Blood Secret Read Online Free PDF

‘He sent it at nine fifty-seven. That’s nearly three hours ago.’ She hit speed dial.
    Trish edged closer. ‘Who are you calling?’
    â€˜Max.’ She hung up. ‘It went straight to message bank. I’ll try the house.’ She smiled thinly at Trish as she listened to it ring. Pav came into the kitchen, stood at the workbench and watched.
    â€˜Max, it’s me,’ Rennie told the answering machine. ‘Are you there? Pick up.’ She glanced at Trish, then Pav, and shook her head. ‘If you get this, call me.’ She put the phone down, ran a hand through her hair and closed her eyes. This was Haven Bay, safest place in the world. ‘I’m calling the cops.’
    *
    â€˜It was a silver five-door four-wheel drive, a late model Subaru,’ Rennie told the police officer. She was still in the kitchen, pacing between the workbench and the cooktops, talking into her mobile. Edgy. Pav moved quietly about, stacking the fridges with leftovers, wiping surfaces. Listening probably. She didn’ t mind.
    Rennie repeated the registration number she’d called out in the driveway of the bottle shop.
    â€˜Did you see the driver?’ The cop was male, sounded young and the road rage story had piqued his interest. She gave him a description of the angry kid and his passenger – hair, clothes, eye colour, his watch, her jewellery. The stuff she noticed.
    â€˜That’s a pretty detailed description. Have you seen them before?’ he asked.
    â€˜No. I just pay attention.’
    â€˜Did Mr Tully know either of them?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Is there any reason Mr Tully might decide to leave the party without telling anyone?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Could he have had a fight with someone?’
    They’d snapped at each other. It wasn’t that kind of fight. ‘No.’
    â€˜Has he had work problems?’
    She remembered the conversation with Naomi, the long hours he’d been working. ‘Not that I know of.’
    â€˜Does he have any medical issues?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Is there a chance he might want to harm himself?’
    Not since she’d known him. ‘No.’
    â€˜Okay. I’ll put his details in the computer. If you haven’t heard from him by tomorrow, you’ll need to come into the station and make a statement. And bring a recent photo.’
    Rennie rung off. ‘I’m going to look for him.’
    â€˜He could be anywhere.’ James was in the doorway.
    â€˜I know. But I can’t just go home, not without looking. I’ll drive back along the lake. Maybe he tried to walk. Maybe the kid found him. I don’t know, maybe he just fell over in the dark.’ She tossed her phone in her handbag and dug out the car keys.
    â€˜Should you be driving?’ Pav hauled his apron over his head. ‘How much have you had to drink?’
    â€˜Not that much and I feel stone-cold sober.’
    â€˜Well, I’m over the limit, for sure, but I’ll come with you,’ Pav said.
    â€˜I’ll take Hilltop Road and meet you at your place.’ James saw the question on both their faces. ‘I’m fine. I’ve only had a couple beers.’
    â€˜What about Naomi?’ Rennie asked.
    â€˜She’s gone already. Eliza took her and Trish home.’
    She felt a sudden rush of gratitude. They’re friends, Rennie. It was another reason she’d stayed. ‘Okay, let’s go.’
    *
    She drove slowly, retracing Max’s route. The water was a black satin sheet that stretched all the way to the opposite bank. At the shoreline below the road, she couldn’t tell where the rocks ended and the lake began. On the right, the rough edge of bitumen met lawns that sloped upwards to unlit houses. The only illumination came from a bright moon, well-spaced street lamps and Rennie’s high beam.
    Pausing at the mouth of the roundabout, she noticed the fresh skid marks