The Skeleton Lake: THE JAKE SAWYER SERIES (BOOK 6) by Lowe Andrew

Author:Lowe, Andrew
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Redpoint Books
Published: 2021-07-05T00:00:00+00:00

29

The taxi turned off at the Hayfield crossroads and headed towards Edale, along the narrow, tree-lined road that cut through the lower slopes of Kinder Scout.

Sawyer lowered the back window an inch and inhaled the scent of home. Pure air, wildflowers, petrichor. A broad bank of gunmetal cloud lurked above the moorland plateau; the peak of the Peak. The Lake District was topiary in comparison; landscaped and manicured for the Instagrammers. Here, the fells seemed to swell and undulate at will, unhurried by the seasonal swarms.

Larkin came to mind again. Here is unfenced existence: Facing the sun, untalkative, out of reach.

He took out his phone and studied the image retrieved by the motion capture camera, sent via MMS. The blue VW Golf again. Terry Barker. Image dated late the previous evening.

Sawyer got out a few hundred yards from the cottage, and whirled on his jacket: both arms in at once, over the head and around. He shouldered on his backpack, hopped over a drystone wall and squelched along the edge of a field, around the back of the house.

A hefty man in a crimson jacket hauled a full rubbish bag over the driveway bridge, down to the roadside wheelie bin. Sawyer quickly crouched and dislodged the loose brick at the bottom of the wall. He took out the cellophane bag of brown powder and stuffed it into his pocket.

As the man lifted the bag into the wheelie bin, Sawyer walked over to the orange-and-black Mini Convertible, parked in the drive. He squinted in through the windows, cupping his hands around his eyes. Hoodie draped over the passenger seat, McDonald’s milkshake cup, books and bags on the floor.

‘About fucking time!’

The man hurried back over the driveway bridge and launched himself at Sawyer, holding him in a powerful bear hug. Sawyer held on for a few seconds then pushed him back.

Sawyer grinned, nodded to the car. ‘Do you actually drive this thing or are you using it as a litter bin?’

Michael Sawyer gulped down a big breath and looked up at the sky. ‘Hold on.’ He looked back at his brother, rubbed his eyes. ‘Yeah. You’re definitely here. Come inside. Your timing’s perfect.’

Sawyer followed him. ‘Kettle on?’

‘About to leave. I’ll make a quick brew before I go, though. I’m only here weekends. Got a place in Sheffield.’ He gestured to the Mini as they passed. ‘And, yeah. You can gladly have that back. I feel like fucking Noddy in it.’

They ducked under the low beam and Sawyer closed the front door behind them.

Nothing had changed. L-shaped sitting room with galley kitchen and dining table. Bedroom and en suite bathroom at the back. Side door through to the patio and picnic bench.

‘I love what you’ve done with the place,’ said Sawyer.

Michael shrugged. ‘I knew you’d be back. Your friend Maggie gave me her spare keys. I got your land registry details, but didn’t complete it all. Place is still technically yours. Couldn’t keep the cat, though. Sorry. Allergic. Maggie took him.’

‘That’s okay.’

‘They want a dog, though.

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