HELL'S HALF ACRE a gripping murder mystery full of twists (Coffin Cove Mysteries Book 2) by JACKIE ELLIOTT (classic literature books .txt) 📗

The dappled light made it hard to see. Andi shielded her eyes. She saw a figure in front of her. Charlie?

“Have you found it?” she called and stepped forward into a shadow. The figure said nothing. Charlie? Her eyes adjusted as she saw in horror a man holding a gun and pointing it straight at her.

Andi was frozen. Everything around her melted away. The last time she had been near a gun, she was running to save someone else. It was impulsive. She hadn’t stopped to think. But now, this gun was aimed at her. It felt like slow motion as the man readied his weapon and aimed. Andi saw a glimpse of his face as he moved slightly, and she saw he was smiling. Art Whilley. It must be. Andi took a breath and willed herself to move, but it was too late. She heard a loud crack and then everything fell silent.

Andi was still standing.

The man took off running.

“He’s going towards the tipple!”

Andi heard the other hikers crashing through the brush. She wanted to call to them, to remind them that it was only Charlie who could apprehend Whilley, but her voice seemed stuck in her throat. Was she really OK?

She looked down at her arms and legs, expecting to see blood. But it was true, she hadn’t been hit. She heard a groan from behind her. She willed herself to turn, terrified that somehow Art Whilley had doubled back and would attack from behind. But the only person she saw was Charlie Rollins.

He was lying on the ground, face up. Blood seeped from his chest.

Andi dropped to the ground and grabbed his radio. “Help us! Help us!” she screamed. “Charlie’s been shot!”

Chapter Forty

“This is as near as we get,” Harry said, pulling the throttle back. “It’s too shallow and rocky to go any further.” He killed the engine and looked at Matt. “What did they say? On the radio?”

Matt had lost all his colour.

“They’ve sighted Whilley. They think he’s in the tunnel, probably headed our way. Vega’s called the coast guard to help.”

“And?” Harry could see by Matt’s face there was something more.

“Someone’s been shot. I lost the signal and couldn’t hear who it was.”

Harry nodded. He couldn’t trust himself to speak. He felt panic rising. Please, God, don’t let it be Andi. Not again.

Clara had Harry’s binoculars and was looking at the beach.

“There,” she said, pointing and passing the binoculars to Matt. “I see a boat.”

Matt nodded. “A speedboat of some kind.” He fumbled for the radio. “I’ll call for backup.”

Harry looked at him. “Son, it’ll take a while for even the coast guard to get here. I know Vega alerted them, but Whilley could come out of that tunnel any second and get away in that boat. He could be at the border in minutes. Call Vega, but in the meantime, we need to disable that boat.”

Harry left the wheelhouse and went to the bow of the boat to drop the anchor. Matt and Clara waited for Harry on the deck while he went into his galley and came out with a shotgun.

“What are you doing?” Matt asked in alarm.

“I don’t think I can get a shot into that boat. At least, not to do enough damage to stop him trying to use it. I might just put Jade in danger of drowning.”

“So what are you thinking?”

“We can get onto the beach and make sure Whilley can’t even start the boat. We’ll use my skiff.” Harry pointed at a small dinghy chained to the stern of the Pipe Dream. “We’ll get over there, pull some wires on that speedboat and get back here. Then at least Whilley’s stuck here, or he’ll have to go back the way he came. Hopefully, Vega has manpower at the other end.”

Matt nodded. “OK, makes sense.”

Harry was relieved Matt agreed. He sensed the young constable was a bit out of his depth. But he seemed to be calm, and Harry respected him for that. Now he had to focus on the task ahead, and put his worry for Andi out of his mind.

Harry wound the cables and lowered the skiff into the water. He climbed over the side, holding his shotgun.

Matt grabbed his arm. “You can’t take that,” he said. “I have a gun. I’m the only one who should use it.”

Harry frowned, but remembered Vega’s instructions. He’d been clear on this point. Only officers may carry guns and engage with Whilley. Harry handed his gun to Clara.

“You stay, Clara. Radio if you see Whilley. Let Vega know if he runs back in the tunnel.”

Harry started the outboard and steered the little skiff until they reached the rocky beach. Matt hopped out and dragged the boat into the shallows.

Feeling his heart pounding, Harry ran over to the speedboat and started pulling at wires under the dashboard. If Whilley made it to the end of the tunnel, he wouldn’t be going any further.

***

Matt could see what Harry was doing. He wished he’d been able to take charge as effortlessly as Harry. He was still feeling sick after the boat ride and nervous about what would happen next. He felt as if thirty years of police experience had been crammed into the last few days.

“Get the fuck away from my boat.”

Matt turned to see Art Whilley standing partially behind a rock, with his arm around Jade Thompson, who seemed semi-conscious. She was leaning heavily on his arm. In his other hand, he had a gun. It was pointed at Harry.

Matt could see a large hunting knife hanging from Whilley’s belt.

“Let the girl go, Art,” Matt said, hoping his voice wasn’t shaking. “Then you can go. We only want Jade safe and sound.”

Whilley carried