Promise of Hunters Ridge

by Sarah Barrie

  ‘I called the police,’ Ally told her. ‘They’re coming. I called Cam. He’s coming.’

  ‘Okay, that’s good.’ Then she remembered Rob’s bike. She ran around the back of the house. Ally appeared behind her. ‘Ally. They’ll be here any minute. I need you to stay here. I’m going after Chloe. I don’t want to leave you here but he’s getting further and further away.’

  ‘Just go! Go get her. Please. Get her.’

  Mia kicked the engine over. She would find and follow Rob until the police could pull him over. Just find him and stay on him. And as she worked her way through the gears and built up speed, wobbled a bit on the first corner, she hoped she remembered how to ride one of these things well enough not to get herself killed in the process. Chloe’s life depended on it.

  Ben called every backup vehicle he could get, ordered roadblocks on every road he could think of. If Rob was still on the highway, there was no way he wouldn’t pass him—probably in the next few minutes. Several units would shortly be coming in from both directions.

  What had happened at Cassie’s? Was Mia hurt? What had happened to Ally?

  Ally’s car came hurtling around a bend in the road towards him. Rob. Stupid to go so fast, to draw attention to himself. Had other police already caught up?

  Ben turned the car sideways to block as much road as possible and hopefully slow Rob down. This was too damn dangerous; he couldn’t let Rob get past with Chloe but a crash could kill the baby.

  The car kept coming, and slowed for a moment close enough for Ben to see the sneer on Rob Littleton’s hideous face. Then Rob spun the car, heading onto a track that led off the road. Even before Ben could start up in pursuit a trail bike flew around the corner too fast, somehow managing to stay upright. His eyes bulged. Mia. Heart in his mouth, he tried to flag her down but she skidded sideways, righting the bike yet again as she made the turn onto the track after Rob. Her eyes never left the Ranger as she disappeared into the bush.

  Ben got on the radio and updated his location. ‘Where does the trail go?’ he asked Indy, back in their office. Every second of that wait was agonising. If there was a way to head them off he needed to know it. The answer wasn’t coming fast enough.

  ‘Ben, that little track leads to the main fire trail that runs back in to Hunters Ridge. If you keep heading towards town you’ll find another entry point about three kilometres along. Your way is shorter. You could catch them. I’ll get men in from the other direction. Backup’s four minutes behind you.’

  By the time she finished speaking he was already speeding down the road.

  He found a trail, hoped it was the right one, and bounced the car in. Windows down, he listened; the whine of a trail bike—somewhere. He drove on, finding it difficult to take his eyes from the track immediately in front of him as it twisted and turned, large potholes bouncing the car. A tree branch lying on the road made him swerve violently one way, then the other, but he didn’t dare release his pressure on the accelerator. To the right the bushland undulated downhill, in some places gently, in others, dramatically. Cursing under his breath, he risked another look further ahead. The trail bike whine was getting closer, then flashes of black showed Ally’s car coming ahead of the bike through the scrub—too close. It flew out in front of him, and both cars swerved. Ben slammed on the brakes, skidding to a halt. The black car disappeared downhill and a loud bang signalled its sudden stop.

  Mia was right behind. She leapt off the bike, its wheels still turning as it hit the ground. He pushed from the car and ran out after her, terrified of what she was going to find.

  ‘Mia, wait!’

  The baby began screaming and relief swept through him. Mia was already sliding down the bank. Weapon out, eyes everywhere, he trailed her.

  The car had hit a large gum. The driver’s door was open.

  ‘Mia be careful! Did you see where Rob went?’

  ‘No. I can’t get the door open!’

  He reached her. ‘Hold this, keep watching.’ Ben handed her his weapon then jerked on the door, and eventually it gave. Chloe appeared upset but unhurt. ‘That’s a lot of noise for a little one,’ he said gently. ‘Out you come.’ He lifted her carefully, then turned around to hand her to Mia.

  Before he could place the baby in her arms, the sound of his car starting made them look back up to the trail to see Rob in the driver’s seat. With one last glance at Chloe, Mia took off up the hill towards it with Ben’s weapon. He followed, but hampered by the baby, he had to be careful.

  ‘Mia, there are units coming in—they’ll catch him.’

