Constable Evans 03: Evanly Choirs Read Online Free PDF Page B

swirled up from unseen waters below them, then picked their way down cautiously over rocks slippery with moisture and moss. Suddenly there was the lake, its surface steaming as the sun melted away the mist.
    “Perfect,” Evan said. “We should have blue skies by the time we’ve dropped down to the water. And we’ll get a grand view of Snowdon on the way back.”
    He reached out and took Bronwen’s hand as they made their way down over lichen-covered rocks. Suddenly Bronwen stopped. “Oh,” she said in disappointment. “We’re not going to be alone. Look, there’s a car parked on the other side.”
    “A car?” Evan looked toward where she was pointing. Far below them, on the steep far shore of the lake, a maroon sedan was parked. A figure was standing behind the car, blending into the dappled shade of the trees. It seemed to be a young man in jeans and a leather jacket. “How on earth did someone get a car up here?” Evan asked.
    “There’s the forestry track up from Trefriw, isn’t there?”
    “But I wouldn’t have thought it was suitable for cars, especially after the wet spring we’ve had. It must have been awfully bumpy. I didn’t think cars were allowed.”
    “What some people will do to get out of walking,” Bronwen said scornfully. “They want the views and the solitude, but they want the convenience of driving there.”
    “That’s funny,” Evan said, staring hard at the car. “That looks like the car I saw yesterday. Unusual color, isn’t it?” He frowned, then shrugged. “No matter. Let them enjoy their day and we’ll enjoy ours, eh Bronwen? Room enough for both of us.”
    The path passed through a stand of woodland, ancient hawthorns and oaks, still draped in mist. It was completely silent. Their feet made no noise on the rich carpet of decaying leaves. Overhead the raven cawed again, its plaintive cry echoing unnaturally loud. Then the path emerged from the woods and began a zigzag descent to the lakeshore.
    “We don’t need to worry about the car anymore,” Bronwen said, her eyes scanning the lake below. “It’s gone.”
    “That was quick,” Evan said.
    “Probably one of those tourists who come, take a snapshot of the kiddies in front of the lake, then go again.”
    Evan was about to move on when he saw bubbles rising from the surface of the lake. Once he spotted them, the outline of the car was clearly visible.
    “It’s in the water, Bron,” Evan shouted. “The car’s gone into the lake! Oh my God. We’ll never get there in time.”
    He took off like a madman down the narrow path, leaping from rock to rock, his arms flailing to keep his balance around the precarious bends. He heard Bronwen shrieking, “Evan be careful. You’ll fall!” but he couldn’t slow down. The image of the submerged car blotted out everything else. He started peeling off his jacket as he ran. Where was the closest cottage? They had passed nothing since a farm above Capel Curig. Which would be the best direction to go for help—back the way they had come or down the forestry track to Trefriw? But that had to be a good two miles or more.
    I’m going to be too late! The words echoed through his mind as the blood pounded in his temples. He was not conscious of the ground beneath his feet or of the drop to the lakeshore below. The descent seemed to take forever. He was running in slow motion, like the running he sometimes did in dreams, away from pursuers or wild beasts.
    At last he reached the lakeshore. The level was down and he slithered over loose shale to skirt the end of the lake. Bubbles were still rising, marking the spot where the car had gone in, but nobody had managed to get out. How many people would he have to deal with? Why hadn’t they jumped out when the car started to move?
    He struggled out of his boots before he dove in. The icy water took his breath away. He took a big gulp of air and dived into green darkness. The water was clear and he could see the outline of the car