Hunted Read Online Free PDF Page B

here…”
    “You think they killed themselves?”
    “It’s a possibility.”
    “Did they take any of their things with them? Anything to indicate they’d done a runner?”
    “No but a lot of missing people don’t. Sometimes they just get into their cars or hitch a lift with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Anyway, no bodies have ever turned up.”
    “Until now.”
    “We’ve no evidence that body is anything to do with a serial killer.”
    “You will have when they’re identified. Have you managed to do that yet?”
    “I’m not at liberty to share that information with you Ryan. Why are you so interested anyway?”
    “Why am I interested?” he said incredulously. “That body was found on my property and I want the matter put to rest as soon as possible.”
    “And we’re working on it, I can’t say any more than that. Now if you’ll excuse me I have a lot to do,” he said, turning his attention back to his computer.
    “I bet you’d have been more open if I was Rachel,” said Ryan on his way to the door.
    “Excuse me?” frowned Ashley.
    Ryan stopped and turned, one eyebrow raised. “I do believe you heard me perfectly clearly.” He stared at Ashley until he lowered his gaze.
    Ryan stalked out of the station, furious at having been spoken to as though he was a complete idiot. Plus he was surrounded by police officers, which didn’t help his mood, all of them moving out of his way as he strode towards the exit. Ashley was a fool if he couldn’t see what was staring him in the face, so he decided to visit someone with brains.
    He jumped into his Range Rover and drove straight to Battler and Bruiser’s office in the town of Torquay.
    “Are you alright? You look pissed off,” said Battler, getting to his feet to greet him.
    “No. I’ve just been to the police station,” he said distastefully. “It’s not what you think,” he added when Battler gave him a look that said, what have you done. “I was trying to find out if they’re taking the serial killer angle seriously on that body they found under our annex.”
    “And are they?”
    “Course not, the morons. How do they think that body got there? Do they think he just decided to go for a lie down?”
    “Me and Bruiser agree with you, which is why he went out to chase up a couple of leads,” said Battler, indicating his brother’s empty chair, but they were such a tight unit they were still a single entity even when one was absent.
    “I’m curious about Bruiser. I’ve never talked to either of you without the other before so I don’t know, does he talk to people when you’re not there to do the talking for him?”
    The concept seemed to amuse Battler. “I can see where you’re coming from but yes, he does, although he uses as few words as he can get away with. If he didn’t I wouldn’t let him out on his own. But I will let you in on a little secret. Daina told me he quotes romantic poetry to her.”
    “Poetry, Bruiser?” said Ryan with a raised eyebrow.
    “I know. Fucking gay, isn’t it?”
    “I like poetry.”
    “Oh, do you?” Battler cleared his throat. “So you think the body in your back yard was a victim of this serial killer?”
    “You really believe there is one active in the area?”
    “It’s the only thing that explains everything we’ve found.”
    “And what is that?”
    “Sit down and I’ll show you.”
    Ryan took the chair on the opposite side of Battler’s desk, which was a lot more expensive and impressive than Ashley’s. He watched as Battler took a buff folder out of a drawer and opened it up. “Eight victims. The first - and youngest - victim disappeared seven years ago. George Romer. Nineteen years old. These are the other seven.” As he spoke Battler laid a photo of each man on the desk for Ryan to examine. “See the resemblance?”
    “I do,” replied Ryan. All men were well-built and over average height. Although two were blond and the rest were dark and their eye colours varied