  ‘Yes, they will.’ She scrambled to the top, slipping on the leaf litter. He grimaced for her as she hit the ground with a bone-jarring thump but her eyes never wavered from her target. Arms outstretched and completely focused, she lined up the car. A split second before it vanished around the corner, she fired.

  The car swerved back into view, out again, the tyre blown. Even as it veered wildly, Mia lined up again, put a bullet in the back windscreen, then another, and another. When the car stopped, she got her feet under her and ran after it.

  ‘Mia, don’t be stupid!’

  Police cars arrived and he flagged them down, handed the baby to an officer and bolted after Mia. More officers followed him as he chased her into the scrub. He got a restraining hand on her shoulder when she stopped to listen for Rob’s movements.

  ‘Give me my gun.’

  ‘I have to get him. I have to finish this!’

  ‘Look behind you.’ Police were all around them, spreading themselves out. ‘You need to go back up to the road and get Chloe. She’s scared and she needs you.’ It was all he could think of; his best card. ‘And you need to call Ally. Because she’s scared and she needs you too.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘Mia. Go get the baby.’ He took the gun from her fingers, but it took a bit of doing. ‘Call Ally.’

  Mia reluctantly relinquished Ben’s gun and, with a nod, walked back to the crying baby.

  ‘Thanks,’ she said to the uniformed officer who was jiggling Chloe helplessly. The relief only really sank in when she held her niece close and breathed her in. ‘You’re okay, you’re all right. Oh, baby girl. Thank God.’ Blinking back tears, she hugged Chloe close, calming her down. ‘Excuse me,’ she said to another officer. ‘We need to let this baby’s parents know she’s okay.’

  When Ally and Cam were brought in, Chloe was calm, sleeping. Ally rushed over and put her arms around Mia and Chloe at once. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Ben cut him off. Rob’s out there somewhere on foot. Ben’s tracking him.’

  She gently put Chloe in Ally’s arms. Cam kissed his daughter’s forehead then hugged Mia until she couldn’t breathe. ‘You’re one hell of an aunty.’

  ‘You should get her checked out. I think she’s fine but the car hit a tree. She was strapped in her carrier but—’

  ‘We’ll take her. Are you coming with us?’

  There was nothing she could do here. ‘Sure.’

  Once close enough to town, Ally called Ebony and filled her in. Then she hung up, face grave. ‘Ebony said what’s happened is right round town. People are organising armed search parties to head onto the trails. They’re all going after Rob.’

  ‘We need to let them know we’ve got Chloe back,’ Cam said. ‘Someone will get hurt.’

  ‘Ebs is going to try to head them off.’

  ‘First priority is Chloe,’ Cam said, ‘then I’ll get myself out there and see what I can do.’

  CHAPTER

  32

  Ben negotiated a rough drop between several large rocks and kept his course. Around him other police officers were also manoeuvring through the rough terrain. Rob was out here somewhere. They would find him.

  ‘Ben, you there?’ Indy’s voice came over the radio.

  ‘Yeah. What’s up?’

  ‘There’s a mob to rival Salem incoming. The locals heard about Chloe. We’ve relayed to everyone that she’s safe and well, but
they’re not turning around. They’re on foot, on horseback, on bikes. And they’re carrying weapons.’

  ‘Damn it! Get them under control. We don’t need anyone hurt.’

  ‘A handful of police aren’t going to stop them. They’ve got two-ways. They’re all talking to each other on a local channel, spreading out. The parents of those dead girls, family and friends, people who are tired of being scared. Men and women and teenaged kids. We need more police.’

  ‘Then find more police. What frequency are they using? I’ll talk to them.’

  He did his best but Indy was right. They weren’t dissuaded. At one point Lee came over the radio: ‘You won’t stop them, Ben. And if they’re going to be out there, I’ll be out here with them. Maybe I can stop someone getting themselves killed.’

  ‘We’re just going to hunt him back towards you lot,’ Clint said from somewhere else. ‘There’s going on sixty armed men and women out here. Can you match that?’

  ‘Not yet,’ Ben said, ‘but we’re close. And these men are trained. You’re not.’ He didn’t have time to spend arguing with townspeople.

