Cliffhanger by Matthew Costello

Author:Matthew Costello [Costello 1, Matthew 1, Richards 2, Neil 2]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-3-7325-5311-2
Publisher: Bastei Entertainment
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

9. Walking the Dogs

“How’s the knee holding up, Jack?” said Sarah, as they both climbed the stile set in the dry-stone wall.

“As well as can be expected,” he said, watching her head off up the steep trail that led to Clevedon Ridge. “Makes a funny clicking sound, but seems to work okay.”

Jack was still recovering from the effects of totalling his car a while back, while amazingly stopping a suspect from getting away. And though he was happy going uphill he suspected it would be the walk down that would cause problems today.

He watched Riley chase after Sarah’s dog, Digby, the two Spaniels running crazy rings around each other in the sloping grassy meadow.

“You sure you can keep that pace up?” he called, watching Sarah march ahead.

“Yep!” she said over her shoulder. “I’ll give you a lift to the gym any day you want.”

He laughed. “No way. You see me joining a gym?”

Sarah paused at that, and turned as he caught up.

“Ha, I think you’re not much of a joiner of anything, Jack.”

“True fact,” he said, smiling.

Still — he had to admit — if he was ever going to run again he needed to do some serious rehabilitation work after that injury.

And boy did he miss his brisk morning runs along the river bank.

“Come on,” said Sarah. “If your knee’s up to it, race you to the top.”

“You are a cruel woman, Sarah Edwards,” he said watching her pick up a jog and head towards the top of the hill.

*

Sarah stood on top of Clevedon Crag, looking out at the distant Welsh hills.

Big cumulus clouds scudded across the blue early morning sky — but the far horizon was crystal clear, and she could see pretty much the whole of the Cotswolds laid out.

A picture postcard view, to be sure.

How could you not love this part of the world?

She turned to Jack, who stood next to her on the rocky outcrop.

“I’m guessing this was pretty much where Susan Braithwaite was standing, according to all the statements,” she said.

“Yeah. And hard to imagine anyone creeping up on her,” said Jack. “Especially if Heidi’s right about her being a spy or agent of some kind.”

“Well — it was rainy that day. Windy. Maybe hard to hear someone approaching. As to exactly what Susan Braithwaite is, I hope we’ll find out today, when I hit the office and get online. Though, if she is really with the government, that might be impossible.”

“Right — then be prepared to find nothing.”

“Yep,” said Sarah. She turned to look along the ridge. “So, okay, Heidi and Stephanie were all the way down there,” she said, pointing.

“If we believe them,” said Jack. “Been thinking more about what you said on the drive up here this morning. Two agents of some kind on the same walking tour? What are the chances of that?”

“Could be a coincidence?”

“You know my thoughts on coincidences,” said Jack.

“Oh, I do,” said Sarah. “Heidi could, of course, be playing a very clever game.”

“Throwing us off the

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