Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
NICK
The car slowed and made a hard turn to the right.
Almost immediately, the feel of the road changed—rougher, with more twists and a slow steady climb.
But also quieter, the thrum of cars passing in the opposite direction was gone in seconds.
This had to be the reserve. The next stop would be the lake.
Time was running out.
In the front of the car, Austin dialled back the volume on Oasis’ “Wonderwall.” I pictured him scanning his surroundings, nerves kicking in.
I doubted he’d done anything like this before and wondered if I could use that.
Back at the hut, he’d shown no concern about the idea of killing us, but face to face with the act itself could be a very different story.
Taking someone’s life wasn’t an easy thing to do.
Austin was many things, but I wasn’t convinced he was a killer. He talked a big game, but I had my doubts. Belinda, on the other hand? Yeah. I doubted she’d even blink an eye. The woman had self-serving narcissist written all over her. Manipulative, ruthless, and with zero empathy.
In some ways, I pitied Austin. Belinda would likely bleed him dry and then move on to her next mark without a single glance back. She was a con woman and likely worse. This wasn’t her first rodeo, of that I was sure. She was way too comfortable in the role and too damn good.
I wouldn’t know if I could manipulate Austin until the moment came.
If he showed any hesitation about killing us, I’d only have seconds to work with.
Seconds to convince him to turn on Belinda, who I was damn sure had set Austin up to take the blame if everything went south.
As sure as I was that he was completely oblivious to her machinations, it would be a final Hail Mary, but I didn’t rate my chances.
I needed to take any opportunity that came my way beforehand, regardless of how slim.
When the rental finally pulled to a stop, I waited for the sound of movement up front, but Austin remained quiet, his door closed, the only sound being the spit-spit of light rain on the lid of the trunk.
How long we sat there, I had no idea. I spent most of the time with my ears tuned to the patchy rhythm of Chloe’s shallow and increasingly noisy breathing.
My heart stopped in my throat every time the rattling stopped.
I’d nudge her shoulder and whisper her name.
The last time, she’d given a soft moan, and I thought her head turned just a little my way.
My mood brightened for a moment, then her head dropped forward again and she fell silent.
It was more response than I’d had before, but it wouldn’t be enough to save her from the frigid waters of the lake.
At seventy-three, with her body temperature already dangerously low and Valium dulling her responses, Chloe wouldn’t last a minute.
As much as I hated to admit it, Belinda’s plan was a good one.
I kissed the side of my mother’s neck and whispered, “I’m gonna do my best to get us out of this, Mum, but it’s not looking good.
If we don’t make it, I want you to know that I love you.
I always did. They’re going to try and make it look like you drowned, so I need you to fight as hard as you can to fuck that up.
You won’t be bound, so scratch yourself, hurt yourself, scream, do anything to make it look like you were in a fight.
Don’t let them win, Mum.” I kissed her shoulder.
“If we get through this, I was thinking you might like to come live in Auckland so we can be closer. I’d like us to get to know each other again.
I—” The sound of the driver’s door opening silenced my next words.
“Jesus, it’s freezing,” Austin grumbled. “What took you so long?”
“I parked on Fenton and came in the back way,” Belinda puffed, a little out of breath.
The front door slammed shut and I strained to hear the rest of the conversation.
“It’s a bit further,” Belinda continued, sounding more muffled. “But the trail is clear and nobody uses that road, especially in this weather. Did you pass anything on your way up?”
“Nah.” The back door opened. “As far as I can tell, we’re the only ones here.
” Something was dragged across the back seat, the door closed, and the conversation drifted out of earshot.
There was nothing to do but wait it out.
A few minutes later, the trunk popped open and a gun was pressed against my temple.
“Make a sound and you’re history,” Belinda warned.
“A disappearance and suicide would be more convincing but if I have to shoot you, I will.” She caught sight of the gag around my neck and flicked her gun from Austin to me.
“Fix that. And you should’ve packed them the other way around. Now we have to get him out as well.”
“Sorry.” Austin came forward to fix the gag, the crunch of plastic sounding under his feet. He’d changed into a wetsuit at some point, which only made what they were about to do a fuckton more certain.
“That’ll do.” Belinda interrupted Austin fussing with the gag. “Let’s get this over before anyone decides to search the place. Get him out.”
Austin wasted no time rolling me to the edge of the trunk and letting me fall from there to the tarp. A muffled cry burst from my lungs as my shoulder took the brunt of the impact and pain arced through my body, the stony shoreline of the lake flickering like an old black-and-white movie.
“Cut his ankle ties,” Belinda ordered. “He’s not going anywhere, and he’s a dead weight for you and me to try and get back in.”
Austin scowled. “Yeah, my ribs—”
“Will you shut up about your damn ribs and just do it,” Belinda snapped, throwing him an exasperated look.
Austin glared back. He looked about to say something before changing his mind and starting on my ankle bindings.
My gaze flicked between them. This was good. Austin was getting annoyed with Belinda’s bossiness. If it kept up, it would work in my favour.
While Austin freed my feet, I tried to get my bearings.
I was lying on the edge of a car park. A large body of water unfurled from a stony shoreline in front of me, vertical cliffs rising on both sides like an amphitheatre.
A couple of picnic tables sat to one side, with a toilet block behind them.
A sign warning of sudden drop-offs and cold water had a life preserver hanging under it and I almost laughed.
Talk about the universe spitting in your face.
Fog blocked the full extent of the lake’s size, barely a ripple moving across its black surface, and an eerie calm hovered over the dismal scene like a bad horror movie.
Any hope I had of getting us out of there seemed sorely misplaced and I couldn’t afford to wait.
The second my feet were free, I slammed a boot into Austin’s knee, catching him side-on and sending him crashing to the tarp with a sickening scream.
I was on my knees, getting ready to run, when cold metal pushed against the back of my neck.
“You are such a fucking pain in my neck.” Belinda slammed the butt of the gun into my head and I crashed back to the ground, head spinning. She hit me again and blood spewed in a red arc over the grey tarp.
My vision greyed and a loud ringing echoed through my brain.
Blood filled my mouth, the bitter metallic tang choking on the back of my throat as I tried to suck in a breath.
Panic gripped my chest.
I was running out of time.
The luck that had stuck by my side for so long had vanished.
I’d wagered on a miracle, and I was about to lose everything.
My mother. Mads. My life.
I should never have followed Austin into that bush alone.
I should’ve gone to the nearest property and called Mads from there.
Got some backup.
Let them know where I was.
There had always been more than two choices.
I just didn’t want to see them.
I should’ve called.
I should’ve waited.
I should’ve just fucking waited.