  ‘We’re doing this,’ an unfamiliar voice told him. ‘He’s not getting away this time. This town wants this over even more than you do.’

  ‘If anyone sees him, do not engage him. Report your location and let the police handle it.’ It was all he could do, and he wasn’t impressed. Now he had sixty civilians wandering around with weapons to deal with as well as Rob. If no one got shot it would be a miracle.

  A commotion had him charging through the scrub. ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘Spotted just off the main trail, coordinates …’

  Ben checked the map. ‘He’s trying to get back to Hunters Ridge.’

  ‘He knows the area. Probably knows where to hide,’ Indy said over the radio. ‘I’m coming in from the other end.’

  Mia sat in the hospital waiting room, fighting to keep still. Cam, Ally and Chloe had been in with the doctor for ages. Surely they’d be finished soon? As she thought that for the hundredth time, they appeared.

  ‘All good,’ Ally said. ‘Just need to keep an eye on her.’

  ‘Awesome. Let’s go.’

  They piled into the car. ‘Drop me off at the station,’ Cam said. ‘I want to see if there’s anything I can do.’ They stopped by but didn’t get much information, so they continued home.

  ‘If they’re out there, you might be able to reach Lee on the radio,’ Ally suggested.

  ‘I’ll give it a go when we get back,’ Cam said. ‘Keep yours today, too. Mia, no matter what everyone else is doing, promise me you won’t go back in after Rob.’

  ‘Why? What are you going to do?’

  ‘That depends on what Lee says—if I can reach him.’

  ‘I’m not going to promise—’

  ‘You and Ally have to take Chloe to Mudgee. If you’re there, you’re safe. Home isn’t. If Rob turns up here one of our places could be the first he appears at. Look.’ Cam pulled off the road. Clint and a couple of local men were poring over a map on someone’s bonnet out the front of the servo.

  ‘Glad to see everyone safe,’ Clint said.

  ‘You’ve come back in,’ Cam said with relief.

  ‘Someone needed to coordinate everyone else. No point missing an area and letting the bastard slip through.’

  ‘Someone’s going to get hurt.’

  ‘Can’t beat ’em, join ’em, right?’

  Cam thought about that. ‘Where is everyone?’

  ‘Rob’s in this general location—still a bit out of town. Cops are here, we’ve got some men this way.’

  ‘There are police heading in from the military range?’

  ‘Not sure why, though, he’s miles out. Ben’s team saw him not long ago.’

  ‘Cam, I could use some help with all this. Not everyone’s on the same frequency out there and I’m trying to make sure everyone knows what’s going on as it happens.’

  ‘Right.’

  Mia wanted nothing more than to be involved, but she’d already almost lost Chloe today, and as she watched Ally with her in the back of the car, she saw the strain on her sister’s face. ‘Seeing as Rob’s still a fair way out, I’ll take Ally home,’ Mia said to Cam. ‘We’ll get some things and then head for Mudgee, check-in somewhere.’

  Cam squeezed her shoulders. ‘Thanks. Keep safe.’

  Mia drove to Ally’s and helped her throw some things together. ‘I suppose you should grab a couple of days’ supplies. Who knows how long this is going to take?’

  ‘I’m going to need more nappies,’ Ally said. ‘We’ll have to get some when we get there.’

  ‘It will give us something to do. I don’t think I could stand twiddling my thumbs in a motel all evening.’

  ‘Mia …’ Ally’s eyes were full of unshed tears. ‘I don’t know what I would have done if Rob had got away with Chloe. I don’t know how to thank you.’

  ‘Ben had more to do with that than me.’

  ‘You could have killed yourself.’

  Mia kissed Chloe’s forehead. ‘Some things are worth it. You got everything?’

  ‘Just about. I think I should feed her, though, she’s getting fussy.’

  ‘You do that. I’ll throw these things in the car.’

  Jasper whined at her from the back gate.

  ‘Sorry, mate, you’re staying put.’ But she did go and give him and the others a minute’s attention. ‘Cam will feed you all tonight.’ Then she went back inside and collected the crib, and because Ally wasn’t finished feeding, she made them both a sandwich. ‘Where’s your radio? I want to hear what’s going on.’

