing the vicar’s robes from his shoulders, he bundled them together, bent down and pushed the material into the back of the blackberry bushes.

Extracting his arms carefully from the brambles, he leaned forward and put his hands on his knees, panting.

He grabbed the front of his jacket, suddenly paranoid that he’d dropped his mother’s bible, and nearly cried with relief when he felt its familiar surface.

He gulped in more air, and then began to hurry across the meadow towards the safety of the pub and his car.

How the hell had they found him? And so quickly?

He chewed his bottom lip as he panted his way down the last part of the footpath.

Either Amy had left more information on the first hard drive than he’d thought, or –

He frowned. Or Rossiter’s niece had told them where to find him.

Anger flushed through him, swiftly replaced by guilt. Had she volunteered the information, or had something happened to her since he’d left the motel that morning?

He hadn’t heard from her since they’d had breakfast.

Was she okay?

His pace quickened, and he jogged the last few steps. He climbed the wooden stile that led to the asphalt-topped car park and noted that the pub had filled considerably in the time he’d been at the church. He checked his watch and realised it was fast approaching lunchtime.

He glanced over his shoulder, expecting to see two shadowy figures on the footpath farther up the field, but it was deserted. He pulled the car keys from his pocket and hurried towards the vehicle, and had hit the remote locking switch when he heard it.

A car engine, still some distance away, roaring through the lanes, and coming closer.

He cursed, paranoia sweeping over him. He slid into the driver’s seat and slammed the door, gunned the engine – and stalled it.

Swearing, he wiped the sweat running down his forehead, reset the gears to neutral, and re-started the car. This time, he forced himself to ease off the clutch, slid the car into first gear, and then turned towards the exit.

He wound down the windows, leaned forward and switched off the radio.

Sure enough, the now-familiar growl of the silver sedan was drawing closer, changing gears as it powered down the hill towards the pub.

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