Rollover Read Online Free PDF Page A

that what this is about?’ I said incredulously. ‘Is that why you killed Vince? Because of the ticket?’
    ‘There’s no time to explain,’ he said.
    ‘But I don’t have the ticket.’
    ‘I know that. I have it.’
    ‘So how the hell did you know about it? He only just called me.’
    ‘That’s not important right now. What’s important is that you follow my instructions.’
    ‘Look, I don’t care about the money,’ I said. ‘I only care about my family.’
    ‘That’s what I’m counting on, Cain. And later you’ll be reunited with them. In the meantime you have to ensure that the police don’t find out what has happened to your partner. They can’t be involved.’
    ‘So why can’t I meet you now? I can drive straight home.’
    ‘Two reasons,’ he said. ‘First there’s a risk that you’ll panic and call the law. And second I’ve already got my hands full with your wife and daughter. Once they’re in a safe place I can sort you out.’
    ‘But it’s insane.’
    ‘Just leave the cottage, come back here to your house, and wait for my call. You’re being watched so don’t try to be clever. And if you talk to the police I’ll know within minutes from a contact on the inside.’
    ‘But what you’re asking me to do is not possible.’
    ‘I’m not expecting you to bury him, for fuck’s sake. Just leave him there. Nobody has to know.’
    ‘Then let me speak to Maggie. I need to know that she’s all right.’
    ‘Later,’ he said. ‘But only if you keep your trap shut.’
    ‘You’ll never get away with this. It’s monstrous.’
    ‘Just do what I’ve told you, Cain. If you don’t, they die.’
    And with that he cleared the line.

5
    N ausea rolled in my throat. My head swam. My lungs burned. My mind struggled to hold on to reality.
    I dashed out of the cottage, pushing the door to behind me. Ifumbled with the key in the ignition, got it started, stamped on the accelerator.
    I raced along the lane and skidded to a stop opposite the church. I noticed that the car that had been parked on the verge when I arrived was now gone. So I probably had seen someone behind the wheel. Who could it have been? And why had they been parked there with the lights off at such a late hour?
    As I pulled out on to the road I tried to recall what type of car it had been, but I couldn’t conjure up an image because I hadn’t paid attention to it. Now I wished I had because the driver might well have been the person who killed Vince.
    This chilling thought stayed with me as I drove like a man possessed. The tyres screeched around every corner. More than once I came close to sliding off the road. I kept seeing Vince’s blood-soaked body on the kitchen floor, the gashes in his head. The image was burned on to the back of my retinas.
    And I kept imagining Maggie and Laura, scared witless and wondering why the hell I wasn’t there to save them. What exactly was happening and why? Who was the man on the phone? How did he know about the lottery ticket? How did he know about Maggie and me and Laura?
    And what about the car parked outside the church? Was it just a coincidence? Had the driver simply stopped to take a pee or have a nap? Or was the explanation far more sinister?
    I sped past traffic and drew angry stares from other drivers. The streets were busier now. More cars. More Saturday-night drunks stepping off the kerbs. Slurred shouting and cold laughter. Queues at the burger stalls. Not a good night to be in a hurry.
    But thankfully I made it all the way home without encountering a cop, although I did jump three red lights and mount the pavement twice.
    I leapt out of the car and let myself in.
    ‘Maggie. Laura.’
    I stood in the hall waiting for them to respond. They didn’t.
    Feeling sick with dread, I burst into the living room. The TV was still on and our wine glasses were still on the table. No Maggie. No Laura.
    Upstairs the bedrooms were empty. Laura’s duvet was piled on the floor beside her bed.