  ‘I don’t know what channel they’re on.’

  ‘Then I’ll find out from Cam.’ She called him.

  ‘Rob’s getting closer,’ she said to Ally after she’d spoken to Cam. ‘We should get moving.’

  ‘Then let’s go,’ Ally said, finishing up.

  By the time they were at the cottage, Chloe was asleep. ‘Wait here with her,’ Mia told Ally. ‘I’ll just be a second.’

  She got out and looked around. Rob was coming back. Unless they caught him. It probably was a good thing to get out of harm’s way. But she didn’t want to leave. She’d known this was coming, and she was running? Everyone else was out there, searching. The hunter was being hunted. She’d take her gun with them—just in case.

  She went inside and stopped abruptly, horror freezing her in her tracks. Rob was standing at her kitchen window, his rifle pointed at Ally’s car.

  ‘Ya reckon ya can warn them before I get this shot off?’

  ‘Don’t.’

  ‘That really depends on what ya do in the next few minutes.’

  She’d never get past him—never reach her gun. Not without risking Ally’s life. ‘What do you want me to do?’

  ‘I want ya to get me out of here. We’re gonna go out, get in the car. I’m gonna be in the back with the kid. You and Ally are gonna drive right past all those bastards on the road and no one’s gonna see me. I can sit on the floor and still put a bullet through the baby capsule. Understand?’

  ‘They’ll check—they’ll see you.’

  ‘They won’t check.’

  ‘But what if they—’

  ‘Then I’ll kill them too and take my chances. But you’re gonna want to make sure they don’t. Let’s go.’

  Ally’s eyes bulged when she was followed out by Rob pressing a rifle to her back.

  ‘We’re going for a little drive,’ Rob told Ally.

  Mia swung around, knocking the rifle off target. ‘Ally, go! Get out of here!’

  But Ally was out of the car, charging. Rob swung the gun back and fired. Everyone froze. The gun lifted again, this time at Ally.

  ‘Ya try that shit again, I’ll kill her. I only need one of ya to get me out of here.’

  ‘All right, okay,’ Mia said as calmly as she could. ‘Ally, get in the car.’

  Rob got into the backseat and pressed the rifle agai
nst the carrier. ‘Throw your phones in the back.’

  ‘They don’t work down here.’

  ‘Do it!’

  Mia made a show of leaning forwards to pull her phone from her pocket and carefully picked the two-way off the floor, sliding it up along her thigh, out of sight. ‘Here.’ She tossed the phone. Ally’s followed. Mia’s finger firmly depressed the button on the radio. If it slipped off, if anyone tried to talk to them, they were dead.

  ‘Right,’ Rob said, a little too close to her ear. ‘Let’s move.’

  She needed to let everyone know where they were, what they were doing, and had to hope with the two-way pressed against her thigh their voices wouldn’t be too muffled. ‘How did you get to the cottage?’ she asked. ‘Everyone’s looking for you.’

  ‘I got my ways. Shut up.’

  ‘But Ally needs to know where to go. Where to take you.’

  ‘Don’t care—just out.’

  ‘I think the north road out will be better,’ Mia told Ally. ‘The south road was packed with cops.’

  She felt the cold, sharp edge of Rob’s knife at her throat. ‘You’d better not be fucking with me.’

  ‘All I want to do,’ she replied, trying to keep her voice steady, ‘is get Chloe out of this safe and sound. If that means helping you escape, so be it.’

  ‘Then you’d better hope you’re right.’ The knife eased away as he sat back.

  What she was desperately hoping was that someone was listening. Rob wasn’t just going to let them go. No matter what happened or how far away they got him.

  Ben was on the main road of Hunters Ridge when he heard the news that Rob had Mia, Ally and Chloe. Fighting back clawing panic, he spoke to the officers on the roadblocks and to those on the ground nearby. He pleaded with the civilians not to approach the area, ordered more units to the location. He got a chopper up to find the car as it headed north. He knew what needed to be done, but working through a thick haze of fear made every move more difficult, more desperate.

  If they made it too far north, they could veer off in any number of directions. If Rob figured out Mia had that radio on, who knew what he’d do. If he didn’t somehow keep this calm, someone was going to die.